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

[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

[ekam]

When did you decide you wanted one?

3 months before I bought it.

How long did it take to finally purchase it?

A week or so.

How old where you then, and now?

Bought it a month before I turned 25 and I'm 25.

Is there anything you would have done differently?

No.

[csu15919]

When did you decide you wanted one?

-that kind of a loaded question for me...i've been a car fanatic ever since the 6th grade. sports cars have always been my thing, and i NEVER thought i'd see the day i'd own a porsche...it was just one of those dreams. i was actually out shopping for a BMW 330 when i stumbled across a boxster. after i saw the boxster they had, I WAS HOOKED!

How long did it take to finally purchase it?

-i bought one about 4 days after the story above^

How old where you then, and now?

-i was 23 at the time...i'm 25 now

Is there anything you would have done differently?

-i probably would've done a little more research on "common failures" and what they cost. although, i did have a nice chunk of repair money stashed, i blew through it (yes...ON REPAIRS) within the first year or so (roughly $12k).

i also should've bought the car out-right, instead of financing (used that "slush" money i had for repairs). i do have equity in it (paid a nice size down payment), but i've gotten to the point (on 2 occassions) where i just wanted to sell it and get something else...it's just hard when there's a loan.

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

-don't let your eyes get bigger than your wallet. DEFINITELY, keep in mind...REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE...EVEN IF YOU DO THEM YOURSELF. if you purchase a newer porsche...try to get a warranty/extended warranty. GOOD LUCK! i hope you get one!

[RandallNeighbour]

When did you decide you wanted one?
As a very young lad, but I was obsessed with the first whale tail turbo that came out in the 70's. I think I shall have to buy that car one day.

How long did it take to finally purchase it?
Many years. I could have owned a Pcar MUCH earlier had I stopped buying sporty Japanese cars and driven a beater until I had saved up enough to have what I wanted.

How old where you then, and now?
I was 41 when I bought my Boxster. I am 46 now. It's not a car I use as a DD and mine needed LOTS of repairs and the interior was shot.

Is there anything you would have done differently?
Oh heck yes. I would have bought a much newer S model with a 100k CPO warranty on it and I would have bought more years on the CPO to stretch out the warranty too. Our cars are so chock full of crappy plastic parts that become brittle with age and heat that I would never repeat what I did again.

Quick word of advice for a young person trying to save for one?
Everyone's given you great advice already on this, but my web site info will be helpful. Save up and pay cash for a 987 S and keep saving for repairs instead of trying to mod the car to make it faster for the first few years. Also, don't settle for a car that's not the perfect color combination and has the features you want. If you settle for less or "almost" you will always pine for what you should have held out to get. Babied Porsches are plentiful if you can find a PCA member to give you their old Panorama magazines. That's where the garage queens are listed for sale.... from Pcar owners to other Pcar owners.

[Ofishbein]

I was 49 (am now 51). I was always into sports cars and in high school went through a series of MGs, 240Zs and 280Zs. My goal was to own a Ferrari by the time I was 30. I got my first one at 26 (246GT Dino), and that was quickly followed by a 308 and then a 512BBi. I was always envious of Porsche build quality though but the styling of each new model seemed to take a few years to grow on me. Looking back I can say that you buy a Ferrari with your heart and a Porsche with your head.

Now I've sipped the Kool-Aid and I wouldn't go back for anything. I like having a car that I can afford to fix if it breaks - plus the driving experience is better.

[yellowboxster01]

When did you decide you wanted one?

My dad has had a Porsche since I was about 8 years old. He more or less got me hooked on them. This was his second and it was a 77 911 Targa which through the years was converted to a wide body turbo look w/ a 3.2L. I watched the transformation of that car through the years and we used to go "cruising" on Saturday's in his Porsche. Several times through out high school he'd let me drive his car to various events, that's when I decided I wanted one. But, it's been a life long affliction.



How long did it take to finally purchase it?

I drove the same burnt out Suzuki Sidekick for almost 6 years, when I turned 21 I bought an 86 944 Turbo that had previously been my mom's car. It was lightly modded and was a hell of a lot of fun to drive. About 100K miles, it started having major problems and it spent more time on a lift than the pavement. I was forced to sell it about 2 years after I bought it.


How old where you then, and now?

I was 21, now I'm 30. When I bought the Boxster I was 28.

Is there anything you would have done differently?

Not bought a 944 Turbo.

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

Buy one right now, the values have dropped off tremendously. They'll only hit a certain low before they start going back up. Who knows what that low may be but, I know I've seen some low mileage 986 S's going for $14-16K.

[stephen wilson]

There's nothing wrong with using home equity, it's worked well for me. The key is, don't over-extend yourself, live well within your means. I pay off my credit cards every month, no balances. Don't plan your finances on going bankrupt, just make sure you don't! An equity loan helps lessen the the money wasted on interest payments.
Steve