A Porsche Enthusiast's Guide to Sober Decision making - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Could you not just drive it more?

Honestly, it's probably a bit more, but not by much. Work commitments and time make it tricky. But it's the kind of car where I can open the garage and say, "Let’s go for a spin, old girl," if I keep it long-term. The reality is, though, it’s tough to justify when I struggle to find the time to actually use it.

A decent roadtrip will put a stop to this madness. Start small with a nice 3 night UK trip somewhere with decent roads and some nice accommodation and food. Build up to a bigger euro trip.(Spain & Portugal are top of the pile imo for the driving aspect of a roadtrip). Do a half day at the Porsche Experience Centre (£500ish). You'll use their cars (T's available), have a great time whilst building some extra confidence in the car. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Here's some of my adventures in my 718GTS (First eurotour posts start 29.Dec.2023) which might provide for some inspiration? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Gotcha. I was just wondering if you could treat it as a really, really awesome daily. (I don't have a Porsche and never had, but I use my Alpine more than my Golf, including just going to the office). Then I s'pose the question is whether you need the money. And then, if not, would you just fritter it away?

Sell it and buy something cheaper and more visceral/engaging. That way you have some money back in your pocket to feel good about, and then with a canny purchase of something cheaper from a back catalogue where depreciation has already mostly stabilised, you can have your 'bit of rough' tucked up in the garage ready and waiting for you whenever you want a blast or want to remind yourself that you're not dead yet. You can indulge yourself in the chase of finding that next hit.

I understand the feeling. I think the only way is to make it a daily in order to use it more. I sold my 997, which was in a very very good condition because I couldn’t use it enough - not practical enough, family didn’t appreciate it and I was just using it myself and forcing me to get out to use it. Bought a 991.2S (w/powerkit) Cabrio PDK. Have been using it every day as it is a pdk and super easy to use, family appreciates the fact that it is a cabrio and so we also use during weekend. 1.300kms in 1.5 months of use. Make it a daily - flog the i5 and trade the T Manual for a PDK (of any sort) if you must for day to day.

Do a Euro Road Trip - you will either come back in love once more, or just think "meh" Here's "Betty", in which we drove from Bournemouth to Como a couple of years ago: Also, they will just knock down the value tomorrow due to "latest price data" - so please keep that beautiful girl! ETA: (maybe a reason why we have 7 cars - we love them all for different reasons!) Edited by JohnnyUK on Friday 16th August 20:51

Had same dilemma with my Emira, sold it just wasn’t using it as didn’t suit lifestyle. Very pleased every day just annoyed me as wasn’t using it. Glad it’s gone. Now after 911 pdk as easier drive will use it more and space for dog - will basically daily it.

Don'tuse it as a daily, it will loose it specialness. Drive it more in the weekends, Porsche meetings, roadtrips ect ect.

I have an EV daily and to be honest it does that job great, cars like these though are for appreciating and making memories with. Here is mine a few months ago on a Spanish road trip to suprise my father on his 80th. It was the perfect car to enjoy the trip with my wife. November will see me and my 17 year old son going to Nurburgring for a “dad and lad” road trip. Get out in it, make some memories and appreciate the beautiful car your lucky enough to have

It’s funny, I took delivery of my manual T early June and own a Taycan 4S which I have owned for a couple of years now. I don’t buy into the ‘soul’ thing, they’re cars, but the T just gives back in a way the Taycan can’t, it’s thrilling and accessible, raw and a bit silly. My first 911 was a manual 993 Carrera back in 1996, I sold it after 12 months following the surprise arrival of daughter No.1, it was a very special car, but not baby friendly. I’ve owned seven 911’s since along with an assortment of other lovely cars, but aside from my F355 Fiorano, the 993 always held a special place. The 992T was an attempt to rekindle the 993 experience and so far so good, I love it. Stick with it in my view, it’s a brilliant 911.

If you're even slightly on the fence about the decision - keep the car. You will probably regret selling it otherwise. Using it as a daily is certainly a decent idea. I dailied a Cayman for more than 10 years and more than 100k miles, and pretty much every drive in it was a joy.

Had same dilemma with my Emira, sold it just wasn’t using it as didn’t suit lifestyle. Very pleased every day just annoyed me as wasn’t using it. Glad it’s gone. Now after 911 pdk as easier drive will use it more and space for dog - will basically daily it.

Im drunk now, but I reached out to a friend for some advice, and this is what I got: "Honestly, here’s my take: You don’t need the money, so selling it seems pointless, especially since it's the last of the true purist IC 911s. You're better off keeping it clean and dry without the guilt of not driving it much. It's mint, great spec, and will eventually be worth more than what you paid. Drive it when the mood strikes. For example, we’re taking two cars to the Cotswolds—you could bring it along. When you retire, you'll regret selling it if you do. Keep it, love it, and let the market catch up." Now, Pistonheads can be soul-crushing, but I’ve seen some excellent arguments here for both keeping and selling, and I really appreciate the thoughts and time everyone’s put in. Still on the fence, though—I’ll sleep on it and decide tomorrow. Maybe this will be my first long-term keeper, the one I have tucked away in the garage for a decade or more. Now that's a wild thought...

