Stigma of owning/driving a 997...
09-22-2016, 10:53 PM
#182
Hey I am 50 too and I live in a town that is so fiscally conservative that when I bought my
first 911 USED I got turned in to the Naval investigative service!!! I live in a NAVY town and everyone
makes good coin. ALmost everyone is a scientist or engineer. Couples that BOTH work on base surpass
$300k as senior scientists combined. BUT STILL I have the newest sports car in town. People easily here could afford Ferraris or Lambos but every one is so paranoid about what every one else thinks no one makes a move. there is 50 thousand Avalons in town for Gods sake. I am on my fourth 911 and I just dont give a rats *** no more. People in this town will pay $60K for raw cherrry wood for their kitchen on their new $900K house and no one says a thing but if I buy a car I have to visit the NCIS office.
Buy the car and tell everyone else to screw off. You dont ask them to pay your bills so tell them to get the fu#k out of your business. If it bothers you that much then maybe you need a BMW or Audi.
I know my wife wont drive a Mercedes just because of the stigma. But there are a few new ones of those around. Really there are only maybe 5 911s in this town that are newer than 996's and 2 Caymans I think. I have had the only 997 in this town that lives here and I have had 2 GT3s. You only live once and with this economy you never know when and if this chance will come again.
first 911 USED I got turned in to the Naval investigative service!!! I live in a NAVY town and everyone
makes good coin. ALmost everyone is a scientist or engineer. Couples that BOTH work on base surpass
$300k as senior scientists combined. BUT STILL I have the newest sports car in town. People easily here could afford Ferraris or Lambos but every one is so paranoid about what every one else thinks no one makes a move. there is 50 thousand Avalons in town for Gods sake. I am on my fourth 911 and I just dont give a rats *** no more. People in this town will pay $60K for raw cherrry wood for their kitchen on their new $900K house and no one says a thing but if I buy a car I have to visit the NCIS office.
Buy the car and tell everyone else to screw off. You dont ask them to pay your bills so tell them to get the fu#k out of your business. If it bothers you that much then maybe you need a BMW or Audi.
I know my wife wont drive a Mercedes just because of the stigma. But there are a few new ones of those around. Really there are only maybe 5 911s in this town that are newer than 996's and 2 Caymans I think. I have had the only 997 in this town that lives here and I have had 2 GT3s. You only live once and with this economy you never know when and if this chance will come again.
Things never change.
09-23-2016, 04:12 AM
#183
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Swedish expat in Latvia
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Originally Posted by nwGTS
....,Separately, I think many of us frequent here just for the community. We know these cars are special and don't attach any stigma to them whether that's a base C2 or a monster RS. All 911s are almost the exact same car in a different trim level. So we all share something in common starting with that tub......
I have never once felt unease on this forum or from other Porsche owners regarding of model,trim levels or spec.
09-23-2016, 05:53 PM
#184
^^^^ I don't think you've overthought it. I think being perceptive of these kinds of things is even more likely when you've had some more humble beginnings.
I grew up fairly poor (for the united states anyways) and never once thought of owning a Porsche. I read on here often about guys whose dads had one.. or a family friend. I can't relate to that at all.
I'm just 34 and still do have plenty of people I grew up with (even into my 20s) that are just making ends meet.
I do tend to downplay the car.. if it comes up I mention it being 5 or 6 years old, and having paid half of what it cost new. I'm not ashamed of having it. I worked hard for it, and I love cars. Always have. It's just that I grew up being interested in much more attainable cars like a 1977 trans-am. I can love my car, be happy with it, proud of my accomplishment to be able to afford it comfortably.. but also not wish to make friends feel uncomfortable about what they have or drive.
I grew up fairly poor (for the united states anyways) and never once thought of owning a Porsche. I read on here often about guys whose dads had one.. or a family friend. I can't relate to that at all.
I'm just 34 and still do have plenty of people I grew up with (even into my 20s) that are just making ends meet.
