I've now seen it and driven it. Not as hideous as I expected, but is it just me who thinks the idea of a Porsche truck is just wrong?

Here is a review.

is it just me who thinks the idea of a Porsche truck is just wrong?

Absolutely not. My respect for Porsche plummeted when they announced and delivered this.

But what about its alter ego, the VW Touareg? The base engine looks pretty sad, but the V8 (lifted from Audi A8) looks interesting...

I agree though, a Porsche truck is even worse than the BMW truck. But then again, I think the Escalade is a POS too and plenty of (silly IMHO) people love them.

-Zeke

It seems like all they're going to accomplish is dilluting their brand name that they've worked so hard to build. If every other soccer mom pulls up in a porche SUV, how many 50 year old guys are going to go out and buy one durring their midlife crisis?

Matthew

is it just me who thinks the idea of a Porsche truck is just wrong?

No, I agree 100%. I mean, what's next, a Ferrari tractor?

Porsche WAS one of the few car companies in the world that never lost focus. Are we a luxury brand? Are we a sports brand? Are we into racing? Out of racing? What's next, a 2-seat Jeep roadster?

Porsche always kept to the original concept for the brand until now. Oh, and the photos look ugly as heck too. When I saw one at the Detroit Auto Show, I wasn't impressed either.

EDIT: VW is also losing focus, but not as bad. The original theme for VW was offering an affordable car to the masses. Now with the W8 Passat, they are head to head with their sister-brand Audi. The Toureg doesn't have that problem, but that much money for a VW??

In reply to:

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No, I agree 100%. I mean, what's next, a Ferrari tractor?

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A bit of trivia, Lamborgini started out as a tractor builder. His business did quite well and he was able to buy a Ferrari. Upon meeting the owner of Ferrari, he complained that it could perform a little better. Ferrari said "well maybe you don't deserve to drive a Ferrari if you don't appreciate it." So Lamborgini then sought out to "out Ferrari" Ferrari by building his own super car.

what's next, a Ferrari tractor?

How about prosches new SUV, its pretty close im sure ferrari will follow soon once they see how well porsche is doing. I agree thou ever since porsche made the boxster ive lost alot of respect for them. I see in the not too distant furture they will have a 4 door sedan. and start to make cars in the everyday person value range.

Porches always were a little more expensive that other cars but it was only the last few decades in which they started to get crazy expensive. So, considering how "affordable" the original 911 was, the Boxster isn't too far off from that. Or how about the 944? IIRC, the 928 wasn't super pricey either.

Now, if you hate the Boxster because any old Subaru WRX will beat it for a fraction of the price, then you may have a point.

I have to admit it. I'm a huge Porschephile. I've wanted one since I was in high school. I had a Boxster for a while (till I realized that a house and wife are a better investment .. well the house anyway, the wife is sort of a money pit ). However, I must say that I'm really disappointed in them. They obviously need to stay competitive and being an independent car manufacturer I'm sure is tough. But to sacrifice everything that they are about ... I don't understand it. At least pulling out of racing ended up giving us the Carrera GT, so there's a small ray of hope. But the Cayenne ... I just don't get it. No matter how much horsepower you put in it, it's _not a sports car_, and Porsche is supposed to be a _sports car_ company.

Oh well.

A tidbit -- Porsche also made tractors originally.

ms

A tidbit -- Porsche also made tractors originally

Damn, I knew I should have said mobilhome!

uh oh ... /me smells the old WRX-Boxster religious debate starting

No, Lambo did.

When Subaru was starting out they sent engineers to Porsche to get a feel for how they did things. Subaru certainly is no Porsche, but they are the only two companies that make flat/boxer engines so I guess there is something to it.

