Average life of 911 interest?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I've wanted one since I was a kid. It still gives me chills to think I own one. I guess in some weird way, I've "made it". At least by my 8-year-old standards from years gone by. . .

Given how utterly soulless "modern" cars are by comparison (with no change in sight), I suspect I'll love my 911 until death do us part.

[The Gaijin]

Since 1971. But my interest did wane when they came out with the 964..

[Les Paul]

After owning the 930 for so many years I thought I had exactly the way I wanted it. Now I've decided to go back to Fuchs and possibly go with a renaire retrofit AC. When I got the 356 16 years ago I just had to make it into an Outlaw. Now I'm ready to turn it back into what it originally looked like. I'm glad I kept the bumpers. So those are my projects for the next couple of years. Then I'll be retired and I don't know what I might want to do.

[grudk]

17 Yrs for me. Pretty sure I'll always have one in one form or another

I think the air-cooled guys tend to be more 'hardcore' fans, and this may just be a factor of time (the non-loyal people have been filtered out already). Plenty of 'lifers' in this group now

I suspect that for most new 911 owners, it's just another 'luxury sports car,' equivalent to BMW, Mercedes, etc. Probably true when the air-cooled cars were new, too. In time, there may be a 'hardcore' 996 and 997 following, esp for the GT3

I have tried the other marques, but every time I drive a 911, it delivers something the others can't. And the earlier the car, the more I have enjoyed the 'purity' (or perhaps 'raw-ness') of the experience.

[Noah930]

As a couple others have mentioned, I'm another one of those who has had a love for 911s since I was a toddler. So, if it took me 25+ years to finally get one, and I'm still as enamoured with it now (as a daily driver) as I was the day I picked it up 2.5 yrs ago, I'm guessing that unless something catastrophic happens, I'll be hanging on to it for the rest of my days. Like Tobra wrote: depends on how long I live.

[sand_man]

It is so tough to say. Those that know me on these boards and that *other* site (Rennlist), know that I drive my 930, daily. The car has been a true joy to own and wrench on; it has become a serious passion of mine. However, the 930 is a very selfish endeavor for me. My wife (not a car person) loathes it. She doesn't understand why I've given up more modern cars that I've owned (Audi A6, Passat 4-Motion, GTI VR6, etc.) to drive this thing. She doesn't drive a stick and has no desire to let me teach her. Needless to say, the Porsche is entirely my gig.

A few weeks ago, I nearly threw in the proverbial towel and worked a deal/trade on a 2004 BMW M3 with the SMG transmission. Something sporty that we could both enjoy. I wasn't even bitter or upset about it. I figured it was time to move on and do right by my family with more "practical" transportation. After she witnessed just how easy I could walk away from the Porsche, and that I do consider it just another form of transportation (albeit an amazing one), she cooled her jets and told me to just keep it. Plus I think she realizes just how much sweat I have in that receipts folder of mine.

[the]

Excellent question! I often wonder about it myself.

My first 911 was right around 25 years ago. I had a crazy passion for them. During the college/grad schools I didn't have one because it didn't make much sense, I was too focused on school, career and co-eds, which didn't leave a lot of time for fussing with a car. I thought I'd probably never get back into them.

But immediately upon graduating, I got another 911, and have had at least one Porsche (usually 2, sometimes more) in the garage ever since.

While I've always had them over all these years, my interest has come and gone. A lot of those years were heavy wrenching, projects, PCA events, Autox, concours, etc. Most were a lot less. But a minimum level of interest is always there. Still get Panorama, Excellence, etc. and read them cover to cover each month. Still own the cars and enjoy them, although not used as daily drivers anymore.

I've come to the realization that I am going to be a "lifer," at least at some level.

Interestingly, I am totally imprinted on the models from my youth, though. That'd be mostly from the 80's, bit of '70s. I have little to no interest in anything after '89. Even the 993 doesn't interest me (I know it's a great car, etc., just doesn't interest me). Certainly anything aircooled, no interest. I like looking at something like a 997 GT-3, but have no desire to own one, oddly.

[pmajka]

34 yrs dreaming
3 yrs living the dream

[teenerted1]

well it took me 38yrs of life to get my first one. at 40 i now have two. but with a one car garage i think one will be enough.

luckily the one that is staying is the one i have been drooling for since i was first old enough to see over the dash on the family's old bug. was able to drive that for a couple of years in high school fantasizing about having two extra cylinders in the back.

now i am living the p-car dream and don't plan on ever waking up again. old air cooled cars rule.

