Do you ever get discourage from driving a nice car ?

I, like many of you I'm sure, gets the occasional stone flying off someone tires on the highway and landing on your hood or windshield. You might get a littlew bummed out when you next wash your car and notice the chip. Last I was keeping proper distance and saw soem object flying tru the air and ended up impaling a metal spike in my rear tire causing a flat. I was 2 days away from getting new tires so I though the timing was actually not that bad. The only bummer was the feeling that people seem to get a good laugh or even a chuckle when they see someone wearing a suit, driving a fancy car and changing a flat tire...felt like saying "yeah buddy, even Porsche get flat tires, get over it." Later in the week a small rock hit my windshield cause both a chip in it as well as a small running crack. Do you ever get depress driving a nice car and getting all sort of dings. Wouldn't be nicer to be driving occasionaly a beat up pickup truck and not caring sooooooooo much ?

I would love to disagree with you but i can't I am discouraged for other reasons but bottom line thats why i am selling mine.

Kilrgt: Selling, to get another Pcar, right? Are you getting out of nice cars all together Sl-500....? Such is life, in my opinion. I have had flats, broken windscreens and currently have a pretty scuffed up bumper. However, I am not going to let these things get in the way of enjoying my car. If one is so wound up, that every tine you get a ding or a scratch on your "precious", maybe Porsche, or nice car ownership isn't for you. I always love reading about restored Ferrari Dino's, and how many of them are built better, once restored, than when they came of the factory floor 30-40 year ago. I often think there are a couple PCars out there, that fit a similar bill.

Normal wear from driving and enjoying the car doesn�t discourage me or lessen the joy of owing/driving the car. I look at it as a fact of driving. Don�t get me wrong I try to keep the car in as pristine condition as much as possible and go out of my way to avoid many hazards (i.e. corner parking spots, won�t follow big trucks whenever possible, etc.) and always seem to be washing and/or waxing the car, but I get more satisfaction out of driving it vs. just owning it. However, intentional infliction of damage (i.e. keyed, mysterious dings, etc.) really ticks me off. Sure this type of damage means less on cars I don�t care about then what is the purpose of driving something that you don�t enjoy? Self inflected damage (i.e. I cracked the black plastic piece in front of the rear wheel when I placed the floor jack to close to it) is another story. It frustrates me to no end, but I have no one to blame but my self. Kilrgt, I am curious what has got you so distraught to cause a sale? Is it maintenance and/or Porsche's fault or something entirely beyond the car itself?

Hey Kilrgt, If you're serious about selling your car, let me know. I took your advice and went and saw John at Pfaff...he's looking for me now (2002+ C2's and C4s'), I have until the spring really. But when are you looking to sell? Would all the mods go with it? how much $? As for driving nice cars: well I had some guy confuse drive with reverse and back into my MB CLK500 a few weeks ago...luckly he just shattered one of the ugly amber side markers. It was a good excuse to upgrade to clear one's (and he paid for it too). So the moral of the story is: sometimes things happen for a reason.

Hey Pongobaz... I will sell the car as is or with out the mods, The truth is a have another Porsche on the Horizon.I will sell the car when you need it, My new one shouldn't be in until Feb, thats what Porsche says anyways.If you want we can meet up and you can see the car, then if you like it we can talk.Getting back to the thread,I am so **** about my cars, that I cant stand stone chips or any other flaws in the paint, but don't get me wrong I enjoy my car to the fullest.

I just wish I had the same attitude as my wife about cars. About three months ago she bought an Audi A8. It's a beautiful car inside and out, and she takes the car everywhere, and always parks in a parking place closest to wherever she goes without any concern about door dings. We went to dinner last Saturday and on our way, some guy accidentally backed up into her bumper. The impact was at a low speed so the damage was minor, but some paint was removed from the impact. The guy who hit her was very apologetic and wanted to give her $300 to repint the bumper. My wife's reaction: keep your money; it's just a bumper and it's meant to be bumped.

