In reply to Javelin :
Not just for track work. I was out with the PCA in the canyons of S. CA and a 911 turbo guy approached me at a rest/social stop and said he could not shake me. I told him I can brake later and get on the gas sooner. I think we were in Mexico at the time with 75 cars.
i have a similar story to yours and find myself in a similar situation. about 7 years ago when I was financially able, I purchased an occasional use sports car. During my search I narrowed it down to a Porsche 911 and Corvette. At the time the cars that I could afford were a c5z, c6, or 996. The fear of a 996 engine failure and not having enough money after the purchase to fix it should it need to be fixed forced me into the corvette.
I still aspire to own a Porsche, I can financially afford it and potential repairs , most importantly my wife gave me permission. I have looked at a few, even branched out to other brands and looked at an Lotus Evora S. I just can't pull the trigger. The elevated price, rising interest rates (either increasing the value of savings or higher monthly payment), potential impending recession, reduced value of my stock portfolio, FOMO that I could have had a nicer model if I just spent a bit more money, and the fact that I hardly drive the cars I have now, so another would likely sit and complicate parking, insurance, etc. means I keep looking, keep wishing, and ultimately in the most self deprecating way keep declining.
in the end, I don't have an answer for you; on one camp there is the "you only live once, you can't take money with you" and on the other end there is "we cherish our experiences more than our possessions, so if this new car won't create new memories the money is best spent somewhere else"
preach (dudeist priest) said:
Im glad it's not close to me lol
Yesterday I deposited 25% of the birthday check into my IRA. So a 996 is, likely, out of the question...for now.
hybridmomentspass said:preach (dudeist priest) said:Im glad it's not close to me lol
Yesterday I deposited 25% of the birthday check into my IRA. So a 996 is, likely, out of the question...for now.
Oh dam. That is close by.
hybridmomentspass said:preach (dudeist priest) said:Im glad it's not close to me lol
Yesterday I deposited 25% of the birthday check into my IRA. So a 996 is, likely, out of the question...for now.
That's very mature. I'm so disappointed in you and the hive. Where did we go wrong?
I have a similar story. In fact, I wrote it down and posted it here several years ago. As a stranger on the internet, I advise you to buy a Porsche 911. If you've always lusted after one, there's only one way to scratch that itch with any satisfaction. It turns out, once scratched, my itch went away or at least diminished to a tolerable level. I wouldn't call it a "never meet your heroes" situation. On the contrary, comparing peer to peer, the 911 is probably the best performing semi-exotic car that is actually attainable by determined proletariat like me that buy cars secondhand. There is some hype surrounding the 911, but you can see the engineering and feel the performance that you're paying for. It is a special car. Owning and driving a 911 was everything I thought it would be. It was definitely a worthwhile experience that I miss sometimes. I planned to commute in mine and drive the wheels off of it, glue them back on, and keep going. The reality was that it sat most of the time. I'm not a nice-car person and I don't wash or vacuum them. I don't mind dents and scratches. I want the car to run perfectly and reliably and that's about it. The biggest reason it sat though was that I have a wife a three young children whom I'm fond of and we can all ride in an old Land Rover or Model T. The 911 always worked when I did drive it, but just as it is a sin to keep a bluebird confined in a cage, walking past it in the garage day after day was convicting. So I sold it to someone that wanted to drive it.
I sold my 911 for what I paid. If you're savvy, you can probably do the same thing. Had I waited two years for the COVID frenzy, I could have probably doubled my money. I might buy another one someday when the kids are grown and if I have to commute again. In the meantime, I have nothing but fond memories of 911 ownership. You'll never know until you know.
dean1484 said:hybridmomentspass said:preach (dudeist priest) said:Im glad it's not close to me lol
Yesterday I deposited 25% of the birthday check into my IRA. So a 996 is, likely, out of the question...for now.
Oh dam. That is close by.
You won't...
F. Just so yall know, I was thinking about that New England p-car posted today as I had about 2 hours of driving to pick up some MR2 parts.
Seriously, if it was within a few hours I'd be looking back at the LS swap pages I was browsing just a night or two ago...
I'll make more money, things will level off, I believe. Righ tnow it's just not the time to spend 20 or more grand on a car (soon-to-be wife could use a new(er) car before I buy a second fun car.
One day...
