Selling project - thanks for everything

[cds72911]

Hi all,

Unfortunatley the time has come and I am selling my Porsche project. Our baby is due in a couple of weeks and after a lot of consideration I'm giving the Porsche up and moving on to another phase of my life.

I know the Pelican BBS is the first place I always look for stuff, so I thought I'd post the project here first. See the classifieds if you have any interest.

I guess I won't have as much need to come here once this all sells. So before I go back to the "reading only mode", I wanted to say "Thank you" for all of the great information you've shared with me and the help you given me over the last year or so.

Thanks,
Charlie

[Leland Pate]

Well I for one wish you the best of luck in whatever paths you choose!


A P-car pales in comparison to loved ones and family.
Best of luck to you!

[TimB]

I bought my car when our kid was 7 months old. The key is to not have a Project car, but one you can get in and drive when you don't have the family with you.
I haven't had time to put the 930 steering wheel or the bra on, or properly clean it, or to polish the Fuchs, or... but I do get to drive it!

[Jim Sims]

When the time came to buy a house and have children I had to stop flying. I never regretted the decision but I'll always remember the call letters of the 152 I soloed in and I still have the shirt without the tail. They'll be Porsches or something else that you can come back to in the future. Remember to love people and use things. Cheers! Jim

[carnut169]

Charlie- Congrats on the new baby!! You guys must be so excited. I wouldn't worry too much about the 911- there will always be another one. Keep reading the board and by the time you son/ daughter gets a few years old you can buy another project (or a running car) and you will be an expert!

[campbellcj]

Congrats on the baby!

Honestly...babies don't cost much, in direct terms. Assuming you have some savings/insurance to cover the inital birth costs, that is. In fact we have been so fortunate in terms of insurance benefits, gifts & comps (wife is an MD) that about all we have paid for is diapers and a little food. Plus I fired up a college plan a few months ago but with 17 years to go, that is not a huge cashflow hit. [Start early.]

HOWEVER...since my little micro-dude Logan was born on 7/25/01, I must admit I have barely been able to work on the cars. Between my crazy job and the family stuff, I am plenty busy, and in my off time I would much rather be driving than wrenching on cars or doing household BS. So you make your choices and in my case that means hiring help. Maids, nannies, mechanics, plumbers, accountants, and so forth...whatever it takes to leave you with more "quality time".

Buying back time - now that does get expensive. Worth it IMHO.

The advice to find a reliable, affordable, complete car is echoed here. I have done the major resto thing and gotten it out of my system. My next project will not be so grandiose and will involve simply incrementally finishing/tuning and driving the car, as opposed to building/restoring.

Also...that thing about buying a house, well that IS serious stuff! Especially here in California. I am trying to find a way to pull it off myself right now -- we need to get into at least a 4BR with a decent yard -- and if I have to temporarily (very temporarily) get out of p-cars to do it, then I sure as heck will!

Of course, the next humble abode will have at least a 2-3 car garage and lots of workbench & storage space!

Anyways, sorry for rambling. Congrats again and good luck!

[cegerer]

I had a near 15-year hiatus between 911's due to most of the aforementioned reasons! I thought it would be a 5-year hiatus. Warning: It gets easier and easier to find 'good' reasons for not buying another one. Don't wait 15 years. -- Curt

[jluetjen]

We all have to do what we have to do. Campbellcj is right, the out of pocket costs of a child are far less then a 911. You also get a tax deduction! Being a parent is awsome.

By the way, I bought my first Porsche (a 944) after my wife became pregnant with our first and traded that for the 911 when she was pregnant with our second. My wife considered both good deals since I sold the full race ITB Mazda in order to buy the 944.

My oldest loved riding in the 944 and now always asks for a ride in the "Silly Red Bug". It's kind of like the ad that Porsche was running on Speedvision a while ago.

The bottom line is that 911's are not incompatable with families as long as you keep the spending and workshop time in check.

Good Luck!

[cds72911]

Thanks for the thoughts and congratulations! I am so excited that we're having our baby. I can't wait.

The car is fun, but family is top priority with me. There will be other cars, but as you have suggested I suspect I will look for more of a driver and less of a project for my next 911.

Overall, the "free time" factor is what I have lost and expect to lose even more of as our family grows. As much as I loved the project and fixate on it at times I don't see finishing it any time in the near future. For me this kind of project is all labor and labor takes time. I guess I'd just rather spend the quality time with my wife and kids than be in the garage at this stage of my life.

Thanks for all of the nice thoughts. Please don't feel like I'm looking for sympathy, I am not upset about it or anything - heck, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world - I just wanted to say goodbye and thanks since the Pelican BBS and you guys have been an important part of my educational experience. I'll keep reading occasionally, just to keep informed and see where you are all at.

Good luck with all of your cars and projects (and families).

(Keep safe Leland!)

Charlie

[orbmedia]

Originally posted by cds72911
I guess I'd just rather spend the quality time with my wife and kids than be in the garage at this stage of my life.

That is really sad. What has happened to our society where such a thing would happen?

[Pillow]

Just to play devils advocate.... Keep the 911!

I have an 8 month old daughter and I still have free time in the garage. Just not in long chunks like I used to. You have to fit in an hour or two a night after the women folk are tucked into bed

Mama stays at home and we can still easily keep the 911 as a garage queen and sunny day cruiser... Granted my cold start valve is pooped out so I need to fix that soon.

Hell I maintain 4 cars (three old crappy ones - yah that includes the 911) and still have some, but not much, free time.

... Just something to think about

Also it looks like Logan is becoming popular. A guy I work with had a son around the same time and named him Logan!

Happy and Safe Journeys,

[Joe911]

Charlie -
I also gave up my first Porsche for my new son in 1982. Sold a perfectly good 1970 911E Targa. Life goes on and comes back around. In 1998 I acquired a 1984 Carrera and the 1969 911S in 2000. Now my son helps me work on them - when he is not out with his girlfriend!!!
Best of luck and happy parenthood. It is the only thing that surpasses porshehood. They both can get more expensive as they get older too.