Has Owning a Particular Car Taught You Anything About Life?

"Reed Arvin" (farfignewman) 08/02/2015 at 20:12 • Filed to: Porsche, Life lessons, Panamera, risk, courage, advice, repair, track day, financial planning

6

40

Romanticizing cars is a seductive business. On the 1 hand, they’re mechanical devices for transportation. On the other, they’re objects of art and lust. Lately, I’ve been thinking about how they teach us from both sides of that equation. Take courage. Sometimes, a car teaches us to press a little harder on a track day - to keep the right foot planted - which is a pretty decent metaphor beyond the track. Another kind of courage is required to detach a brake pad from a rotor for the 1st time. I really need to do this correctly, given I’m going to need these brakes when I drive. I love that cars teach so well and so broadly.

And sometimes just buying a car is a teacher.

The question before me was this: Is it better to live for now or for the future?

Not long ago, I brought home a Panamera from Porsche of Chattanooga (my local Nashville dealer not having quite what I wanted). Picking it up thrust me back to June of 1983, when I bought my 1st Porsche, and indeed my 1st new car. I was 27 years old. The picture above is the only 1 I have of the car. The couple in the photo were, and are, friends. I sweated a long time deciding to buy that car.

In 1983 I was working in the music business. As the 80s were the glory days of that industry, I was doing pretty well; even so, 27 seemed pretty young (irresponsible?) to splash out on a new Porsche. I decided to ask my parents - both successful lawyers - for advice, half-hoping they’d talk me out of it. Mom and Dad were 61 in 1983, at just the point a conservative life financially would pay dividends (literally). To my astonishment, they both said - simultaneously, on separate phones - “Buy the car!” They both wished they had pleased themselves more while younger. Not that they’d lived like monks. But they both felt that waiting on life for a later date is often a fool’s game, and wished they had done less of it. Good advice, and I bought the car.

Here’s the Panamera. I think of my parents often when I drive it. And lean just a bit more in the direction of today.

How about you guys? What stuff has cars taught you about life?

1111111111111111111111 > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:16

1

My 99 Passat. It taught me that you can be fucked at any time and can’t do anything about it.

jkm7680 > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:17

0

Hard question to address in context, I’d say that cars taught me a new level of responsibility and maturity from when I first got my first car.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:19

0

Owning my Cutlass taught me that you will get screwed six ways from Sunday if you fawn over the car without taking into account its faults.

Reed Arvin > jkm7680 08/02/2015 at 20:19

1

Love that. It’s getting the insurance, the tags, the fallout from the 1st little accident. Reality.

Reed Arvin > 1111111111111111111111 08/02/2015 at 20:19

1

Ah, fatalism.

MLGCarGuy > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:19

0

My sister’s Versa Note taught me not to expect anything luxurious from a car. And to appreciate power.

jkm7680 > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:21

0

Completely agreed, that first little bump was a wake up call that reality is real and that when you get behind the wheel, you’re putting more than just your life in your hands.

Great looking Porsche also!

Reed Arvin > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 08/02/2015 at 20:21

4

Oh, man - if you learned that from a car and not a woman, you’re miles ahead.

Reed Arvin > jkm7680 08/02/2015 at 20:22

2

a nice example of modernist industrial design, as long as you never look at its ass.

1111111111111111111111 > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:23

0

I’ve not completely written off VAG. But there is some seriously bad blood. I do want cayman s as my next car.

jkm7680 > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:24

0

Haha, true true.

Reed Arvin > 1111111111111111111111 08/02/2015 at 20:25

0

I drove the Cayman GTS at the Porsche Parade on an autocross course. Um . . . want.

wafflesnfalafel > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:36

0

There is value in driving something you like. If you hate it, dump it - life is too short.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:38

0

Owning my 4Runner has taught me that reliability is amazing, and not in any way boring or over rated. It also has helped me realize why Toyota built the Prius, to be forgiven of past environmental sins.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:42

1

Oh trust me, I originally learned that from a girl and found that it transferred to cars. When your ex is crazy enough to literally throw her own excrement at people while sober, then you drop her like a bad habit.

Birddog > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:42

0

I could go on for days. I’ve owned over 150 cars over the last 24 years.

Really.. I haven’t learned a damn thing. Because I keep buying them.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:50

0

I learned that my taste in cars are a like my taste in.... everything else. Women, homes, food, decor, you name it. I like cars that have character, scars, potential, and a good story to tell. I keep fantasizing about owning a modern car, like an Astra, or maybe even something older but luxurious, like an Allroad. And yet I keep thinking that I should just buy another Tercel wagon.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 08/02/2015 at 20:52

0

ok you can’t leave us hanging with that.

Baeromez > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 20:58

0

The Firebird taught me to party like it was the end of the world, because at any minute it could be.

The Grand Am taught me not to judge a book by its cover. It also taught not to take things for granted, because that’s how I ended up with the Firebird.

The 4runner taught me that you can’t break a Toyota, even if it’s already broken.

Tohru > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 21:09

2

Romancing cars is a seductive business too.

Reed Arvin > Tohru 08/02/2015 at 21:12

2

Wow. You went there.

