[Dan in Pasadena]

Okay here's my rant:

My new-to me '76S brake lights take a lot of "foot" to work, I do a search here - pressure switches is the diagnosis. Okay, great. I don't see them on the Pelican website (it is very late the other night - can't sleep so I can't call). I figure, these are small potatoes parts so I'll call the dealership, the quote? $90.34 each! Holy crap. I figure, "screw this I'll call Pep Boys", they say they don't carry them but refer me to a little local all VW parts store that tends to carry Porsche parts too.

I call, they ask if I want the German or the Brazilian aftermarket ones? I say give me both prices. $10 for German, $7.95 for Brazilian. I chuckle and ask if he wants to know what the delaer is charging? When I tell him over $90 he says, "No f'ing way!". He says he should multiply his price by 3x or 4x, he is kidding. Okay, I stop by and pick them up, check the prices on pads and rotors they are similarly reasonable and close to Pelican's prices.

Different but similar situation:

Today I stop by a local well regarded Porsche shop because I have been hearing a tick-tick noise on the dirver's side and I want an independent opinion from my usual guy. I think it is either a loose valve or possibly an exhaust leak. This guy (I know him from a long time ago when he did some expensive work on my old 944) listens and tells me he thinks it is valve guide noise. Advises me to listen to it overnight cold and again when fully at temp, that guides get looser as it heats up. We discuss it some and he says guides require a top end job. I ask if he would do rings since the heads would be off. He says, "only cheap shops re-ring, you gotta get new pistons and cylinders, we're talking an $8000 engine". I could go one about the conversation, but you get the picture.

Is it just me or is EVERYONE I talk to about my car just trying to screw me... in Times Square - on national TV - in High Def? The car runs great really. I think it is possibly running a little rich and loads up a little if I try to manuever in traffic at lower speeds without always downshifting - kind of annoying but livable or probably fixable if I knew a little more about CIS - yes, I have books. Now, I am fully capable of doing most work myself, I just don't really want to wrench/have as much time as I once did.

This "thing" that happens the second the word "Porsche" come out of my face has me SO annoyed I could actually think about getting out and buying some soul-less performance car like a G35 or some such! Geez, I am so damned annoyed.