I was speaking with a girlfriend today who asked me if I had secured a C2S allocation yet (I have not), and we got to talking about the general prospect of owning a luxury sports car. The conversation came around to perception of others who choose to buy such cars, and she revealed to me that if someone bought a 911, she would be inclined to make some judgements about them that were not so kind (materialistic, insecure, flashy, attention-starved). I guess I kind of get that, but I was left bothered a bit by the notion she would assume negative things about a person who drove a Carrera or any similar high-end sports car.

The rest of the afternoon, I thought about the potential 911 ownership experience, especially the social aspect. I'm in my mid-thirties, and though many of my good friends are fairly successful, none of them (not a one of them) has ever owned a car like a Carrera. I don't know if it is the thought that the money should be spent more responsibly elsewhere, the en vogue-ness of being either poor or mimimalist, or the burgeoning vilification of ICE vehicles...but my age group (and younger folks) just doesn't seem to be jazzed about cars like the 911. I even wonder sometimes of women of potential romantic interest would find such a car overly-ostentatious (if I am honest, the thought of this nags me the most). I don't like attention, and I'm not interested in being flashy...but when I drive my dad's 991 TTS, I really do have so, SO much fun. It just puts a smile on my face!

That said: Have any of y'all ever experienced judgement from family, friends, or anyone else for your car choice? If so, how do you deal with such judgements, either internally or externally? I imagine there are many here that do not give a f@#% what anyone thinks (and that is awesome!), but I must admit I do care sometimes. I think cars like the 911 are so fun, and it is fun to be shared. That's how my dad uses his TTS, and it how I would plan to use my car...as a way to share fun with others. I want to be the type of person that does not give a f@#% (in the classiest way possible). However, this is the first time something this nice and amazing has been within striking distance financially, and it is already a stretch mentally to feel comfortable with myself spending like this on a car.

This is kind of an existential topic to me about the opportunity to own something very nice and feeling a bit self-conscious about it and the opinions of others, and I'd just love to hear y'all's philosophy on how you deal with any negativity that might come up from others in response to your choice to enjoy such a car.

EDIT: The 'girlfriend' I mentioned is just a platonic female friend, not my girlfriend (hence the 'a girlfriend' description, which was not totally clear on my part, I realize).

 

If someone is 'judging' me for driving a 911??? 100% their own problem. I drive it for ME. That is it - I don't advertise my cars, and only talk about them if others purposefully ask. Life is too short to worry about crap like this, but you will always find someone who gets themselves wrapped around an axle. Buy it for you.

Edit - I just re-read your post, saw that you surfaced a point about being superfluous with money, spending exorbitantly on a material item. Another game not to play! Do give to charities, support community outreach. My practice does, we do, and love the feelings it creates and goodwill we get in return (ha we've fostered ~48/lost count dogs for a non-profit non-kill shelter in the last couple of years, failed on FOUR). F the social judgement crowd - just be a Good Person and don't judge others.

 

Well said, thank you.

 

It's been in my experience that stuff like this is a far bigger deal to you than it is to anyone else.

People have their own problems. They have bills, jobs, families...real issues. Most people will dedicate exactly 5 nanoseconds worrying about your fancy car. The fraction of those people who may think negatively about you are in the minority and their sentiment is fleeting. The remainder are just happy to see a pretty car.

In other words -- do your thing and live your life. That is the great lesson of 2020. You earned the money, this is a free country and, if anything, you are stimulating the economy.

 

Anyone judging you based on the car you drive, or any material items you may own, is really not worth your time.

Anyone worth associating with will not be judging you on the car you drive.

 

Nobody will notice your Porsche. Now if you had a Lambo.....that would be different.

 

Must confess I do - I inwardly cringed when I drove by an unemployment line of people put out of work by Covid and I won’t drive it to work. Irrational I know - I have worked long snd hard and go out of my way to help the less fortunate

 

I've seen it too many times - but you can't take it with you. And better to have some enjoyment in your garage than send it off to the Government.

 

Son, you got your brain screwed in backwards. Any woman you're chasing around who thinks that a Porsche is overly-ostentatious is someone you should dump immediately. People like this will cause you trouble all your life, even more than the kind of women would respond to you only because you DO drive a Porsche. Either type is bad medicine. Get away from people (girlfriends or otherwise) who judge you by the car you drive and stop worrying about it so much. It ain't healthy. Worry about important things like tire pressure and oil viscosity and how often you really need to stir risotto.............. you know..............stuff that really matters.

I bought a brand new 68 model 911 back in 1967 when I was 21 years old using money I earned and saved on all my own. I didn't care how people judged me back then and I don't care now that I'm older than dirt (you do the math). I'm driving a Panamera now and I'm scheduled to take delivery of another brand new Porsche today (if the damned trucking company will ever show up at the dealership). The only person who I worry about liking either the car or me is my wife of 49 years. She likes the car and she likes me, but she would still like me with or without the car and that is important, at least to me.

 

Free yourself from worrying about what other people think and you might someday find yourself surrounded by real friends and others.

 

Like all major purchases if it can be done without affecting your quality of life, have at it. Your GF has made it clear where she stands by the sounds of it. Live your life with no regrets. At 50, I’ve had several flashier sports cars and am now on my first Porsche. I didn’t get it for a long time. I get it now. I’m absolutely in love with my 992 C2S. Sounds like you would be too.

 

My GT3RS is obnoxious looking, loud etc. I am sure people think, “ This jerk thinks he driving a race car”, but they have no clue,
that it actually basically is. 50% of the time when I am driving on the road I am going to the track,
which I average about 4 times a month. I do not buy Fast cars to impress people, I by fast cars to impress myself!

 

I am 33, could not care less about what people think about the car I drive. I don't think a Porsche is a "flashy" car, that is reserved for Ferrari/Lamborghini/Pagani/McLaren etc.

 

100% on the money

 

The people that notice my car and indicate as such (lights flashing, aggressive driving, engine racing) are those that have something flashier or racier or clearly want to. Everyone else, like the mass of Honda/Toyota/Hyundai drivers, don’t see my C2S. I do try to limit any bragadissimo about my car but will be open to any other car person about it. At the end of the day these are pieces of metal
with 4 wheels needing maintenance and experience ongoing costs including depreciation (here’s to hoping). I just wish I lived closer to a track to make the most of the real difference between this and my CRV.