Porsche boss: Scorned 928 was great
03-06-2014, 03:31 AM
#31
I have met him when he was CEO of Porsche France during a Le Mans Classic.
He was walking alone around the 928s, even if there was only around 50 of them lost into around 1000 Porsches.
He is a nice man, really.
03-06-2014, 03:46 AM
#32
AutoX
I remember a roadtest from Motor Sport magazine in 1979/1980 which concluded "motoring perfection for the cost of a nice house" and I think that sums up the target market.As I see it the 928 sold as a rival to Ferrari and Lamborghini GT,s and in those terms must be seen as a success as certainly those marques never sold in anything like the same numbers year on year.
03-06-2014, 09:46 AM
#33
Rennlist Member
I remember a roadtest from Motor Sport magazine in 1979/1980 which concluded "motoring perfection for the cost of a nice house" and I think that sums up the target market.As I see it the 928 sold as a rival to Ferrari and Lamborghini GT,s and in those terms must be seen as a success as certainly those marques never sold in anything like the same numbers year on year.
03-06-2014, 01:20 PM
#34
Drifting
To put it is perspective....last year Porsche sold 143,096 vehicles. about 78,000 of which are trucks expensive trucks , also sold 27,331 Panameras a high dollar limited market none joe average car. So by comparison 928 sales were pretty insignificant especially for the very high development costs of a all new designed car...
Again perspective.....lifted from Wiki "
In the first year, 63,110 Edsels were sold in the United States; an additional 4,935 units were sold in Canada.
And Erkka is correct that Porsche could easily have made 10,000 of the 928s in any given year problem was they could NOT SELL THEM !! Right, wrong, or indifferent the market place decided that 928s were not needed ......and that from a marketing viewpoint is an Edsel.
In the first year, 63,110 Edsels were sold in the United States; an additional 4,935 units were sold in Canada.
And Erkka is correct that Porsche could easily have made 10,000 of the 928s in any given year problem was they could NOT SELL THEM !! Right, wrong, or indifferent the market place decided that 928s were not needed ......and that from a marketing viewpoint is an Edsel.
Jim -- parts knowledge, probably 2nd to none, but on this subject way off the mark.
If you want to compare mid 80's car market to today's market, which is apples to oranges because of the explosion of income inequality, etc....., you have to do it correctly. The 928 was an extremely expensive car in its day. Equivalent to TTS or PTS, drill down in the porsche sales numbers for those sales.
Going back to apples to apples in the 80's, the 928 completely demolished it's competitors on a sales basis. Namely the 308, 328, 348, Lotus, even jalpa. The 928 from introduction up to the redesign was a HUGE success.
The GTS itself was a sales flop, economy was tough, along with the design and lack of develoment, the competition was pulling away with cars like the 355. I have done a lot of research on this in the past, and those are the facts.
03-06-2014, 02:22 PM
#35
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
I guess that explains why Porsche is still making 928s.......oh right never mind 
I remember reading in the book Excellence was Expected how the design costs for the 924 was a huge number and can only imagine how much was expended on the "clean sheet" 928. Never even heard any number for that ! Then to amortize it over only some 60,000 units.
I would also take exception to the apples to apples of the 928 as a competitor to the 308,328,Lotus, or Jalpa..... more like XJS and Mercedes roadsters as noted in many contemporary auto magazine comparisons. People actually used the 928 as transportation as an automobile to get from point A to point B , not simply something to garage and look at or take to an occasional car show.... lots of 928s with 200,000 miles on them some with far more !
I am just glad they made them, wish they still did...
I remember reading in the book Excellence was Expected how the design costs for the 924 was a huge number and can only imagine how much was expended on the "clean sheet" 928. Never even heard any number for that ! Then to amortize it over only some 60,000 units.
I would also take exception to the apples to apples of the 928 as a competitor to the 308,328,Lotus, or Jalpa..... more like XJS and Mercedes roadsters as noted in many contemporary auto magazine comparisons. People actually used the 928 as transportation as an automobile to get from point A to point B , not simply something to garage and look at or take to an occasional car show.... lots of 928s with 200,000 miles on them
some with far more ! I am just glad they made them, wish they still did...
03-06-2014, 02:38 PM
#36
Drifting
I guess that explains why Porsche is still making 928s.......oh right never mind
I remember reading in the book Excellence was Expected how the design costs for the 924 was a huge number and can only imagine how much was expended on the "clean sheet" 928. Never even heard any number for that ! Then to amortize it over only some 60,000 units.
I would also take exception to the apples to apples of the 928 as a competitor to the 308,328,Lotus, or Jalpa..... more like XJS and Mercedes roadsters as noted in many contemporary auto magazine comparisons. People actually used the 928 as transportation as an automobile to get from point A to point B , not simply something to garage and look at or take to an occasional car show.... lots of 928s with 200,000 miles on them some with far more !
I am just glad they made them, wish they still did...
I remember reading in the book Excellence was Expected how the design costs for the 924 was a huge number and can only imagine how much was expended on the "clean sheet" 928. Never even heard any number for that ! Then to amortize it over only some 60,000 units.
