For all the reactions generated online when some people express their desire for a more simple, true to it's roots sports car from Porsche, perhaps it does make make a difference???

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...k-to-our-roots

 

This is all I have been asking for. I truly love my 997 but I would definitely be in line for a car similar to the air cooled cars but aimed at a younger generation. I find it hard to get excited over new cars focused on shaving .2 seconds off the 0-60. Give me a 350 hp go-kart feeling 911 that is designed to be wrenched on by the owner.

 

“The car wouldn't necessarily be cheap, he said, but it would be simple in design and likely devoid of most of the luxuries”

“A much cheaper entry-level Porsche would be the right thing to do, but that’s not my approach,”


Ummm, wow. So, he wants to cut out the expensive electronics and luxuries and make it simple (which would be awesome) but not make it much cheaper? That’s ridiculous.

 

My takeaway from those comments were that he does not envision re-creating a 914 but rather a bare-bone 911 that does not carry as high of a premium.

 

Except this was also said
"The car wouldn't necessarily be cheap, he said, but it would be simple in design and likely devoid of most of the luxuries"

Translation: It will be bare bones and still cost north of $100K.

 

2009 C2S 152K miles

The Boxster in 1997 was just that car.

It took a financial crisis at the company with stale product and gross costs to jar a bunch of old line executives to think out of the box. Porsche is too successful today to do that car again. Their objectives now are to test the market waters in highest price band. Their prices have been going way up faster than any underlying tech (either cost of or just usefulness).

No, Porsche will not do it because they don't have to. They are in a situation, both a fabulous global economy, and better run company now that their priorities are elseware. They have better ways of making more money than rebooting an entry level car. The Boxster re-established their brand.... now they are milking it.

As Iaccoca quoted Ford II in his first book... Ford said, "Mini cars equal mini bucks".

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

I read last year that Toyota could bring back the MR2 and they would probably want to team up w/ Porsche like Toyota did w/ the Supra teaming up w/ BMW. I wonder if this could be a start.

 

Back when I had my FJ62 Land Cruiser I always hoped Toyota would come out with a bare bones FJ40 reproduction, perhaps with a diesel for mileage. So they came out with the FJ Cruiser - not what I was hoping for. With all the Porsche interest in the Classic line it doesn't seem like a stretch for them to come out with a new 964 - that would be my dream. Even a bare bones version would be expensive with safety and pollution equipment. It would just be so nice to walk into a dealer and come out with a new classic that wouldn't need everything replaced for 30 years. I have to say Harley Davidson has done a beautiful job reviving many of their classics. It can be done.

 

I'd like to see something like a 924/944 reincarnated. Use a modular VW platform if you need to, but keep the drivetrain components Porsche. Something FR, turbo flat four up front (718 engine?), 2 seats & a hatchback. AMG GT proportions at S5 pricing.

 

I have a side of my family that is Porsche people. Unfortunately, it is not my direct side of the family. In any case, I was talking to my cousin who owns a 914 and a 718 with my 997 parked right next to his 718 in his driveway. I asked him about the new 718 GTS 4.0 and if he was considering switching out his 4cyl. 2.5T for a 4.0 that is NA. He said no. That makes sense to me actually. The 2.5T 718 GTS is about to go on sale IMO. It is the same size as a 997. When I park my car next to his, this is very clear. I would also argue that the 4cyl. 718 GTS is a direct descendent of the 914. It is like if they made a NB 992 smaller than a 991 just to pop a 4cyl turbo in and call is a 912. I doubt that would ever happen but I do wonder why people do not talk about the 718 GTS 2.5T as a successor to the 914. In fact, if I was going to get a 914, or a 718, I would be mainly interested in the 4cyl. models...just saying.

If I see the 2.5T 718s go on some kind of fire sale where they are "cheap," I will buy one. I really like the layout of the car. To me it is like a mid engine 997 in a lot of ways. Also, as someone who had a 2.0T EVO and stroked out the engine to a 2.3T running on E85 with 465hp/tq (i.e. way more than enough power for any situation), I think I could do a couple slight subtle tweaks to a 718 and it would be more than enough power + beautiful sound + arguably better handing than the previous gen. GT4 (e.g. I would put PASM coilovers on it, and other parts to dial in the suspension). Add some proper wheels and with very light mods (intake/exhaust/tune/coilovers/wheels...), I think it would be an amazing car. ...driving it back to back with a 914, you would see the direct lineage IMO.

 

Porsche has a habit of charging more for less features and less weight in a car, goes all the way back to the RS cars. They have built a brand on SUV's outselling 911's (3k a month vs under 800), I doubt they have incentive to go to an entry level car.

 

Why not get a 718 S with a manual? It’s got all of those desirable qualities.

 

Bingo. Not going to happen.

No one hold their breath, Porsche simply isn't interested anymore and they're probably isn't enough "enthusiast" buyers anyway. *If* something like this does happen it will probably be electric.