Are we enthusiasts or miswired?

We all love cars and, for me anyway, buying my 996 Targa two years ago was a dream fulfilled. Then why is that that I -- along with a fair number of folks here -- seem to be unable to keep a car for more than two years without setting my sights on something else? Does this make me an enthusiast that wants to experience all the cars that excite me while I am alive and able? Is this all about $, and an increased ability to attain something "better?" Or does this point out some kind of flaw that makes me never satisfied with what I have today? I don't intend this thread as an invitation for counseling. There seem to be many threads and comments here about the next ride, a dilemma about moving up to a TT, the flaws of the E46 M3, and long lists of cars owned all with intervals of 2-3 years. I am guessing I am not alone here...right? So...for those of you so inflicted, are we true enthusiasts or psychologically miswired? -- M

I regard myself as an enthusiast, but have been called an addict. So, I'm here to come clean. Hi, my name is Neighbor (does this still work if I'm still withholding my real name?), and I'm a car addict. I currently have four cars in my garage and I still don't have enough. I constantly crave to collect more cars. If I had unlimited funds, it'll be like Harrah's car collection at my house. It's so bad a neighbor, who I don't even now, left an printed ad in my mail box selling his 69 Camaro convertible. I wasn't even looking, but I'm now interested. Pretty ridiculous! At any given point, I walk around with a list of cars I'd love to own within several price points. 40-50K - Lotus Elise, 25-35-k Suburu WRX STI. Not to mention all the older P-cars! I'd love to get a '62 Corvette "Fuelie" on my all-time list. or a '67 427 Vette (who wouldn't). As new cars come out, or even news of them come out, I'm attracted like a moth to a flame. I'm consistantly, #1 or 2 in line at local dealership for the latest and greatest. I, like you, have always wanted a 911. IMHO, all real enthusiasts should. I truly love my P-car, but find myself looking around for more P-cars now (also have a '93+ 911 Turbo 3.6 on my list also). I never intended for this reply to be this long, but I can talk cars ALL Day. Good thing I have this forum to go to.

my rule is to keep a car for at lease 6-mos or leave it stock for that period before trading it or making changes. you'll have a greater appreciation for what it is rather than being dissapointed on a constant basis. if it stays it was meant to be, if you have to throw a bunch of mods at it, it turns into a money pit which is worse....but i don't always follow my advice! i'm sick like the rest of you

Hi, My name is MArc and I'm a car addict. (Chorus : Hi Marc). I (or as my wife would point out "we") have a 40th Anniversary, a Range Rover Westminster, a winter beater Mercedes SE300, a KTM 300 EXC (enduro off road dirt bike), a 4 wheeler, a Suzuki Boulvard 800, my 6 yr old has a Honda 50 cc dirt bike, my 4yr old daughter has a tiny 4 wheeler. To my chagrin my 2 car garage is full of bikes, 4 wheelers and gardening crap. So my beloved 996 is sleeping (snif) outside. I'm drooling whenever I see a 993 or 964 Turbo (I WANT one). Love the Audo A4 Quattros. My only rational is that I have a long commute to work (50 miles each way PLUS a 45 minute train ride). My 996 is allowing me to have a bit of fun in my day since I don't have the luxury of time when it comes down to hobbies. After siz month of phychologist time, I think I "might" be ready to slap sopme winter tire on the 996 and use it year-round. I "think" that I should be able to handle the stess of seeing her covered in salt at time. I hear that there a good prescription drugs for this. Am I normal ???

Can we say "Group Therapy"? .... I think that would be a better name for this thread.

It's only natural to want to experience different things and it's unreasonable to expect one car to hold you in its thrall for the rest of your life. The thrill of anticipating and the thrill of getting are often better than the thrill of having. So what? It's only things.

I think this forum is just one big group therapy session anyway. I come here, exchange stories and other things with members, and somehow leave with less money

Oh god...isn't that the truth. Hi My name is Chad and I am a car addict. (Again chorus: Hi chad)... I simply love German engineered go fast machines. Regardless of the make, Audi, BMW, Porsche. Ok...I don't care for Mercs. At any rate...all great cars. Will I have another 996. Oh yes...when. Who really knows. Drive fast and keep the sticky side down. Chad

