What part of Porsche Ownership is the most satisfying to you?

[autobonrun]

My wife observed that I now seem to enjoy working on my car as much as driving it. After 18 years with it, I realize I went through multiple phases including track event enjoyment and I do now enjoy working on the car as much as driving. A glutton for punishment I guess. I thought I'd see what phase the rest of you are in with your car via this poll.

[Kurt B]

You forgot 'spanking folks'

[Zeke]

How 'bout all of the above?

[dad911]

Passing a late model turbo at a DE with my 71 2.2T

[WydRyd]

Well, apart from the obvious (looks, speed, handling, character, rawness, stance etc), I LOVE the fact that everyday I drive to and from work, I don't see any other car like it on the road

"It's something that you thought had been lost. Something most seem to have abandoned in this demand for things made en masse. Yet from your very first encounter with a Porsche, you immediately realize it is something that can still be found in our sports cars: that sense of what is possible when a machine is crafted on a human scale. One at a time. For the most part by hand. With an eye toward what can't be seen so much as felt. It isn't a car built to be something to everyone. But everything to someone."

AMEN.

[Doug E]

Couple of things come to mind:
1) driving, driving and more driving
2) seeing it parked in my garage every morning
3) enjoying / sharing the fun with my wife and son
4) satisfaction of knowing that I worked my a$$ of to save and buy one
5) feeling as if I own a piece of automotive history
6) actually being able to work on the car and complete DIY jobs
7) being part of a great community (this BBS, PCA, etc...)

Oh, and did I say driving?

[A Quiet Boom]

Let's put it this way, I'm stock piling spare parts, I'm in a panic because "Whitney" will be down for a week or two for an engine transplant and I'll have to drive a car rather than an Automobile. I've only been a p-car owner about 10 monthes but I've logged 20k miles on a 36 year old car and I'm courting another. I'm trying to figure out what I can do to the body and other steel parts to make it SALT PROOF so I can drive it all year. My favorites folder entitled "911" is a page and a half long on a 1024x768 screen. My favorite part? I'm an addict man, it's all good!

I picked "other".

The best part: That my dream came true. To finally own the car I've always wanted.

[Joeaksa]

The smile it puts on my face everytime I drive it!

Also, as Mikkel says, I now own the car I wanted for years. Course a RS will also be in the garage someday as well...

Joe

[jluetjen]

I also checked "Other" because for me there is an underlying idea which encompasses all of the choices -- the best words that I could use are "Pride of ownership". Driving around in it (or eventually racing it), I always have a smile on my face because it is the car that I always wanted, modified by me to the condition that I want it.

[Saffs]

Good categories, I chose "everyday driving". It summarizes it well: maintaining it for everyday use, driving with other people, protecting it for Winter use, and the joy of using such a great all round car that is a high point of automotive design, everyday!

[JonT]

It is very satisfying for me when high school chicks throw their bras and panties in my targa whilst cruising the local high school parking lots. Oh yeah!!

[JavaBrewer]

Driving something truely unique and classic in design and function. The flat 6 sound still puts a smile on my face everyday.

[FRED/LI]

Pride of ownership in my case is built on the knowledge base that's accumulated over the last twenty years. I am a student of the car(s) and have never ceased to be amazed at how you are always , always learning. To some of us, these beasts have become organic. They require a certain nurturing and care and repay their owners tenfold for the care rendered.
And as I've noted before, it's still a joy to be stopped behind a school bus and have the kids notice the car and call their buddies over to give you a thumbs up!

[APKhaos]

There are elements of all the above, but for me the real grin factor comes in three forms:

- My 911 is a classic vehicle that I can drive on the street, and then take to the track and really extend - they way it was designed to be driven. I've learned an lot from some great PCA guys, and there is nothing quite like a weekend at the track!

- The rewards [yeah, and the frustrations] of working on the car, learning its systems, mastering fairly major rebuilds, restoring the interior........and more

- Without doubt, all of the above has been made possible and much more enjoyable by the advice, encouragement, and inspiration from the community on this board, and within PCA. Great people, and a real sense of common purpose.

Oh... FWIW....I'm old enough to have indulged in some fairly major sports in my time - blue water sailing, sailplane racing, grand prix horse competition.......

The $ to Grins ratio of my trusty 85 Carrera is infinitely better that anything I've ever done before. Sure, its not cheap...but its incredible value for money when we can run our street cars on some of the finest tracks in the country, guided by guys who have been racing for decades. Can't beat it!

[michaelw]

I agree with all of the above, but turning the key starts the best part of the ownership experience. There are few things that compare with the visceral experience of driving an aircooled go- cart!

Michael
87 Targa

[724doorE]

My E is 30 now and I've owned it for more than half of those years . I'm satisfied to know how intelligent I was at such a young age to recognize how fabulous these cars really are! Oh and it was a natural progression for me from the "Prince of Darkness"!

1. Oh yea, driving, driving, and more driving.

2. Driving it around grounds of Sebring in 88, and 89, and almost getting bottomed out going up the track bridge!

3. Looking at it in big store windows as I sit at stoplights!

4. Wanting to have more of them as if they were matchbox cars!