What does your car say about you?
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What does your car say about you?
When I was a kid I had a book titled "You Are What You Drive". It stereotyped drivers of iconic cars. So I asked myself what does it say to be driving a 911? I have come to the conclusion that the answer depends on how you drive your 911.
If it's a garage queen that only comes out on weekends and averages less than 3k mi/yr, I think the statement it makes is that you've finally spoiled yourself with the indulgent sports car you've always wanted. You probably have an SUV or large sedan as a DD but the perfect sunny day is for the perfect sports car. For some reason, I imagine this type of owner is less averse to american cars and may have an escalade or corvette lurking in their stable.
On the flip side, you have people who are driving a 911 as a DD. These are the cars you see on the road even through cold winters, often with crazy accessories like roof racks or baby seats. To me, the statement this makes is that not only does this driver clearly not need a large car on a daily basis, but he or she is willing to trade some luxury in exchange for the joys of driving a Porsche sports car. Otherwise, why not get a BMW, Mercedes or Audi. I also suspect this driver is less likely to admire american cars, since they would have bought one if they so desired. I can't explain why, but I have an image of this group being a bit younger and less traditional in spirit than the first group.
All of this is pure bung fodder of course, but I figured I'd see if anyone has anything to add in response to the question...
what statement does driving a 911 make?
Cheers,
DRP
If it's a garage queen that only comes out on weekends and averages less than 3k mi/yr, I think the statement it makes is that you've finally spoiled yourself with the indulgent sports car you've always wanted. You probably have an SUV or large sedan as a DD but the perfect sunny day is for the perfect sports car. For some reason, I imagine this type of owner is less averse to american cars and may have an escalade or corvette lurking in their stable.
On the flip side, you have people who are driving a 911 as a DD. These are the cars you see on the road even through cold winters, often with crazy accessories like roof racks or baby seats. To me, the statement this makes is that not only does this driver clearly not need a large car on a daily basis, but he or she is willing to trade some luxury in exchange for the joys of driving a Porsche sports car. Otherwise, why not get a BMW, Mercedes or Audi. I also suspect this driver is less likely to admire american cars, since they would have bought one if they so desired. I can't explain why, but I have an image of this group being a bit younger and less traditional in spirit than the first group.
All of this is pure bung fodder of course, but I figured I'd see if anyone has anything to add in response to the question...
what statement does driving a 911 make?
Cheers,
DRP
Last edited by drspeed; Mar 25, 2010 at 11:38 PM.
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if you are what you drive, then the people who barely drive their porsches arent porsches...lol. they are what they drive.. escalade? suburban? bmw? etc..
i daily drive my porsche because i figure, if i love my porsche... why would i drive anything else? tonight for example it was POURING rain and i loved every minute in my porsche.. i especially love the extra weight on the back that makes driving in even the worst conditions very comfortable and under control, if it snowed here in florida i would LOVE to drive it in the snow as well..
then again im not your average porsche owner... i put about 20k miles/year on my baby :-D and wouldnt have it any other way..
i daily drive my porsche because i figure, if i love my porsche... why would i drive anything else? tonight for example it was POURING rain and i loved every minute in my porsche.. i especially love the extra weight on the back that makes driving in even the worst conditions very comfortable and under control, if it snowed here in florida i would LOVE to drive it in the snow as well..
then again im not your average porsche owner... i put about 20k miles/year on my baby :-D and wouldnt have it any other way..
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Of course in the early days, it wasn't a 'supercar', just a fine sports car, but we had the same distinction in those days. People who owned an MG-TD always had a second car for practical purposes when the weather didn't cooperate. Later, Jaguars were the same way. "Isn't that lovely sitting there? Oh well, looks like it might rain and we'll need windshield wipers. Better take the Buick." Alfas? Lovely cars, a joy to drive, but uh... not if you really need to be at the office on time. Triumphs? Same damn Lucas electrics as Jaguar and MG. Other sports cars were lovable -- mostly -- but eccentric and unreliable.
