I love these stories so far, and although mine may not be about the exact Porsche I have now, I figured I would share because it is a positive story in a negative world. Also, it's the most fun one I had that got me Porsche crazy.
Fall 2003, I was a junior in high school and had just sold my tired 1980 Indy Pace Car Turbo Trans Am to a guy named Mike Myers, who coincidentally was a pitcher on the Seattle Mariners at the time. My step-dad was a Porsche fanatic and converted me at a young age. He has had around fifteen 930s, including an 88 black with red int. 505 car that I still have the original paperwork for (car was stolen in 89-ish--another story).
With about $6500 of my hard earned money to work with, I hit the markets to find myself a 911 wide body. We drove all over the Midwest, looking at a dozen or so 911s. I had bid on a couple on ebay, only to have them sell for mid teens, which at the time was a strong price.
Finally, February 2004, I thought I had struck gold. I found a 1978 Porsche 911 widebody Targa silver on red ZZZ car that had been converted from true 930 fenders. The car was on Ebay and there was no reserve. My dad taught me the correct questions to ask and they all came back positive. The car was tired, it was beaten, but to me, it was perfect.
On the day the auction was ending, I talked my mom into pulling me out of my last class to bid on the car. Reluctantly, she did after I complained six of the seven day auction. I got out of my science class, raced home, got the auction up and was ready to bid. At this point, the auction was going for 5000-ish and I knew the car was going to be mine--I could just feel it.
With three minutes left (which seems like a lot of time, but with slow internet in 2004 you needed it) I entered my first bid at $5400. I was quickly outbid and the auction jumped to $5500. Scrambling to put in my max bid of $6500, my computer froze.
I stared in disbelief at the computer for twenty minutes as the auction ended and the car sold for $5500. My mom came into the room and said, "So, do we need to start arranging shipping for the car?"
"No, Mom, the computer froze and I couldn't bid. Car sold for $5500."
"Well, if it is meant to be, you will find another."
"No, Mom, there are no others. This was perfect."
Frustrated, I sat in my room brooding for the rest of the day, wondering why my computer hated me. My step dad came home and he asked why don't I reach out to the guy selling the car and getting the information of the new owner and offering him the $6500 for it?
With the lightning quickness of my older self, I sprang to life, and wrote the seller a message on ebay. He gave me the number of the man who had just bought the car. I called him immediately and told him who I was, and offered him $6500 for the car.
The man didn't answer me right away, but started asking me questions:
"What do you do in school?"
"Where are you from?"
"Do you play sports?"
"How are your grades?"
"What do you like to do for fun?"
and finally, "Why do you want this particular car so badly"
I explained to him that I was essentially an Indiana-born, normal high-schooler that played golf, but mainly raced Motocross and was sponsored at the time by Team MotoWorld out of California. That was my true passion and I loved it. My grades were above-average and he thanked me for my honestly.
I ended up talking to the gentleman for about thirty minutes. He was incredibly interesting; he was the only F16 pilot for the Indiana National Guard and had just retired to Texas (I believe) and he then told me I could buy the car from him, but it wouldn't be for $6500. My heart stopped as I assumed the man would want more for it, because my step-dad had just got done telling me it was around a $8-9000 car. He then said, "I want you to have the car for $5500."
I couldn't believe my ears. I asked him again, and again, saying he needed to accept my offer of $6500. He refused and said he would be calling the seller letting him know of our agreement. I thanked him over, and over, and over. All he told me was, "Make sure, down the line when you can, to do something nice for another person."
We got off the phone and I officially had my first Porsche. The man's words have stuck with me and I have done everything possible to help others, and even helped a younger kid buy a car from me that he was coincidentally $1000 short. I hope you all enjoyed my first Porsche experience.
First picture is of the day it arrived from Florida with sand still in the mats. It was freezing, but I took it for a spin. Second is after I had it repainted back to original color and unfortunately sold it weeks later. The same guy that bought it still has it in California, and refuses to sell it back (even get back to me actually). I hope I can buy it back someday--when I sold it, I never thought how much sentimental value it would have.
