Notices
997 GT2/GT3 Forum 2005-2012
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Porsche North Houston

Champion Motors files Chapter 11

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-12-2009, 12:17 PM
  #1  
Nizer
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
 
Nizer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Wishing I Was At The Track
Posts: 13,519
Received 1,729 Likes on 916 Posts
Default Champion Motors files Chapter 11

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflor...4/daily70.html

Dealers stuffed with cars they can't sell. PAG buried in debt. A new high-priced front-engine model released. Reminds me of the 70's & 80's....
Old 05-12-2009, 02:58 PM
  #2  
tcsracing1
Rennlist Member
 
tcsracing1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away....
Posts: 17,106
Likes: 0
Received 256 Likes on 172 Posts
Default

they still have that 2007 RS black with red? they wanted 148k for it.....
Old 05-12-2009, 03:18 PM
  #3  
NoSubEDU
Burning Brakes
 
NoSubEDU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,015
Received 19 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Somebody should write the editor...

The bankruptcy only affects the Porshe and Audi car dealership division of the company...
Ouch.
Old 05-12-2009, 07:39 PM
  #4  
OldGuy
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
OldGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southwest Idaho
Posts: 10,465
Likes: 0
Received 41 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

And I cant get anyone to sellme a turbo at a decent price and they go down the tubes
Old 05-12-2009, 08:27 PM
  #5  
mooty
GT3 player par excellence
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
mooty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: san francisco
Posts: 43,333
Received 5,482 Likes on 2,269 Posts
Default

^ the reality is champion may not be in "bankruptcy". the legal term "bankruptcy" usually means you got lots of money, but just hidden from creditors.
Old 05-12-2009, 09:52 PM
  #6  
enthusiast
Rennlist Member
 
enthusiast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,221
Likes: 0
Received 34 Likes on 27 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by NoSubEDU
Somebody should write the editor...



Ouch.
Actually I believe that is correct. They sold the 'c' to build up their cash reserves.
Old 05-13-2009, 12:08 AM
  #7  
P.J.S.
Rennlist Member
 
P.J.S.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,158
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by tcsracing1
they still have that 2007 RS black with red? they wanted 148k for it.....
this one:


I have not seen it on ebay or cars.com in a while... I know it was a consignment car and when I was there less than a year ago, they quoted me $175K and then I watched the buy it now price go down and down to the high $140s and have not seen it since...
Old 05-13-2009, 02:14 AM
  #8  
JohnnyBahamas
Race Car
 
JohnnyBahamas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,607
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Though I'm not happy to read this, I am not surprised. I mean really people, it is 2009 and Champion's website SUCKED ash bats. Couldn't even view inventory pics and details.

Let this be a lesson for others... sucky website = bankruptcy.
Old 05-13-2009, 10:35 AM
  #9  
MJones
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
MJones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 5,569
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Interestingly Champion is a Top performer for monthly Porsche vehicle sales #1 for 2008

Old 05-13-2009, 10:40 AM
  #10  
Nizer
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
 
Nizer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Wishing I Was At The Track
Posts: 13,519
Received 1,729 Likes on 916 Posts
Default

OldGuy: Can't believe I'm actually saying this but you're living in the wrong part of the country. My dealer (Boston area) is offering $20k off list on Turbos.
Old 05-13-2009, 04:54 PM
  #11  
triode
Rennlist Member
 
triode's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,138
Received 69 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JohnnyBahamas
Though I'm not happy to read this, I am not surprised. I mean really people, it is 2009 and Champion's website SUCKED ash bats. Couldn't even view inventory pics and details.

Let this be a lesson for others... sucky website = bankruptcy.
they are my local dealer and I check the website all the time. It's the standard PCNA site format and full details are always available for all new and used cars.
Old 05-13-2009, 05:04 PM
  #12  
TRAKCAR
Rennlist Member
 
TRAKCAR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: S. Florida
Posts: 29,338
Received 1,586 Likes on 734 Posts
Default

That's my dealer also, I hope they will be OK.
Old 05-13-2009, 05:55 PM
  #13  
Bob Rouleau

Still plays with cars.
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
Bob Rouleau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Montreal
Posts: 15,078
Received 255 Likes on 119 Posts
Default

My guess is Champion's problem is related to financing and not being able to roll over loans. They might have a mortgage on the buildings which they can't refinance, or, they have been asked to pay down several million on the floor plan... I suppose details will come out.

One of the problems all car dealers face is much tightened credit for buyers/leasers. Porsche Finance is a lot fussier about credit scores, even in Canada where no banking crisis exists. Add to that much lower margins and perhaps excess inventory and you have a perfect storm brewing. I suspect this is what Chris was hinting at.
Old 05-13-2009, 09:23 PM
  #14  
mooty
GT3 player par excellence
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
mooty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: san francisco
Posts: 43,333
Received 5,482 Likes on 2,269 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by MJones
Interestingly Champion is a Top performer for monthly Porsche vehicle sales #1 for 2008

i bet their other "hedges" failed, margin calls on securities or RE....thus need to hide assets.
i think i am bankrupt. i need bail out from PAG. a garden variety, zero option RS in any color would do. i am not picky.
Old 05-13-2009, 11:21 PM
  #15  
Crazy Canuck
Race Director
 
Crazy Canuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 11,183
Received 218 Likes on 108 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Bob Rouleau
My guess is Champion's problem is related to financing and not being able to roll over loans. They might have a mortgage on the buildings which they can't refinance, or, they have been asked to pay down several million on the floor plan... I suppose details will come out.

One of the problems all car dealers face is much tightened credit for buyers/leasers. Porsche Finance is a lot fussier about credit scores, even in Canada where no banking crisis exists. Add to that much lower margins and perhaps excess inventory and you have a perfect storm brewing. I suspect this is what Chris was hinting at.
I would second Bob's suspicions.

A big problem, hidden from consumers, is a lack of credit at the wholesale level. Banks and finance companies are being much stingier.

Anyone who has commercial mortgages coming due now is in for a shock. Traditional sources of capital just aren't there anymore and those that are are much more expensive and their terms stink.

Banks and wholesale (floorplan) companies want equity and they want cash. They are squeezing companies. Ask me how I know.


Quick Reply: Champion Motors files Chapter 11



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 10:28 PM.