Said Goodbye to the Targa

[SeaDweller]

Well gang, I said goodbye to my '85 Carrera Targa this past Sunday, so I'm officially Porsche-less. I sold the car for several reasons, the primary one being that I was simply paralyzed by the cars condition; scared to death to drive it, or park it anywhere that it was out of my sight. If any rain showed on the 200 mile Doppler radar, the car stayed home.

I put 1,800 miles on the car in the two years I owned it, and it sat under a cover in the garage the remainder of the time, usually for weeks on end. Partly due to an absolutely crazy travel schedule, but primarly due to paralysis.

I sold it to a really nice Porsche fanatic in Miami who plans to use the car as his daily driver, so I'm happy the car found a good home. It really deserves to be driven, and he drove the car home from here in St. Petersburg, likely putting more miles on it in one night than I did in one year!

Fortunately, I'm not "toyless," as I just picked up a Ducati 900SS, in red of course. I must say that the "Duck" has more than sufficient fun factor, so letting the Porsche go was a relatively painless process.

I'll probably embark on a slow process to buy another Porsche, but I'll have to give some serious thought to what I want. A flared long-hood (RS style) has always appealed to me, or perhaps an early Turbo.

Ah well, on to another part of life........Hopefully I can still attend the local coffee gaterings on my "Duck".......

[Seeeu911]

tough call but sounds like you are at peace with your decision. good luck on the next pcar !

[jbripps]

If you don't mind, what did it go for pricewise?

Best of luck,

[2.7RACER]

Michael,
Pardon me if I sound like a Grandpa, (I am), careful on the Bike. Here in Albuquerque, they just can't seem to see motorcycles in the traffic.

Hopefully in the not too distant future, your work will allow you more time for your toys. Most of us have been through it, money and no time or plenty of time and broke.

Don't work too hard, life is short.

[Type911]

Michael,
Sounds like it went to a good home. Glad someone will
drive it daily. From all the pics you sent me, it really was
a sweet car! Wish it could have come West.


cheers

[drums]

You'll be back. It doesn't take 1,800 miles to get a person hooked.
Let us know when you return to the 'habit' [or is that 'sickness?]!
Drums

[RoyB]

Michael,
Look what I just picked up this past Saturday............But I'm not CRAZY! I kept the Targa too!

[SeaDweller]

Thanks Seeeu911......I'll be back!

jbripps.....It went for $24,500. It was a very special car though. Any pictures represented only about 80% of what the car was like in person. I'll go out on a limb, and say it was easily one of the nicest Targa's in the entire country.

2.7RACER.....I hear you loud and clear!

Type911.....Sure wish you could have seen the car in person!!!

drums....Yes, I'll be back!

RoyB....Nice!!!! I rode bikes for many years, and my last was a 1980 Honda CBX that I sold 20 years ago. I've always wanted a Ducati, so what the heck....I'm afraid to ride a 999, but what I really want is either an '80 Haliwood Replica or the new Paul Smart 1000....

Why are us sports minded folks never happy???

[RoyB]

Whataya mean "never happy"!

When I'm in the P-Car or on one of the bikes I have a S eating grin from ear to ear...........

I would suggest we simply like variety in our propulsion units.....

[Seeeu911]

Originally posted by RoyB


When I'm in the P-Car or on one of the bikes I have a S eating grin from ear to ear...........

I would suggest we simply like variety in our propulsion units.....

agreed ! here is one of my **** eating grin makers...

[Nine9six]

I'm sorry, but that Buell is........a buell.

Here's a little timeless Eyetalyan mix of beauty and function.





Now thats how I spell P R O P U L S I O N

[SeaDweller]

I don't know, I've always liked the raw look of the Buell's. The new Duck Monster SR-4 is the most wicked naked bike to date however. To call it a Monster is an understatement!!

And yes, the venerable 748, one of the best sport bikes of all time!

To keep this a Porsche topic, do any of you guys track your cars? How 'bout the bike?

