911T success?
10-12-2018, 10:39 AM
#46
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
To say they didn't understand is putting a positive spin on things . I'm more of a cynic, I guess . I think the Porsche dealers as a group tend to be greedy, and didn't really care what the car was intended for. They saw it as another way to load it up with options their customers didn't care about, and believed the Lemmings would buy whatever they fed us, especially if it had a "special model" endorsement stamped on it. They also assumed that because most of their SUV buying Lemming customers prefer PDK, the same would hold true for the T . Never occurred to them we might actually have a strong preference for manual. Keep in mind, most car salesman, Porsche or otherwise, are not car guys. They just sell cars.
Last edited by Selo; 10-12-2018 at 11:03 AM.
10-12-2018, 10:44 AM
#47
Three Wheelin'
To say they didn't understand is putting a positive spin on things . I'm more if of a cynic, I guess . I think the Porsche dealers as a group tend to be greedy, and didn't really care what the car was intended for. They saw it as another way to load it up with options their customers didn't care about, and believed the Lemmings would buy whatever they fed us, especially if it had a "special model" endorsement stamped on it. They also assumed that because most of their SUV buying Lemming customers prefer PDK, the same would hold true for the T . Never occurred to them we might actually have a strong preference for manual. Keep in mind, most car salesman, Porsche or otherwise, are not car guys. They just sell cars.
10-12-2018, 10:48 AM
#48
When I was shopping for my old GT3 I dropped by the dealer to take a look at the then new 991.1. No manual on the lot at the time. The sales guy (who is the sale mgr now) told me that Porsche doesn't make many manuals and that the manual is effectively dead. That mentality is a consideration when you think of how dealers order cars.
For the majority the T needs a manual or it's not a T. The PDK cars will sit because of this.
For the majority the T needs a manual or it's not a T. The PDK cars will sit because of this.
10-12-2018, 11:09 AM
#49
Rennlist Member
https://rennlist.com/forums/991/1036...t-ordered.html
10-12-2018, 11:10 AM
#50
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
When I was shopping for my old GT3 I dropped by the dealer to take a look at the then new 991.1. No manual on the lot at the time. The sales guy (who is the sale mgr now) told me that Porsche doesn't make many manuals and that the manual is effectively dead. That mentality is a consideration when you think of how dealers order cars.
For the majority the T needs a manual or it's not a T. The PDK cars will sit because of this.
For the majority the T needs a manual or it's not a T. The PDK cars will sit because of this.
I've had it stuffed down my throat in every way you can imagine. The thing is, I've tried it, and the bottom line is, to me, it still feels like a slushbox. Don't get me wrong, it's a really good slushbox, but the bottom line is I still prefer to shift on my own. I don't understand if the salesmen just truly don't understand that, or if they're just doing their job and trying to sell what's on their lot. Either way, it gets old.
10-12-2018, 12:22 PM
#51
Rennlist Member
Come on BlackOptic, you forgot my thread, the grand daddy of all T threads:
https://rennlist.com/forums/991/1036...t-ordered.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/991/1036...t-ordered.html
Back on topic tho... I'm in the camp that I'm driving my T. It's my first Poorsche, and it's got to last me until 2027 when my youngest finishes college. Said that way... This T will be a classic by then, and be worth much more!!!
Last edited by BlackOptic; 10-12-2018 at 12:51 PM.
10-12-2018, 01:23 PM
#52
Advanced
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps the Ferrari thing is due to the fact that (sweeping generalization to follow) most people who can afford Ferraris are older, and older people are more likely to be able to drive MT???? - I know that there are rich young capable people out there before anyone makes that point.
10-12-2018, 01:41 PM
#53
Rennlist Member
Strangely enough, if you look at the Ferrari market, F360s, F430s and F599s with stick trade at a hefty premium over those with paddles. That is a limited market of course, and Porsche and the dealers are not stupid so you have to assume that what they say about new car sales demand with the different transmissions is true - if there was more demand for MT than PDK they would build more and carry them as dealer stock.
