Jim in St.Louis

A 20 something fellow said to me as i got out of my 911, " It must be nice."
I smiled and said it sure is and there is nothing to it, just 25 years of 60 hour work weeks. He smiled back and said that it makes sense to him, while changing his attitude a bit. Maybe he was inspired to work a little harder.
Never apologize for success.
Jim

Torontoworker

<I've recently (2yrs) moved from the UK to the US and am still encumbered with the British notions of how success is perceived and treated by the masses. No disrespect to the Brits, but in the UK other peoples success is more often than not, resented.>

I think the issue with the UK goes a little deeper then rich against poor - more along the lines of born with a silver spoon and then there are the other 95% who are not titled land owners receiving the 95% of the populations rent money. It may be a bit of an exaggeration but compared to North America is isn't.

England still has a class war even today - more subtle in the 21 century but it's still there. Thats different then someone having less then you do and feeling resentment that you have more. Most people in North America would recognize you most likely worked for your success even if they felt jealous of you. In the UK there is always the feeling that 'Daddy' paid for your 'flash' wheels or your a footballer!

Enjoy your ride and donate to food banks as I do.

Cheers!

jasvoboda

I know it's tough living in a liberal university town so I wiull offer to take your car off your hands.

Turbo Jonny

I still live in the UK and here`s an example of the dumb mentality here. My best friend is a hard
working middle aged National Health Service manager who has been told that owning a Porsche
Boxster , even an old one, is a NO NO ! If you are working for the public it is wrong to show signs
of luxury ! I can hardly believe it & hope that Obama & his liberal cronies dont ruin the American
way in similar fashion.

BlackAddr

I couldn't read all of this post! I was too appalled by the fact that someone would feel guilty for something they have earned. If you

Please do yourself a Favor, Go to the Book Store and buy a Copy of "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. Read it and then ask yourself that question again.

If you bought the car just to show everyone how much better you are then them, then you don't deserve to own one, but if you worked your *** off, and you bought it as a reward for your hard work, and your love of Porsche, then you shouldn't apologize.

I don't mean to come across as a big jerk as I am new here, but no one, will ever make me feel guilty for buying something I earned. That is not to say I should or would rub it in anyone's face, but I bought it because I love the car.

I remember about 15 years ago right after college I got a job and I was working my *** off, and the company I was working for gave me a promotion and a bonus. I decided that it was time for something that I always wanted, but couldn't justify. A Rolex! I bought it and for the first few days I was happy and proud! Then a few friends started making some comments (Of course these were my liberal Trust Fund Friends), They started calling me pretentious and what not....for the next year I wore it but I always work longer sleeves and hide the watch, I went to the point of hiding it intentionally, even denying that it was real when people asked me!

Then one day I started thinking about all of this, and I started to get mad. Here I was letting others who were in a better situation to make me feel bad about a goal that I had set when I was a child. So the next time we went out, it turned out that one of them had bought a Brietling and of course he had to make a comment about my Rolex because I hadn't wore it in a while. I looked him straight in the face and said; FU, at least I paid for it myself, with the money I earned, not the money anyone else earned! So come talk to me when you can earn enough to buy one.

Long story short, he and I are still friends, but the real fact here is, I have never nor will I ever apologize for what I earn with my own two hands. It someone wants to complain and tell me that I have it better, I invite them to come work with me for a while and they can see what they can do. Otherwise, STFU.

I will apologize for the tangent, but this is just one thing that really gets me worked up. I was born poor, and I worked my *** off and have lost everything twice now, and I am on my way back up again. So if you feel the need to tell people you're sorry for what you have, you are entitled to do so. And if that is what you really feel please do so. But ask yourself, why do you reward yourself after working so muchm why do you do what you do? The truth be told, all of us could live with out a Porsche or two, but I would imagine there are a few people here who have rewarded them self with this little toy.

Just my 2 cents, and mods if you feel I went too far, please feel fre to delete this, but I feel better for my 2 cents.

number9ine

I bought because of this economy, cheap Porsches all over the place! I must say I felt a little guilt, considering that I've seen people losing their jobs and hear about some not making ends meet. It tempered my decision; I made sure my new car didn't cost me much more than my old car did, and that the difference in price was covered with some smart budgeting. Hell, I know folks who paid more for their Chevy SUVs than I did for my car.

Both my previous car (986 S) and current (997 C2S) were purchased gently used, after working long hours and saving enough to make it affordable. I'm just about middle class. My car isn't a status symbol at all to me, it's therapeutic and way cheaper than a shrink. Some may see it as frivolous, and from their perspective I'm sure it is. But I find substance in it and that's what matters.