I do tend to downplay the car.. if it comes up I mention it being 5 or 6 years old, and having paid half of what it cost new. I'm not ashamed of having it. I worked hard for it, and I love cars. Always have. It's just that I grew up being interested in much more attainable cars like a 1977 trans-am. I can love my car, be happy with it, proud of my accomplishment to be able to afford it comfortably.. but also not wish to make friends feel uncomfortable about what they have or drive.
09-23-2016, 07:27 PM
#185
Instructor
I grew up in a middle class family of six. We never wanted for food, clothing or shelter, but there wasn't much leftover from my folks' paychecks after that. I've been fortunate in my career. Always lived well beneath my means in order to save and ensure a comfortable retirement. Then, one morning about six months ago a colleague of mine, my age (58), dropped dead of a heart attack in his office six doors down the hall from me. He was active, thin and seemingly fit. He was looking forward to retire in 4 years to a house he recently bought in his home country. He never got to enjoy it. That got me to thinking and long story short I ended up with a 2007 C2S this May. I'm the first in my family to ever own anything close to it. The first three months I drove it I was very self conscience, as in constantly thinking "I can't believe I'm driving a Porsche, a freakin Porsche!" Anyway, I'm over it now and am back to not caring (much) about others thoughts about. The other thing is that now that I've done it, I realize I could have do it years ago! Moral of course is you never know what will happen in life so don't put off what you can do today if that is what wil make you happy.
09-23-2016, 08:15 PM
#186
Drifting
Buying say a 2010 997.2 is really not that bad price wise.
I have a buddy who spent more than I did on my Porsche buying a Chevy Tahoe with all options that goes into brick mode at least once a year.
I have a buddy who spent more than I did on my Porsche buying a Chevy Tahoe with all options that goes into brick mode at least once a year.
09-24-2016, 01:17 PM
#187
Rennlist Member
I work at a bank and there is also a stigma associated with the 911, especially since most folks can't tell the difference between a 991 and a 997.1. I usually don't drive the 911 to the office, and one time I did a fellow VP commented he thought it was flashy...some shareholders have said the same. It is a 10 year old car that cost less than half MSRP!
Ironically when I drive my E63 AMG with Renntech tuning no one bats an eye since it looks like a regular family sedan...and it is worth more than twice the 911 and has over 200hp more than the 997. An S500 owner who parks next to me once said the E63 was too small...my response was that I bought it to drive it, not to sit in the backseat!
Ironically when I drive my E63 AMG with Renntech tuning no one bats an eye since it looks like a regular family sedan...and it is worth more than twice the 911 and has over 200hp more than the 997. An S500 owner who parks next to me once said the E63 was too small...my response was that I bought it to drive it, not to sit in the backseat!
09-25-2016, 10:18 AM
#188
There is certainly a perception in some circles that a Porsche is a rich man's toy. I wouldn't drive my 997 to some events (like a Boy Scout fundraiser) although my friends in the troop were excited for me when I got mine. It attracts much more notice than newer (and therefore more expensive) BMWs or Benzes.
As far as buying on a LOC ... I prefer to NOT take out loans if I can avoid it but every financial decision is separate and unique. I can say now that I wish I'd taken a loan on the car i first bought with cash down as I sold a number of shares of Apple stock in 1999 in order to tell the salesman I was writing a check for the full amount and didn't want to talk about monthly payments. I occasionally beat my head in the wall over that one.
As far as buying on a LOC ... I prefer to NOT take out loans if I can avoid it but every financial decision is separate and unique. I can say now that I wish I'd taken a loan on the car i first bought with cash down as I sold a number of shares of Apple stock in 1999 in order to tell the salesman I was writing a check for the full amount and didn't want to talk about monthly payments. I occasionally beat my head in the wall over that one.
09-25-2016, 01:02 PM
#189
Race Car
My wife is looking at getting a Porsche - 1st Gen Caymans for around 19k. I like to make smart buys - no apologies for my success either.
