Porsche well below the industry average and some brands like Kia and Hummer?
Price perhaps?
http://www.jdpa.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2005249
Don't think it's price. Sports cars, like boats, are luxury items for most people purchased with disposable income and lots of emotion. If finances change, they go. If bordeom sets in, they go. I liked my 99 Boxster but not enough to keep it although I got excellent service from my dealer and the quality of the car was certainly acceptable. The mentality of most car buyers who primarily need transportation is to stick with what works and what is affordable for them. Most of us are looking for a new thrill/toy/novelty. I'm not that loyal to any marque, having owned MBs, BMWs, VWs, and the Boxster. Two questions: Will the Cayman be your last sports car? If and when it becomes available, you could afford and liked the new Ferrari Dino would you choose to buy another Porsche because of brand loyalty?
Edited by - DaveC on 12/10/2005 09:32:12 AM
'Quality and Customer Service experience' is listed as the main reasons for return buyers. I can't argue with that, and it is why we own two Lexus cars. But when a car like the Cayman S comes along, you sort of have to cast all that to the wind if you want to live the experience of a special car. I never doubted that I would miss the pampering and carefree driving that I am used to with the Lexus brand. But what lexus can thrill you the way a Porsche can when it comes to driving? I am prepared to accept the downsides./fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/drive.gif
I agree that when you purchase a car designed to appeal to your emotions you should expect higher maintenance. The same goes for any relationship. At some point, boredom or frustration can mark the end of that relationship. A Cayman seems to offer the best of both worlds, but like any car it lies somewhere on the boredom <--> emotion spectrum. Was Jeremy Clarkson razzing his director when he said the
Coxster
lacked this emotion? If not, what car was he comparing it to? Certainly not his SLK. Perhapsa Ferrari, that he could not afford to own?
I watched that Top Gear episode several times and he is being sarcastic the whole time. He really did like the car, he was just pretending not to to try and be funny. You'd have to be familar with him to get it. It's clear to me that he didn't think the car was 'rubish' with 'mushy brakes' and that the best feature was 'Sat Nav'. All sarcastic. The complaint about Porsche holding the car back with HP and an LSD was genuine though. Same complaints we give around here.
It just seemed like he was using a bit of British wit to me (is he British?). Certainly it was a way to get his review noticed - as most auto reviews don't make a stab at being funny or controversial.
And really it is a racing review, so yes, not having LSD hurts.
In reality, I drove the car and it is fantastic.
LSD is more needed on a 911 where the motor is farther back – and happens to be going 150 mph around a curve. Not really a normal event, and the Cayman blasts through curves without it.
The standard brakes stop this car shorter than anything else on the road. I loved them.
But if you are racing and need more grab - go for the ceramic ones.
The Cayman is an amazing sportscar that holds its own because of brilliant mechanical design. One reason I like it so much.
