The cars I have had this millennium.....
Discussion
When the Millennium dawned and all that Y2K stuff was happening, I had two cars.
The company car was a 1999 540i six speed, a trouble-free and immensely comfortable car. I rarely photographed my cars in those days, and this is about the only pics I have. I had seats in the car that had articulated backs so the curve of the seatback could be adjusted; I wish I had that option still.
The other car was a 1998 Mercedes C280, a nicely finished car, not a a performance car; it was dark green but I cannot find a pic.
2001/2002 :
I changed the E39 540i for an E39 M5, a truly brilliant car and at the time probably the best in its class anywhere. This is the only other car where I can’t find a photograph. In September 2001 I picked up a magazine that had a review of the new Mercedes R230 SL500, and I loved the look of the car. The magazine was also memorable because the photographs were taken in Manhattan, and by the time it hit the stands the World Trade Centre in the pics was already destroyed..
The R230 was heavily in demand and people were paying premiums for them. I just could not get my head around paying above MSRP so I ordered the car and waited…and waited. I had speeded it in black, black glass roof, full red interior with all wood deleted.
It would not show up until 2003. I still have the car, now living at the winter house in Arizona, and it is unmarked with 26,000 miles on it. The carpets need replacing and it has had a few expensive repairs. It is an ideal evening cruiser, lazy V8, no sports cars but lovely for a long drive.
In the autumn of 2003 I traded my company M5 for a……Touareg V8. The winters in Canada are severe at times, and I wanted to try my first ever SUV. I loved the interior of the Touareg, and the V8 (basically and Audi V8) was nice.
It was also the worst car I had ever bought. From the beginning it had endless electrical problems, ground faults, multiple failures and spent most of the next four months in the dealers. Eventually I negotiated a replacement; of course, the 2005 was not available for months, so I got a brilliant loaner, a W12 Phaeton. I had never had such a huge powerful car, and though I was not tempted to buy one, it was beautifully finished and unbelievable quiet.
2004
Without any BMW, I then saw the announcement of the 645ci, and despite the controversial styling, I loved it. I ordered a very rare 6 speed manual. Lovely V8, absolutely horrible run flat tires, and an overly off-on clutch. Of all the BMw manuals I had owned ( many), this was the least satisfying gearbox. Handled very well too and was absolutely trouble free.
In August the new Touareg V8 arrived. It was identically specced to the bad old Touareg and never had the tiniest fault; a brilliant winter car, quick enough for what it was, and I preferred the interior to the much more expensive Cayenne.
December 2004 …a mad purchase.
As I live in a dense city, a new Smart Fortwo which had just been introduced into Canada ( before the US ever got one), was purchased. The “luxury” model Passion had air conditioning (barely) and heating ( barely), and was fas bought for city traffic. Awful thing on a windy highway, but the best Parker of all. Very satisfying to find that hard spot. I still have the car which has 16,800 miles on it, mosts in two-three mile trips. Surprisingly expensive to maintain, it had a blown turbo and a full from suspension rebuild, neither under warranty. The bodywork is like new though. The Smart is called Aleck and got that plate.
2005/6
BMW had announced the M6 . The idea of a V10 was immediate and I thought even then that the era of immensely powerful n/a engines might be in danger ( I was way too early), and decided to try factory delivery. SO, the 645 went away.
I loved the V10 and took the car to Hartge the day after it was delivered and had both of the software limiters programmed away. Not cheap or easy but a day later I had a 200MPH car.
Made a bad mistake with the individual colour ( ruby black metallic) which only showed well in bright sunlight. I loved the interior and the radio, the sound of the V10. The SMG was the first paddle shift I had ever owned and it took a lot of getting used to. Appalling as an automatic of driven hard, but with a bit of skill the paddles could achieve very smooth shifts. It was an ideal autobahn muncher though the fuel consumption driven hard was the worst of any car I have ever owned, and the fuel tank was ridiculously small.