I will agree with some other posters here that it's a bad time to own anything "luxury." My wife's '99 Boxster had a shopping cart pushed into it at what looks like full speed, definitely deliberate. Ricocheted off the bumper and smacked the driver door, hopefully the dent man will be able to fix. A shame!

928SS

sorry, but if I see some ahole damaging property for whatever reason - it's call a cop time and let them enjoy some "quality vacation" time in the pokey for committing a crime.

then they can pay for the damages, and learn about how our system works - those that don't have will suffer consequences if they mess with those that do.

if someone has an issue, whatever - it's still a free country as far a opinons are concerned. everyone is entitled.

I do have to laugh when I see someone drive an H2 to a tree hugger event though.

BlackAddr

No doubt, abuse of others property should not be tolerated. I would as well have no issue with calling the Police if I see someone abusing someones Porsche or if they were abusing someone's Kia!

I live in the Detroit area, and I have only bought one American Vehicle, all my others have been non-American rides, (I am also the only one in my family not to work for an American Automotive Company) and I remember there was a time a few years back where people thought it was funny to damage other peoples car is it was non-American. ie..Honda, Toyota's etc. It had nothing to do with personal economics, it had more to do with, (what I call a Socialist idea that perservered here for many years, and still does to this day!) but there were groups here that sold the idea that because it wasn't American it wasn't worth ****, or if you bought non-American you were causing the downfall of America.

I am happy that people are entitled to have their own opinions, but they do not have the right to damage other peoples properties.

Haku

BlackAddr, I appreciate your opinions and post. My post was fueled by a mix of emotions that I was experiencing at the time and I stated what I did also out of concern and sensitivity for those around us in these crazy times.

Like most on this forum I have worked for what I have and feel justified to enjoy the perks that I do. I do however feel that this is a time to look beyond what is just good and right for oneself and at least question whether one is being responsible to the community as a whole.

There have been many posts on this thread that I have found interesting and my thanks for the postings. The debate continues... and I do love my Porsche! I have been sharing it's joys more with people and it feels good.

968rz

I get the "most be nice to be rich, two Porsche's holy s**t!" comment a lot, and this from people that know I'm not even close (many make more than me but have no pot to pee in).
I tend to shut them up by asking how much they paid for their brand new car and then smile at the faces they make when I tell them together; the used Porsche's I paid for cost less then their one new car.

Like most here I busted my a** (and shoulders- I have the doctor bills to prove it) for years to get these and no amount of jealousy or smack talk will make feel bad for it.

uberskier

I sort of have the same comments for my students. I take it in to work about once a month. I point out about a good 1/2 dozen cars in the lot (out of about 30) that are more expensive new than my used P-car. But of course being SY, it tends to stand out more.

941MXVET

We're very similar in this reguard. We owned a Boxster, then added a 964 when the market dropped on these cars.

BlackAddr

Haku,

I really didn't mean to sound so harsh as you said it is a great debate, and I agree with everything that everyone here said. I only meant this, I grew up in a family where the idea of owning a Porsche was about as real as my family having their own private Jet, as time has gone by I have watched my family work very hard and my Dad built a very successful company. I broke off long before and did the same for myself. However my Dad has taken a beating because the family business in connected to the Big three here in Detroit. I personally am starting over in my own business as a Divorce will hamper many plans...as I hope very few here have learned!

However, I have met many people like a lot of you that are like, "WOW it must be nice!" or "Wish I could have one"......etc, etc. Like many here I have worked very hard and have dreamed about a 911 since I was a kid, I probably could have bought one a few years back, but I had other responsibilities. My point is that because I have worked so hard I will never apologize for what I own. But it is important to point out, because of what I do, others have been able to reach some goals as well, because I made jobs for them.

There will always be people who will complain about what you own and how life is so unfair, but that doesn't mean I should discount what I have just because others cannot afford something like this. Think of it this way, have you seen the commercial where the kid isn't really paying attention in school and he sees a 911 drive by? Then he rides his bike to the Porsche dealership and gets the salesmans's card. Who is to say that because I drive down the street and some kid sees me driving my car, he doesn't get the bug implanted in his head and he starts to make the changes that will put him in a position to buy the car one day. In my eyes, how much better can I do for my fellow man then helping people learn that the roof is only as high as you let it be? And I always encourage my nieces and nephews to raise that bar with all of their ability!

I do appreciate you bringing up this subject, it merits consideration from "both sides of the fence". I am always open to a well mannered debate and am glad that all of are not the "Money grubbing, ***** mongering persons that some people make us out to be! Just some of us are that way!" :-) jk
Cheers!