It sounds like you really like the car but don’t use it much. If you were selling to fund something else that would make sense. To sell then have the money sat you know you’d spend the next however long looking for the next car. My 911 is a second car. Gets occasional use but I love the fact it is there and every trip out is a joy. Making the effort to go on trips is the answer. Awesome cars. Life’s short. Keep it.

Several people have identified one of the reasons I sold my GTS 4.0 - it was barely getting used. I get very frustrated owning things, especially expensive, if they're not getting used. On top, if unused items end up eating up my time (e.g., cleaning the car, driving it each weekend, so that it doesn't just sit, etc), then it saps all the enjoyment out of it. And if the car isn't special enough to put up with all the hassle, then it just needs to go - life is too short to be wasting time.

If you don't need the money keep it. Now is a terrible time to sell, meaning if you need the money in the future chances are you'll get more for it then than now. Now pour yourself another drink and start planning fun stuff to do in it - because a huge amount of people simply don't have that luxury and would do anything to enjoy it... Good luck - whatever you decide.

Keep it, and get a hobby that makes you take it for long drives every few weeks. I do kart racing, lots of 2-3 hour drives to tracks in England or Wales. Other hobbies are available I understand.

Drive it, even if it’s once in a blue moon drive it. Better still make time to drive it. If the money isn’t going to make any difference then selling it is pointless. At lest by keeping it you can take some pleasure from it. But I would really make time to get out there and use it.

I'm lucky enough to own and run 3 cars, none of which would be described as a run of the mill car by Jo Public (E90 M3, GR Yaris, Cayman GTS 4.0). I rotate all of them all year round (although I currently don't commute to work in the Cayman), and driving each of them makes me really appreciate that particular car's strengths and how they contrast with those of the other cars. So my advice would be that if you are also fortunate enough to be able to run more than one car, choose each car wisely so that whichever one you are driving, you appreciate why you have it. In other words, keep the 911 T if you appreciate what it has to offer when you drive it. And as others have said, aim to drive it more often. Every time I get back into my Cayman, I'm reminded why I really really love driving Caymans

We did a road trip in ours last autumn cognac - carcassone - Catalonia - Spanish mountains - San Sebastián - cognac was epic. We were due to take it to Germany, Austria (saltzburg), Slovenia, Croatia, Lake Garda, Lake Maggorie - Alsace in April, didn’t happen due to glass recall, so I quickly acquired a cab f type v8. It did make in to Le Mans. Plus a long weekend in north wales. Just done Scotttish Borders, but took F Type again as weather was good and wife prefers driving that. Planning Spain / Portugual in it next year. Plus a mosey round Ireland. I was going to sell then wife said cash in bank not making much, be 50% more to buy anything similar again from new, so I’m keeping until I can’t. Edited by bennno on Saturday 17th August 04:54

To Sell or Not to Sell: A Drunk Porsche Enthusiast’s Spirited Dilemma So here I am, slightly tipsy and seriously considering selling my beloved Porsche to We Buy Any Car tomorrow. No finance on it, and frankly, no clue what I’d do with the money if I part with it. It's a special machine, though I do wish it had a bit more roar. Selling it would mean walking away from sports car ownership for good—and at 46, that feels rather tragic. Now, I’ll admit I find walkers and horse riders a bit irritating whilst out, but this car is truly becoming a rarity. I’ve barely clocked 1,400 miles in almost a year (bought it used), and yes, it’s "just a T," but let’s be honest, second and third gear is all you really need. Revving it out just begs for a speeding ticket. But then, in a moment of clarity—or maybe madness—I reversed it out of the garage. The interior, still wonderfully analogue, hit me like a nostalgic wave. This isn’t just a car; it’s a time capsule. I could just keep it tucked away, taking it out for those rare moments when I want to remember what a real car feels like. I’ve got an EV that’s ridiculously fast, but it’s as soulless as it gets. Maybe I should take the Porsche on a European jaunt, perhaps a track day or two. I’m in desperate need of input, from both sober and inebriated Porsche lovers. This is a dying breed, after all. The future looks grim, and it’s not even about the money—it’s the fact that I hardly use it, yet the offer from We Buy Any Car is tempting while Porsche dealers seem to be floundering. What’s a man to do? [ Edited by Chipper on Saturday 17th August 06:32

Sell it. Let go and use the money for something else or nothing else. As you don’t drive it chances are you won’t miss it - if you do you can always buy another in the future. To keep it in tip top shape you’re servicing it, taxing it, MOT, Insurance while not driving it - you’re wasting money hanging on to a fantasy in your mind. If you really must have a second car, sell it and get something that you’ll look forward to driving because your 911 isn’t for whatever reason.