And then……..decided to track it at the Nordschleife. A PHer who went by the name of Hammerwerfer ( now very sadly passed away), was a very experienced Ringer who lived there agreed to teach me the track. He had very mixed feelings about the M6..loved the torque, hated the weight and the fact that the car was badly underbred for the purpose.
I had also badly misjudged the amount of paint damage the car would take and it was pretty much in need of a front end repaint after a week.
Still, Ed would murmur that instead of an M6 would be better off with a GT3 or and RS. This had never occurred to me as an option as the RS did not come to North America at all. He got me a ride in a track prepared GT3 and I was simply amazed at the sure-footedness of the car.
On the way back to Canada I was in Frankfurt airport, and happened on a copy of Total 911 magazine. Its had a picture on an orange 997.1RS on the cover and had a review by some journo called Chris Harris. AND..it was coming to North America…
Days later, in Toronto, I went to visit the local Porsche dealer, and ran into a sales rep named Antje. Knowing nothing about demand for the car, I asked her to order a Viper green car.
There was a silence and she softly said the all of the 2007s were sold. “OK,let’s go for a 2008”, I said confidently. “Umm, unfortunately,they are all spoken for too”.
The company car was a 1999 540i six speed, a trouble-free and immensely comfortable car. I rarely photographed my cars in those days, and this is about the only pics I have. I had seats in the car that had articulated backs so the curve of the seatback could be adjusted; I wish I had that option still.
The other car was a 1998 Mercedes C280, a nicely finished car, not a a performance car; it was dark green but I cannot find a pic.
2001/2002 :
I changed the E39 540i for an E39 M5, a truly brilliant car and at the time probably the best in its class anywhere. This is the only other car where I can’t find a photograph. In September 2001 I picked up a magazine that had a review of the new Mercedes R230 SL500, and I loved the look of the car. The magazine was also memorable because the photographs were taken in Manhattan, and by the time it hit the stands the World Trade Centre in the pics was already destroyed..
The R230 was heavily in demand and people were paying premiums for them. I just could not get my head around paying above MSRP so I ordered the car and waited…and waited. I had speeded it in black, black glass roof, full red interior with all wood deleted.
It would not show up until 2003. I still have the car, now living at the winter house in Arizona, and it is unmarked with 26,000 miles on it. The carpets need replacing and it has had a few expensive repairs. It is an ideal evening cruiser, lazy V8, no sports cars but lovely for a long drive.
In the autumn of 2003 I traded my company M5 for a……Touareg V8. The winters in Canada are severe at times, and I wanted to try my first ever SUV. I loved the interior of the Touareg, and the V8 (basically and Audi V8) was nice.
It was also the worst car I had ever bought. From the beginning it had endless electrical problems, ground faults, multiple failures and spent most of the next four months in the dealers. Eventually I negotiated a replacement; of course, the 2005 was not available for months, so I got a brilliant loaner, a W12 Phaeton. I had never had such a huge powerful car, and though I was not tempted to buy one, it was beautifully finished and unbelievable quiet.
2004
Without any BMW, I then saw the announcement of the 645ci, and despite the controversial styling, I loved it. I ordered a very rare 6 speed manual. Lovely V8, absolutely horrible run flat tires, and an overly off-on clutch. Of all the BMw manuals I had owned ( many), this was the least satisfying gearbox. Handled very well too and was absolutely trouble free.
In August the new Touareg V8 arrived. It was identically specced to the bad old Touareg and never had the tiniest fault; a brilliant winter car, quick enough for what it was, and I preferred the interior to the much more expensive Cayenne.
December 2004 …a mad purchase.
As I live in a dense city, a new Smart Fortwo which had just been introduced into Canada ( before the US ever got one), was purchased. The “luxury” model Passion had air conditioning (barely) and heating ( barely), and was fas bought for city traffic. Awful thing on a windy highway, but the best Parker of all. Very satisfying to find that hard spot. I still have the car which has 16,800 miles on it, mosts in two-three mile trips. Surprisingly expensive to maintain, it had a blown turbo and a full from suspension rebuild, neither under warranty. The bodywork is like new though. The Smart is called Aleck and got that plate.
