STG

A "Launch" car isn't a demo car, show car, display/press, or test vehicle. Merely the first batch of cars ordered for inventory when the 991.1 was released in 2012.5

Quadcammer

I thought these were robust vehicles?

At a slight discount to a typical car, why the hell not?

Are these things made by Fabrege or are they from the racing lineage that you all like to tell your friends about at cocktail parties?

STG

These display/press/show cars are used to give out to the press to test drive cars, used at driving events, taken to dealers to test drive new models (like is happening with the 991.2's now), and possibly shuffled around shows.

I was at a Porsche sponsored driving event to test drive all their cars on a track. Trust me, you don't want these cars, especially after seeing the factory drivers rip them up and all the amateurs that show up.

Press guys who test these cars obviously don't treat them as their own either.

The 991.2's that are making their rounds around the dealers aren't being test driven to show off the new tail lights.

At the end of the day, they change tires and brakes on there and wipe clean the computer system I'm sure. Wash and perform a service and it's for sale.

STG

I guess it's good that they have a buyer for these cars. Put your number down I'm sure they'll give you a call.

MJBird993

That's probably about the only way that I would do it. Although the car may (and we really just don't know) have been thrashed a bit, that's really not going to make it a bad car, it just presumably shortens its life expectancy a bit.

Of course, if the Carfax shows it as a press car, then it would presumably affect resale down the road, so make the dealer show you that report before spending a dime.

CSK 911 C4S

If priced right plus the added CPO warranty, they are backing the vehicle 100% so I would not have any problem buying one.

These cars are probably taken better care of, plus if there was a problem with a component I would hope it would have showed up and been fixed during this time.

After attending a Porsche experience in Birmingham and listening to how they take care of the cars they use. I would probably try to buy one of them the next time I'm in the market if the price was right and CPO'ed.

I have to add..... all the videos made during car reviews on the street and at the track not one that i've viewed said something broke.

NoGaBiker

Short for Launch Control Demo Vehicle.

STG

So true ...

There was a Panamera GTS at the driving event I went too. The factory drivers probably launched it 10 times that day between two groups.

But hey, what's the harm?? That's what they're supposed to do!

DerekS

NoGaBiker

Just to clarify, I was making a semantic joke (and no, I'm not anti-semantic.) I don't actually have any idea what a Launch Vehicle is and I hope yours was never driven in anger before you got it (and I hope you're driving the **** out of her now!)

DerekS

Taken jokingly as intended.

I have launch controlled my car a few times, but not many. It's an instant day improver!

gearFX

Thanks for all of the colorful responses and honest feedback! I wonder if maybe I'm mixing up the offical nomenclature. The window sticker just says "PCNA Display Vehicle" and makes no mention of "press vehicle" (I only got that from the Porsche VIN Decoderz website, which may not be accurate?). Or is there no meaningful difference between the 2 labels and the terms can be used interchangeably?

Other than accepting the dealer's explanation at face value, is there another way to verify or learn about a particular vehicles usage history? There is nothing out of the ordinary on the Carfax report.

Approximately 4,000 miles, PDK transmission.

Turbodan

Launch vehicles up here (Canada) are used as test vehicles by potential buyers and dealers. I know of a few guys that have launch vehicles and have not had issues that I know of.

STG

4,000 miles and it wasn't sitting being polished at car shows. Display/Press/Driving event car, etc. Can be any of those things.

All the above are different than a "launch vehicle"which doesn't mean it was used for anything. My car is a 2012.5 is a launch vehicle and sold NEW with 19 miles in it. Just initial delivery cars when the 991.1 was introduced.

Hurricane

Yeah, seems like a lot of misconceptions about "launch vehicles."

I have had no unusual issues with mine, just the usual COV problems (heater & PSE) that seemed to have popped up in the earlier 991s, plus one of my engine fans quit (replaced under warranty). But haven't had anything pop up this past year.