Got a cool letter from Porsche yesterday!

Apparently, I have been chosen by PCNA to participate in some survey. The wording on the letter says they want my impressions on various new p-vehicles. It�s supposed to take 2.5 hours and I get paid $200 (whoo hoo) for it. I�m supposed to get a call in the next 2 weeks from the marketing company to get things in motion. I�m wondering whether the �impressions� are strictly related to what I hear/see around me or whether I�m actually going to get paid for some seat time in a new 911/Pepper/Box/??? I�m psyched to do either one!

HAHA! niice...200$ and you don't even have to buy a timeshare . if you get a chance, please tell them: FIX RMS, LIGHTER WEIGHT, MAKE 997 GT3 Very Hardcore.

Very, very Hard Core GT-3 - Please

oh and bring back the 356

I've done some of these in the past with BMW. Who knows you might even get to see an upcoming prototype. Enjoy and take some spy shots!

Let's see what direction this takes whenever their marketing firm's rep calls me up. At a minimum, I want to get across these points (if they let me!): 1. Address the RMS issue for the current owners ala what BMW did for the e46 m3. 2. PSE should be standard equipment on any p-car (well maybe not for the v6 Pepper but everyone else). 3. ROW 030 should be the standard sport suspension for US as well. 4. Protect the brand equity dilution that is occuring with each iteration of the 911. I.E, make the base car less of a GT. 5. Offer PCNA approved extended warranties to any p-car owner willing to fork up the bucks. 6. And lastly, don't forget that it is the customers (& the currency hedging) that have made Porsche #1 in profitablity. Can't do a thing about the hedging part but you got to keep delivering value (read: Doesn't mean lower the price, hell raise it even a bit), repeat value, to your customers. With Corvette biting at the heels on one end, BMW raising the stakes with each iteration of the ///m brand, and F-car reliability improving ( and used f-car prices falling faster) on the other end, you are going to get squeezed hard in the sweet spot. So, build loyalty now so that you may enjoy record profits for years to come.

Excellent!!! Do us proud and enjoy! Chad

Hey Chicago, Tell them to use something other than margarine in the paint as a binder...I think you can actually make a hole in the paint by staring too hard :-)

The current one isnt hardcore enough for ya? what about the RS?

I did one of those a few years back about the Cayenne prior to its intro. It's a complete waste of time. Let me explain... It's a focus group run by a marketing firm. You sit in a hi-rise downtown conference room with a two-way mirror and it's tightly run and guided by a moderator. My group had about 8 people in it (myself and 1 other 996 owner and enthusiast, 1 guy who bought a 996 because it was good to drive his big dog around in, 1 guy who bought one for his wife (he drove it 3 times and damaged it each time) and the rest were women who didn't own P-cars and could care less about cars). The moderator asks a bunch of stupid marketing questions (what adjectives do you think of when you hear "Porsche"?) related to image, etc. There's some vague talk about the new model. Any pertinant comments from you as an owner/enthusiast that don't mesh with the thinking of the moderator get pushed aside for gibberish from the people who've never even owned, let alone driven, a P-car. It's all BS. The marketing people have these predetermined ideas that they want the "public" to rubber stamp so they can use it as a CYA if things go bad down the line. If you don't mouth what they want to hear, you're ignored. One interesting discussion area involved motorsports. Myself and the other car guy said that P-car owners want to see Porsche compete at the highest levels of road/endurance racing again and that this was a common feeling among owners. We were shouted down by the others who didn't attend, watch or care about races. They came to the brilliant conclusion that Nascar or F1 would be a good place for Porsche to be...if it had to do some racing. Take the 200 bucks, eat their snack foods & soda and try not to get too frustrated by some of the stupidity you'll see & hear. Maybe your focus group will be more interesting than the one I participated in, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

No RS in the US. - bummer basically i want another US edition cup car (964 RS Basic in 964 ROW terms) - a better way to think about the car is an "R" not an RS. Price it 20-30% above the GT-3 and i'm in - as a new car! Frindge - yes - sellable in 1000 units WW - yes, 500 units for the US - Probably and the 356 (done with a rear Flat 4), i'll place an order today. <good point above - but you don't get if you don't ask>

I'am in CA and received the same letter... Focus groups are sorta fun, besides I can use the $200 I await the phone call

I was asked to do one of those last year, 4hrs for 200$. Don't think so, I cost more than that. I've been in several focus groups for med/surg items, almost always a waste of time, but they pay much better than this.

Holger, appreciate the heads-up. If they wanna speak marketing speak, I can dust off an old text and try to use words that resonate with them ( I goto the best marketing b-school in the country, so maybe I'll wear a t-shirt with its logo on it or something C4S, it's not the $200, although I'll take it, I just like the thought that as an owner/enthusiast, I can have some input into the process (however illusory that input may be!) Cheers!

I bet this is for the new Boxster coupe! That car DOES look very cool, IMO. C.

And the bad news is these folks are today's majority Pcar buyer - not us enthusiasts.

