Good.

- RB.

 

From what my local dealer says, it isn't because they aren't selling...they can't get any in to sell.

 

Even better...

- RB.

 

This kind of article is worthless, no real facts to go with it and very little substantiative content at all!

 

sorry then - bye

 

The car is really very fast, and I don't generally feel I need the extra 20hp of the 3.6 over the 3.4.

hu? ........

 

Chicken and egg problem. There is very little inventory because Porsche doesn't want them sitting on the lots and then going for firesale prices like in 08.

Like others said, it's still a great car.

 

Worst selling not worst car, right? The Cayman in comparison to the RX 8 sales is suffering less. Lack of Factory support for the model line....Agree....Then again as Mark Twain once said "There is a lie a dam lie and statistics....."

 

Ah....les américains*...."après moi, le déluge" (Louis XV) - Twain did use the "lies and statistics" phrase but attributed it to Disraeli.

I wonder if it can be safely assumed that, among the "mainstream" Porsche models, the Cayman could be the worst selling Porsche for the manufacturer?

Worldwide?

I ask this in the hope it may actually be the case. When such a universally acclaimed car is made rare as a result of being cast in the shadow of a favoured son (911), it makes it all the more valuable to those who choose to love it.

*PS. Before I get flamed, I am a tax paying, passport carrying American - have just not lived in the U.S. since I was three...

 

Well, for a truly poor selling car, the RX-8 is a good bet. I doubt they sold 1000 units last year and will probably sell even less this year.

 

They sold me one. That is all I care about!

 

+1
I like the way you think :cheers:

 

At least we're consistent then, since my Cayman S is in the garage next to what I suspect was the worst selling BMW (my wife's Z4M - only 1,800 total in North American). :hilarious:

And I love driving both of them.

 

Low U.S sales, is a plus for resale value. Sounds good to me, I like driving a car that you don't see coming and going!

 

A big Amen to that! :thanks:

 

wow, but i cant say im not surprised. i just thought that the cayman was doing a little better than being one of the worst selling cars in the states. jeez.

but that does make sense. no supply = no sale. oh well, its porsches fault. i just hope this pseudo science analysis is not indicative that they will not make gen 3 caymans. ill be all over that since im skipping on the gen 2 and holding out for the gen 3. the wait sucks, but im crossing my fingers that there will be a gen 3 cayman for me at the end of the tunnel.

 

I wonder if they throw out exotics for this as well. You can't tell me that fewer caymans than 458 italias sold, or murcielagos, or konigseggs.

 

"Chicken and egg problem. There is very little inventory because Porsche doesn't want them sitting on the lots and then going for firesale prices like in 08."

I, for one, am not complaining about the '08 fire sale!

 

"Chicken and egg problem. There is very little inventory because Porsche doesn't want them sitting on the lots and then going for firesale prices like in 08."

I, for one, am not complaining about the '08 fire sale!

Me either!:dance:

 

The local Porsche dealer here did not have a single new Cayman in stock for a whole year. They also told me they just weren't getting any from the factory, but that they could sell them if they had the inventory.

 

My dealer tells me the same thing......cannot get them to sell. I also suspect that there are any number of people who buy Porsche for the brand image (aka poseurs.....) and a Cayman for those folks is not a 'Porsche'....a dealer will not tie up investment in a low volume car. Cayenne and Panamera are selling not only because they are are good car but also because Porsche has a lot invested in them for volume. Compare how many Cayenne and Panamera commercials and print ads you have seen vs. Cayman? So, part of this is pure economics. I am also one of the folks who got a great deal on a 2008 'left over' CS. I test drove a left over 08 Carrera, new 09 Carrera and went back again to the 08 CS and for me, the car I wanted for my high, fun factor, daily driver. Personal choice for me and one that I have never looked back on..........And, let's see, C&D just picked Boxster/Cayman as one of 10 best cars for the new year...........Patrick Long seemed to really like the overal performance of the Cayman when he did his drive with Excellence in California as he swapped between it and a GT3.

