Panamera Is Bringing In A Differnt Kind of Customer
07-18-2010, 12:17 AM
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Panamera Is Bringing In A Differnt Kind of Customer
Was out and about looking for tile with the woman. We stopped at a well known Porsche dealer in the area as we had to pass it.
A couple of observations, first off they had little to no inventory of 911/Boxster/Cayman. On the the other hand they did have quite a few Cayennes and Panameras. It appears the Cayenne and Panamera are whats keeping the company afloat.
We just browsed and no one seemed interested in talking to us. But we did get to watch the new clientele that the Panamera is bringing in.
In the past Porsche dealerships were kind of the temple of racing
. Not so much anymore. Makes me kind of sad as they seem to be living off their fame from the past.
Anyway the new clientele is of the worst kind - vapid, shallow who know nothing about Porsche and its racing but are interested in the Porsche "name" and "lifestyle" whatever that is.
The enthusiast is long dead I guess and the door was opened via the Cayenne as I see many a fat soccer mom driving them.
I am not saying vapid shallow people didnt buy 911's in the past but it kind of weeded out the pretenders as most could not deal with what the cars demanded.
Nobody offered us a brochure nor even a cup of water.
We also stopped at the Audi dealer and they bent over backwards to be nice to us (it helped we drove up with an Audi) and drove a new S4. The car was a rocket. 0-60 in like 5 seconds Incredible performance.
oh well, what can you do...
A couple of observations, first off they had little to no inventory of 911/Boxster/Cayman. On the the other hand they did have quite a few Cayennes and Panameras. It appears the Cayenne and Panamera are whats keeping the company afloat.
We just browsed and no one seemed interested in talking to us. But we did get to watch the new clientele that the Panamera is bringing in.
In the past Porsche dealerships were kind of the temple of racing
. Not so much anymore. Makes me kind of sad as they seem to be living off their fame from the past. Anyway the new clientele is of the worst kind - vapid, shallow who know nothing about Porsche and its racing but are interested in the Porsche "name" and "lifestyle" whatever that is.
The enthusiast is long dead I guess and the door was opened via the Cayenne as I see many a fat soccer mom driving them.
I am not saying vapid shallow people didnt buy 911's in the past but it kind of weeded out the pretenders as most could not deal with what the cars demanded.
Nobody offered us a brochure nor even a cup of water.
We also stopped at the Audi dealer and they bent over backwards to be nice to us (it helped we drove up with an Audi) and drove a new S4. The car was a rocket. 0-60 in like 5 seconds Incredible performance.
oh well, what can you do...
07-18-2010, 12:45 AM
#2
Rennlist Member
Porsche as a business will always welcome new customers. If you own a business, you would like to do the same.
Most Panamera and Cayenne owners that I know also own other Porsches. Your observation has some truth, but not the whole truth.
How you were treated at the dealership has nothing to do with what Porsche has in mind with its business.
Most Panamera and Cayenne owners that I know also own other Porsches. Your observation has some truth, but not the whole truth.
How you were treated at the dealership has nothing to do with what Porsche has in mind with its business.
07-18-2010, 01:34 AM
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Poseur
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If you ever get around to test driving a Panamera you will soon discover that it was designed to drive like a Carrera. But it has 4 seats! REAL seats. We looked at Panameras and Cayennes today at the local dealership. They had many 911s around as well. But don't discount the incredible engineering stuffed into those cars. The Cayenne is what has carried the Porsche sports car business for many years. Recall that the Cayenne, first released as a MY04 car, has been produced 400,000 times since then--their biggest selling model. I'm glad for it--it allowed them to engineer the 997.
07-18-2010, 01:43 AM
#4
Drifting
Makes me kind of sad as they seem to be living off their fame from the past.
07-18-2010, 02:05 AM
#5
Nordschleife Master
To the OP: quite an arrogant and pretentious post, don't you think?
07-18-2010, 02:57 AM
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Upon first glance it does seem to reek of snobbery. Not that I know the heart and mind of the writer, mind you, nor do I claim to.
Porsche, like any other corporation worth its salt, wants to survive. 'Adaptability' is a key operative word in any market. Those that don't adapt, get left behind. The 911 is but one segment of the mkt- a very narrow, focused mkt; but it alone is not enough for Porsche to remain viable. That is just the way it is. So they need more products to appeal to a broader customer base- especially in THIS perceived economy at the moment.