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
FWIW, Porsche made several 911s. Eventually you'll find the one.
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
I'd K-swap it.
Buy one.
Similar story here...I started looking for one back in 07 I guess...before the 911 craziness.
But, I tried to be logical about it and instead bought an 01 Boxster S
I thought...the Boxster is a better performing car, faster than the 911's I could afford (I think I paid 34k for it back then). I cross shopped C5 vettes, but they were too common.
I think (details are fuzzy) I could have had an RS America (964) without AC for the same price back then...which is even more of a kick in the crotch.
No matter, about a year later we had our 3rd kid and it was minivan life for a long while...so even had I bought it I probably wouldn't have benefited from the price explosion a few years later.
FWIW I think Singer has a lot to do with the 964 being more sought after than the 993...if that's true.
In reply to jamscal :
I bought my Cayman in '16 for 32k. I was in the same range as a g50 911.
Part of the deal, at the time anyways, I had to sort of get my wife's approval so I showed here the two cars and she green-lighted the Cayman. So I bought one.
Try getting a G50 now for that...
David S. Wallens said:In reply to hybridmomentspass :
FWIW, Porsche made several 911s. Eventually you'll find the one.
Well, I think it'll be the right time sometime. I could, legit, go get an early 996 and that'd check that box of owning a 911. And I'd be happy. But I also know that right now prices are nuts on ALL used cars and I, as well, need to think about the future. I dont want to be car poor.
I'll stick the the MR2 for now, keep looking, keep saving and see what comes up in time.
I WILL have one one day, but Im ok waiting for the good things in life. I still have 75% of that check sitting in my savings account accruing a small amount of interest, which is good. But Im glad I was able to put some into my retirement (and I'll still have my pension when I retire, so my IRA isnt everything), and have some for when something comes up at home or a cool car option.
....but I do wish that one was close by so I could look at it and get it home ha
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
While you're looking, maybe check out some local PCA events. That can be a good way to get to know the local P-car community–you know, for when it's finally time.
I sometimes consider if I would enjoy a 911 more than my S2000. Really is a tough call.
Not sure if I'd enjoy a 911 more. Clearly, I need the opportunity to drive one and see.
David S. Wallens said:In reply to hybridmomentspass :
While you're looking, maybe check out some local PCA events. That can be a good way to get to know the local P-car community–you know, for when it's finally time.
You can be a non-owner member too.
In reply to preach (dudeist priest) :
PCA also offers its Test Drive program for those shopping for a Porsche.
hybridmomentspass said:David S. Wallens said:In reply to hybridmomentspass :
FWIW, Porsche made several 911s. Eventually you'll find the one.
Well, I think it'll be the right time sometime. I could, legit, go get an early 996 and that'd check that box of owning a 911. And I'd be happy.
I'll say this. My wife and I have a 996 and a 986. The 996 is a minty clean car with 42k miles on the clock. The 986 has a salvage title (though the hit was purely cosmetic), 162k miles. It's surprisingly clean given those factors, but it's still high mileage. Take a guess which one I prefer driving...
It's not a knock on the 996 at all. I honestly think very highly of the car. Just in my seat of the pants feel, the 986 is a better driving machine.
it took all summer but I made the leap and picked this up last night. It's a higher mileage 2005 C2S /w an LN engineering 4.0L, GT3 suspension, and some other goodies (extra set of wheels, upgraded shifter, etc.) I drove it home last night and really enjoyed the drive (except for getting pulled over in the first 20 min.
Congrats!
Is there a good story behind 'getting pulled over in the first 20 minutes' and if so, can you share it? ;-)
BoulderG said:Congrats!
Is there a good story behind 'getting pulled over in the first 20 minutes' and if so, can you share it? ;-)
no license plate (I bought it private and Illinois requires a signed title to put plates on) So not really... just got pulled over checked my paperwork verified the VIN matched the paperwork and then verified the car wasn't reported stolen and I was on my way. The county trooper in WI was very pleasant and even wished me a happy holidays when I got back on my way.
In reply to BoulderG :
I would have figured it was for excessive window tint.
David S. Wallens said:I'm fine with 996 headlamps.
Me too. I have no idea why they get so much hate.
Just remember, if you wait until you can comfortably afford it which could well be not until you retire, you might not be physically able to crawl in and out of it. Not to mention your reflexes will be a lot slower.
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