I think it is a state of mind. Years ago I anguished over exactly what you described and eventually sold cars based on this anxiety. However, as I have aged I have come to terms with the reality of use. Moreover, I actually look forward to it as a badge of pride. For example, I am putting snow tires on my C4S and looking forward to the white weather... years ago I would have never considered driving the car in rain let alone the frozen stuff. p.s I was washing the car last weekend at a self car wash place and an older gentleman came over to complement the car. The first question he asked me was "Are you going to drive it this winter. As it turned out he was testing me to see whether I pampered it or drove it like it was designed.

I feel guilty when I commute in mine It's irreplaceable -- that's a heavy responsibility,,, one I don't take lightly. I was driving to work in the early morning (dark) last week and caught a bit of wood or some rubbish on the road with the edge of my right front tire -- the "whack" I heard on my fender made my heart sink. Happily it hit the plastic cover on my fender in front of rear wheel -- only damaged replaceable sheild w/no damage to fender underneath. But, it does no good for a Porsche to sit in the garage. The fresh air and movement keeps everything dry and lubricated. Chips happen I will however drive my other car when it rains -- luckily I was able to convince the wife to keep the Mazda for that purpose since the Porsche is too valuable.

It sucks to be **** like me

How about you just don't worry about it so much. Dude come on, it's a car. I know it sucks especially when it's new. I had a brand new G35 sport coupe and someone shopping carted it. You gotta get over it. It's not worth getting upset about.

I used to feel that way with my 2001, now I just drive the snot of mine (30,000 miles since Jan. 04) and don't sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day it's just a machine, and although annoying, small problems can be fixed. Enjoy, drive, be happy. Rob

I used to drive a beater. It was very liberating. Still, I got rid of that POS and am much happier using my C4S as a daily driver. It's got rock chips galore and someone hit the front bumper last month, hard enough to dent and tear it. Such is life.

You know I have to confess....my first Boxster I owned for over a year and put about 5k miles on it. I never wanted to drive it in the rain, snow, etc. My 993 was even worst...I owned it for 2.5 years and only put about 10k miles on it. While owning both of these cars I drove horrible beater I paid $500 for 90% of the time. One day my wife asked why I had museum in the garage for the 993. I thought about it. I sold the 993 and got the 996 and sold the beater. I drive my 996 every day and have snows for the winter. I could not be more happier (well I could if it was a 996TT).

Thanks for support guys...this group is just great. Who needs Dr. Phil when you have Rennlist. My therapy will be to slap on the new tires, get the windshield fix and give her a good well deserve bath. Once it's done, the final point to the therapy is to get in the car, step on the gas and let the others eat my dust. God I feel better now. I just need to keep repeating : "Don't be so ****...don't be so ****...don't be so..."

40K and counting, rain, snow, sun, and track. It's the best, most reliable car I've ever had, I couldn't bear to drive a POS as I spend 1-3hrs in my car each day.....just about the best 3hrs of the day. If you gotta commute, might as well be in a porsche. Another doc bought a C4S at the same time I did, 9k in 3yrs, now he's selling the garage queen and still taking almost as much of a hit had he just driven the SOB ,rather than the beater pos subaru.

Porsches are meant to be driven to their maximum potential every day.

As long as you aren't putting your family at risk of not meeting their needs by buying one of these cars, be proud that you've put yourself in a position to be able to drive one! I bought this car for the way it drives even more than the looks (even though the looks were a big factor) - I don't care if people see me in one. As a married dad who always tries to "do the right thing," it doesn't really matter if I attract attention anyways. When I couldn't afford a Porsche in my earlier days, I usually looked at Porsche drivers with jealousy, not disdain. Also, rocks, door dings, scratches, and anything else that makes me cringe, has been a factor with every car I've had, whether it's a Honda, a VW, or now a Porsche. I just try to tell myself the wear and tear still looks better on a Porsche! Be proud, be safe, and enjoy the ride...

