Porsche Chief: There Are Plans For Low Cost Porsche, But They Have Been Shelved For the Time Being
There had been consistent rumors of an entry-level Porsche, below the Boxster. Porsche CEO Matthias Müller discounted the rumors, again and again. Just to be sure, Müller denied rumors of a discount Porsche again today, but he also admitted that plans for a low price Porsche were not mere rumors. The plans exist. Somewhere on a shelf at Porsche.
In a few weeks, Porsche production will start in the former Karmann plant in Osnabrück. To celebrate this event, the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung had a sit-down with Müller, and he said:
“Indeed, there were so such plans. There is precedence in Porsche’s history, the 550 was a very successful car. We would have to position this car below the Boxster, also when it comes to price. The question is, will the brand tolerate this? We think the danger of negatively impacting our brand is too big. Therefore, we shelved this project for the time being.”
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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There are lots of cheap Porsches out there. Check ads for 1997 - 2004 Boxsters. Well, you do have to worry about M96 engines and their RMS/IMS issues.
Low cost new Porsche is an oxymoron these days , even back in the 70s a friend had a brand new 914 for a few months and got more from the insurance company than what he paid for it after totaling it since the price increased after he bought it (or so he claims). And like Darkhorse says today you can get a late 90s ,early 2000s Boxter for a song due to their known engine defects . People that can afford a new Porsche buy one and those that can't buy used and get their inherent defects fixed - like that instant explosion engine Mr. Baruth opined about ! And then there was some teenaged kid who managed to barter up to one on craigslist staring out with a cellphone . http://jalopnik.com/5591644/how-a-17+year+old-craigslist+swapped-an-old-phone-for-a-porsche
Push the Boxter downmarket with a smaller car featuring a four cylinder motor. That will keep the 911 exclusive, and get rid of the awkwardness of having to keep the current Boxter crippled. If they lose some current Boxter owners, who cares? They didn't buy a 911, anyway, and will buy the cheaper one along with a lot of other new owners.
When I read the article, it made me wonder where Porsche keeps the plans for this lower cost sports car, bringing to mind the last scene of the first Indiana Jones movie.