Why I'm a nervous wreck when our 911's aren't in my garage or being driven by me.

[kilodawg]

First a bit of history.

Back in '81 I found out from watching it happen on TV that my '74 911 slid into a sinkhole in Winter Park Florida. It was at a shop getting a tune up at the time. $4500 dollars, a big crane and a new paint job later it was back home.

A few years later as I walked out of a movie theater with a date, I watched in horror as a guy in the parking lot casually backed out of his spot and into the back of my car. $1500 later it was again back home.

Okay, so tonight was flashback time although thankfully less dramatic.

We never take the 993 out to dinner just because, well by now you get the idea. But today we had new speakers installed and the wife wanted to drive it. Afterall, it's her car (or at least I have to let her believe it's hers).

So anyway, we go to our favorite restaurant which is located in a small plaza with a grocery store (and we all know that can never be good). She finds a spot up front at the end of a row with plenty of room. I wouldn't have parked that close but hey I'm paranoid and if I tell her that I'll only get the hairy eyeball and another reminder of my paranoia.

So we wind up waiting for a table outside with a nice view of our (er her) car. I still, almost unconsciously, scan the horizon for potential danger. She starts to give me that look. A couple of middle aged men come out of the grocery store and get in a nearby truck. My pulse rises but the trucks doors close without incident. Her look now takes on that "see Mr. Paranoid, all is well" look. As I start to settle down, we both look back to the car just in time to see the shopping cart moving slowly but inevitably on it's 15 foot journey with destiny and the side of MY F*****G car !

I'm sedated now and I think all is well but the car does not go out to dinner anymore!

[pjv911]

So did it do any damage ?

[kilodawg]

I don't think so but I won't be sure until the AM.

[patkeefe]

This sounds like a Woody Allen movie...never take your car out of the garage!

[kilodawg]

Hey SoCal,

I showed my wife the picture. I thought seeing somone even more extreme than me would help; but it didn't. Have a great New Year!

[84porsche]

SoCal,

Thats so awesome. I only wish I could baby my car that much but I have made quite an improvement to her from the night I first saw her.

Kilodawg,

I understand your paranoia. I have a scratch in my passenger door from some stupid person. I park with one side to a curb if at all possible and only park next to other German cars in the hopes they will have the respect for their car as I have for mine.

[ianc]

I think it's a little extreme I'm sorry to say. I fully understand your anxiety, but it is a means of transportation after all.

The key to these cars is that they need to be enjoyed. If you find yourself not driving the car (and hence not enjoying it) because you're afraid of some mishap, you might need to reexamine your attitude towards it. Things happen; stuff wears out, rocks jump up from the road and bite, 2x4's fall off trucks etc.

Still, it is after all just a car, albeit a very special one. I think you are denying yourself needlessly. If something happened to my car like that, I'd be disappointed, depressed, etc. but life goes on and things can be repaired.

Or, you could start your very own climate-controlled Porsche musem.

ianc

[masraum]

I drove my '88 daily for almost 4 years and didn't have the problems that you've had. Yowza.

[kilodawg]

You know I appreciate that point of view but in my 33 years of Porsche ownership I've logged hundreds of thousands of miles and I've approached this from both sides. When I lived in Northern Jersey where winding roads in scenic countrside prevailed, driving was indeed the essence of Porsche enjoyment. However, for a long time now Florida has been home and driving down straight roads from traffic light to traffic light flat out sucks in any car.

There are other ways to enjoy these cars too and having, maintaining, pampering and driving them purely for pleasure on a nice suny day or to a race at Daytona or Sebring is about as good as it gets for me.

There was a time when my Porsche was "my means of transportation" I have other cars for that now. I start work on the climate controlled museum , in my case a new 3 car garage, next month

[ianc]

There was a time when my Porsche was "my means of transportation" I have other cars for that now

Oh... That is sad. Of course I'm unmarried, childless, etc. But still... What could be a better means of transpo than a Porsche?

