^ Exactly.

There is, and never was, a 911 shortage. Porsche has been selling roughly the same number of 911s annually for the past 20 years. Demand for them surged a bit after COVID lockdowns ended and dealers were caught with very few cars in inventory which started this whole merry-go-round of customers paying ridiculous ADMs to secure a car and then wait times doubled which fueled even higher ADMs to jump the line.

As Diess says Porsche is not going to ramp up supply too heavily and then be stuck with 911s on dealer lots now that a recession is on the way in Europe and maybe everywhere.

I will add this though. A friend on mine has wanted to buy a 911 for couple years now but refused to order one. He wanted to take his pick from dealer inventory, see what caught his fancy, and no ADM. He gave up waiting and bought a BMW off a dealer lot instead. Porsche is losing sales.

 

It would be interesting to somehow be able to see demand numbers as well. I would assume demand in 2018 to early/mid-2021 would be equal to sales because dealers had new cars on their lots. For mid-2021 to present demand exceeds supply no doubt. The fact that I bought a Porsche (my22), to me, signifies a large increase in demand because not in my wildest dreams did I ever see me purchasing a 911 - it was a post-covid decision. One that I wonder if many others are making... YOLO.

 

I had a similar revelation, not due to Covid, but due to the improvements of the 992 c2s over previous generations (speed, track width, wide body, design interior and out) I always liked the 911, but always wanted it to be a little faster, or have a little more presence etc. and never pulled the trigger. The 992 nailed it. I’m sure others feel the same. There’s really no reason to lust after anything else with this one, it’s more than 99.9% of people can handle, even in base form and one of the best looking rides out there.

 

The Rolex business model.

It works.

 

The scarcity and rareness is essential for luxury goods. If Porsche cranked out 20% more 911s every year than the previous, this would destroy values of 911s so quickly that people wouldn’t be interested.

 

Total worldwide 911 production has been in 35k range for much of the last decade but demand from China for the 911 is growing rapidly. China will easily take up any sales slack in the U.S. due to economic headwinds here. China’s economy at its worst will continue to be a growth machine compared to the rest of the world. It’s doubtful the 911 market is going to change much here in the US.

 

That is the exact definition of a shortage: when the available supply is insufficient to meet the demand. It is still a shortage if it is caused by increased demand with static supply as opposed to diminished supply. And the result is the same.

 

100% chance my next car is a McLaren. Even with an adm offer, my dealer can’t / won’t / dgaf a gt3 allocation. Can’t deal with McLaren ? Well I’m not a Lambo fan but their most recent additions are damn fine. There’s a new Lotus, a new Maserati, and Ferrari is on fire. The order situation isn’t really any better at Ferrari, but there’s less adm bull****.

On the lower end, too, folks can’t get into the marque and are being forced elsewhere. I don’t see this situation being good for Porsche. They primarily sell SUVs. They can’t replicate the Rolex model and sell Macans. They’re a lot more “Mass luxury” like Apple. Their business model is nothing like Ferrari and having jumped up SUV salesmen act like Ferrari SA is not healthy for the brand

 

It is not the same.

 

Everything is more expensive now. There is no greener gas when it comes to the other performance marques.

Porsche never made a 911 for the “everyman”. New 911s have always been about exclusivity. Used examples were as close as you could get to an affordable one. The only thing that has changed is that so many people now want one, having the cash to do so and the YOLO from the pandemic.

Lotus? Enthusiast awesome, but never in the same tier in Porsche. Anyone who thinks otherwise hasn’t really spent time with one. I am totally bemused that Lotus is entering the “luxury” space now. Fantastic fun. However, it will never cross your mind that it is some kind of fantastic piece of kit.

McLaren? McLaren makes cars where 2 year old examples already have 5 or more owners. The steering is lovely and power delivery is glorious, but McLaren makes a car that you can park in the garage one Sunday and by next weekend, it doesn’t run. Yes, I am sure that someone can chime in that their McLaren is great. They’re spectacular cars until they aren’t.

Lamborghini? Uh, you’re not avoiding anything that you aren’t experiencing with Porsche. ADM, waitlists, and limited availability. The brand is popular with the crypto kiddies and rappers for the same reason — they don’t vet or choose their customers like Ferrari.

Ferrari? Do you know why you constantly come across very low mileage Portofino, Romas, and GTC4Lusso’s? Ferrari may not permit ADM, but they’ve institutionalized pay for access. You have to buy your way in by picking up those lower tier cars to get access to the higher tiers. You need to establish a history with the brand and once you’re in, it’s great, especially if you have some older cars in the mix as well. That being said, more often than not, that very same dealer gets right of first refusal when it comes to sell that car. So, they can sell it to someone else that wants in the club.

None of the above produce a car as comfortable, usable, and reliable as the 911. There is no greener grass. Porsche is where it’s at and a relative bargain compared to the alternatives, even with ADM, etc.

 

Very true and scary

 

Agree. Also, the new Corvette Z06 is due to be out nowish. A Corvette is not a Porsche, but I’m certain that a segment of potential 911 buyers could easily be convinced to go that route.

The main reason a 911 is my go to sports car is because it’s got a back seat and all wheel drive. Off the top of my head, the Audi TTRS and Nisan GTR are the only other sports cars that fit that bill.

 

The Vette isn’t a competitor any more than Burger King competes with your favorite steak house.

 

I keep thinking this too. This same discussion is on the Rolex forum everyday.

Shortages, waits, paying over list, dealers stock empty, customers will turn elsewhere, new normal, and every other brand wanting the same... yet Rolex is doing better than ever and every watch, even the previous slow movers, don't ever make it to the store's floor as they are sold before they arrive.

Sound familiar boys?

 

The C8 may take away some sales, but it is not a direct competitor. The fit and finish and the panache of the 911 is in another league