How Old Were You & How Did You Purchase Your First Porsche?

[jwade]

1989, here is my two cents...

When did you decide you wanted one?

1987 when I was in the 7th grade. Was out with my grandmother one day and we purchased a Porsche magazine at the local grocery store. An article about the 911 sold me and ever since, I have been a car buff..had R&T, MotorTrend, Car & Driver, and the Dupont registry to entice me for years.

How long did it take to finally purchase it?

Actually this year, February to be exact.

The day I saw a low mileage california red on tan '01 Boxster S come on Ebay, I knew this was the one. User stats for the seller showed zero (0), so I knew this person selling was a total newbie. It was exactly what I wanted ever since I watched the Boxster prototype come into play around the mid 90's while in college at UT Knoxville.

How old where you then, and now?

33 when I bought it. I am 34 now...July Birthday.

Is there anything you would have done differently?

Nope, car was optioned exactly how I wanted it down to the dark burr walnut shifter and e-brake. Literally I thought this was a crazy to have the exact car I would have ordered if new. Really, and I don't want to sound snobish, but buy the S model. It's that good man and really, why mess around with the base model???

Went down to georgia to see the car (original owner had just had it transported from Sacremento, CA to Lake Oconee (Reynold's Plantation, GA) and it was a dismal day, but when the owner arrived for the visual inspection and test drive, the sun came out...almost too wierd man, like this purchase was supposed to happen!

Took it through Jim Ellis Porsche in Atlanta for a PPI. Came out perfect so I went on ahead and had the 15,000 mile checkup performed. Car at the time had 13200 on the odo. Make sure you do this when you find the car you want.

Quick word of advice for a young person trying to save for one?

Do alot of research on the car as well as options and seriously wait until you find the right one! They are getting on down there now, especially in this market we are in now. Don't go too cheap though. You get what you pay for ok.

I had literally been looking for over a year +, but I wanted a highly optioned car, and it had to be guards red with savanna beige interior. Not many out there like that and I have loved Guards Red for years!! Only other color I would consider would be the all time classic basalt black over tan.

Understand that you will need some money to take car of your purchase. Take into consideration the sales tax on top of what you pay for the car. Also, I pay under 1000 per year for full insurance, but I am approaching 35 now with a family of 4. You need to be aware that the younger you are, the more this could hurt you...Ticket history could play into this BIG.

Maintenance is not too bad, but have a few thousand nest egg saved on top of the purchase and be prepared to pay out accordingly. I had the original 18" sport contact tires on the car when I purchased. The guy at Jim Ellis said you have about 2000 miles left and they are done, so after driving back home to TN from Atlanta, GA, and playing around a little since February, late last summer I purchased a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cups (N-rated).

After mounting and balancing, you MUST get it aligned, so it put me back about 1400 bucks total. Tires are NOT cheap, even at Tirerack prices....but I had the tires drop shipped to Jaguar Porsche Audi of Nashville and they were pretty cool to deal with. JPA nashville will always service the car. We do not have a "specialty shop" here, and I like to keep the maintenance history perfect as the original owner did.

I'd appreciate your guys' time for filling this out if you get a chance, or you can simply give me some tips, either way I'd be greatful, I might get some good ideas.[/QUOTE]

By as highly optioned 'S' car as you can with a reasonable amount of mileage. DO NOT buy a non-optioned, non-S, high mileage car! You will be asking for trouble.

My car was a very well cared for, original porscheophile owner who was about my fathers age...(late 50's...maybe early 60's), and MAYBE splashed with rain a couple times period in it's life in CA.

Only reason they sold it was due to being upside down in a development deal and they needed the cash for staying power. Very good people and I wish them well as if they ever saw this blog, they would know who to call....

I think Porsche makes a great product hands down. VERY FUN TO DRIVE and an exeptional balance between power and handling. Please note this aint a mustang GT ok.

With this being said though, you will see after cruising this site a while, a few blogs about intermediate shaft failures, ultimately causing an engine failure. There have only been a few listed here, but don't be scared of this.

Just know you are buying a high performance car, and it is made to run. Make sure you know who you are buying from, and if given proper care, the car should last you years to come as long as you treat it with repect.

Additionally, you may find that great car out there, but after the PPI, which is an absolute before purchase, they may tell you there is a little seepage coming from the RMS (rear main seal). This is pretty apparent on all these models and I would only be concerned if I saw drips on my garage floor, then it would be off to the dealer for a seal kit.

I bought a Porsche 986 S because I love cars and have a real appreciation for the engieering behind them. I do not use my car for a daily driver, but drive on weekends and on some sunny great days throughout the week and I never drive the car in rain!