 

Whoa Nelly! C&D had an $80,000 price ceiling on their "10 Best" choices. The Carrera is eliminated from consideration for that reason alone. Has nothing to do with 911 performance vs. the Cayman/Boxster.

 

It's comforting to know I'm in the right camp. I always seem to end up in a worst selling, least reliable, no resale value car and despite the data manage to get an experience that confounds that data. Although the Cayman sales may be down it has to be recognised that only a certain type of person is going to buy these cars and that there are a few competitors but it all funnels down to characteristics that make this car what is in relation to other cars and of course one's budget and ability to apply it as needed or desired. I can't imagine too many other cars with two seats at or near this price range actually generating significantly better sales in this economy.

 

At least we're consistent then, since my Cayman S is in the garage next to what I suspect was the worst selling BMW (my wife's Z4M - only 1,800 total in North American).

You have to like and admire a garage with 2 great/worst selling cars.

 

I don't understand. Porsche sold 30% fewer caymans in 2010 than 2009 and the forum consensus is that Porsche wanted it that way?

 

>>>I don't understand. Porsche sold 30% fewer caymans in 2010 than 2009 and the forum consensus is that Porsche wanted it that way?

This may not be the most objective population when it comes to discussions of Cayman sales figures.

I've not bought yet . . but know pretty much what I want and when I'm going to buy. I'm confident I'll be able to find one. Placing a car akin to the Cayman on a "10 worst" list is more likely intended to sell magazines than convey any meaningful or accurate information.

 

Had my worst selling car on PA324 today, from Pequea to New Danville. The road was wet, twisty and we didn't get dumb, but she just was real happy stretching her legs. Yesterday she ran errands all day and had groceries in both boots, happy as a clam.

I got to thinking about the equation: available mid-engine sports cars vs. purchase cost/cost of ownership and usable practicality. The available options in range of mere mortals like me are pretty limited: Porsche Boxster/Cayman and Lotus (can't think of any others). As there are no Lotus dealers near my area and they don't yet have the reliability reputation you'd hope for in a car of this expense, they aren't an option for me.

In this class, the Boxster/Cayman are the real bargain.They aren't flashy, just darn capable and classically good looking. Hopefully the current economic disaster turns around that people holding back feel good about making such a purchase and the great press they have steadily earned opens the gates for the sales levels the models deserve.

 

I don't believe they want it that way. The dealers in my area are having hard time selling their stock ones. Some of them even have brand new 2008's!

Here're some problem that Cayman's facing:
1 Price. After putting options altogether, Cayman and S are going north of $60k/$70k easily. Then TAX, title, insur, then probably $70k/80k out the door at least.
2 Power/performance. From $60k to 80k, there are lots new or used performance cars that would outperform Cayman there, such as M3, C63, GT-R, Z06, used 911's, etc. Keep in mind, most of people who buying Cayman at the first time aren't Cayman hardcore fans like you or me on the forum.
3 Boxster. For less $$, people can get a convertible which performs the same. Not to mention the beautiful Spyder.
4 Lack of standard options. Porsche is infamous of this.

 

... From $60k to 80k, there are lots new or used performance cars that would outperform Cayman there, such as C63, ....

I think that a C63 is not at all in the same category. Now, if you are talking 1/4 mile, straight line, etc ..... But a Porsche is about more than that.

 

Sales of expensive sports cars decline in bad economic times. Is this news?

 

I was told that Porsche wanted to be like Ferrari and cut down Volume because they're in debt and they'll just build or customize cars....Then again, it was said by a salesman so I don't know weather it holds any truth. That's why their aren't that many Caymans/Panamera's.

 

There are a number or reasons for the car not selling well.

1) Porsche does a poor job of selling the car. Never seen an ad that talked about how practical the car is.

2) The cars do not come very well appointed, unlike just about any other car in the same price range as these cars. Until 2011, there were not even packages.

3) There is not much market appreciation for handling which is the hallmark of true sports cars. You even see this at this site with comparos for instance of the 1 Series M car which is a sports sedan, NOT a sports car. Without an appreciation for what this car offers, other classes of cars appear to cost less, offer better appointments and more hp.