Driving a 911 for the First Time, a Dream Come True.

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390) 05/10/2014 at 15:50 • Filed to: Porsche 911

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It took 15 years of begging and pestering, but finally on May 2, 2014, my dream finally came true. A 40-year story, two generations in the making.

This story begins sometime in 1975 at a Porsche dealer, most likely in Ohio as that's where my Dad's family originates from. My dad purchased this, the last 1974 911 in Guards Red on the lot of whatever dealer he got it from; #2,778 out of the 4,014 base 911s produced for the '74 model year.

Believe it or not, there's a tragic part of this story, while my dad had bought a 911, he chose it over an.......AC Cobra! At the time, he figured it would be highly impractical to daily a Cobra and deemed the 911 to be the more practical and better performing car. Does he regret not getting the Cobra that'd be worth millions? You bet! But I don't! :)

On a side note, my dad has great taste in cars, he's all about performance for the right price, handling and power come first, he loves Porsche and Muscle Cars just like me; if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here (on Oppo or Jalopnik, or any car related anything for that matter) today. I love and respect him for it.

Between 1975 and 1995, 1995 is when I was born, not much can be said about what it's life was like. It was a DD for most of those 20 years and around 1993 it was repainted. When I was three, my dad would take me for cruises up and down Woodward Avenue in the summer, watching cars, new and old drive all around, the Dream Cruise being my favorite time of the year. This car is how my dad and I would spend time, it is the one secure bond that we've got. I didn't know it then, but it was the start of a life-long dream, and a passion for cars, and especially Porsche. I knew that one day, I'd be driving that car and loving every second of it.

Jumping forward to Labor Day 2012, the 911 had been sitting in our garage since 2008 and hadn't moved at all. Finally, something told me that something had to be done:

So we cleaned her up as best as we could and gave her a proper wash and a short drive around the neighborhood that day.

Jumping forward again to the summer of 2013, after not being driven for so long, the oil pump blew and oil was leaking all over our garage. It wasn't fixed until late August and by then, I was finally driving my own car and loving every second. That entire summer I begged him to let me drive, and he'd always say no, because at the time I didn't know how to drive stick. Fair enough, I made it a goal to learn how to drive a stick by 2014, which was achieved when I got my Focus ST.

When the self-dubbed "Hellstorm Winter" of '13-14 hit, I made it a goal to be the 911's caretaker, filling it up with Stabil, starting it up and letting it run until everything is warmed up and oil pressure is low, once or twice ever month, hooking up the battery tender and cleaning her up as best as I could within a very cramped garage. But when it turned to May 1st, and the insurance was finally put back on, I knew my time had come, it was my turn at the wheel, one way or another.

On May 2nd, 2014, a day that I will never forget, I finished my last class of the day, sped back home, and without thinking or hesitating, I grabbed the key, sat in the drivers seat and stuck the key in the ignition. I pulled out my phone and called my dad. I told him I was taking the 911 to the gas station to check the tires and fill her up with gas, and that he should trust me after all these years of taking care and spending time with her and my dad; the three of us. He told, me three words, words I'll probably repeat to others one day.

"Don't wreck it."

And with those words, the only blessing I was gonna get from my dad on the matter, I turned the key and listened to the amazing roar of that flat six as it came to life completely for the first time this year. The first drive of the year was mine.

I had never driven a car this old, the oldest being the '99 Windstar that my mom still drives. I didn't know how I'd feel or what to expect once I backed out of the driveway. It was gonna be like one of those instances where you meet your hero, and it felt soo good! As I backed out slowly, I felt the struggle of the manual steering, the effort to turn the wheel was like nothing I had ever felt before. Once it was fully backed out, I pushed the shifter into 1st and let the clutch out slowly, the car slowly started to move. OH MY GIDDY AUTNT! The car was cold, and when an old Porsche is cold, it's best to take it slow, driving slowly until the oil temp goes up and the pressure goes down. driving through my neighborhood, I was getting a feel for the car and looks from everyone as the bright red coupe slowly rolled by. When I finally pulled out on the main road, the car was warmed up, and I let the car loose on the road, it was also at this moment that I learned how not to drive this car.