2005/6
BMW had announced the M6 . The idea of a V10 was immediate and I thought even then that the era of immensely powerful n/a engines might be in danger ( I was way too early), and decided to try factory delivery. SO, the 645 went away.
I loved the V10 and took the car to Hartge the day after it was delivered and had both of the software limiters programmed away. Not cheap or easy but a day later I had a 200MPH car.
Made a bad mistake with the individual colour ( ruby black metallic) which only showed well in bright sunlight. I loved the interior and the radio, the sound of the V10. The SMG was the first paddle shift I had ever owned and it took a lot of getting used to. Appalling as an automatic of driven hard, but with a bit of skill the paddles could achieve very smooth shifts. It was an ideal autobahn muncher though the fuel consumption driven hard was the worst of any car I have ever owned, and the fuel tank was ridiculously small.
And then……..decided to track it at the Nordschleife. A PHer who went by the name of Hammerwerfer ( now very sadly passed away), was a very experienced Ringer who lived there agreed to teach me the track. He had very mixed feelings about the M6..loved the torque, hated the weight and the fact that the car was badly underbred for the purpose.
I had also badly misjudged the amount of paint damage the car would take and it was pretty much in need of a front end repaint after a week.
Still, Ed would murmur that instead of an M6 would be better off with a GT3 or and RS. This had never occurred to me as an option as the RS did not come to North America at all. He got me a ride in a track prepared GT3 and I was simply amazed at the sure-footedness of the car.
On the way back to Canada I was in Frankfurt airport, and happened on a copy of Total 911 magazine. Its had a picture on an orange 997.1RS on the cover and had a review by some journo called Chris Harris. AND..it was coming to North America…
Days later, in Toronto, I went to visit the local Porsche dealer, and ran into a sales rep named Antje. Knowing nothing about demand for the car, I asked her to order a Viper green car.
There was a silence and she softly said the all of the 2007s were sold. “OK,let’s go for a 2008”, I said confidently. “Umm, unfortunately,they are all spoken for too”.
2007
Over the next year I would visit the dealer often, and drooled like some kind of pervert over the few 997RS that would appear. There was no hope.
Then, in later 2007 the phone rang. It was Antje. “I’ve had a cancellation on a Viper RS but I only have a hold on it for 15 minutes…”.
Fastest sale ever, and I had my RS. As it was late in the year I got very little chance to drive it, but the thing was so different to my experience, rattling at idle like an enamel basin full of ball bearings, a massively heavy clutch, and simply magical steering. No stability control.
Antje delivers my first RS:
Unfortunately it was in the wrong country - no factory delivery of course. So, I shipped it back to Germany on Canadian plates. This time I had the 3m clear skin on the front. Personal plates drive the Polizei nuts, but. once they knew the car was legal all was well.
I had a magical time with this car in Germany, hooked up once again with Hammerwerfer and wore the tires out on tracks. First time at Spa, full week on the Nordschleife. I vowed to myself never to part with it and I have it still, with 21,000 miles on it.
It is however a handful on the PS Cups in heavy rain, and I managed to spin it harmlessly at Spa in the wet. Back in Canada at Mosport in very heavy rain it was very, very difficult to handle. I also had an unusual failure on the car…the clutch went at about 10,00o miles, and I still do not know why. Have never had a premature clutch failure in my life. The car is also very low and I am on my sixth front splitter. No way to avoid this.
