What do I do about the 40 year thing?

[billybek]

Kevin,
You want to hear a real midlife story?
In the last year I went from being divorced (but dating my now wife), living alone, working a lot to being married, having a child (My first at 45) and buying a 911.
I waited too long for the 911! Everything else, the timing was perfect!
Work to live!!!!

[Seahawk]

I've owned a Porsche in every decade of my life since I turned 20. I have always bought used, stayed in the 912 (that would be my 20's car, a beautiful GR '68) or 911 vein. I am 51 and will be looking again soon after my 964 Targa was totaled.

Older Porsche's are the antithesis of a mid life crisis. Style never goes out of style, regardless of your age.

[ljowdy]

I"m 60 and bought my current car (1973 911) at age 59. This wasn't my first Porsche as I previously owned a 2002 996, a 1975 911S, 1972 911S, 1968 912 and a 1965 356C.

I went from 1979 to 2003 without owning a Porsche but, between 1975 and 1984 I drove cars for Porsche (picked up Porsche's in Ann Arbor, MI from the EPA) and drove them back to Calif) fortunately, I was able to keep most of those cars until my next trip)

I didn't like the 996 but I will say that it was fast, handled well, comfortable, had great A/C, shifted great and looked good but, it wasn't air cooled and just didn't have the sound and rugged driving experience that an early car delivers. I'll probably keep this car long enough to will it to one of my kids.

Bottom line, if it's what you want then don't let the lady friends or your aunt talk you out of the car. I don't think anyone is going to think you're "Leisure Suit Larry" if you drive a Porsche at age 40

[davidbir]

I too bought mine at sixty-waited 20 or more years too long! Some good advice above--This is a great time for a Canadian to buy a Porsche-check Craigs list for California and make a holiday of it... Life is for indulging!

[Canada Kev]

Wow, thanks for all the input. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less.

Life does seem to be accelerating pace rapidly, and so much time is spent working or tweaking a career. In my (more) youth, motorcycles were my chosen form of stress relief. After some jackass ran me over I haven't replaced the last one. Not that I haven't got back in the saddle, as I have ridden thousands of miles on other's bikes. Although I have tried many sports since, nothing I have found works quite as good.

One time in particular I was experiencing some higher than normal levels of stress and was cranky and irritable. So I just told my boss that I was going out for a ride and I just up and left. When I returned, my demeanor was so dramatically changed that my boss (who did have some experience in this, BTW) asked if I had gone out to have a puff on some laughing lettuce. Possibly because I never touch the stuff, or maybe because even Rick noticed my major shift in mood, this has always stuck in my mind. Maybe doctors should prescribe this sort of therapy for stress relief. The car or bike, not the pot.

Anyway, thanks again for all your input.

-kevin

[dfk911sc]

[Jim727]

Originally Posted by syzygy

Every 911 that I have driven has left me with a dumbass grin of pleasure.

-kevin

Didn't you answer your own question?

[Ole Petter]

The car itself is just one part of Porsche ownership. Join a club and seek out local members! You will find new friends with uh, interesting interests!? like oil, adrenalin, ever noisier and more powerful engines, how to shed weight from one's car, high performance tyres, trackdays and such. Wide grins and loud laughter is included!
Give your friends a ride and any thoughts of "nice suits will evaporate" - they will soon enough find that these are serious drivers cars and that the ride can be like a rollercoaster's... Somewhat frightful but oh so fun!
And of course there are various forums available, this one here beeing the most friendly and knowledgeable.

As you, I love riding a bike, but arthrosis in the lower back saw an end to that. My '75 S is a good substitute in many ways and has a superior soundtrack. My friends love it, and one in of them is looking for a...
Yes, we all know it is a drug! Dr. Porsche's 911 is something addictive.

Join the club! Take the leap of joy!

[GH85Carrera]

Ignore the nay sayers. Buy your 911 and enjoy it. Join PCA and get active in your local region. There are a bunch of nice folks that share your interests. Most important is buy a nice car to start with. Participate in the autocross events and really learn to drive the car.