[Seeeu911]

The Buell is like my Carrera, lots of fun without going too fast... This is limited edition 1998 White Lighting...built before the Unionized HD techs destroyed Buell's reputation by deliberately assembling engines to fail. They did that to force Buell back to a Union shop. It worked. ..and gave Buell engines rep for unreliability. I like mine just fine. One day it will be worth big money.
Duc's are sexy, a little dainty and girly man lke..but..I have 2004 999 also, for when I really really need to scare myself, its currently in re-assy from a powder coating fetish I have. The fastest bike I have ever ridden is Honda XX Blackbird, stealth Gentleman's Express.

I do track the Duc...not the Buell..she's a poseuer and bike night ride. The Carrera is my daily driver.

[hkspwrsche]

Too bad Porsche or Bmw dont build sport bikes... You know to keep it all german....


I guess If I had a 5 series bimmer I could buy one of those cruiser bikes bmw makes.. nahh

[Seeeu911]

Does that pic help with Porsche content ?
Riding a race bred Ducati on the street is problematic. My 999 makes power in all the wrong places for cruising. The ergo are only good for getting to a regular clip on twisty back road.
The Buell has diff ergos, more upright and you are able to see traffic. Like my 911 the Buell is a great daily driver, usable street power where you can wack it and have the visceral rush and sounds without really going all that fast. Crack the Duc wide open and I’m in jail. Sort of like driving F40 as a commuter car.

[SeaDweller]

I was looking at Ducati's at a shop in Phoenix, when the 999 had just hit the showroom. I went back to talk with the tech's about it, and the tech manager told me that it's a state-of-the-art superbike, but not quite enjoyable for riding around town, albeit much better than previous Ducati's. My 900SS for example is very tempermental in town, but on the highway it's glorious!

He said if you want a bike that has the most fun factor for city driving, buy a Buell M-2 and put the 1200 kit on it. He said it will walk along with just about anything when it comes to simply rolling the trottle because of the torque. A good 750CC Japanese Four will smoke my 900SS in a pure drag race, but I'll leave most anything in the dust in a top gear roll-on.

Completely different power delivery, but I'm now addicted to the torque of the Ducati.

[Nine9six]

Originally posted by SeaDweller
I was looking at Ducati's at a shop in Phoenix, when the 999 had just hit the showroom. I went back to talk with the tech's about it, and the tech manager told me that it's a state-of-the-art superbike, but not quite enjoyable for riding around town, albeit much better than previous Ducati's. My 900SS for example is very tempermental in town, but on the highway it's glorious!

He said if you want a bike that has the most fun factor for city driving, buy a Buell M-2 and put the 1200 kit on it. He said it will walk along with just about anything when it comes to simply rolling the trottle because of the torque. A good 750CC Japanese Four will smoke my 900SS in a pure drag race, but I'll leave most anything in the dust in a top gear roll-on.

Completely different power delivery, but I'm now addicted to the torque of the Ducati.

I dont want to burst your bubble, but a good 600cc Japanese bike will smoke your 900SS in a drag race.
But drag racing is for girly men. Manly men stick to the twisties, or head out to the track.
Its that linear, seamless torque delivery of your Duc that enables it to roll on hard outta the corners, and stay somewhat close to the inline 4, 600cc bikes. Gotta love a V twin.

[Seeeu911]

Nine9six..your appreciation of my Buell...is ... appreciated I just love the torque 110rwhp and almost the same in torque means stand up wheelies are the norm and oh yea immediate power delivery down low and slow.
what track schools have you run ? I am hoping to get to Barber this summer.

SeaDweller thanks for hijacking your own thread. dont ever sell the 900s just dont.

[vash]

i love the look of buells, but i dont want to have to buy any kit for any bike just to get it to keep up with a new out of the box japanese 600. i rolled a F4i out of my garage the other day, and that damn thing just fired up. it has sat for a very long time. fresh gas, new battery. i want a ducati sportbike but it just doenst fit my life right now. i need something more long distance friendly.

as for the carrera sale, congrats. too bad you "saved" it for the next guy. get another one soon, and get it to a track. so much fun, i bet you butcher the next garage queen to save weight

[SeaDweller]

I don't plan to sell the 900SS.....I waited far to long to buy another bike, and looked a long, long time for this one. I searched for this specific model and year ('95-98), because it's one of the most elegant sport bikes Ducati has ever built in my personal opinon.



And by the way, regarding an earlier comment, BMW does make some amazing bikes these days!!