New Owner Intro
02-11-2015, 11:44 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
New Owner Intro
I've enjoyed checking out this forum over the past month or so, and see that newbies usually post an intro about themselves, so here goes! Sorry this is so long. I put in a lot of details.
I'm a first-time Porsche owner. The 911 has been my dream car since about the mid 80s, which is when I started reading about them in Car & Driver and Road & Track as a teenager. In the summer of 2013, my husband and I went to Exotics Racing at the Las Vegas motor speedway, where I drove a 2012 997 Turbo S and a McLaren MP4-12C, and he drove a Ferrari 458 and an Audi R8. (He really loved the Ferrari!) Although the McLaren was super cool, I actually felt more comfortable in the 997, and felt that I could actually drive one as a daily-driver.
In February 2014, I was diagnosed with Stage IIB breast cancer, and spent a great part of 2014 going through surgery, chemo, and radiation. After that battle was won, my husband convinced me that I should look into buying my dream car, as a start on my bucket list. He also thought I should get it while I'm young enough to really enjoy it. I thought that made sense. So, I began my search online in December, after reading about all the different generations of the 911 in a book I got for Christmas and also reading articles online.
Based on my research, I decided I wanted a black or grey 997.2 because that's when Porsche introduced direct injection and PDK, and I liked the smaller size (as compared to the 991). Plus, I couldn't afford a 991 with my $65K budget anyway! Other options I wanted were all wheel drive, Sport Chrono (mainly for launch control), XM, Heated Seats, iPod integration, and a CPO warranty.
I immediately found 3 cars that met my criteria on Porsche's website. All 3 were 2009 Carrera 4S models. They were located in Tampa, FL, Greensboro, NC, and Denver, CO. I live in St. Louis, so they were too far for me to go check out. My favorite of the 3 was the black one in Tampa. Fortunately, my husband's parents live close to Tampa and his Dad loves cars, so he was more than happy to go check it out for me.
He called me immediately after a test drive and told me it was absolutely beautiful. We immediately put down a deposit.
After 2 weeks of FedEx-ing papers back and forth, and coordinating getting a clear bra installed, my husband flew to Tampa and drove it back. It took me at least a week for it to sink in that I actually now own a 911. It's beautiful and so powerful. I can't wait for the weather to warm up, when I plan to autocross it and go to a PCA DE event to learn how to properly drive/race a rear-engine car, since I've only owned mid and front engine sports cars in the past ('93 Toyota MR2 Turbo 5MT, '03 and & '05 Infiniti G35 6MT).
Winter can't end quickly enough!
Attachment 910550
I'm a first-time Porsche owner. The 911 has been my dream car since about the mid 80s, which is when I started reading about them in Car & Driver and Road & Track as a teenager. In the summer of 2013, my husband and I went to Exotics Racing at the Las Vegas motor speedway, where I drove a 2012 997 Turbo S and a McLaren MP4-12C, and he drove a Ferrari 458 and an Audi R8. (He really loved the Ferrari!) Although the McLaren was super cool, I actually felt more comfortable in the 997, and felt that I could actually drive one as a daily-driver.
In February 2014, I was diagnosed with Stage IIB breast cancer, and spent a great part of 2014 going through surgery, chemo, and radiation. After that battle was won, my husband convinced me that I should look into buying my dream car, as a start on my bucket list. He also thought I should get it while I'm young enough to really enjoy it. I thought that made sense. So, I began my search online in December, after reading about all the different generations of the 911 in a book I got for Christmas and also reading articles online.
Based on my research, I decided I wanted a black or grey 997.2 because that's when Porsche introduced direct injection and PDK, and I liked the smaller size (as compared to the 991). Plus, I couldn't afford a 991 with my $65K budget anyway! Other options I wanted were all wheel drive, Sport Chrono (mainly for launch control), XM, Heated Seats, iPod integration, and a CPO warranty.
