The 356 had a flat-six? Who's running Porsche these days?

[jkarolyi]

Hi All,

Just got the latest Porsche newsletter that they send out occasionally:

http://www.porsche.com/newsletterfallback.aspx?lang=none&pool=usa&newsletterid=2008-06

The second article is about the Porsche flat-six engine, which they claim "Even the 356 had a flat-six engine".

The video in the link goes on to brag about the dry-sump lubrication system in the Carrera and Carrera S (which only the Turbo and GT3 have). Makes me wonder if Porsche actually employs any real car enthusiasts anymore or if the whole company has been taken over by bean counters and marketers.

[Carl Bauer]

This poster is also part of the '60 Years' celebration:



Look at how doctored the image of the 964 is especially around the rear bumper. They've also changed many of the black rubber seals to body color to make it look more similar to the 997 and yet they claim that they see no reason to alter the timeless 911...

[boba]

I guess that explains a lot.

First who do they get to write this stuff, and second who proof reads it.

No neeed to ask why COA's are useless.

Porsche has been living off its legacy for a long time, it would be nice if they actually knew what it was.

[jkarolyi]

I saw that too...really a piss-poor photoshop job to boot. They also enlarged the 964 to look about the same size as the 997...in reality it is a lot smaller if you've ever seen them parked side by side.

All this sloppiness makes me wonder if Porsche has outsourced their marketing department to China.

>Porsche has been living off its legacy for a long time, it would be nice if they actually knew what it was.

LOL!

[JFairman]

"The video in the link goes on to brag about the dry-sump lubrication system in the Carrera and Carrera S (which only the Turbo and GT3 have)."

uhhh... all 911's since the beginning in '63 have been dry-sump lubrication.

[JV911SYDNEY]

Originally Posted by JFairman

uhhh... all 911's since the beginning in '63 have been dry-sump lubrication.

up until 996, now only GT3 & Turbo

i blame the marketing team for the bungle. i work for a major bank and the marketing team fuch everything they touch

[rusnak]

Jay, good point. The tv commercials make me laugh now too, with dubbed exhaust sounds and the statement that the Cayenne GTS and the RS Spyder "look the same from behind the wheel"

Riiiiiighhht suuuure they do.

[gestalt1]

i got the e-mail also and posted the quote on the 356 forum. no responses. our 356 friends must be shy. it really is upsetting that a car company so reliant on its heritage and loyalty from owners would get this wrong.

[jkarolyi]

Originally Posted by JFairman

uhhh... all 911's since the beginning in '63 have been dry-sump lubrication.

Uhhh...Porsche's marketing machine has fooled you. The 996 and 997 base and "S" models have a wet sump engine with no separate oil tank. They do have some baffles in the oil pan which the Porsche marketers call an "integrated dry sump system". These engines are meant for street and light track use only...Porsche doesn't race with this engine. The Turbo and GT3 use a version of the old 964/993 block with its true dry sump oiling system.

[oneblueyedog]

Makes me wonder if Porsche actually employs any real car enthusiasts anymore or if the whole company has been taken over by bean counters and marketers. [/QUOTE]

Nope, Just millennials at the web agency. I'm sure it will be corrected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y

A bit that's amusing:
Business owners in Australia feel that members of Millennials were found to be "demanding, impatient and bad at communicating," according to a 2007 survey. The survey found that almost 70% of those surveyed found their Millennials workers to be dissatisfying, with poor spelling and grammar and no understanding of appropriate corporate behaviors. However, the survey also showed most employers praised the energy and charisma of their Millennials workers. [16]

Rah Rah!

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by EJ11HHF

This poster is also part of the '60 Years' celebration:

I'd buy the top car if I could. I like what they did there.

[acapella8]

Does anyone know if those 60 year posters/images are available online?

[gshiwota]

Didn't you guys know that PSM, and Tiptronic were also available on 356s?

Is it me or did they choose the very worst 911 model to depict as the "classic" in that 60-years ad? I have nothing against 964s (in fact I spent months looking for one for myself) but aren't 964s generally regarded as one of the least loved 911s in the history of 911s? BTW, this is coming from a guy who owns one of the least loved 356s in the history - a '61 Karman Hardtop. Ok, but flame away anyway.

Man, I'm depressed now. Porsche is making money hand over fists these days and they can't employ decent marketing folks? I can't wait to see the Panamera ads.

[s2per]

I attempted to send an email to them advising of the flat-six faux pas. I went through the link on their site, but kept getting an "ERROR" screen when I tried to send.

Seemed appropriate.

[boba]

Originally Posted by gshiwota

BTW, this is coming from a guy who owns one of the least loved 356s in the history - a '61 Karman Hardtop. Ok, but flame away anyway.

At least you have a flat 6!

[cnavarro]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that was shocked when I saw that email.

I've had this same discussion with others offline, that today's Porsche isn't what it was in decades past. It's a marketing engine...

[boba]

Originally Posted by cnavarro

It's a marketing engine...

Is that one with a dry sump?

[ChrisBennet]

Yet when those same ignorant marketing guys refer to a "911SC" as a "Super Carrera", SC owners say "See! The factory calls it a Super Carrera."
-Chris

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by gshiwota

Didn't you guys know that PSM, and Tiptronic were also available on 356s?

Is it me or did they choose the very worst 911 model to depict as the "classic" in that 60-years ad? I have nothing against 964s (in fact I spent months looking for one for myself) but aren't 964s generally regarded as one of the least loved 911s in the history of 911s? BTW, this is coming from a guy who owns one of the least loved 356s in the history - a '61 Karman Hardtop. Ok, but flame away anyway.

Man, I'm depressed now. Porsche is making money hand over fists these days and they can't employ decent marketing folks? I can't wait to see the Panamera ads.

They were probably too ashamed to use anything earlier than an '89.

by the way, the use of the term "Carrera" or "Super Carrera"...I bet I know some 356 guys who think we're all dorks for using such a term on our 911s.

[JFairman]

BFD.. marketing people and accountants have never had a clue...

The important thing is
Porsche is into racing, and always has been. That is what is most important to them.
The street cars are secondary to support the cutting edge engineers and technology needed for winning races, and they are doing that in the AMLS.

Go ahead and flame me if that props your ego, I already know those who have not been around the racing part of it will never understand that.