I'd still rather be driving down a straight road from traffic light to traffic light in a Porsche than any other car!

ianc

[gulf908]

Kilo,

Yes ,there is a fuzzy line between being AR and having a good sense of self preservation when it comes to our little treasures on wheels !
It's now 6:00 pm on New Years eve and I will be going out to a late night function.
However my car will be still locked safely in the garage as there are too many envious,stupid,careless or idiotic people about tonight.
As this is my only means of transport and my retirement present to myself at a future time,I dont want to risk anything happening = self preservation !
Fortunately,my destination is one I can catch a bus to but as I learnt from friends living in Sunnyvale SF,it is not always convenient for you all to just get on a bus/whatever.
If I can drive somewhere to assumed safe parking ,it's no problem.
AR ?? - not where Murphy's law is appliccable !!

Cheers + happy & safe New Year !!
Dennis.

[clevy70911T]

Geez kilodawg, all the trauma you have been through To be honest, I'm even paranoid about driving my SC around town. Sometimes, I just get this feeling I shouldnt drive it. Too many stupid people.

[kilodawg]

Noah,

I have dated enough in an earlier life to realize that comparing 911's to women you date is to denigrate the marque. Show them fear No!, Never! but respect Yes!, Always! Your 911 is not a date, it's your soulmate!!!

ianc and clevy70911T,

If you want a fun car to drive from light to light in as well as for basic transportation and a bit more respect try driving one of these.







Happy New Year to all!

[JackMan]

Oh man this is a greeaaat thread.

I'm as paranoid as the rest of you. I learned the proper art of Porsche parking from my father. Always park uphill from everything, never close to a tree, upwind from everything, diagonnally, within eyeball distance for quick observation, blah, blah.

I even have my three kids trained very, very well.

Recently my 7 year old boy, Spencer, had a new friend over to play at the house. Upon arrival the new friend was taken to the garage by Spencer. Spencer pointed at the cloaked, shrouded and diagonally parked 911 and told his friend, "Touch Daddy's Porsche ... " and with a quick motion Spencer drew and imaginary sword across his neck ".. and you're dead."

Ah, I can rest without reverberations of paranoia.

[Eric P]

Consider Wellbutrin, Buspar, or maybe Zoloft.

[kilodawg]

I'll tell you I love Zoloft. I've never tried it myself but after my wife did wow did it help her. If it wasn't for Zoloft I don't think she ever would have let me get another Porsche.....The three greatest inventions of the 20th century: the 911, Zoloft and the breast implant.

[sweet97m3]

Nothing like reading this post to feel a bit better about my own...er..issues. The rain/snow mix over that last few month or so has left the 911 in the garage safely tucked under a nice car cover. I live 1/3 of a mile off the paved road so when the gravel road is mucky I can't bear to take her out. When I do it is a crawl for the 1/3 mile lest one little rock dare to take flight against that paint! Got my battery tender a couple days ago so I'm good to go for these necessary periods of hibernation. When I do get out I am also very careful about parking and for the most part won't even take the 911 if I know I have to leave it unattended for any length of time. I can't quite figure it out but 911s seem to have some sort of gravitational pull of their own when it comes to the clueless, no matter where I park the thing almost inevitably the biggest POS in the lot is parked close to me when I come back out. I'm fortunate to have a few other vehicles to take for daily/bad weather runabouts and commutes. Baby the car to the point where it isn't driven as much as it should be...yes...guilty as charged. That said, I'll gladly do the time...

[kees]

Funny video (even a bit scary)

http://www.centraalbeheer.nl/cbi/cb/corporate/fun/commercial.jsp?commercial=boodschappen&bw=dsl&stopAtEnd=false&linkAtEnd=&linkTarget=

Kees.

[kilodawg]

Where's the wifes Zoloft!

[Zeke]

Well, there's paranoia, and there's stupid.

For you guys that say drive it regardless, I have read a lot of counterpoints right here on this forum. Some run along the lines of it being more special when it's not the usual.

Then there's the SoCal911SC approach. For him, it's a simple passion. The car as an object d'art. Yes, he is mirco focused.

But, to put your car in harm's way when you could aviod it is lacking some dedication IMHO. I refer here to where to park, etc., not driving.