Pity poor me....

So let me ask an obvious question, "have you formally proposed (read emotionally AND financially committed) to this gal?"

If yes, you have already set the bar via those "other" gifts. You're on the keep-up-with-the-Joneses trail. Go figure out what a good balance will be between the project and the gal. You have needs too and shouldn't fuel any resentment. Maybe lengthen the project schedule and/or get her just under 2 carats with real high quality. Besides our Johnsons, women prefer high quality over size (I really don't believe you cannot swing both!).

If no, then stomp on the gas and get the hell on out of there! She'll want something else that'll again compete with your project.

Really, all I wanted to say was strike a good balance my man. You still have the wedding to pay for....

Good luck.

John

Buy her a lifetime supply of "SweatGlo 5" (see post 6 at http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum3/HTML/004213.html )
and stay single.

I read the first post to my wife (of 8 years yesterday). Her answer:

I HATE women like that (emphases hers).


Still looking for the right 911.

Tom Aiken
Fremont, California

I just got married on 11/11/2000... drove the new wife from the church to the reception hall in the 911 in fact. She doesn't "get" cars, doesn't really get into the 10 minute dissertations on why oil cooling is better and for some unknown reason doesn't get excited when I tell her about how you can manipulate the steering with the throttle when pushing the limits, but she does go "wheeeee!!!" when I "blow out the carbons" (in the engine you dirty old foul mouths) on the back roads. More importantly - she loves that Iget excited about those things.

My point being - in my newly-wedded opinion - is that if she wants the 2k rock because she thinks it will get her a leg up on the competition - your Porsche - then you might have your hands full.

If she doesn't see your Porsche as competition to her, but just wants to finish off her friends with their flashy Italian cars by having a better rock than them - let her go for it. Besides, it just might give you leverage later on to do the suspension upgrades... brakes... wheels...

Way to go, Tom!!! Sounds like she's got the right priorities. Let us know in 10 or 20 years!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Outside of your little nouveau riche cirle of friends a 2 carats engagement ring may be thought of as being a little tacky. Especially on a flower shop girls finger.

hey m325ix

did you brign that car to Watkins Glen this year for the Grand Prix festival. if not, then i saw it's exact 100% duplicate clone (down to the foglights and the zuffenhausen sticker) parked right next to the post office.

obin

What your girlfriend is really telling you by wanting that 2 carat rock is that "I really want to take every last bit of joy you have in your life away from you." Next thing you know you will be advertising your Porsche with the heading "Need to sell, new kid on the way, new house, new (fill in the blank)." The rocks you need to be checking out are the ones hanging between your legs. Give them a good hard squeeze to bring you back to reality! Take a look in the mirror and scream out loud (preferably when your girl and her friends are around) "I'm a man, yes I am!" Let out a horrendous fart, grab a beer out of the refrigerator and head to the garage for some serious tinkering.

Kurt V
72 911E

To put it in as few words as possible:

I would not marry a woman who would even WANT to wear a 2 carat ring, much less one who demands it.

The fact that she demands it, or even wants it, or is even willing to be seen in public with it (i.e. does not find it extremely tacky), is all I would need to know. Neeeeext . . .

[This message has been edited by Jim T (edited 11-30-2000).]

Why do some people drive new 996's and some drive 78SC? Aside from those who just love the earlier P cars, its because they can. I think everyone would drive a new 996 if they could (well maybe not a 996, but a 993, or a 2000 twin turbo, or a . . . well you get my point) The simple fact is this. Those who can do, those who can't don't. And those who can't but still do are just plain ignorant of what it takes to make a logical and well thoughout decision.
If you can, get her the ring. If you can't, don't. She'll have to understand. And if she doen't then she's not right for you and will only bring problems on down the road.

Thought of the day:
You can upgrade the components on a porsche, but you can't always upgrade the components on a woman. (well you can but that entails giving 1/2 of what you away, plastic surgury, or . . . well, again you get my point.)

A better analysis is "Why do some people drive a gun metal grey Lexus and others drive a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham with gold whitewall tires, "gold plated" trim, a big honkin' fake spare hanging off the rear bumper and an overstuffed, fake vinyl roof?

You'd be surprised at the number of "those that can" do a lot of things, but *don't* in the interest of good taste and common sense.

Well, how about another perspective.

Ignoring the rings on her friends' fingers, if you look at De Beers advertising they suggest 2 month's salary (up at some stage in the past from the traditional one month's salary!!).

As they are a (pretty much the) diamond producer, one would expect this to represent the top of the range.

So, have a look at a month's salary (personally, I would always look after tax), and reference that to a ring price.