The 915 trans is very, awkward. It didn't have much feel to it while shifting gears, sometimes I was worried that I'd put it in 4th rather than 2nd. I didn't mind the shift travel but there was no real feel to it overall IMO. There's a specific way to drive the 915. I learned that it doesn't like to be shifted fast or hard. It required more precision than my ST, and I loved that; I also loved the cable clutch, much more feel to it than my ST that has all of that hydraulic assisted stuff.

When it came to the steering, I was too nervous to really push the car in anything but a straight line, but coming from assisted power steering and that modern tech, it was a genuine enjoyable challenge from a stand-still to turn the wheel. I enjoyed the effort I had to apply to turn. there was a genuine connection between the road, the car and me, the way it should be. When I finally got the hand of the driving and power and really got on it, I powered around a corner, and with Dwhite as my witness, the 40/60 weight distribution made itself known as the tail came out abit. It was awesome. I wasn't scared either.

The acceleration for regular driving is OK, nothing compared to my ST, but that doesn't beat the flat-six sound from the rear. It's not fast compared to modern cars I guess, but it certainly was fast enough for my enjoyment! The fastest I ever went was about 60. The car is very light at around 2400 pounds and with only 150hp and 175 1b-ft of torque, once you jam the throttle, it really goes like hell! the 2.7L is a motor that loves to be in the higher RPMs, but I assume that of all 911s.

I'll be honest, After filling up at the gas station, I didn't really take it straight home... I really wanted to get a feel for the car, so I took it on a quick drive around town, and up and down Woodward a couple times to get a feel of the shifting, clutch and brakes. Finally took it home after an hour and gave my dad a call to thank him for the opportunity that I had waited my whole life for. The first question he asked me was how I liked driving it, hinting at the fact that he knows I didn't just drive it to the gas station and back, I couldn't think of the words to say, I had "driver's block" so to speak, so he just said he'd think about letting me take it out with him the next evening after work!

And we did! I took him out to see what goes on at Woodward after dark and I'll just say that many heads were turned to see an 18 year old driving a 911, mainly because no one knew that I had one at my house and that I had been there with an ST the night before. Driving around, he knew I was still getting used to the car and told me that the car was very different from what I was use to, and I sure knew it! He later told me that I could take the car out whenever I please, so long as I let him know what I doing or ask for permission first, but the only caveat being that this wouldn't be an every week thing sadly, but I digress. Driving up and down Woodward, it was as if the roles reversed and time flew backwards, 15 years after my first drive up Woodward with him at the wheel, I was returning the favor in a way, and I was having the time of my life.

The rest of this week, I used the 911 as my daily to better understand how life was like back then, taking it to school for my last final, getting groceries, driving to work and Even taking it to Dwhite's house for a quick mini photo shoot and a quick drive for his birthday, and finally washing and waxing! I understood how much skill it actually took to drive these old cars with their mechanical everything; no electric, hydraulic or power assisted anything, just pure muscle, effort and skill. Cars like these truly offer the best driving experiences, and I'm so glad that I was able to not only have the experience, but to share it with you all. What it's like to drive an old car like this from the perspective of a modern kid driving a modern hot hatch.I can't wait for the day to come, when I graduate from college and save up to get a car, You all know what I'm gonna get, as they say the apple doesn't fall far from the bush. :)

Brian Silvestro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 15:52

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It's so beautiful! You're a lucky person.

dogisbadob > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 15:53

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nice Magnum :)

dogisbadob > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 15:54

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Wow, an Astra!!! You guys have an awesome taste in cars

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 15:55

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Congrats Karl is it better than the ST?

dogisbadob > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 15:55

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nice Sonic :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > dogisbadob 05/10/2014 at 15:55

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The Astra was my first car. Sold it for an ST after the trans blew. I miss that car every day..

