OMG, Larry, fun idea for a thread.
Got mine a few months ago after test driving at least 6 cars and looking at many. Like many others on this thread, had to go out of the area to find my car. I had never purchased a car so far a way and was a bit apprehensive about the pickup even after getting the PPI and DME scan.
In an unbelievable confluence of events, I was able to drive my M3 to PA to deliver it to another PP and pickup my car from another PP. Same as Joe, driving into the lot, it was like holy crap, is that my car?! That thing looks like sex on wheels. I had driven a bunch of 997's, but this one is mine...
Had to drive about 250 miles home. I thought I knew the controls, but the nav and radio were totally foreign and I needed the nav. Managed to figure it out intuitively while driving. Not recommended, but it is a testimony to how good it is. It was a long drive home! No real traffic, but boy was I nervous! I just kept thinking, damn this car is fast and I just can't get a ticket the first day I own it!
The full leather interior still smells like it's new and gives me a ton of satisfaction everytime I get in. And the grins keep coming. Just today, finally a clear off ramp and exited the 30 mph curve at 67mph. I never saw more than 60 in the M3. The most amazing thing was that I wasn't even at the limit. Man, this car is amazing.

 

A few assorted awesome quotes from you guys --I could keep quoting .. and quoting.

"the overwhelming feeling of, "Did I just do this? Am I really doing this, now? Am I owning and more importantly driving the car I've wanted since I was a young boy?", followed by a, "Holy crap...this is better than I imagined.". Repeat. "

"I remember all the conversations I had here, the excitement of getting to learn all the features of the new car. Not knowing exactly how to drive the car yet, but SO wanting to just put my foot through the floor and go as fast as it would let me. The nervousness of owning my childhood dream car and becoming the best defensive driver I have ever been."

"Almost immediately after selling the car, I felt guilty"

"I remember thinking the whole purchase thing was a dream and like all good ones, I didn't want to wake up. And I still feel that way."

"To me, cruising around the streets I grew up on as a kid riding my BMX bikes and gallavanting around with my friends in my new P car was pretty cool"

"The dealer, (Porsche Roslyn NY, very nice people) sort of let me alone with my car for a while, as if they understood we'd got to know each other."

"In an unbelievable confluence of events, I was able to drive my M3 to PA to deliver it to another PP and pickup my car from another PP. Same as Joe, driving into the lot, it was like holy crap, is that my car?!"

"at the Porsche dealership where I had my PPI done, walking to the service bay where the car was parked, coming around the corner and seeing the car for the very first time from the back (my favorite view). That's one visual memory that will stay with me for awhile.

In terms of the drive home, it was great having my wife with me. Took two days to get home so she and I could enjoy our time on the road. Nobody knew that I was getting the car so what turned out to be fun was my wife taking a pic of the car and myself as we left the dealership. She posted it on her facebook on the way home and within 30 minutes, she and I were getting text's and email's from our friends and family on "what is going on?", "is that really a Porsche?", "did you just rent that?", etc. All this was going on as I was driving home. She had a great time updating our friends on her facebook as we drove back."

"i drove my 2001 miata down to los angeles area from the bay area, traded in, and drove back up in seal grey 2004 boxster S CPO, best 400 mile drive of my life so far"

"It was agonizing having the new car sit in the parking garage while I was spending the days at Seaworld, SD Zoo, beach ,etc... The 300 mile drive home was great though"

 

Synopsis of each 911 car.

1) 1995 993 . I bought it as Champion and since I live in Miami I had not been to the area and got lost on the test drive . The (now retired) saleman named David was so understanding when I came back with this grin and 50 miles on the car . That's what i remember most . Driving lost in Pompano Beach and seeing strangers giving the car the thumbs up while I was tring to figure my way.

2) 993 Turbo 1996 - Oh myyyyyy !!!!! That car was so far ahead of anything in its time . I felt like the king of the road driving that car . That air cool sound I can still remember as well as the face smearing acceleration experienced for the first time .

3) 996 2000- This was my shortest test drive . I had just bought an M5 E39 two months prior . I went to look at the 996 . I sat in the car , started it , and turned to the saleman and said "I'm buying it" .

4) 996 2002 -- This was the year I actively searched for a specfic car and found it two hour away . Again it was a short test drive but I remember the ride home and I wanted it to last longer .

5) 997S Launch car . Again it was an instant test drive . I am not sure if the test drives became shorter as I knew I wanted the car . Since it was one of the fitst 997S cars and it was so loaded up .. I noticed that drive home got attention and with that I drove slow and nervous .

6) 997S 2007 . I didn't even drive the car . Here is a picture of me walking up to the car and claiming it at The Collection . I also started taking pictures of my cars .

7) 997tt 2007 -- On the way home I was detoured in traffic into a construction zone and it began to rain . I was excited and nervous at the same time. This was the car which I instantly knew would become my garage queen . I leaped in the air when I came home . I still am so blown away by this car .(photo when it was stock)

8) 997S PDK . This was probably the hardest car to buy because there were so many factors (PDK, manual. price) and all of them went through my head . I made a take it or leave it one time offer . (photo of it stock)


conclusion -- It's been a dream come true capturing the moments of thse cars as they evolve , sharing them with those close to me , and reflecting on them . Time goes by so fast but the memories of thse cars in my heart remain as if it was yesterday . I keep smiling .