OK CJ,
Here is some advice. You are still in college, and need to finish college. You are lucky enough, as is everyone here, to have a 944. BUT, you need to worry more about school and less about other issues. I don't think you are whining, I think you are caught in a crossroad.
Here is my thought: For that price get the clutch done. Go to school and work hard. Any money your earn, DO NOT spend it on the 944 unless its to fix it. And, I mean fix, not paint, not wheels, not performance. Leave it totally stock.
If are working during school, and earn a paycheck, then save this money and/or put it in a mutual fund, Roth IRA, or any other host of investment options. Worry about the car later. Leave it stock. This way the 'rents don't think you live, breathe, and die by the car, and they won't worry about your direction in life. Be frugal about the car, NO EXTRAS. Save the rest of your money and get good grades.
Now, what'd I'd do is sell the car, put the money in savings, buy a beater and worry about school. Get a cool car, ONLY after you have bought a house, invested in retirement, etc... and only when you have dispensible income that you can throw at a hobby/fun vehicle. Learn the value of money and not objects.
Listen to your parents. Love your parents. Treat them as the generous godly beings, that they are. They are paying a **** load of money for college and you really should respect that. I think a lot of us here would have loved to be in your situation AND have a 944. Because most of us didn't have either one.
Don't get me wrong. I think everyone should love their 944, and everyone should have the gift of owning a 944. I love them. I want you to love them. Just put everything in perspective. I mean, you can't even take the thing to school!
And, don't think I am some old timer venting about kids. I am a young 30, and wished someone would have kicked my a$$ whe I was in college. I drove a Mustang GT, that I had to work 40+ hours a week to pay for, and school suffered. My parents didn't pay a dime for school (I went full time). I shouldn't have spent boatloads on SCCA racing the Mustang in Street Prepared. I should have been worrying about a career, a job, a living and not a car. Much later did I worry about such things, how stupid I was.
Dude, take things into perspective. Have fun, love your parents, worry about a P-car later.
MY .02, and don't kill the messenger. That said, flame away!
Rich