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > dogisbadob 05/10/2014 at 15:56

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The Magnum is my dad's daily, I nicknamed it the "beater wagon" because of it's exterior appearance, but it's mechanically in great shape with only 173k miles!

dogisbadob > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 15:58

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Wow you're lucky to have a first car like that! The panoramic sunroof must have been awesome. How many miles when the trans was shot? I'm considering a manual Astra whenever I can afford it.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 15:59

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IN EVERY WAY! I'd daily that car every day of my life(minus winter of course) :D

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > dogisbadob 05/10/2014 at 15:59

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I was photobombed by a Sonic?? Dammit! :P

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:01

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Awesome, but I think it would have good traction with a rear engine so why not snow?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > dogisbadob 05/10/2014 at 16:02

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Mine was an auto, and I may have tried to manually shift it on Christmas Eve, and it blew, more specifically the main output shaft at 43k miles. That sunroof was awesome! They're great cars honestly, the problem is that they sold only 12,000 I think in the US. But parts shouldn't be that hard to find, even if it was a one-year car.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 16:04

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For sure! It's just that being a '74 cars aren't galvanized; the 911s weren't galvanized until 1977 in the US. I'd daily any 911 after '84 though.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Brian Silvestro 05/10/2014 at 16:08

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Very Lucky, I really don't want to brag about it, but I've never had much to brag about in the past so this is the only thing I've got.

I will say that driving this car is a very humbling experience. It goes to show how much we have now and how little they had then, but then again, Porsche was very minimal back in the day, I kinda wish they stayed that way sometimes.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:08

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I am hoping to buy a 1983 x1/9 to fix up and DD as my first car.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 16:10

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That looks like an awesome car to DD! GL with finding one! :)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:10

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I found one for $500 it doesn't run and is purple and red.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 16:17

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Purple exterior and red interior? Sounds pretty neat to me! :)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:18

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Purple exterior with red stripes not sure on interior I am going to email the guy about it tomarrow.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:21

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Great story.

I just got to drive a 911 - cabriolet even - early this week as well. I think it was a 996, I'm only guessing it was air-cooled.

I don't have the emotional attachment that you have with your family car, so for me it was just a new and different vehicle. I have to say that I'm not as enamored as I thought I would be. I kind of expected it to be a nearly religious experience, given the way that people talk about Porsches and their mystical steering feel, engine sounds, etc. I can only say that I did not have a Paul-on-the-road-to-Damascus type of conversion.

Granted I was in steady traffic, and couldn't - and wouldn't dare - try and hoon a bit. Perhaps a chance at some more spirited driving in one, or driving an older, more classic 911, would help to convert me, but at the moment I'm not selling out.

My 2002 SVT Focus suits me just fine. It could just familiarity, but I feel like my SVT is quite good, with great turn-in response, steering weight and feel, and more than enough power to get you into trouble.

Do I still think the 911 is absolutely gorgeous? Yeah. And I still want one, even though I'm not sure exactly why.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 16:23

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Ask for pics if possible too! I'd love to see them. :)

dogisbadob > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:23

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Oh wow, I thought they would've given you a new one under warranty, unless it took you too long to rack up the 43k.

Even though it was only offered here for a single year, the car is/was fairly common in Europe, and there is a decent amount of aftermarket support like Bilstein shocks.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 05/10/2014 at 16:27

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If it was a 996 then you drove the first generation of the water-cooled 911s. I took a ride in one of those last month and loved it! It had a much quicker and more hoonable feeling compared to mine, but there was more technology here and there in it so it felt more secure.

With a lack of any driving assists or even an airbag, I never had to focus on driving so much in my life! But it sure was fun!

Glad you got to drive one too! Any pics?