My wife's friends always ask her if I bought my Porsche because of a mid life crisis. She tells them I have owned Porsches since long before we even met.

[Pkaaso]

"It's not a club... It's a GANG!" A strange and wonderful, great-people filled GANG!!!

You will only regret what you DON'T do.

[jwernquist]

It's funny how everyone is afraid of their wives, a good wife should be supportive even if you have 4 porsche's you just have to build one for her! heheh

JW

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Pkaaso

"It's not a club... It's a GANG!" A strange and wonderful, great-people filled GANG!!!

You will only regret what you DON'T do.

+1

Our local "gang" has been a big part of my life for more years than I want to admit. True friends that I would never have met if not for the local PCA region. Our gang has been fortunate enough to donate many thousands of dollars as a club to charity on a regular basis. We have donated over to 10 grand in the last few years. We have many events each month. My favorite is the autocross, the second Sunday of each month Jan to Dec.

[Gene Smith]

13 years ago just when most of my friends were jumping head first into the dot-com stock market I bought a beautiful 1969 911S and a 32' Pearson sailboat. Most of my friends thought I had lost my mind... The S is now worth SIX times what I paid for it (and I drive it often) and the Pearson... I just got home from sailing her all weekend. Sometimes when I'm banzai-ing to the coast in the 911 to take a little sail I want to pinch myself. If you can pay cash and not waste money on a loan go for it. You will never regret owning a 911!

[burgermeister]

You won't live forever. If the bank account can support it (and it is expensive - plan on a few K per year for maintenance and rejoice if you don't need it), do it! If not now, then when?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by billybek

I think that is why he asked us!!! Always go to where the correct answers (for you) can be found!
I bought mine last year, with a very strong dollar. My now wife was very supportive.
I would have given at least one of my kidneys in high school for an SC or maybe both for an early 930, so we are close in age. I loved the fade turbo graphics on the back of those early cars...
Oh, and I have news for you. You have been middle age for quite some time now, (most men only live to their mid 70s) so don't waste anymore time and get out there and find the car of your dreams... (Don't forget the PPI)

Yea, asking the folks on this board that question is akin to asking a barber "Do I need a haircut" The good news is the answers is the same, YES, you NEED a 911.

[jwetering]

Mid life has nothing to do with it. You want a Porsche for all of the right reasons and there is no better time. You've bloody well earned it.

I'm 43 now, bought my first Porsche at the age of 32. Once in a while I'd run into someone who would suggest that I was going through some sort of "early" mid life crisis. I pretty much told them to fcuk off. Not to put too fine a point on it.

I find it kind of an insult for someone to suggest I like my Porsches for any reason other than those that keep me coming to this site every day.

[FenderBender]

Go for it, you only live once.
My father passed away at age 62 one of his regrets was he never bought him self a red Corvette.
Shortly after we purchased our Harley fat Boy and now our Porsche. Life is short!!

P.S. My son calls my 911 Mid-life crisis yellow.

[911JC911]

Drink the Porsche 'Kool Aid'.....like many have stated, life is better when you drive a 911. Doesn't matter what year or configuration....the 911 DNA is in all of them. I was one of those kids with the 911 poster on the wall, the dreams of owning one when I got out of school etc. I would stare at each one I saw. I still stare...but the good thing is now I get to stare at my own too. Plus I can share it with my kids.

[Poohsan]

Mid life crises is of course from each persons point of view. Given the life expectancy of my family I am at my “mid life” now at 35 years. I’m actually past it! With that said. Consider this stage of your life a correction not a crisis! You have decided to make a step in a new direction it is not good or bad just different. Your friends will understand once they go for a drive. If not, well they have there own car.

Best of luck,
Arron

[jwetering]

Well that's it eh? For someone to suggest you are in a *crisis* situation because of your age doesn't at all acknowledge the fact that a) you like cars b) you like fine engineering c) you've reached the point in your life where you can afford the time and $ to indulge in a new hobby.

Fact is you're (hopefully) at an age also where not many people are telling you what you can and can't do. One thing is for sure....at 40 you are no longer a kid.