Porsche Design PD6

[Hammerhead]

You may wonder what would possess someone to spend $170 on a lighter, when matches are free, or even just a $1 cheapo lighter would do.

For the same reason people spend more on a fine automobile, I suppose. Because in the hedonistic delight of indulging in the sensory pleasures of tobacco, the accoutrement that you surround yourself with are as important to the experience as "ambiance" is to a restaurant. Candlelight makes even a mediocre meal a better experience.

And so it is with a fine lighter. Oh, sure, I could wax loquacious about certain distinct practical benefits. The reliability and strength of a blue-hot flame resistant to wind and ensure a good light on your leaf. The fact that for cents, you can refill a lighter such as this many times, in the long run, amortizing the cost to even less per fill than a BIC. But I won't kid anyone. This is as much about aesthetics as pragmatics.

Packaging on the Porsche lighter is a class act. The exterior is a soft, semi-matte vinyl-like plastic, with understated but bold "eurostyle" block text. The box opens by a flap closed by small magnets contained under the covering that are just enough to keep it sealed, a first hint that this won't be an ordinary piece of equipment, given so much thought has gone into the packaging. Enclosed is a small instructional leaflet, the lighter itself nestled securely in high-density foam.

One look at this lighter, and you know you're dealing with a "different breed of cat". The first thing you remark about the Porsche PD6 is its unexpected mass. The PD6 is surprisingly heavy for its size, far outweighing just about any other lighter I've handled, short of a DuPont.

Like it's automotive namesake, the engineering, construction quality, fit and finish are everything one would expect of an accessory that bears the Porsche name.

The shape fits neatly in hand, the controls falling where they should. Design is clean, simple, without protuberances of any sort at all. Although somewhat small at only 2.5" high by 1.1" wide by .6" thick, if ever you've used a BIC, you'll manage.

Just about every aspect of this lighter is spot-on. Near-seamless construction. Solid feel. Crisp, reliable ignition. I don't know what the exterior is made of, but the overall impression just screams quality, without having to rely on gaudy embellishments.



The Porsche PD6 is a simple, solid workaday tool designed, like its namesake, to be all about performance without ever a hint at ostentation. I'm looking forward to many years of reliable service, which by inclusion means that the temporary sting of a higher price is rewarded over time by satisfaction and superior performance.

[SIZE=2]More photos (including high-res 800x600 shots of the pics above) located on my website.[/SIZE]

[Mindflux]

Very nice review! Gorgeous Lighter!

For anyone looking, I found it here:
http://secure.netsolhost.com/1495.15...gory_Code=4por

For 149, I've never used that vendor though.

[Hammerhead]

One of our fellow gorillas is looking to clear his inventory, and has OUTSTANDING prices - for instance $102 on the PD6. It's where I got mine. Contact me and I'll fill you in, if he doesn't touch base with you directly.

[Franksmith]

So Porsche designed it but who built it?

In my experience with "Porsche designed" items (like LaCie drives) the items exterior appearance is designed by Porsche but the innards and interior/exterior workmanship are someone else's. Is that the case with these?

Curious

[Hammerhead]

Good point, and excellent question. I asked myself that, too.

IMO, the best way to tell if it's a new design from the ground up, or just cosmetics on an existing architecture, is to see if there are any other lighters out there that look similar or have a nearly identical mechanism, shape, size and functionality.

However, who designs a product, and specifies tolerances, materials, finishes, and ergonomics can make a HUGE impact on any product. For instance, I'll take an IBM ThinkPad over any other laptop out there. Why? Design, construction, materials and build quality. Did IBM ever, in their entire history, manufacture their own? Nope. Their laptops have always been outsourced to many different manufactuers. But what makes a ThinkPad a ThinkPad are the guys at the Watson Research Facility that engineer it.

I'm definitely curious to learn more about the particulars. Who manufactures it. What materials are used, and how are they different than what's out there. And so on.

If any of you guys hear anything, let us know!

[opus]

Awesome looking lighter.

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

Cool lighter. Porche has other designs that are pretty nice too. I saw the pics that you posted on your site too. Nice, hi-rez.

I am a luke warm collector of lighters. I have an S.T. Dupont, which is just awesome. A Colibri double burner for the "big foot" cigars. I use an assortment of Zippo shells with a Z-Plus insert, a different flavor for each day of the week, don'cha know. A Promethius single torch with a built-in cigar scissor. And a Colibri beam sensor lighter, that's not a torch but looks cool, for inside use.

The Doc

[mosesbotbol]

I've owned other Porsche Design stuff eg: sunglasses, luggage, pens, watches, and they were all quite nice. IWC use to make their watches, then Porsche bought Eterna which also makes a pretty good watch too. Where does the lighter indicate it's made; Germany, France, Japan?

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Dr. Stogie Fresh

Cool lighter. Porche has other designs that are pretty nice too. I saw the pics that you posted on your site too. Nice, hi-rez.

I am a luke warm collector of lighters.
The Doc

Do you have a Dunhill Trench lighter? My friend picked up one with a torch element. A good mix of old world style and modern technology. I like the Porsche lighter, but I already own a Dupont and can't justify two lighters...

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Do you have a Dunhill Trench lighter? My friend picked up one with a torch element. A good mix of old world style and modern technology. I like the Porsche lighter, but I already own a Dupont and can't justify two lighters...

Nope, don't have one. I didn't know they came in a Butane replica. Gotta URL so I could check it out? Not that I would purchase one (the magnetic strip's worn thin on my credit card this holiday), but i am always interested in gadjets.

The Doc

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Dr. Stogie Fresh

Gotta URL so I could check it out?

The Doc

http://dunhill.com/img/collection/li...turbo_defo.jpg

[n2advnture]

Email RonC at cigarsolutions.com (the front man for Avallo humidors) he will give you THE BEST deal on a Porsche lighter!!! (no joke!)

And he's a great guy to deal with to boot.

~M

ps - I just got a PD5 and love it!

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Where does the lighter indicate it's made; Germany, France, Japan?

Germany.

[ESP]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

....The Porsche PD6 is a simple, solid workaday tool designed, like its namesake, to be all about performance without ever a hint at ostentation. I'm looking forward to many years of reliable service, which by inclusion means that the temporary sting of a higher price is rewarded over time by satisfaction and superior performance...

[SIZE=2]More photos (including high-res 800x600 shots of the pics above) located on my website.[/SIZE]

One question, after a few minutes of continuous burning - say 1min & 2min mark - does the lighter body keep cool?
I have found for example the vector gear lighters heat up after one minute or so (to the point it burns my thumb!), and personally I like the ones that allow me to take my time lighting the cigar,, a good cigar lighter should have a good heat retention/dispersion mechanism and would be interesting to know if the Porshe design has done it all!

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by ESP

One question, after a few minutes of continuous burning - say 1min & 2min mark - does the lighter body keep cool?

Well, I haven't put that to a test, but I would imagine so. The ignition mechanism is separated from the main body, only connected mechanically with those two screws that hold the hatch on, so there isn't much that can conduct heat that I can see. I don't know if I'm willing to try and burn my fingers off to give it a try, though.