German Car Zone

Earlier we reported that Porsche would be slowing down production at its Stuttgart plant in Germany from December 22 through January 9 due to flagging sales, and now we can report that more production cuts are expected to take place. The automaker is now considering stopping production for a full non-consecutive seven days at its Zuffenhausen factory – where the 911 is built – during the Christmas holidays as well. "We have to think about this if car sales continue to develop like this and do not recover again," an inside source revealed to Reuters.
Porsche’s other factory in Leipzig, where the Cayenne and soon the Panamera are built, should remain unaffected by the output cuts in Zuffenhausen and Stuttgart. A Porsche spokesman said no decision was made yet for further production cuts, but if it became necessary management and labor could decide quickly on such a measure.

Similarly, Porsche's soon to be subsidiary, Volkswagen, is also very strongly considering slowing down production, joining a growing list of carmakers having to rationalize output to meet record low levels of consumer demand over the last few months. Currently, VW is still in talks with union officials and worker representatives to shut down production for three weeks during the year-end holiday period, a move which would affect over 15,000 employees but one which may be necessary if the company is to avoid costly overproduction.


Porsche considering cutting 911 production - [2009 Porsche 911] - MotorAuthority - Car news, reviews, spy shots

They should - although its classic car the car is starting to show limitations in handling. A Cayman would be faster around a track with the same engine as a 911. Replace the 911 with another mid-engine version before the japanese overtake the 911 completely.

"Limitations in Handling" you say? Tell that to the new 911 GT3.

There will be further innovations and improvements on the 911. But you have to appreciate that the 911 is the way that it is because that's what Porsche's clients want. The credit crunch is affecting every car maker. And cost cutting by reducing output is a realistic and pragmatic course of action. However this lack of demand is not due to Porsche customers hopping brands to other sports car makers - no this is a sign off the times that affects even the best selling sports car range ever.

They could do so much better with the Cayman platform than with a 911. The limitations are not so much as the 911. Nissan GTR are almost making the 911 ancient on those tight trackies.

The Cayman is a Boxster with a fixed roof. It's smaller, uglier and more limited in how much power that platform can a) accommodate and b) handle compared with a 911. Sure, the Cayman is praised the world over, but it's not as amazing as a full-blown 911 and certainly not as desirable.

The new 911 GT3 mkII saw uncle Walter post a time of 7:40 on the ring. Now, I don't want to start splitting hairs with you around factory etcetera ad nauseam ad infinitum times but in my books that's a pretty fukken spectacular time for a "dated", "unbalanced" rear engined thoroughbred with just 320 kW and six naturally aspirated cylinders. Every year Porsche make improvements to the 911 that sees it remain the best selling sports car on the market.

As for the GT-R, it's a helluva achievement but I don't see how developing a mid-engined car will help Porsche take on the Nissan. One of the biggest problems with a mid-engined car is the need to make it a strict 2 seater as opposed to a 2+2 (as this comes out like a total abomination) which has huge appeal among mainstream Porsche buyers. Mid-engined cars have their place. But the 911 has its appeal in its uniqueness. There is nothing like it and it still acquits itself admirably.

Let's see what 997 mk II Turbo and GT2 have in store for us...

Like I've stated in the past the GT-R is no threat. Just as the Z06 is not talked about today, the GT-R will be yesterdays car in a year's time, the same applies to the R8 which was put back on the bench by the facelifted 997 which shows that the 011 is not about to be dethroned anytime soon.

Besides that I sincerely don't believe that anyone who is truly longing for a 911 would happily settle for a GT-R because both cars are very quite different.

Your argument regarding the Cayman is very valid since the Cayman is technically the biggest threat to the 911, although the 911 has the ever unique characteristic of being tail happy and thus there is no substitute.

Put the same engine like the GT3 have in a Cayman. The Cayman would dance like a ballerina around the 911.
Bury the 911 and build a mid-engine Porsche same size as the 911 and Porsche will once again be the top dog.

No doubt the Cayman is faster with the same engine as a 911. But turning the 911 into a mid-engine car would kill the company as the rear-engine configuration is the one reason why the formula of the 911 has worked of decades, it's what makes the car special.

The 911 has never been about numbers. it has always been outnumbered by other cars, from the e30 M3 to the 928, not to talk about Ferrari and power-sedans like the M5.

What sets the 911 apart is precisely what makes it maybe slower than a similarly powered cayman, and it is the way it handles. No car delivers such a steering feel, such a handling. The way it goes out of a corner is, due to its specific balance, unmatched. The way it transfers the power to the ground is, too.

The GTR is super-fast, but also super-artificial in its sensations. it doesn't deliver the way a 911 does. it's way faster, but much less entertaining.

If you only look at the number, the 911 should never have existed in the first place.

It's the unique behaviour it has on road that made it last so long while all the supposedly superior competition died.

Add to that feeling of purity the fantastic design it has, and you have possibly the best sportcar ever.

Numbers and Nurb times only matter in the piss-contest, what is important is how the car feels, and there the 911 is just one of its kind.

I just realized I missread the article. I thought it said Porsche thinking of stopping the 911 production forever. LoL!