Is your Porsche subject to impound?

dd74 · 06-21-2007, 10:09 AM

In response to the street racing/crushing thread, a thought came to me:

Many of us drive modified Porsches. They're lowered. They have large wheels/tires, roll bars, loud exhausts, body kits.

Has anyone here with a modified Porsche been stopped by the police with the suspicion they were street racing?

And with that, has anyone had their Porsche impounded with the threat of the car being "crushed" while also being suspected of being involved in an illegal street race?

The looks from cruising cops, most of them bordering on admonishment, that I've received while in my car - which isn't at all that "blinged out," has lately been of concern.

I don't know -- maybe I'm being paranoid. But in this world of slammed Civics with coffee can mufflers, among a plethora of other similar cars, not to mention cops quick to make snap-judgments about ALL cars that have been modified in some fashion, what is to differentiate our cars from theirs - unless, of course, some of us truly are heading to an illegal street race.

berettafan · 06-21-2007, 10:15 AM

only difference i can think of is the cop also assumes we have $$ since most folks can't tell a '72 from an '02.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I have numbers, sponsor logos, etc on my car. Only problem I've had is getting tickets from parking nazis for not having a front plate.

*knock on wood*

Nostril Cheese · 06-21-2007, 10:18 AM

Cop sees guy driving Porsche = guy has money and high priced lawyer.

Cop sees kid driving riced out Civic = example time

the · 06-21-2007, 10:18 AM

Just resist putting a "Boyz RaCeR" muffler on your car, and you'll be fine.

dd74 · 06-21-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by the
Just resist putting a "Boyz RaCeR" muffler on your car, and you'll be fine.

I've had M&K straight pipes and now a stock Bischoff. Believe me, it isn't always about the exhaust.

Jims5543 · 06-21-2007, 10:33 AM

Owning a RX7 and Porsche I can tell you without a doubt that I get treated competely differently when driving one or the other.

I cannot count how many times I have been pulled over in the RX7 and the suprise on the cops face to see a 40 year old driving. I have also been followed in the RX7 by cops waiting for me to make a mistake.

The Porsche gets a look but they quickly move on.

It is total profiling. No different that the attitude I get from others at DE events and Autocrosses, The 911 gets respect and compliments before it has even run. The RX7 gets snickers and grins before it runs, after the RX7 runs I get "visits" wondering WTF is going on with that car.

Berettafan and Nostril Cheese nailed it - the 911 gives off the notion that the driver has money and a good lawyer and they do not screw with you.

My 911 has headers and a cat no mufflers it is pretty loud. Its lowered and running aftermarket 17" rims and it never gets a sideway look from LEO.

The RX7 is lowered has a "fart can" = 3" Turbo back exhaust and 4" tip - along with a reverse vented hood and 17" rims. It attracts all the wrong attention on surface roads.

On the interstate the "Arrest me Red" car gets all the attention.

Neilk · 06-21-2007, 10:46 AM

From reading that article, it seemed like most of the cars crushed had stolen parts. So hopefully you should be safe.

the · 06-21-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
I've had M&K straight pipes and now a stock Bischoff. Believe me, it isn't always about the exhaust.

True. My TYPE R and StReEt ScEnEz stickers are all coming off today.

sammyg2 · 06-21-2007, 10:54 AM

One of the reasons I've always likes sleepers.
I think a car should look and sound stock but go like stink. No problems there as long as you drive like you have a clue.

But .... build one that looks and sounds faster than it is and you are asking from trouble. If you go around saying look at me look at me, someone will.
Lowering, putting on a fart can muffler, racing stickers, a stupid body kit, and a wing on the back of a front wheel drive car is asking for it.

Jims5543 · 06-21-2007, 11:05 AM

The 3" Exhaust on my car serves a purpose, it allows the turbo to spool sooner and more efficiently.

The reverso cowl hood allows for better cooling, but, the the unknowing eye it looks like "rice".

the · 06-21-2007, 11:18 AM

Warm it up!

dd74 · 06-21-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by the
True. My TYPE R and StReEt ScEnEz stickers are all coming off today.

That's good. Given that I assume you're older than 16.

dd74 · 06-21-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sammyg2
One of the reasons I've always likes sleepers.
I think a car should look and sound stock but go like stink. No problems there as long as you drive like you have a clue.

But .... build one that looks and sounds faster than it is and you are asking from trouble. If you go around saying look at me look at me, someone will.
Lowering, putting on a fart can muffler, racing stickers, a stupid body kit, and a wing on the back of a front wheel drive car is asking for it.

Very interesting as that seems to be the same thinking as quite a number of Porsche shops in L.A.

And none that I know of condone street racing. Sure, there's the occasional stand off, but otherwise, they always recommend the car is taken to the track for aggressive driving.

BeerBurner · 12:04 PM

Knocking on wood and all, but I've never been pulled over in a Porsche in the 17 years I've been driving them. I guess not driving like a jackass helps.

Edit: but there's no illegal parts on my car that I'm aware of. Everything is either OEM, OEM-replica, a chip and a rear swaybar. Although I supposed my 951 rocker extensions might have been from a stolen car.

BB.

David · David's Garage

I never been pulled over and I've been witnessed by a cop when I was under HARD acceleration. I think it's the "they must have good lawyer, why bother" mentality.

many944s · 06-21-2007, 01:24 PM

Never in my P-car, but have been tailed SEVERAL times in my BMW that I track. Of course it doesn't help that I'm a 200 pound bald guy driving a track ready Bimmer through town... A bunch of the guys in the local car club say it looks like Vin Diesel is driving my car.

-Nick

dd74 · 06-21-2007, 01:35 PM

So the reasons we've been thus far fairly lucky are:

1) The lion's share of this board seems to be older drivers, i.e., not many of us are in our late-teens and early twenties. So the gray hair, premature or not, and the middle-aged paunch, mature or not, might help in that scenario.

2) The Porsche gives off an attitude of exclusivity and legal aptitude. When faced with pulling over a Porsche, a cop is only as good as his day in court, in which case he fears he may lose.

3) It's easier to rouse a moussed-up punk than a bald-headed nonagenarian.

sammyg2 · 06-21-2007, 01:36 PM

I've been pulled over twice driving a Porsche, once 29 years ago and once 27 years ago.

I think Beer burner has it right, don't drive like a jackass and your car won't get crushed.

Dantilla · 06-21-2007, 01:52 PM

I behave myself in the Porsches on the way to the track.
The 911 is a sleeper- Looks stock to the untrained eye.
The 944 is a race car. On the rare times it's on the street, I keep it below half-throttle to keep the decibels down. Even the ricers see that it's the real thing, and don't want to play stoplight games.

For street driving, I can get away with far more when driving the Miata. It gets no attention, and is relatively quiet, even at 7000 rpms.
And at 7000 rpm, it's not that much faster than normal traffic. It just doesn't have to slow down for corners.