Just thinking about cars like the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class and Porsche Boxster is exciting. The vehicles are convertibles, they look great, they go fast, and they have luxurious interiors. These are the kinds of cars we have in mind when we say we love cars.
Fans of the Boxster and DaimlerChrysler's (nyse: DCX - news - people ) SLK-Class have had a lot of good news lately. Both cars were recently overhauled, and Porsche announced last month that it will modify the Boxster into a hardtop version called the Cayman.
We love driving both the Boxster and the SLK, and were surprised to find one is doing better than the other. In the first five months of 2005, Mercedes sold 33% more SLK-Class models in the U.S. than Porsche sold Boxsters.
One reason for this discrepancy could be the vehicles' on-sale dates. Mercedes put the new SLK on sale last September, so it has not only had a model in showrooms for all of 2005 but had a chance to ramp up the model's volume before January. Porsche's Boxster went on sale in mid-January, so customers may have passed on the outgoing model and waited for dealers to stock up on the new car.
The companies' dealer networks, capacity and advertising budgets could also be a factor; Mercedes is one of the largest upscale automakers, while Porsche is one of the smallest.
Porsche has around 200 American dealers, while Mercedes has around 300. This is a significant advantage. For a demonstration of how a large dealer network affects sports car sales, consider General Motors' (nyse: GM - news - people ) Chevrolet Corvette, whose base price falls between those of the Boxster and SLK. Through the end of May, Chevy had sold three times as many Corvettes in the U.S. this year as Mercedes sold SLKs. This could have to do with the Corvette's iconic status--but it could also have to do with the fact that Chevy has more dealers than virtually anybody.
Another factor in the SLK's success is that it can compare favorably, performance-wise, to a great sports car such as the Boxster, which is made by Porsche, a racing legend. The entry-level SLK-Class--the SLK350--has more horsepower than the entry-level Boxster, as well as a better zero-to-60 mph acceleration time. Compared to the hot-rod Boxster S, the hot-rod SLK55 AMG has more hp, more hp per pound and a better zero-to-60 time.
The SLK's performance chops, along with its seductive interior, could be attracting potential Boxster customers. After all, Boxster buyers will pay extra for higher performance; while less than 10% of SLK sales this year have been of the hot-rod AMG model, 43% of Boxster sales have been of the hot-rod Boxster S.
Porsche fans love performance--and so do we. For a look at two of the fastest, most exciting convertibles on the market, please follow the link below.
source:forbes
