imagine how cheap life would be if you were not a car aficionado?

[Brillo]

Originally Posted by masraum

what i need is more of a one-track mind so i'd only have 1 interest.

+1

[gprsh924]

I would just spend more money on my other expensive hobbies: water skiing, snow skiing, and golf.

[Looking_for_911]

I broke up with what could have possibly been the best girlfriend I ever had or would have. She loved me more than anyone I have ever known.

But she was not "in to" Anything I liked.

A Porsche was just a car. A Key West Sunset was just dark coming on. A 5-pound lobster was just something to eat. Single malt Scotch was just something to give me a buzz. The Art Deco hotels in Miami were just buildings.

Miami. We took a trip to the Keys. Down there two week. She liked the sailing - because I was there. That's how she was about most stuff. She didn't have feelings for anything but because I was there she went along with it.

Anyway, Miami. Coming back home from the trip I took her through Miami Beach. Sitting at a red light, to my right, in four parking spaces there were two Lamborghinis, a Ferrari 550 and a GT3. I was ohhing and ahhhing over the cars, discussing what they were worth, how fast they were. She was bored stiff, then she said it, "They're just cars."

To me this confirmed what I had been thinking for a long time. We didn't have the same interests. Except one place. That's about all we had. Sex was fantastic. But that won't sustain a relationship.

It wasn't long after that we called it off.

edit: she didn't have any passions outside of the bedroom. and she was so negative about most everything else as well. the negativity really became more than i could handle.

[vash]

my wife is not passionate about cars, or any of my hobbies. 95% of the time, i consider this a good thing.

she has her own passions.


i met a man with a car lift at his home. i was jogging by, and stopped, mouth gaping. he gave me a tour. stunning. the dude spent thousands on his car shop. basically to make a $19.99 oil change easier. and you know what? i fully understand. i want a a modest home, on a sprawling property, with a separate car shop. a car shop big enough for me to pull a trailer in and do a u-turn.. 25,000 oil changes later, and it would have paid for itself..

[David]

I'd have a lot more money in the bank and probably a much nicer house, but I wouldn't be happier.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

My room mate is the guy vash describes. He has a gun habit that makes my car habit look cheap. I guess we all have our vices.

Yep. Unfortunately, i have both habits.

[notfarnow]

For me, being a car nut pays for itself.

Doing my own work allows me to run a nice older car ('99 Benz) very cheaply, and an ultra-cheap daily driver for Mrs Notfarnow.

A couple weeks ago the brakes on my benz started squeeling, and I was really busy so I took it to the shop, thinking I'd bite the bullit and have them do it. Quote was $930 for two new calipers (seized) and new pads. Screw that, I ordered the caliper repair kits ($22/side) and the good brake pads $60, and did all the work in 3 hours for ~$100.

When Mrs Notfarnow needed a good reliable daily driver, I was able to pick up a $1000 1998 Honda civic that needed rear shocks, two brake lines and a heater fan. I'm in $1400 and it's probably one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned. Looks great too, and she loves it.

In fact, when I compare what we spend on cars in the last two years to what our friends and family spend, we are friggin miserly. Between the MB and the Honda, we spent ~16k. If I decided to sell them, we'd get maybe 10-11k for the benz and 2k for the Honda. Compare that to what our friends pay for new Accords, Pilots, Envoys... and then figure the depreciation!

When I sit down and figure how much we save, it makes it pretty easy to justify going out and buying a decent but tatty 964 Carrera4 for 16-17k. Almost sensible, really

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by t951

Since we are talking about expensive hobbies and someone has already mentioned bicycles....

Why the obsession with grams of weight on a bike? I get it if you are in 100% PERFECT physical condition, but if you are 1lb heavier than you could be than all of the obessesion and cost seems wasted....

Thanks,
t.

Actually, I agree with you. Lighter isn't always better on a bike any more than it is on a car. After all, no matter how light the part is, it still needs to FINISH the race. The guy with the super light busted wheel finishes LAST or doesn't finish at all. A few more grams in critical parts often makes them much stronger. You frequently see a guy (or in my case - a gal) who could stand to loose 20 lbs riding a 16 pound road bike. WTF? I think we need to ride a huffy for a while and shed those extra personal pounds THEN switch back to the light bike - LOL!