Brian Silvestro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:29

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I think we all wished they stayed that way.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > dogisbadob 05/10/2014 at 16:31

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Well, conveniently enough, the Warranty went out about 3 weeks earlier. But had it not blew, I probably wouldn't have gotten an ST or driven the 911.

My mom bought me the car as a Christmas gift for 2012 with 38k miles on the Odometer. It is a common car in Europe, so maybe finding parts won't be hard.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:45

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Here it is.

JGrabowMSt > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:46

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beater wagon it is not. I just got one myself, and absolutely love it. Im not a Porsche guy, but tell your dad he had good taste!

Vicente Esteve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:47

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Fantastic story!! I enjoyed every part, and man I am so jelly your dad is that awesome. Hahah I have to say I lived through a similar experience when I was given permission to drive a 70s Beetle of the brother of my grandmother. It was all mechanical, and it drove like Nothing else I had felt before. The experience is just Amazing, and I just get what you felt with it being like a time machine.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > JGrabowMSt 05/10/2014 at 16:51

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Thanks! I Certainly will. The Magnum is also our travel car too, it's not beater, it just looks like one from how many scratches and and dents it has. The 2.7L for the Magnum is a bit of a slouch though.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 16:52

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I like what I see! :)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 16:53

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My 2 years of work will be a labor of love.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vicente Esteve 05/10/2014 at 16:53

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My dad is old, but when he's with me, he acts my age with cars and I love it! Cars are the one genuine thing that we have in common, we're polar opposites on everything else.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 16:55

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It looks fantastic! That purple is nice. I wonder what it's like to drive, I never even knew about this car until you just mentioned it. What are the specs?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 17:06

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1.5 litre inline 4 making about 75 horsepower. Like a Porsche it is the best on the curves.

JGrabowMSt > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 17:18

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ouch, the 2.7 is a dog...any oiling related issues on it? I went for the 5.7 because HEMI. Totally worth it... 18.8MPG isnt bad for the weight or powerrrrr

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > JGrabowMSt 05/10/2014 at 17:23

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It is such dog, I don't anything about oiling problems though. And with a Magnum, HEMI is always the answer. 18.8 is great!

JGrabowMSt > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 17:31

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the 2.7 has oil pickup issues, but if its still going strong, as long as its working, keep it working well. Mine is black, up for a lot of maintenance thats overdue. Waiting for my own finals to finish...

Vicente Esteve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 17:34

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hhahah my dad and I also love cars. It's what starts and ends every conversation

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > JGrabowMSt 05/10/2014 at 17:46

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Yep! my dad is very consistent about his oil changes. As far as I know, it's doing well. Good luck with your finals! I just finished mine Wednesday.

JGrabowMSt > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 17:51

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Thanks!

fullylockedcountersteer > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 18:56

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Great story. Almost brought a tear to my eye. I need a project to share with my son. The Miata is gone...I always said I wanted a Porsche. I guess you only live once, right?

GypsumF > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 18:57

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It's great to see a car like that nursed back to health and being enjoyed. Good work.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > fullylockedcountersteer 05/10/2014 at 19:00

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Go get yourself a Porsche, spend time with your son, enjoy those moments because they only happen once, but they'll last for a lifetime! :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > GypsumF 05/10/2014 at 19:01

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Thanks!

RandyR > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:06

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" made it a goal to be the 911's caretaker, filling it up with Stabil, starting it up and letting it run once or twice ever month" This is the worst thing you can do for the engine. Either don't run it at all, or take it for a drive that's long enough to bring it up to running temperature. Running it without bringing the engine up to running temp just introduces moisture to the system, and just idling it is bad because you don't get enough oil pressure in the top end.

Toyotathong! > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:11

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How long did you have to beg your mom to drive the windstar?

Good article on a cool car......don't wreck it.

Haimatox > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:13

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Congrats, man. FP stuff here!

