I'm Back!
 

In a Porsche 911 anyway. It's been three decades since my last 911 and I always knew I'd be back, just took longer than I expected. I've had a lot of sports/sporty cars over the years and currently have a 2016 Shelby GT350 Track Pack that I track mainly at the three NorCal tracks, Sonoma, Thunderhill and Laguna Seca. I'm also the owner of trackmustangsonline.com and will stay connected to the Mustang community. I've driven many of the various 911 variants over the years and the event that got me to start seriously thinking about buying another Porsche was a trip to the Porsche Experience in Los Angeles this past September. I drove a 718 Cayman S in the session before lunch and then a GT3 RS after lunch. The 718 was impressive and I seriously considered buying one but I love 911's for all of their faults which aren't many these days. My instructor for both sessions and my sons ride in a GT3 RS during lunch was Clint Boisdeau. He was fantastic and had my pushing both cars as hard or harder than I push my GT350 at track days. Needless to say the RS was a rocket. I spent a full hour on the roadcourse in the RS since we had done all of the other obstacles in the 718. It was like a track day and I had to take a break to get a drink of water and catch my breath.

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I took me a few months to find what I was looking for, a 2013/2014 Carrera S with all of the go fast goodies in either White or Red. I probably looked at a couple of hundred cars online until I finally found this car. Once I looked at this car with the options it had I knew my search was over and I called and bought it sight unseen. My son and I flew down to Ontario, drove a rental car to Palm Springs and then got a ride to Rancho Mirage Porsche. The only go fast option it doesn't have is PDCC which seems kinda odd but that wasn't a deal breaker for me. Here's a few photos.

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While I was there I got a test drive in a McLaren 720S. A friend of mine has one on order and I think he's going to have fun with it.

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My 1977 911 S and 1980 911 SC Weissach
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And last but not least my Shelby GT350 Track Pack

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Wow - Great story. Welcome back! Beautiful car! Love the color!
I have owned several of the latest-gen Mustangs and they really were great cars. I imagine that the GT350 is a blast to drive!
Hope you have a fun and prosperous new year! Looks like you will definitely have a fun year!

Wow! 30 years is a long time. I just returned after 4 years and that was long enough. Congrats! Fantastic ‘80 BTW.

Nice build! You should have a lot of fun with that car. Enjoy!

Thanks everyone!

I purchased my first Porsche when I was 22 years old. I'm not old but age is a relative thing. I hope you live long enough to figure that out. :thumbup:

Nice build, congrats. Those pictures of Palm Springs is making me envious, love the desert heat!

Congratulations on getting an NA 911! Great choice and hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

Congrats on an awesome car!

One whole hour on track in a RS.

I think I just went into some kind of fugue state there.

Congrats on your find and nice GT!
How was your 720s test drive? I have a dealership close by drive by them often and see quite a few McLaren models on the streets around. So far avoiding a test drive.. they say it's too addictive :)

Congrats! Do you know Brian Haskett from your Mustang Community?

Great find. Great car. I always find the Sport PASM suspensions make the car look really hunkered down. Looks fantastic

Thanks again for the nice comments.

Seriously, my experience at the Porsche Experience exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it. It was almost as good as a track day and less expensive with no prep or clean up!

The McLaren 720S is the real deal and I can't imagine it getting much better. I'd buy a McLaren over a Ferrari all day long. I've been a McLaren fan since seeing them run at Riverside at a Can Am race back in 1971. I had an opportunity to drive a 12C at Laguna Seca for a whole session and it was very fast. The new cars are at a different level but I still wouldn't mind a 12C in my garage.

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I do not remember Brian but I've met so many Mustang owners over the years it's possible I've run into him before.

@asrryan the PASM Sport wasn't originally on my must have list but I was glad I found one with the other options I wanted.

Congrat's!

Would be curious your comparison of the GT350 vs. the 911