Porsche launches subscription program: Unlimited miles, most models, flat fee
For $2,000, anyone can rent a Ferrari for a day, provided you’re comfortable paying double that amount as a security deposit, raising your insurance liability, and limiting the fun to 100 miles. But what if you could drive a Porsche at that price for an entire month, for unlimited miles and with no extra hassle? That’s the new reality — at least in Atlanta.
Porsche’s new subscription service, called Passport, operates like Cadillac’s Book program in New York City. It’s a no-contract app-based service that lets you drive multiple Porsche models every month without any commitment, with all fees, taxes, and insurance baked into the price. A delivery service will ferry cars, detailed and fully gassed, to the customer’s requested location and can swap cars daily, weekly, or whenever.
There’s no mileage limit, which conceivably means someone could drive a 911 Carrera S from Buckhead to Bangor and back without any penalty. The only upfront charge is $500, which helps pay for a background and credit check. If you’re not a criminal and pay your bills on time, you’re probably pre-approved.
The cars are as sweet as the deal. The $2,000 plan offers access to the 718 Cayman, the 718 Boxster, and the Macan (including S versions), as well as the base Cayenne. The $3,000-per-month plan adds the 911 Carrera coupe and cabriolet (in base, S, and 4S trims), the Panamera (base, 4, S, 4S, and 4 E-Hybrid), the Macan GTS, and the Cayenne S, S E-Hybrid, and GTS, for a total of 22 models. Any car with a badge script that says Turbo, Targa, GT3, or GT2 is off-limits with either plan.
Currently, Porsche Passport is a trial service offered to Atlanta-area residents.
Enterprise and Hertz may be its biggest local competitors. Both offer sports cars in several major cities. For one month with Porsche Passport, it’s feasible someone could depreciate a new Porsche far more than the monthly membership cost. Challenge accepted.