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They are different topics of debate.
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Actually they arent. The boxster may find its buyers because of the cars capabilities, but a LOT of people do buy the Boxster because its the only Porsche they can afford. Even in the last post of mine that you have quoted, the line "
an entry-level Porsche that brings the german marque within the reach of a much wider audience" implies the same thing...a cheaper Porsche. An affordable Porsche. A Porsche which a LOT more people can pay for. Its marketing the brand....a high-end brand that suddenly became a lot more accessible (in price) to many more people and lead to success. More sales than even Porsches original expectations (10000 p.a.).
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The Boxster is bought by many, SPECIFICALLY for its attributes (which differ from the 911)
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No one is debating that. Many yes. But not the majority.
It has its capabilities yes. But how many actually use it? Most of the owners I met couldnt care any lesser. How many people actually push the boxster to its limits? Thats like saying that SUVs sell for their off-roadability (atleast the ones that can offroad). More people buy SUVs for the image and badge rather than the off-roading capability. How many 4x4s go off-roading? The Cayenne also off-roads. Umm....how many people go down the beaten track in it again? Dont get me wrong...I am not saying the Boxster is not a capable machine. Its a fine one at that. But the Porsche brand (and image associated with it) at such a low price have been the reason for the Boxsters success.
1. Are you aware that almost half of the Boxsters sales (40% +) come from North America?
2. That the best-selling version of Porsche is the base version, and NOT the "S". Surely, Surely, if boxster owners were only looking at capability......they would not mind the extra $$$ for the extra power, bigger engine and the 6-speed tranmission (as opposed to the original 5 speed)?That the best-selling base version in the USA is the automatic? Coupled with the base engine?
3. That a significant number of Porsche buyers are women. Sure, I know that there are some women who would love a well-handling machine but the majority of these buyers have bought the Boxster NOT because of its capabilities.
But because of price. And I repeat, its the only Porsche that they can afford. Also of interest is the fact that a majority of Boxster owners in the USA are first-time Porsche owners.
Even the original engine that the Boxster was launched with, shows who Porsche was targeting it toward. A 2.5 liter 201 bhp engine in 1997? It clearly indicates that Porsche was looking for first-time buyers who wanted a Porsche....but couldnt stretch upto 2 - 3x the price for one. Sure it handles..... Thats not the point.
Porsche ownership went cheaper. And the low price is undoubtedly a reason for its success. However and as things stand, the Boxster sales are in their 6th consecutive year of decline. Well, it has only got more capable over the years hasnt it?
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There are a lot of preconceived notions on this forum, which I think in part are attributed to a greater lack of accessibility to the cars themselves, than we have in Europe.
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Lets keep market accessiblity and exposure out of this....a good number of us Team-BHPians have spent our adult years in markets far bigger than the UK also, and ones that had greater "accessibility to the cars themselves". I have also track-raced and spent time in plentiful exotics.
It could be that your preconceived notion is a preconceived notion in itself.