If you purchase one, you will enjoy it. The sound is awesome when you open it up, especially de-snorkled and with OEM PSE (Porsche Sport Exhaust). Beware the modding though. It costs BIG money to mod these cars and you will see VERY LITTLE GAIN, unless you do an engine swap or talk with Jake Raby about a conversion from 3.2 to 3.6 liters.

This mod alone will set you back 20k, and to me, I will have to blow an engine before I would consider this as I paid 27k for the car originally and I cannot see droping another 20k in it....but then again...who knows. It really depends on how long I want to keep it. Jake, are you listening????

If you have any other concerns, please ask away as most everyone here on this site seems very knowedgable and you can learn alot from cruising around here.

Later, Jon

[Dave S.]

When did you decide you wanted one?
I bought my first Triumph in 1977. It was a '67 GT6. It was a POS but I restored it and drove it until I graduated from College in the early '80s. In 1986 I bought a very nice Triumph TR8 with 18k miles on it, which I still own today. I've always loved old Triumphs, Jaguars, Austin Healys, Sunbeams, etc and have come close to buying several more classic sports cars over the years, but my TR8 was always faster and handled better than the old British classics
One of my neighbors has a 911 and one day about 2 years ago we decided to take both our cars out for a spin and test drive each other's car. We took turns driving but made the mistake of driving the Porsche first, then hopping in my TR8. Man it made my TR8 feel like a real dinosaur and I couldn't believe how well the Porsche handled - like it was on rails. I think I knew that day that I would eventually buy one. Since I like convertible sports cars and didn't want to spend a ton of money, the Boxster seemed like a reasonably good buy. A few friends that own them recommended I buy an S model.
Before I finally decided to buy one, I went to a group of car dealers located with about 2 blocks of each other. I drove a low mileage Boxster, a new Honda S2000 and a near new BMW Z4 back to back. No question for me that the Boxster was the car I would buy. The it was just a matter of finding the right one.

How long did it take to finally purchase it?
I started watching ads on Craigslist and eBay for a few months last summer, then I got serious and started to look at them in early September. I knew what options were a must have for me and what I wanted to pay. Bought a Seal Grey 2003 S with 14,400 miles on it from a private party last October.

How old where you then, and now? 48

Is there anything you would have done differently? No. Got a fair deal and great car that is as good as new. Glad I saved about 1/2 the price of a new one.

Quick word of advice for a young person trying to save for one? I like to buy slightly used low mileage cars. Boxsters come down in value very fast and why not let someone else take the big depreciation hit.

[gregdacat]

I was 8 (third grade) when I decided I wanted a Porsche.

I bought practical (read "Family Truckster") cars for my first few. I was patient while I raised my family and my daughters were grown. I then took some savings augmented by GW's Tax rebate check this past Spring to my Credit Union, took out a 36 month loan, and bought what I had been wanting for 44 years (I am 52)

No regrets

[Rick V]

My Dad was Porsche tech, many many moons ago, like 40, I have wanted one for as long as I can remember. I grew up with them (I remember when the 914 was a new car). I saved my money as best as I could. This was hard since I have no further education, other than the training I get from work.( I am a Porsche mechanic)I finally decided to pull the trigger on my dream car about 5 years ago. I bought my SC. I payed cash for it, as I did with my 944S, my 71T. I did however finance the Boxster, It was a spur of the moment gift for my wife.
I guess my best advice is to save your money, and just pay cash. Had I bought my car when I was younger I am sure it would have not ended up well, for me or the car.
As with anything in life, don't rush into it, take your time, keep your focus, and be patient, it will pay off in the end.

[Jaxonalden]

Rick V,

Hmmmm...lets see, your dad was a Porsche technician and your a Porsche technician. And you bought a Boxster with, I'm sure, the knowledge of IMS failures. I feel better about my purchase now, thank you.

BTW, I've always love VW's and have owned 9. Bugs and Karman Ghias and have always thought that 911's looked like a bug that had been squashed. I still have a '66 bug (15 years now) that's as solid as the day it rolled off the line. 1776 w/a single 44 IDF, full flowed, 044 heads and a lighted flywheel. I love that car.

One day I got a wild hair and decided to add a Porsche to the stable. I found the one I drive now and with the options it came with and the things I've done to it, I feel I'll never let her go.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by Jaxonalden

Rick V,

Hmmmm...lets see, your dad was a Porsche technician and your a Porsche technician. And you bought a Boxster with, I'm sure, the knowledge of IMS failures. I feel better about my purchase now, thank you.