I immediately found 3 cars that met my criteria on Porsche's website. All 3 were 2009 Carrera 4S models. They were located in Tampa, FL, Greensboro, NC, and Denver, CO. I live in St. Louis, so they were too far for me to go check out. My favorite of the 3 was the black one in Tampa. Fortunately, my husband's parents live close to Tampa and his Dad loves cars, so he was more than happy to go check it out for me.
He called me immediately after a test drive and told me it was absolutely beautiful. We immediately put down a deposit.
After 2 weeks of FedEx-ing papers back and forth, and coordinating getting a clear bra installed, my husband flew to Tampa and drove it back. It took me at least a week for it to sink in that I actually now own a 911. It's beautiful and so powerful. I can't wait for the weather to warm up, when I plan to autocross it and go to a PCA DE event to learn how to properly drive/race a rear-engine car, since I've only owned mid and front engine sports cars in the past ('93 Toyota MR2 Turbo 5MT, '03 and & '05 Infiniti G35 6MT).
Winter can't end quickly enough!
Attachment 910550
Last edited by Q 997.2 C4S; 02-11-2015 at 11:50 PM. Reason: Fix apostrophes that copied over incorrectly
02-12-2015, 12:02 AM
#3
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Congrats!
02-12-2015, 12:14 AM
#6
Rennlist Member
Congratulations on being a survivor and realizing your dream car. I love that you will go to DE event and enjoy your car to the fullest. The cars looks very nice.
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02-12-2015, 01:10 AM
#8
Fantastic story in so many ways. Congratulations many times over. Beautiful car. Welcome to the Forum. Enjoy the drive!
02-12-2015, 01:19 AM
#9
Rennlist Member
Congrats - wonderful story. Life is all too short and fragile - aggressive 'bucket listing' is a highly recommended strategy for living! And great choice on a 997.2!! (Not that I am biased HAHA)...
You are also so smart to do auto X and DE, these events really allow you to properly enjoy a performance car. Don't know how experienced a driver you are at this point, but you might even do a 'Car Control Course' as a first step, there you can get used to feeling the car lose traction, experience really hard braking, do skidpad maneuvers etc etc. in a safe, controlled environment. Numerous car clubs and track organizations host these events. The 997 4S has pretty good traction but the rear engine nature of the car can still bite you in an auto X, not to mention a real DE track day.
Lastly, you may have already been told this - but the magic words for 911 drivers to always remember: ''NEVER LIFT WHILE TURNING AT SPEED"!!
Enjoy your awesome new ride and best wishes going forward.
You are also so smart to do auto X and DE, these events really allow you to properly enjoy a performance car. Don't know how experienced a driver you are at this point, but you might even do a 'Car Control Course' as a first step, there you can get used to feeling the car lose traction, experience really hard braking, do skidpad maneuvers etc etc. in a safe, controlled environment. Numerous car clubs and track organizations host these events. The 997 4S has pretty good traction but the rear engine nature of the car can still bite you in an auto X, not to mention a real DE track day.
Lastly, you may have already been told this - but the magic words for 911 drivers to always remember: ''NEVER LIFT WHILE TURNING AT SPEED"!!
Enjoy your awesome new ride and best wishes going forward.
02-12-2015, 01:29 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
New Owner Intro
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and sincere congratulations on being a 911 owner.
Enjoy your first drive and make it a long one!
Enjoy your first drive and make it a long one!
02-12-2015, 02:17 AM
#12
Welcome, and congratulations on beating cancer! Your car looks pristine, and I'm sure you are really going to enjoy driving it. Great idea to take a driving class. My wife and I took a Driver's Skills class with the local Porsche Club. It was a blast and we learned so much about how to really drive a 911. Wow! We enjoyed it so much, we're going again this year.
It sounds like your husband is a keeper, too! I recommend you plan a road trip together this year. These cars devour the road and they love the twisties, as I'm sure you already know
Enjoy with good health and a happy heart!
It sounds like your husband is a keeper, too! I recommend you plan a road trip together this year. These cars devour the road and they love the twisties, as I'm sure you already know
Enjoy with good health and a happy heart!