Not so with Porsches. They weren't the optimum choice for short drives in Winter, because you had no damned heat until about the time you parked it at the destination, but they were tenable. Their reliability was legend already. And if you really cared, you could buy the gasoline-fired heater option, as did many people.
I don't say we haven't always had lot of Porsche owners with a second car in the family. I'm just saying that the Porsche was often the daily driver for one of the drivers in the P-car family, and people who stretched their income to buy a good used Porsche were likely to have nothing else, or at most an old beater American station wagon to haul parts when working on their 'real' car: the Porsche.
We also had the people with a stable of course, and a couple of Porsches as just one breed among the herd, but I don't think that's what you mean when you speak of people with a garage-queen Porsche. These are the sort of cars that people love and they always have been. Specific examples escape my tired mind tonight, but I remember pictures of some of the first Porsche designs with captions like "Model 00A-7, produced to custom specifications for Duke Happenstanz". In my generation we had Harrah, in this you have Jay Leno. But none of that affects this discussion except to say that Porsches are one of those marques that such people never leave out of their collections.
I do agree that people who love Porsches have certain traits in common, whereas some people buy them on reputation and then find themselves completely uninspired and sometimes actively unhappy. Porsches are cars with a distinct personality, like all great cars. They are not for everyone, thank God. Or perhaps just a streak of stubbornness at Zuffenhausen.
Nevertheless, I don't know off hand how I'd characterize those common traits we all share.
Gary
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It's had to categorize how a driver enjoys his car. For some it's like art, others use it to get from point A to B, and others take it to the track to compete. I see a lot of posts where some insist that one must drive the car daily or take it to its limits on the track to fully appreciate it . In my opinion that's how they view it.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
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It's had to categorize how a driver enjoys his car. For some it's like art, others use it to get from point A to B, and others take it to the track to compete. I see a lot of posts where some insist that one must drive the car daily or take it to its limits on the track to fully appreciate it . In my opinion that's how they view it.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
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It's had to categorize how a driver enjoys his car. For some it's like art, others use it to get from point A to B, and others take it to the track to compete. I see a lot of posts where some insist that one must drive the car daily or take it to its limits on the track to fully appreciate it . In my opinion that's how they view it.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
As to the OP, my p-car is a garage queen, and I don't own an american car as a DD. My current DD is a Civic and my wife drives a TSX. Looking to replace the Civic with possibly a Q5 or X5 (baby on the way). And the comment about those that DD their p-cars are younger, I'm 35 y.o. I think that qualifies as a relatively 'young' p-car owner. Sorry I don't fit your stereotype.
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I think a lot depends on who you're asking...
Like yrralis, I keep my cars as close to 'as new' condition as is reasonable, have modified my Porsche extensively to my tastes and have done virtually all the work myself. Further, I bought the car 'used', and don't track the car even though I have one or two track-centric mods.
So, when the average car owner sees my Porsche and me, they probably see a wealthy silicon valley guy, who can buy and turn cars often, considers it a throw-away fashion accessory with no more interest in the car than they have in their Escalade.
When a typical Porsche owner takes it in, they probably notice a like-new car, and a few appearance changes that spurs them to think why I spend the time and money to alter an already nice car. Another guy with more money than brains, and who wants to show off even more than an average Porsche will allow.
But when I have the time to speak to other Porsche fans, they recognize that I am passionate about fine machinery, have been willing to overcome the fear of taking a wrench to the car in trade for the satisfaction of having something that is close to exactly what I would like to be driving, and relish as much in the mechanic work as in the driving and ownership. That I am not about the 'show' at all, but the value in looking and driving an excellent example of the breed.
So, know thy audience I suppose.
Like yrralis, I keep my cars as close to 'as new' condition as is reasonable, have modified my Porsche extensively to my tastes and have done virtually all the work myself. Further, I bought the car 'used', and don't track the car even though I have one or two track-centric mods.
So, when the average car owner sees my Porsche and me, they probably see a wealthy silicon valley guy, who can buy and turn cars often, considers it a throw-away fashion accessory with no more interest in the car than they have in their Escalade.
