1RAGE

Hello everyone,

I have browsed these forums many times and each time I wonder: how do so many people have the money to buy a Porsche? Are many of you doctors and lottery winners? I'm curious.

Next year I'll be taking engineering, and after 4 years, I might be able to make some real money. I want a Porsche almost more than anything else.

BigPorscheGuy39

A couple of principles I've heard:

(1) Buy the newest Porsche that you can afford that has the characteristics you need.

(2) Buy one restored. Don't take on a project that you have to restore yourself. Let the other guy, the other restorer, lose the invested money on the resale, not you.

(3) Find other people who drive the car you've bought. Use their expertise and share information and parts.

Good luck.

Jgordon

It's all a question of priorities. It was either a porsche or furniture. I have a porsche. Couldn't be happier.

James Achard

1RAGE, I am a Machinist with no degree's and I could afford one(Well two). All it takes is setting your priorities and working hard. I left High School and was homeless for about 3 months( due to housing prices in Boston). Moral of the story, get a job, bust your ***, once you stop learning at a job, find a new one, always remain challenged( especially in your chosen field, more varied experience= more $$$). Good luck, the harder you work for something, the more you appreciate it. I REALLY appreciate my cars

Regards, James

Thom Fitzpatrick

I'm a systems engineer @HP. I've been doing computer stuff (programming, admin, etc) since I was about 15, 'cept for 6 years as a fireman (needed a break).

I bought my first 911 when I was 21 or 22 for $7200. I liquidated every asset I had, drained my piggy bank, and borrowed a small amount of cash from a friend. I was so broke after I bought it that I couldn't afford to put gas in it for 2 weeks!

(please forgive the whale tail - I was clueless at the time)

I paid $8k for my current 911, and have sunk cash into it over the past 3.5 years, turning it into (almost) the car I want. While I could have bought a newer car for that (~45k) it would have been difficult to find these characteristics in a car for that. Plus, the chances of me and 45k being the same room together are pretty slender...

See the 'boiled frog' thread.

MelissaM

1Rage,

Here's a different way to look at it:

What does an average new car go for these days? Around $20,000? Do you consider someone who buys an average new car rich -- doctor or lottery winner?

Check the classified ads and see what kind of Porsche you can get for $20,000.

Not a bad deal, is it?

-- Melissa

richard glickel.

JGordon,

Priorities, I love that!

Rage,

Melissa's absolutely correct. Currently, my "other" car is a 2001 Jetta VR6, which cost $25,000. Now, I don't need another 911 at present, but for the same $$ (and probably a few thousand less) I could have purchased a real nice 968. Great handling cars and fast as hell. Which is probably what I'll wind up doing this Spring.

You can do it too! Good luck.

Richard
'87 Carrera 3.6L

Tom

There are Porsches and then there are Porsches. I have frequently thought that if someone gave me what they think my 944 (or 944S) is worth could have it lot faster than they realize. A lot of Porsches just aren't that expensive. A very good 944/S should be less than $7000. Even a good 911 can be had for less than $20,000.

944's are incredibly practical, reasonably economical, unconsciousably cheap. If you don't need a snow car, a great place to start.

A better question might be how can we afford to maintain a Porsche!

Luke

I bought my 86 951 with 60k miles when i turned 17 (for $8,500 and now its paid off!)
(18 now)


I picked up an 86 audi 4000s quattro to drive in the winter for $700.

1RAGE

Thanks everyone

I understand how most can afford Porsches, but what about the new ones? Do the 996 Turbo owners just work their *** off for 15 years or something?

I think I'll be able to get myself a used 944 in a few years, and maybe a new 911 when I retire

Tom

Don't be so pessimistic. I sold my 84 a couple of years ago for $3500 (with some extra goodies) it was going strong with 190000 mi on it (and I saw it in Milwaukee this summer, still going). It was/is a good car and was in very acceptable condition. I see one advertised in my local paper, an 87 944 for $3500. It could very easily be a good deal. I only paid $8000 for my 944S and it's in great shape. These are Hundayi prices. You just have to decide if you want new and ordinary or used and exotic. It helps to have a "helper" car but a 944 or even a 911 is perfectly capable of being daily transport. Given proper respect for maintenance, Porsches are as reliable (or more so) as anthing else around.

HarryD

Hi,

I agree with most of the posters here. You work to get the get the things you want. I have wanted an early 911 for as long as I could remember but "believed" it would be too expensive. When I finally went shopping (just for fun) I was pleasantly surprised.

Folks who see my car go "wow, how can you afford that" as they step from their new Suburban. I tell them that it cost less than a new Hundai and is tons more fun.

It's all in your priorties.

Merry Christmas all.

Danno

I recommend reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kyosaki. It will completely transform your outlook on money, working and PLAYING!!!

Tony'z911

I never thought I could afford a Porsche either being only 26 and not making a ton of money, but after looking at things I realized that I really could afford one! I made the decision to buy one when a friend at work was trading in her '93 Nissan PU on a new car. I bought the truck from her super cheap so that I'd have a primary and 2nd vehicle after I found my Porsche. After looking for an 80-83 SC, I ended up purchasing an '86 Carrera and have loved it every minute since! Total cost for both vehicles was under $23K as most people spoke of above!

*Edit: I was still having doubts about my purchase and then 9/11/01 happened. Kind of ironic, but still very sad. After giving it much thought and being very concerned about where the economy would go after 9/11 I decided to go through w/ the purchase and bought my car on 9/14/01.

If you want it bad enough, it can be done.

993chaz

My motto is buy what you want (Porsche), you'll figure out a way to pay for it!!
You only go around once--have fun!!