[gliding_serpent]

Dave is right on the money. I am a bit of all three, but mostly 2.

An alternate version is: racing, driving, wrenching, polishing. Pick one.
- If racing buy a built race car and get ready to wrench, or pay a lot of money. Who am I kidding, it will be expensive either way. Swear under your breath at spec miata guys when they talk about how little their upkeep costs are.
- if driving, get the best car you can afford, and enjoy the odd DIY project. Other times give it to a pro as you just want to enjoy it and they can do it faster. (most people are this)
- if wrenching, buy a project and get ready for the time sink. When it is finished and "perfect", get bored and immediately sell. Find a new hopeless project. What else would you do with your time?
- if polishing, get an enclosed trailer so you can roll it off and on for those concourse shows. Get ready to put out big money for that "perfect car" or "perfect restoration."


My view:
- you need a daily driver that is not the 911.
- if you want one, buy the best one you can afford, because repairs and parts are not cheap. A car that is 10,000$ more, and the condition warrants it, could save you 20,000$ easy. Ask me how I know. Trust no one, and see the car yourself before buying. Watch the inspection if you can. Get a 911 pro to do it.
- if you rebuild cars and engines as a hobby/career, get a project and save money on the lower purchase price.
- If you want a track car, it is cheaper to buy one that is finished. Budget for a rebuild. They are selling it for a reason.
- don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, even if you are new to it. Just know your limits and read read read. I repeat, know your limits... the guy that says that "anyone can rebuild the transmission or engine themselves" generally forgets to mention that they have a full garage setup with lifts, engine tables, etc, etc plus tons of experience rebuilding other engines. Or a ton of free time, and they forget to tell you all the things they screwed up to get there, or that they are a mechanical engineer by trade. Oops, did I leave that part out?
- All DIY folks are liars! Whenever I finish a project I go "that was easy"and I immediately forget the time, cost, blood, sweat, and tears it took to get there. It is human nature. That is why women keep having children. If they remembered fully how tough it was, we would all have only one kid.
- DIY if you enjoy it, not out of need. I do what I can, but if I MUST do a project, I resent it, as does my wife when I am away from her and the young kids. I do what I can when I can, which keeps it fun.
- Rolling restorations are better for the soul. Too many projects, or too long off the road and you can get bogged down and end up selling it unfinished. Unless you like that kind of thing. For me, it I have a toy I want to use it, and that is my priority. DIY lets me enjoy it when the snow is on the ground.
- DIY is only cheaper if you have all of the tools, and your time is not money, or you make less that your mechanic. I DIY to relax and because I like to learn, not to save. Between you and I, I also do it because I am a touch ocd and figure that only a 911 specialist will put more love in it than I will.