uswrnk54

I didn't really give it much thought before my 996 purchase (Friday). Our neighborhood had it's anual X-mas Light-Up event (see pic!) on Saturday. I opened my garage to get something out while many people were in front of my house & I heard a "smart" comment about what was in my garage

My prior toy is an older Mustang which is significantly modified. I received only positive comments about that car, albiet infrequently and only from "people who knew." It was a more subtle, average man's car...

Now my Porsche (that still sounds funny) only cost about as much as a new Honda Accord, and I waited in life until I could afford it. I've always wanted one, but should I feel guilty for having it?

SubzeroX

nope - i got my MY03 911 with GT3 kit at 26. i worked for it, and even after a year of ownership, i STILL look back EVERYTIME i park it and walk away, and admire it. i dont give 2 ***** about what others think because in the end, I, ME, ONLY ME walk towards it and get in while they just mouth off out of jealousy.

but most of the time, people are nice and say nice car, or something of the like. A couple of my bosses became real douches towards me, and i only think "you make 250+/year you can EASILY afford one"
but whatever.

haters gonna hate and players gonna play LOL

tks12

hehe funny, I have heard the same thing already....we have a mustang as well, but it is a 2011 GT premium convertible loaded, thing is they have no idea our mustang cost darn near double what we paid for our 996 cabriolet, but now they think we are.....well you get the message....

anyhow.

No way would I ever feel guilty for buying anything, we worked for it, we made our choices to live the life we chose, some people choose huge home, or huge boats, huge vacations, some choose to save every penny they make for retirement not doing much of anything their entire life, some will never understand the thrill of the driving experience, the car is merely a mode of transportation (Clark Howard a national tv host how to save more, spend less is one of those - Gosh he must be boring <g>)

We live a good balance, not living over our means in any of the areas allowing us to do a bit of everything we enjoy, a nice home, some nice cars, nice motorcycles, nice vacations, nothing extravagant on any level and we have a ton a fun, heck my wife drives about 100 miles a day it kills some people that we spend that much on fuel. We decided long ago, that is going to be a fun drive for her, a hybrid was not going to do that for her <g>

Imo000

Had an idiot make a comment last week at the gas station. "If you work for the goverment and drive a Porsche, they are paying you too much". This was during work hours and I couldn't tell him what I really felt about him. What this moront doesn't know is that, his convertible Saab cost him a heck of a lot more than my car. I got my 996 as a non runner, slaved over it for 4 months to fix the engine, but at the end, all it cost me was $8500. My neighbours know this as they all saw me work on it all summer.

Barn996

Most would equate a Porsche with $$$$$, so there is a misconception with them that all Porsche owners are wealthy. If they only knew how affordable used Porsches are...

Gator996

I feel like a total *** owning/driving my Porsche. You can usually tell I am in *** mode by the permanent smile on my face as I run through the gears.

ivangene

OH Yea...total *** mode

but I had a switch installed so I can turn it off
trouble is I forgot to ask my wrench where he installed the damn switch!!!

Look I am NOT kidding when I say my own brother told me "I dont know what you are going through, but I hope you get through it quickly" - we used to talk almost everyday and now we rarely ever talk...he even opted out of Thanksgiving this year - first year in like 10 years - so YES - people equate owning a Porsche as being something...I guess ***, arrogant, snob, rich guy, mid-life - IDK

I personally only have one regret - not buying one sooner

and if I have anything to say about it, I will NEVER be without at least one 911

sorry if people dont "get it"

one more funny story is the co-worker who said "my minivan gets me to work just as fast as your Porsh"

my reply, "yea, I know....but when I arrive I have a huge smile on my face"

in nearly 5 years of ownership I have came to one really solid understanding that I really dont give a rats azz what anyone else thinks about what I drive - esp when they justify their car as "practical" and it cost 2x what mine did (like some pick up or Prius POS!)

rant off, lets go drive

RRRUFF

I don't feel like an a-- at all. What I do think of at times is "what have I done to deserve this". Like tks12, good wife and family, balance in our lives, play nice with the other kids, some good toys (not many), and now a great car!

How can that make anybody feel like an a--?

Schmucklefutz

I used to feel that when I owned a G-Wagen, like somehow I should feel guilty driving a 4-by with a big chrome MB star on the grille.

