I've been posting or following forums on Porsche and Ferrari for well over 10 years. I've noticed over the past few years that the topics of conversation, that use to almost exclusively been about performance and technical matters, have moved to discussions of vanity options ( i.e. deviated stitching, coordinated colors, etc.) It seems that about half the discussions now are how a Porsche can be a fashion statement. Now, there is nothing wrong with that. Just an observation. Has anyone else picked up on this current trend?

 

I haven't been following these forums for that long, but I can imagine you're absolutely right.
I think that people more and more like to indivualize their precious car. The same goes IMO for interiors of houses. I think more and more people spend a lot of time designing and decorating their houses and interiors. Maybe people are just more aware of the options than in the past?? I don't know....

Porsche has of course its Exclusive department and offers people to make the car more personal and therefore attracts a wider variety of people to the brand. It's not just the hardcore Porsche enthusiasts anymore, that care more about the technical facts of Porsche than about the question to get decorative stitching or not.

It's probably all part of the Porsche marketing strategy to attract more customers and make more profit, which in the end isn't a bad thing. Porsche survives pretty well in these days of crisis.

There are small sport car manufacturers doing not so well, because they focused to much on the hardcore driving enthusiasts. I just read that Wiessmann in Germany has requested suspension of payment, which ultimately leads to bankruptcy. Sad news, because they made wonderfull cars, based on BMW M3. They sold 200 cars last year, which apparently wasn't enough to keep the company going.

 

I think you are right.

 

Thanks for starting a thread and topic that IMO restores some credibility to this forum. Enough on that!

I agree with your comments but would also like to throw in another question. Is it this specific forum that attracts individuals that lean more toward aesthetics than performance? I feel that other 991 forums (nameless) tend to be more techy.

Additionally, maybe that the 991 versions discussed here all have limited and similar performance issues and the aesthetics are really the only things that are individual.

 

With that said, do you think the 991 has become so refined that there isn't relativly simple and easy ways to make the car perform better? Therefore, more focus is turned to making the car more esthetic?
Older 911's seemed to have many more after market mods that would make them perform better. Doesn't seem that way with the 991. Maybe it's that the 991 hasn't been out that long and it usually takes some time for after market products to be developed for a new model.

 

I think one reason that the discussion has tilted away from performance and technical discussions is because the 991 buyer is different than previous generations of 911's. Not trying to step on anyone's toes here, and I know there are still performance oriented people buying the 991, but I do think that the car has changed to the point that it attracts a different type buyer, and I think that is Porsche's intent.

 

You're about twenty years too late .....

 

The C2S & C4S are probably the most balanced, high-performance sports GT cars ever made. They do everything well. They don't need aftermarket performance mods because there are other Porsche models that offer higher performance. So, what differentiates one from the other? Aesthetics and personalization. Hence, the emphasis on how one specs their car and discussions about which silver looks best and what color dials or belts or stitching to choose.

 

Off-topic: just a little question... What do real women drive? (Regarding your signature)

BTW... Here in europe there live apparently only real men. Everybody incl. my grandmother can drive a manual

Now back on-topic again.... Just couln't resist asking

 

http://dcsappliances.com/product/ind...D025B39A9F2480



Just kidding! don't kill me

 

Valid points have been made by other posters.

Yes I think refinement is certainly a reason as is the manufacturers desired to "lock down" the car and restrict complex 3rd party modifications. Technical engineering and electronic complexities have contributed to the issues you raise and have had a similar effect on other high performance makes as well.

 

LOL!!! I won't kill you this time I was the one that left the door open and made it easy for you haha.

BTW, I actually like cooking... Just like cars, it's a hobby

 

That's a very good point. I think it even effects cars like VW Golf GTI and other hot hatches, which were the cars to have for young people that wanted to modify their cars. (Don't know if that's true for U.S. but certainly in Europe)
In terms of performance, they don't get modified as much anymore as they did 10 years ago. Only the real hardcore tuning enthusiasts still modify the cars almost unrecognizable.

 

I think you are seeing more BMW and Mercedes customers moving over to Porsche.

 

I suspect SanibelSpeed is right, although I don't have the 991 sales numbers to back it up. But the luxuriousness of the 991 compared to the older (even 997) models is another piece of evidence as is the fact how hidden e.g. the air filter is. The 991 is very much an all-in-one package where mods are mostly checkboxes on the factory options list. Otherwise, it resembles the iPhone: great design with little to no user-serviceable (-upgradeable) parts inside. Undoubtedly the thinking is that this approach will unlock a larger customer segment. The "Porsche Everyday" campaign was another ramification of that switch in positioning.