ked

Perhaps it is semantics, but I think you guys may be conflating your personal attitude towards, & usage of the machine, with its fundamental qualities as devised by its designers, engineers & producers. It is usually described as a Sports/GT car, & there is a significant distinction (in my mind, anyway) between sporting/touring & playing. Of all the cars I have owned, the 911 is the least "toy-like"... actually a very "serious" car - more like a great all-around fighter plane. but, I suppose any machine is many things to many people - vive la difference!

Doug&Julie

I agree, although I've only used a little over half of my Porsches as regular drivers. But they were designed to be cars that are driven...as in used...as in not stowed away for a sunny day. For me, it's just that, realistically, the older ones aren't practical for daily driving in the Midwest.

J richard

+ another 1, I'm going on 27 years of 911's almost all of them at least 50% daily drivers. The only time I'd take another car is when I need to take more than two people. They like to be driven consistantly, and I know of few cars that make the drive more enjoyable. As far as toys, yes they can be tricked out and tracked out, and just used as toys, but they are about a serious car as you can get. IMHO a lexus or a bmw with all the electronics, bluetooth, heated seats, idrive gps and entertainment systems are about as toyed out as you can get, a porsche (particularly the 993 and earlier) is all about the art of driving a car. From the daily drive to the track, hard to beat... alot of cars entertain you while you drive, a porsche makes driving entertaining...

Ed Hughes

I went out and played in my toy this morning. I also got to play in a '67 SWB toy too.

J richard

and I'll bet you weren't scared at all were you?....nice ride by the way...

kallberg

Of course its not bad advice Ed. Not everyone has the horsepower you do. Life would be a hell of alot easier if we didnt have to finance things, but thats life.
Should have never brought up the $ aspect had I known it would have caused everyone this much grief.

old man neri

I wouldn't say it's causing anyone grief. Most just people are concerned about you. Also, the word 'financing' is not the most popular given today's market.

Daniel Dudley

If you are meant to have a Porsche now, your gut will tell you, and your mind will follow.

Make sure you get a good one, and you will never regret it.

Ed Hughes

I don't have "HP", the only "HP" I have is in the back of my car; just getting a bit wiser finally. We don't "have" to finance things like 911's that are fun cars.

That is really a good summation.

911vet

I waited 20 years to get mine. If I had waited until I could pay cash, I still wouldn't have it.
In my humble opinion, as someone of modest financial means, there's nothing wrong with borrowing the money if you are capable of making the payments and if making them allows you to stay within your comfort zone.

Pete's book is fantastic and utterly indispensible. Just try to remember one thing: not every thing that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong! His book could scare you to death if you think that every Carrera is gonna need valve guides, every 964 a reseal, or every SC a new tranny. They don't.

Mine has 121K miles, no valve guides yet. It may need a top end one day. That's just the chance I take.

Heck, I bought a 4-yr-old MINI Cooper w/ 34K miles and the transmission went kapootz 5wks after I bought it. It was 4 months out of warranty. A $4000 repair and BMW/MINI wouldn't stand behind it.

I sold the MINI, cursed their name, and bought a Porsche.

If you wait for life to give you a guarantee... you're going to wait a long, long time. If you spend your time regretting the past or fearing the future, you aren't in the present. And the present is where all joy is to be found.

The future is unknown. Gas is unknown. Buy a 911. Do something to save money elsewhere and reduce your carbon footprint. I don't have pay television, I don't have a cell phone contract, I'm a lifelong vegetarian, I don't have kids, I recycle! I figure that means I can drive like hell and smile the whole damn time.

It's a risk. It's a chance. You may not be able to afford it. It's scary.
Don't hurry, but don't wait

ked

Take the toy off the pedestal & go 1:1 scale.
I'd join the local PCA to gain knowledge, seek out choice cars & find a trustworthy expert who can PPI the cars that make my short list. With the right attitude (excising the noises in one's head) & subsequent selection process it won't matter if you have some issue that seems disastrous at the moment (DME relay failure, clunk from broken sway bar mount, elect vent fan smokes, etc) - but isn't.

I can't think of a better first time owner-mechanic than a skilled motorcycle wrench who has an open, clear-thinking mind, can respect the factory's efforts (the good, the bad & the why), & is patient enough to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge available (mostly for free!) about the 911 - perhaps the best understood (if idiosyncratic) & most developed high perf car in history.

The $ issue is yours alone. The consensus generalization is that "all 911s are $20K cars... sooner or later" (some $10K cars become $20K cars the day after purchase, when the excited new owner gets around to the POST Purchase Inspection...) & "reserve a few thou for possible suprises" I might add "don't buy anything it doesn't really need in std maint & repair until you've got 8-12K miles or 1 yr on it (if you're on a budget)."

911vet

+1 What Ked said.

ked

just one of many examples of what's out there (I know nothing of this particular car, owner, etc, but if it wasn't red, was nearby & was within my budget parameters, it's what I'd check out - 100K & no accidents or rust + top end & clutch : $16K... & dropping?)... it's a buyers market & looks like it will be that way for awhile. happy hunting!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=454858

Nifty

I can understand your apprehension. I am shopping right now for one.

If it makes you feel better......

I drove a 72 911 for about 10 years. I got a 8k, 4 year loan which ran me about 180 month. It was my only car. I took it camping and to most of the old IMSA races. I did the PCA events. I slept in it. I moved small furniture in it. Hauled my lab in it. Fooled around with girls in it. I finally sold it when I got married in 94.

Were there problems? Yes. Were they any worse, or abnormal compared to other cars I've had? No. I didn't even have a garage, but had a cover. Minus the occasional alternator rebuild, clutch, brakes, batteries (there were two), it wasn't much more than an oil change twice a year and then air filter I think every year. I changed the plugs a few times. I went through 2 clutches I think, but I added 200k miles on the car. Even when I test drive a new one today, as I crank it with the left hand, I instinctively reach between the seats with the right hand middle finger trying to pull the little choke lever. (guys here will know what i am talking about).

There were little cosmetic things that didn't work right but that didn't bother me. The AC sucked but I never used it. I did buy an updated jack and a special lug nut socket. I got seat covers, cocoa mats, and eventually updated the stereo. I refinished the wheels myself which was kinda neat. I changed the headlamps, changed the muffler out myself.

In fact, I spent way more on BMW wear and tear items when the cars were CPO'd. One trip cost me 1400 dollars. I used to loathe seeing the Brake Linings warning come on because that was a given 400. (Don't ask me what happened after the warranty ran out)

I too have browsed these boards and seen the horror stories and wondered how I managed to drive a 10 year old car for another 10 years and not have it implode. But this board is a small representation of Porsche owners. My neighbor has racked up 120k miles on his '99 996 conv. The biggest single ticket repair item he's had was something with his top. RMS problem - none. He'd not even heard about it when I first mentioned it.

You need to set out a budget and include a category for your car(s). Be realistic and dont cheat yourself. Open a second acount and thow 100 or so in there each month. It helps to have a second car, or just a "beater" as they say. Find a good independent mechanic. Join Triple A and your local PCA group.

As far as a loan, that's your call. I have financed plenty of cars where I got a rate of 5 or less. The way I look at it, my friends spend a car payment a month just on golf. Others I know blow a lot of money on the weekends on other stuff. I know many who have boats (those things ARE expensive). My hobby is cars. If you're looking for a hobby car and not just something to show off, a Porsche might substitute.

911tracker85

[QUOTE]If you're looking for a hobby car and not just something to show off, a Porsche might substitute.[QUOTE]

?? ... there is no substitute.