Porsche - not just clever engineers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the engineering and design history of Porsche vehicles, particularly focusing on the relationship between Porsche and Volkswagen parts, the performance of various Porsche models, and the financial success of the company. Participants explore both technical aspects and broader implications of Porsche's market strategies.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants criticize Porsche's historical reliance on VW parts, particularly in the context of the Porsche 356 and its supposed performance issues.
  • Others argue that the Porsche 356 was based on the VW sedan rather than the VW bus, challenging the claim that it was built from VW minibus parts.
  • A participant points out that the Porsche 911 does not use VW parts, countering earlier assertions about the company's engineering practices.
  • There is a mention of irony in the discussion, with one participant suggesting that the use of common parts is a standard practice among manufacturers, including TVR.
  • Another participant clarifies that the Porsche 924 used an Audi engine, not a VW bus engine, and emphasizes the distinct engineering of the 944 and 914 models.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the financial figures mentioned, with one noting the difference between paper value and real-world returns.
  • There is a discussion about driving skills and how they relate to the performance of rear-engine cars, referencing a popular media figure's driving abilities.
  • One participant asserts that Ferdinand Porsche designed both the VW and Porsche cars, suggesting that the distinction between VW and Porsche parts is less significant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the technical aspects of Porsche vehicles and their historical context, with no clear consensus reached on the accuracy of claims regarding parts usage and performance. Disagreements persist regarding the implications of these points for Porsche's reputation and engineering practices.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the performance of Porsche vehicles and their engineering origins depend on specific definitions and interpretations, which remain unresolved in the discussion.

mgb_phys
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The company that made money selling the same sports car for 40years (a car built from VW minibus parts whose main feature was that every time you tried to go around a corner it crashed and killed you)
Then built an SUV so ugly it made Cadilac ashamed.

Managed to outwit the financial market to the tune of $60Bn
http://radian.org/notebook/porsche

I think this might be one CEO who deserved his $100M bonus!
 
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mgb_phys said:
The company that made money selling the same sports car for 40years (a car built from VW minibus parts whose main feature was that every time you tried to go around a corner it crashed and killed you)
Then built an SUV so ugly it made Cadilac ashamed.

Managed to outwit the financial market to the tune of $60Bn
http://radian.org/notebook/porsche

I think this might be one CEO who deserved his $100M bonus!

lol. Agreed.
 
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mgb_phys said:
The company that made money selling the same sports car for 40years (a car built from VW minibus parts whose main feature was that every time you tried to go around a corner it crashed and killed you)
Then built an SUV so ugly it made Cadilac ashamed.

Managed to outwit the financial market to the tune of $60Bn
http://radian.org/notebook/porsche

I think this might be one CEO who deserved his $100M bonus!

the slam at porsche cars is wrong
the VW bus began production in 1950
while the porsche 356 began production in 1948
so how can ''car built from VW minibus parts'' before the bus exists ?
fact is the 356 was based on the vw sedan
AND A VW BUS has a very hard time going fast enuff to kill anything
or are you so very very wrong to claim that a porsche would
''every time you tried to go around a corner it crashed and killed you''
wonder how porsche won so many road races then
;like all of the majors more then once too
next the 356 was built from 1948 to 1965
the 911 was built from 1965 to date BUT USES NO VW PARTS BEETLE or BUS

yes porsche put one over on the markets
but 60 billion is a paper number
real world you link claims 7 billion
still not a bad return
 
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It's called irony - it may be available for import section of your supermarket?

The porsche 924/944 (the cheap one) used the VW minibus engine didn't it?

I was surprised that the 911 didn't use any VW parts, I always thought that was one of their clever engineering principles - don't waste time designing your own non-essential parts like switches or turn signal lights when you can use perfectly good ones out of the parts bin. TVR (small British sportscar maker) does the same thing with Ford parts.

wonder how porsche won so many road races then
They didn't have typical porsche drivers driving them?
 
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NO the 924 used an audi 2L 4 cyl motor not used in a VW bus
later versions of the vw bus did use an audi 5 cyl in the FWD buses
the 944 use a pure porsche motor based on 1/2 the 928's V8

the 1970 914/4 was the true vw/porsche [euro models were so badged]
and did use the IV type VW motor
but being mid-engined and one of the best handling cars ever built
the 914 can and does still win at autoX today not bad for a allmost 40 year old carwhile some small bits like switches may be from a common source
that hardly causes the cars to ''every time you tried to go around a corner it crashed and killed you''
what does that is having no idea how to drive a rear engined car
example the funny fool Clarkson in your link
who has no clue how to drive a rear engine car
thats why they use the ''STIG'' to drive the timed track
 
as far as I know, Ferd P designed the VW as well as the car with his name on it, so really the "VW parts" were really porsche parts all along. so what?