Owning a shiny new Porsche is a dream of many automotive enthusiasts, but the $47,800 starting price of the base four-cylinder Macan makes it difficult to realize. Porsche knows its cars are aspirational, so it likely won't create an entry-level model to attract new buyers. Still, the German automaker wants more people to experience its cars, which is presumably why it has launched a pair of pilot programs on the East and West coasts of the US that will give users short-term, on-demand, access to Porsche vehicles.
"We want to offer a choice in how people experience the thrill of driving a Porsche," said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "Our market research shows that consumers want options across a spectrum from access to ownership. The Porsche Drive and Porsche Host pilots are exciting, non-traditional ways to let customers choose how they get behind the wheel of a Porsche."
Porsche Drive is a follow up on the company's recent subscription service, which will allow users to rent a variety of Porsche models for periods ranging from an hour to a week. The service is being launched in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be operated by a company called Clutch Technologies LLC.
With Porsche Drive, users can rent Porsche vehicles from all six model lineups (including the 911), though specific model variations will depend on availability. The service is reasonably affordable, starting at $269 (+ taxes and fees) for four hours in a Macan or 718 Cayman/Boxster, up to $2,909 for a week in a 911.
Porsche Host is a bit different. This service is a peer-to-peer pilot that will allow users to rent privately-owned Porsche vehicles. Porsche Host will operate in Los Angeles and San Francisco via the Turo platform, with rental periods ranging from one day to an entire month. We can't wait to give both services a try, although we hope they expand beyond those three US cities soon.
