Too Attached?

[autobonrun]

I look at the beautiful condition of the cars in this forum and am reminded of all the work that's gone into them. For those of you that have traded one Porsche (in perfectly good condition at the time) in for another Porsche, I'd like to know how you kept from becomming too attached to your original car and what finally convinced you to trade. I must have changed from 'sell' to 'keep' 20 times with my 79SC. After 18 years, I feel I grew up with mine and can't bring myself to sell it. I desperately want to get a 993 but the only way I'd have room in my garage is to get rid of my 79 or put it in storage, and storage cost is too high. I've even considered expanding my garage. How many others are too attached to their present cars to trade? If they just fell apart, the decision would be easy, but maintained Porsche cars just don't do that. Also, how many years have you owned your present Porsche?

[9XI]

It's going to be hard to sell the ol' '69 when it comes time. So many memories. Truly an old friend that I grew up with.

That being said, my son (2 years old) absolutely loves it. It must go before he gets so attached to it that he talks me into giving it to him (8-10 years max). IMHO, 911s are too much for teens. And if he is going to want to drive "daddy's car," I'd rather he drive a 993. At least if he takes it to 140, the car is less likely to blow up and kill him -- he might live through it.

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1969 911S Targa
1999 Eurovan Camper

[Superman]

Autobon: Expand your garage. The '79 is the 'project' car you've always known you'd have.

9XI: Correct. Porsches are not for teens. Certainly not for male teens. I've been a big fan of motoring since I was very small and a student of human behavior as an adult. And on this issue I am intractable. Porsches are not for male teens.

FWIW, a recent study of brain activity in age groups showed that an area of the brain associated with understanding personal risk which is active in adults, is nearly activity-free in teens. I'm 43 and though I'm clearly in much better control of myself and my environment than when I was 19, I am terrified of some things that did not seem to pose any risk back then.

I cannot imagine ever selling my car. First, it is my first Porsche, and is quite a beautiful and comfortable car. Strong too. Second, it will never have enough value to make selling a serious temptation.

No, if I got another car, it would have to be a garage queen because it would have a hard time getting me out of my comfortable-like-a-glove Smokey Quarts Metallic cutie.

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'83 SC

[Dave951M]

Of note here concerning brain activity in 19 year old males- ever wonder why the military has so many of them?

I rarely let my sons (16 & 18) drive my 951, and only then with me in the pass seat. They don't see what turbo lag can lead to. The daughter (12) likes it because it's cute.

Dave951M
Carolinas Region PCA

[Jack Olsen]

I have a very hard time selling my cars. I even miss the crappy Toyota Tercel I drove in school. I've got a Jeep CJ7 I've had for almost ten years, now. It's the least-used of my three cars, and I've been promising my girlfriend I'd sell it ever since I got the 911. Today, somebody left a note on the windshield saying they want to buy it... and I don't know if I want to call the guy back.

I'm considering replacing my old Jaguar with something that's less conspicuous (like a leased BMW or Volvo), but the only way I think I'd do it is if I could find a cheap long-term storage facility to retire the car to. It's at a very low point in its depreciation curve, and it seems foolish to sell it now for five or six grand.

Anyone know of a remote place that offers reasonable long-term car storage? The Jeep and the Jaguar would be a lot of fun to bring out of retirement in 30 years, and their appreciation might even cover the storage costs. It seems like this would be a good use for a dry part of the California or Nevada desert, maybe underground.

Has anyone ever heard of something like this?

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist home page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

[RarlyL8]

The decision to sell my last 911 was not too difficult. The car was a '73T targa that I built from a shell and parts in boxes (VERY long story). I took the car as far as it should go power-wise. My mechanic advised me to get a non-sunroof SC if I wanted an affordable platform to build power and evolve with.
The rest is history.

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Any curve, any time ...
'78SC 965 GT2 Look