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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 8,279
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If Porsche can sell that thing, the nameplate marketing cache is much stronger than I ever imagined.
I think people who are looking to spend $100,000+ on a high end sedan are generally going to look to the companies who have a heritage and history of producing high end sedans. Both because those are well known as prestige sedans (not some gimmick from a sports car company), and also because they lack that station wagon look and that horrible, horrible rear end. |
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03-24-2009, 07:56 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Spokane WA
Posts: 585
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Never underestimate the vanity and stupidity of the American public. This could very well be a success for Porsche. I laughed the first time I saw a Cayenne and didn't think they'd sell. Profits from the Cayenne paid for the development of the RS Spyder. Get the fools to foot the bill for Porsche's return to LeMans........cool!
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03-25-2009, 12:03 AM
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Je Ne Sais Quoi = Targa
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It does not look as bad as it did when I first saw pics of it, and I wish the company well, but it seems pointless to have yet another very expensive 4dr performance sedan, what with Mercedes, BMW, Audi, all making this sort of car for what must be a limited market. And the present economic conditions would not seem to bode well for sales...
And what's next, Porsche econoboxes, minivans, and perhaps a huge ridiculous raised-up 4WD pickup truck (big ugly smelly dawg in the back is an extra-cost option  )
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'74 Targa lightweight widebody, 3.6 motor, big bars, Speedlines, Sold 2018, '81 SC Targa with 3.2 spoilers, Webers, SSIs, 7&8X16 Fuchs, 911R style exhaust, Had a '71 911S Targa in the 80's, miss it, Had a '61 Roadster in the 70's, miss it also, |
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03-25-2009, 12:31 AM
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Wer bremst verliert
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 4,767
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 4 years as a member and my first use of the "special" smileys...
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2007 911 Turbo - Not a toy 1985 911 Cab - Wife's toy 1982 911 3.2 Indiash Rot Track Supercharged track toy 1978 911 3.0 Lichtbau toy "Gretchen" 1971 911 Targa S backroad toy |
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03-25-2009, 04:58 AM
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N-Gruppe doesn't exist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: *%@#ing GPS, where am I? Oh wait I see the Space Needle.
Posts: 4,394
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Ted '70 911T 3.0L "SKIPPY" R-Gruppe #477 '73 914 2.0L SOLD bye bye "lil SMOKEY"  "Silence is Golden, but duct tape is SILVER.” other flat fours:'77 VWBus 2.0L & 2002 ImprezaTS 2.5L |
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03-25-2009, 09:25 AM
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The naysayers have gotten confused by Porsche's new diversions. Porsche is a design company that use to specialize in sports cars. Now they are branching out to SUV and sedans. Obviously will be successful as they apply what has served them well in the sports car segment. Introduce a competent new model and refine it over time to be the best in class, make lot's of money and start again in new direction.
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03-25-2009, 10:58 AM
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Michael Delaney wanna-be
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 1K Oaks, CA
Posts: 1,533
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Porsche's marketing has always been about engineering and heritage. Lose the heritage and it just becomes another car company with great engineering....just my 2 cents.
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88 Carrera Cab C.R.A.P. Gruppe Member #7 |
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03-25-2009, 11:05 AM
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Those pictures make it look as nice as it can, it's almost growing on me.
It's a big car for big people, good for them. I'll stick with my little car, thanks.
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1977 911S Targa 2.7L (CIS) Silver/Black 2012 Infiniti G37X Coupe (AWD) 3.7L Black on Black 1989 modified Scat II HP Hovercraft George, Architect |
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03-25-2009, 11:53 AM
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AutoBahned
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get a Q'port!
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03-25-2009, 01:10 PM
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Typical Salesman
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I am one of the few...I like it! I don't believe it'll catch the price tag they are looking for though. Will I buy one? Maybe if the pricing will drop 40% -- to what I view as 'sedan' pricing!
I do think Porsche is taking a heck of a gamble going into this market, however; their Market Research gurus know what they are doing.
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"No Porsche should be subjected to the humiliation of a daily commute." 1979 SC Targa - Judy 2010 Lincoln Nav - The Purple People Eater 2008 MBZ E350 - Daddy-O |
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03-25-2009, 01:16 PM
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I really like the styling myself. Looks good, and great versatility.
I'm not a fan though of the "HEPA filter" (my vacuum has one just like that) fender grilles / vents that are becoming a ubiquitous styling element of the 2000's. I just don't get it - they looked good on a 72 StingRay, and should have stayed there. And it does seem a bit portly - 4000lb? My DD 2003 Buick Park Avenue Ultra likely has similar (if not more) interior & trunk room at 3900-ish lbs, and it's a 1995 design with few fancy materials and an iron block engine. But, I'm never going to buy a $50K+ car of any sort. So who cares what I think.
