I too move the cars out when dealing with business people I don't know. Makes the conversation simpler.

 

Being in the real estate industry, seeing one of the p-cars tends to cause this reaction...

Guy is driving a Porsche...must be expensive -> Must be doing well to afford that car -> Must mean that he and the company know what they are doing -> I want to do business with a guy that makes enough money to buy a P-car...etc.

Sure, when consultants come in it might be a different story, but when the home builders come in and see "high-end", they want to be a part and share in that successs. A bit of psycho marketing coupled with good PR goes a long way. The company is doing well, home builders want to get in on the action, and the Porsche seems to serve as a statement of that success.

 

While getting insurance through Hagerty, I was surprised when they mentioned that a 993 C2 is classified as "exotic". Never thought of it that way.

Over the years, when the subject comes up with non-car enthusiast folks, I've learned to simply tell them that I have a Volkswagen. It avoids hearing the stupid comments. I also keep the cars covered in the garage to keep them clean and avoid prying eyes. My neighbor directly across the
street didn't even know I had the 993 for 4 months!

 

So, if one hides their car/cars when someone is coming to the home to give an estimate or do some work, what do you do about the neighborhood, property, house, garage/lift, furnishings, artwork, professional kitchen, etc.? Short of meeting them at a remote location and bringing them blindfolded to the work area, I just get competitive bids and do my homework as to normal costs/charges. If they assume I'm stupid, I make certain they know how stupid their assumption is before I throw them out.

 

Joe Service sees Porsche 911 in home = $$$$$$$$$$ = Competitive Bid + 50%



__________________
95 C2 Iris Blue 26,000 miles (Stock) See Avatar
90 Black Mustang R302/331 D-1 Procharger (600rwhp)
98 CBR1100XX
91 E350 Diesel Van 170,000 Miles and Counting Daily -I am looking for at least 500,000 on this baby

 

The notion of adding profit based upon an expensive car in the garage has always confounded me. However, it might shed some light on why those people find themselves in their particular station in life.

Wouldn’t most of us assume that the expensive automobile ended up in the garage because someone was paying attention and understood what they were doing and not just throwing around money? (to reiterate what Bull wrote earlier)

I guess that lure of an extra case or two of Pabst Blue Ribbon is just too strong at times.

PS : The same guys more than likely enjoy fishing with dynamite.

 

Hey...don't knock it until you try it! LOL, J/K!

Here's a funny...How us rednecks have some fun...lol. And no, I'm not affiliated with the vid.

Right-click and save, please

 

That's a good one!! Sorry ... never heard that one before

 

For the most part this is a non-issue, as most of the tradespeople are our friends. I don't even care if the price isn't ruthlessly competitive, since I know it's decent and I like to work with them.

But if I had someone new come in for a big job I'd make sure that the cars stay up in the barn (with the lift :-) ). We live fairly modestly, especially by northern Virginia standards, in a smaller old house & drive older older cars. The 993 and 951 are conspicuous.

Maybe it's excessive, but it's a no-cost way to ensure that the salesperson isn't misled. Anyway, a smart salesperson would realize that the modest house around here probably has more free cash than the leveraged McMansion across the road...

 

A little off topic..... What's the difference between an Hoover vacuum cleaner and a Harley-Davidson?




Location of the dirtbag.

 

[QUOTE=SR71BLACKBIRD]Joe Service sees Porsche 911 in home = $$$$$$$$$$ = Competitive Bid + 50%
[quote/]

You just need to and "and then I throw them out"!

 

lol..good reading...

 

Eff them it is Santa Maria. Those guys are just glorified vets. They were busting your ***** because you do not have a Chevy pickup like they do. When I drive North I am very careful when driving because I do not want those idiots to work on me.

 

Clued into all this in the early '80's when I was a kid with an old 911. Just tell people it's my (now) hobby/ (then) profession.

I just usually downplay the value of the car, tell them something like the C4S is 12 years old now with 125K miles.......probably worth $25K.

But it was funny when I bought the truck 6 years ago; got all kinds of "wow, nice truck" compliments when I'm thinking "I spent more on this than any Porsche I'll probably ever own."

But it's different in the Bay Area since there are so many around day-to-day.

 

My favorite line .... it's just an old air-cooled VW ... Truth...