Porsche trials online sales that still require a trip to the dealer

Porsche has announced it will start selling new and pre-owned cars and SUVs online in the US, but there’s a catch: buyers will still have to trek to a dealership to sign some paperwork and, of course, pick up their vehicle.

This is not all that surprising, but it is somewhat funny to me to announce a new online sales initiative that still requires the review and signature of more paperwork at a physical dealership. It reminds me of how it felt freeing when airports first started letting people check in at touchscreen kiosks... right up until the moment you realized you still had to stand in a twisting line if you needed to check a bag.

Buying cars online is not a new idea — just look at sites like CarMax or Carvana — but they are a...

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