IMG_9253.jpg Photo by RMcG | Photobucket
2008:
It was time to trade in the Touareg that had served me so well; to my despair VW had decided not to import art V8 any more, so I went to a Cayenne V8 instead. To get it into any company car budget I got a stripper. No air suspension, no sunroof, plastic dash. Overall a big interior step-down from the Touareg, but I wanted the engine, as I had purchased a trailer to tow the RS and other cars jointly with a mate. It now had 138,000 miles and has towed extensively, often to Arizona. Failures have been few but expensive. Had an oil leak that was engine out, and then cam lifter what that was also a very expensive job, but the vehicle has had very heavy use, sat outside in Canadian winter, been up and down Arizona offroad trails, and hauled a lot of dogs a lot of miles. I will keep it indefinitely. Eventually it will die But I hope not yet.
2010
The 997.2RS came out, and though I could not bear to part with my Viper car, I ordered one factory delivery. What brilliant car - had the bucket seats, a very rare optional thicker steering wheel, Much better aero than the RS.1 and hugely better wet handling.
Toured it through Prague and the Alps and back to the Ring. It was a stunning carl.This time I had an interesting driver - Sabine Schmitz and a brilliant instructor called Daniel Schwerzfeld.
I was there for the N24, and had some amazing access through Hans Stuck who I knew; he was driving for Audi ( has last season) so I got full pit access and could walk down the live pits- was watching the production RS what was driven by the same Chris Harris with other driver, and it came a very creditable 12th despite no modifications…
I was tempted to keep the 7.1 as well…but things would change. Also by the end of 2010 I had 21,000 miles on the M6, and I was nervous of the complexity of the car. I was driving it less, so I sold it privately.
Over the next year I would visit the dealer often, and drooled like some kind of pervert over the few 997RS that would appear. There was no hope.
Then, in later 2007 the phone rang. It was Antje. “I’ve had a cancellation on a Viper RS but I only have a hold on it for 15 minutes…”.
Fastest sale ever, and I had my RS. As it was late in the year I got very little chance to drive it, but the thing was so different to my experience, rattling at idle like an enamel basin full of ball bearings, a massively heavy clutch, and simply magical steering. No stability control.
Antje delivers my first RS:
Unfortunately it was in the wrong country - no factory delivery of course. So, I shipped it back to Germany on Canadian plates. This time I had the 3m clear skin on the front. Personal plates drive the Polizei nuts, but. once they knew the car was legal all was well.
I had a magical time with this car in Germany, hooked up once again with Hammerwerfer and wore the tires out on tracks. First time at Spa, full week on the Nordschleife. I vowed to myself never to part with it and I have it still, with 21,000 miles on it.
It is however a handful on the PS Cups in heavy rain, and I managed to spin it harmlessly at Spa in the wet. Back in Canada at Mosport in very heavy rain it was very, very difficult to handle. I also had an unusual failure on the car…the clutch went at about 10,00o miles, and I still do not know why. Have never had a premature clutch failure in my life. The car is also very low and I am on my sixth front splitter. No way to avoid this.
IMG_9253.jpg Photo by RMcG | Photobucket
2008:
It was time to trade in the Touareg that had served me so well; to my despair VW had decided not to import art V8 any more, so I went to a Cayenne V8 instead. To get it into any company car budget I got a stripper. No air suspension, no sunroof, plastic dash. Overall a big interior step-down from the Touareg, but I wanted the engine, as I had purchased a trailer to tow the RS and other cars jointly with a mate. It now had 138,000 miles and has towed extensively, often to Arizona. Failures have been few but expensive. Had an oil leak that was engine out, and then cam lifter what that was also a very expensive job, but the vehicle has had very heavy use, sat outside in Canadian winter, been up and down Arizona offroad trails, and hauled a lot of dogs a lot of miles. I will keep it indefinitely. Eventually it will die But I hope not yet.
2010
The 997.2RS came out, and though I could not bear to part with my Viper car, I ordered one factory delivery. What brilliant car - had the bucket seats, a very rare optional thicker steering wheel, Much better aero than the RS.1 and hugely better wet handling.
Toured it through Prague and the Alps and back to the Ring. It was a stunning carl.This time I had an interesting driver - Sabine Schmitz and a brilliant instructor called Daniel Schwerzfeld.