When a typical Porsche owner takes it in, they probably notice a like-new car, and a few appearance changes that spurs them to think why I spend the time and money to alter an already nice car. Another guy with more money than brains, and who wants to show off even more than an average Porsche will allow.
But when I have the time to speak to other Porsche fans, they recognize that I am passionate about fine machinery, have been willing to overcome the fear of taking a wrench to the car in trade for the satisfaction of having something that is close to exactly what I would like to be driving, and relish as much in the mechanic work as in the driving and ownership. That I am not about the 'show' at all, but the value in looking and driving an excellent example of the breed.
So, know thy audience I suppose.
It's had to categorize how a driver enjoys his car. For some it's like art, others use it to get from point A to B, and others take it to the track to compete. I see a lot of posts where some insist that one must drive the car daily or take it to its limits on the track to fully appreciate it . In my opinion that's how they view it.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
I like having a clean car that's kept like new . I like savoring each mile. I like looking at my cars and appreciating the years of dedication and effort that went into making this vehicle a part of automotive history. I like seeing the workmanship and thought that goes into customizing my cars and how it makes something i care about feel unique to me.
If a Porsche makes a "statement" I suppose mine would be that I am fine with not having to prove anything and just want to have fun with my car . I am also fine without trying to impress anyone or be judged.
In short -- my Porsches signify that i am comfortable with the car and who I am.
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What I do not care how mush I pay for gas?
I never even tried to think about it from this angle. Why everything we do is got to be a statement by default? It is just a nice car. Miata is also a nice car to drive but it is not 911. Lotus Elise is a nice sled as well. What statement makes one who drives a Lotus?
I am lost in all this, honestly. The ultimate vanity fair statement is a multimillion $ mansion, rolls-royce with a driver, etc. Humble 997 is just a car. Anyone can afford one these days, even me and I am not rich by any means.
I never even tried to think about it from this angle. Why everything we do is got to be a statement by default? It is just a nice car. Miata is also a nice car to drive but it is not 911. Lotus Elise is a nice sled as well. What statement makes one who drives a Lotus?
I am lost in all this, honestly. The ultimate vanity fair statement is a multimillion $ mansion, rolls-royce with a driver, etc. Humble 997 is just a car. Anyone can afford one these days, even me and I am not rich by any means.
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I'm not making a statement. I'm just a car guy. When I was a kid I played with car toys and I continue to do so as an adult. The only difference is that they cost more now. I would bet that's what many of us have in common, we love cars.
As for my 911, it's just the best choice in toy available today. It's fast, attractive, fun, and has an fine history. For all that it offers, it's reasonably priced and reliable. What other toy could offer all of this?
As for my 911, it's just the best choice in toy available today. It's fast, attractive, fun, and has an fine history. For all that it offers, it's reasonably priced and reliable. What other toy could offer all of this?
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What I do not care how mush I pay for gas?
I never even tried to think about it from this angle. Why everything we do is got to be a statement by default? It is just a nice car. Miata is also a nice car to drive but it is not 911. Lotus Elise is a nice sled as well. What statement makes one who drives a Lotus?
I am lost in all this, honestly. The ultimate vanity fair statement is a multimillion $ mansion, rolls-royce with a driver, etc. Humble 997 is just a car. Anyone can afford one these days, even me and I am not rich by any means.
I never even tried to think about it from this angle. Why everything we do is got to be a statement by default? It is just a nice car. Miata is also a nice car to drive but it is not 911. Lotus Elise is a nice sled as well. What statement makes one who drives a Lotus?
I am lost in all this, honestly. The ultimate vanity fair statement is a multimillion $ mansion, rolls-royce with a driver, etc. Humble 997 is just a car. Anyone can afford one these days, even me and I am not rich by any means.
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It wasn't clear in my original post, but I wasn't alluding to status or financial considerations at all when I posed the question "what statement does the car make?". What I meant was, what does it say about its owner as a driver and lover of cars.
