Porsche, VW Merger Deal May Fall Apart

[s_wilwerding]

Seems like good news to me - I can't see how having VW on board improves Porsche:

Porsche, VW Merger Deal May Fall Apart - DailyFinance

[enzo1]

I thought that was a done deal?

[tcar]

Also, VW announced that they are going after Toyota. The plan is to outsell Toyota within the next 8 years. And they are ahead of schedule.

How would Porsche fit in that scheme?... not.

[s_wilwerding]

Originally Posted by enzo1

I thought that was a done deal?

It was a done deal in the sense that the plan was all in place, but it has not been executed yet - the actual merger was supposed to take place in the next couple years.

As I said in my previous post, I hope this doesn't go through - all of the talk out of VW is that they will move the Porsche brand downmarket (4 cylinder Boxster, smaller Cayenne, etc.). I wouldn't mind if VW did to Porsche what Fiat has done with Ferrari, namely promote them to the "supercar" brand within the family, but instead VW is trying to turn Porsche into Audi, which I think is a mistake and will further erode the Porsche brand, at a time when Porsche is finally starting to get back to their engineering roots (GT3R hybrid, Carrera GT, etc.)

[oldE]

Originally Posted by s_wilwerding

As I said in my previous post, I hope this doesn't go through - all of the talk out of VW is that they will move the Porsche brand downmarket (4 cylinder Boxster, smaller Cayenne, etc.). I wouldn't mind if VW did to Porsche what Fiat has done with Ferrari, namely promote them to the "supercar" brand within the family, but instead VW is trying to turn Porsche into Audi, which I think is a mistake and will further erode the Porsche brand, at a time when Porsche is finally starting to get back to their engineering roots (GT3R hybrid, Carrera GT, etc.)

Let's look at it from another perspective.

VW already has an exotic brand in Lamborgini. They are getting some nice spin-offs in the R8 frame and V10. As for turning Porsche into another Audi, I don't see too much wrong with the kind of thinking that has dominated LeMans in the past decade. But VW doesn't need another Audi, or another Bently or Skoda or Seat etc.

I would like to see Porsche drop out of the stratosphere, stop making luxury sedans and SUVs and be a sports car manufacturer again. It can't happen unless you've got deep pockets (from building Panameras and Cayennes) or you have someone behind you that says,"We would like you to do what you do best. Build them light and powerful. We want Porsche to be THE sports car at every level, able to take on the best at every price level. We don't need leather-wrapped sunglasses holders. Just make the best handling, fastest car from point A to B in innovative ways. And make sure your customers have fun."

Isn't that what attracted many of us to the marque anyway?

Les

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by oldE

Isn't that what attracted many of us to the marque anyway?

Us? Yes but if it weren't for the Cayenne Porsche would have gone out of business. Likewise, the Panamera is the big seller this year. I say do whatever it takes to keep the brand alive and well enough to produce quality cars like the Cayman, 997, GT3, etc.