Diesel > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:15

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This is beautiful.

cabarne4 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:15

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When I was 4, my dad left to get a loaf of bread, and came back with a '75 Beetle. A few years later, it was restored from the ground up. Most of my best childhood memories were riding around in that car. When I was old enough to drive, my parents got me a Civic Si (mom wanted me in something safer). I still took the Beetle every day. While it's no 911 (well, sort of), I completely understand the lust for the mechanical feel of it. No dummy lights, no assisted steering. All the controls are very heavy in your hands, and you have to completely listen to and feel the car, and understand what it's telling you.

Congrats! :)

KirkyV > dogisbadob 05/10/2014 at 19:17

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Is a sentence that has never, ever been uttered by anyone where I live.

(Seriously, not bagging on the Astra - well, I kind of am, 'cause I've never liked them - but here, that's a bit like saying 'Wow, a Camry!!! You guys have an awesome taste in cars.")

afgiubadfiubg > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:21

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As a youngin myself who's about to graduate high school and trade in his car for an old 911SC, I couldn't connect with this story more. Glad to hear it's a blast to drive! Congrats on the drive man! Cool dad.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:24

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can i have it :(

in all seriousness these things are my dream cars and that one is butiful (it just needs to be dark blue c;)

for now i'll just have to pretend that my alfa spider is a targa 911

now excuse me while i surf Craigslist for the next 5 weeks

GLHNSLHT2 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:24

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Nice story. Starts out the same as my story. I was almost born in my father's 70 911T He dailied it till the early 80's after him and my mother split up. In the late 80's he had it restored, and upgraded to S specs and a hotted up 2.7 by Andial. Visiting him over the summer when I was 12 I was playing video games when he went out to the garage and fired it up. I heard it roll out into the street and then the horn started going off. After a couple times I got up and leaned out in to the garage where I saw him sitting in the passenger seat yelling for me to get out there. "No!" was my response where he just yelled to get out there again. Not wanting the belt for not listening (remember those good days??) I sheepishly walked out. He told me to get in. I really didn't want to as I was scared about what was going to happen next but did anyway. Closed the drivers door with that nice clink sound they make and he said let's go. So seat all the way fwd I could barely push in the clutch to get it all the way to the floor. Into 1st gear and he coached me how to get going. Right where the clutch started to engage is right where my leg would start to do that nervous shake when it's trying to hold something in and let it out at the same time where it's just barely bent. I finally got the car rolling though and away we went. Next block I was told to stop and do it again. This time the car started bucking. So what's my dad do? He puts his foot over the small hump between the seats and stomps on the top of my foot all the way to the floor. We leap from 5mph of bucking to 40mph instantly (remember hopped up 2.7 making 200-225hp in a car weighing 2100ish lbs). I freaked out and made my way back home as quickly as possible. Over the rest of the summer and the rest of the summers till I was 18 we kept driving around practicing every so often. After graduating I moved down with him while working and going to school. That summer he was leaving on a trip with my step mom and half brother and I needed to go somewhere so I asked him what I was supposed to do for transportation. He yells back to my amazement "Take the Porsche". After that it was mine for the rest of the summer. I have a lot of stories from that summer in that car but maybe another time. He thinks it's funny to call or txt once in a while that he's going to trade it in on something. New Beetle, latest was a Panemera S. All have recieved a prompt answer of "Not over my dead body" It was almost born in it and I'll be dead in it when I go and hopefully will be passed down through my family forever.

BATC42 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:28

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Great story! I remember when I get to drive my dad's Golf Mk2 GTI (the 16s) for the first time. I had gotten my licence a few months before and I was late for school and had missed the bus (I may or may not have done it on purpose...). I didn't have to learn how to drive stick before, since I knew how (the joys of living in Europe ^^). Anyway, fired up the car, the car started on the first time (it was early March, and freezing cold), I let it warm up a little bit in the driveway and off I went. I still remember the sound of the 4-cylinder 140 hp engine when I took to 7000 rpms for the first time.