I was there for the N24, and had some amazing access through Hans Stuck who I knew; he was driving for Audi ( has last season) so I got full pit access and could walk down the live pits- was watching the production RS what was driven by the same Chris Harris with other driver, and it came a very creditable 12th despite no modifications…
I was tempted to keep the 7.1 as well…but things would change. Also by the end of 2010 I had 21,000 miles on the M6, and I was nervous of the complexity of the car. I was driving it less, so I sold it privately.
2012
Down in Arizona, the country is wild, desert and immensely beautiful. Its made sense to have a permanent vehicle there that could offroad properly. Personally I would have liked a Raptor but there are just too high for a Great Dane to jump into, so a Jeep Wrangler made sense.
It is truly an awful thing on the road, with vague steering, feeble headlights, modest acceleration, excruciating back seats, and doors with no detentes. But like a penguin, once it gets into its element, it is a wonderfully capable 4x4…locking diffs, low range, short overhangs. Brilliant and another keeper.
Then came a period of no change….until the spring of 2015.
2015:
Porsche announced the 991 RS.
I struggled with this - knew that I would not want three RS’s ( probably a mistake to have been sensible), so decided to sell the 7.2, the better car. Just could not say goodbye to the old Viper green 7.1..
So, in the September of 2015 I picked up the 991, drove it immediately to the place where Porsche gets clear skin os certain cars, and the car was ready for a but of abuse. Drove directly to Zell am See where there was a brilliant meeting ( MajorDad of PH had given me the tip and intro).
Hosted by Dr Wolfgang Porsche this was the best collection of Porsches being driven anger I have seen. 73 RS, 65 911, 959, the lot, all being driven like they were stolen. This was the best Porsche meeting ever, and I managed to get Dr Porsche to autograph the car at his him, where Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche are buried. I visited the chapel.
The 991 was so superior in roadholding and wet grip at high speeds to the 997s - it took so much to upset the car. Unlike many, I loved the PDK. The three days at Zell am See were unforgettable. - people who wanted to drive, did not think of resale values or garage queens, and were huge fun. I was one of the very few people from this side of the pond
Its next adventure was a drive to Hamburg to visit the very first Porsche off all..the 1939 typ 64. I was lucky enough to have to closed museum to myself for the day and they founders and owners allowed my to bring the 991 for pics with its priceless ancestor. It was to tiny…and yet, so Porsche.
From there it was off for the usual Ring trip- and it was VERY wet. The first evening they close the track for fog, but they opened the F1 track. This was a Godsend because the F1 track has huge runoffs and it gave me a chance to try the 991 more to its limits without hitting the Armco. It was simply amazing how much it took to upset it.
A few more days at the Ring, and then my normal detour through Berlin, and home. The 991 has now joined the every-growing list of keepers.
Down in Arizona, the country is wild, desert and immensely beautiful. Its made sense to have a permanent vehicle there that could offroad properly. Personally I would have liked a Raptor but there are just too high for a Great Dane to jump into, so a Jeep Wrangler made sense.
It is truly an awful thing on the road, with vague steering, feeble headlights, modest acceleration, excruciating back seats, and doors with no detentes. But like a penguin, once it gets into its element, it is a wonderfully capable 4x4…locking diffs, low range, short overhangs. Brilliant and another keeper.
Then came a period of no change….until the spring of 2015.
2015:
Porsche announced the 991 RS.
I struggled with this - knew that I would not want three RS’s ( probably a mistake to have been sensible), so decided to sell the 7.2, the better car. Just could not say goodbye to the old Viper green 7.1..
So, in the September of 2015 I picked up the 991, drove it immediately to the place where Porsche gets clear skin os certain cars, and the car was ready for a but of abuse. Drove directly to Zell am See where there was a brilliant meeting ( MajorDad of PH had given me the tip and intro).