I do 24 hour mountain bike races. I pick my equipment with great deliberation. It needs to be light, but more importantly, it must be durable and standard configurations. If you break something that is a totally unique part, you're going to ride your backup back for the rest of the 24 hour race or finish carrying what you broke.

There's a real well known racer in the 24 hour circuit who cuts the chamois out of his shorts to save weight. Then rides for 24 freakin' hours at the speed of light with no chamois (padding) at all! GAHHHH!!

Fuhgedabout it. Hand me that extra padded pair of shorts and don't be shy with the bag balm! - LOL!

angela

[exc911ence]

If I didn't have the Porsche, I'd have just used that money to buy more motorcycles... I'd be no farther ahead financially.

Oh how is that the same thing?!?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by legion

Being without a Porsche for 11 months has made me feel rich!

That, and quitting booze...now, the money just piles up in my checking account until I invest it. Then it goes away!

[Axeman]

Originally Posted by aigel

Most people drive newer cars. Buy them new, sell them 3 years later and start over because they are scared of cars out of warranty or over 100k miles. They usually have a car note, always paying $400+ a month. They can not service their car if their life depended on it. These people spend as much money on cars as us regular Joe old Porsche owners. They have a lot less fun doing it.

Georg

I agree a lot of people ask me how I can afford a Porsche and I look at what they drive. One of them pays $700 a month for a lease on G35, another one just bought a small VW SUV thing for $25k and makes $470/mo payments, etc. I tell them that my 911 cost me less than what people spend buying a new Honda Accord.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Laneco

Actually, I agree with you. Lighter isn't always better on a bike any more than it is on a car. After all, no matter how light the part is, it still needs to FINISH the race. The guy with the super light busted wheel finishes LAST or doesn't finish at all. A few more grams in critical parts often makes them much stronger. You frequently see a guy (or in my case - a gal) who could stand to loose 20 lbs riding a 16 pound road bike. WTF? I think we need to ride a huffy for a while and shed those extra personal pounds THEN switch back to the light bike - LOL!

I do 24 hour mountain bike races. I pick my equipment with great deliberation. It needs to be light, but more importantly, it must be durable and standard configurations. If you break something that is a totally unique part, you're going to ride your backup back for the rest of the 24 hour race or finish carrying what you broke.

There's a real well known racer in the 24 hour circuit who cuts the chamois out of his shorts to save weight. Then rides for 24 freakin' hours at the speed of light with no chamois (padding) at all! GAHHHH!!

Fuhgedabout it. Hand me that extra padded pair of shorts and don't be shy with the bag balm! - LOL!

angela

It is just one of those thing every gram geeks gotta to do unti things go kaboom. I use to drill out brake levers and chain rings on Campy Super Record stuff. cut my handle bars shorter just to save weight. That's only on race day. I remember doing the doing the District Road Race as my last junior year, I cross a wheel going up hill (I know, stupid youth, and dumb) and crashed. Busted my home drilled front brake lever. I would have kept going but there were a lot of crazy down hill riding that day. I learned my lesson well. You sure don't see a lot of light high tech stuff in Paris Roubaix. Pretty much standard stuff that they have using for ages (wheels).

[Bill Douglas]

The only thing siller than owing a 911 is owing a boat.

After having become interested in guns since all the talk on this BBS from you guys I've been spending quite a bit of time at a gun club. The guys come in with a new gun and say defensively "It cost.... but it's a really nice...." I think "bargain - cheaper than a track weekend."

[Christien]

Originally Posted by legion

Being without a Porsche for 11 months has made me feel rich!

I don't get it. Being without a Porsche (or some other fun car) for 11 months would make me feel poor. Hell, I get itchy when it goes away for 6 months in the winter. There's more (much more) to life than money.

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

I too cannot understand how some people can be so oblivious of cars. I don't necessarily blame them, it's just that my gear-head fails to fathom their lack of lust for the 4 wheel form!

Yep, I agree 100%. I was talking with a friend and 964 owner the other day. He said "I couldn't ever not have one of these" in that tone that says he doesn't have to explain - I get it.

Originally Posted by speeder

Interesting topic to me, I've spent a bit of time pondering this. Hobbies and interests can add a lot to life and they can also take a lot. Balance is the key but who has that?

It's quite tough, but I try my best. Fortunately, I love playing with my kids as much as I love playing with the car, so that balance is easy. It's balancing work in there that's difficult. I make my own hours (self-employed) so I have to be disciplined about it. Come to think of it, I should stop f##king around on PPOT...