When people ask, "What do you drive?"
10-17-2005, 06:06 PM
#31
If someone is pretentious enough to care what you drive, you might as well give them the whole thing:
"I drive a Porsche 911, it's expensive, it's fast, and it's better than your car. I'm better than you."
Whether they admit it or not, that's what they want to hear. So might as well give it to them.
"I drive a Porsche 911, it's expensive, it's fast, and it's better than your car. I'm better than you."
Whether they admit it or not, that's what they want to hear. So might as well give it to them.
10-17-2005, 06:11 PM
#32
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BMW,Porsche leads to explaining !
10-17-2005, 06:16 PM
#33
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i just say "i have a small car that is 10yrs old." In NYC having ANY car is borderline excessive and to say a twin turbo 911 makes you look like an idiot.
10-18-2005, 01:54 AM
#35
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"A Porsche"(one syllable, i find it more casual, hence i like it more) Unless they are a car enthusiast noone knows what 911, 993, etc.. means, all they know is a Porsche is a Porsche, and they wish that they had one. If they wish to know more then i tell them.
10-18-2005, 02:09 AM
#36
Race Director
Originally Posted by ztnedman1
"A Porsche"(one syllable, i find it more casual, hence i like it more)
But then I used to drive an Italian car. An Oldsmobile (accent on the second syllable: Olds-mo-bee-lay).
Yes, it was my father's.
10-18-2005, 07:26 AM
#37
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by AOW162435
Disclaimer: I have been a fan of the 911 since birth. Well, as soon as my sight came in and I learned how to discern between a 'car' and a stack of freshly-washed cloth diapers.
So why do I find it so difficult to answer this seemingly simple question? Part of me wishes to answer, "Carrera", while another part of me wishes to respond with, "911". And then of course, the third option is, "993". I find myself answering differently based on the other person. Or rather, their perceived level of P-car knowledge. But it causes me sleepless nights. So I hope others with a far stronger grasp of the subject can shed some much-needed light on this conundrum.
My instinct is to say, "911". But "Carrera" just sounds so much better, so historically linked if you will. I pull out "993" as a last resort when I find myself explaining the model year changes.
Please help before I check myself in.
Andreas
So why do I find it so difficult to answer this seemingly simple question? Part of me wishes to answer, "Carrera", while another part of me wishes to respond with, "911". And then of course, the third option is, "993". I find myself answering differently based on the other person. Or rather, their perceived level of P-car knowledge. But it causes me sleepless nights. So I hope others with a far stronger grasp of the subject can shed some much-needed light on this conundrum.
My instinct is to say, "911". But "Carrera" just sounds so much better, so historically linked if you will. I pull out "993" as a last resort when I find myself explaining the model year changes.
Please help before I check myself in.
Andreas
eloy
I am not embarrased of my car or that I own one.
10-18-2005, 10:38 AM
#41
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"Old Porsche" And then invariably they jokingly react with "Oooooh, rich doctor!" And then I tell them their SUV probably cost more than my car, and usually I'm right (32K!) There are stereotypes of P-Car ownership abound, as we all know.
10-18-2005, 11:24 AM
#42
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For me, this has become such an issue that I will now "hide" the fact that I own it. I was hassled (finding a ticket for "speeding" on my parked car 3 hours later) by base security (government civilian police employees) who have yet to give me an explanation of why, saying only that "we'll discuss it in court." In trying to sort this out, I have gotten all kinds of comments along the lines of "that's a pretty fancy car for someone of YOUR rank...what'd you do, win the lottery?" from a variety of senior ranking officers. Guilty until proven innocent. The one or two other guys with p-cars have faced some of the same things. There is one guy with a turbo-look cab of about '87 vintage. He recently put 993TT wheels on the car and said he suddenly got pulled over and searched at the gate a lot more often.
Plus, there is the whole security clearance issue. Over the last few years, any "display of wealth" is looked at suspiciously, and can be used to start an investigation. Of course, this is again a "guilty until proven innocent" situation, because you are immediatly removed from access (essentially fired from your job) until it is sorted out.
So, I no longer drive it onto the base (it is my daily driver for this year....don't want to buy another car for such a short assignment), and when I get to Germany, if I am forced to LIVE on base, I will find a garage off base and keep the car there. I will not speak of the car or my car activities.
Just saves a lot of hassles and saves me from being labeled. Sucks, but that's how it is. I had this to a lesser extent with my '75 when I first bought it. The only thing that reduced it somewhat was the fact that the car was "chocolate brown" and the paint was kinda bad.
Plus, there is the whole security clearance issue. Over the last few years, any "display of wealth" is looked at suspiciously, and can be used to start an investigation. Of course, this is again a "guilty until proven innocent" situation, because you are immediatly removed from access (essentially fired from your job) until it is sorted out.
So, I no longer drive it onto the base (it is my daily driver for this year....don't want to buy another car for such a short assignment), and when I get to Germany, if I am forced to LIVE on base, I will find a garage off base and keep the car there. I will not speak of the car or my car activities.
Just saves a lot of hassles and saves me from being labeled. Sucks, but that's how it is. I had this to a lesser extent with my '75 when I first bought it. The only thing that reduced it somewhat was the fact that the car was "chocolate brown" and the paint was kinda bad.
10-18-2005, 12:48 PM
#44
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I think the best response is "why do you ask?".
Other than that, I like honesty, so I just tell the truth to the few who do ask. Just asking the question makes them suspect....the answer allows you to fine tune there position on your A*shole Meter.
Other than that, I like honesty, so I just tell the truth to the few who do ask. Just asking the question makes them suspect....the answer allows you to fine tune there position on your A*shole Meter.
10-18-2005, 01:05 PM
#45
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I find most people are ok when I tell them I have a Porsche 993 and I usually get interested, positive responses. There are a few people who seem to get an attitude, but that again is their issue, it you think about it. A lot of the people then ask me ask me what a 993 is, which opens the door for more conversation actually, and I usually tell them it is a model of a 911, which again usually causes a person to get interested in the fact that there are models of the 911. The most of the grueling stares/questions/comments I get are from other high performance car owners actually, sort of a "my Dad can beat up your Dad" look/conversation only it is "my car can beat up your car".