Volkswagen Takes 49.9 Percent Stake In Porsche

[djpateman]

Volkswagen Takes 49.9 Percent Stake In Porsche

[aj88cab]

You know, I generally don't jump on the gloom and doom bandwagons...but I just can't help have this feeling, that in the long term, nothing good (at least for Porsche) can come of this...

[john walker's workshop]

vw has done a lot more cool stuff than porsche lately. might be good. time will tell.

[aj88cab]

Let's hope that is the case....

[911pcars]

Porsche has carved an upward market niche. Unfortunately, that market doesn't include most of us here. For their manufacturing capabilities, it was probably the best way to make the most money. Hopefully, VW/Porsche will produce a sports car most people can afford worthy of the VW/Porsche brand.

Sherwood

[Netspeed]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

vw has done a lot more cool stuff than porsche lately. Might be good. Time will tell.

+1

[Joe V]

Do you think they'll come out with a new 914 kind of like they did with the new Beetle??

[JeremyD]

I think its a good thing personally. Instead of dilute and leverage the brand like windeking I think pieche will refine and strengthen the brand. I'm perfectly fine if the pepperwagon and panamera fade into the wood work, Give me a strong 911 without engine issues - one that's on the forefront of engine technology, give me a nice two seater (boxster and cayman) then give me a nice entry level car - light, cheaper with great handling. get back into racing support for the 911. Start building sports cars that are leaders in their respective categories. That's what it's all about.

[Rrrockhound]

Originally Posted by Joe V

Do you think they'll come out with a new 914 kind of like they did with the new Beetle??

Seems unlikely. Porsche isn't really into the nostalgia thing too much, and VW wasn't too warm on the idea of the New Beetle, except that pressure from American fans changed their minds.

[mamut]

Originally Posted by Rrrockhound

Seems unlikely. Porsche isn't really into the nostalgia thing too much, and VW wasn't too warm on the idea of the New Beetle, except that pressure from American fans changed their minds.

Are you shure? how about the new SC?:

[Talewinds]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

Porsche has carved an upward market niche. Unfortunately, that market doesn't include most of us here. For their manufacturing capabilities, it was probably the best way to make the most money. Hopefully, VW/Porsche will produce a sports car most people can afford worthy of the VW/Porsche brand.

Sherwood

I suppose my opinion goes completely contrary to yours expressed here. I, personally, hope that VW doesn't cheapen the brand, produce a Porsche that everyone can afford, and make their products available at every VW dealer.
I hope they make the brand MORE exclusive, less available, more expensive, and more technically magical and incredible from a performance aspect.
Porsche, like a few other brands we could rattle off, namely Ferrari, still elude most people, making them desirable, drool worthy, and magical. They are, for lack of a better term, "special", and that's a concept that has given the marque real value.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

I think its a good thing personally. Instead of dilute and leverage the brand like windeking I think pieche will refine and strengthen the brand. I'm perfectly fine if the pepperwagon and panamera fade into the wood work, Give me a strong 911 without engine issues - one that's on the forefront of engine technology, give me a nice two seater (boxster and cayman) then give me a nice entry level car - light, cheaper with great handling. get back into racing support for the 911. Start building sports cars that are leaders in their respective categories. That's what it's all about.

You sound very optimistic. However if we look at the other manufacturers who are now under the VW umbrella it could be a very ordinary future for Porsche.

For example Audi was once a premium car that rivalled Mercedes and BMW. Now it's a dressed up VW with platform and engine sharing the norm.
Not such a bad thing because VW make a great car but it was never a luxury/premium car.

What about Porsche?

What about a 911 with an Audi sourced V8 in the back?
A future Boxter with a 3.2 litre V6 VW motor?.. (Already in the base Cayene) Not the sexiest Porsche but at least it has some integrity.
The Panamera could be one of the most short lived P cars ever. (Maybe not such a bad thing)

This was already happening but at least Porsche could work independently.
Now it will have to get the OK on certain special projects and future models.

Will we ever see another car like the 959?
Porsche lost money on every 959 sold so they could showcase their technical abilities.
Would such an indulgence be allowed by the VW mangers and share holders?

Is it the last days of the specials?
Will Porsche be allowed to produce small volume RS style 911's alongside the regular models?
Or more likely finds ways to build a cheaper 911 so they can maximise their profits.

[Rrrockhound]

Originally Posted by mamut

Are you shure? how about the new SC?:

That's more of a package than a stand-alone model. I couldn't see Porsche doing a re-make of the 914 because that would violate their form-follows-function logic. Look what a packaging trick it was for VW to fit the Golf platform under a Beetle shape, and for what? Looks, basically. Totally unlike Porsche.

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by Joe V

Do you think they'll come out with a new 914 kind of like they did with the new Beetle??

I sure hope not!

[stinkpot]

I agree with JeremyD. Weideking saved the company financially. but diluted the crap out of the brand. Cayenne? Panamera? Yuck. There's potential for Porsche to become a sports car company again, and I think Piech has a lot of passion for the brand.

[JeremyD]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

What about Porsche?
What about a 911 with an Audi sourced V8 in the back?
A future Boxter with a 3.2 litre V6 VW motor?.. (Already in the base Cayene) Not the sexiest Porsche but at least it has some integrity.
The Panamera could be one of the most short lived P cars ever. (Maybe not such a bad thing)
I think we will see some platform sharing but only at the lower levels - such as the new diesel roadster VW - at the very most, maybe a entry level boxster - but Piech is family. He now has an opportunity to put his name on a Porsche product again. I think he'll make it count. Look what he did with the R8

Will we ever see another car like the 959?
Porsche lost money on every 959 sold so they could showcase their technical abilities.
Would such an indulgence be allowed by the VW mangers and share holders?

Look at Bugatti Veyron- They supposedly lost money on every car



Is it the last days of the specials?
Will Porsche be allowed to produce small volume RS style 911's alongside the regular models?
Or more likely finds ways to build a cheaper 911 so they can maximise their profits.

I think you are talking about Windeking here. He was always about profitability - he touted it at every opportunity.

Time will tell.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

I think you are talking about Windeking here. He was always about profitability - he touted it at every opportunity.

Time will tell.

You're right. Time will tell...

[tcar]

Well, the 914 and 924 were co-developed.

In fact both started their design lives as VW's (Ghia replacements).

Not all gloom and doom here.

[ianc]

I think it's a good thing.

Piech cares about what Porsche stands for more than Wienerking ever could. Backed by VW $$$ and under Piech's watchful eye, Porsche can abandon dopey cash cow projects like the Panamera and Cayenne and go back to what it should be doing; building world class sports cars.

ianc

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by ianc

I think it's a good thing.

Piech cares about what Porsche stands for more than Wienerking ever could. Backed by VW $$$ and under Piech's watchful eye, Porsche can abandon dopey cash cow projects like the Panamera and Cayenne and go back to what it should be doing; building world class sports cars.

ianc

I hope you're right!