Hosted by Dr Wolfgang Porsche this was the best collection of Porsches being driven anger I have seen. 73 RS, 65 911, 959, the lot, all being driven like they were stolen. This was the best Porsche meeting ever, and I managed to get Dr Porsche to autograph the car at his him, where Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche are buried. I visited the chapel.
The 991 was so superior in roadholding and wet grip at high speeds to the 997s - it took so much to upset the car. Unlike many, I loved the PDK. The three days at Zell am See were unforgettable. - people who wanted to drive, did not think of resale values or garage queens, and were huge fun. I was one of the very few people from this side of the pond
Its next adventure was a drive to Hamburg to visit the very first Porsche off all..the 1939 typ 64. I was lucky enough to have to closed museum to myself for the day and they founders and owners allowed my to bring the 991 for pics with its priceless ancestor. It was to tiny…and yet, so Porsche.
From there it was off for the usual Ring trip- and it was VERY wet. The first evening they close the track for fog, but they opened the F1 track. This was a Godsend because the F1 track has huge runoffs and it gave me a chance to try the 991 more to its limits without hitting the Armco. It was simply amazing how much it took to upset it.
A few more days at the Ring, and then my normal detour through Berlin, and home. The 991 has now joined the every-growing list of keepers.
2017/8
I had no intention of adding anythings at all, But I had ben intrigued by the Porsche Sport Turismo concept cars that had shown up a few year earlier. When I heard that it was going into production I ordered one. ( I had said I would never get a big car when I had the temporary VW Phaeton)…but logic it not my strongpoint.
Ordered it for Euro delivery when Porsche abruptly suspended the program. This was very bad luck as they later reinstated it but too late. The car had been built.
I ordered the Turbo ( V8s have always appealed to me). Not the Hybrid. This is the best long distance car I have ever owned. Drives like a much smaller car, it very, very quiet unless caned, and with 188MPH maximum speed needs and autobahn. So, in August 2018, back it goes. Of course I will track it - my first track experience in s station wagon! It wil have some adventures…they usually do
.
The future:
Who knows?…I am sure that the new JL Wrangler will show up in its two door version and the Smart will eventually go this year.
As for the rest, the Cayenne will stay till its no longer economical to repair or I no longer have a Great Dane. The Panamera is too low for the dog.
The rest of the cars are just going to stick around; Maybe a 992 RS…but I will be 72 when that shows up. Hard to tell yet.
All of the cars have had stories, and all of them have been part of the experience.
I had no intention of adding anythings at all, But I had ben intrigued by the Porsche Sport Turismo concept cars that had shown up a few year earlier. When I heard that it was going into production I ordered one. ( I had said I would never get a big car when I had the temporary VW Phaeton)…but logic it not my strongpoint.
Ordered it for Euro delivery when Porsche abruptly suspended the program. This was very bad luck as they later reinstated it but too late. The car had been built.
I ordered the Turbo ( V8s have always appealed to me). Not the Hybrid. This is the best long distance car I have ever owned. Drives like a much smaller car, it very, very quiet unless caned, and with 188MPH maximum speed needs and autobahn. So, in August 2018, back it goes. Of course I will track it - my first track experience in s station wagon! It wil have some adventures…they usually do
.
The future:
Who knows?…I am sure that the new JL Wrangler will show up in its two door version and the Smart will eventually go this year.
As for the rest, the Cayenne will stay till its no longer economical to repair or I no longer have a Great Dane. The Panamera is too low for the dog.
The rest of the cars are just going to stick around; Maybe a 992 RS…but I will be 72 when that shows up. Hard to tell yet.
All of the cars have had stories, and all of them have been part of the experience.
There are many I drove but either could not afford, hated, to just were not quite right. I have forgotten many too, and driven a procession of horrible rental cars both here and in Europe.
The best of all was the Carrera GT..the most perfect car I have ever driven had, and at 170MPOH was a spine tingling experience
The Mercedes CL 550 for its beautiful finish:
The Tesla…staggering speed and silence:
The Alpina B7 for its power and the best HUD…why does Porsche not do this?
