+1 and I don't think the Panamera is going to help them at all. Cayennes should be dropped as they served their time in history and can be rolled into Touregs. I think the future for Porsche is going to be a much smaller, leaner niche player if they are to survive (and only with the backing of VW). Either that or they beef up the Cayman/Boxster models and make them the low cost high volume sports car and compete with Japanese greats like Miatas, but I don't see this happening.

 

You know maybe this is a good thing, the merger. It could let Porsche do what it does best....make quality sports cars, and leave the other stuff, sedans, people haulers, lower end stuff to VW! Just a thought!

 

It likely is a good thing. But Porsche's parent is a for-profit entity. The focusing only works it if is profitable. And the diversification that drove the creation of SUV's and 4-door sedans was pushed by the sensitivity to market conditions, limited market and modest profitability of the 911 line. Removing that diversification only exposes them again, unless there is fundamental change to the core sports car business. To me, it has to be up-market. Lower volume, higher margin cars that fewer of us can afford. Like Ferrari, Lambo and maybe McLaren.
I may be over-rotated here, but seeing the past 20 years of Porsche trials and tribulations and the challenges ahead in the auto industry, it just seems likely.
BTW, I think the Panamera is a great car and is going to be an increasingly excellent seller. It's probably got lots of margin built in and appeals to a larger audience than the 911.
I just have a hard time understanding how VW can efficiently manage all of those brands. At some point, the BOD and shareholders may question it all as well.

 

You guys make me sad, my business plans will kick off next year and by my estimate I should have enough to buy a 911 within a year..... at this year's price

 

I hope you're right. I'd buy one if I didn't think the back half was so ugly.

 

Don't know if you've seen one in the flesh. If not, you'll be relieved when you do. It's spectacular. Fails the photogenic tests, but live and in person, it's really beautiful.

 

The Cayenne sells --particularly the V6 . Unfortunately the Panamera abd Cayenne both came late to the party. SUV's had been out long before the Cayenne and large foir doors have been around a long time .

I would have loved to see Porsche go after the BMW 3 series with a smaller sedan and coupe. All they need to do is place that Panamera rear end on a low carb, controlled fat, low salt diet .

 

Most buyers of New Porsches are heavily invested in the market. July, August, and September were great months for these people as economic indicators were good, the market was rapidly and steadily rising, and the volume of new Porsches was high. Yahoo! This led to newly found expendible income combined with low selling prices, and therefore lots of Porsches rolling off the lots, albeit at heavily discounted prices. Also, at the hospitals at which I practice, there was a sense that "there is no time like now" given the uncertainty of our futures with looming health care reform.
If the market downturn persists, I think Porsche will see a steep decline in new vehicle purchases, even (but less so) if they extend incentives.

 

Agreed . Although October historically has seen a DOW decline . The 1987 "black monday" , the 1997 mini plumment, the 2008 2K+ drop ... Looks like today the short sellers took home the Gt3 with October jitters .

I am wondering if the Porsche moment incentives will be resurrected on 2009 cars ---but once the 09 inventory is cleared I think the 2010 models production will meet the lower demand .

With change comes adjustments and thse aren't easy times .
But these discounts have been like a breath of fresh air .