[Ilz]

Any guess on when 2021 718 Cayman will appear in USA ?
Or stated differently, do you think Porsche would ship model year (MY) 2020 from June to October, then switch to MY 2021 in November?

Why do I ask:
First time post, but I’ve been lurking the past month while contemplating a base 718 Cayman.
I’m ready to order a 2020 now, but also don’t want to take delivery of a 2020 within 3 months of MY 2021.
(And I’m willing to wait if that’s what it takes to close on price; but that’s a different topic).
I realize Porsche corporate does what it wants, and these are not normal, times. Just seems odd to me that Porsche is about to fall an entire model year behind the auto industry "normal" or what I thought was normal. Although I tend to keep cars a while, this is my first Porsche, so if I change my mind in a few years, that extra model year of depreciation can be worth something independent of build date, right?

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Your concern is valid, very similar to what the Corvette guys are going through right now too. IMO... they should move all that have not been started in production to the next model year. Sure that means there are less 2020's on the road, but I don't view that as bad.

 

[Chris NZ]

Just seems odd to me that Porsche is about to fall an entire model year behind the auto industry "normal" or what I thought was normal.

Most car manufacturer's run the Model Years in a similar way so not sure how you reach this conclusion.

If Porsche follow usually practice then car's built through to Jul/Aug will still be MY2020, while car's built after the summer factory shutdown in Aug will be MY21. However this assumes there will be a summer factory shutdown. I'm also not aware of any major changes, if any, for MY21.

Unless there are serious changes, it is unlikely to have a major impact on value. Most people aren't even aware of MY and simply look at first year of registration. For eg. my car is a MY19, (the VIN confirms this) but was registered in November 2018 and this is what all the paperwork says.

 

[Graustark]

Agree w Chris NZ. I think mileage is the better proxy for "age" than model year, esp in this instance.

 

[Ilz]

Thanks for the insight. It does make sense Porsche would still align model year change over with a summer break, whenever that might be. I had someone suggest to me that it's sometimes earlier in the summer.

 

[Graustark]

When I had my May 2020 build it was going to be a 2020 model. The sales guy was wondering if it might be 2021. So I guess it happens around June? Since I cancelled my order to to the KungFlu, I will instead wait for a 2021 May build, end of that model year.

 

[Chris NZ]

Thanks for the insight. It does make sense Porsche would still align model year change over with a summer break, whenever that might be. I had someone suggest to me that it's sometimes earlier in the summer.

I have seen differing info on when the summer shutdown period is but my understanding is that in Stuttgart summer holidays start at the end of July and run through August. As part of my job (non-motor industry) I deal with a few offices across Europe and these dates would align with when most people in those offices take their holidays.

P.S. I've just checked and summer school holiday for 2020 in Baden-Württemberg (Stuttgart) are from July 30 to September 12. In Lower Saxony (Osnabruck) they are from July 16 to August 26.

 

[Viffermike]

The summer shutdown period is not the model-year shiftover point for Porsche's sports cars. My car, one of the first 2018s built (and mine was built in Zuffenhausen), is the perfect example of this. It's a week-2 June build that was ordered in early May and was delivered in mid-August 2017. The factory shutdown typically occurs in late July and lasts through most of August at a minimum.

@Ilz : New full model years typically begin arriving stateside in August. Key word is 'typically'. Three points to make here:

• COVID-19 is going to throw a gigantic wrench into model-year changeover cadences since factories across Europe have been closed since late March.
• Individual trim levels of 718/982s are built in spurts based on a number of factors ranging from worldwide demand and new-trim introductions (such as, say, the GTS 4.0 now) to filling marketplace demand due to emissions certification delays.
• The 'traditional' summer factory shutdown might not occur this year because of the current shutdown since companies will need to make up lost production -- and that's contingent on no COVID-19 'second wave' occurring in Europe.

There's simply no way of knowing which 718 trims will be prioritized when the COVID-19 shutdown lifts. My advice to you is to listen to your SA's advice and updates, and ignore model-year designation concerns. Order your car now.