[David]

My current age minus the first time I saw one at about 5 yo. Everytime I think about other sports cars I'd like to have, I realize I'd just like to add another 911 to the collection.

[RANDY P]

5 years and counting. I waver between selling it, but then I drive it and decide I want to keep it -

Funny, how I got into one was trying to get away from dumping stupid amounts of money into cars. I just decided if I was going to build something I'd make it a 911-

just got my 1970 LeMans ***With 462 CID*** running the other day. Truth be told, I'm really a domestic hot rod guy who has an interest in 911's.


I like to fool with Chevy's, Pontiacs, BMW's Mercedes, whatever. I'm a hobbyist by nature. It's just whatever I feel like being into is what I do. Sometimes (like August) I go crazy on the 911 and just start doing things to it. This prefious month was the Pontiac - wrenched on it every day for about a month straight. I just like cool cars..

LeMans is running, lowered, aligned, and now it's just interior and stupid various electrical problems and a proper built rearend. Engine is estimated over 450HP and over 500 Ft. LBS. of torque.

The dance will go on, looking for an 84 GMC truck next to hack up

[72doug2,2S]

Porsche, there is no substitute. I look occasionally but no, there is no substitute.

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by the

Excellent question!

I've come to the realization that I am going to be a "lifer," at least at some level.

Interestingly, I am totally imprinted on the models from my youth, though. That'd be mostly from the 80's, bit of '70s. I have little to no interest in anything after '89. Even the 993 doesn't interest me (I know it's a great car, etc., just doesn't interest me). Certainly anything aircooled, no interest. I like looking at something like a 997 GT-3, but have no desire to own one, oddly.

+1 to all of the above - saved me a lot of typing

[nut11]

Forever... It's more than an assemblage of parts and internal combustion; it's my touchstone. I guess I'm a bit obsessive about it. 6 years and still going...

87 blk coupe

[id10t]

My Dad never really got into the 911s... he had a '63 356 that was totaled in '65 and bought what is now my 356C to replace it. He grudgingly started looking at 911s in '84 and in '88 bought a '84 turbo look coupe to "replace" the 356, even though he never really drove much. When he did drive, he drove the 356 more often, until his ALS (lou gherig dis.) made it impossible to work the 911 clutch, and then he was done driving the 356 a few weeks later for the same reason.


I think now you'll find 2 kinds of folks - those that want the latest/greatest every so often, and those who have found perfection in what they purchased 5, 10, 20, or 42 years ago... That second group has a subset, where there will be more cars, many newer/newest etc. but they will always have that one classic at least, if not that specific car then one of the same era/generation.

[jjwood]

I've had air cooled for 35 yrs, added a Boxster in 2004. I need both. My '71 911 Wide One (been with me for 'bout 20yrs) is now relegated to fun use only, while the Boxster has made a great daily driver. Where to next? A wooden box in the rear of a hearse.

[trj911]

34 years and going strong!

[FastCarFan]

I fell in love with 911s in the early '80s while watching a couple autocross -- an orange '73 911S & a lime green '74 Carrera in particular. I knew then that I had to own one someday. It took me almost 20 years to finally buy one.

I bought mine in early 2001 & I can't imagine ever selling it. Heck, rather than selling it I would love to buy a couple more, like an orange '72 or '73, and a 993 C2S, a vintage race 911....If anything, I love 911s even more today than when I bought mine. I just wish I had the $ to do the things I want to do to it. Suspension, seats, wider Fuchs....a slippery slope indeed.

One of the things I love about my Carrera is you have to drive it. It rewards driver skill. No power steering, ABS, traction control, etc. And it is so rewarding to drive hard -- it loves it! It is a pure driver's car.

[Laneco]

How long? From the first drive and through the rest of my life.

When I dream, the fast cars all sound like an air-cooled six.

angela

[89911]

If your buying it for something other then your own interest, the length of you keeping it may be brief. My Dad owned a 356, 912, and a 911 when I was growing up (66-72?). Sold them and I always missed them. Needless to say, it left an impression on my brother and I, since we now both own 911's I've had mine now for 8 years and will never part with it. My kids would never let me. Funny how things come full circle.