Demonstrator Request

[Wing Commander]

Just played for a while with 911 specs on the configurator and my immediate thought was what good value the Macan seems in comparison. I know the 911 is a different beast but crikey it soon gets very very expensive to get anywhere near the spec of my turbo.

I would agree with this. My Panamera 4 as specced by me would cost £85,009 new if ordered today (excluding sport tailpipes). I then specced up a new 911 C4 as close as I could get to my Panny spec. Cost = £95,410 and there were some options that I couldn't add, like rear axle steering and air suspension. Yes, I know they're different animals, but every other model seems on the face of it to offer more for your money than a 911. They are obviously cashing in on the iconic status of their 'halo' model and who can blame them!? They're not the most profitable motor manufacturer for nothing! And it wouldn't stop me buying a 911 in the future!

Not that long ago (I think around the time of Porsche's ill-fated attempt to buy VW) I read that it costs Porsche less than €10k more to manufacture a 911 than it does a Cayman, making the 911 one of the most profitable mass poduced cars ever.

Another way to look at it is the good folk on this forum buying 911s are subsidising the development of the next gen Macan

Agreed, jk88. And where Porsche really cash in (as do other marques) is on the profit margin on options and higher trim levels! But we still spec them to our hearts content anyway!

[MacanArif]

Just played for a while with 911 specs on the configurator and my immediate thought was what good value the Macan seems in comparison. I know the 911 is a different beast but crikey it soon gets very very expensive to get anywhere near the spec of my turbo.

I would agree with this. My Panamera 4 as specced by me would cost £85,009 new if ordered today (excluding sport tailpipes). I then specced up a new 911 C4 as close as I could get to my Panny spec. Cost = £95,410 and there were some options that I couldn't add, like rear axle steering and air suspension. Yes, I know they're different animals, but every other model seems on the face of it to offer more for your money than a 911. They are obviously cashing in on the iconic status of their 'halo' model and who can blame them!? They're not the most profitable motor manufacturer for nothing! And it wouldn't stop me buying a 911 in the future!

Not that long ago (I think around the time of Porsche's ill-fated attempt to buy VW) I read that it costs Porsche less than €10k more to manufacture a 911 than it does a Cayman, making the 911 one of the most profitable mass poduced cars ever.

Another way to look at it is the good folk on this forum buying 911s are subsidising the development of the next gen Macan

I think you'll find that the passenger cars (Macan, Cayenne) actually account for more of the profitability of the brand than the sports cars as it's the passenger cars that sell in considerable volume and back in the early 2000's Porsche was in serious financial difficulties and it was the Cayenne that saved it and made it profitable again.

[Rab J]

I would agree with this. My Panamera 4 as specced by me would cost £85,009 new if ordered today (excluding sport tailpipes). I then specced up a new 911 C4 as close as I could get to my Panny spec. Cost = £95,410 and there were some options that I couldn't add, like rear axle steering and air suspension. Yes, I know they're different animals, but every other model seems on the face of it to offer more for your money than a 911. They are obviously cashing in on the iconic status of their 'halo' model and who can blame them!? They're not the most profitable motor manufacturer for nothing! And it wouldn't stop me buying a 911 in the future!

Not that long ago (I think around the time of Porsche's ill-fated attempt to buy VW) I read that it costs Porsche less than €10k more to manufacture a 911 than it does a Cayman, making the 911 one of the most profitable mass poduced cars ever.

Another way to look at it is the good folk on this forum buying 911s are subsidising the development of the next gen Macan

I think you'll find that the passenger cars (Macan, Cayenne) actually account for more of the profitability of the brand than the sports cars as it's the passenger cars that sell in considerable volume and back in the early 2000's Porsche was in serious financial difficulties and it was the Cayenne that saved it and made it profitable again.

Very true Arif, the 911 and boxster range are relatively low volume sellers and being unique to Porsche have to bear all the development costs themself. With the Cayenne being Touareg based and the Macan a Q5 they cost much less to engineer so therefore much bigger profits Thats why nearly all sports car manufactures are scrambling to produce a SUV especially if they can base it on someone elses platform.

[Tim92gts]

Arif, I think the SE was coming from the perspective of the GTS being more sporty therefore things like sunroofs are neither necessary nor expected. Some people find the contrast stitching a bit "bling" therefore liked by some and not by others (personally I like it but not worth the cost IMO). Apparently split is about 50/50 between people who order it or don't. It certainly wouldn't hurt resale value to have it but you would never get your money back on it.

I didn't think i'd ordered the stitching but I've got it, came with the half leather option.

Red interior so the red stitching breaks up the black dash neatly.

In retrospect I would have specced it if i'd known what I was doing.

[jk88]

Not that long ago (I think around the time of Porsche's ill-fated attempt to buy VW) I read that it costs Porsche less than €10k more to manufacture a 911 than it does a Cayman, making the 911 one of the most profitable mass poduced cars ever.

Another way to look at it is the good folk on this forum buying 911s are subsidising the development of the next gen Macan

I think you'll find that the passenger cars (Macan, Cayenne) actually account for more of the profitability of the brand than the sports cars as it's the passenger cars that sell in considerable volume and back in the early 2000's Porsche was in serious financial difficulties and it was the Cayenne that saved it and made it profitable again.

I was referring to the per unit profitability, you're correct about the total company contribution as the volumes dictate that must be the case.

[Wing Commander]

Exactly. Admired the showroom 911 yesterday - a new Turbo S with only modest options added and a sticker price of around £152k. Nearby were Macans, Boxsters and a Cayenne. Clearly now SUVs are Porsche's bread & butter, boosting overall sales massively, but between a £152k Turbo S and a Macan (typically say £60k) I know which unit Porsche makes more profit on.

[VanB]

I think I read somewhere that Porsche’s average profit per unit is $20,000 and you can be sure it’s a lot more on a 911


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[Wing Commander]

I think I read somewhere that Porsche’s average profit per unit is $20,000 and you can be sure it’s a lot more on a 911


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Agreed. Higher than $20k on a 911, especially the high end models & those with tons of options ticked. Less than $20k on most Macans and 718s, especially the low end models and those with relatively few options selected.

E.g. No way does it cost Porsche £69,649 more to build a 911 Turbo S than a C2.

[Dandock]

Porsche's relationship with the 911 is a truly interesting one. Contemporary advertising has majored on nostalgia and its history yet in the early 80s they were going to kill it!

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture ... -the-suit/

[Wing Commander]

Porsche's relationship with the 911 is a truly interesting one. Contemporary advertising has majored on nostalgia and its history yet in the early 80s they were going to kill it!

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture ... -the-suit/

Nice article, Mike.