I’m a confirmed super bike rider and love what they can do but age, old injuries and change in ‘circumstances’ mean that I’m now bikeless for the first time since I was 14. I’ve kept my leathers and other gear but if I don’t get another within 2 years I’ll lose my hard earned NCD and that will make insurance an absolute joke.
So, Porsche....
My mates had posters of Ferrari’s, Lambo’s and other exotic stuff on their walls as kids. Me? The 911 Turbo. I’m in my early 50s now but I’ve only been driving 7 years - I needed a car licence when made redundant back then otherwise I probably wouldn’t have bothered. Being older than my driving instructor and examiner (by decades rather than years!!) was a strange feeling...
My first car was a 2.2 diesel Civic. It was ok. Then I thought sod it, we’re not on the planet for long so, with wet ink on my licence I ignored all the warnings of chocolate engines, massive upkeep costs and high maintainence and bought a Porsche 911 - a guards red 996.2 3.6 Carrera 2 for those interested. Rather than a long run down of the trials and tribulations I will simply say (with the help of a great independent garage) regular maintenance was no more expensive than the Honda and things like (considerably larger) brakes were actually cheaper. Maybe I got lucky but I had that Porsche for almost 4 years, took it from 120,000 miles to almost 160,000 without any engine issues and when it finally left me it was still a fit motor capable of surprising a few of these new Golf R / RS3 things.
And then it happened. Car in front, young lad, Skoda diesel with blacked-out windows decides the road behind is clear and reversed into me. Takes out bumper, wing, bonnet rad and condenser - £8500 for parts + fitting + paint = write off. Car has gone and I received a cheque for £300 less than I paid for it. Bit of a result to help the pain.
So, sold the bike, had a bit of savings + cash from the 996 (and I’ve got another vehicle for everyday use) is would be daft to get another Porsche wouldn’t it? Been there, done that, try something different?
Yeah, that was the plan. Then a car came up for sale. The car I had on a poster when I was 13. Well, not quite - a flat nose 930 Turbo goes for around £125,00 now so #&@* that! No, a more modern equivalent but it’s a 911 and they all look the same right?
This isn't a ‘ look at me’ post. A brag. A desire to be noticed. No, it’s a ‘I can’t believe this is sat on my drive’ post. A ‘I’m nowt special, I graft hard, but want to share my delight’ post.
Ive caught the Porsche bug. There’s something about them when you drive them - a ‘connection’ for want of a less naff description.
Im happy. It’s everything I expected (and more). And, this side of a GT3 or GT2RS it’s the best I’m going to get without a lottery win.
Ill try attaching an Image (not my forte...) but it’s a Black 2007 997.1 Turbo with a sports exhaust, BMC filters and a very mild map taking it over 500bhp (they’re 480 standard and the new map from the previous owner was more to clean up the curve after fitting the exhaust and 200cel cats so a very modest increase in power but a bit more torque). I love it. In comfort without sports setting and no overboost its a nice, comfortable place to be. Almost Audi like (strange that...). Press sports button, boot it at 2000rpm, any gear and it’s a schizo-manic bastard and you really need to concentrate - once moving, it’s mad and reminds me very much of the bikes I know and love with the way it can pass four dawdling cars and pull back in before the first car has noticed something has passed (when conditions allow natuarally).
Thanks for reading,
A happy Legz.
Oh, the in-car stereo/sat nav is shit. No, actually, it’s SHIT!! Bose can kiss my arse. Weirdly, my 17 year old daughter thinks the booming one-note drone from the subs is ‘cool’. No. It’s not. When funds allow it’s the first thing to be changed. Well, after the tyres. And the mod to the suspension. And the.....
So, Porsche....
My mates had posters of Ferrari’s, Lambo’s and other exotic stuff on their walls as kids. Me? The 911 Turbo. I’m in my early 50s now but I’ve only been driving 7 years - I needed a car licence when made redundant back then otherwise I probably wouldn’t have bothered. Being older than my driving instructor and examiner (by decades rather than years!!) was a strange feeling...
My first car was a 2.2 diesel Civic. It was ok. Then I thought sod it, we’re not on the planet for long so, with wet ink on my licence I ignored all the warnings of chocolate engines, massive upkeep costs and high maintainence and bought a Porsche 911 - a guards red 996.2 3.6 Carrera 2 for those interested. Rather than a long run down of the trials and tribulations I will simply say (with the help of a great independent garage) regular maintenance was no more expensive than the Honda and things like (considerably larger) brakes were actually cheaper. Maybe I got lucky but I had that Porsche for almost 4 years, took it from 120,000 miles to almost 160,000 without any engine issues and when it finally left me it was still a fit motor capable of surprising a few of these new Golf R / RS3 things.
And then it happened. Car in front, young lad, Skoda diesel with blacked-out windows decides the road behind is clear and reversed into me. Takes out bumper, wing, bonnet rad and condenser - £8500 for parts + fitting + paint = write off. Car has gone and I received a cheque for £300 less than I paid for it. Bit of a result to help the pain.
So, sold the bike, had a bit of savings + cash from the 996 (and I’ve got another vehicle for everyday use) is would be daft to get another Porsche wouldn’t it? Been there, done that, try something different?
Yeah, that was the plan. Then a car came up for sale. The car I had on a poster when I was 13. Well, not quite - a flat nose 930 Turbo goes for around £125,00 now so #&@* that! No, a more modern equivalent but it’s a 911 and they all look the same right?
This isn't a ‘ look at me’ post. A brag. A desire to be noticed. No, it’s a ‘I can’t believe this is sat on my drive’ post. A ‘I’m nowt special, I graft hard, but want to share my delight’ post.
Ive caught the Porsche bug. There’s something about them when you drive them - a ‘connection’ for want of a less naff description.
Im happy. It’s everything I expected (and more). And, this side of a GT3 or GT2RS it’s the best I’m going to get without a lottery win.
Ill try attaching an Image (not my forte...) but it’s a Black 2007 997.1 Turbo with a sports exhaust, BMC filters and a very mild map taking it over 500bhp (they’re 480 standard and the new map from the previous owner was more to clean up the curve after fitting the exhaust and 200cel cats so a very modest increase in power but a bit more torque). I love it. In comfort without sports setting and no overboost its a nice, comfortable place to be. Almost Audi like (strange that...). Press sports button, boot it at 2000rpm, any gear and it’s a schizo-manic bastard and you really need to concentrate - once moving, it’s mad and reminds me very much of the bikes I know and love with the way it can pass four dawdling cars and pull back in before the first car has noticed something has passed (when conditions allow natuarally).
Thanks for reading,
A happy Legz.
Oh, the in-car stereo/sat nav is shit. No, actually, it’s SHIT!! Bose can kiss my arse. Weirdly, my 17 year old daughter thinks the booming one-note drone from the subs is ‘cool’. No. It’s not. When funds allow it’s the first thing to be changed. Well, after the tyres. And the mod to the suspension. And the.....