I drove a Beetle and I think I liked it...

"Green Mountain Car Guy" (williamleedy)
08/18/2015 at 13:27 • Filed to: None

The course: A grueling 3.2mi loop of tarmac winding around the side streets of South Burlington, VT.

The driver: A 34yo male with a bit of a buddah belly, a clean driving record and tiny bit of experience with cars on a track. (not pictured for your safety).

The car: A 1979 Porsche 911SC Targa.

My previous experience with Porsche’s includes: I once rode in a 1974 914 with no brakes. I once road in a 944 that was for sale beside the road for too much (and, consequently, is still there more than a year later). I once was a passenger in a brand new 911 (for a demonstration lap before piloting a 360. I once was a passenger in a Boxster (non-S) on a small go-kart track in upstate NY.

My previous driving experience in a Porsche is as follows: I once pulled an ‘06 Boxster (non-S) from the front parking lot at my place of employment to the rear parking lot.

There has always been a certain mystique for me surrounding the Porsche 911. Growing up it was always a little different. The engine hanging over the ass like a flat-nosed school bus. The air-cooled engine and the goofy-when-you-first-look-at-it-but-grows-on-you looks set it apart from the Ferrari 308’s and Corvettes of the times. The 911 is stubborn in that way - and I can relate to it’s resistance to change.

Any trepidation aside, when the opportunity arose to take this car around the block - the last thing on my mind was “no thanks”. I sat down in the surprisingly comfortable feeling seat and fired the beast up with two things hanging in the back of my mind: “Let it idle for a few seconds until it smooths out” and “don’t lift in the corners”.

With my fellow co-workers standing by with their camera phone’s waiting for me to stall my first attempt at releasing it’s funky feeling springy floor mounted clutch. Much to their dismay I managed not to satisfy them.

Now, I want to start my experience by saying this is not a refined car. Even though everything is as solid as it was the day the car was new, it’s pretty easy to see that this isn’t a modern car. Turning the wheel in the parking lot takes real effort and shifting it reminds me more of an old Chevy truck than the Mazda3 - even more so with the good ol’ cable operated clutch.

But, despite that, I was enjoyed every second of it. There isn’t that much power but the sound it makes when you get after it made me not even care. The targa top is large enough to make you forget that it isn’t actually a convertible until you look rearward. Visibility is great - especially with that huge rear window. You can see exactly where the front corners of the car are with those two headlight bubbles sticking up.

While I was only in the car for a few minutes, the seats felt pretty good - like I’d be comfortable in it for hours on end. With the dash set back and no intrusive center stack (just a cubby hole) coupled with the airy feeling from the area behind the front seats, it felt roomy and airy inside the cabin. The frunk even seems large enough for things - maybe not many things, but, things nonetheless.

I imagine that smooth take offs and proper down shifts will take some practice but up shifting seemed as smooth as can be right off the bat.

I also don’t imagine myself storming up the tight switchbacks of the Appalachian Gap at full tilt in this car - I am too much of a wuss to push a car with it’s reputation for wanting to point the opposite direction. But, cruising up it at about 6/10 with the engine wailing away sounds positively heavenly. Perhaps the best trip would be Rt. 100 top to bottom on a nice day with the roof off. The wind in your hair and a smile on your face, a reliable air-cooled flat 6, a 5-speed and German solidity - what else could you ask for? Maybe to skip the gold paint.

My wife, despite never having sat in one, is a big Porsche fan, especially the old 911’s. When I told her I took the opportunity to drive one, she responded by throwing the carrot she was cutting (at least it wasn’t the knife!). I am now in trouble, but, it was worth it!

With the values of these cars skyrocketing, I’m not sure I’ll ever have the opportunity to own one, but, if it ever does come to be - you can bet you won’t hear from me until I’ve explored every passable road in New England with it. My jaw will hurt and my hair will be a mess, but, it will be worth it.

DISCUSSION (17)

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/18/2015 at 14:29

if my office had windows I might almost have seen you passing by and waved.... Well, not quite, but damn close.