Personally, I think anything beyond that would be just a wee bit greedy on her part (I for one wouldn't feel comfortable walking around with that sort of thing hanging off one of my fingers (if I were a woman. Actually, I'd probably feel extra uncomfortable as a guy!)).

Cam

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Cameron Baudinet
1975 911S

From a woman's perspective, I have to reply to this one. I have been married to my husband for 28 years. I have a diamond that is so small that you need a microscope to see it. But my advice to you is this. Diamonds are not symbolic of a relationship. You must convince her to be a part of what you enjoy. I drove my husband's 82sc at Watkins Glen this summer and it gave me an experience that a diamond never could. It is a memory that I will cherish forever. Good luck and I wish you the best in whatever you decide.

I love our car and my husband with all my heart.

Wait a minunte there, JimT. I was right with you until the Cadillac-or-the-Lexus thing. A gunmetal grey Lexus strikes me as the epitome of American middle-class blandness, whereas the tricked-out Caddy sounds like a car that you could take a heck of a road trip in.

I guess my point is that I don't know that we all aspire to the same things on this board. If offered the choice between a 73 RSR and an 01 Turbo, I think a lot of us would elect to test-drive the 01 (to see what it's got), but then leave in the car that has some personality and history to it.

Some of us, of course, would choose the well-muscled Lexus, er, uh, I mean: 996.

I think our potential husband has to simply decide how much cash he's willing to shell out for the different things he wants in life. If he's got two Porsches and one girlfriend, it might be worth trading the 74 911 for a lifetime with a later-model female.

ok, admittedly it wasn't perfect!
I don't think I can improve on Mr. Douglas' 2 liner above, so I'll quit trying.

You know, I still miss every car I've ever had and gotten rid of. Can't really say the same about ex-wives or girlfriends. Hmmmmm.

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Clay Mcguill www.geocities.com/the912guy

Time to draw a line in the sand here. Go to the bank, draw out the cost of the ring in cash (big bills ...small bills doesn't matter). Have her stand next to you and throw the money up in the air. Tell her what stays up is her's for the ring. What comes down is your's for your car!!! Just kidding! An adaptation of an old joke. Make sure you aren't standing near any ledges when ya toss the money up and make sure it isn't a windy day!!! Could be why I'm still single. Used to buy the ex all kinds of neat gifts for birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries (not too many of those). Gee honey isn't this trolling motor I bought you for the boat just great? Awww gee you can't draw this hunting bow? Well hey can I borrow it for hunting season? (just kiddin folks I never really did any of that stuff...honest!!!)

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Howie
79SC

I used to tell my daughter[who majored in shopping]---Money you havn,t got, for stuff you dont need, to impress people you dont know!!!Good Luck Bob

Richard:

If you look at them as investments (The (930 and the woman,) they are both going to suck lots of dough. In the end you'll never be able to sell them for what you have invested. Both expensive and both a joy, hopefully. The car you can get your joy out of by driving. The woman, I could say tacky things, but you shouldn't equate things that way. The problem that you have is really quite different.

You surely are one terrific giving sort of guy: M-B, flower shop, and now the ring! She may be a great gal, but in today's world the reality of economic differences may rear its ugly head. (That may be what is happening now.) It is what's in your hearts that is important......not what others think of you, or her. To maintain good feelings, I believe that economic equality makes for the best relationships. When one of the pair is way beyond the other financially the one on the lower scale either has to have wants that are at his/her level. The wealthier should find pleasures from the kinds of things that are within the grasp of the poorer. The benevolence of the wealthier may cause the other to feel insecure. It sounds like you two need to do some serious soul searching and some of that may be in the form of understanding your passion for automobiles. It seems like parity should be that her business is doing well enough to finance your little jewel of a Porsche. One way relationships really suck. That you even raise the question indicates that you are not at ease with throwing this much more money at the situation. If she loves you, she may have some of the same values that you do......Or maybe you should share some of hers.

Good Luck.

P.S. I just blew off my fiance (Sweetheart and physically a "10",) due to the above problems. It would have been an unhappy money pit. I miss her so much, but I believe the money pit thing would never end. I'm also bailing out a relative, friend, woman, who just didn't get it financially and when the business cycle went down she lost everthing and left me hanging with what amounts to half a years salary to pay off. I love my family and will sacrifice, but we missed on a meeting of the minds. Her house was better than mine, her speedboat was newer, so was her 911, and her SUV. They are all gone. I still have mine. Her hurt was greater than mine.


[This message has been edited by diverdan (edited 12-05-2000).]

My personal favorite. "Run Forrest Run". I laughed for ten minutes. This is a great thread to read.

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Mark Isaak
'74 Targa