Porsche Loyalty and the 944

A couple of weekends ago 924S944.com went to Lake Chatuge in northeastern Georgia with the Appalachian Region of PCA for their annual Appalachian Adventure.  With lots of Porsches in attendance, there was only a 944 Turbo and our 924S representing all the 924, 944 and 968 models.  Too bad there weren’t more – with nearly perfect weather and some great driving roads, a great time was had by all.

Our featured speaker at the closing banquet was Doug Urban from Porsche of Asheville.  Doug is service director for the dealership and he had some interesting insights on those he meets in the service department.  One quote was especially telling.  “Porsche owners are the most brand-loyal owners in the world.”  This comment was backed up with stories and quips that focused on the concept that Porsche People become Porsche People early in life, before ever acquiring a Porsche, and they stay with the brand for life.  Further, he said that the addition of the SUV and Panamera models allowed Porsche People to continue in the brand through life changes, physical changes and other challenges.  He pointed to PCA as another focus point, saying, “You don’t see a national ‘Camry Club!'”

Taking this concept of brand loyalty a bit further, many of the admittedly older folks in the group talked about their “first Porsche.”  Some bought an old 356 (back in the day when they were cheap), some got into a 914, and there were even a few who talked about their 924 or 944.  Today, these folks have progressed in life and are in much more expensive Porsches, but they started out “on the cheap.”  Here at 924S944.com, we started our Porsche career in a 1978 924 that we bought used in 1982 for $6,000 if memory serves.  We took that 30,000 mile Porsche up past a quarter million miles and two generations.  (Admittedly I did drive a Boxster S for about a year, then went back to the 944 crowd.)

While you are driving, repairing and enjoying your 924, 924S or 944, remember that you are in a line of many PCA members who started out with a “cheap” Porsche that they could afford at the time, eventually moving up to newer, more sophisticated, more technologically advanced Porsches over time.  Even the president of the Appalachian Region who took his Porsche 912 to another region and did not feel he was welcomed turned to national PCA and helped to start the Appalachian Region four years ago.

It can be a bit repetitive, but at the Florida Citrus Region PCA in Orlando, we are welcomed to bring our 944’s into the club and its events.  Annual dues are only about $40, and we have many events each month.  Go to PCA.org and join with your 924, 944 or 968 and come to our events!  There are nine events on the Florida Citrus Region calendar for September, including Cars and Coffee events and an Autocross!  If you are not in the metro Orlando area, go to the PCA website and find the closest region of PCA near you and join!

Come get involved and meet Sparky, our 924S944.com 924S!