Jealous people... Gr.

For the 2nd time in a month some @#$@ has done something inappropriate to my car. I parked it behind my office on a Sunday while I was getting some work done, and someone throw a piece of cardboard soaked in what I can only assume to be soda or fruit juice. Two weeks later, Some moron let ALL the air of my back left tire. Do you guys find people doing this to your cars as well?

Not yet but I assume it's coming.

that's not normal, especially for the nyc metro area. perhaps you are doing something to invite this?

I doubt it. At home it's in a garage, if and when I bring it to the office, it's parked behind the building in a private alley. People have to go out of their way to do this sort of thing.

Well, I bet it's someone local - these idiots are lazy as well as stupid, so they wouldn't be traveling far to mess with your ride. Probably kids - I'd recommend doing some surveillance to catch them I bet they'll try again seeing as they've struck twice already. Either stake it out yourself, or get a webcam on it if you can see the car from some point in your building.

Have not had any issues with my car.....luckily, but in socal...Porsches are like Honda Accords....

I had one flat that I think was sabotage. But I get lots of snide comments about "being rich", which I am not. Bill

right, lude's in the nyc metro area (at least hoboken is), where porsches similarly aren't rare. anyway, knock on wood, i think that's not normal for someone to affirmatively go out of their way to do that.

that's all they did? Hoboken people are very civilized.

No problems with the 996 yet, but 2 cars ago I had a Jaguar Vandenplas (long wheel base with tray tables in the back...looked like my dad's oldsmobuick, but from England.) I live in Tampa and had a stolen hood ornament, smashed back windshield, and keyed -- all withing 13 months. All while parked in front of my house on weekend nights. Miraculously the cops caught them once and it was vandal kids indiscriminantly running through the neighborhood with a crowbar. My neighborhood is upper middle class. Fortunately we moved in April and now have a real garage. Hence, I bought a 996 and it lives inside. I actually took the events too personally! I hope you don't. I'm sure it's not. JK

I have always tended to think the same, but I guess it really depends on your perspective of "rich". Statistically the bulk of us Porsche owners (the newer, i.e. more expensive, Porsches anyway) are in the top 5% of annual income, which means 95% of people out there probably consider us all "rich". Which is also why you incite different behaviour from others when in the P-car.

sorry to hear about ur car troubles...i can't say i've had any up here tho. Most people in toronto usually send a compliment my way or just ignore it..then again when i'm walkin around i look like an angry brown guy so they mite be afraid i'll do something horrible to them if i get angry (think incredible hulk with a sexy tan).

I get this from people at work, who are all paid give-or-take the same as me. They choose to spend their dough differently (perhaps more normally) than I do, and I have very low expenses. So, yes, I am richer. My lifestyle is by design on my part, and their's is their choice. Bill

It's never been a problem in Delaware. I had a BMW M Roadster for six years, then a C4S for two years. Never got anything but compliments and thumbs up. One old fart gave my wife and me a jealous glare then declared "You think your pretty sporty in that car!" That's still a catch line in our household. Even the members of the disadvantaged Latino community seem to respect the car, especially when I tell them that the Porsche is my daily driver.

I agree w/wrljet . Buying the best higher mileage example available lets me keep up w/my pastime, without breaking the bank. I find this amusing, when I go to one of our plants, and get some ribbing. Of course, it's easy to come back at 'em when I'm parking next to their $45K Silverado 4x4 crew cab! + Most everyone that I know in PCA is not wealthy- then again, just because you're active in PCA doesn't make you a statistical representation of the p-car ownership (all those folks who drive their "bling" "poorsh" and never wave, never flash their headlights, etc. don't join, unless the dealer buys them their membership).

That would make it even more likely that someone is targeting you (via your car). Any scorned women come to mind?

I think the effect I'm seeing is nicely summed up by the title of the thread. Jealous people. They spent their dough (on their stuff) and now they don't have a 911. Bill

These people are called haters, and they live in every state. It hasnt happened to me yet but any time I park in General Population and not valet, Im worried someone will intentially nail my car with the caravan. Im a younger guy and have been fortunately successful and others who chose not to go to school or become self employed want to take it out on you or your property.

I feel that way with my too. Somebody is always out there to cause damage. Even if not intentionally, they just don't care. (from another thread, I wouldn't park my Caravan in downtown DC, either) Bill

no offense to anyone, but this thread is a bit ridiculous. i don't think people think as much of our cars as we think they do, and certainly don't hate us solely b/c they think we're rich. plenty of other comparable/more expensive cars and plenty of rich people out there. unfortunately, 911 owners are seen as image-hungry, small-*****, money-grubbing aholes. even compared to bm's, mb's, etc. but again, in major metro areas where wealth is everywhere, someone's really gotta have a chip on his shoulder to spend the time to vandalize out of mere spite.

I am not trying to convince you guys that you are wealthy, and I fully agree that we each have to choose the lifestyle we want to live. I was just trying to point out that even if most of us do not consider ourselves to be "rich", a lot of other people do. Consider a few facts from IRS data from 2005 (all figures are for individuals, as opposed to households)... Top 1% earn $295,495+ Top 5% earn $130,080+ Top 10% earn $94,891 Top 25% earn $57,343 Median income is $25,000 Actually looking at these numbers again, I probably should have said most of us are likely in or near the top 10%, not top 5%. The main point I was trying to make is that a married couple each making the median salary is pulling in $50K per year. They are "normal". By comparison most of us are NOT "normal". And it is not that they simply choose not to buy a Porsche, because they couldn't afford the high mileage early 996 or the $45K SUV either. This really hit me last year. I had recalled having a similiar discussion about "what is rich?", where I took the position that I was "normal" or maybe a little "above average", but not "rich". I then went on vacation with my son down to central Florida and we toured the areas where I grew up. Now I know there are some NICE areas in central Florida, but the places I grew up are not counted among them (Oviedo - before it exploded, and Geneva for those familiar with the area). This stroll down memory lane really showed me how far I had come. I started to realize that the only reason I felt "normal" was that I live in an affluent area, I work with other affluent people, and have many affluent friends. So in my little bubble I am normal. However, outside my bubble I am... well... "rich". It was after this experience that I really started to become more aware of this differing perception and started to better understand why some people interact with me the way they do, and that is the point I was trying to make.

