Garage Queen no more!!!

I've had the car 4 years now and bought it when it had done only 900 miles and it's now clocked up a total of only 14,000 miles. It's 7 years old too!! For some reason I had got into the habit of keeping it clean and in mint condition every time it got the slightest bit dirty and taking it out in inclement weather was a no no!! The last years PEYT was literally a baptism for my car and it made me think about its use. I keep seeing the price of these fabulous cars falling in value and I have decided that its long overdue that I use my 996 in the manner that it should be - a daily driver!! Even if I use it for the next 2 years it will still be low mileage and I will have enjoyed using it every day. Why should I let someone else have all the fun when I sell it!! I am in the third day of using Rutty to commute the 12 miles each way to work and I couldn't have picked a worse week weather wise to start. It might be sat there in the car park filthy, but the smile it brings to my face when I start it up (noise selected of course!). After all - everyone keeps saying - that's what they are made for!!

peter thanks for that it makes me feel less guilty at only managing 10k miles in 2yrs[ ]i often have the same convesration with myself about using as daily driver-i agree its much more fun when i do!!enjoy your new commuting tool!!

Well done on the decision, Peter. I'm sure you won't regret it. I was in a similar position with my last car, a very low mileage Fiat Coupe 20v turbo. Kept the mileage low and then regretted not using it enough. Although it probably fetched £1K or £2K more than an 'average' mileage car come resale, its depreciation was so great it was an expensive experience. Hence, when I got my 996 last year, I promised myself to use it as much as possible. Still only did about 8K miles last year (2K of which were in one week!), but very enjoyable miles those have been.

I agree completely Peter. I have run third cars and life just overtakes you with it sitting in the garage! I made the same decision afew years ago and so now I run two cars, one of which is a turbo although at the moment I have two TT's a 996 and a 997 that arrived last week as well as my BMW but hopefully thats not for long. It gets used nearly every day winter and summer. The car has done 12,000 miles in a year and its fantastic. They do need abot more TLC but hey so what!

Craig, We think you are in danger of not driving the new TT enough as you have too many cars. The forum has decided that your new 997TT should be shared between each of the contributors to this thread; one week each in rotation, so as to put enough miles on it Martin.

Good idea Martin, I've already put up my 1 week allowance on Ebay...any takers from here? I'd rather give it to another PCGB member..actually I'd rather just have the drive..no sale![8D]

I Bet AM as been saying you never use that car, its a good reason now for her to sneak off in it , but you fallen into her trap ?? enjoy it before see swaps it for hers , only messing we will wait and see ,, speak soon on other matters

Go for it Peter. I stopped using mine every day because my job means I end up using public car parks and I got fed up with fretting about the car or coming back to a new scratch/dint. It's about getting the right balance without your car getting wrecked. I use mine at least every couple of days (to save the brakes rusting up if nothing else) but tend to avoid the morning traffic jam into Preston. Also, I seem to be doing about 20k a year and I think that's too much if I want to keep mine nice. By choosing to use it for more pleasurable journeys rather than the commute, I enjoy it all the more... or will do fully once that new engine has had chance to bed in a bit!

I've gone the opposite way! I did 25k miles in 1 yr in my 4S, and have just bought a Lexus for the daily grind. All in all, I really enjoyed using the Porsche every day. The car did not miss a beat (apart from a dead battery at work before a meeting!). I am torn between having a car tucked up in the garage, all immaculate for high days and hols, or having a great car as a daily driver. To be honest, using it every day did remove some of the excitement- its easy to become a little blase about it, and I'm hoping that 'some time apart' will restore the thrills!

It's very easy to get blase when you use it everyday, these are very quick cars and you do wonder about the long term future of your licence when you get to play everyday... or wonder about Turbos. After a drive in the BMW, the Porsche feels special straight away.

Peter, My name is Paul and I am a cleanaholic.... Glad to know I am not alone. The good news is that I have gotten over it and have put 23,000 on the 996 in the last 2 years. After all, it doesn't matter how dirty it gets, it doesn't take long to get that just cleaned look again. We need to use our cars as much as possible before we are taxed off the planet anyway [ ]

Thank you all for all the kind words of support. When I had my fisrt Porsche in '89 which was an '86 944 I used it lovingly every day for six years and every minute of it was a pleasure. I have enjoyed using the 911 this week so far and I am fortunate that where I park is reasoanbly safe and hopefully a dent free environment! I would feel terrible if it was dented with jealousy or carelessness while it was parked. Still I suppose it is ineveitable one day and I will have to get over it. Barry you have it spot on with Ann Marie!!! "That damm green thing is a waste of money...." " That bloody car never gets used...." "Sat there doing nothing..." blah blah in the usual way that only women can do! At least now that aragument can stop!! Cheers to you all and happy Porsche motoring.

Unfortunately I have only driven the 997 twice as my wife seems to have knicked it! Also been too busy at work! I do agree about the license thing though! I had a 2.7 Cayman whilst 996 was in OPC. I had forgotten just how fast the tt is in comparison! [ ][ ] Thanks Rodney, I hadn't thought of Ebaying days out in the car! [:-] Now which tt should I go to Oulton Park in ????[8|][8|][8|]