[opinion] - hmmm…VW/Audi/Porsche may be in trouble…

[Tooney]

@chun must have overlooked the content from Porsche in this post.

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[Zcd1]

In related news, Canada just opened the door to its auto market to Chinese cars by dramatically lowering its previous punitive tariffs.

It’s hard not to see that as a result of the current US administration’s policy moves, and it will likely further erode Porsche NA’s options for growth and profitability.

 

[tigerbalm]

and of course some consumables like brakes, suspension etc. Otherwise it has been bullet proof!!

My 992 Targa had its first service this week at 28,500 km (and also in prep for its first arctic Sweden trip).

Was pleased to see light brake wear after being so used to re-gen on Taycan. Given at least 2,000 km of this car was on German autobahn, I'm impressed. If it continues I'll be swopping pads on time rather than wear.

 

[Fish Fingers]

In related news, Canada just opened the door to its auto market to Chinese cars by dramatically lowering its previous punitive tariffs.

It’s hard not to see that as a result of the current US administration’s policy moves, and it will likely further erode Porsche NA’s options for growth and profitability.

....especially if these newly announced EU (Greenland) tariffs are relevant to cars and push US prices up.

Not sure if cars have a carve out clause on tariffs? It changes so offen I've given up trying to keep track.

 

[Freeewilly]

You can compare it to whatever you like, they’re still not direct competitors.

The Tesla model 3 performance is faster than my Taycan 4S. Significantly cheaper too.

Doesn’t matter. There is more to a car than price and speed.

That's the sad part. Porsche as a premium sports brand used to be more to a car and including the faster and quicker speed. The most important part of the sports car lost to a car that's half the price and can drive by itself (supervised)

 

[69Mach390]

That's the sad part. Porsche as a premium sports brand used to be more to a car and including the faster and quicker speed. The most important part of the sports car lost to a car that's half the price and can drive by itself (supervised)

The point of the Model 3 is that there is cheaper speed. But there has always been cheaper speed.

The difference is that it takes more than just price and speed to be a competitor.

The Corvette has always been a cheap competitor. At least it’s a sports car.

The Model 3 may as well not exist. It’s completely irrelevant to Porsche. No one cross shops these vehicles.

Prove me wrong though. Show me how many “I’m deciding between a new Taycan and Model 3” threads we have here or how many of those exist on a Tesla forum.

Model S plaid? Different story. That definitely gets cross shopped.

But the Model 3 and that $30k Chinese hatchback that was posted earlier don’t really impact Porsche.

Might as well compare it to a Toyota Prius.

 

[Zcd1]

The Highland 3P actually does everything at a very high level - speed, handling, comfort, convenience, practicality, quietness…

It’s not hobbled by a lack of refinement like Corvettes have always been in relation to 911s.

In any case, the 3P was only the harbinger of things to come, as it’s clear that the Chinese are beginning to crack that code as well, and THAT, IMO, is really going to be a problem, not just for Porsche, but for all the legacy mfrs…

 

[SoccerMan94043]

The Model 3 may as well not exist. It’s completely irrelevant to Porsche. No one cross shops these vehicles.

Prove me wrong though. Show me how many “I’m deciding between a new Taycan and Model 3” threads we have here or how many of those exist on a Tesla forum.

I'm one of those people. Perhaps I'm in the minority but so are most Porsche buyers.

Plan A was a Taycan. Plan B was a Model 3 Performance. EV was required (10 years of being too used to instant torque) and I didn't like the way any other car looked enough to buy one within my budget. I'm also not going to start a thread about what someone else thinks about a car... that's irrelevant to me.

 

[69Mach390]

I'm one of those people. Perhaps I'm in the minority but so are most Porsche buyers.

Plan A was a Taycan. Plan B was a Model 3 Performance. EV was required (10 years if being too used to instant torque) and I didn't like the way any other car looked enough to buy one within my budget. I'm also not going to start a thread about what someone else thinks about a car... that's irrelevant to me.

Lots of people start those threads on forums. Just not many in your situation seriously narrowing things down between those two models.

Porsche may be looking at the competition, I just don’t think they care about cars in that price range.

For good reason too. They don’t and can’t compete in that price range. It will continue to be a luxury/premium brand as long as there is a market for that.

They don’t focus on the average buyer in China where the per capita income is $13,000. They focus on the millionaires around the world.

Do some people here want Porsche to come out with a $30k car?

 

[Zcd1]

Then choose any of the other dozens of sources that talk about the average income and net worth of Porsche buyers.

This discussion has been primarily about Porsche’s current and apparent future financial difficulties, making any related discussion about its buyers’ supposed affluence even more ironic…

 

[D00notD00d]

Nio, Aion, Zeekr > UK - ‘accessible luxury’

 

[chun]

Just a video i saw recently, and I thought it's an interesting comparison in terms of approach to marketing

Which one do you guys think is more likely to make a kid / teenager dream of getting their car?




Unless a youth serum gets invented soon, Porsche's client base will continue to shrink with marketing aimed only at art directors in their 70s that would much rather buy a Ferrari than a Porsche. to store in their garage

 

[D00notD00d]

Just a video i saw recently, and I thought it's an interesting comparison in terms of approach to marketing

Which one do you guys think is more likely to make a kid / teenager dream of getting their car?




Unless a youth serum gets invented soon, Porsche's client base will continue to shrink with marketing aimed only at art directors in their 70s that would much rather buy a Ferrari than a Porsche. to store in their garage

I think you’re spot on.
I grew up with pictures of a 911 on my bedroom wall, that was my aspiration.
Porsche relies too much on the 911 heritage. The idea that bespoke 911 builds will help rescue the company is misplaced. The 911 was a generational thing. I bought my Taycan because my 911 was too special to me and I wanted an everyday car, one whose looks reminded of a 911.

Previously when 911 demand fell, VW Audi based SUVs saved Porsche. New Porsche SUV exteriors now have as much exterior plastic on show as Audi. Fake vents?

The Paint to Sample thing is another marketing con. Porsche gives the illusion that PTS involves great effort and so cost. The truth is that there is negligible production line set up impact - minutes of additional effort for disproportionately more cost.

 

[D00notD00d]

This video is so absurd I had to come back to it.
It could be a satirical spoof, riffing on Porsche’s pretentious marketing.
In summary, under the guise of heritage and innovation, Porsche intends to change the colour of the badge on its Turbo models (some of which do not have a turbo) to ‘Turbonite’.

Anyway, forget Turbonite, that was last year.
Now according to Pantone (a colour consultancy - I wonder if they also came up with ‘Elephant’s Breath’?) the colour of the year for 2026 is ‘Cloud Dancer’ -
A WHISPER OF TRANQUILITY AND PEACE IN A NOISY WORLD
Introducing Pantone Color of the Year 2026, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection. A billowy white imbued with serenity, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation.‘

Are we human, or are we dancer?

 

[logic]

Love you Chun, but in all honesty, after having a look at Porsche‘s YouTube channel, it seems to me that you can cherry pick the video’s to match any bias… e.g. they also have video‘s about racing, Formula-e, GT series, Le Mans, world record attempts (the longest drift), and even Gran Turismo, which may be the ultimate proof in the pudding here. Then again, I wouldn’t be offended if anyone called me the old guy, not in touch with the younger generations and upcoming markets, because that’s all true as well. Some of the shared slides posted here earlier, cross referencing Rolex, Dior, Burberry, Ferrari, David Guetta as ambassador, and a long list of key “values” almost made me vomit. Clearly, Porsche isn’t for me, but I’m all in for the engineering though.

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