alpine003

EDIT: see my post #29 for clarification.

Seems like some 996 owners are insecure in what they have and always need to "enhance" something like 991 this, 997 style that, widest tire this, etc.

Also seems like 996 owners are always worrying about something, even if it doesn't break and even though there have been tons of posts on the subject. Then you have the traditional OCD Analysis Paralysis that often goes on around here too.

Lastly, you have owners that try to cheap it out on some parts. This is a Porsche and yes some stuff is overpriced but it also deserves some level of quality within reason.

Just a rant, observation, opinion. Despite these things, it still keeps things interesting and lively around here and the reason why I'm still here.

Discuss...

kromdom

Not I...said the fly I did not settle or compromise. Car I bought has everything I wanted (and more)...which is why I bought it Except for the quad exhaust tips (got them for looks), I have NOT done any mods to my car...NADA...ZILCH....ZERO.

Thus far (knock on wood), only had to fix a leaking coolant tank but opted to replace the WP/serp belt, lines/hoses and t-stat at the same time. Someday when symptoms of a bad RMS/AOS show up, will have those done along with an IMSB upgrade.

Fracture

no remorse at all, I'd have been pissed if I had not pulled the trigger
IMS (sorry) within a month of purchase, no questions there
taking delivery of a GT3 shifter as I think it will enhance the driving experience

looking forward to over maintaining and learning more about my 996
scored the service manual from another RL'r and get to buy some cool tools

exactly what kromdom said

5CHN3LL

Not everyone who makes changes to their car is doing it out of insecurity. Some of us just enjoy tinkering, regardless of the make of the car. Some people fall into the "Porsche made it, and thus it is sacrosanct" camp - like Hurdi often is. I suppose maybe if someone had an arctic silver 996 (the most common color), they might be even more inclined to add some personal touch, but I still don't think this is due to insecurity. The insecure folks are the ones who buy a Porsche because they want to be seen driving a Porsche. They're the ones who vinyl out parts of the headlight so it won't LOOK like a 996.

Everyone freaks out from time to time, regardless of the make/model, and the knee-jerk reaction is to post a panic post about it rather than taking a deep breath or two and then looking to see if it's something to care about. Often, posts from people who are already on the verge of freaking out about some symptom (Example: "puff of smoke" threads) are met with rubber-stamp "That sounds expensive, better flatbed it" responses, which ratchets the response from nervous to full-blown panic.

Not sure what you mean re: the parts point. I choose parts that are correct, even if they're not precisely what Porsche would want you to do. For example, I'll buy the Bosche MAF sensor from Amazon to save 50% rather than buying it from the Porsche parts counter. I want the car to be safe, so I'm not going to have a buddy drill out some eBay rotors for me to save an extra $50 per rotor. I don't think it matters whether the car is a Porsche or a POS - if you want it to be reliable, you buy decent-quality parts. My car isn't a shrine to the almighty Porsche family, so I'm not going to willingly throw good money after bad on stuff that doesn't need to come in a Porsche box - but it's still a great car that I push fairly hard, so I want to choose items that will not cause the car - or me - to die prematurely.

If you're driving a used 996 instead of a new 911, are you cheap? No, because if you were truly cheap, you'd be driving a used basic Honda or Toyota. Many of us chose the 996 because it's a great value for money. I don't see any reason why the practice of trying to get the best value for your money should be limited solely to the purchase of the car - this practice can extend to parts purchases as well.

DTMiller

I feel like this is at least in part directed at my decision to not spend $42 on a Porsche labeled boxed ignition switch instead of the $11 identical part from Napa. I guess that could make me cheap. I'm OK with that.

D6lc

[QUOTE=5CHN3LL;11627396] The insecure folks are the ones who buy a Porsche because they want to be seen driving a Porsche. They're the ones who vinyl out parts of the headlight so it won't LOOK like a 996.[QUOTE]

+996

Sneaky Pete

O M G I can't believe you said that! Spot on comment. I'm going to miss my fried eggs.

STAGGERWING

You & Qjiore have been sharing notes .

Bob
01 C4

31 Ford cp chp & ch, 302/350

40 ******, 302/350, IFS

38 Ford cp, 327/350, IFS

57 Belair

62 356B --long ago

Jon Moeller

Wait, so let me get this all straight. There are owners that want to modify their cars, owners that want to maintain their cars as original, and owners that fail to maintain their cars? Someone alert the media, this is a new discovery!!!

'02onthebrain

Granted I am a new Porsche owner, but I didn't buy a 996 to upgrade it or make any changes whatsoever. My car is 14 years old now and some may call me crazy, but I am going to keep it bone stock as the factory intended. I did the same thing with my 1973 BMW 2002 and it paid off when I went to sell it and it was all original. I love the 996 styling and driving experience as is.

Worrisome? Sure, I worry about all of my cars and did the LN Engineering IMSB and RMS within a few months of purchase.
Insecure? Nope.
Cheap? Nope, but if I can source the part from the original manufacturer and not from Porsche and install it myself or have my Porsche buddy install it, heck yeah I'll save that cash.

Gonzo911

I remember the day I took home my 996. The 25 mile drive from the car lot to my garage was sweet bliss. Sweet, sweet innocent bliss. The innocent bliss of a newborn babe.

It wasn't until I joined RennList that I discovered I had actually purchased a $30,000 time bomb.

5CHN3LL

I guess I'm 50% cheap - my $20 switch said "Audi" on it.

Imo000

I don't think there is a cheaper 996 onwer on the plante than me. I install parts that others remove from their cars.

5CHN3LL

^^ Heh. My used cat bypass pipes are on the truck for delivery this afternoon.

JohnCK2014

First, the 911 is one of the most altered and hot rodded cars ever made. If altering their cars makes 996 owners insecure, then so are the owners of every 911 generation. Second, I find Porsche owners as a group to be generally a lot more neurotic than other sports car owners. Ferrari owners are generally people who love looks and image over all else. Corvette owners are generally working class guys made good. Datsun GTR owners are former racer boys who made it big and traded in the trashed Impreza for the GTR. Porsche owners are, well nerds. They tend to be doctors and engineers and very smart but detail obsessed and more than a bit neurotic. So the constant worrying you notice I find at least to be true of all Porsche owners. It comes with the breed i think.