Green Mountain Car Guy > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
08/18/2015 at 17:35

Ohh yeah??

Two Drink Minimum > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/18/2015 at 18:20

Oof, test driving a car on Williston Road. I’ve done that before. Were you able to get clear of traffic a little bit?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/18/2015 at 21:06

just down Williston road a bit to Blair Park.

Green Mountain Car Guy > Two Drink Minimum
08/19/2015 at 10:29

Not really, lol, that’s why I went off into the industrial park! The car was traded toward a 2016 Miata and I was given the chance to experience it (our sales manager is a big Porsche fanatic) before it went away - I wasn’t gonna pass that up.

Green Mountain Car Guy > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
08/19/2015 at 10:31

Gotcha....well, that is pretty damn close. lol.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/19/2015 at 10:57

yup, almost bought an RX8 from PJ’s back in the day, and my old Alfa 164-S got serviced there (originaly sold in Florida) when they still did Alfa service...

Green Mountain Car Guy > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
08/19/2015 at 11:19

Haha, Alfa’s here were a bit before my time! But, Imported Car Center next door still gets a few in now and then that I get to gawk at. As an RX-8 owner, I’m curious what you ended up with instead?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/19/2015 at 11:33

A savings account that ended up being integral to my survival of un/under-employment in 2008-2010. I am now, as my avatar might have at least partially given away, rocking a FieSTa.

P.S. Imported Car Center once managed to install my clutch plate BACKWARDS. They DID fix it at no cost to me, but it didn’t instill.... confidence. after that any work I couldn’t do myself went to Ralph’s.

Green Mountain Car Guy > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
08/19/2015 at 11:51

Well, the clutch plate story is interesting....sounds like something I’d do! A savings account instead of an RX-8 is probably a good trade - since my RX-8 has pretty much eaten up my savings account, lol! I’m hoping some day someone will come in looking to trade their FieSTa so that I can drive it around too!

Two Drink Minimum > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/19/2015 at 13:43

Nice. We nearly bought our Mazda6 from you guys last year (you didn’t have the color in stock we wanted, so we ended up at Walker Mazda).

Have you driven the ‘16 Miata yet?

Two Drink Minimum > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
08/19/2015 at 13:46

Good lord.

Green Mountain Car Guy > Two Drink Minimum
08/19/2015 at 16:18

Sorry about the Mazda6! But, only driven the Miata around the parking lot. The launch edition one and the first two we have coming (one come and gone the other on it’s way) are all spoken for!

Green Mountain Car Guy > Two Drink Minimum
08/19/2015 at 16:21

Acutally - I’m guessing by your avatar that you drive a 500 Abarth? ....that perhaps was on display at Wolfsgart at some point and we chatted about it a couple times while you were here?

Two Drink Minimum > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/20/2015 at 09:22

Yep, I do drive an Abarth (a red ‘13 model with leather interior) but it wasn’t me you talked to. I’d love to run into another Abarth driver up here, but they don’t seem to exist. I feel like a unicorn driving around Burlington...

We are a Mazda family otherwise, though. Wife has the 6, of course, and our two boys share a 2005 Mazda3 (no rust!).

Green Mountain Car Guy > Two Drink Minimum
08/21/2015 at 10:46

There is a black one around owned by a young man. He was here with it when his gf was shopping. Have seen it at Wolfsgart and a Stowe AutoX back when they had them up there! Mean sounding little thing! I’ve only driven an auto 500c “convertible”....I’m hoping the Abarth is a much different animal!!

A 2005 Mazda (hell, a 2005 Japanese car) with no rust is a hell of a thing. I’m guessing it is a southern or western car??

Two Drink Minimum > Green Mountain Car Guy
08/21/2015 at 17:21

Oh yes, the Abarth is absolutely a different animal. I just got back from a drive down 116, across the Midd Gap on 125 to Rt 100, and I am still smiling. Great day for a spirited drive.

Yeah, the Mazda3 was a Florida car, then driven locally but never in the winter. It’ll be a pile of rust by next spring, I’m sure.