Don't take this the wrong way, but you shouldn't take comfort in my purchase. I will point out that I don't pay retail for factory parts, I don't have to pay for diagnosis, nor do I pay labor. It is one of the perks of the wretched life I have cornered myself into, I can drive cars that would otherwise be out of my range of buying and maintaining. Case and point, I just replaced the water pump on the Boxster, with a factory unit, grand total, $150.
These cars are very easy to buy, the trick is being able to keep them, and keep them properly. That is why I recommend buying a car with cash and not having to budget the cost of the car. Save that for the repairs.
P.S. I prefer the title of mechanic to tech. For the following reasons, I don't like giving lofty titles to average jobs, and a mechanic can still repair things I am not a huge fan of total unit replacement. I am an old man in a young mans field.

[Stunin_Stud]

Hey

I was 20 yrs old, junior in college when I bought mine. It was my third car, my first car was a 2001 vw GTI and my last car was a 2003 VW GTI.

I was considering getting a 2001 Mercedes CLK 55 or 2004 Audi S4 but thought I should buy something special, not the run of the mill sedan or coupe.

It took 1 yr and several failed deals, driving up and down california, test driving 40 cars till I found the right one. Initiatly I was looking for an 02 with low miles but I ended up with an 01.

I got my car from the president of PCA in zone 7 of california. It was a concours car with 18K miles in 2006 ( when I got it).

Im now 23 and the car has 31,400 miles on it, cool mods, no problems (knock on wood), and I service it myself (its fun).

I will be going to med school abroad and will keep the car in the garage till Im back. cant see myself selling it after all the fun I have had. Plus with todays market it wont be worth it.

[litteng]

I was barely out of diapers... well 16 when i recognized my first Porsche and fell in love... its been a long 38 year wait since then before i finally was able to park one in the garage last november.



now just waiting for the snow to leave..

[941MXVET]

My LITTLE brother picked up a sideswiped 944 for dirt cheep. He's a mechanic so he was able to track down some body parts to make the repairs. That car was a blast to drive!! It's hard to describe but somehow I think you all know what I'm talking about Unfortunately, he turned it into a daily drive, didn't keep up with the maintenance and the car turned to crap.

During this time I was playing around with MG's and other crappy British cars, but my first love was MX. I spent much of the past decade racing motocross and generally beating my body to a pulp! So to help supplant my wife (who also races MX) and my desire to go fast, we shopped for about the past 8-9 months looking for 'the' deal on either a 911 or a Boxster 986. Found what we hope to be a good deal and took the plunge about 2 months ago!

I must say this forum as well as some others has been very helpful in educating ourselves in our new endeavor. I hope you guy's don't loose patience with me as I ask what to most of you will be simple questions.

[Jaxonalden]

Quote;

" must say this forum as well as some others has been very helpful in educating ourselves in our new endeavor. I hope you guy's don't loose patience with me as I ask what to most of you will be simple questions."

Bring 'em on, thats what we're here for. Just because things were discussed a month or two ago doesn't mean it won't come up again. New members are always joining and everyone has input. It's up to you to sift though it and decide what to use. Welcome!!

[941MXVET]

Originally Posted by Jaxonalden

Bring 'em on, thats what we're here for. Just because things were discussed a month or two ago doesn't mean it won't come up again. New members are always joining and everyone has input. It's up to you to sift though it and decide what to use. Welcome!!

Thanks, from what I've seen so far, this is a very nice, and helpful place!

[trimblej3]

-I was in the fourth grade when I knew I had to have one
-went to college then law school and finally got a good job
- I'm 32 now, bought/Financed a CPO 2001 Boxster S arctic silver/black (42k miles) in March of 08'
-as someone else stated earlier. Try driving POS as long as you can and save up for a good quality car. I almost pulled the trigger on a POS 1983 944 about 5-6 years ago. Probably would have been one of the biggest mistakes/$$$$$ of my life. Good luck

[edevlin]

I decided I wanted a sports car in the mid 1960's when I was in high school, but could not afford one. In the late 1960's when I was in college, I got a Karman Ghia and that really got me lusting after a Porsche. Especially when I almost replaced the VW engine with a Porsche unit.

I have caught myself watching car shows and thinking about cars more and more for the last 10 years or so, definately mid-life crisis, returning to youthful desires sort of stuff. Then our teenage son helped my cause by totaled one of the two family cars, he was fine, car was dead. We were trying to make it on one car for the three of us, but it was not working out.

So we started looking into getting another car, and I saw my chance. My dear wife is definately not a car-person and she wanted a toyota of some sort. So my recommendation to get a Boxster, well, lets just say, it did not go over very well. She said if I wanted such a inpractical car, I would have to come up with the money outside the family budget. Which meant that I would have to pay for most of it by selling of many of my toys like audio gear, guns, some woodworking tools and such.

Eventually I was able to raise the 21K out the door I paid for my 2000 base Boxster in 2006. This has been a very interesting and enjoyable experience. I have had great fun learning about and modding the car.

Best advice is what most folks say on the forum, have more money than you think you will need available to maintain them, as they can be pricey.

Ed