Perhaps the Ferrari thing is due to the fact that (sweeping generalization to follow) most people who can afford Ferraris are older, and older people are more likely to be able to drive MT???? - I know that there are rich young capable people out there before anyone makes that point.
Perhaps the Ferrari thing is due to the fact that (sweeping generalization to follow) most people who can afford Ferraris are older, and older people are more likely to be able to drive MT???? - I know that there are rich young capable people out there before anyone makes that point.
I think something the carmakers get very wrong is that there isn't anyone out there who wants a simpler, more mechanical experience in a modern car with modern safety, a warranty, etc. They build half-hearted affairs out of existing (and well targeted) luxury sports cars, and then wonder why those cars flounder. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I'd love to see Porsche do something more like the Fiat 500 Abarth (too bad it's FWD) or Alfa 4C (too bad it's big scrill and saddled with an automatic), yet thoroughly Porsche. Low. Small. Timeless. A new giant killer, one to go alongside a 911 or Macan in the garage. It would be brilliant with an NA flat four or tiny flat six, but a rear-motored EV with Taycan components could also be interesting if the car itself is elemental enough. Straight cut gears could even add RSR/Cup noises, which are arguably more intoxicating than flat six noises judging by my experience in Porsche's modern race cars. An EV wouldn't solve my fixation with manual gearboxes, but perhaps it could be sexy enough (and useful enough in the real world) to make it irresistible.
10-12-2018, 03:34 PM
#54
Rennlist Member
Back on the T. It's sunny here, and the neighbor P club is headed our way! Gonna be a great fall weekend to celebrate the T.
10-12-2018, 04:36 PM
#55
Prior to the T, R and the Touring and now the Speedster Porsche dealers could not give away an MT. Not long ago there were 5-6 MT Carrera's in the DC area that sat forever. Several dealers I have bought cars from said they would never spec an MT for inventory. As someone here said they just sell cars and the T to them was just another PDK 911.
10-12-2018, 04:38 PM
#56
I think some of it has to do with the demographic of the dealership as well. I am in Orlando but I drove 2 and half hours away to a dealer out in the country to by my T. I did this because in Orlando the only dealer currently is a huge corporation. They sell a lot of cars and refuse to negotiate or discount. The dealer 2 1/2 hours away is in the middle of a huge retirement section of the state and they primarily sell to a demographic that is older. They don’t sell as many cars so they are more willing to work with you to earn your business. They also don’t have huge waiting list for allocations.. however the cars they spec always have PDK because the customer base they cater to only wants PDK. this dealer has to manual T’s on the lot now that have been sitting for a couple months. The problem with the cars is the dealer spec them half way between what either enthusiast would want. They have manual trans. So the older customers don’t want them. They also have sun roofs, 18 way seats and a bunch of other luxuries that a T purist doesn’t want.
10-12-2018, 05:06 PM
#57
Perfect example of a dealer not knowing what their customers or the market want. Those 2 options kill the demand for the purists that buy the T. And they will most likely assume they screwed up and never order an MT for inventory again.
10-12-2018, 10:49 PM
#58
Rennlist Member
If the T were as desirable as those cars, there wouldn't be so many sitting unsold on dealer lots. It may have happened somewhere, but I never saw a GT4 or Spyder unspoken for when it hit a dealer. I'm not trying to compare them in any way other than the desirability scale you asked about.
10-13-2018, 01:04 AM
#59
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Well, I was able to take a 7MT for a test drive today. I thought it was great, and applaud Porsche for continuing to make cars like this available. I decided to pass on my allocation, though, for a few reasons ....bottom line is it doesn't fill the niche my family and I need right now. If all one needs is a toy, though, it's a blast.
10-13-2018, 07:21 AM
#60
A high end dealer friend of mine used to say you never wanted a car with a "story" I.e color, options, model etc. I would suggest most if not all dealer inventory T's have a story and that is why they are not sold and sitting on a lot. Imagine a Mary K GT3 PTS in their pink, it would still be on the lot at dealer cost. Lots of comments about this car but many ordered a correct car and love them.
