Yo: I agree, but I don’t need to like it:)
Winslow: I think the Smart Roadster design was driven by it’s platform and manufacturing techniques (plastic panels bolted to a steel frame). Moreover, the brand DNA was always different than Porsche.
When I talk to my dad and other car guys his age (65+), they talk about the 356 as being the sportscar you buy if you don’t want to show off. A '62 corvette had gaudy style and 250+ hp. A 356 looked almost as pedestrian as a VW and had at most 95 hp. That’s the Porsche that I liked:/ Albeit, they would be bankrupt today if they hadn’t changed.