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Porsche Sales Falter By 24% In March

Agent009 submitted on 04/01/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 1:23 PM
from: www.autospies.com

[24] user comments | category: Misc News

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Porsche Sales Falter By 24% In March

In March 2008, Porsche AG, Stuttgart, held its ground well in a market environment characterized by recession fears in the US and Canada.

At 2,624, the number of vehicles delivered to customers was down by 24% on the figure for the previous year. As before, the second generation of the sport utility Cayenne with its reduced consumption engines resonated strongly with customers.

The most recent proof of this is the successful market launch of the particularly sporty Cayenne GTS, 396 units of which were sold on the North American market in the first month following its launch.

Overall, deliveries of the Cayenne increased by 33 percent to 1,227 in the month under review. The 911 sold 825 vehicles in the US and Canada in March 2008, down 42 percent from last year.

572 units of the Boxster model series were delivered to customers, a decline of 49 percent. Within the series, the Cayman and the Cayman S accounted for a total of 285 units.

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vonbeeler - 4/1/2008 2:36:26 PM

+5 Boost

Porsche held its ground well?? with 911 and Boxter sales down 42% and 49% respectively?? Thats a little contradictory. Sales suck for the sports car maker err should I say SUV maker. Its time for porsche to inject some horsepower in its sports cars. I can now buy a Honda Accord with about the same power as a 911. Im suprised they are selling any.

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ThierryHenry14 - 4/1/2008 5:13:15 PM

0 Boost

i could also buy a mack truck with more HP, but it doesnt mean the HP will do anything...

ThierryHenry14 - 4/1/2008 5:15:08 PM

+3 Boost

by the way, what accord has 325 hp and 273lb-ft?

vonbeeler - 4/1/2008 6:39:30 PM

+4 Boost

Maybe I "mispoke" on the Honda Accord. But most entry level cars from The C class and 3 series to G35 all have offerings in the 300-340hp range. When I bought every Porsche offered in the late 80's and 90's a Porsche had double the all around performance. That gap has lowered significantly to almost nil.

turambar - 4/1/2008 11:42:37 PM

+1 Boost

"deliveries of the Cayenne increased by 33 percent to 1,227" For all the naysayers on the Cayenne- This is exactly why it was brought to market- to help fill in the lack of sports cars sales and bring sales stability when there is a rough economic down turn. People don't exactly clamour for a 2 seater sports car when a recession is going on (check the 911 sales figures for the early 90's and 2001-2002), but will always need a practical family car.

ThierryHenry14 - 4/2/2008 12:17:46 AM

+1 Boost

It still does, you just have to pick and choose. I'm sure the 924 or 944 were not the best in its days, but handled decent compared to others, as the boxster and caymen does to cars today. the 911 are still untouchable.

vonbeeler - 4/2/2008 11:22:09 AM

+1 Boost

The 89 944 turbo out handled everything and had 250hp.
20 years later the Boxter has about equal performance.
Thats 20 years later!! I just wish Porsche had focused on sports cars instead of filling the coffers. This is exactly why I think the sports cars sales are down so dramatically. Recession will have some impact sure. 20 or even 10 years ago there were only a handfull of powerfull performance cars. Now everybody has strong performance. In my opinion sadly the base 911 and 911S and Boxter don't stand out at all compared to the past.
I recently drove a 911S and it was great. But for $100k I can't write that check and have mediocre+ HP.

lyonboy - 4/1/2008 5:08:18 PM

+2 Boost

Wake-up Porsche before you resemble VW in the US.

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ThierryHenry14 - 4/1/2008 5:16:00 PM

0 Boost

I'm sure the profit was not hit by much though.

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vonbeeler - 4/1/2008 6:41:29 PM

+2 Boost

Yes your right. The focus has changed too much to profit ala SUV.

gsh23 - 4/1/2008 10:49:09 PM

0 Boost

haha porsche should make a baby SUV like all the other brands. ill buy one! seriously!

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S2000VS911 - 4/1/2008 11:41:20 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

people looking for porsche & they still go to buy it no matter what. After brought one 911/boxster & one cayenne in their garage, and then they may start to think other brand ...

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ThierryHenry14 - 4/2/2008 12:24:56 AM

-1 Boost

Listen vonbeeler, I am a proud owner and believe me, there really are no cars out there that comes close to my Porsche in performance, so yes, the entry level 911s have not been all that great, but the top 4-5 911s are still untouchable.