The car was so much fun to drive, though it was a bit daring to drive on wet roads (and the tires were not in the best shapes). After I drove it that first time, on a cold March day I started to DD it and since I had no car, it soon became my car. It was a very fun car to drive, love the mechanical steering, was really easy to park and to maneuver.

But the car had 250,000 km (around 160,000 miles) on the clock, it was 21 years old and it drank like it was trying to forget something (no more than 350 km on a tank) though it might be because of the way I drove the car (not my fault if they are plenty of nice, small, winding roads near my parents, and the car had no air-filter, just a tube going from the engine to the grill). After finishing high-school I had to go away for school and I was getting home every week-end. Used the car roughly 6 months after high school, then I decided it was time to change because the Golf was becoming too expensive to own (yeah I know, not a true gearhead then), the suspension was shot, it was overheating for no reason, we had already changed the exhaust manifold twice in ten months and it had, once again, broke. We found a nice Citroën Xsara VTS HDI (a 110hp turbo-diesel, but with a proper, wonderful chassis) near where my parents lived, it was mint and quite cheap so we decided it was time for me to get a new car. Bought the Xsara, sold the Golf a few month later to a VW enthusiast who planned to get the car back in shape and to drive it.

I miss the car, especially the noise and the driving dynamics. Still, the Xsara is a good car too, and quite wonderful on winding roads (it has passive rear wheels steering which is quite surprising the first time). But I hope I'll be able to buy one later in life (but for now my next car will probably be when I'll be in New Zealand next year.

I don't have any pictures of the golf unfortunately (excepted my jalopnik avatar).

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Toyotathong! 05/10/2014 at 19:28

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She just handed me the keys and said "go get some milk from the store". :P

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:30

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Needs rectangular fogs and non-chrome headlight surrounds... But still...

Awesome car, awesome story!

Thanks for sharing. :)

Raccoon and Tanuki > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:31

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when did OL become young teens in rose tinted glasses?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > afgiubadfiubg 05/10/2014 at 19:31

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You're gonna get an SC as a DD? Lucky! :)

05STi > afgiubadfiubg 05/10/2014 at 19:32

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This seems like such a bad idea but I'm so glad you are doing it. Have fun!

KylesPerGallon > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:32

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Bravo... well written. Every day in a 911 is a good day to me. I'm patiently awaiting my turn.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 05/10/2014 at 19:33

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I have to pretend my Focus ST is a 911...

FWD+4-cylinder=impossible to become 911

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 05/10/2014 at 19:34

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I think the chrome makes it stand out from the color-matched surrounds, the rectangular fogs though....not a bad idea!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Raccoon and Tanuki 05/10/2014 at 19:35

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I don't follow...

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:42

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I honestly wouldn't mind that suggestion. Thinking back to my recommendation, tampering with the surrounds would taint the originality of it, so just the fogs would be nice.

afgiubadfiubg > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 19:50

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Thanks man! I bet your ST is a blast to drive too. Definitely not a bad deal getting to choose between driving those two cars! I've always loved the impact bumper 911s. My dad's first Porsche was an SC, but he sold it back in the 80's, so I'm kind of sentimental to that model, plus they're conveniently the cheapest of the old 911s haha.

Marek > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 19:52

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you are a brave man, I did that for two years get as many spares as you can

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Marek 05/10/2014 at 19:56

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How was a X19

Rpadula > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:06

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Quite an unusual picture you got there. 911, a Magnum and an Astra.

Clay_T > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:18

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Makes me sad when you call them old... I prefer classic. *g*

Dad let me take my DMV driving test in this one back in '76.

It was a daily driver for years... We only drive it on weekends these days.

Fookin' Prawns > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:22

4

If you drive it backwards, it's two cylinders short.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Rpadula 05/10/2014 at 20:23

0

And a Windstar.

mmmmmbeer > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:25

3

I was 49 before I got to drive my first 911, the '86 Carrera I bought. Never forget how fortunate you are, and whatever you do, don't lift at the apex! :-)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Clay_T 05/10/2014 at 20:26

1

I called it old?? I didn't mean to. Classic is definitely a much more appropriate term. What year is the long nose in the pic? Looks very nice. :)

Clay_T > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:51

1

Thanks! It's a '67S.

