So what is everyone's take on this new VW merger? I know Porsche and VW have been working together for quite some time but now its an official take over of Porsche holdings.

This kind of puts a bit of a spear in my heart because I had always been drawn to Porsche and BMW because they were independent brands. I just get a weird feeling about this...

 

Old news. Porsche Holdings planned a VAG takeover but the deal fell through - complicated financial operations. Yes, VAG will own PAG but actually the Porsche family owns more than 50% of VAG. Plus ça change...

 

Wow.. this I did not know.. some serious stuff going on there.

 

Once a fancy VW, always a fancy VW.

 

 

You sound like Clarkson

 

Squashed beetles for everyone...

 

The key thing to keep in mind is that PAG is the lead on sports car design. This means that VAG wont try to change PAG too much since in the end its not their decision.

 

The day 911s are no longer made is the day Porsche dies...

So if under VW, Porsche decides it needs a baby Cayenne, baby boxster etc... etc... I'm only okay with these profit driven Market Expansion changes if they let the core group continue to conjure their magic.

I read that Panamera will be discontinued once its first cycle is complete (7 yrs..?) because it competes directly with the A8.

In theory, its a FANTASTIC idea to allow VW, Audi etc.. to produce 'the' VW group's suv, or the sedan etc.. But, in truth, the Cayenne simply won't sell well without its hood badge. We all want Porsche to continue to provide famous drivers with their winning cars. Then we pay through the nose for a sliver of that glory to be infused in the most mundane category of daily vehicle...the SUV. The keystone to this concept is that someone must be left alone (isolated from market trends, recessions, board of directors skirmishes, mergers/acquisitions etc..) a to produce the 'winning' wood from which the sliver comes...

If Porsche loses its focus, we'll be left buying cars from privateers...

DRP

P.S. I don't understand why 911 owners are offended by the VW beetle connection? The bug is the product of an automotive genius. Revolutionary, practical, reliable etc... It produced at a low cost point for the general public, but the engineering was impressive. VW no longer produces a rear engined car - it was too difficult to justify. The engineering byproduct of addressing the 911s handling 'flaws' has been remarkable. The bug is to thank for that..? But I do understand many people know nothing beyond what's at the end of the bonnet.

 

No more Porsche AG. It became a european company Porsche Autombil Holding SE and that's been acquired.

 

You dont have to be PSE about it...

 

I don't know.. I find the merging of all these large brands starting to create a homogenization of experiences where an R8, Lambo, A8, and maybe future Porsches will look and feel so similar that the the push to bring more profits in will simply force a dilution in every sense - function, look and feel, even technology.

I am sure these companies run a certain sense of independence and share technologies, engines, and parts where necessary but they all stood successfully alone at one point. Look at what happened to Toyota.. you grow to quickly and too big and everything takes a dive. Everyone is running circles around Lexus/Toyota now.. it is possible to happen to others. I question whether VW AG can successful operate 6-8 brands of that scale under one banner and maximize their opportunities.

My rant is done.. but I feel that the 997 or maybe the 991 might be last true pure Porsche product.

 

I'm not so sure he would be that complimentary......