The F Type (tried 2)for its exhaust crackle, but ridiculously limited luggage space .
Fiat 500 Abarth:
Lovely little car with nice interior and fun to drive…was tempted.
Porsche 991 S
First experience with the 991..loved th interior, early PDK was unimpressive after a week of driving:
Then there were the others:
BMW i8…
loved the appearance but the interior seems cheap to me, then the silly artificial engine noise was irritating.
Maserati - Chrysler bargain basement instruments - lovely engine
Bentley Continental:
Same instrument panel as my old Touareg:
The truly awful Mitsu M-EV
The best of all was the Carrera GT..the most perfect car I have ever driven had, and at 170MPOH was a spine tingling experience
The Mercedes CL 550 for its beautiful finish:
The Tesla…staggering speed and silence:
The Alpina B7 for its power and the best HUD…why does Porsche not do this?
The F Type (tried 2)for its exhaust crackle, but ridiculously limited luggage space .
Fiat 500 Abarth:
Lovely little car with nice interior and fun to drive…was tempted.
Porsche 991 S
First experience with the 991..loved th interior, early PDK was unimpressive after a week of driving:
Then there were the others:
BMW i8…
loved the appearance but the interior seems cheap to me, then the silly artificial engine noise was irritating.
Maserati - Chrysler bargain basement instruments - lovely engine
Bentley Continental:
Same instrument panel as my old Touareg:
The truly awful Mitsu M-EV
RDMcG said:
2017/8
So, in August 2018, back it goes. Of course I will track it - my first track experience in s station wagon!
Did I read correctly that you are shipping a 2 ton station wagon across the Atlantic to drive the Nordschleife?So, in August 2018, back it goes. Of course I will track it - my first track experience in s station wagon!
Are there no race tracks on your continent? And if there are no comparable ones (which as a German I can understand), can't you ask a European PH'er with a similar car to join him and have a go in his car?
Can't imagine that driving that tank along a race track would be such an amazing event that it would justify the immense shipping costs...
DamnKraut said:
Did I read correctly that you are shipping a 2 ton station wagon across the Atlantic to drive the Nordschleife?
Are there no race tracks on your continent? And if there are no comparable ones (which as a German I can understand), can't you ask a European PH'er with a similar car to join him and have a go in his car?
Can't imagine that driving that tank along a race track would be such an amazing event that it would justify the immense shipping costs...
Its not the expensive auto do by boat...I shipped my 7.1RS in 2008, and costs have gone down since then. Insurance is the big costs though. I will probably do about 5,000km on the road and a day or two on track this time- (less than I usually do). There are plenty of tracks here...Mosport, Watkins Glen are both very convenient and I have used the 911s there.Its more a principle that I like to drive every car on the NS when I buy it. Evidently this will require an adjustment to say the least, but its what I have done. Are there no race tracks on your continent? And if there are no comparable ones (which as a German I can understand), can't you ask a European PH'er with a similar car to join him and have a go in his car?
Can't imagine that driving that tank along a race track would be such an amazing event that it would justify the immense shipping costs...
I will not do something like this though
We've done similar things and have similar interests R, I guess that's why I always notice your posts on here. You have some much meaner metal under your belt however I'm much younger so I hope to emulate your exploits at some point.
One day the stars will align and you'll be at the 'ring when I am and I hope to be able to buy you a beer, until then I'll enjoy your posts on PH
One day the stars will align and you'll be at the 'ring when I am and I hope to be able to buy you a beer, until then I'll enjoy your posts on PH
LaurasOtherHalf said:
We've done similar things and have similar interests R, I guess that's why I always notice your posts on here. You have some much meaner metal under your belt however I'm much younger so I hope to emulate your exploits at some point.
