Porsche becoming Harley?
07-27-2019, 08:44 PM
#17
I went to a Lexus dealer years ago. Was looking to buy an SUV for my ex wife. I may have been in shorts and a T, but the sales people never assisted me, and when I finally went to the front desk to get assistance, the guy that came out asked me my monthly salary within 5 minutes. I went and bought an X5 instead.
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GTSence (07-27-2019)
07-27-2019, 09:23 PM
#19
The Acura dealer I go to is also excellent on both sides. Knowing how to fix just about anything on a car, I don't tolerate BS from the service manager. Every service I've had done at the dealer has met my expectations. They know the cars and have provided both the required service and given a heads up about things I might want to look at going forward.
07-27-2019, 09:34 PM
#20
Hard to say. Honestly, I never could figure out the Harley thing. Seemed like an excuse for accountants and insurance agents to wear pirate costumes and adorn their bikes with motorcycle jewelry. It seemed like their customer base largely refused any attempts to modernize the bikes.
The rise and fall of H-D follows their capture of a particular age demographic as that group reached a high level of disposable income. Now that group has passed the age where they are buying toys like motorcycles. H-D failed to connect with later generations, who associate the brand with old people.
The rise and fall of H-D follows their capture of a particular age demographic as that group reached a high level of disposable income. Now that group has passed the age where they are buying toys like motorcycles. H-D failed to connect with later generations, who associate the brand with old people.
I think Porsche has tried to remain relevant by offering both a variety of models and a high quality product and kept more accessible models like the 718/Macan in the portfolio. You might argue that H-D has tried to do the same, but all their bikes basically look the same, are extremely overweight compared to their competition and continue to cater to the nostalgic audience they already have (with new nostalgic audiences in Europe, evidently).
07-27-2019, 10:26 PM
#21
Burning Brakes
I got some codes and a check engine light on my 997. I called the dealer who had me make an appointment for a week later and said they would have to keep the car for at least a day and check everything over and possibly order parts. So I went to the Porsche speed shop that did my ecu tune and they checked the codes right away. They were both for an O2 sensor in the catalytic converter, probably due to the aftermarket exhaust. They reset the codes and said if they come back they would have to replace the O2 sensor. They did not come back. The dealer does very good work. But, wait a week just to check codes???
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GTSence (07-27-2019)
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GTSence (07-27-2019)
07-27-2019, 11:36 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
Come on Porsche. You are a sports car company not a hipster brand 🙄
07-28-2019, 02:07 AM
#24
Nordschleife Master
07-28-2019, 09:06 AM
#25
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This is the glory of capitalism. Get it right or fade. Even if I won the lottery I doubt I would buy a new Porsche. Patience in car buying generally yields gratifying discounts. I’m not a bike guy but I have friends who are and generally once they get a bike they are satisfied and don’t look to buy another. No doubt age plays a factor here in this decision making. I’m not sure the same necessarily applies to Porsche buying.
07-28-2019, 01:23 PM
#26
Rennlist Member
I think they are somewhat alike because most buyers are from generation X that are fulfilling a dream as they see their 50's around the corner.
Biggest difference is that Porsche owners don't wear Porsche shirts, jeans, pants, underwear and everything else that makes the Harley owners such caricatural individuals. Heck, I know quite a few and they even adopt a bad boy attitude while dressed like that.
Porsche has its characters too, but that's another subject I guess.
Biggest difference is that Porsche owners don't wear Porsche shirts, jeans, pants, underwear and everything else that makes the Harley owners such caricatural individuals. Heck, I know quite a few and they even adopt a bad boy attitude while dressed like that.
Porsche has its characters too, but that's another subject I guess.
07-28-2019, 03:51 PM
#27
Sadly since rejoining VW group, Porsche has become another SUV company, now working to become an EV company, pushing “products”. They are relying on what we all hold on to, and wish they still were, a sports car company. I still love my 997, but see it as the last of the true “non-product” Porsches.
07-28-2019, 04:57 PM
#28
Sadly since rejoining VW group, Porsche has become another SUV company, now working to become an EV company, pushing “products”. They are relying on what we all hold on to, and wish they still were, a sports car company. I still love my 997, but see it as the last of the true “non-product” Porsches.
07-28-2019, 05:10 PM
#29
Burning Brakes
The last time I was at the local Porsche dealer I could not believe all of the Porsche brand stuff they sold... even a baby stroller. And what cars do they have on the showroom floor... two SUVs and a hybrid Panamera.
07-28-2019, 05:18 PM
#30
There a historical reason that Porsche has a lot of branded items. Butzi Porsche ( the guy who designed the original 911) was pushed out of the company by his cousin, Ferdinand Piech ( who headed the design of the Porsche flat six). The former stated his own company called Porsche Design and has worked with many companies to re-design products. Many of the early branded items were directly or indirectly related to Porsche Design but more often, today, the branded goodies are just similar stuff to BMW and M-B.