UK Porsches the most heavily specced in the world. Discuss.

[nsm3]

I'm pretty sure that this has been the case across all the German car makers, since the 1980's? In terms of BMW & VW, I certainly used to notice the volume of quite basic specced cars on the Continent, compared to what you saw back in the UK, primarily in the wheels department (alloys vs steel wheels/hub caps), leather vs cloth, sunroofs etc, as examples. Maybe we have oversized egos in the UK?

[Deleted User 1874]

I'm pretty sure that this has been the case across all the German car makers, since the 1980's? In terms of BMW & VW, I certainly used to notice the volume of quite basic specced cars on the Continent, compared to what you saw back in the UK, primarily in the wheels department (alloys vs steel wheels/hub caps), leather vs cloth, sunroofs etc, as examples. Maybe we have oversized egos in the UK?

Is it not the case that only a limited range of base specs are available in the UK in RHD? In other words there are lower level base options available in the LHD Euro markets. I guess you could check out the German configurator to see if that's actually true for Porsche.

[jesim1]

I think that in UK cars are often bought as a status symbol with all the silly bling you can throw at it. But on the Continent people spec just what they need for their personal needs, not for future buyers. They also tend to keep their cars for longer, it's not just a fashion accessory.

I'm not sure this is the case - few people ever see the inside of your car, so if I had a base model with no upgrades it would still be a "Porsche" to the vast majority of people, my mates think a Macan costs £45k

James

[Semerka]

I think that in UK cars are often bought as a status symbol with all the silly bling you can throw at it. But on the Continent people spec just what they need for their personal needs, not for future buyers. They also tend to keep their cars for longer, it's not just a fashion accessory.

I'm not sure this is the case - few people ever see the inside of your car, so if I had a base model with no upgrades it would still be a "Porsche" to the vast majority of people, my mates think a Macan costs £45k

James

But one can also pimp up the outside. On the Continent you don't really see it as much, the cars look more sober.

[goron59]

In conversation with SE this afternoon he mentioned that UK buyers spec their cars more than any other market.

Thoughts.

Hmmmm - not sure what facts back that up. I read & contribute to the 991 forum on Rennlist and in the US, there are certainly a lot of highly specced 991s in circulation.

Forum members represent such a tiny proportion of buyers though. Statistically irrelevant in most cases.

[Wing Commander]

Agreed, goron. Although on Rennlist, quite a lot of research/data etc is also based on cars for sale (across the US, mostly) and not just ones owned by forum members.

[John_M]

In conversation with SE this afternoon he mentioned that UK buyers spec their cars more than any other market.

Thoughts.

Is that way cars are sold though? I believe it is much more likely in USA to buy from dealer stock, so they tend to have a few configurations where as in UK likes of BMW and Porsche the dealers want to sell build slots and encourage you to add options - one of these encourages competitive pricing the other doesn't.

[Col Lamb]

Oh for the days of
L
GL
GLS
GT
GHIA

We knew what we were getting then

[Dandock]

In conversation with SE this afternoon he mentioned that UK buyers spec their cars more than any other market.

Thoughts.

Is that way cars are sold though? I believe it is much more likely in USA to buy from dealer stock, so they tend to have a few configurations where as in UK likes of BMW and Porsche the dealers want to sell build slots and encourage you to add options - one of these encourages competitive pricing the other doesn't.

+1 and US consumers expect to do so. The built to order is a relatively alien concept.

[Dandock]

I think that in UK cars are often bought as a status symbol with all the silly bling you can throw at it. But on the Continent people spec just what they need for their personal needs, not for future buyers. They also tend to keep their cars for longer, it's not just a fashion accessory.

I'm not sure this is the case - few people ever see the inside of your car, so if I had a base model with no upgrades it would still be a "Porsche" to the vast majority of people, my mates think a Macan costs £45k

James

But one can also pimp up the outside. On the Continent you don't really see it as much, the cars look more sober.

Not necessarily true. If you look at the Macan FB pages there are a high proportion of very pimped examples. Lowered, skirts, chipped etc. Presumably that ideology may also extend to 911 ownership. These though aren’t genuine Porsche options.