To start things off I have to go back over a year ago.

I am an active duty soldier who was injured in the line of duty and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I was in a coma and on life support for about a month. Like most medical proffessionals the DR's had to be realistic and didn't give my family much hope that I would even live and that if I did, I would most likely not be able to walk, talk, feed myself and have to live in a nursing home or something similiar. After about a month I slowly started to wake up, to the surprise of even the most optimistic Dr's. When I became more aware of my surroundings and situation I was pretty depressed. In my memory, I knew I was just a few days before a very capable Soldier with specialized training able to complete tasks considered tough even to other soldiers, so this was a big blow to me. My wife and I had been looking at cars just days before and dreamed of the day we could afford to have a nice car that was supercool and fast, now I couldn't even move my arms or feed myself, much less drive a car. My wife and I would talk and she would try to gauge my memory by asking questions about what we had done together in the past. One day I remembered looking at cars in Wisconsin, it made her happy and she started to cry. She told me that If I would stay positive and motivated, work hard and learn to use my arms, legs and do other things for myself again, that I could buy ANY car I wanted.

After several months in the hospital I started to make progress, it came slowly at first, but then by leaps and bounds. I surpassed even the most positive, except my wife and mother, people in what I relearned to do and how quickly it came back. I still have mobility issues, but can use all my limbs again, walk, talk went back to school and earned another degree and am very blessed to have this much back. The real story is how my wife stayed by my side and never left, she was at the hospital everyday. There are so many soldiers who are in my position who woke up and were alone and divorced.

Fast forward a little over a year and the opportunity to buy a 996TT approached my wife and I, I called her on the promise she made to me about the car and she relented.

I seemed to come at the right price as well. I have had to sink some money into it, and it seems to keep taking chunks out of my bank account. I love the car and am lucky to be in this position. The latest and hopefully last thing I need to take care of and get advice on is the exhaust. It has a RUF Auto exhaust on it right now but the catalytic converter has broken loose inside and rattles like crazy and RUF auto only warranties their exhaust for one year and for the original purchaser so no help there. The dealer doesn't think it is a mechanical hazard, but it is extremely noisy and sounds terrible, not too mention my wife is crazy worried it will turn into something worse, despite the assurances of the Porsche mechanic. Does anyone have an idea where to look for an exhaust that will not rattle, but for far less than the 2-3k that they go for brand new. I am hoping there is someone who has one that installed an aftermarket exhaust and kept their stock exhaust. To me it doesn't matter how loud it is or how much more power it gives the car, it is already crazy fast, I am just working with a soldiers salary as well as trying to keep from getting any deeper into my alreay thin wallet.

What options do I have here, I am willing to take suggestions from anyone who might help or lead me in the right direction. I appreciate any help or advice you might have.

 

Post a pic of your car and yourself and I will send my stock exhaust for free!!!You pay the shipping.

 

touching story man!

and joe, thats a great gesture!

heres to the road to recovery!

edit: +rep for joe

 

Very moving ! Good luck with your recovery and stay healthy !

 

Joe,

My wife and I really appreciate it a great deal. I would be more than happy to pay the shipping, it is amazing that you are willing to do that for us. Attached are a few pics of my wife and I, the car is at caliber collision having bodywork done, it was sideswiped the day after we got it, and since it is there we asked them to take a few dings out as well. I will post the pics of it I hope in the morning, this afternoon, I asked Keith at Caliber collision in downtown Fort Worth to take pictures of the process and he said he would. If I could figure out how to shrink a couple of videos of me using a walker and then actually walking on my own (with my physical therapist nervously walking closely behind, I would) they are too big for the forum. Any ideas how to post them?

 

The exhaust is yours and Good Luck with your new car(you picked a good one).I wish you nothing but the best on a speedy recovery.You can PM me your address and I will send it out in the next few days.And thank You!

 

Good luck on your recovery and very touching story!

Joe you're the MAN!+rep for you.

 

As soon as I get my post count up I will send it to you. I am working on it at the moment, happy like a schoolboy. You made our day.

 

Good 'ol Joe. Not only the fastest car on here but a stand up guy too. And to the OP thank you (10,000 times) for keeping all of us safe. We all owe you. Great story and amazing recovery too. Well done.

 

I salute you and your work for our country, thank you. You have a keeper of a wife that's for sure.

Joe, well done my friend. If for any reason Joe's generous gift doesn't work out (lost in the mail, you'd be surprised) you're welcome to my stock exhaust.

 

Very touching story. Thank you for your service.

Joe, you are a stand up guy. With such great karma coming your way, you should have no problem breaking 232 mph at the mile in Oct. Seriously +1 for you, very nice of you to do.

 

Specosct what part of Texas do you live in? I will offer the same deal as Joe if the shipping is to much. I live in Houston.

Joe thank you for reminding us whats important in life.

 

Thank you Joe for leading the way and thanks to Specosct for your service. Paulie, you're a good guy too.

I too am in Houston and travel to Austin monthly (so I can deliver). I will offer up the same deal as well.

It seems like he's in Dallas...if any 6speeder is going to dallas anytime soon, I'll meet up with you if you are willing to take the exhaust to him. Thanks

Edwin

 

Guys,

I live in Big Spring. It is 50 miles East of Midland, but I am always looking for an excuse to "be let out of the house". Plus I will have to take it to the dealer in DFW to get it put on, I don't have the tools to do it and for what this car means to me I don't want to mess it up at all. I have been told there might be a mechanic in Midland who could do it, but I called him and he is a) very busy and b) unknown to my wife and I. Since my injury she is uber careful about everything, still feeling like if she controls absolutely everything she can prevent bad things from happeneing to me again. I volunteered for this, she couldn't prevent that or the 9/11 attacks though. The bottom line is that she really is a keeper, she loves me very much and just wants to keep me safe, so she would make me take it have it put on anyway.

I am absolutely blown away with the outpouring of support and gratitude shown by all of you. I wish I could meet each and everyone of you in person and shake your hand and say "thank you", without that (the support of the public) we have nothing to fight for.

I joined 29 May 2001 and went to basic training 6 SEP 2001.....a few days later our world changed forever. I finished basic and started volunteering for more advanced school after school and finally in 2004 I was deployed.

YOU GUYS ALL HELP ME REMEMBER WHAT IT IS I VOLUNTEERED FOR, AND WHY I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING HARD TO GET BACK TO 100%. I appreciate the support and gratitude. I will keep posting pics of my self and new to me car.

 

Specosct thank you for your service and God bless you and your family. I hope you have a full an speedy recovery.
I might be driving to Dallas in the next few weeks. I would be more than happy to take it up there and deliver if it is still needed.