Why did you get out of Porsche Ownership?

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Thanks!

It is really for my son. This is a joint operation. He worked 2 1/2 summers for a friend of mine that still owns a indie Porsche and other foreign car (mam, that term sounds dated!) repair shop.

He knows the 997 fairly well, no expert by any means. Plus we have Bill, the owner he works for, to lean on for advice. We spent hours talking about the plan yesterday. I would not go solo on this at all.

We are going to bring it here tomorrow before he heads back to Norfolk. I'll get it cleaned up and begin to organize what needs to be done. We have cleared out a slot in the shop.

Jack is very frugal and rented a nice apartment in a good part of Norfolk near his law firm...unfortunately, no garage.

He has passed the Virginia Bar and is making really excellent money but wants to wait a few years before he upgrades his living arrangements.

So it will stay with me and we will work on it together when need be. It runs great but I will take care of the tires and other stuff so I can drive it on a regular basis.

One of the things I should have mentioned earlier in this thread is that I had my kids to help me with routine car maintenance, on their stuff and mine for 15 years. Also help on bigger jobs. It was great.

THAT is what I miss and the reason why I don't like working on cars: Doing it alone is a solitary pursuit I really don't enjoy, especially after year and years of having kids dancing around the work shop.

So, I am being a little selfish having my son back when we can to do this together.

I love this. I have read the other thread about the car. Ultimately, it's not the car, it's the experience with the people you love. I hope you and your son make progress with the car and have some great bonding time.

[TimT]

I've owned various Porsches since I was 21...Currently there are 3

914/6 racecar
911 racecar
Cayman

Ill probably always have at least one...though I am going to downsize the racecars, trailers, spares...

Hey, it runs in the family.. My grandpa owned a 356 bought from Max Hoffman.. he used to take me for rides as a kid..

[Superman]

I'm pretty proud of my '78, for a street car. 9.3 pistons, 20/21 cams, SSIs, fresh Bilstein shocks all around custom valved for my torsion bars (21/29), raised spindles with two-bracket steering knuckles (Rebel Racing). Mocha with burgundy interior. New headliner. 17 x 7&9 wheels. Carrera brakes and torsion bars. Sport seats. Triad exhaust. Everything but a 3.6. maybe some day. In the meantime, she's a dancer.

I'll be 64 in three months. I'm preparing today her for an August car show. No intention of selling.

[Por_sha911]

I sold Porsches in 1988 and said someday I will own one. Got my `87 in 2003 with low miles and at the time it was just an older car.
As everyone knows, repairs are expensive and air cooled cars have shot up in value. I don't look forward to working on the car like I used to. With the increased value and age and miles we don't take long trips like we used to. I also am leaning toward the creature comforts of the modern DD.
Well, I started to toy with the idea of selling the Carrera up until I took it out for a drive on a beautiful spring day. I got back and couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Naw, I don't want to sell it.

It is human nature to over-react to things. In 1980 people sold their almost brand new Lincoln Town Car for a song and bought a tiny car that would have practically fit in the trunk of the Lincoln. They realized that the new car was too small and had to trade again to something in between. (I sold Lincoln/Mercury back then and watched it happen over and over again).

My suggestion is that you can start selling some of the vehicles but not all. It doesn't have to be all or none. Keep the ones that are in the best shape and have the least risk of major issues/costs. If after a while you feel you need to downsize again, sell another...

[dw1]

Originally Posted by pmax

Once a car has drawn true blood, literally for some of us , not surprising to hear or feel that selling is near impossible and definitely not to some random flipper who shows up at the door but at the other end of the spectrum around here, you might find that worthy suitor who will continue toiling on your labor of love, yes it very much is one for anyone of us who have owned them for any extended period of time, on your behalf and you don't even have to expend any more blood, sweat and tears.

I could not agree more. When I decide to sell mine, I have to know it will be going to a good home. I've had it a long time so it is like a member of the family - like a loyal dog - and it has literally cost me blood, sweat and tears...

[svandamme]

2 rebuilds short succession, well I can relate.. My first 911 was a hackjob moneypit... went in for some rust repair and some minor work like adding hydraulic chain tensioners, to rebuilding the entire thing a 3 year ordeal and cash was tight.

in the end i sold the bastard for what i had bought it (and ate all the investments) just to be rid of it.
10 years later I got my Cayman, which has been 10 times more fun and has done 20 times more km's then I ever did with the 911.

In the end they are just cars and if you ain't having fun with em for your money, you can sell em, be free.. and there are plenty others you can look at later to get back in the game if you feel like it.
Just don't do anything truly deplorable , like buy a mustang and annoy a Porsche forum with Stang Stories

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

IMS.

