Almost every week we get requests from readers, both private sellers and dealers, looking for help in spreading the word about a Porsche they have for sale. Starting today, we can help! We’ve created a new category on our site called FEATURED PORSCHE FOR SALE.

Even better, we’ll soon be launching a re-design of PorschePurist.com that prominently showcases these featured offerings on our front page. This means if you’re selling your Porsche, and we list it for you, it will be seen by more than 50,000 pairs of Porsche loving eyeballs each month (and that doesn’t even include the thousands and thousands that receive our newsletter a couple times per week).

Please take a look at our very first Featured Porsche for Sale a 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

This new section will start out as a monthly installment where we’ll feature one Porsche from either a reader or sponsor. Each listing will provide details, pictures and pricing on that particular car. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE! It’s available free to all of our readers and sponsors. Simply send us a note using our contact form that you would like your Porsche featured and we’ll get back to you with details on what we need in order to move forward. It’s that simple.

PCNA announced sales figures for US today. Given the recent introduction of the all new 911, it’s not surprising that the numbers show an increase in overall sales and a large leap in 911 sales. Total Porsches delievered in February 2012 rose 6.4% over the same period last year to 2149 vehicles.

“We are extremely pleased with our February results, although we are still in the initial stage of launching the new-generation 911 and are awaiting the arrival of the all-new Boxster, which has its world premiere at next week’s Geneva Motor Show,” said President and CEO, Detlev von Platen. “We are confident that we can turn up our sales momentum a notch or two in the coming months.”

Porsche’s 911 sales numbers increased more than 111 percent to 858 units vs. 405 a year ago. While the Panamera’s increase wasn’t as impressive, 16.6% is nothing to sneeze at. Porsche delivered 511 four dour units as compared to 442 last year.

What might come as a surprise to some and not so much to those looking for one, sales of the Porsche Cayenne dropped nearly 30% to 659 units vs. 936 in February of last year. The drop in sales is being blamed on “limited supply and low dealer inventory”. What’s not explained is why this is the case; that’s a story for another post…

Related Porsche Posts
Porsche’s Sales Continue to Climb in 2012
Porsche Reports Record Sales in 2011 WorldWide

Porsche Cars North America today announced several enhancements to its European Delivery Program. The revised experience provides customers the opportunity to purchase their new Porsche vehicle from any participating authorized Porsche dealer in the U.S. and take delivery of their new car at their choice of one of the automaker’s two German factories. The program is now offered at no additional charge to customers and includes access to discounted airfare and hotel accommodations.

Upon arrival in Germany, guests are provided with complimentary transportation from the airport to either Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, where the iconic 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars are manufactured, or to Leipzig where the Cayenne SUV and Panamera Sport Sedans are produced. The customer can choose either location, regardless of the model purchased.

Both locations offer a factory tour, allowing guests to see first-hand how a Porsche automobile is created. For owners that choose Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, entry into the Porsche Museum is provided, where more than a half-century of Porsche sports and race car evolution is on display. Owners that choose the Leipzig factory will have the opportunity to drive a number of different Porsche models on the Test Track or test the capabilities of a Cayenne SUV off-road.

Upon arrival at the factory, owners are presented with the keys to their new Porsche, after a thorough presentation of their vehicle by a trained expert in an exclusive setting. Special photographic opportunities exist using either the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart or the “Porsche Diamond,” the main building at Leipzig, as a backdrop.

Guests are then able enjoy their new factory-fresh Porsche on the winding roads and autobahns of the region. The program allows guests to tour Europe, or stay in Germany for up to two weeks to explore the cities and countryside that inspired Porsche’s unique design and exhilarating performance.

The comprehensive program, which started February 1st, 2012, includes factory delivery and all associated activities including temporary insurance, registration and winter tire usage if needed. Shipment to the U.S. is included and can be handled by either factory. Further information is available at any authorized Porsche Dealer or online at www.porsche.com/usa.

Related Porsche Posts
Can You Go Camping in a Porsche 993?
Porsche’s New “911 Identity”Exhibit is Open at the Museum

Last week when Porsche announced the Macan (the official model name of what we all knew up ’till then as the Cajun) there were lots of discussions – some good but most bad – around the new name. Some thought it was better than the presumed “Cajun” while others thought it just as bad, if not worse.

Porsche themselves went to great lengths to explain their naming choice. The press release even talked about the meaning behind some of their past naming decisions: the name Boxster describes the combination of boxer engine and roadster, Cayenne stands for sharpness, the Cayman is snappy and agile and a Panamera is more than a Gran Tourismo, capable also of winning the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race.

So, I ask you this, when it comes to the name of anything other than the Porsche 911, does it really matter? Do you think Porsche will actually sell more or less of the new baby SUV because of a poor naming choice? Would you buy (or more importantly not buy) a Porsche based on the model name?