Ben, that's funny as I was thinking the same thing as I was writing about my experience. As we all know, in the long run to keep selling high margin sports cars, the company will have to listen to its enthusiast customers and not just soccer moms or the value of the brand turns to dust. My focus group was filled with mostly morons because they couldn't get Pcar owners to show up for the money they were offering (as others have mentioned, most owners' time is worth more than $50/hour). I did it out of curiosity and to possibly have some input on future product/direction. Big waste of time, as there were only 2 of us that knew anything about Pcars (or cars in general) and we were ignored or pushed aside on most of the issues...which sort of mirrors the direction Porsche is headed. I thought the new focus groups might be about the sedan, but it's too early for that. The guess about the Boxster coupe is probably right. At the end, you'll get to see some commercials for it and discuss them. That's the reason for the group after they stereotype what type of consumer you are from the discussion beforehand.

Just make the GT3 for the USA again with the 997 shell!! and make it with the right engine!!! PLEASE!!! Even if it means the same engine as the current one .

I got the call for the focus group and was offered plan A or B the extended group with discussion. I chose B (more money). Having graduated from one of the leading design schools in the country, ACCD these events really are alot of fun to me, and I bring a different perspective. Done enough of them, to know the drill. Was at one for mini-vans, and the other people were amazed when I pointed out that the focus van was really a clay model

God hopes they don't want your opinion on some new 4 door sedan with great stereo and auto transmission, or worse yet, a pepper pickup!!

Believe it's for the Cayman the 2 seat coupe'

I got a call today and I'm going to the focus group on the 19th. It is definitely for a new coupe, so my guess is the new Boxster Coupe. I wonder if I can sneak some shots with my cell phone camera.

I am also participating in this in Chicago. Although I am doing the longer session which is for $400. I did this a year and a half ago. Assumming we are participating in the same thing, pretty much what you do is go into a room with poster boards of many different cars. You answer a bunch of questions and what you like about each or if they had this option would you buy it. That type of stuff. It wasn't too bad, but I have a feeling this time with the group session it might be frustrating. When are you going? I am scheduled for the 11th of February.

They have STRICT security at the place and do not allow any electronic devices. They scan you with a metal detector to make sure.

I was told that we would be inspecting the new model in person INDIVIDUALLY before the focus group. They don't want us influencing each other's opinion when actually viewing the car.

I'm scheduled to attend a session in Boston Thursday at 6:00 PM. It's at a big exhibition hall so I was hoping to actually see a prototype or mockup. I'll let you know what happened.

I haven't heard anything as far as to when/where and what I'm going to be doing. Sounds like a lot of folks found out in the last day, so I'm hoping there is a call waiting for me when I get home tonight!

I'm scheduled to attend the Chicago (suburban, ick) event at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, February 11. May be interesting.

I got the same letter today. How many tank fulls of premium does $200.00 buy me?

Around 6 or 7, depending where you buy gas...

Hey, my session was kind of cool. Went into this big exhibition hall and actually got to see, sit in and touch a bunch of new cars. Then you had to fill out a bunch of questionnaires - like how do you like the inside, how do you like the outside, etc. No focus group. It was definitely a Porsche sponsored event. The downside was that it took 3 - 4 hours. I�m glad I went. I�d say go if you get an invite.

Is that all you're gonna tell us???? Describe the cars for us PLEASE!!

Please tell us SOMETHING about the cars that you saw. Were they Porsche concepts?

I'm still awating the first call

Call THEM!! [phone removed]

Any updates from anyone?

IF you go, please make it very clear to them that MANY Porsche enthusiasts want their new cars. BUT... if we cant pick the car up from the dealer, break it in, drive it to the track for a weekend, and drive back home and have that passionate feeling that this car is truly the best, they need to go back to the drawing board! Our kind is STILL out there! And if that Boxster Coupe is CHEAPER than the base model Boxster, they might have the next 944 on their hands in terms of sales!

Fill me in on the interior room on the Boxster Coupe!! If us tall guys can fit in this thing, I WANT ONE!! Chad

A couple of people indicated they were going on the 11th WELL? spill the beans

They changed my appt. to tomorrow February 13th

Unfortunately none of the people that went to the session are going to be able to post anything about what they saw because we all had to sign confidentiality agreements that say went can't disclose any information without being liable for a significant monetary penality. Sorry.

Aaaaah! Now I understand. Makes sense.

Was it interesting? Would you consider purchasing one, would others? Could it be a hit or a dud? Have we seen somthing simalar in spy shots.. Was the session fun?

well why don't you tell us about one of those interesting rumors that you're brother's best friends' s pet cat overheard about porsche in the future ?

Weak. Was it worth it at least???

PM the details to me (or someone else here) and we can post it. We didn't sign a NDA and I have no idea who you are or how I got the info or if it's even ligit, so you're safe. Or better yet, tell it to someone verbally who's willing to post the info...no paper trail, no liability.

CAYMAN or PANAMERA ???? Did it look somthing like this?? Yes or no Is not saying what you saw

No comments from those that attended??

I'm going tomorrow morning....

I have done a Porsche focus group in New York City - I actually found it quite enjoyable, as my group reviewed and rated potential advertisements. I gave my feedback, along with logical backing, and was happy to see that Porsche used the ad I rated as #1 as part of their North American 40 year anniversary marketing campaign. Having one's opinion valued regarding something we're passionate about was by no means a waste of my time... not to mention free dinner and softdrinks / coffee! Have a good time with, and buy yourself some nice Porsche items with the 200 clams!

Well, I'm not allowed to comment on anything regarding the event. Sorry!

for all those attended, you guys all sound like customer service reps at 1-800-por-sche, when you bring up engine issues.. i wonder if they signed the same agreement when applying for the job..

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