How are hard do you drive your car? Like a grown up?

[Fronnzy]

I still had my seat belt on and hands on the wheel. My car and I were just enjoying the moment on the driveway this afternoon after a little "workout." Herr Porsche was shut off, and doing to cool down snap, crackle, pop of metal searching for it's original shape. And I wondered as I sat, is this normal? Do grown ups drive like this?

Don't get me wrong, I am not a kid street racer. Matter of fact I can't stand that crap. But man, I was going fast today. Am I little hypocritical? Am I not the same, in a grown up, two kid and a mortgage kind of way? Because sometimes there is a definite and extended squeal from my tires as I hit an on-ramp. I don't always slow down for corners. I love the sound of 6800 rpm on the way to starbucks. And I can get to blockbuster and back home in minutes.

Not only was I wondering about the health of this car. Because I take really good care of it, and would hate to damage it by driving it too hard. I justify it by telling myself (and my wife) that this is the way it was meant to be driven. To bag on a Porsche is to drive slow. They were meant to be pushed, they need it to survive. This thing is tweny years old. Do I shorten it's life with these weekend attacks or this really want the legendary Porsche can do?

But the other issue is being a grown up. Because this Porsche man, it changes me.

Are there others like me or do you manage to save it for the track?

b.

[ianc]

There is a principle behind machines and working parts in general: the harder they are used and the more stress they are subjected to, the less time they will have in such service before they fail.

OTOH, you will now receive 9000 posts telling you that they are 'made for it'. You choose,

ianc

[old man neri]

In my limited opinion, it's a balancing act really. If you don't drive it at all it will just dry up and waste away. If you drive the piss out of it every time....well it will wear out quicker.

That being said, why did you buy this car? To drive it like it was a camry? I didn't think so.

Cheers!

[Dantilla]

I've put a lot of effort into putting a 3.2 into my long-hood. Swapped suspension parts, ran wiring harnesses, removed parts, replaced parts, added Carrera flares, stripped the car down for paint. Take it apart, put it back together again.

After all that, what am I to do?

Try to wear it out, of course! What else? Save it for the next owner? Not a chance. After that much work, I'm going to be the one to enjoy the car.

[DARISC]

AH! Old man Neri!

To draw an analogy, I like to think that a properly driven 911 is like an epicurean properly preparing a kidney - but rather than boiling, drive the piss out of it!

[rallyracer]

I drove my race car to the hospital in the rain today. Is that a grown up thing to do?

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Fronnzy

I love the sound of 6800 rpm.....

I don't take my SC that far past redline - don't see the point other than the glorious sound. Couldn't winding it that tight just for aural kicks get real expensive after awhile?

[haycait911]

just driving fast, hard braking, redlining every shift, is not driving a car 'hard'. things like dumping the clutch, burnouts, etc. are what I consider abusive. if you're shifting clean and starting smoothly there's no abuse. winding out the engine is what makes it ( and me) happy.
it's all worth it when I close the door after a hard drive with a huge *****-eating grin on my face, thinking "what did I do to deserve a car like this" . also makes those hours spent laying on a cold concrete floor a lot more bearable.

[DARISC]

Rallyracer - ain't driving in the rain a kick!!?

[haycait911]

Originally Posted by DARISC

Rallyracer - ain't driving in the rain a kick!!?

the only time to play with the adhesion limits without doing abhorrent speeds.

[jester911]

Yep. Once you start driving your car on track, street driving and even those mountain drives don't fulfill the need. You still enjoy driving on the street but you realize you were not coming close to pushing your car.

[Jon Merck]

Bjorn, I have sat in the seat of my car thinking the same thoughts! Jerry (jester911) hits the nail on the head, do a Drivers Education event. You will be amazed how these +20 year old cars hold their own against modern technology...beware though this is a very slippery slope

[livi]

Originally Posted by ianc

There is a principle behind machines and working parts in general: the harder they are used and the more stress they are subjected to, the less time they will have in such service before they fail.

OTOH, you will now receive 9000 posts telling you that they are 'made for it'. You choose,

ianc

Certainly the truth. I have driven the crap out of more than half a dozen of older SAAB and Volvo, mostly for over 150k miles, and they all endured it well. Sure, good old Ferdinand meant for his babies to be driven like the sports cars they are, but there is no getting around basic physical laws.

Bjorn, are your family from Scandinavia ? Sweden / Norway ? Here it would be spelled with an ö - Björn. Meaning bear. Oh, and yes, I have done my share of garage- and driveway driving..

[jmz]

Every time I start the car it is almost guaranteed that the engine will see red-line that day.

I love to drive the snot out of it. There are limits on the street but I don't pussy foot the car around and I am not concerned about wearing it out. For me it's a toy and nothing else so that's how it gets used. ...it's really more like a go-kart than a car for me.

[JohnKo]

Originally Posted by jester911

Once you start driving your car on track... [you] still enjoy driving on the street but you realize you were not coming close to pushing your car.

+1 and Amen!

[lateapex911]

Drive hard, drive clean, exercise skill, but be responsible. Take excessive risks only when you are the only one that will have to pay if something goes wrong.

Oh, and change the oil regularly!

[84porsche]

Originally Posted by rallyracer

I drove my race car to the hospital in the rain today. Is that a grown up thing to do?

You weren't bleeding or something serious were you?

[Paulporsche]

Acting grown up is overrated.

Driving the car in a spirited, yet non abusive, unsafe manner is the best thing for you and the car.

BTW while you were sitting there w/ the car off, you were making engines noises w/ your mouth, weren't you?

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by Fronnzy

I love the sound of 6800 rpm on the way to starbucks. And I can get to blockbuster and back home in minutes.

We all love the sound of our Porsche's at higher rpm's, but only do so after the car is at normal driving temperature. I don't know how far your Starbucks is, but mine is only four blocks away. I would have to take a long detour to get my car warm enough to hit 6800 rpm. Once warm, damage should not be an issue, then just enjoy the experience (in moderation.)

[makotosun]

Originally Posted by Scooter

. . . . I would have to take a long detour to get my car warm enough to hit 6800 rpm. . . .

I assume this is not some sort of problem......

I find myself taking the long way around whenever I get it the Porsche. Hard to go for groceries, because the milk is always getting warm when I get home!