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Lecsucks - 4/2/2008 1:12:54 AM

+1 Boost

Nissan GT-R best(ed) the 911 turbo, and GT3 which are top 911s. Also a Nissan GT-R cost half than a 911 turbo. I own and owned several luxury, sports car and was never able to talk myself into buying a 911. The look of the car is just too outdated. Porsche should come out with a car that looks like the porsche GT, or something more sexy than an updated 40 years old design.

vonbeeler - 4/2/2008 11:32:54 AM

+2 Boost

ThierryHenry I agree with the top 4-5 911's, but we are talking about sales numbers down. Most sales are Boxter and 911 or 911S. I think the perfromance needs to be brought up on those now. Obviously the GT-2/3 and turbo are awsome. I doubt If volume is down on those.
In fact the opposite. The GT3 was and GT2 is way over sticker. Proof that people with money want more performance.

ThierryHenry14 - 4/2/2008 6:33:00 PM

0 Boost

vonbeeler, i agree with you there. I think that Porsches are a bit watered down in power, but still, it still will outperform many cars in its class, and higher.

lecsucks - you have no appreciation for the 911, in my opinion, and you believe in bang for the buck, so I have no argument for that because that is your philosophy. And yes, I have yet to go against the GT-R in a time trial, so until then, I will reserve judgement to my experience. By all means, I would like for you to bring a GT-R to Lime Rock, because I'm sure its a kickass car, but not everyone will be able to mimic magazine test results.

Lecsucks - 4/2/2008 11:55:37 PM

+1 Boost

I am not into the bank for the buck type of car but your argument was that porsches offer the best performance and it's not true anymore. If you read my comment I tried to talk myself in getting one, but even after I test drove it, I could not talk myself in getting it. I asked the dealer why I satellite radio and bluetooth was not available in a 911, he replied that porsche are performance cars that are not in this type of options, and had a smirk on his face like I should get a different type of car instead. When I told him that you could get those options on both Ferrari and Lamborghini, he didn't know what to say. Porsche just need to get up to date on many levels.

ThierryHenry14 - 4/3/2008 12:38:11 AM

+1 Boost

I know and understand what you are saying. but please note, I did say MY porsche. And I think the reason for the lack of bluetooth/gadgets, if you will, that the dealership rep gave was very dumb. I asked the same thing 4 years ago about power seats in an Audi TT and they gave me the same answer and I was turned off by it. But I still got an A4.

I think comparing Porsches to Lambos/Ferrari on accessories is not rigt because those are highly customizable/low volume cars compared to Porsche.

But yes, I know what you mean. I hope you do not dislike Porsche for a few gadgets or lack there of...

Lecsucks - 4/3/2008 1:26:18 AM

+1 Boost

Porsche is highly customizable too. I don't dislike porsche. It's just that the company's phylosophy turns me off. The 911 is a cash cow for them. It's a car that has a high profit margin, and because of that they are scare to bring anything that would dent the 911 sales. The Boxster as so much potential, but they don't want the boxster to take sales away from the 911. Imagine Mercedes, or BMW, or Audi thought the same way, then they would not have a performance line. No SL65 because it's too close for comfort with the SLR, etc... But my main point is that if Porsche wants to reach more buyers like me they have to come with a car that is more sexy than the 911. When I pay over 100K$ for a car, I want it to be sexy. The 911 is not sexy to me. They call it a legend but that's marketing hype. That's their way of justifying an old design. If some buyers like those round headlights, fine, but offer a car that offers a sharper look, more work on the headlights, a rear that doesn't look like the back of a turtle... Porsche doesn't have the performance argument anymore. A sexy porsche car would sell like crazy, and that's what I want. Until then the Italians have my business, as well as BMW, and Mercedes. I still have to warm up to Audi, but the R8 is SEXY.

ThierryHenry14 - 4/3/2008 12:29:03 PM

+1 Boost

Understood, but Design is a very subjective matter, and I think that most 911 buyers are probably repeat buyers, if I had to take a guess, and I happen to like the design.

One other thing, "They call it a legend but that's marketing hype." Just wondered where you pulled out a statement like that from? 911 is a legend, agree with it or not. Porsche could design sexy cars, but they choose to redesign their 911 conservatively because thats the 911 buyer's choice.

vonbeeler - 4/3/2008 2:09:56 PM

+1 Boost

For me I love the look with the aero kit (GT3 look). If I could get the body kit on an S CAB with about 400hp. I would be a buyer at the 100k price they are asking now for the S. Other chioces now are Used Gallardo $120k or Used 360 Spyder $130k. Of course turbo cab at $150k but you will take a $60k-70k depreciation hit after 3-4 years

supermoto - 4/2/2008 11:56:19 AM

0 Boost

The competition is stronger by the minute. Porsche needs to really up their game. Unfortunately "There are some substitutes"

reply to this comment

vonbeeler - 4/2/2008 3:34:01 PM

0 Boost

Good one Supermoto! Thats it. Didn't really used to be that way.

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