[Jesda]

Post taken from another forum:

If you guys hadnt heard, Porsche increased their ownership of VW to just over 10% this week. They also announced plans to further increase their stake to 20% in an attempt to discourage any impending takeover bids.

I was very excited to hear this news. Some analysts have predicted that consolidation in the auto industry is inevitable. Given the history of VW and Porsche, and there recent ventures (Touareg and Cayenne), I think this is a perfect arrangement. Imagine a combined Porsche, VW, and Audi. A historic sports car line with spectacular racing heritage. An excellent broad range car company and the largest automaker in Europe. And a cutting edge (aluminum frame, CVT tranny, etc) luxury car brand. Not to mention the smaller brands like Skoda and SEAT and the premium nameplates Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti.

Today, I read a report that DaimlerChrysler may being trying to buy into Volkswagen. Some say its just rumors now that Porsche has stepped up its share. But DC says VW has approached them several times in the past seeking such a deal. From Daimler's perspective, this may be the final opportunity.

The gloves are on and the fighters are approaching the ring. Who's leaving with the VW championship belt??

My reply:

Sheesh. Thats like fighting over dog poop.

 

[ben72227]

I don't care. Who needs German cars anyway? Much less budget german cars...

 

[SpeedyArizona]

Why would Porsche want to control VW? A Porsche and a VW aren't even in the same league, VW is a cheap brand, Porsche is a respected brand!

Porsche needs to get away from the cheap image brands and stay with their mainstream luxury market.

 

[mccombie_5]

I have two German cars, and two half German cars.... ive owned many in the past, but i have my first VW, and this car is like driving a Bentley or a MErcedes, but far more discreet.......

I dont think VW is as highly rated in the states as it is here. The Phaeton is one of the most fantastic cars on todays roads......maybe because i bought one i think that, probably actually, but itrs a great car nonetheless

 

[Kev]

Interesting posts here. OK, short history lesson; is everyone here still aware of the fact that VW & Porsche share the same founder? Ferdinand Porsche developed the Volkswagen (People's car) under the reign of Adolf Hitler in the 30's. Later in 1948 he designed and produced the first Porsche sports car.

Just a bit of trivial history that seems to have been lost judging by the content of a few of these posts.

 

[mccombie_5]

Yeah Dr Porsech based his iniatial porsche on the BEetle

 

[Kev]

Yeah Dr Porsech based his iniatial porsche on the BEetle

Didn't I hear something about a Beetle getting run over by a US tank near the end of the war, gave him the idea for the prototype?

 

[mccombie_5]

Didn't I hear something about a Beetle getting run over by a US tank near the end of the war, gave him the idea for the prototype?

LOL

yeah that sounds right, i never liked porsches, at all, the 911s at least have the engine at the wrong end!

 

[powerglide]

I thought VW is THE premier auto company as far as premium brands.

Don't they own Bugatti, Bentley etc

They just set a world speed record of 253 MPH
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_levin&sid=atSZrf_H2ikA

 

[powerglide]

oh yeah lambo too

Volkswagen Group: global strategy

The Volkswagen Group with its headquarters in Wolfsburg is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest car producer in Europe. In Western Europe, the largest car market in the world, nearly every fifth new car came from the Volkswagen Group. The company attained a global market share of 12.1 percent.

http://www.reingex.com/en115volks.asp?mode=pos

 

[Kev]

Them Gerries! :want:

Wait a minute! We were the ones who won the war right?!!

 

[mccombie_5]

they make good cars though

we wooooon

 

[Jesda]

Here in the US we get craptastic Mexican-made deathboxes with VW badges on them. VW's dealer network is even worse than their cars, if such shittiness can be fathomed.

 

[Kev]

Here in the US we get craptastic Mexican-made deathboxes with VW badges on them. VW's dealer network is even worse than their cars, if such shittiness can be fathomed.

Yeah, it's a bit of a slap in the face of traditional German engineering and workmanship.

 

[mccombie_5]

We get the gooduns

made in Deautschland......

High quality, unfaultable

 

[Kev]

We get the gooduns

made in Deautschland......

High quality, unfaultable

Well, I hope you pay a heckovalot more than we do for 'em! :annoyed:
:nono: :crying:

 

[Stoneage_Caddy]

no one remebers the Porsche+Audi 917-10 racecars ?

no one knows how close VW/Porshe really is , and the toreg/cayanne aren the first VW Porsche ventures , in addition to the 911 beetle heratige , the porsche 924 was a joint venture with VW , the VW sports car that was supposed to result never materialized ..

but merceds benz has also worked with porsche via AMG who needed consulting work .....

well everyone has went to porsche at one time or another for engine consulting , even harley davidson ...

studebaker even had a whole car desgined and tested by porshe , it was to be the very first american compact car ....front engine , 4 wheel indepentednt suspension rear transzxel ...and infulced by a young john delorean ,all done pre 1957

 

[mccombie_5]

Well, I hope you pay a heckovalot more than we do for 'em! :annoyed:
:nono: :crying:

I think we do, i paid £80k for the Phaeton, and a Golf costs around £12,000 (about $20k) and thats for the base model with a 1.4 engine

 

[Ralph]

Right now I don't think many car corporations are thinking about acquisitions and mergers. Instead they're into cutting and trimming mode. Maybe in a few years there will be enough confidence to start expanding again.

VW and Porsche have had some close ties in the past, but since VW now owns Bugatti, Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini, so there isn't too much of a reason for them to acquire another sports car company. More likely it'd be someone who needs a sports car brand for their portfolio. (FIAT has Ferrari, Ford has Aston Martin, etc.).

 

[Playdrv4me]

Theres nothing wrong with Volkswagen, its always been the peoples car. The lower end VWs are made in mexico because like Ford and GM have obviously learned, this helps drastically reduce costs in a market economy where the Euro/Dollar exchange is high. Furthermore, it is primarily the entry level models, i.e. New Beetle, Jetta, Golf that are made there. The Passat, Touareg and Phaeton have more in common with Mercedes and BMW than VWs classic ideal. And this is part of the problem. Along with a poor dealer network as Jesda stated, VW has managed to execute some truly wonderful products but somehow at the same time lose its identity. Fortunately new management is hoping to bring it back to its roots and we will be seeing a regular influx of new vehicles over the coming years, including the much anticipated roadsters.