Posted: 8/3/2005 5:34:36 PM EDT
Just got back from a driving lesson with my best friend. You see, I'm looking to buy a used Porsche and figure I should relearn how to drive a stick... haven't touched one in 17 years. Nothing like stalling out, grinding gears and listening to blue haired bitties cursing you out to make you feel like a self-conscious teenager again... 
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Well a board member who does porsche maintenance has a nice example, and we have agreed upon a price that is doable for me... so I'm gonna go take a look at it. There is a certain degree of confidence that comes from dealing with a board member, and knowing he has done the maintenance at his shop. Besides, I have to do something to find a Mrs. Hiram... |
Spill the beans, what are you getting? |
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Sorry poobs, dad flipped when I ground the gears on his Carerra in high school... never let me touch it again... lol Haven't had the opportunity or occassion to drive a standard since. Hell I drove my Buick Regal for 13 years efore buying my Altima in 03... Figured it was time to learn. Aimless, going to look at a 944. |
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That is a beautiful car Gator. I've always wanted an early Targa S- maybe 1969 or 1972. The early porsches had such clean lines! Even the paint schemes were a wonder to behold. Only a vintage Porsche can look good with a pea green, orange, or pale yellow paint job. :) Galland |
Nice. 67ish? Looks like a short wheel base. I have a 1970 911T, but it doesn't look anywhere near as good as yours... yet! And whoever told you it wasn't a '911GT'.... there is no '911GT'. There's a GT2 or GT3, but they were never called a 911GT. |
You won't damage that Subie's clutch anymore than the hotheaded owner does...or did. |
Those are fun. |
He's a damn good driver. I am not. Therefore, I will cause damage. And hotheaded? WTF? |
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Just laugh at them, nice car 
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I don't see why he's worried about it. You might do him a favor and 'accidentally' sheer that shopping cart handle off the back of his car. |
I don't see how you can accidentally sheer off a functional rear spoiler that has like 19 anchor points. At least it's functional and on an AWD car, not some FWD POS where it's for looks only. |
Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't realize that was a spoiler. 
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Ba-zing
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Here was exactly what was said:
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Well I don't have a Porche but I do have a small German car with a 5 speed manual transmission and a 6 cyl engine. However, my engine & tranny is in the front. I wanted a old 911 but I needed something with a real back seat (kids) and I couldn't find a 911 in my price range anyway, so I got a BMW 325is. I also have an independant mechanic that I trust. That makes a big difference. Don't be afraid to try some of your own maintenance. It's a good way to learn about your car and it gives you some appreciation of how well made they are. Be warned, you will spend some $$ keeping it going. In the last 2 months I've spent about $1600 on mine. But that was the first big expense I've had and I have had the car 27 months. So that's only $60 bucks a month. That's way cheaper than a car payment. (I paid $6800 cash for mine). Have fun but don't let the back end loose traction on a curve. I understand that 911's can be a real handfull when they try to swap ends on you, so don't play to hard on a slick road. Drive safe, EMSflyer |
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I recommend you visit Avis or whatever, rent a focus or otherwise slow-moving cheap car with a stickshift, get a buddy whose a master with the stick sit next to you for a little while, an then spend the rest of the weekend cruising around with it. Took me about 6 hours to get sufficiently proficient with it (ie, nothing fancy, but can get from point-A to point-B with a manual tran'ee). Edit: BTW, I hear Porches come with the best clutches (the buggers have HUGE friction plates, really built for daily driving); but still be prepared to replace it in the not-too-distant future as you get used to clutch use and MAY eventually burn it out. |
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I learned to drive a stick my freshman year in college, on a '69 Z-28. My buddy who tought me was none too pleased when he had to replace the throwout bearing a couple months later. He got me back, though...we started a band the next year, and I lent him the '69 SS Chevelle I bought over the summer to run down to Conn. to pick up a new set of drums he bought. I forgot to tell him the water temp guage was a little faulty. I'd have thought he *might* pull over when he saw wisps of steam coming from under the hood, but no. It wasn't until the engine died that he thought there *might* be a problem. Yeppers...pretty much needed a whole new engine after that. Good thing his dad was one of the richest men in New England 
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Yeah, my dad must have been wincing when I was grinding the gears of his 1975 914-4 back in high school (1990). The 914-4 is more VW than Porsche but hey it sez Porsche on the back.  He still has it; 15 years later my sister and her fiance (now hubby) drove it to their wedding. It's got around 12,000 original miles on the engine and (believe it or not) no visible rust. Enjoy that Porsche, Hiram. |
For some reason, I have always LOVED the 928 more than any other Porsche There is nothing like knowing how to shift gears (up and down), brake, and apply power appropriately to truely turn driving into a passion. "Proper" driving is leagues beyond a daily driver automatic. I come from the mountains of NC where traditions like moonshining and racing still run strong. |