The Porsche Blacklist

Unobtanium-inc · 05-31-2017, 08:09 PM

Can you imagine being on the blacklist, a dubious honor.

'We're not a hedge fund': Porsche plans to curtail speculators and flippers - Autoblog

Personally I'm real sick of guys calling me looking for cars but they must be "investment grade". WTF! Do I look like I'm investing?

---Adam

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Very timely.

In 1989 a local Porsche salesman got together with some deep pockets guys and bought up every 89 Speedster they could get their hands on, putting them back on the market at stupendous mark-ups.

It's been going on at least since then, and likely for longer. I suppose the Internet makes identifying these players a bit quicker...

Fubawu · 06-01-2017, 08:34 AM

It's a bit of a BS story as Porsche has created this with their preferred customer list. By allowing the same individuals first rights to special cars it creates a massive mark up down the road. In turn this looks good to the brand.

NYNick · NYNick's Garage

The 911R Design chief was giving a Tech Session last year at the Porsche Parade in Vermont. I raised my hand and asked: "Why does Porsche make cars we can't buy?"

The look on his face was priceless.

Unobtanium-inc · 06-01-2017, 11:32 AM

A friend of mine, deep deep pocket dude, tried to by an R, they said he needed to purchase a 718 first, to get on the list.

---Adam

Catorce · 06-01-2017, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unobtanium-inc

A friend of mine, deep deep pocket dude, tried to by an R, they said he needed to purchase a 718 first, to get on the list.

---Adam

You mean a 918.

And it is a very well known fact that the newest, hottest stuff is only available to previous buyers of their high end merch. There was an article about this in road and track or car and driver just a month ago.

I own 9 Porsches. I recently called my local dealer (a major so cal dealer no less) to try and order a new GT3 with manual trans. 180K car. He laughed at me. I said that I had just been to Stuttgart for a factory tour (went last month) and that they told me I could order a car with whatever options I wanted.

Dealer tells me that he has 11 (eleven) allocations, and that they have all been snapped up by 918 owners. I told him I would write a check for the car right now.

He laughed.

True story.

Unobtanium-inc · 06-01-2017, 12:21 PM

I met a guy in Newport, Rhode Island who was driving his new 911R. Didn't get the full story from him, but he did say he "has a few Porsches." I'm not generally a fan or follower of the new 911 crop, but that car was raw and impressive. -- Matt

trader220 · 06-01-2017, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catorce

You mean a 918.

And it is a very well known fact that the newest, hottest stuff is only available to previous buyers of their high end merch. There was an article about this in road and track or car and driver just a month ago.

I own 9 Porsches. I recently called my local dealer (a major so cal dealer no less) to try and order a new GT3 with manual trans. 180K car. He laughed at me. I said that I had just been to Stuttgart for a factory tour (went last month) and that they told me I could order a car with whatever options I wanted.

Dealer tells me that he has 11 (eleven) allocations, and that they have all been snapped up by 918 owners. I told him I would write a check for the car right now.

He laughed.

True story.

I don't know of a single GT3 allocation available. Most dealers have waiting lists far greater than the allocations they will receive. I would venture a guess that every one of those clients has bought multiple cars from the dealers they deal with and all can write a check on the spot.

We will be getting a slim number of allocations but our list is triple the number I expect to get. Over the last few weeks we have had 1 or 2 calls a day asking for an allocation.

Unobtanium-inc · 06-01-2017, 12:29 PM

Maybe Carl from South Coast Porsche can chime in, too. I bought a Macan from him last year, and I know he's active on the board. He probably has similar insight, but another example would be interesting to hear. -- Matt

Macroni · Macroni's Garage

Stupid on many levels......

Jrboulder · 06-01-2017, 02:13 PM

I was going to complain about the Porsche/De Beers strategy but my base model Porsche is now worth twice what it cost new and 4x what I paid for it for it. A rising tide...

trader220 · 06-01-2017, 02:50 PM

There is a long running thread over on the GT car section of rennlist about the dealer allocation. Lots of pissing and moaning about dealers who sell over MSRP. I have to agree, I think it sucks that many dealers do it. On the other hand the margin on many to most of the Porsche products is getting pretty tight.
I agree I think its ashamed that these cars dont get used and they can't be bought by people who will drive them. That's capitalism.

Rick Brooklyn · 06-01-2017, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trader220

On the other hand the margin on many to most of the Porsche products is getting pretty tight.
.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-20/the-porsche-premium-revs-up-to-17-250

trader220 · 06-01-2017, 03:36 PM

Thats what Porsche makes not what the dealer makes

KNS · 06-01-2017, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catorce

And it is a very well known fact that the newest, hottest stuff is only available to previous buyers of their high end merch. There was an article about this in road and track or car and driver just a month ago.

Ferrari has been known for this for decades. In fact in the '50s and early '60s the numbers produced were so small that Enzo himself might say "no" to selling you one of his cars.

But Porsche was never like this (with a few exceptions) until recently when they saw the $$$ that could be made, even if they pissed off the enthusiasts, the buyers that actually drove their cars.

speednme1 · 06-01-2017, 07:18 PM

With a little patience there will be plenty on the road to be had. The Cayman GT4 went through the same hysteria, and guess what....now they can be had with really low miles for a decent price.. GT3RS...same thing. GT3 will go through the same phase. Unless it's a must that you have to have it now, in that case...get ready to pony up...

Catorce · 06-01-2017, 07:38 PM

^In my case it wasn't so much "had to have it now" as it was the fact that I was told *at the factory* that I could order a car with anything I wanted on it, only to have local dealers effectively cock block it.

I have never custom ordered a Porsche and I wanted it to be the first time.

You are correct, however, I will have to do my bottom feeding on the lightly used market, LOL

speednme1 · 06-01-2017, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catorce

^In my case it wasn't so much "had to have it now" as it was the fact that I was told *at the factory* that I could order a car with anything I wanted on it, only to have local dealers effectively cock block it.

I have never custom ordered a Porsche and I wanted it to be the first time.

You are correct, however, I will have to do my bottom feeding on the lightly used market, LOL

Have you tried out of State dealers? One never knows unless he tries...you might get lucky...Enjoy the hunt

NYNick · NYNick's Garage

Again I ask: why does Porsche make cars we can't buy?
Restrictive marketing and production works, that's why. The more they say no, they more some people want them.

trader220 · 06-02-2017, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catorce

^In my case it wasn't so much "had to have it now" as it was the fact that I was told *at the factory* that I could order a car with anything I wanted on it, only to have local dealers effectively cock block it.

I have never custom ordered a Porsche and I wanted it to be the first time.

You are correct, however, I will have to do my bottom feeding on the lightly used market, LOL

The factory has nothing to do with individual dealers. I don't see how you were cock blocked? There are X number of allocation, you either didn't ask early enough or you haven't done enough business with an individual dealer to make the cut.

If you're a dealer and you get 6 allocations (which is a pretty large number for most dealers)... you have clients who have bought multiple cars from you and bought specialty cars from you in the past... you have clients who bought 918 Spyders who get first right of refusal.... and you have clients who have bought a car from you recently but thats all... who is going to get one of those highly coveted allocations? There are plenty of people who can stroke a check on the spot, so the ability to pay holds no weight.

Its econ 101, supply and demand. When demand far out paces supply some buyers are going to get shut out of the market, especially when there is no price elasticity. The "factory" has no say. As far as the factory is concerned they build the cars in the number which upper management says and they send them to the port. As far as they're concerned anyone can spec one out and buy one, they have no control or input into who the end buyer is.

If you want one, why not reach out to the person you contacted at the factory and see how high on the food chain they are.