Dad has owned it since '75. It was a daily driver for 10 years or so then relegated to part time duty and weekend slaloms.

He been racing it in POC, PCA, and vintage club races pretty much since he bought it.

Yours is vintage, bring it out and race it!

At least get it out to some autocross's and learn how to slide it. They will turn around on you if you're not experienced with how they handle.

They are a blast to drive though. We have a ton of videos... I need to get them up on youtube. Here's a short one from a couple years ago... I'm not very fast.

rxe7en > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:51

1

"I begged him to let me drive, and he'd always say no, because at the time I didn't know how to drive stick. "

Whaaaat? :)

rxe7en > rxe7en 05/10/2014 at 20:53

2

my son and his friends have been begging me to teach them to drive stick—I just don't want to teach them in a 400rwhp rx7. :)

Mike Fusco > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:56

1

Great story. I enjoyed it, having grown up in a car-enthusiast home and remembering that feeling of the first time I got to drive Dad's Cool Car. At one point that was a V8 Grand Cherokee Limited Platinum edition, which was the most badass Jeep product at the time. Next it was a MK1 Audi TT.

I love the 911, it's a fine choice on your dad's part. #iregretnothing

Now about the emblem. The white stuff surrounding it looks like years of white car wax buildup. You can remove it using a SOFT bristle toothbrush, a LIGHT touch, some dedication, and the help of a product called Eraser by CarPro. It will help break that stuff down and will visually take years off the emblem.

Frank Grimes > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:57

0

Awesome. I have always wanted a old porsche. I had a bug for a daily for a long time and loved it. I imagine a lot of the character of an old beetle is an a 911 and cant wait to drive one some day.

DipodomysDeserti > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 20:59

1

You have an old 911 sitting in the garage and you mom is driving around in a Windstar? I know of another Karl who would be in favor of redistributing this 911 to a more appreciative driver. Jk, enjoy that thing and don't let it be locked up.

Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too) > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 21:01

1

Thanks K-Roll! I'd been looking forward to reading this all week (your teasers have been painful!) and it exceeded my expectations! Great to see you finally get behind the wheel of the 911. I'm a little bit jealous, but also very happy for you at the same time.

dogisbadob > KirkyV 05/10/2014 at 21:04

0

To be fair, the Camry is a great car.

Yeah we only got the Astra for a single year—2008 (Canada also got them for 2009). Only the 1.8L NA gas engine, no diesel, no OPC, no convertible, but at least we got the huge panoramic sunroof! (the smallest car to have that over here in modern times)

Dream Theater of the Absurd > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 21:07

1

Lucky you! I'm still waiting for my chance to drive a 911 (I've ridden in two; both were 996's for whatever that's worth). OTOH, I did drive my uncle's 356 once, and that was pretty neat in its own right.

Farani > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 21:09

1

Congrats! There's nothing else in this world quite like a Porsche.

I do have to say that I see you took it to Fred Lavery...do not go there! They are the worst. I got four years of terrible service, and then luckily, Porsche of The Motor City opened up. Ordered my new 981S from them, and it's been nothing but an amazing experience. So much better than Lavery.

senn > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 21:32

3

As someone who didn't drive a MR layout car until well into my 20's, if this really is your first car, PLEASE be careful. These kinds of cars demand a massive amount of respect, are extremely grippy, but VERY unforgiving once you find the limit. If I had've driven one when I first started driving I have no doubt I'd have wrapped it around a tree. I honestly feel these sorts of cars should be taken to an off-street driving event (motorkhana/autocross) etc to learn the limits. That said......you'll love it. My AW11 is still my favorite car to drive.

Plantonation > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 21:36

1

As someone that used to own and daily a vintage Porsche not too long ago (6 or 7 years) I know the feeling.

