The new 911 s/Carerra, OT, but I need to vent Options

[Pat Garvey]

Ok, this is my 3000th post. I saved this one because of how Porsche has delivered us "stalwarts" to unneccesary and even "backwoods".

Those of us who own classic 911's and 914's do most of our own work. Why, because the cars are relatively simple. Buy some books & tools - you can do most anything.

About 10 years ago Porsche lost me. They became too complicated to handle for a mere bean counter.

Just recently, I read an article about a 30 year member of PCA who bought a Cayman S,took it to the PCA Parade, and didn't know how to make the engine compartment visible for concours judging (He f_ing won!). Of course it was brand new! Wow, what a devastating win!

My point is - Porsches have become too complicated. Am I a fogey - bet your ass!

I don't want 300 dollar oil changes & transmission complexities that are meant for the track. I want relative simplicity.

I'm pushing retirement (well, actually I retired 5 years ago). I envisioned a 914/6GT or a 911RS as my retirement present to myself. or, just maybe a GT2. They've all priced themselves to levels that I don't want to commit to. May still happen.

But, my biggest problem is that Porsche, in my opinion is NOT Porcshe anymore They want us to "lease" every 4-5 years . The current management does not care about the Porscephiles that made them successful. They are not much different than GM or Ford. Yes, Porsche makles an excellent car, but one that any idiot can drive well. Everything that made a Porsche a car to be mastered has been removed/replaced by electronics.

Porsche is way too concerned with making money ( I wouldn't bitch if I could only buy some stock) and taking control of VW (why?)

Shouldn't they me trying for another entry level Porsche? Say, something around $28K, that an idiot like me could maintain? Nope, they've sold us out!

Yep, I'm pissed!

Pat

ps: Happy 3000th post to me!

[naro914]

Porsche is way too concerned with making money ( I wouldn't bitch if I could only buy some stock) and taking control of VW (why?)

Shouldn't they me trying for another entry level Porsche? Say, something around $28K, that an idiot like me could maintain? Nope, they've sold us out!

Pat and all,
I had a very interesting conversation with Hans Peter Porsche at Parade this year. We had dinner together one night and he told me some great history about Porsche the company, and the Porsche family.... Back in 1993, Porsche almost went bankrupt. That was at a time when Porsche's were not really complicated, fairly "manual" except for mandated emissions stuff, etc. The "family" decided to give it one last go at it and NOT be bought out by the 3 different offers they had on the table. The decision was made that in order to survive, they had to start producing what the market wanted, and let go of the old hand-made way of doing things.

This story is much longer and much more complex, but the gist of it is that the world was changing and in order to survive, Porsche needed to change with it. If they didn't, Porsche would not exist right now, period.

Also, keep in mind, Porsche has always been advanced in engineering. In today's terms, early Porsches are simple, but back when they were all new, they were way more advanced than whatever was out at the time. An early 911 engine is more complex than a '60's Chevy small block for example.

When the 993's came out, they were really advanced, and very complicated compared to say a 3.2 Carrera. "Only the dealers can work on them now" was what we all heard. Well, now years later, even I can work on my 993, and I'm not a mechanic. Harder than my 914? Yes, but my refrigerator is more complex than a 1971 ice box too..... it's all relative.

the great thing about Porsches is that you can still find, and enjoy, the old cars, or you can enjoy the new ones. I read somewhere that a higher percentage of all Porsches ever built are still running compared to other car companies. I believe that....for as few early cars were built, I see many more of them than even early Chevy's - and I live in Nascar country that "don't take too kindly to them there European cars".

Porsche the company has evolved with the times, and has been able to stay around. I own 4 914's, a '69 911, a 95 993 cab, and I really want a GT3. I appreciate and enjoy the older cars, I love the 993, but I am also excited about the GT3. go figure....

anyway, my 2 cents fwiw.

(oh, and keep in mind, way back then we didn't have 914world.com for you to get your 3000th post and vent to the world!!)