Any company, prideful of it’s engineering heritage, willing to sell VERY expensive cars with the added benefit of being able to unpredictably grenade because of poor engineering and not make every effort to advise, forewarn retrofit and/or replace the ruined engines, will not get my business.

IMS Started in 1997, which is almost 25 years ago.
You didn't even join Pelican until years after IMS

[svandamme]

So which brand has never had any percentage of engines with problems over time?
How much miles per failure do Ferrari's rack up? Lambo? Bmw? Mercedes? Alfa? Masserati?

Just curious..Why would Porsche be so extraordinary about having a percentage of engines fail over time. And which manufacturer of expensive cars is more reliable then?

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

IMS Started in 1997, which is almost 25 years ago.
You didn't even join Pelican until years after IMS

I’m not getting what your point is.

[billybek]

I sold the SC a few years ago and I only miss it when I hear an aircooled car in full song.

The SC was not getting used much and our current lifestyle and schedule didn't allow much seat time. I was tired of seeing it sit.

I would entertain getting a waterpumper in a few years if I could find something reasonable.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by svandamme

Just don't do anything truly deplorable , like buy a mustang and annoy a Porsche forum with Stang Stories

Stijn, I know what your secret dream car desire is. Here's your chance:

https://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/ORD/1885/2008-Ford-Mustang-Bullitt-Edition

To get back in topic....anyone thinking of leaving Porsche will know when it's time. I did.
The reasons for doing so are varied...but you'll know. If you're not sure...hang in there bay-be!

[peppy]

I have had times when things went wrong in the garage also, but I was more inclined to strike a match to it than sell it. I was going to set an example to the other cars in the driveway.
I do like the idea of simplifying my life, but that would involve not being called to work on a Sunday afternoon to fix an ice cream machine when I'm changing the gear oil in the rear end of the 335d!

[rattlsnak]

I have had @ 20 911s over the last 30 years. Almost everyone of them was a major project car.. As others have mentioned, after being around them for so many years, they just don't appeal to me like they did and a lot of that is due to the replacement cost. Just can't afford to do it anymore like we all used to... If pricing was still reasonable on the AC cars, then i would still have one..

BUT, after every one that I sold, i always wanted another one. I finally bit the bullet and bought a brand new one in 2015 and i have to say it is mechanical perfection.. Same deal though. Its 5 years old and i just rolled over 10K miles, but EVERY TIME I drive it, it brings the BIGGEST grin to my face. Yes, there are times when it's hard to justify the cost of something that just sits in the garage for most of the time.. (especially since I am still making payments on it!) but the last few years, I've been attending rally events with my 23 year old daughter and that makes it all worth it. It's great to have her alone for the entire day! And we are pretty good at it!! So for that reason alone, I have no plans to sell it.. Even though it's now worth almost the same amount that I paid for it!~

[HardDrive]

My last P car was a 2005 997S. I got out of it simply because I needed a 4 door car. My daughter was in middle school, on sports teams, and I needed to cart around gaggles of kids. I got a Mercedes E350, and it has served that purpose well. Will likely get back into P cars with a Cayman or a Boxster at some point.

[Les Paul]

I’m making a long overdue upgrade to the 930 right now. AC for the first time in 34 years after toying with the old factory York. The latest greatest now. My wife says she will now go with me anywhere in the summer. The 356 owned 30 years. Soon to have a 2.2 Wilhoit. Looking forward to that big time. So obviously never selling and to think I was only 30 when I first got the beast.

[TCracingCA]

914 Transmissions would not survive a hot Chevy V8.

[Hockey fan]

In 2010 or so the financial downturn caught up with my small business and it was a matter of keeping a roof over our head. Sadly the 1973 T was the one thing I could sell to get us through the rough patch. As soon as it left I knew I'd never be able to swing an early one again. Kept the business going and we're in a much more secure place now. Still can't afford another early one but I did manage to hang on to my vintage Bronco so there's that.

[1990C4S]

I think there's a big difference between 'getting out of Porsches' and 'getting out of air cooled Porsches'. The former is easier and more likely to allow a return to the brand.

I would not be worried about selling my 996. My 911's are a far more serious decision.

[Eric Hahl]

I sold my air-cooled years ago and missed it. Decided to get something newer and ended up with a Cayman S. It was sweet but did not have the same type of thrill for me. It was too easy to go real fast and I also got really tired of everyone tailgating me and wanting to race. Seemed like it was a daily occurrence. I now cruise in a Toyota and life is good.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

Great pics, Marc!