Nicole

Uh, I love the 989...

heinrich

This is what I've been praying for for years .... 4 doors are EXACTLY what the 928 needs. Marketability .... look at BMW. By doing this, Porsche are attacking a crucial market .... I hope it isn't vaporware .... GOOD NEWS.

Normy

A couple of points:

1. The picture shown in Autocar is NOT an official Porsche picture- the magazine states that this is a computer rendering that THEY did. The article does have a VERY fuzzy picture of a car on a test track somewhere that is supposed to be the actual four door Porsche coupe.

2. The article states that the new car "is in the spirit of the 928", not that Porsche has actually decided to use that name! I doubt they will, and frankly hope they won't. Undoubtedly this car will be a winner- but it cheapens a car in my opinion when a later, completely different car comes out with the same moniker. Let them call it a 938, or 998, or something like that. Hell...why not a reproduction of the "Op Art" interior in a limited edition model, or perhaps a new Weissach limited edition?

3. Volkswagens masquerading as Porsches. I'm not against this, as long as the car is fast, fun to drive, and has Porsche's understated style and uncompromised handling. The Cayenne really failed in many ways in my book, but I don't think that automatically indicts future tie ups between these two companies. Porsche just needs to be a bit more careful next time.

Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed

Jim bailey - 928 International

Nicole the 989 was that the stretch 911 exercise ...rear engine by the look of it ?

GT Jackson

I sincerely doubt Porsche would use the "928" designation for it's new sedan. Would you buy the new Ford Edsel? Nor do I think it would sell in the six digit price range. From what I read they probably will go after the BMW 5 series and they will not purchase body components from VW this time.

Rufus Sanders

Nicoles' first link is what this car should be. Two doors, four seats, 8 cylinders. a 948 or what ever they call it. I just want to see a 2-door V8 coupe. That's all they need. If it's big enough for 4 full seats, great!

I'm just expecting this to be another stupid overpriced, mis-concieved car like the Cayenne. More performance that the people who can affort it can use or are capable of using.

"What , get mud on my $90K Porsche SUV, surely not! Drive my 450 hp twin turbo Porsche V8 at 160 mph? Surely you jest. Oh it's not any fun anyway. I think it was a waste of time. I'll sell it now." Good f*^#ing luck on that! theres nearly 130 on autotrader.com now. What percentage is that of those sold? - Ruf

T_MaX

I think Porsche should cross a Carrera/Boxter/Cayenne to come up with a nice high speed, front mounted water cooled bi-turbo engined , four door luxo cruiser with a 6 speed Tiptronic trans!

I don't care what they call it! As long as they stay with the traditional numbering system .

Jim bailey - 928 International

Rufus I have to believe that some people are less than thrilled when asked " Is that one of those VW " towelrags" ?? .....................or get told " The "towelrag" looks better !" when ever a company becomes market driven it by definition is reactive and ends up being ...ME TOO , ME TOO . Gone is the creative design / engineering driven concept of build what we as engineers would like to have and hope that people will buy it too . The pursuit of Excellence subordinated to the pursuit of short term profit . Build it quicker , cheaper , just " good enough " to be able to sell it for more than it is really worth . Halt all racing , too expensive no short term profit ! . Build new "models" on the same platform to save time and money ( a Neon and a P T Cruiser , same "car" ) . All the Boxsters for the North American market are not assembled by Porsche (engines are done by Porsche but they very nearly farmed that out too ) . The big test of the Cayenne is going to come when they start falling off the leases 3-4-5 years down the road . Maybe when they get to be 10-15 years old I can use one for a tow vehicle ?

928Quest

Although the new 4door V8 will probably have some number assigned it will probably be known by name, ie: Boxter / Cayenne.

Marketing guys seem to cycle back and forth between names and numbers.

How this new car impacts the value of our 928's will be in how the press compares new Porsche Luxo/Sport to old Porsche Luxo/Sport.

It could be press quotes like - "..although not as raw and sporty as the orignal 928 the new (fill in the name here) does smell better.." that make us proud, or it could be "... everthing the orignal 928 tried and failed to be the new (fill in the name here) suceeds where the 928 flopped.." that will forever kill whatever resale there is on the 928.

928Quest
91 S4 Slate Grey/Grey

DK

They did. It's called an Audi S4 TT Tip, and what a fun fast and snappy 4 door it is.

Porsche can't do it because it would compete with the family business(es) model lines. Same reason why they are not racing - Audi is at the feeding trough.

Red UFO

Good point guys. If sucessful it might lower the price of S4, GT, ect, value on the market, that all depends on if the car cost $170,000 to buy then I wouldn't worry about old ones prices, then it might go up. Because new fans of these V-8 car will have to settle with 928 until they move up to $$$ version.

Rufus Sanders

Jim B. you hit it on the head. 928Quest, At this point I don't care about values. Hell, if the avg. price of an S4 drops below 10K, that just means more of them that I can afford.

I've been feeling like 928s are becoming just hot-rods, and only labors of love for those of us who really care for them. - Ruf

Red UFO

Gone is the creative design / engineering driven concept of build what we as engineers would like to have and hope that people will buy it too . The pursuit of Excellence subordinated to the pursuit of short term profit . Build it quicker , cheaper , just " good enough " to be able to sell it for more than it is really worth

Yep, the ferengi seem to have control.

T_MaX

DK, point well taken! If Porsche did do a high speed, high-end Luxo, it would be in direct competition with MB (also in stuttgart).

However if history have proven one thing, market share and stock prices drive more of the hard core decisions than anything else.

Is't all senseless speculation taking up valued band-width at this point.

bcdavis

Isn't MB owned by Chrysler now?

Just because Porsche, MB, and Audi are all German made cars,
does not mean they are not in competition.