MaximumA

I don't really know if I'm a 'Porsche person', but the only rides that I really remember with a smile from my formative years were the ones in a 944, 911, Turbo etc. The Porsche drivers (both the men and the women!) were so enthusiastic about the driving. Everyone else just had a show car tucked up in the garage, or a power car.


Nowadays, what appeals to me - in addition to the driving - is the backstory, the long evolution, the heritage, the motor sport and the engineering. The only other car that comes close is Lotus, and I'll have one of those one day. I'm not at all interested in an M3, AMG saloon car. I want to drive a sports car...

kellen

Drove one.

gotgolf52

I've own several European sport cars prior to my first 911, mostly it was a childhood dream. Once I test drove the first 911, I am hooked. Never look back since...!

larrytrk

Back in 1967, while in the Air Force with my 1967 390/427 Vette.
I bumped into another officer with a 67 911 and went for a ride.
Thought the car was a little underpowered but interesting.
Returning home to NJ in 69, had an accident with the Vette and traded
It for a 71 Jag XKE. Nothing but trouble with the Jag, traded it for a 71
Caddy coupe de ville.
Had ordered a 71 BMW Bavaria, went on honeymoon in a 71 Fiat 850
Spider, because cheapest car we could buy at the time and had sold
The Caddy to my Dad, while we were waiting for the BMW to come in.
Got back and still no BMW, called Max Hoffman, the importer, and asked when the car was coming in after a month wait. HE said "it'll
Come in when it does, you don't like it, buy something else"
Went to a Porsche Audi dealer to buy an Audi. Salesman said ever driven a Porsche? I said no, no really. We went for a test ride and upon driving on an on ramp for the freeway he said "Step on the gas" I did and
By the time we went around the curvey ramp, I was sold and ordered my. First Porsche, a 71 911T.
4 more 911's culminating with my 09 997S and 46 years in PCA,
I am still as enamored as ever with my Porsche.
Yes there really is "no substitute "
PS I also love Saabs!

jellonailer

I spent my youth dreaming of owning a Nissan someday. Woke up one day and discovered I could afford a Porsche or two. Now I am one.

BradtheAg

Many of my earliest memories involve my late father's midnight blue 930 turbo. This would have been in ~1986-87 when i was 4-5 years old. Hoping to buy my first Porsche in the next 9 months or so.

tsteph12

My father let me drive his new early '80's 911SC targa when I was a high school senior. Was blown away by how much low end torque that thing had and feeling of my head being thrown back against seat when foot hit pedal. Told myself one day I'd buy one when able. Many years passed and in late 2016, purchased a '09 C2S in cream white with manual transmission and only 10K on odometer.

Own Goal

Back in the 8th grade my new buddy met on the school bus lived around the corner. We were already into cars. Turns our bud's dad was shop manager at DFW first VW and Porsche dealer. In high school we hung out at the dealership. Got to know the first Porsche mechanic in N Texas well. Didn't care much for the 356 series at the time. Then the 904 GTS came along in 1964. Then the first 911 was delivered to the dealership. Wow. This was getting interesting. At age 21 bought a new first year 914 ( all I could afford).
Roll forward to this Saturday. Helping out my son's on their dry ice blasting business I offered to pick up some parts to be cleaned for them in my part of town. Got to visiting with the guy and turns out he was the step son of the first Porsche mechanic from back in the '60's. Small Porsche world.

altonj

I rode home from the hospital after birth in a 356.... I guess that is when it started.

jdgamble

My childhood neighbor had a mid 70s Carrera. I was always fascinated by it. Always loved cars, and always considered the 911 my attainable dream car. I've considered several over the years and finally pulled the trigger on my simple 997.2. I really think this generation is a sweet spot in the history.

syzygy333

I have loved the 911 shape for my entire adult life and earlier I suspect!
finally on 7 dec 2015 (3 months before cancer diagnosis) I grabbed an 09 c2 with both hands figuring
better now before I'm back in diapers (59 at time of purchase)

Jaskfri

I had not owned a car in 30 years. I leased 7 Corvettes, took a 10 year break and was ready to get my 8th in September 2015. I was not excited enough and I knew it. A friend emailed me about a 2005 C2 convertible for sale by a friend of hers. I went online and saw a 2006 C2S I really liked in New York. 3 weeks, a PPI, and a one way ticket to NYC later, and I have been smiling for almost 2 years. I had never considered getting a 911 before then.

Jlewis1436

I had ZERO, I mean ZERO interest in owning a Porsche. I've always owned modified cars be it track or show but a Porsche was never one of them, period!

I had always wanted a Viper growing up. After numerous show/track cars, I bought one. 1997 GTS, about 700 HP and around 900 Tq. Heads, cam, roll cage, CF interior, you name it, it was done to it. It ran a 10.8 with a almost 2000ft DA and trapped at 130 before I switched to 3.55 gears. Despite going straight fast, on the autocross track at Lime Rock, turned in a great time as well.

In 2016 my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. She did extensive surgery and has kicked it's ***. That said, she always HATED my Viper. It was hot (no AC), LOUD...headers no cats and hardly mufflers and smelled like a race car. After recovering from surgery she asked me if we could get a toy car that we all, her and my 9 year old daughter, could all go in and enjoy.

The Viper was for sale the next day. Thus began a quest for a fun, fast (relative) cars and coffee, track car that had a back seat.

I found my 997 C2S with full factory aero and after a test drive was IN LOVE! Everyone fit, the car looked and handled like nothing I had ever driven. I went from a true "hater" thinking all Porsche were just "9somethings" to a true addict. I put a deposit on the car without having sold my Viper. As luck would have it, the Porsche arrived in my driveway 4 hours before the new owner of my Viper drove it away. I'm addicted!

the_buch

There are so many wonderful stories in this post. Thanks for sharing.

For me it was 1973 when a friend of mine was able to buy a new 911E for $13,000 (Cdn). We were 20 years old at the time and I can remember my first time behind the wheel of that thing like it was yesterday. 165hp, curb weight of 2,300lbs and a 7100rpm redline. Just imagine how it performed compared to anything else a 20 year old might have driven in that era.

I've had a number of 911s since (see sig below) and am back in a 997.2 after a brief diversion during which I failed to find a substitute. In the spirit of storytelling, a quick excerpt from the owner's manual for my 1988 930 - "Once a day, with the engine at full operating temperature, please accelerate at full throttle to redline in first gear to blow the moisture out of the wastegate." What were those crazy germans thinking? As the last of the four-speeds, the '88 930 went 58mph in first, and you can imagine what that car was like on full boost in first gear at redline. If I'd been 20 when I owned that car I probably wouldn't be here today.

Keep the great stories coming and thanks for the camaraderie!

docdrs

Ive always liked sports cars, had mustangs, bmw but then came family, cottages, so it was 7 passenger SUV for me. My wife bought a new Cayenne in 2012, a few friends started getting some sports cars so I couldn't let everyone else have all the fun. Measured the garage and low and behold , a 911 sits nicely perched above the Cayenne with about 4 inches to spare 2 between and 2 above

Porsche : "There is no substitute"