Comments on: Illustrated: Entry-level Porsche roadster

By: zioo

zioo — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:25:21 +0000

In 1972, I was three years into a government job. College was done and A VW bug had seen me through that experience and a VW Van of 1970 vintage was the family car. Then I became a statistic of what happened in more than half of the marriages in California: divorce. The Van had to go. It was traded for an on-sale Porsche 914, lime green, 1972 with appearance group that had sat on the lot a bit too long in the San Gabriel Valley. It was my first Porsche. Four years and 96 thousand miles later, I’d had more fun and adventure in that car than I have had in any car before or since. The two other cars I considered were the aluminum bodied Volvo sports car and the Datsun 240 Z. Despite the fact that one is now a difficult to obtain Swedish car that is appreciating and the other is a kind of iconic Japanese sports car with a history, I did the right thing in buying and experiencing the Porsche. The Handling was incredible and to one intelligent person who I allowed to drive the car, “It was like driving no Volkswagen I’ve ever driven.” That was in response to the knowledge that in Europe the car was a VW-Porsche. I college I adored the Porsche. As my income grew, the price of the Porsche grew, keeping just ahead of my financial ability to afford one. Then the price ran away and I could no more afford a Porsche than I could afford membership in an exclusive golf country club. I look back and thank Porsche for overcoming the problems related to the 914 and getting it out there so that I got into the entry level car. 34 years later, I’m rebuilding the car that made me realize that I’d likely never be able to afford a Porsche: a 1974 911. Depreciation; bad reputation of the magnesium engine and a diminished quantity of ’70′s cars has brought that 2.7 to a level where it is possible to afford the car; well sort of. It is becoming expensive to rebuild it. Once done, it will be one of those classic Porsche’s that only people with some degree of disposable income will be able to afford. A used Boxster is the same way. Bring on the entry level Porsche. It is the only way I got into one in 1972! – Zioo

By: Ronan

Ronan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:45:56 +0000

Boxster with an s, damn’ germans !

By: Ronan

Ronan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:44:10 +0000

There is a lot of different Boxters, from 204 to 295HP. They are not supposed to be as fast as 911, so they’re not, and it’s on purpose. The Boxter is a true Porsche : mid/rear flat 6, rwd, good chassis, good quality. To compare it to a Cobalt SS is just ridiculous.

By the way I’m French, and if Porsche sells in the USA, you’ll never see a Chevy here. Well, in theory they now sell some, but it’s just in theory.

The price is normal when you consider the €/$ rate. I’m not saying that Porsche are cheap here, but they certainly are good value for money. Don’t forget we’re talking about a sports car, not a revved up pathetic compact.

By: eff1Fifty

eff1Fifty — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:08:02 +0000

“Stay classy San Diego”

“And thanks for stopping by”

“But mostly stay classy”

“Thanks for stopping by”

“Stay classy, Ron Burgandy”

By: Rafa LL

Rafa LL — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:26:27 +0000

Which left you with… Cobalts.

I admit Boxster are not fast.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:56:53 +0000

Actually, Rafa, my minivan is a Japanese minivan…

…built in the US.

And you’re right, Boxters aren’t slow. A stock Karman Ghia is slow. So is a Smart ForTwo. Boxters are just not fast. That was a better way of putting it.

By: Rafa LL

Rafa LL — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:24:19 +0000

Boxster isn’t slow, just not fast, it can’t be faster or it will enter other segment. And RaineMan, anyone who brag about a Cobalt over any Porsche, just thinks like you, that acceleration and is the only thing that matters, not even the S2000 stands up with the Boxster, they’re different, true, but please don’t compare them..

P.S. Sorry if I sound like a Porsche-aholic but I can’t stand some American talking about cars when they don’t have any base at all. The best things that US brag about are normally things brought from abroad and renamed, Cobalt ad minivans, that’s what you’ve got.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:54:33 +0000

RaineMan, outrunning Boxters isn’t much to brag about. My minivan outruns them when getting on the freeway. I’m not saying my minivan is fast, but that Boxters are slow.

By: dvsutton

dvsutton — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:33:37 +0000

The Solstice and Saturn Sky are the tops in this class. Anything lower than those are entry level.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:08:16 +0000

Well… my $20,000 Cobalt SS can outrun Boxsters already… so I guess I’ll just add this “entry level” Porsche to the kill list.

Gotta love making rich douches feel bad.

By: eff1Fifty

eff1Fifty — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:00:26 +0000

We all know it will look nothing like the illustration when it debuts… just expect a small Porsche for a lower price than whatever is the lowest now… For example: the “entry level” 1 series that is $2k less than a 3 series – which is still more expensive than a freaking G35 or a TSX or an IS!

By: 928dreamer

928dreamer — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:42:01 +0000

IMO this needs to be similar to a 914 to be successful. In other words a true sports car. Make it a lightweight Lotus competitor. Whatever you do, don’t make it another “hot hatch”. That would be Porsche trying to be VW, and not in anyway Porsche.

By: 928dreamer

928dreamer — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:35:19 +0000

Raven37-You hate Porsche? LOL you don’t even know how to spell it.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:53:10 +0000

Sorry Desert…I didn’t see your post! You got something there.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:50:30 +0000

Drawing looks like the next-gen Saturn Sky, nothing like a porsche would look.

