Foo - VW plans merger with Porsche

Interesting.



VW plans merger with Porsche

STUTTGART, Germany – The best thing Volkswagen AG can do when it carries through its proposed merger with Porsche is this: Leave Porsche alone and reap the revenue from a glossy brand with loyal, rich customers, analysts say.

Having emerged Thursday atop a power struggle among members of the Piech and Porsche families — who control Porsche Autombil Holding SE — and cost Wendelin Wiedeking his job as chief executive, Volkswagen is left to gather the spoils, namely the marquee Porsche name that will soon be counted with Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini, already among its stable of luxury brands.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_germany_porsche_volkswagen

I thought Porsche/Audi and VW already were merged, many eons ago?

I thought Porsche/Audi and VW already were merged, many eons ago?

I think said merger did not include Porsche... yes, VW has owned Audi for quite some time.

Bring back the 914! Ahahahhaahaha!

Audi, VW, and Porsche all used to be parts of the same company.

Bring back the 914! Ahahahhaahaha!

Actually one of the cooler Porsches I've ever driven. The 928 S4 is the best though.

Couch

Actually one of the cooler Porsches I've ever driven. The 928 S4 is the best though.

Couch

I totally agree. I am also a big fan of the old 912.

I totally agree. I am also a big fan of the old 912.

My budy just picked up the 76 912E. (He made the mistake of selling his 63 356 two years ago). He's rebuilt the motor, riped out the fuel injections and installed a nice carb system. Man is that car a joy to ride in. Fantastic car!

Couch

Actually one of the cooler Porsches I've ever driven. The 928 S4 is the best though.

Couch

For a combination of kick ass handling, kick ass acceleration, and poop your pants fun, the 911 is hard to beat.

For a combination of kick ass handling, kick ass acceleration, and poop your pants fun, the 911 turbo is hard to beat.

fify

fify

It costs an ass load more money, though, and the regular 911 will still make you poop your pants, especially if you let off in a corner.

It costs an ass load more money, though, and the regular 911 will still make you poop your pants, especially if you let off in a corner.

I don't wish to poop my pants. I wish to nail the quarter in the mid to low 12's and hold .9g's through steady state cornering.

I don't wish to poop my pants. I wish to nail the quarter in the mid to low 12's and hold .9g's through steady state cornering.

All while getting the groceries! Best thing about a 911. :P

Actually one of the cooler Porsches I've ever driven. The 928 S4 is the best though.

Couch

Didn't that have a VW engine as well?

Didn't that have a VW engine as well?

Nope. S4 had a 5.0L V8.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_928

Volkswagen and Porsche have been fiddling around together since before Volkswagen even existed. It's about time those crazy kids finally tied the knot.

Up until now, Porsche and Volkswagen-Audi Group have been separate. And since VAG owns Lamborghini, a 911 with scissor doors can't be far away!

(kidding!)

Didn't that have a VW engine as well?The 914 had a Volkswagen Type 4 engine (as seen in later VW Buses). I think the 924/944 engine was sourced from Audi.

Didn't that have a VW engine as well?

Type 4

Nope. S4 had a 5.0L V8.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_928

I was just at a Porsche show east of Cleveland a month or so ago. One of the nicest shows I've been to in awhile. My buddy took is 912E there and thought he was going to get yelled at. When he started the engine to leave, tons of Porsche geeks ran over and told him to stop...they wanted to see the engine and ask about it. Man, we were stuck there for another two hours answering questions about the car. Those Porsche geeks are fun. One guy came over and asked where he got it. The guy immediately gave him the build number of the car; I guess he had been following the car on Ebay for months.

Couch

Volkswagen and Porsche have been fiddling around together since before Volkswagen even existed. It's about time those crazy kids finally tied the knot.

Dr. Porsche started Porsche AG in 31, designed the VW bug, AND designed the Auto Union race car. He was a busy doctor.




Auto Union was a conglomerate of Audi, DKW, Horsch, and Wander. In 1949, Auto Union became Audi. 4 companies = 4 rings.

Audi, VW, and Porsche all used to be parts of the same company.

Thats what I always thought.

Depends upon how you define "company". Porsche, Audi, VW are owned by various but different members and different lines of the same family, some owning portions of them all. However, there has never been a corporate umbrella over them. They are more partners, an auto-group or a Japanese kereitsu; a cooperative of independent operations.

The main change now, is that they Porsche and VW will be the same company with the same owners and will be registered as a single corporation and trading under a single stock-ticker symbol. Check out this article: How Porsche Made Billions (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7843262.stm).

In short:

1. Porsche quietly locks up 74% of VW shares using call options
2. Fund-manager & other investors bet VW would drop like all other car-makers
3. they short the cr@p out of VW shares
4. VW shares don't drop
5. Porsche announces their majority control of VW shares
6. VW shares skyrocket 300% in a day
7. those holding short are wiped out
8. Porsche makes $6bil by selling calls at the peak
9. uses cash to buy VW shares out-right
10. Porsche owns majority of VW out-right

There's a great BBC video that explains this. Basically last year, Porsche made $1bil selling autos and $6bil trading options !!! :)

video: BBC - Money Programme - Fast Bucks, How Porsche made Billions (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00h3mxz/Money_Programme_Fast_Bucks_How_Porsche_Made_Billions/)

Hmm, interesting way to bail out Porsche. Porsche was in the mix to buy VW. In any case my two favorite Porsche's to drive are the 1980 930, and the 96 993TT

http://www.viralseeds.de/img/porsche-penis.jpg