It definitely is. Ford and Honda dealers get lots of foot traffic, and therefore lots of people who, “would love to buy this, but I need a test drive first ... nah, not really what I was looking for after I drove it.” My dealer kept my MR showroomed to minimize people asking for test drives, but still got several…

Winner winner chicken dinner.

Tremendously reliable, competent, good handling car that no one bought.

Agreed on all fronts, but as we both know, there’s some nuance.

That’s cool.

Agreed. Only put down what the dealer asks for, just cap yourself at $5K. I will say that for my Evo I was required to put down $5K, and was asked similarly for a Boss 302. Friends got told the same for a Golf R and Focus RS. The dealer wants to place the barrier high enough so they don’t end up having to return a…

812s were spoken for before launch. Ferrari had no issue selling F12s either. 599s were a bit different, because it was a down market, but still tough. 612s (as 575s and 550s and 456s) were a bit different as well. The reality is the mid-engine V8s are the ones you can’t ever easily get. The front-engine V12 GTs…

Yep. Find a dealer that clearly wants repeat business, give them your money, get your car right around launch. You win. Dealer wins. Yay!

It sucks, but it’s reality.

Let’s suppose I go down to my local Ferrari dealer. I walk in. The owner recognizes me. He realizes we’ve done some small business some time ago.

The reality is you should do what is reasonable for you.

The best interest you’re getting from a savings account right now is ~1.1%. Keep in mind, inflation right now is ~1.7%.

This is why you make sure dealers will be willing to sell for MSRP.

Someone (now dismissed) said my $5000 was “a @#$%ton of money.”

I’ve played the “low/super-low” allocation game for the best part of 15 years now. Getting very desirable cars (including Porsche GT cars) isn’t too hard so long as you understand how the game works, and are willing to play.

Is it somehow better etiquette to poop into your hand?

Have to admit, that’s a weird position in which to take a #2.

They do. It ruins camshafts.

Unfortunately, Porsche is also the ultimate “pay to play” brand.

It’s not an issue of development. It’s an issue of packaging.