It's sooo wrong. I am a long time 911 owner, of various models, and I also do a number of track days with the local owner's clubs, so I know a number of other owners. Nobody (count 'em) likes it. They all think it dilutes the brand and the focus. They all think the styling is hideous. They all think that it 'dispels the mystique of the 911' (which I ran through babel and got 'it's gonna make mine worth less at trade-in'). And my local dealer tells me he has deposits for 20 plus cars so far - and none of them are to existing 911 or Boxster owners. The really frightening brand thing is that the 2003 production targets are for 24,000 or so 911+Boxsters, and 25,000 Cayennes... so there will be more trucks than anything else.

Regards

Mark

That's a terrible figure to hear.

I've also been upset about the vehicle. I really can't believe that they're making it. Who is the target buyer? Seriously, who the hell is going to buy one of these things?

And my local dealer tells me he has deposits for 20 plus cars so far

That's a small number compared to us. We had 100 sold before 2002 was over. But then again, this is Greenwich, which has either more disposable income per capita or per sqaure foot (can't remember which) than anywhere else in the US.

Not to mention, it's a town full of ativan popping, scotch for breakfast uptight jackasses. Just who you need driving large vehicles with lots of power.

The original theme for VW was offering an affordable car to the masses. Now with the W8 Passat, they are head to head with their sister-brand Audi. The Toureg doesn't have that problem, but that much money for a VW??

The whole "peoples car" bit almost drove them out of the US. Had they not changed, they would have gone bye bye along with Pugeot and Renault a few years back.

I already hate the Touareg more than anything else, the CDF's are already coming in, including one stupid bitch who told me "I see them all over the place, you just don't want to sell me one". But the 60+ orders behind my desk will line my pockets nicely.

As for the W8, I thought that too when we first got them. After totalling 4 of them (CDF from Jersey "I have 4 wheel drive, I should have been able to stop on time in the slush" in addition to the pile of three I made last spring when the drive by wire system seemed to have had a HUGE malfunction), and having one as a daily driver for the past few months, I a [censored] bargain for that car. They're finally making a manual for the US, should be here in a month or so. Go drive one when they do. Worth every penny. [censored] the A6.

>>And my local dealer tells me he has deposits for 20 plus cars so far

I'm in Hong Kong. It's 100% import tax on the retail value. You've really really really got to want one. Plus, this was tail end of 2002, so I guess they will have sold some more now that the road tests are starting to appear.

Regards

Mark

I already hate the Touareg more than anything else, the CDF's are already coming in

I'll bite...

CDF?

I'm guessing Complete Dumb F--ks

What makes this not a station wagon ? It must be taller than it looks in the picutres or something.

No, I agree 100%. I mean, what's next, a Ferrari tractor?

Or a Lamborghini SUV ??

Matt! Good point! I forgot about these beasts! The certainly is a truck. I got to see a few up close in the early 90's when they were for sale here. I guess they sold most of them to 3rd world county dictators for their caravans. lol

The new Porsche that we are all complaining about is an SUV, but it is definately NOT a truck. A truck would have to be some sort of body on frame design - this is uni-body.

who thinks the idea of a Porsche truck is just wrong?

It's not just the concept that's wrong....

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the meetings where they decide the names of new cars. Cayenne being a well known folk remedy for Arthritis and Rheumatism, would indicate that Porsche were thinking of the older driver at the planning stage!

Or for that matter is the Volkswagen Touareg, just a polite spelling of the English slang toe -rag for someone useless and debased!

I'll bite...

CDF?


canyonero driving [censored]wits.

canyonero driving [censored]wits.

Very nice. It's an acronym which combines a Simpsons reference with profanity... Two of my favorite things in life.

he new Porsche that we are all complaining about is an SUV, but it is definately NOT a truck

Yeah, I agree. The Porsche SUV is just a big fast grocery getter. But the Lamborghini LM002 was totally badass. It came in second place for a huge US military contract - beat out by the Hummer.

*sigh* it's the little things..

No, I agree 100%. I mean, what's next, a Ferrari tractor?

Why not, don't they want to keep up with Lamborghini?

Probably the only Lamborghini I could ever afford...