Related Porsche Posts
Being Named After a Porsche Model isn’t always a Good Thing
Is it a Porsche? Strosek? Ferrari? Porschari!!!
How to Pronounce Porsche Correctly

Product placement is now big business. From TV shows to the big screen, companies are aware of the power of film in establishing brand identity. Porsche is no exception. With a reputation for luxury living, Porsche models feature heavily in many popular movies and series.

Iconic Porsche movies

1983 teen comedy Risky Business features the outlandish escapades of Joel Goodson, played by a young Tom Cruise. The movie aided struggling sales of Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer sunglasses and incidentally advertised the Porsche brand. A car-chase scene in Goodson’s father’s Porsche 928 is followed by the famous slogan: ‘Porsche – there is no substitute.’

In Le Mans (1971), the Porsche 917s competes with the Ferrari 512s in a 24-hour race. The film is popular with racing aficionados and the vehicles are central – there’s not even any dialogue in the first 30 minutes of the movie. No Man’s Land also contributed to the Porsche brand and is popular among Porsche fans. In the 1987 film, the criminal lead played by Charlie Sheen is a discriminating thief – he claims to ‘only steal Porsches’.

In cinema car chases, Porsche has played a significant role, with viewers enjoying the aspirational lives of on-screen characters. Those who dream of a supercar driving experience of their own can now choose Porsche driving days at sites such as http://www.experiencemad.co.uk/. Whether or not an audience member is the proud owner of a Porsche model, brand placement in film gives the viewer a glimpse of luxury living.

Modern product placement

2006 film Cars and the recent 2011 sequel Cars 2 from Pixar Animation Studios feature a Porsche 911 called Sally as one of the main characters. Interestingly, the films introduce car models to a younger audience who are often excluded from vehicle brand identity.

In the successful crime thriller Sin City, Goldie drives a Porsche Spyder convertible, while a 911 Turbo was used in the 2005 blockbuster Fantastic Four. These films re-inforce the luxury and excitement associated with the Porsche brand.

TV appearances

Porsche has also made its way through many popular TV series, notably Scrubs and Friends. In non-fiction programmes, models have been the focus of episodes of Mythbusters, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and National Geographic’s Porsche Junk Yard, to name only a few.

Audiences often view product placement as an overbearing presence by brands who pay large sums to have their products exhibited on screen. Porsche, however, often lends vehicles to producers without any cash being exchanged. According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, Porsche’s presence in hit show The Sopranos was driven by the script rather than financial concerns. The car manufacturer has now established an image of being synonymous with luxury living.

Photocredits: Flickr via CreativeCommons]

J.D. Powers has heaped praise on Porsche before, this year is no different. According to rankings release today. Porsche is the “best European car brand” in a study that focuses on a vehicles’ long-term quality. More than 31,000, who have owned their car since 2009, took part in the Vehicle Dependability Study unveiled earlier today.

The 911 – Porsche’s world famous icon from the main plant in Zuffenhausen – is the best vehicle in its segment. The review of the plant gave the top slot to the Porsche production plant in Stuttgart for the best long-term quality of its sports cars. With the completion of this study, Porsche’s overall results in long-term quality are the best yet from J.D. Power.

Related Porsche Posts
DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR DVR TONIGHT!
Porsche Boxster and Cayman Make the 2012 Car and Driver List of 10 Best Cars
“Golden Classic Steering Wheel” for the Porsche 911 Speedster

It was a little less than one month ago that Porsche reported record worldwide sales for 2011. Not wanting to lose momentum, Porsche announced a 5% in sales for January as compared to the same time period last year.

Picking Up Where We Left Off

“The good start in January shows that we have evidently set the correct course with our product offensive. This result picks up where last year’s good results left off.”, said Bernhard Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG.

Deliveries were up across all of Porsche’s regions, but it was the home market of Germany where the biggest gain, 16%, was achieved. Delivery of 2928 units in Germany put the region only 68 units behind North America (up 9.2% with 2996 deliveries). Asia had largest number of units delivered at 3689 but posted meager growth gains of .3% (possibly explained by Chinese New Year national holiday that fell during the period).

The Cayenne continues to reign supreme as the most popular model with 4900 units delivered worldwide by Porsche. In fact, you may remember that Porsche recently announced a third shift for the Porsche works in Leipzing. Sales of the new 911 were brisk as well at more than 1500 units; an increase of 14.9% as compared to last January. The new 911 Carrera S was the most popular of the 911 models sold at 432 units.

Related Porsche Posts
Set Your DVR to Record CNBC’s Investigation into alleged Market Manipulation by Porsche
How Many Porsche’s Were Sold in the US During 2011?