One day the stars will align and you'll be at the 'ring when I am and I hope to be able to buy you a beer, until then I'll enjoy your posts on PH
Of course I did not have great cars when I was younger...I had some great sheds because that was what I could afford. I was 30 before I got a new car. Further.,cars are a hobby but business is what drove me, so as I tried to build myself up I did not have the time. Bootstrapping is challenging.One day the stars will align and you'll be at the 'ring when I am and I hope to be able to buy you a beer, until then I'll enjoy your posts on PH
As you are younger , you have much more runway...more time to make mistakes ( I sure have) more time to recover, more time to make a great success. At this stage I do jt have that luxury, but no regrets either. If I see you at the Ring then a trip to the Pistenklause is in order.
At 30 this was me with my P&J: Not the greatest car on earth but it was new, and I was happy. Its not about the metal for sure. I have been passed many a time at the Ring by objectively slower cars and supremely better drivers. Yet, the experience counts.
Mr Tidy said:
OP, thanks so much for sharing this story!
Keep enjoying your collection, and maybe adding to it, but please keep us updated (when you get time).
There will be adventuresKeep enjoying your collection, and maybe adding to it, but please keep us updated (when you get time).
...the road always beckons and I never know what around the next bend. The cars dont matter...its what you do with themRDMcG said:
At 30 this was me with my P&J: Not the greatest car on earth but it was new, and I was happy. Its not about the metal for sure. I have been passed many a time at the Ring by objectively slower cars and supremely better drivers. Yet, the experience counts.
Love it 
And as if by magic here am I at the same age somewhere we'll both recognise;
How fashions change eh? Now the car was most definitely NOT new back then but i loved it all the same-the wonderful thing is now (ten years later?) with a family to support I'm only working harder to get myself back into those cars I enjoyed in my youth! Godspeed R, enjoy those cars as much as you can
LOH:
Future is all there for you. I am not actually nostalgic....I have had a bloody ball, and am working hard these days, (umm....am truly a company director),,,but it keeps me focused on the future too.
I am sure as I ever have been in my life about the good old days.
These are the good old days.
As I get to the age I am l realize how lucky I am.
I have health, flexibility, eyesight, memory and all the stuff I always had. It will not be forever and that's fine.
Its good for now though, and being able to do a 300km/h run in the Pana in Germany this year will be great.
You can achieve and experience new and different things. I am very,very happy that you can. I started working at 11 and never stopped. I loved it, and love it now, Still have the time for new experiences, but I need the real adrenalin of work that challenges me.
Makes leisure more valuable,,,snd as I get to the edge of performance in a car, and I am all alone with some brilliant piece of machinery I am filed with admiration for the geniuses who build this stuff. When I had Dr Porsche sign my 991 RS I felt the connection to all of those people who went before, who developed the car from the tiny little Typ 64. I am keenly aware when I get into a brilliant car but how much though and effort it took to produce it.
I wish I had the talent to exploit it further, but thats OK. I do what I can.
Beer will be on the bar!
Future is all there for you. I am not actually nostalgic....I have had a bloody ball, and am working hard these days, (umm....am truly a company director),,,but it keeps me focused on the future too.
I am sure as I ever have been in my life about the good old days.
These are the good old days.
As I get to the age I am l realize how lucky I am.
I have health, flexibility, eyesight, memory and all the stuff I always had. It will not be forever and that's fine.
Its good for now though, and being able to do a 300km/h run in the Pana in Germany this year will be great.
You can achieve and experience new and different things. I am very,very happy that you can. I started working at 11 and never stopped. I loved it, and love it now, Still have the time for new experiences, but I need the real adrenalin of work that challenges me.
Makes leisure more valuable,,,snd as I get to the edge of performance in a car, and I am all alone with some brilliant piece of machinery I am filed with admiration for the geniuses who build this stuff. When I had Dr Porsche sign my 991 RS I felt the connection to all of those people who went before, who developed the car from the tiny little Typ 64. I am keenly aware when I get into a brilliant car but how much though and effort it took to produce it.
I wish I had the talent to exploit it further, but thats OK. I do what I can.
Beer will be on the bar!
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