Hi, my name is Kirby and I think I am just a nut. IT'S ALL THIS FORUMS FAULT!!!!!!!!!!! DAMN YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guilty as charged--evidence attached: 1. 1965 MB 250SE white/red 2. 1957 Jaguar XK-140 MC Roadster white/black 3. 1970 MB 280SE silver/blue 4. 1971 MB 300 SEL 6.3 silver/grey 5. 1971 Citroen SM/Maserati white/blue 6. 1972 Lotus Elan +2 S150 gold/black 7. 1973 MB 450SLC blue/beige 8. 1976 Jeep Wrangler black/tan 9. 1974 Porsche 911 Targa grey/black 10. 1976 MB 450SEL grey/tan 11. 1986 Jeep Cherokee black/grey 12. 1977 Porsche 924 red/black 13. 1979 Porsche 928 grey/blue 14. 1983 MB 380SEC grey/tan 15. 1984 BMW 745i bronze/buffalo (grey mkt.) 16. 1985 BMW 325i cab black/black 17. 1986 MB 450SL black/tan 18. 1986 Porsche 911 turbo look cab. red/black (grey mkt.) 19. 1985 Ferrari Mondial cab red/tan 20. 1986 Aston Martin Volante black/black 21. 1988 MB 560SEC red/tan 22. 1988 BMW M6 red/white 23. 1990 Nissan 300Z cab black/tan 24. 1988 BMW M6 red/white (repurchase) 25. 1997 Porsche 993 Targa silver/grey 26. 1996 BMW 840i black/grey 27. 1999 Porsche 996 red/grey 28. 1997 Porsche 993 Targa black/tan 29. 1998 BMW 740il blue/tan 30. 1998 Isuzu Trooper Ltd. black/grey 31. 2000 BMW M5 black/black 32. 1993 Beck Porsche 550 Spyder silver/red 33. 2002 BMW 745Li black/grey 34. 2003 MB SL500 gold/grey 35. 2004 Porsche C4S cab blue/grey

Miswired. I bet I could not even comprise a car list in the last ten years without some serious thought. I have purchased 8 new Cars from my Porsche dealer since 1998 and the majority of my cars have been purchased out of State during that time frame. In fact, I have purchased 6 cars out of state in the last 2 years, plus 4 cars from my dealer in the last two years. I have pissed away some serious money with negative equity and deprciation whallops and I am already trying to trade both my 04 TT cabriolet (less than a year) and my 355 (after 5 months). I did get a great deal on my 355 and will probably break even on it or, if I held out, I could make $2k or $3k even after sales tax figured in to the equation.

It could be worse..I'm on wife # 6...a Las Vegas showgirl.

Now that is an expensive hobby.

I'm guessing your thrill of having is better than the thrill of anticipating.

i feel right at home......has this ever happened to you...my wife goes shopping comes out the mall and calls me because she could not remember what car we had..true story. or you sometimes wave at my neigbour and he does not wave back only later to find out that he did not recognise you in a another car....ask me how i know

Kirby youre a bad influence haha, here's what I bought since 2003 2003 rx300, 1975 911S, 2003 audi A4 quattro, 2004 Cayenne V6 now got 2005 Cayenne S now I want a 996TT or a 997, therapy needed please!!!

How about a "group buy" for the "Group THerapy?"

WOW!!!

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I'm going to have my wife read this so she will know this is normal behavior and I am normal after all, aren�t I/we

I'm gonna have my wife read this so she'll realize I'm not near as sick as you guys!!!

Interesting thoughts and comments. I think the pathology we suffer is a true infection. I had never driven a Porsche, but I found this forum a few months ago and I think that is when the virus entered my body, slowy spreading throughout my body. First I began reading posts very carefully and keeping a list of threads to help guide me. Then as the infection spread I started to post questions to learn more. After about three months the night sweats and shaking were overwhelming. My rational thought started to deteriorate and one day after work I drove 4 hours to buy my first Porsche. The dealer could tell I was sick, weak and dying and he was holding the cure right in front of me like Dr. Evil. I thougt I was negotiating, but he was just toying with me. But then it happened. THE HANDSHAKE. The deal was done and disease was cured!!! Like most severe diseases there is quite a bit of rehabilitation that is required afterwards and I think that is the phase that I am in now. I want to thank all of you for your assistance with the rehab. I am learning that the therapy after the disease is cured can be just as expensive as the cure. I think I will write to my congressman to see if we can get some physician/scientists to start doing some research on this affliction, since it seems to affect so many but is poorly understood. It seems to affect predominantly males in their starting in their late 20's. It is my hope that we can all get our medical insurance to start paying for our treatment and therapy for this very peculiar disease. So write your reprensentative, because I would really like Blue Cross Blue Shield to pay for my new rims, brakes, suspension and supercharger. Good luck in the race for the cure. Or, is racing the cure I think I need some more medicine. It's a beautiful morning outside, I think I'll go for a drive.