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'88 Coupe Lagoon Green "D'ouh!" "Marge - it takes two to lie. One to lie, and one to listen" "We must not allow a Mineshaft Gap!" |
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03-25-2009, 02:49 PM
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R&D guy
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: the border between the states of inebriation & confusion
Posts: 2,041
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No M/T ???
I was thinking it is not as bad as I first thought, but....
WAIT A MINUTE... Did I read that article right? All US cars are automatics? No manual transmission option at all?  
Last edited by dw1; 03-25-2009 at 07:39 PM.. |
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03-25-2009, 07:37 PM
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Quote:
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"Making things easy is hard work" My current stable: 1991 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 1992 Mazda Miata, 2004 Lexus RX 330, 1994 F150 4x4 Supercab Also rans: 1977 Carrera 3.0 (traded for C4 Cab.), 1983 944 (project car - sold) |
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03-25-2009, 07:58 PM
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I agree that some of the "styling cues" are a little cheesy - seems like a lot of Porsches are getting fussy this way now. It started with the Cayman's little round fog lights, then the 911 turbos bits and bumps and slots and so on, then we started to see a bunch of chrome.......
But, overall I think it has a nice powerful stance and presence while still looking nimble. The rear is unique, and I am thinking there is a goodness in the massing/proportion/form that we can't pick up in 2D. Remember the 1st time you saw a Cayman in the flesh? It blew me away how they got the overall form on that car so right - you just couldn't tell in pics. And, sporty station wagons are more common in Europe and getting more common here - think GTI, Saab 900, Audi A2 and A3, WRX STI, etc....This is kind of new take on the idea and I find it interesting. I bet it will do well for those who can afford it and want the latest. We are clearly a bunch of old codgers who like our old cars the way they are. 
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1984 911 Carrera |
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03-25-2009, 08:49 PM
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Almost Banned Once
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 38,787
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You guys really need to get with the program.
Porsche as a company needs to sell cars to make money. Why does any company exist? TO MAKE MONEY... That is their primary purpose. That's the reality of the world we live in. Love it or hate it... It's here and Porsche will find plenty of buyers sick of their bloated and over priced Mercs BMWs and Audis. I like that it looks different. Like the Citron cars of the 70s. They couldn't be mistaken for anything else. If Porsche are going to produce a sedan then it needs to look like a Porsche even if it has 4 doors. 
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03-26-2009, 05:28 AM
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Quote:
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Michael Sans Porsche...for now 2009 Mazdaspeed 3 Grand Touring daily driver / DS autocross toy 2010 Subaru Forester X Limited - wife's daily driver |
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03-26-2009, 05:55 AM
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Are they going to do a two door GT?, I think that would sell if they made it less hunchbacked.
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03-26-2009, 09:45 AM
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RS 73
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Santa Monica Mountains
Posts: 161
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I saw a couple of test cars drive down the road near my home. The car is a disappointment to me. Looks aweful!!
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Dick Lague RGruppe #79 1973 RS Spec Carrera 2001 Saab 95 Aero 2003 Saab 95 Aero |
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03-31-2009, 05:32 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,384
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I would buy a Quattroporte but I am not like most and won't pass judgment until a through look and test drive.
I will say this: my buddy has multiple new or newish Ferraris. Between him, his father, and his brother they have multiples of all new Ferraris expect I think the Enzo or the F50, not sure about those. Anyway, they are all PADDLE SHIFT except 1 I believe. The paddle is just a faster more sporty way to shift now. There is no reason to spend the money on clutch changes and the F1/PDK transmission are apparently ridiculously durable. Leaves little reason to get the manual when you can do all the same things but better. REMEMBER: the PDK is NOT your automatic transmission just because it can shift automatically. |
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03-31-2009, 08:17 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,384
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I would buy a Quattroporte but I am not like most and won't pass judgment until a through look and test drive.
I will say this: my buddy has multiple new or newish Ferraris. Between him, his father, and his brother they have multiples of all new Ferraris expect I think the Enzo or the F50, not sure about those. Anyway, they are all PADDLE SHIFT except 1 I believe. The paddle is just a faster more sporty way to shift now. There is no reason to spend the money on clutch changes and the F1/PDK transmission are apparently ridiculously durable. Leaves little reason to get the manual when you can do all the same things but better. REMEMBER: the PDK is NOT your automatic transmission just because it can shift automatically. |
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03-31-2009, 08:18 PM
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1981 
1974 
1977 Porsche 911S 2.7L
1988 Porsche 911 3.2
Carrera 4 Cabriolet
944
1984 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