 

[Ilz]

Thanks Mike. By the way, I also live in Dallas.
My 2013 Volkswagen was built in early summer of 2012 in Mexico, that and a conversation with a SA inspired my original post.

 

[Viffermike]

There are several of us in the area, @Ilz . Welcome to the forum!

 

[HooosierDaddy]

I think this COVID thing has changed the market. Depending on how you look at it, it's good and bad... the 718 which was already a sacristy, has changed to something that will be even more difficult to get. Unless you want to order and wait. A friend of mine is looking for a 718 BS in White with a manual.... we're finding VERY little to pick from! A few used out there and even less new. The dealer here in town has a new car that exactly want he wants, but they're playing the odds that there's little else to pick from. I can appreciate the dealers stance, but they (the sales manager) are known as not willing to deal, been sitting on this car for over 400 days, and still wants to play games!

He really wants a CPO car and we found one in California that checks all the boxes. So he's put a deposit on and now we're talking about flying out to drive it home! Epic Road trip time!!! I hope everything falls in place and this trip actually happens!

 

[GregW]

The 'year' difference in the 718s so far has been at the option level only. Any significant change will be a Porsche model number change (the 718 is a 982 model). The 2021 is still scheduled as a 982.
If you want the car, buy one now. The real fun doesn't start until the car is in your hands.

 

[Chris NZ]

Those changes can sometimes be fairly material though (for eg. the addition of the PSE as standard instead of an option). The one MY21 change that I am fairly confident of is that Miami Blue will no longer be available as a colour option. This is something that was flagged to me by my dealer last year and was recently mentioned by Nick Murray on his first 992 options video. I believe it is being replaced with a new blue but have not seen it yet.

 

[Scrounger]

Reviving this post a little, here in the UK I was point blankly told that Miami blue was being discontinued. UK buyers can't get a T or and S variant either until the beginning of next year. I was looking at changing from a base to an S before my order went into lockdown and my dealer called me back after a conversation with Porsche GB production office. They said if I wanted an S it would be a special order and it wouldn't go into production until October as they are concentrating on the 4.0 GTS and base cayman/boxter variants at the moment as these are the biggest sellers. Obviously the 4.0 is in hight demand especially in the US and the lead time on these is quite long.

 

[Ilz]

I read a the same rumor on blue elsewhere : Shark Blue.
Perhaps I should have titled the thread, how far out will MY2020 push out instead.

 

[RubyRed]

This is what Shark Blue looks like. Pretty nice color.

 

[alanhats20]

I think this COVID thing has changed the market. Depending on how you look at it, it's good and bad... the 718 which was already a sacristy, has changed to something that will be even more difficult to get. Unless you want to order and wait. A friend of mine is looking for a 718 BS in White with a manual.... we're finding VERY little to pick from! A few used out there and even less new. The dealer here in town has a new car that exactly want he wants, but they're playing the odds that there's little else to pick from. I can appreciate the dealers stance, but they (the sales manager) are known as not willing to deal, been sitting on this car for over 400 days, and still wants to play games!

He really wants a CPO car and we found one in California that checks all the boxes. So he's put a deposit on and now we're talking about flying out to drive it home! Epic Road trip time!!! I hope everything falls in place and this trip actually happens!

Very frustrating trying to find a CPO.218 Boxster base PDK spectecd the way I wanted it
i live in DC. And there are a ton of dealers within 2-300 miles, took me Over 4 months.
finely found one in Pittsburg, about 200 miles
did a one way rental and drove it back
turns out it was a PNA. car, 14000 miles, New tier, brakes and over 4 years warranty
had a year no problems At all.
worth the wait.
good luck

 

[Las Vegas DC]

My 2020 718 Spyder was ordered in Dec 2019 but was delayed due to COVID and was projected for a Sep 2020 arrival. I also had an opportunity to order a 2021 718 Spyder so I took that offer and it is currently setting in Jacksonville, Florida awaiting the final emissions testing before its' release to PEC Atlanta.

 

[Traum]

Was in contact with the local Porsche dealership here in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and I was told by the sales person that he is looking at late spring / early summer delivery for factory orders on Caymans. His main concern seems to be whether an allocation can be secured.

Hmm...