Ghost Rider

Reading the Fortune article, I have once again see the statement that all Cayennes are sold out. Wiedeking says the first year's production of 25,000 vehicles has already sold out.

What does Porsche mean by that? Do they mean that they have 25,000 customer orders in hand for the Cayenne? Do they mean that they have received orders from dealerships for 25,000 cars although those dealerships may not have customers for all the cars they order?

I have to believe it is the latter as opposed to the former because when we were shopping around recently our local Porsche dealer offered to build any combination we wanted in the Cayenne that all we had to do was select what we wanted and he'd place the order with the factory and then we'd wait.

I think the term all sold out is being used a little too generously, but am I wrong? Does anyone have initial sales figures so far and are they set up to track sales figures in the US?

Brent 89-GT

I think the US dealers have been forced to buy the inventory, sold or not. Somebody posted this elsewhere on the board. That would mean the PORSCHE has sold them but PCNA, and/or its dealers own a whole slew of them yet.

Two years ago when the G-wagen was to be first imported here by MB, there were waiting list that initially stretched through the whole first year allotment. Within six months there were used ones for sale. Now the used 2002s sell slowly when priced 10 grand under new sticker, even with virtually no miles.

The demand may seem great right now. I think they are playing a PR game to drum up sales. If I buy one, it will be after the initial frenzy. I am guessing that all of the guys buying the first ones will pay too much. I predict that within 6-8 months of the launch that you will be able to get one no problem, no wait, no mark-up.

I highly doubt that there are 25,000 deposits on Cayennes out there. Until there are, it is misleading to say they are sold.

Anir

Ken,

This Porsche practice has struck me as at best, misleading, and at worst, dishonest and short-sighted, for some time now.

Say the Cayenne simply does not sell as well as expected - due to its looks, cost, the economy, whatever. I suspect Porsche will look pretty silly when reporters begin to question the initial claims of a "sold out" first year of production.

On a related note, the first reports claimed that 25,000 units were "sold out", but more recently, I've seen a factory-supplied figure of 15,000. Don't know if it was a simple misprint, or if they have already revised their figures downward by 40%.

Brent, I suspect that you are correct about being able to buy one with no wait in a few months, but I bet it will be available at below MSRP, especially if a facelifted version will be coming out in 2004. Who's going to want one of the first year production ugly ducklings?

Brent 89-GT

Is 15,000 the US figure and 25,000 worldwide?

I don't think the looks are going to hurt it. Just witness the BMW 7 series, one of the worlds ugliest cars IMO. They stuck to their guns and have been selling them. There were lots of rumours of an immediate facelift. I haven't seen one if it happened. Is there a real discussion at Porsche about changing the look or is it just speculation based on some peoples dislike of the look?

John Murray

Hi Brent, yes 15k for USA and 25K worldwide(includes the USA 15K) I think what PAG means when they say sold out, is that all the import companies(PCNA for USA) have agreed to buy them from PAG. Maybe I am wrong, but that is what I think.

Good Luck, I love your '28!!

Anir

Brent and John,

Thank you for the clarification regarding production figures.

At least around here, the new 7-series has not sold well compared to previous versions. I suspect that is due to either the exterior looks or the I-drive controller inside. Time will tell regarding the Cayenne look's impact on sales, but I certainly would have purchased one if it hadn't struck me as so odd looking. So, they have lost at least one potential customer based on looks alone.

BTW, I love your 928 as well. Growing up, I was as enamored with the 928 as with the 911.

John H. in DC Area

I generally agree with you Brent that 15,000 sales is really not that high. But I'm not sure the BMW 7 Series analogy is apt because although a significant percentage of people (Bangle-haters?) think it doesn't look good, the 7 Series sells well because it is a very well established and greatly aspired to luxury vehicle. It has owned its niche (with periodic assaults from the Benz S class and the Audi A8) for years and years. Many prior 7 Series owners jump from one iteration of the 7 Series to the next just as a matter of course year after year. In contrast, the Cayenne has to work its way to the top, draw new buyers away from other luxury marques and kinds of vehicles, and stay there for at least 12 straight months for it to hit 15,000, and then it must do the same year after year. A tall order for Porsche, but the Cayenne's speed and on-road handling are class-leading (I think, although Ken and his FX45 may be neck and neck with the Cayenne S onroad), and a redesign sure would help a lot, IMO.

Rob in WA

Hardly sold out. Sales people have been cold calling 996 owners about the Pepper.

Mike in Chi

John H

check your private messages

John H. in DC Area

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Mike in Chi:
<strong>John H

check your private messages</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Right back at cha, with photo <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Brent 89-GT

Point taken on the 7 series debacle. As a two time 7 series owner, I have held onto our 1998. I can't stand the new versions. I even tried an S600 for a while, my wife loves the look and feel of the Bimmer better, so it stays <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

As far as the looks of the Cayenne, is it really any better or worse than any other SUV out there? The only one that catches my eye is the X5. The rest are pretty generically designed and not really very "attractive" to my eye. The C has its own look. I think it has a definate family resemblance with the current models. Does it really need more than that? It is a matter of opinion and, time will tell.

Unless somebody states otherwise, can I assume that there really isn't a plan to change the car after the first year? That would be an extremely rare occurance based on what it would cost in tooling etc.

BTW, Thanks for the comments on the 28, I love it I would consider kicking it out for the 993TT though <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Sun Ra

my dealer in AZ has sold out all his TT Cayennes.

Brent 89-GT

How many is that though? 5-6, 10 maybe?

What is the expected ratio of TT vs S models?

M758

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by watt:
<strong>my dealer in AZ has sold out all his TT Cayennes.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Ohh Goodie!!! <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />
Maybe I will have some guys to play in the dirt with!

laurence '97 C4S

Just spoke to my dealer tonight and we got to talking about the Cayenne. He told me in no uncertain terms, it is not sold out.