Like many of you who have responded, I too am a neat freak. I use lint brushes on the headliner and felt door surrounds. I have a separate keychain for house/office/garage keys etc... so the interior doesn't take abuse. I put 3m clear film on the door jams and on my stainless dead pedal to avoid scuffing. And I even swap over to winter wheels and tires myself in my garage to avoid damage to the wheels that a shop might inadvertently cause. BUT, I still DD my car.
I have a good friend who has a new 6 series convertible and a lexus 300 sedan he bought with nearly 175k on the odometer. He takes the lexus to work (he owns the firm) b/c he's afraid of the financial/status statement the BMW makes. To each his own, but the purpose of this example is to demonstrate that he is, in essence, a Lexus driver. The majority of his 'road life' is lived through a well used, front wheel drive Japanese luxury car riding on no name chinese tires with a badly stained, slightly stinky interior. So in his case, the fact that he only uses his 6 series when socializing on the weekends, tells me that solely as a driver, he's not hopelessly addicted or uncontrollably enamored with the drive, technology, precision and power of the BMW otherwise, he'd have a different solution to his dilemma. My old man is in the same category. He had some exotics over the years that will surely be long remembered by enthusiasts, but at heart he is truly a Lincoln Town Car driver (seriously). The other cars were for show.
If I invert part of my original post, perhaps it explains my observation better. Here goes: there are probably many garage queen 911 owners, who, if given a choice of only 1 car to drive daily, cost aside, would not choose the 911, whereas those that DD...already have. Right? That's all.
The most important thing is to enjoy the experience, and it seems that everyone on this board relishes in just that. Amen.
Happy motoring
DRP
Like many of you who have responded, I too am a neat freak. I use lint brushes on the headliner and felt door surrounds. I have a separate keychain for house/office/garage keys etc... so the interior doesn't take abuse. I put 3m clear film on the door jams and on my stainless dead pedal to avoid scuffing. And I even swap over to winter wheels and tires myself in my garage to avoid damage to the wheels that a shop might inadvertently cause. BUT, I still DD my car.
I have a good friend who has a new 6 series convertible and a lexus 300 sedan he bought with nearly 175k on the odometer. He takes the lexus to work (he owns the firm) b/c he's afraid of the financial/status statement the BMW makes. To each his own, but the purpose of this example is to demonstrate that he is, in essence, a Lexus driver. The majority of his 'road life' is lived through a well used, front wheel drive Japanese luxury car riding on no name chinese tires with a badly stained, slightly stinky interior. So in his case, the fact that he only uses his 6 series when socializing on the weekends, tells me that solely as a driver, he's not hopelessly addicted or uncontrollably enamored with the drive, technology, precision and power of the BMW otherwise, he'd have a different solution to his dilemma. My old man is in the same category. He had some exotics over the years that will surely be long remembered by enthusiasts, but at heart he is truly a Lincoln Town Car driver (seriously). The other cars were for show.
If I invert part of my original post, perhaps it explains my observation better. Here goes: there are probably many garage queen 911 owners, who, if given a choice of only 1 car to drive daily, cost aside, would not choose the 911, whereas those that DD...already have. Right? That's all.
The most important thing is to enjoy the experience, and it seems that everyone on this board relishes in just that. Amen.
Happy motoring
DRP
Last edited by drspeed; Mar 26, 2010 at 10:45 AM.
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First let me say that I must totally (but respectfully) disagree with the statement that if you bought your Porsche as a weekend toy that you like American cars. Nothing could be further from the truth for me. After having two hand-me-down Buicks in my first few years of driving I'll never go back.
I've always been a "sports car guy" having owned two Mazda RX-7's including the 1988 Turbo II and a Miata which I drove for 15 years while putting money away for a future car. I also owned a Mitsubishi Eclipse for 6 months in the early 90's - hated it! I went to the Porsche dealer last year with a Cayman S in mind but walked out ordering a 911 because it is the icon of sports cars.