I went from a 1994 240SX to a 1973 (or 1974 the car was a cluster f***) Porsche 914/4. She cost $3,000 and WAS THE BEST $3,000 I ever spent PERIOD. She had a dogleg 5 speed manual and some kind of aftermarket exhaust with gaskets that were completely gone. I'm my parent's neighborhood hated hearing her roll down the street every morning at 7AM so I could get to work. The windows fogged constantly during the summer and hand brake cable was snapped but she was a blast.

Unfortunately after a few months of owning her and saving money she caught on fire while droving home from work. The entire car was burnt and twisted.....you could see a slight twist in the frame and body from the fire.

Despite almost burning me alive I still want to own another 914 to this day.

greencow > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 21:57

0

Nice read man! I'd be lying a bit if I said I wasn't jealous. Maybe I'll see you n your dad cruising around some night, I make my way down to that exact parking lot whenever I get the chance. What color is your ST? Do you take it down there often? Look out for a graphite gray Evo VIII with white wheels, that'll be me!

MotoArigato > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 22:28

1

Congrats man, soon you will be taking it to Cars and Coffee and some German themed car shows. Just remember not to lift the throttle in a corner, brake early going in so you don't have to slow down but rather gradually accelerate out of the curve. Ask your dad about that. It takes practice but we want you to keep that beautiful car out of the trees. Be safe and enjoy it with your dad, what a great story the both of you will always remember. BTW, Did your pops see that you published this? I bet he's proud of you and the car!

glasshole1 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 22:33

1

think I saw you out on Woodward!

kyle242gt > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 22:39

2

Does it have reactors still? Look into that and remove them if so.

I happened into 911 ownership (80) after driving a 90 C4 and balking at the price. Thought the whole Germanic ownership was great (had three E36's and a W123) but one broken head stud and dead AC was enough for me. Got enough to buy a CTSV with more power/brakes/handling/space. Happy to have been in and out of 911 ownership, and agree with you on manual steering (which I still have in my Toyota PU and 240Z, haha), but I really didn't think the cachet was worth it.

Next time I lose my shit and buy an exotic, I'm getting a 328. And I don't mean BMW.

Frobnoid > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/10/2014 at 22:46

2

Start by replacing all of the rubber fuel lines, or it may be more of a brief fling.

Hawili > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 22:50

1

Not easy to read "feelings", I was going to cry somewhere in the middle :')

Wholehearted congrats

KayGB > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/10/2014 at 22:51

0

Shirley you meant that an oil line sprung a leak?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > senn 05/10/2014 at 23:05

0

Thanks for the heads up. Is there anything else I should know?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Frobnoid 05/10/2014 at 23:06

0

Thanks I am going to try and make it a more reliable car.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Clay_T 05/10/2014 at 23:12

1

That's coincidental! Both our dads owned 911s since '75 haha! :)

I don't think she'll ever see the track under my dad's ownership, he now considers the car as more of an investment rather than a fun drivers car as I see it. Maybe one day in the future she'll see the track. I'd love to be in the car when the tail really gets out!

I'm planning on signing my dad and I up for PCA this year too to get out in the Porsche world. :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > rxe7en 05/10/2014 at 23:13

0

Yeah, I never learned to drive stick until November in prep for whatever my next car would be. I told my dad that I wanted a manual for my next car and he obliged and we got an ST!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Mike Fusco 05/10/2014 at 23:14

0

Thanks! When I was cleaning it up, I somehow avoided the badge area, not sure why.. :P

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Frank Grimes 05/10/2014 at 23:14

0

My dad had a couple Beetle's before the 911.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too) 05/10/2014 at 23:15

1

Thanks! :)

Glad you enjoyed it. I'm planning on making a special oppo review later this summer.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Dream Theater of the Absurd 05/10/2014 at 23:16

0

I'm waiting to take a ride in my uncle's 944 and 911 in two months! Can't wait!