Had one on my bedroom wall in the early 80s and always promised myself I would have one.
Stopped dreaming and entered into BMW ownership over 12 years ago and thought the M3/M4 would be my dream car. Last year I decided life was to short and looked into splashing out on an M4. A big discount offer had me hooked and I asked for a drive and the dealer took me out in a 12 month old M4. While driving we discussed the price of the demo model and I was shocked at the price difference. I woke up to BMW depreciation and the car didn't feel special enough to warrant the cost of ownership.
I thought it would be fun to check out what sort of Porsche I could afford (still in dream land or so I thought) and OPC Cambs offered me an afternoon of hooning around with a C4S and a 718S. Fell in love with a 718S as I couldn't make the math work for me on a new C4S at twice the price. Older P-Cars didn't get a look in as I thought they were dated especially coming from newer well equipped BMWs. I told the dealer that a 997 was out of the question and it had to be 2013+.....
After many months of thinking about it and sitting on a build for a new 718S I asked the OPC for a 718S for a day to test. I really did like it but decided, with a heavy heart, that it was never going to scratch the itch for a 911. Another consideration was coming from a much larger car the cabin felt a little bit too cramped for my liking and couldn't see myself driving 400+ miles in it. I didn't pull the trigger and told the dealer I would restart my search for a 991.
I was working in Leicester and popped into the OPC for the fun of it and considered a moderately spec'ced C4S 2012 991 for similar money as my 718S build. But then it clicked....
Next to the 991 was a 2010 997.2 C4S for £20k less. It was love at first sight!
Easy money maths considering what I was prepared to pay. I hadn't done a lot of research on the older models and the dealer suggested I took it out for a drive as I told him I would never consider a 997. It looked so good sat there that I figured it would be rude not to.
Within 5-10 mins of a spirited drive under the instruction of the salesman I was hooked. It frightened the life out of me and the adrenaline was pumping. It felt very special, it felt fast and that noise! I told the salesman that I would have it pending an agreement on the price.
Needless to say we did a deal and I haven't looked back. I don't desire a newer model and if anything I have since learnt to appreciate the value in the older models. Don't get me wrong if money was no object I would have a newer 911 or a GT model but at twice or three times as much money I don't think my smile would be proportionately bigger than it is when I drive my 997.
I now don't desire the technology that I thought I would miss. I enjoy driving again. I don't need the technology of iDrive or Harmon kardon to enhance the driving experience. I have all the technology I need and more very firmly in the palm of my hands when I get into the 911. I feel like I am driving something special. I rarely use the Bose system because even after 5.5k miles the sound of the car is intoxicating especially when moving up to the higher end of the rev range
I am now of the belief that when I was in the BMW I needed the toys because the driving experience was otherwise bland.
In the 7 months of ownership my love of the car is growing and as for depreciation..well if it's anything to go by a couple of indies have told me I paid a good price and would probably have to pay more for it now..Good news when I have been used to losing a ton when driving a BMW off the forecourt. It's a bit of a shock to the system but it makes me smile every time I think about. Joining this forum, PCGB and Tipec has really opened my eyes, I love the Porsche ownership experience even if it does come at a price!
So why a 911? It's iconic and it's cracking value! It's a no brainer seriously!