Are You A Driver Or A Polisher?

"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey) 05/23/2014 at 14:15 • Filed to: Porsche, Classics

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As many of us who dream about cars are wont to do I was recently checking out the price of Porsche 911s, even though I can't afford one.

Somewhere, in the trance-like state we adopt when perusing expensive metal, I came across an article, which had been retweeted by !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - not unreasonably as it name checks Philip.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and asks if this inflation is a mere bubble, ripe for the pricking, or if there is more substance behind it. Turns out there's a lot of substance behind it and the price of Porsche 993s, 930s and 964s is rising due to people buying the cars because they want to rather than to flip them to make a quick buck.

So I turned back to looking at 911s and quickly found that a good condition 996 can be had for £15k. So why, I thought, would anyone want an older 911 seeing as the 996 is a better car all round and much cheaper?

That's because I'm a driver, not a polisher, always have been and never realised it.

The article states, "If you're saving hard and you're a 'driver' as opposed to a 'polisher' then you view it as a double edged sword. The pricing is a continually moving target as you chase your quest. But of course once you become an owner, you're having a combination of concern at driving it as hard as you used to, plus the combination of pleasure if it's value continues up and concern that you have made the mistake of buying at the top of the market."

The paragraph basically states that those who want an air-cooled 911 in order to drive it are being prevented from doing so because to use it is to diminish its value, which could rise to a stratospheric amount.

My blinkered mind says, "so buy a 996 or 997 and drive the nuts off that." To some people this is missing the point. I like cars in order to drive them, not to look at them. Some people think otherwise.

My cars are cleaned irregularly but I check the fluids regularly and have just spent a small fortune on new brakes for my Audi and new suspension for my BMW. This is because I want to rag their arses, to thrash them and to enjoy the experience of driving them.

I care very little for how they look, as long as when they left the factory they were reasonably handsome/pretty (delete accordingly).

On the flip side some people spend an inordinate amount of time and money cleaning, polishing and detailing their cars. Some people have built entire businesses that revolve around cleaning rich people's super cars.

I do not understand this mentality but I duo understand that to these people the principle of ownership is pride in the car and it's appearance as much as the driving experience, and I respect that.

It's just not for me.

Are you a driver or a polisher?

Photo: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

ps - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It was awesome and only added to my Porsche-lust

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Speedmonkey 05/23/2014 at 14:17

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Driver.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Speedmonkey 05/23/2014 at 14:25

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I am a driver I don't care about the little scratches I want to have fun driving it, not stareing at it after I spent hours making it look good.

Mattbob > Speedmonkey 05/23/2014 at 14:25

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Driver. I spent way more than I needed to on new tires, brakes and suspension parts, when the car really needs paint and plastic bits. Oh, and I almost forgot, a preemtive all aluminum radiator because the stock one was a time bomb. I'd rather have it drive well than look good.

Nothing > Speedmonkey 05/23/2014 at 14:34

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Both. I enjoy driving, and I enjoy detailing. Just because I like my cars clean doesn't mean I don't drive them.

Now if you change this from polisher to garage queen, that changes the answer to driver only, which I think is really the point being made. My cars may be clean, but they ain't garage queens.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Speedmonkey 05/23/2014 at 14:43

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Definitely driver. My cars get cleaned rarely but maintained to the best of my funds and ability. To hell with resale values, provided the car's not falling apart as I'm using it.

This next bit might be answering a slightly different question posed, but if I was looking for a classic 911 and someone said why I not buy a 996 or 997, I'd simply say 'because I want a classic 911'. I don't tend to just want a sports car, I want a Sprint engined GT6. I don't tend to want a luxury cruiser, I want an XJ40. Regardless of whether there's better or more sensible alternatives out there :)

This came up the other day regarding the Alfa 4C. Someone said had I considered a Cayman, as they're easier to live with, the engine's a little sweeter and overall it shows a bit that it's a 3rd generaton car (starting with the first Boxster) vs a 1st generation car.

The only response I could come up with was that I wanted the Alfa and that was that :S

BoulderZ > Speedmonkey 05/23/2014 at 15:28

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False dichotomy, for me at least. I restored and modified my 280Z exactly the way I wanted it. I did everything other than paint/body myself, but I made sure to get that right, too. It's won three car show trophies (Best Classic, 1st Place Import, and I think the other is like 2nd place import or something). I also take it to open lapping days, only missed one club track day in 6 years (stupid floods), and I'm looking forward to the new track time trial series this year as well, though I'm sure I'll get my butt handed to me. So, polish it and enjoy the shows, then head to the track. Or enjoy the track, then clean it up for the show. Why "or" when you can have "and" just as easily?

Biapilotaceman > Speedmonkey 05/23/2014 at 21:31

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I think it's very possibeto be both. I drive the snot out of my car and detail it with obsession later. I don't worry about getting it dirty because I also really enjoy cleaning it. i think you're right that prices are going up because people are buying them and keeping them, but i doubt they all refrain from driving them just because it would drive the value down. if they want to keep it, they arent going to care so much about that.

thebigbossyboss > Speedmonkey 06/05/2014 at 11:19

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Polisher. I clean my car far more often than I fix broken mechanicals, although am working on fixing my suspension (hurry up tirerack.com).