I know this thread will probably get some people fired up but here it goes. I was browsing around the Porsche website and I decided that I would build up a Cayman GT4. Right away before I started putting in my options the MSRP was $85,000 and after I put my options on it came out to $93,000.

If you can get a Cayman GT4 for $85,000, is the 911 in trouble?

 

Personally I like the 911

 

You cannot actually buy a new GT4 from Porsche. But in general you're right.

 

If the 911 is in trouble, it will be from the Macan (more than from the Cayman; unless the Cayman grows in size to be the size that pre-991 911's used to be):

2015 year end Sales of all Porsche vehicle types:

http://press.porsche.com/news/release.php?id=971

April 2016 YTD Sales of all Porsche vehicle types:

http://press.porsche.com/news/release.php?id=986

 

The 911 shape is iconic and very pleasing. Porsche will obviously milk it as long as possible, which is probably a very long time.

However, they are clearly slowly moving the Cayman up market. Eventually the two will start to actually overlap. In reality, the GT4 is basically equivalent to the Carrera S, perhaps better. Maybe Porsche will only sell the equivalent of a 911 Turbo and GT3 RS, and the Carrera will be replaced by the Cayman.

There is a rumor that Porsche may introduce a Hurcan/R8 VW chasis "replacement" for the 911. I wouldn't be surprised, as VW wants to unify their platforms across brands. I'd expect them to make this new vehicle look a lot like a 911, although it will be mid-engine. When that day comes, the 911 will be officially gone, but Porsche will still call it a 911 or suggest as much in marketing and design.

 

Back seats. It's justification for many a father, like myself, to buy a 911 as sports car.

 

I agree, even though it's small back here, fathers with small children will still pick the 911 over the Cayman. GT4 is a beautiful car though but I still prefer a used GT3 over it.

 

I think it's more likely Porsche will keep the branding of the Porsche (and it's growing number of vehicles) as far away as possible from VW concepts. Porsche is the cash cow of the enterprise and the last thing they want to do is offer a hint that a Porsche vehicle is subjected to several "rogue" VW engineers (and that's exactly what a Hurcan/R8 VW chasis "replacement" for the 911 would do. (imo)).

 

As will husbands with wives who pack for road trips like they were making an around the world cruise!
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I'd have still picked my GTS over a GT4 even if priced fairly similarly. I like my car. I do not want a Cayman.

 

Different cars, different drivers, different purposes.
The 911 and it's variants is Porsche and always will be.

 

Astonishing that on this thread many 911 attributes are discussed except the essential one -- engine at the very back with transaxle over the rear axle, which is the reason for its astonishing traction and braking performance. The dynamics of this all-in-the-rear architecture are what makes a 911, and sadly, those have been significantly tamed on the 991 due to its 4" longer WB.

 

I was waiting for you to write it ;-)

 

GT4 never spoke to me. 997C2S cab seemed perfect. It's hard to explain why.

 

As long as the 911 costs more, people will buy it.

I've never met people as eager to spend money as some of the 911 owners I've talked to.