By: A4

A4 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:45:03 +0000

that was deep raven, that was deep
but yeah porsche sucks

By: Raven37

Raven37 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:17:17 +0000

I hate porche

By: desertdriver

desertdriver — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:09:09 +0000

with a dash of Lamborghini

By: desertdriver

desertdriver — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:08:01 +0000

The illustration looks like a Saturn Sky and Porsche Boxster love child.

By: Goose

Goose — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:58:00 +0000

i want a porsche minivan.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:41:22 +0000

Been Good, yes, I was mistaken. 912, not 917. And I should know, too. One of my good friends in high school used to restore them and make quite a bit of cash on the 912 and 914.

By: DJ_Quaaludes

DJ_Quaaludes — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:19:24 +0000

I think people are confused over what is meant by “entry-level”. Entry level does NOT mean this will be competing with fords, chevys, and toyotas. Entry level means entry level for Porsche, not the car industry as a whole.

You absolutely will not see any porsche coming out in the near future under 20K. That is ludicrous. Even to say this would start at under 30 would be stretching it I think. Look for Porsche to use the VW 2.0T, and for a price starting in the low to mid 30s.

Of course, as with porsche, just as with the other german manufacturers, watch the price of this “entry-level” car to skyrocket past 50K fully loaded.

By: Stinky007

Stinky007 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:40:51 +0000

So many speculations, so little actual information…
We’ll get news about Porsche doing motorcycles and baby pacifiers tomorrow, so stick around for more “news”!

By: peter g

peter g — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:36:19 +0000

Making an entry level hot hatch/convertible based on a Beetle is just going back to the roots and no harm is done. Porsche practically owns VW as far as I know, so they can do whatever they want to do.

By: whips001

whips001 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:31:09 +0000

IM WILLING TO BET ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY THERE WILL BE A PORSCHE VERSION OF THE VW HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE EOS….PORSCHE WANTS A PIECE OF THIS NEW BULLSHIT HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE MARKET…SO SAD THEY’RE GONNA WATER DOWN THE BRAND RIGHT BEFORE THE OVERPRICED PANAMERA COMES OUT.

By: 02WRXPSM

02WRXPSM — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:01:31 +0000

They could absolutely do another 914 for Honda S2000 price, that would be a great car to have. You people don’t know ANYTHING about Porsche; they are the people’s car in Germany, and for many generations were just as affordable and common as VWs. There is no unwritten law that says all Porsches must be $63k and up, the 914 and 912 were very affordable cars in their time, as was the 944.

By: A4

A4 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:46:24 +0000

Madcapp has that spot on… prepare for an R32, or whatever VW it is, with a porsche badge and 10 grand over the VW sticker price.

By: Rafa LL

Rafa LL — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:50:49 +0000

Yeah dear grandson, Porsche used to be an Exotic car manufacturer when I was young
Not one of the Toyota’s competitors.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:22:35 +0000

Where’s the 928 they were promising? Here’s an idea… Call the RWD model a 944 – Has better appeal to buyers and have it start under 30k to compete with the 1 series and to do that, use the 2.0L from the GTI… People won’t care that it’s a VW engine if it cost less than a A4 or an A5 coupe.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:19:14 +0000

A rear-entry level Porsche would more aptly describe such a vehicle as this is where prospective buyers would be taking it.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:16:15 +0000

I hope the Porsche GTI doesn’t rattle like my ’07 MkV.

By: Spingood Tanoya

Spingood Tanoya — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:54:56 +0000

Beatusmongous: I think you meant “912″, not “917″. The 917 was Porsche’s “entry-level” two-time Le Mans winner, two-time Can-Am series winner, and closed-course land speed record holder. The 912 was a content-reduced 911 with a 4-cylinder engine.

By: autonut

autonut — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:20:52 +0000

914 was labeled Porsche in US. In Europe it was Karmann. Although it was a good VW, as a Porsche it was pig with lipstick (I reckon I watch too much political debates).

By: deutschetouring1337

deutschetouring1337 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:17:29 +0000

TT chassis midengine 2.0t.

By: hfry

hfry — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:15:59 +0000

But a hatchback Porshe would sell like hot-cakes.. Although.. POrsche is gunna have to regulate the Market of these… once they go cheap they wont ever go back.. Examp: Schwinn bikes

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:03:14 +0000

Many thousands of years ago, Porsche DID in fact offer some entry-level options, like the 914 and 917. Even the 924 was an entry-level baby brother to the 928. You got decent performance and fun, and the Porsche name, but not the hefty price tag that you get now. There was an article a few weeks ago talking about the possible revival of the 914 or 917 or something along those lines. This VW-based platform could very well be just that. If they keep the price tag below $20k, they will definitely have a winner on their hands.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:34:05 +0000

Yeaaa!!! put Porsche badges on the R32 and double the price.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:19:19 +0000

Yeah, the last “entry-level” Porsche was the Boxster. We all remember how entry level that turned out to be.

By: El Aleman

El Aleman — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:09:09 +0000

a hot hatch would be amazing.. as long as it’s rear wheel drive, something like a better-looking 1-Series

By: JoshyLofty

JoshyLofty — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:51:57 +0000

well thanks for getting my hopes up, LLN. but my 2 cents is that the hot hatch… mmm no. the other possibility, yes.

By: tyler_is_aero_tt

tyler_is_aero_tt — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:20:48 +0000

Ok…