For me it's all about the heritage, the history and the solid engineering that Porsche has always brought to the table. I remember back in the mid 80's going to the Porsche dealers after dark and staring at the cars on the showroom floor, particularly those amazing slant nose 911's! I always wanted one of those but the prices were "crazy high" at the time and still are for an original factory conversion.
I'm not a race car driver wannabe and for those of you who are please don't take any offense to that statement.
If it wasn't for motorsports our cars wouldn't be anywhere near as good as they are. I do realize that. That being said, I don't drive like "Grandma" either. I can hold my own especially when a wise-*** 17 year old punk driving his brand new M3 that Mommy and Daddy just bought him for his H.S. graduation wants to have a go. That's when all of my 345 factory stock horses come to life. 
I've always been a "sports car guy" having owned two Mazda RX-7's including the 1988 Turbo II and a Miata which I drove for 15 years while putting money away for a future car. I also owned a Mitsubishi Eclipse for 6 months in the early 90's - hated it! I went to the Porsche dealer last year with a Cayman S in mind but walked out ordering a 911 because it is the icon of sports cars.
For me it's all about the heritage, the history and the solid engineering that Porsche has always brought to the table. I remember back in the mid 80's going to the Porsche dealers after dark and staring at the cars on the showroom floor, particularly those amazing slant nose 911's! I always wanted one of those but the prices were "crazy high" at the time and still are for an original factory conversion.
I'm not a race car driver wannabe and for those of you who are please don't take any offense to that statement.
If it wasn't for motorsports our cars wouldn't be anywhere near as good as they are. I do realize that. That being said, I don't drive like "Grandma" either. I can hold my own especially when a wise-*** 17 year old punk driving his brand new M3 that Mommy and Daddy just bought him for his H.S. graduation wants to have a go. That's when all of my 345 factory stock horses come to life.
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What does your car say about you? you tell me...
Here's a list of the last 10 cars I have owned over the past several years:
1992 Ford Mustang GT
1994 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe
1995 Ford Mustang GT
1996 C4 Chevrolet Corvette LT-1
1999 C5 Corvette Hardtop
2003 Nissan Maxima SE
2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1
2005 Nissan 350 Z Anniversary Edition
2006 C6 Corvette Z-51
2009 Porsche 911 S
BTW, on the sidelines during various parts of this timeframe were 2 restored 1968 Camaro SS hardtops, sold and greatly missed.
I've bought/sold/traded around for a variety of reasons. I like all types of automobiles, but try not to make them into an extention of some personality quirk, although to others it may appear that way. So, after looking over this list I guess the majority of the cars say, "I'm gettin' there as fast as I can", while the Porsche says, "I've arrived, fashionably early, and took the best parking spot".
Here's a list of the last 10 cars I have owned over the past several years:
1992 Ford Mustang GT
1994 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe
1995 Ford Mustang GT
1996 C4 Chevrolet Corvette LT-1
1999 C5 Corvette Hardtop
2003 Nissan Maxima SE
2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1
2005 Nissan 350 Z Anniversary Edition
2006 C6 Corvette Z-51
2009 Porsche 911 S
BTW, on the sidelines during various parts of this timeframe were 2 restored 1968 Camaro SS hardtops, sold and greatly missed.
I've bought/sold/traded around for a variety of reasons. I like all types of automobiles, but try not to make them into an extention of some personality quirk, although to others it may appear that way. So, after looking over this list I guess the majority of the cars say, "I'm gettin' there as fast as I can", while the Porsche says, "I've arrived, fashionably early, and took the best parking spot".
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The flip side of you are what you drive is "who drives the mark and stereotypes the image of the car". I spent a week in Southern California mostly riding a bicycle. In that time I checked out the driver of every 911 I saw. Without exaggerating in the least, about 75% of the cars were cabs with the top up, and fully 90% of the cars were driven by women, mostly blondes. Seems apparent to me that most of the people in SoCal owning 911's are not represented on this board...
It was an interesting statement to me about the drivers of 911's...
It was an interesting statement to me about the drivers of 911's...