Fast and fun first year of ownership!
 

I used to think I would drive BMW's forever. My first car was an '80 320i, the next an '85 635CSi, then a '96 318i sedan. I was madly in love with the Ultimate Driving Machine.

That is until nearly a decade ago ago I got my behind the wheel of my best friend (and Porsche addict) Tony's '88 Guards Red 911. Oh boy, what a car. And what a drive! I never knew life could be so good behind the wheel of another German car. Unfortunately, like many 20-somethings I wasn't in any sort of financial position to be buying a 911. And a $20K loan on a 15-year-old car didn't seem right to me (not to mention the interest rates). If I was going to own one, I wanted to own it outright.

In the subsequent years I snuck in a few more drives in Tony's 911, tortured myself every so often by looking at Craigslist and the Pelican classifieds, and kept dreaming that someday I would own one. As the story often goes...other cars came and went from my life -- each with the hopes that they would be just as enjoyable as a 911. But of course, nothing really came close. And along the way Tony was constantly in my ear "when are you going to get the car?"

A year ago today Tony and I hopped a flight to Las Vegas and picked up my first 911 from fellow Pelicanite Gabenheimer. A 1987 Grand Prix White coupe on Marine Blue leather with 134K miles. I paid $19K. I saw it on Pelican a month earlier but wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger. While I was drawn to it immediately, I figured it would go quickly so I ruled it out as an option. But, I kept tabs on it and thankfully no one grabbed it. My timing was perfect: within hours of committing to put down a deposit -- he received a couple of offers to buy the car.

A few photos from the Pelican ad:
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Me (right) and former owner at the "handoff." I didn't feel too badly for him as still he had a 996 Turbo in the garage!
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The 600 mile road trip home to the Bay Area was certainly one of the highlights of my life and our friendship:
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One of the nicer parts of Bakersfield:
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Outside Paso Robles after an overnight stay in San Luis Obispo:
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Finally home!
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(continued)

All told, I've spent roughly $6K in maintenance and upgrades. A majority of the work I did myself so it would have been even more. And this forum has been a huge resource in helping me "do it right."

-Replace windshield weatherstripping
-New rear wheel bearings
-Raised car to stock ride height, alignment, and corner balance
-Replaced radio with CR-220 from '99 Boxster
-Tightened leaky rocker shaft
-New M&K muffler
-Replaced center dash pad, relocated hazard and defroster switch back to center console after PO backdated it
-Replaced alternator
-New tires all around
-Two oil changes and one valve adjustment
-New H4 headlamps, headlight switch

Testing out the bypass pipe. I ultimately put the cat back on because of noise and smell issues:
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Enjoying the satisfaction of replacing the alternator. Tony and I have spent quite a few weekends tinkering with our cars!
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And of course there have been many great drives over the past 12-months!
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In the Porsche corral at Rennsport Reunion 4 - Laguna Seca. The day before we enjoyed a fast parade lap in Tony's 911!
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At 144K miles today, I've put a little more than 10K miles on the car in the past year. She's my daily driver and the half-hour drive into work is a great way to start the day. And even after a bad day at work just 5 minutes behind the wheel turns everything around!

I tell people this is the best car I've ever owned. Period. You just cannot beat the way this car drives, feels, smells, and sounds. While it's not fastest car out there anymore, it certainly brings you closer to the road than most modern cars. I feel very fortunate to be able to own and enjoy this wonderful and timeless machine.

Great story! And what a beautiful car! Enjoy to the fullest.

Great story!
You must be one of the few around here to raise the ride height to spec! Your reason being?
Mine = wildlife and other hazards

Yup. These cars really make you smile.

Good question
 

Thanks!

Technically, it's set-up as a little under stock spec as recommended by my mechanic (Don Wise longtime P-car guru in the Bay Area).

Basically the PO had put 225's up front and I was getting rubbing on the front wheels at Euro height. He had rolled the fender lips also which helped on the track but not on the twisties!

Great looking car, very clean. Enjoy it!

Ah, yes, I was one of those who really wanted to buy this car. The PO was a true enthusiast who, among other things, had recently had the motor rebuilt. I'm glad it went to another enthusiast -- enjoy the car, Wes!

P.S. A happy ending for me, too: got a nice '88 about a month later.

I got my '84 about a year ago too, and agree with you 100% on your assessment of the 911. Hands down the only car I care to own. It looks bichin', has great performance for the value, and I can still wrench on it.

My only problem is I need to drive it more often!!!!

Thanks Hugh! BTW, I'm planning my first engine drop sometime this spring to remove the heavy duty pressure plate and kevlar clutch. While I'm used to the heaviness, it can be quite tiring in traffic.

Hope that '88 is treating you nice -- the diamond (and venetian) blue color is my second favorite on a 911!

very nice journey - thanks for posting it!!

Great story. I've had my car 24 years and it still makes me smile!

Excellent story...

That is a very clean car, seems to have been very well taken care of.

There is definitely something to be said about the air-cooled 911 owner experience. It is like no other. All the sensations you describe are echoed by air-cooled 911 owners everywhere.

I've owned and enjoyed multiple makes as well, including BMW, Audi, Lotus & jaguar. All great cars but none have captured my heart and soul like the Classic 911.

Best of luck and enjoy every second of the experience.


Rob

I did almost the exact opposite car buying road trip a year earlier. Got mine in Reno and drove to San Fran and down highway 1 to LA and then Vegas. Wonderful.

Great story and nice car! I've had my '84 since mid-December and have put 700+ miles on it. Every time I get in my heart rate picks up and I feel like a kid on Christmas. I would love to drive the California coast and cross the Golden Gate Bridge, top down, one of these days! (I grew up there.) "Sorting" it has been fun so far, thanks in large part to this forum and all the information and knowledge. Looking forward to my engine drop/"while I'm in there" one of these days soon. (Fuel lines, clutch kit, etc.)

More Bay Area driving pics please!

I'm a little over a year as well in my ownership experience. One thing I will mention is that I've become a much better driver in that year. The engine weight right over sticky fat rubber at the back is pure bliss. I've never had a car that communicated so much with me. What it could do, when it could do more and when she's at the ragged edge. I'm forced to think about weight transfer, smoothness entering turns and turning that into momentum out of a turn and every drive is like a therapy session. :D

The fact that I've been doing a bunch of AXs and did a solo pro training class has helped too. :D

So congratulations on the anniversary, hope you have many more.

Fantastic story and pictures, thanks for sharing!

Coming up on 1 year myself this march... there really is no substitute!

Congratulations on your anniversary. These funky little cars, with the motor in the wrong place, are really easy to like.
I've owned mine a little over a year and half and absolutely love it. It's my 3rd German car, the other 2 are BMWs which were my first foreign car purchases ever. While I really like the beamers, nothing compares to the 911.

Dean

An unforgettable trip, hermano. Thanks for letting me take part in such a wonderful journey.

Great looking car and great thread!!!