You are getting a good offer from We Buy Any Car for a 911 T?

Chipper said: What’s a man to do? [ Edited by Chipper on Saturday 17th August 06:32 Buy something more engaging. T is a great car but ultimately as a car that is being used for what sounds like an hour or two at a time there are more exciting 911’s to drive down a country lane…by that I don’t mean faster I mean cars that are more engaging. Modern 911’s are a bit inert compared to the older stuff. I owned a manual 997 GTS for seven years…absolutely loved it but I was lucky enough to own a 991.2 GT3 in parallel for the half that time (still own the GT3). The engine in the GT3 was on a totally different level but for B roads/country lanes I think the GTS was the better car. I then bought an early 70’s 911 which I took out for a drive last night. An hour in that driving down country lanes is just on a totally different level of engagement to a modern 911. GT3 doesn’t really get a look in for that use. As a mate of mine said who lives a very busy/stressful life said “If I could drive this for 15 minutes every day it would change my life” 997 GTS didn’t last long once I’d got the classic in the garage. You don’t need to buy a 50 year old 911, there are plenty of great cars made in between that might get you more excited about your driving again. Might not be a 911 clearly.

Amazed / appalled people on PH would even dare suggest selling a special car to “get some money back”. OP clearly doesn’t need the money. Would agree with sentiment on here; 992 is too digital and still sounds crap with the turbos. Get a (smaller) 997, 993 or older for a more special experience (unless like me you don’t fit in anything older than a 991!). Oh and finally … dont be asking silly questions when drunk, do something lower risk like texting an ex-girlfriend.

Cheib said: Chipper said: What’s a man to do? [ Edited by Chipper on Saturday 17th August 06:32 Buy something more engaging. T is a great car but ultimately as a car that is being used for what sounds like an hour or two at a time there are more exciting 911’s to drive down a country lane…by that I don’t mean faster I mean cars that are more engaging. Modern 911’s are a bit inert compared to the older stuff. I owned a manual 997 GTS for seven years…absolutely loved it but I was lucky enough to own a 991.2 GT3 in parallel for the half that time (still own the GT3). The engine in the GT3 was on a totally different level but for B roads/country lanes I think the GTS was the better car. I then bought an early 70’s 911 which I took out for a drive last night. An hour in that driving down country lanes is just on a totally different level of engagement to a modern 911. GT3 doesn’t really get a look in for that use. As a mate of mine said who lives a very busy/stressful life said “If I could drive this for 15 minutes every day it would change my life” 997 GTS didn’t last long once I’d got the classic in the garage. You don’t need to buy a 50 year old 911, there are plenty of great cars made in between that might get you more excited about your driving again. Might not be a 911 clearly. Basically this. The older cars draws you in emotionally whether it is being driven or not. And every drive is an event. Find a good one and the costs to run are no more than a modern car. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

I recommend trying at least one road trip or holiday using the car if life allows. It changes your relationship with the car one way or the other. If life doesn’t allow a road trip then sounds as if you should sell. I have 2 “toys” and a daily, all with non competing purpose that justifies me owning them. Golf GTI 7.5P for a daily, Maserati Granturismo for our annual summer holiday to SW France and summer weekend family transport, and a 997 GTS Manual Coupe for solo B road blast, odd weekends away for 2 and special commutes to work. Only thing I’d add is think ahead. In 2 or 3 years time will the use of the car suddenly come into its own? I’ve historically made decisions in the here and now and looked back a few years later with regret. Learnt not to do that anymore and landed 3 motors for the long term and never regret having them in the garage. Edited by c4sman on Saturday 17th August 13:06

And don't be one of those posters that never comes back to tell us what happened. Put a reminder in your phone for six months from now to make sure you do. For what it's worth, if you're not desperate for the cash and have a garage, I think you should keep it.

clive_candy said: And don't be one of those posters that never comes back to tell us what happened. Put a reminder in your phone for six months from now to make sure you do. For what it's worth, if you're not desperate for the cash and have a garage, I think you should keep it. I think this. I don’t think it’s a great time to sell so if you don’t need to then just the maths indicates deferring the decision, taking the time to do the oft suggested road trip. I too get frustrated sometimes by my lack of use of my cars, but if I sell one I inevitably buy something else.

Sell it and buy a classic 911(aircooled). Tuck it up every winter to keep away from the salt and when you open the garage door in the spring it is like getting a new car every year! Once you get into old 911's new ones seem soulless.

Agree it’s not about money. It’s about priorities and driving seems to be slipping down the list… If the cars isn’t used change it or sell it and do something else.