That car is long gone, and what I've learned since is that I'll never take on that burden again. Life is too short. When I get a 996, I'm simply going to take satisfaction in knowing that I most likely got a lot more car for my money than anyone who might prejudge me.

Dstutler

I think it's a matter of taste....yes a new loaded Porsche is well above $100k, what we 996ers are driving is much less but nearly as fun to drive. We're not posers, we're Sports car enthusiast and the one we prefer is a 911. Go ahead.....mash that right pedal and smile, most guys and gals would like to do the same.

gnat

I think I'm in the minority that I bought it new, but I did what I did and enjoy it every time I drive it. I don't care what others have to say, because they are saying it in my rear view.

I got lucky and was in the right place at the right time that allowed me to spend ridiculous money on a couple of cars in my mid 20s. Now approaching 40 some want me to think about the better things I could have done with the money, but I have no regrets because I can look back and know I've enjoyed every penny of it and I know without a second thought that I would do it all again (in fact I was shocked to realize that life has changed and I can afford my new Cayenne without the free money).

If you're happy and have no regrets, then someone else's negative opinion is meaningless.

I do love the "damaging the environment" argument from new hybrid owners though. I enjoy educating them on how a 12 year old car is far better for the environment than having a new one built. It's usually about then that they realize I know they bought their car for show and they walk off in a huff

Sherpa23

I am a new 996 C4 owner. I bought the car after looking for a fun 4wd upgrade from my Honda and something more reliable than my Audi S2. I looked at all kinds of cars - more Japanese cars, SUV's, American coupes, newer German sedans, etc. and in the end I did not see how I could pass on a 2000 C4 with 40k for about $26k. I traded the other two cars on it (got all the money in the world for them). So I got down from three cars to two (more on the second car in a minute) my insurance dropped $1k a year, and I feel like I spent as little money as possible to get the best car for my needs. Even though I started off as a Porsche lover as a teenager, I'm now in my mid 30's, this is my first Porsche.

Fast forward to a week after. My garage door is open and my neighbor, who is usually cool comes over, he looks at my other car in the garage, which is a Ferrari F40, looks at the 996 and says, "A Porsche?? Why in the world do you need a Porsche? You have a freaking Ferrari F40!" I'll say here that I live in a very nice neighborhood but relatively modest; the car everyone has is a Toyota Highlander and outside of my garage, the nicest car on the block is a Lexus SUV. So I'm the only Car Guy on my block although there is another Car Guy one block over with a Bentley. Anyways, so I tell my neighbor that yes I bought a Porsche but it wasn't nearly as expensive as either of his two SUV's, gets decent mileage, has great back seats for my sons, and is pretty reliable. Plus, I'm a single guy so it's not like I have to take my wife's opinion into consideration. He bristles a little bit and says something like, when I got the F40 and would be working on it in the garage and he would pass by, that was so cool but having a Porsche is a little bit douchy. We talked about it and couldn't figure out why that is. He sat in it and looked at it and finally, he asked if I could find him one like it because if it's possible to get that much car for that kind of money, he wants one. Go figure.

By the way, I am very surprised at how much I love this 996. It's only been a few weeks but it is a great car. I made a post on Ferrarichat about it as there are so many people who dismiss the 996 as something crappy but they're so wrong. Time will tell but I really don't think that there is a better DD out there for me.

As for the OP, I'll give you one thing I've learned in the last 8 years or so of owning cool cars. If you're a real car person, and having a car like this is something you've always wanted, that's all that matters. You know that you didn't buy to impress others, for any kind of social status, to meet girls, blah blah blah, that anyone else would like to conject. As long as you're not living over your means to get it, there's no reason to for you to feel bad about it. No one else has to walk in your shoes.

dotframe

I have been daily driving my C4S for about a year now. Most of the time I completely forget that the car brings so much attention. I feel so at home driving it. I'm sure other people think I'm some douche driving around just lapping up the attention and really all I'm doing is thinking about the next time I can get to the track or improving my heel toe at the next exit.

ivangene

good story!

I like how it's hard to put your finger on what the stigma is - yet it exists....

an F40 is OK but a $25k Porsche is "a bit much"

LMAO!!

fpena944

No