I would also take exception to the apples to apples of the 928 as a competitor to the 308,328,Lotus, or Jalpa..... more like XJS and Mercedes roadsters as noted in many contemporary auto magazine comparisons. People actually used the 928 as transportation as an automobile to get from point A to point B , not simply something to garage and look at or take to an occasional car show.... lots of 928s with 200,000 miles on them
some with far more ! I am just glad they made them, wish they still did...
I said it above and said it in detail in the past the redesign was a fail. The GTS did not keep pace with the competition and the marketing was always ****.
03-06-2014, 02:47 PM
#37
Drifting
03-06-2014, 02:48 PM
#38
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
We actually had a Jag coupe at a few events...nice lady Dentist's wife I believe, well maybe not, but she had a great time wore out the front tires on that pig and was really slow as well.
Now how would a $181,000 Testarossa 1984 model with a reputed top speed of 195 MPH get compared to a 928 ????? I must be missing something...it was three times the price and not really much of a car great looking art piece however.
Now how would a $181,000 Testarossa 1984 model with a reputed top speed of 195 MPH get compared to a 928 ????? I must be missing something...it was three times the price and not really much of a car great looking art piece however.
03-06-2014, 02:54 PM
#39
Drifting
"I'm still thrilled at the sight of a 928, S or otherwise, coming up in my rear-view mirror. There is no current-production Ferrari or Lamborghini that could give me greater pleasure than a 32-valve 928S, and there is no car I would rather own. It is unfortunate that the 928S of my dreams would cost me about what I would pay for a farm in the Irish Hills, which I can't afford either. I'd be torn on the subject of automatic versus five-speed manual gearbox. In my heart I know that all Porsches should be equipped with five-speed manuals, and I love the five-speed that comes with the 928S. But, on the other hand, I also know that the Porsche 928S engine, with its eight cylinders, 32 valves, 288 horsepower, and 302 pounds-feet of torque, needs a manual transmission about as much as Susan Sarandon needs a third nostril. Maybe I'd get the automatic and try to drive it so that on*lookers would think it had the manual. I dunno. I do know, however, that this car embodies everything, inside and out, that I regard as the embodiment of automotive virtue. There is, for me, simply none nicer. —David E. Davis, Jr"
surprized I have to stroll down memory lane with you.
03-06-2014, 02:59 PM
#40
Drifting
but I found THE shootout review of the 80's;
Testarossa price -- $87,000 top speed -- 177
Porsche 928 price -- $58,900 top speed -- 167
Lotus espirit turbo -- $55,000 top speed -- 146
Lambo countach -- $ 116,000 top speed -- 160
http://jenniskens.livedsl.nl/Specs/Page6.jpg
http://jenniskens.livedsl.nl/Specs/Page4.jpg
http://jenniskens.livedsl.nl/Specs/Page7.jpg
have a nice day
seriously
Last edited by tv; 03-06-2014 at 03:19 PM.
03-06-2014, 03:08 PM
#41
Nordschleife Master
...I would also take exception to the apples to apples of the 928 as a competitor to the 308,328,Lotus, or Jalpa..... more like XJS and Mercedes roadsters as noted in many contemporary auto magazine comparisons. People actually used the 928 as transportation as an automobile to get from point A to point B , not simply something to garage and look at or take to an occasional car show.... lots of 928s with 200,000 miles on them some with far more !
I am just glad they made them, wish they still did...
some with far more ! I am just glad they made them, wish they still did...
At least that's what is in the "Gold Portfolio" book I got from Nicole.
Interestingly, there were 115k XJSs made from 75-96. Not quite double, but with a few extra years. (quick look on Wiki)
03-06-2014, 03:27 PM
#42
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Geez you just can not trust the internet ....lifted from Wiki "The car won many comparison tests and admirers - it was featured on the cover of Road & Track magazine nine times in just five years. The price of the Testarossa in the US was $181,000 in 1989, including a $2,700 "gas-guzzler" tax. The original selling price in the UK was £62,666.[13].....
Slow day for me babysitting some workers here at the house
....lifted from Wiki "The car won many comparison tests and admirers - it was featured on the cover of Road & Track magazine nine times in just five years. The price of the Testarossa in the US was $181,000 in 1989, including a $2,700 "gas-guzzler" tax. The original selling price in the UK was £62,666.[13].....Slow day for me babysitting some workers here at the house
06-08-2014, 08:13 PM
#44
May Pano:
Have a 1995 928 GTS?
Care to part with it?Porsche Cars North America CEO Detlev von Platen is looking one to add to his personal garage. 1995 was the final year of 928 production, and only 48 928 GTSs were imported to the US that year.
Von Platen recently mentioned that he would like to have a car like the 928 back in the lineup, noting that it's fast grand touring concept would nicely compliment the 911, Cayman, and Boxster.
page 34
Have a 1995 928 GTS?
Care to part with it?Porsche Cars North America CEO Detlev von Platen is looking one to add to his personal garage. 1995 was the final year of 928 production, and only 48 928 GTSs were imported to the US that year.
Von Platen recently mentioned that he would like to have a car like the 928 back in the lineup, noting that it's fast grand touring concept would nicely compliment the 911, Cayman, and Boxster.
page 34
06-08-2014, 09:31 PM
#45
Rennlist Member
