Porsche says they'll only lose 3% of 911 customers to the Cayman

Covering the ground between the Boxster and 911, Porsche believes, will attract a relatively young buyer who cannot afford a 911 but wants more performance than is available in the Boxster. As for the hardtop/convertible difference, we often prefer convertibles but recognize that coupes tend to make for better-performing cars. And some people just don't like roadsters, or don't have good weather for them--say, buyers in Seattle, where rain so often spoils nice drives.

The Cayman will be a hit. As a classic two-seat, mid-engined Porsche sports car, it is as safe as the Cayenne was risky, and the company is too conservative to build it if they weren't sure the demand was there. Its executives speak candidly about the gap it will fill.

"The 911 is still a very, very big commitment, and the roadster market is flat," said Michael Bartsch, chief operating officer of Porsche Cars North America in an interview in Siena.

More importantly, in Porsche's eyes, the Cayman will attract the upwardly mobile. The company expects more Cayman buyers will be people moving up from the Boxster than down from 911. Only 3% of customers, it projects, will be downsizing from the 911.

Do you agree?

Or will more 911 drivers opt for the Cayman?

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Mark - 10/3/2005 8:19:18 AM

+1 Boost

When the news of the Cayman was just hitting the wires, plenty of media outlets were claiming the Cayman as the car to take over from the 911 [I even remember a similar story from 001]. The stats came out and everyone starting raving about it's performace capabilities. "It's faster than the 911, it corners better, it blah blah blah."

Well no sh*t it's going to perform better than the 911, lets look at the power to weight ratio. But!......I don't think it will attrack away from the people who want the legendary and will forever be legendary 911. Young buyers will be the biggest segment to purchase the Cayman, with some wealthy 'older' buyers that just want both.

I think you could ask anyone that really has respect for Porsche, that when they see a 911 on the road it's a certain feeling of wow that you get. A respectful wow, almost a no-words-needed-male-head-nod, wow. Even guys who have one. And the Cayman will get it's own respect like the Boxster [wich is a wondeful car for those that want the life lines of Porsche without the cost of a home mortgage].

The Cayman will be well liked and well sought after, but it will always be under the 911.