Porsche "fixes" their CDN dollar problem

For over a year now, Porsche has been coining it off their Canadian customers. They’d set their prices for the 2006 models in 2005, only to watch the currency swing dramatically.

Canadian dealers started to hear much noise two summers ago, when the dollar was less than $1.20 per U.S., yet Canadian Porsche dealers were being told to sell the wares at as much as 35% above what someone in Seattle or Buffalo would pay for the U.S. titled car.

When Canadian customers threatened to buy from the dealerships across the border, and drive the cars in Canada, local dealers advised them that 1) the USA dealer won’t sell a new car to a Canadian, and 2) we won’t service your car here.

So much for a worldwide warranty.

With the dollar now at par, Porsche USA is relenting – sort of.

According to a Canadian Press story, prices are coming down for Canuck buyers. What’s odd is that they didn’t think anyone will check the Porsche USA website to see what our southern neighbours are paying. It’s all right there.

Unfortunately, the fix still assumes the Canadian dollar trades at $1.254 per U.S. dollar.

According to Porsche Canada, a Turbo will drop from C$170k for the 2007 version to C$158k for the 2008.

A fellow in Buffalo pays US$126,200 for a Turbo, according to Porsche’s car configurator.

That still works out to be a 25.4% premium for the same car, after the Porsche guys in Atlanta claimed to do right by us:

“We listened to the market and did what is best for our customers in Canada.”

Not quite.

MRM