I think we all suffer from a type of anemia, which requires that we be exposed to huge doses of ever changing iron (as well as leather, rubber, plastic, and polishes) to feel better. I call it "Fickle Cell Anemia."

bavarian: Thank you! I have printed out your long list (I'm very jealous) of rides and plan on presenting that as state's evidence in my next case for a new ride. If you guys are my benchmark, that should be within the next 12 months, max. dmac: You clearly understand my pain. On the outside, we seem like ordinary guys. But, the rest of the world has no idea the weight we carry with us. It is helpful to be able to console one another. As much as I love my Targa and would possibly be moved to tears if I were to sell it, in a heartbeat I could name 5-10 cars I would buy if $ was no object and all rational judgement was gone. Someone said in an earlier post that he carries around a list of cars in certain price ranges. Thank you for that, it helps to know I am not alone! -- M

Great Thread. It made me shake the cobwebs out trying to remember all my cars Sure I've overlooked something, but none of my P cars 59 VW Beetle 62 Impala SS 409 64 Ford Fairlane 289 4 sp s bbl 68 Dodge Dart Swinger GT 69 VW Beetle 68 VW Karman Ghia 65 Mustang GT 74 Mustang II...yuk 69 Datsun 1600 Roadster Fairlady Z Same 69 VW Beetle from above 72 240Z 72 Porsche 914 73 Porsche 914 74 260Z 78 280Z 68 MGB 81 Mazda RX7 78 Pontiac Gran Prix had a kid 74 Chevy Nova 350 replaced with 327/375HP 75 911S 79 930 82 Toyota Celica GTS 84 Toyota Supra 82 911 SC 87 911 Targa 93 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 93 Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo AWD 94 Toyota TT 91 964 coupe 95 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST 96 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST 82 911 the one in my avatar 90 Infinit Q45 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 94 Q45 93 Infiniti J30 95 Q45T 90 Mazda Miata 94 Porsche 968 2000 Porsche 996 97 Boxster Always a truck as well to haul with 67 Chevy 72 Silverado 79 Toyota 82 Silverado 82 Datsun 77 Silverado 93 K5 Blazer I've also had three wives and I cant even begin to remember all those cars Looks like I have the disease?

There is hope for me after all. My list is miniscule in comparison, or maybe I'm just younger than the rest of you ;-) '76 Trumph TR6 '86 Honda Prelude '89 Honda Accord '90 Mazda Miata '92 VW Corrado '94 Acura Legend '96 Saab 900 Turbo SPG '98 Porsche 944 Cab '99 BMW M3 Sedan '01 BMW M3 Cab '01 BMW X5 4.4i '03 Porsche 996 Targa

I'm sure that's the case. I started with a 59, you with a 76 TR6, which remined me of the Austin Healy 3000 I bought for 400 bucks in Daytina during spring break sometime in the mid 70s, got it running and drove it back to E TN, with no top and relatively no brakes. I ended up running that car off the side of a ridge in Unicoi and the wrecker wanted 250 to winch it out. I left it down there and carried out all the parts I could. I went more than 800 feet downhill through the woods and never hit a tree bigger than my arm and I weighed about 120lbs at the time. One guy was sitting in the center behind the seats, sort of. He was the only one hurt by a whiplash branch. I can't believe any of us survived/

I don't post much, nor do I have a 996 (yet) but here's my story: My name is Carl "everyone: hi Carl!". I'm 24 and have a Shelby Cobra replica that I built, and a 1997 BMW 328is that has mod's.. I walk to work and have no NEED for a car really but I have 2. This would be the 5th cars that I've had. Although I think I have a solution for my problem. My 328 is aging bad, needs some work, and I was strongly contemplating getting a new replacement and being broke again, E46 M3 perhaps? Was even thinking a X5 4.4 or the new H3 to tow my Cobra but I think I'd miss having a german car (they are too fun to drive, and totally different than the Cobra). With all that said, I've come to an agreement with myself, or at least I think I've convinced myself of that. I'm going to keep the 328, fix everything thats wrong with it, track it, have fun, keep the Cobra, and wait until I can afford the car that has EVERYTHING I want.. which is a 2004/5 996 GT3. Black on black, GT3 seats, roll cage, with minimal options. I've convinced myself I could keep this car forever, or at least a good 10-12 years. Whichever comes first. Some people will say I'll want to get the 997 GT3 when it comes out, but I tend to disagree on that one. The 996 one speaks to me on so many different levels. Up until now, Porsche hasn't really sold a car like that in North America, raw, focused, driver car, lightweight, plenty of power, no fancy electronic aids, lots of noise and feel. I feel the 997 might lose some of that with the rumors around. Electronic this, SMG that, electrohydraulic bla bla bla.. so I figure in about 4-5 years, I'll sell the 328, and the Cobra, spend a bit and get my dream car. Do you think I'm nuts? By the way, I'd also love to resto-mod a 71 Challenger, turn a 51-54 Chev into a cruiser with air ride suspension and a chopped top, and build an Roaring Forties GT40 replica. But I'd give all that up for just one car..