That's what I said when the dealer kept trying to get me to buy additional coverage for road-hazard, a clear bra and Lo-jack. I thought the woman was going to fall off her chair! Drive the snot out of it as often as you can. I just got 17" wheels and am in the process of getting snow tires. The front of mine is full of stone chips. The clear-coat on the SCII's is pealing, there are stains in the carpet... but the oil is clean and there's always fresh wax on the paint. Don't stop long enough or drive slow enough for anyone to notice the little things. --Dale

Stone chips are "badges of honor" that the car is driven and driven as it should be.....at least that's my thought on the subject......

Hey Guys Dont get me wrong , Its been a year and it has 40 k on so, I drive it..infact i drive 365 days a year!!

With cars I think I can manage a "whatever" attitude towards damage unless: 1) It's vandalism and some resentful SOB keys it 2) My wife does the damage ;-) Keith

paul, any chance you could lemme have ur 3spoke steering wheel, cf shift **** and ebrake? i'll give u my original AS parts, plus unlimited time with the chick in my avatar..or another of equal quality p.s. so what will ur next psychoproject be? 997TT or GT3 *evil grin*

Hands OFF my sister.....

I don't see why you can't drive it every day like you would your beater. As long as you still watch where you park and don't hang out behind open bed trucks for too long you can limit the chances of minor damage. I've had my windshield replaced but otherwise I've been lucky so far: 15K miles in 18 months. Like kilrgt I'm moving on to the next toy, but I've always had fun high-end cars; being **** and enjoying these toys shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

I've put nearly 21,000 miles on my 997S since last August. I drive it every single day and I drive it everywhere I go. Usually I drive about 300 miles on the highway each week, so I have lots of stone chips (marks of pride); yet, it doesn't bother me too much, although, like others have said, if I do something then that matters. The car has endured plenty of wear, too--someone bumping into one of my bumperettes, and most recently (two days ago), a truck kicking up a long metal crow bar, which skidded across my hood and then dinged my passenger door. I tried to avoid it but I was on the highway and it was coming straight towards the center of my hood. There was nothing I could do. I'm just glad it didn't come through the windshield--thank God! Yet, I took my car to one of the best shops in the area, and within a two weeks or so, my car will look as good as new. And, I'll continue to drive it every day. There is no substitute.

You guys are Sooooooo right (beside the lewd comment about my sister)

The best porsches' are driven hard and put up wet. However, my wife is very hard on cars, almost disrespectful, I don't let her near mine, good thing she can't drive a stick.

kilrgt, check your PM re: your car. About this thread: although I don't yet have a 996, I also look forward to driving it 365 days a year, rain, shine, snow, sleet, etc... Always believed in using my German cars to their fullest...that's what they're for. But it is heartbreaking when you see the stone chips or door dings; think of them as battle scars!

I just bought an '06 Wrangler Unlimited, strictly for the long distance stuff that I have to drive on a semi-regular basis.....I usually drive my C4S daily, but don't want to plow the really long stuff on it....my annual driving is about 40k per year, half of which is long distance.

I live in Canada and cannot wait for snow. I have a 2004 C4S Cab and I bought a separate set of tires and rims for winter. Everytime it snows I try to be the first out on the unplowed streets. It is a total blast. These cars are indestructible, and should be enjoyed as such. OK, maybe not indestructible. A month into my ownership, somebody rear ended me at a stoplight. $15K CDN damage. A few months ago, a client of mine backed into my front end with her X5. $14K of damage. Other than the nuisance of having to get the car repaired, the way I see it I got new front and back body armour as well as some new bits underneath. I try to avoid dings, park in safe spots, etc. But I try to drive in, on the road and the track, the way it was designed to be driven. When people ask me if I am crazy to drive in the winter, I tell them my C4S is a tank; the world's fastest snowmobile. I have a Nissan X Trail that I drive only if the snow is so deep that my C4S would be beached. Or if I have to cart seven boxes of diapers home from the store. Just...love...this...car.

Bought mine with 14000 miles last october 26. Today have 40500 miles on it. Snows in the winter and ski rack on top. BTW My rears are slicks. Trying to make it another month or so before the snows come on