Tohru > 1111111111111111111111 08/02/2015 at 21:15

0

Bad Blood?

1111111111111111111111 > Tohru 08/02/2015 at 21:20

1

No this kind: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3DyIIS…

Cost me 7k to fix and didn’t recall till 10 years later. Fuck them and Shepard Motors in Eugene.

Conan > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 21:22

1

Owning my Crossfire taught me that you shouldn’t count on the fellows who plug your vehicle into a diagnostic machine at the dealership to fix your car when it stalls randomly. Instead I should have listened to the actual 20 minute fix from the experienced guys on the forum.

Reed Arvin > Conan 08/02/2015 at 21:27

1

Dealership vs. Forum. That’s a deep wisdom, grasshopper.

Your boy, BJR > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 08/02/2015 at 21:38

0

Hey now! I detect a story!

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 21:46

0

owning a Miata has shown me that Miata is life.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 21:48

0

Things always take longer than expected

If something makes a noise/weird feeling check it out

Assume there is rust until proven otherwise.

Local Miata Bro > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 22:12

1

Hey Nashvegas oppos unite!!! But in all seriousness my dad helped me on purchasing a miata, since he never treated himself while he was younger. He told me to get one now so when I’m his age I won’t regret not being able to have a fun car. Although on the flip side I am currently helping him track down another miata, since I bought his.

Reed Arvin > Local Miata Bro 08/02/2015 at 22:39

0

love that.

boxrocket > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 22:44

0

I’ve learned not to get too emotionally or financially attached to disposable objects, but by the same token take care of those things as best you can, because if you’re suddenly without them, life can become much more difficult, and time and effort can be wasted with insufficient substitutions - as my dad likes to say, “time is your greatest asset” - which could have been avoided in the first place with proper efforts and dedication.

Reed Arvin > boxrocket 08/02/2015 at 23:08

0

good word, that.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Reed Arvin 08/02/2015 at 23:33

2

I’m 19(soon to be 20 in 4 days), this was the first car I bought with my own money, after having my parents buy and take out a loan for the previous two cars respectively; the second of which has become the daily driver next to this one. Both my parents were well against the idea of me buying a car I’ve wanted since the age of 10 while still being in college. I was just too damned determined and in love with the car to listen to them for once. My mother relented and helped me keep it a secret from my dad, up until the day I needed a ride to get the car, and he was the only one who could drive me there, go figure. He did eventually warm up to it, like a new member of the family.

It’s now been a little over 9 months since I bought her, and this car has taught me more about cars than any TV show, Youtube channel, or even instruction manual could ever hope to do; getting down and under the car to do things such as timing belts, struts, an oil change, I would have never learned those skills had it not been for this car. What’s more, driving this car has opened many doors for me in the car world, more so than any other car I’ve driven.

It also continues to teach and train me in driving without any fancy electronic safety features and countermeasures. It makes me have an appreciation for modern tech, but also for improving my on skills at the same time.

But if this car has taught me anything more significant than the aforementioned stuff, it’s that life and people aren’t perfect. The car is far from perfect, but I’d rather have mine the way it is now than a garage queen. Likewise, I’m not perfect, but I’d much rather be imperfect any day.

Reed Arvin > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 08/02/2015 at 23:52

1

Oh, man - I LOVE that you have that car. Much respect. I hope it treats you as well as I know you'll treat it.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Reed Arvin 08/03/2015 at 00:09

0

The bond I have with this car is rivaled only by that of my dad’s 911. Nothing beats those childhood memories; but the 944 does get rather close by making near adulthood memories I’ll never forget. She’s going in for timing belt tensioning this week before the Dream Cruise. She’s only broken down on me twice, the latter occasion being slightly hellish in 90 degree heat with no AC, but $5 shockingly fixed that.

I’d love to hear more about yours though. Judging by the picture, Zermatt Silver Metallic yes? :)

Reed Arvin > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 08/03/2015 at 01:40

1

Yes . . . More later as it’s late. But let’s be in touch.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Your boy, BJR 08/03/2015 at 09:42

0

-ex drops a deuce in a bag

-ex threatens to throw it at people

-ex throws it at principal

-ex gets suspended

-I ask ex why she thought it was funny to throw her shit at people

-ex thinks it actually is funny

-I break up with her, not even 24 hours from our first date

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 08/03/2015 at 09:43

0

See my response to B. Rolland.

Your boy, BJR > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 08/03/2015 at 12:40

0

It is pretty funny.

Fl1ngstam > Reed Arvin 09/10/2015 at 16:20

0

Cool 944! The second car I bought with my own money was pretty similar to yours. It was an ‘82, possibly one of the very first in the UK. Of course, when I bought it, it was already 17 years old...

I had a plan that I’d own a Porsche when I was 25, and a Ferrari when I was 30. I managed one of these things, but I learned that rather than having unrealistic long term plans, it’s better to enjoy what you have and the experiences that come with it. I’ve managed to own some quite diverse cars over the years (some of them very underwhelming dynamically), but I’ve tried to make the most of the opportunities I’ve had, so I have no regrets. I did once drive a Ferrari 360, and it was a dog. The 550, on the other hand...