BTW, this also reminded me of an encounter I had in 2001, shortly after having paid $23K for my '91 C2. While at the gas station a guy pulls in next to me, and as he gets out of his brand new looking Lincoln Navigator he shouts "Dude, are you Bill Gate's son?". In reply I pointed out that for the price of his SUV he could have bought 2 of my 911!

So hopefully this is my last reply in this thread... this was enough post count padding for today. Nine9Sixer, I generally think you are correct. People don't act with hatred just because of our cars, or how much money they might perceive that we make. However, I do think that they judge our actions more harshly. For example, if a guy is day dreaming after a light has turned green and I give him a quick toot of the horn to wake him up, he will react differently if I am in the Porsche, as opposed to the grocery getter. While he still might show me the finger (because he feels embarrassed) while in the grocery getter, he might just take it out on my car when I am in the Porsche.

And it is perception on other peoples parts that "we" are rich or whatever. To them their perception is reality. They chose their path in life and I chose mine. I've had many P-cars in my life and while I don't think people consciously "target" our cars they certainly are less careful subconsciously around them. I've seen it in action a few times. In order to avoid problems I try to blend in as much as possible. The more attention you draw the more jealousy you will encounter.

I've taken the position with my car that I won't pretend it's "special" in parking lots and such. I don't park it all by itself way away from other cars, like you see some people do with their "special" cars. I park right between and next to other cars and just act like it's like everyone else - red porsche or not - it's my daily driver just like most other people's cars in the parking lot. I don't know if this in any way helps, but maybe someone won't target my car because they can see I'm not trying to look for special attention or anything. I've been lucky so far- except someone let the air out of my right front once.

I'm sure there is a lot of under reported income in your statistics.. LOL!

Well, I try to park mine conservatively. Not at the end of the parking lot, but not next to the mini van crowding the stripe with the "my child was fathered by the Devil" sticker on the back glass either. Of course, never valet. Never. But, as far as people thinking "rich" from seeing the car, I am convinced that chicks don't even notice the car. OK, some small portion of gear head, track junkings, and the like do, but not the general population. Its a Dude magnet though. My advice to single women in their 30's, buy a 996. Worst case you will have fun driving the car. Best case, you will have fun and meet a ton of guys.

I don't know about that - I've had several girls tell me that my car is "pretty". It's surprising, but that seems to be the number 1 adjective from girls. Guys look at my car, too, but I don't care about them.

New Jersey, huh? Have you had the cops question Andrew "Dice" Clay on his whereabouts on the day of the vandalism?

Rob, in that context, what you're saying makes sense. I grew up very poor, and am very proud of how far I came. I just never gave much thought to just kissing 6 figures would put you in the top 10%. My mom's relatives I'm amazed how some folks live when I go visit. Food for thought.

Yup...I'm totally like you. My theory is that, if I have to live scared, I'd just rather not own it. thanks, Amir

LOL plenty, but none with this capacity.. On a somewhat related note, can anyone recommend a good car cover?

I live in hoboken...i would guess it's the nature of the town. as i'm sure your well aware you have a mixed population of affluent residents and lower income locals...may i ask where you were parked? street and cross street?

In the garage under Archstone.

+1 Except, I do park on the end of the row but not way out or I make sure I park next to 4 door cars only. I've always done this with all my cars, I just don't like dings.

Consider yourself lucky. I've been reading of our UK brothers with their terrible problems with their Porsches being trashed over there. Serious envy problem there.

europeans are far more suspicous of wealth and class than us yanks. British mag Car had an article couple years back where they were driving a bright-red enzo in nyc. the writer perceptively observed that americans were so much more cheerful and chatty with him in the car and didn't seem as envious and mistrustful as brits-- reflecting a deep cultual difference that americans genuinely believe that, the very next day, he or she could be driving that enzo. whereas in england, where class is so much more structured, people feel a bit more static, and therefore suspicious. i thought it was a pretty cool article for a car mag.

Sure you're not sleeping with someone's girlfriend/wife? lol

'ringmeister and Lude - that makes three of us in the 'boken with p-cars! I wouldn't dream of leaving my car out on the street - the number of wing broke mirrors / scratches / dents etc in our little town is crazy - no one respects anybody elses property, let alone your pride and joy car.

Oh absolutely not. I have a parking permit, but that's "just in case". We should all meet up when it gets warmer!

I'd be up for that - it would be great to get a few P-cars together in this neck of the woods (or maybe we can just join the pimped out Camrys and loud as sh't motor bikes on Washington Street in the summer!). The P-Car was going to get a drive this weekend - but with this weather I think I'm sticking to the jeep!

hahah yeah definitely, I could barely cross the street on foot last night.

Its too bad the Porsche marque creates these emotions in people. Today I drove my Daughter and her friend back to her parents house after their play session and its a nice neighborhood - upper middle class and parked the 911 in front of their house and the first thing the girl's mother says is " we're going to make all the neighbors jealous with Porsche sitting in front of the our house and thats when I thought about this thread. 911s really bring all sorts of emotions from the general population and unfortunately some are bad

sorry to hear about it... put it where ther's a secxurity camara