My love started through my family. Growing up my parents had two 914s and then a 944. I drove the 944 a few times (not that I was suppost to, haha) and loved it.
The nail in the coffin was a factory slantnose that I used to drool over once a week sitting in a guys yard one town over. I wanted that car! It sat there for over 10 years - between my father and I, we approached the owners father a few times (owner was stationed up North in the military) trying to buy it but they wouldn't sell it. Then all of a sudden, one day it was gone.
(If I ever locate it, I'm buying it!)
The decision to go with the 986 came from my parents again. They bought a 1997 Boxster a few years back. Loved it after driving it! I came across a 2000 986 S with a hardtop this summer. It was in need of some love, but I'm a sucker for that with cars and that marks the beginning of my Porsche ownership!