Porsche and Toyota

[slngsht]

Porsche's new 928 :drool:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/244090/reborn_porsche_928_is_fronting_up.html#ixzz0VJiX6cZz

 

Lexus' new LFA

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/lexus-lfa-tokyo-2009/

 

IMO the Porsche is absolutely beautiful, and at about 200K, absolute bargain compared to the LFA.

 

I'm not sure what Toyota is thinking. $375K for that car. something like 500hp and 350ft.lbs of torque. Slower than both ZR1 and Skyline in 0-60, and I'm sure in quarter mile. I'd be interesting to see how it compares at the track. With all that carbon fiber stuff, still weighs 3200 lbs, and pretty ugly to boot. You do get your money's worth if you count how many scoops they attached to the car :ack:. At that price range, you better BLOW everyone away. Why would anyone buy that over a *less expensive* Ferrari or Lambo?

Edited November 9, 2009 by slngsht

[MoPho]

Why would anyone buy that over a *less expensive* Ferrari or Lambo?

 

Because everyone and their mother has a Lamborghini or Ferrari in this town :cooldude:

[athens7]

It looks to me like Ian McCallum has gone to work for Volkswagen/Porsche. The rear quarter view of the 928 is a dead knock off of the Aston Martin, IMO. As to the LFA (Laughable F##king Activity), if Mercedes-Benz and Porsche lost their shirts trying to sell SLRs and Carrera GTs (which they did), than what chance does Toyota have making this business model work? Oh wait, I forgot about their racing heritage as a selling point, embodied by their recently concluded domination of the Formula 1 series! I guess losing $28 Billion isn't good enough for Toyota. Say what you will, Ferrari has discovered a profitable way to make stunning, dynamic cars that are true to their heritage and vision (are you listening, Porsche?) while functioning as a division of a giant mainstream car company, something these 2 manufacturers are really struggling with. I think the 458 Italia is a masterpiece; alas, a picture is probably as close as I will ever get to one.

[Kitcat]

Ditto the AM similarity. Even more so, this new Porsche looks a lot like a Ferrari 456 to me.

 

Better than the stretch-911 that is the new Panamerica, tho. Has anyone actually seen one in person? The photos of it are not especially flattering.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

I saw it at the monterey historics.

 

It does look a little better in person, but not by much.

[MoPho]

Ditto the AM similarity. Even more so, this new Porsche looks a lot like a Ferrari 456 to me.

 

Better than the stretch-911 that is the new Panamerica, tho. Has anyone actually seen one in person? The photos of it are not especially flattering.

 

I've driven it on a racetrack, it's absolutely fabulous for a big heavy luxury car. While I don't think it is great looking, it is much better in person. A nice set of wheels would do it some good. The interior is spectacular.

Everyone who drove it came out of it impressed.

 

Say what you will, Ferrari has discovered a profitable way to make stunning, dynamic cars that are true to their heritage and vision (are you listening, Porsche?) while functioning as a division of a giant mainstream car company, something these 2 manufacturers are really struggling with. I think the 458 Italia is a masterpiece; alas, a picture is probably as close as I will ever get to one.

 

Ferrari's profitable way is controlling the market, making a somewhat false exclusiveness and then charging exorbitant amounts for their cars. I had a 599 press car on loan a while back that had a sticker of something like $327k (nice car, but not worth that much IMO), upon returning it at a dealership, a customer came up and asked how much the car was, and he was told $515k Not exactly the kind of business practices I look up to.

I also read once somewhere that much of Ferrari's profits come more from merchandising and branding than selling cars, not sure that is true, but sounds plausible.

 

Personally, I think the 458 is sort of ugly and the interior looks straight out of a Honda Civic (albeit with nicer materials). A friend of mine just returned from test driving it in Maranello, and he said that while the 458 is a nice drive, it is full of unnecessarily gimmicky electronic doodads. Not sure if that is sticking to their heritage and vision....http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sad/533.gif

 

While I agree that perhaps Porsche has strayed a bit from their "heritage", they have always been a more accessible sports car than Ferrari and the GT3 does a pretty good job of holding the heritage mantle. I'd take a GT3RS over a Ferrari any day

 

Toyota already said they are going to lose money on each car, but as I pointed out above, I think they won't have too much trouble selling all 500 of them, there is a lot of people with too much money in this world

[Kitcat]

Finally saw the new Panamerica. Its somewhat ungainly shape didn't improve with an in-person viewing.

 

And man, it seems huge! Its 196 inches long, 76 wide and 4000+ lbs. The sheer bulk, more than the somewhat odd shape, was the biggest surprise.

 

I am predicting it will be an epic flop and that deep discounts will be needed to move the cars and that the resale value will be terrible. Hopefully I am wrong as I am a big Porsche admirer.

 

Mike

[MHKflyer52]

Finally saw the new Panamerica. Its somewhat ungainly shape didn't improve with an in-person viewing.

 

And man, it seems huge! Its 196 inches long, 76 wide and 4000+ lbs. The sheer bulk, more than the somewhat odd shape, was the biggest surprise.

 

I am predicting it will be an epic flop and that deep discounts will be needed to move the cars and that the resale value will be terrible. Hopefully I am wrong as I am a big Porsche admirer.

 

Mike

 

:iagree:

 

Martin Keller

Ventura, Ca.

Hand Built Replic 7