The Panamera for example, has grown on me, and we will probably have one at some point- but that is alongside something more "traditional" from Porsche as well.
Better we have Cayenne's and Panamera's too; than no 911's at all- wouldn't you agree?
Porsche, like any other corporation worth its salt, wants to survive. 'Adaptability' is a key operative word in any market. Those that don't adapt, get left behind. The 911 is but one segment of the mkt- a very narrow, focused mkt; but it alone is not enough for Porsche to remain viable. That is just the way it is. So they need more products to appeal to a broader customer base- especially in THIS perceived economy at the moment.
The Panamera for example, has grown on me, and we will probably have one at some point- but that is alongside something more "traditional" from Porsche as well.
Better we have Cayenne's and Panamera's too; than no 911's at all- wouldn't you agree?
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07-18-2010, 03:06 AM
#8
Nordschleife Master
Upon first glance it does seem to reek of snobbery. Not that I know the heart and mind of the writer, mind you, nor do I claim to.
Porsche, like any other corporation worth its salt, wants to survive. 'Adaptability' is a key operative word in any market. Those that don't adapt, get left behind. The 911 is but one segment of the mkt- a very narrow, focused mkt; but it alone is not enough for Porsche to remain viable. That is just the way it is. So they need more products to appeal to a broader customer base- especially in THIS perceived economy at the moment.
The Panamera for example, has grown on me, and we will probably have one at some point- but that is alongside something more "traditional" from Porsche as well.
Better we have Cayenne's and Panamera's too; than no 911's at all- wouldn't you agree?
Porsche, like any other corporation worth its salt, wants to survive. 'Adaptability' is a key operative word in any market. Those that don't adapt, get left behind. The 911 is but one segment of the mkt- a very narrow, focused mkt; but it alone is not enough for Porsche to remain viable. That is just the way it is. So they need more products to appeal to a broader customer base- especially in THIS perceived economy at the moment.
The Panamera for example, has grown on me, and we will probably have one at some point- but that is alongside something more "traditional" from Porsche as well.
Better we have Cayenne's and Panamera's too; than no 911's at all- wouldn't you agree?
07-18-2010, 03:16 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
I kinda agree with some of OP observations, althought it's a bit exaggerated.
However, I am sort of glad that they've found another segment of the market to sell their cars to (namely Cayenne and Panamera), so as a whole they can still continue funding racing, and to build great sports cars for all of us to enjoy! Otherwise, many of us enthusiasts would be priced out of the market!
However, I am sort of glad that they've found another segment of the market to sell their cars to (namely Cayenne and Panamera), so as a whole they can still continue funding racing, and to build great sports cars for all of us to enjoy! Otherwise, many of us enthusiasts would be priced out of the market!
07-18-2010, 03:20 AM
#11
Nordschleife Master
This thread will reveal the snobs among us. 
07-18-2010, 03:45 AM
#12
Rennlist Member
07-18-2010, 03:47 AM
#13
Race Director
Was out and about looking for tile with the woman. We stopped at a well known Porsche dealer in the area as we had to pass it.......Anyway the new clientele is of the worst kind - vapid, shallow who know nothing about Porsche and its racing but are interested in the Porsche "name" and "lifestyle" whatever that is. The enthusiast is long dead I guess and the door was opened via the Cayenne as I see many a fat soccer mom driving them..........Nobody offered us a brochure nor even a cup of water......oh well, what can you do...
07-18-2010, 04:50 AM
#14
Nordschleife Master
07-18-2010, 07:34 AM
#15
The same thing happened with Alfa Romeo - previously a very niche brand when they introduced their 157, 156 and 159 models.
It attracted buyers who just saw them as regular cars who could not care less about Alfa Romeo history and heritage. But again these cars probably saved Alfa Romeo from extinction and are not bad 'enthusiasts' cars either.
I previously hated the Cayanne but came to appreciate it more when many of its production and design innovations helped the development of the 997.
It attracted buyers who just saw them as regular cars who could not care less about Alfa Romeo history and heritage. But again these cars probably saved Alfa Romeo from extinction and are not bad 'enthusiasts' cars either.
I previously hated the Cayanne but came to appreciate it more when many of its production and design innovations helped the development of the 997.