Everything Must Go!

[Chris Romney]

John's graph is the classic fear/greed cycle. For me the sign of the top in the classic car market was when non-enthusiasts on Wall Street were raising pools of capital to invest in classic cars because they were "a separate non-correlated (to the stock market) asset class". Guys that know nothing about the cars and probably don't even know how to drive a manual transmission throwing money at cars is never a good sign. I own Porsches because they still give the same thrill to drive they did when I was 16. If I'm afraid to drive it, I don't want to own. We should always be driving them like we stole them. As far as the current market goes, if you own your 911 so you can drive it, you're not really concerned about the current value. For the people who own them for reasons other than you enjoy driving them, Buffet got it right when he said, "when the tide goes out, you find out who's swimming naked".

[Richard]

I agree. Keep on driving them. I've owned my '73S for 35+ years and used it the way it was meant to be used. It's never disappointed me. Even in an SCCA rain race. Drive them. Forget the investment angle. My 2 cents.

[bob joyce]

we have never lived in times like this..... financially..... the only thing that comes close is Japan that has been lowering interest rates and propping up their economy for decades... the western world is doing it now and know one knows how it will play out. the markets used to have a cycle of greed fear to ring out excesses and dead wood. for now money is free as it can be to try to stimulate real growth, if you recall.... they, for a time made it illegal to sell financial stocks short.. companies like mann financial and refco that handled the books for professional short sellers and hedgers bellied up... I am probably wrong but I think this is why there has not been a real stock market pull back.

[JackMan]

I'm blessed and lucky. I own two race 944s, an 89 911 race car cleverly disquised as a street car, a lwb non impact bumper back date 75 911 w 3.0 PMO power and skinny tires. I drive them first and my kids can worry about resale when I'm down for the long dirt nap. The value is in driving these cars - in the rain too. I have my 944s to drive on the track and if I ball one up, it's been done before by me and others, the 944 chassis' are "relatively" cheaper to find than a swb or lwb 911. Can't wait for my 67 911 swb car to be finished, check on me in three years. And a big shout out to Unobtanium Adam who came through the Akron area Sunday night and relieved me of all the stuff that had and would continue to collect dust in my storage loft. Great to see Adam, he's a skinny boy now, seriously lost some weight from digging P cars out of the mud. Incredible that many of you, ie Chuck, et al, that own one car and have so for "years" and do everything in one car. I tip my hat to you. I'm into experiences and the difference in driving each of my cars is surreal. The 89 is planted, the backdate 75 not so much. The 88 944 n/a race car is a witchin waiting to bite and the 89 944S2 w aero is the best handling car I have ever driven at 11/10ths. Value is in the mind of the owner. My tip: If you want to make money on Porsche cars, you buy them with low mileage or short production runs, put them in your living room and watch them. Drive them and every mile potentially decreases its value. And by no means am I casting dispersion on those that 'invest" in Porshes' or other cars. There is money to be made. But true value in my life is measured in grins, the occassional nod from a passing driver "in the know", and the constant smell of oil cooled 911s lingering in the garage for their next call to action.

Just my two cents.

[Unobtanium-inc]

I'm blessed and lucky. I own two race 944s, an 89 911 race car cleverly disquised as a street car, a lwb non impact bumper back date 75 911 w 3.0 PMO power and skinny tires. I drive them first and my kids can worry about resale when I'm down for the long dirt nap. The value is in driving these cars - in the rain too. I have my 944s to drive on the track and if I ball one up, it's been done before by me and others, the 944 chassis' are "relatively" cheaper to find than a swb or lwb 911. Can't wait for my 67 911 swb car to be finished, check on me in three years. And a big shout out to Unobtanium Adam who came through the Akron area Sunday night and relieved me of all the stuff that had and would continue to collect dust in my storage loft. Great to see Adam, he's a skinny boy now, seriously lost some weight from digging P cars out of the mud. Incredible that many of you, ie Chuck, et al, that own one car and have so for "years" and do everything in one car. I tip my hat to you. I'm into experiences and the difference in driving each of my cars is surreal. The 89 is planted, the backdate 75 not so much. The 88 944 n/a race car is a witchin waiting to bite and the 89 944S2 w aero is the best handling car I have ever driven at 11/10ths. Value is in the mind of the owner. My tip: If you want to make money on Porsche cars, you buy them with low mileage or short production runs, put them in your living room and watch them. Drive them and every mile potentially decreases its value. And by no means am I casting dispersion on those that 'invest" in Porshes' or other cars. There is money to be made. But true value in my life is measured in grins, the occassional nod from a passing driver "in the know", and the constant smell of oil cooled 911s lingering in the garage for their next call to action.

Just my two cents.

I agree, the calls I get more and more are from guys saying they want this or that car, but it must be "Investment Grade", I'm never sure what that means. Do I look like I'm investing?

---Adam

[JackMan]

Adam, that helmet you are wearing in the autocross pix is a hoot! Is it NOS or did you pull it from a barn, dust if off and wear it? Thanks again for swinging by my place, hope those parts find a good home.

wj

[Unobtanium-inc]

Adam, that helmet you are wearing in the autocross pix is a hoot! Is it NOS or did you pull it from a barn, dust if off and wear it? Thanks again for swinging by my place, hope those parts find a good home.

wj

It is left over from riding mopeds around Brooklyn, hand painted from a guy in Japan. Look close, it's Louis Vuitton!

---Adam

[Biancaneve]

Smuggling ol' 911s as an investment was a quick way to let my wife buying them

[911MRP]

I bought a load of special stuff form a guy older than me who predicted I'd store it and then sell it on to someone like me in a decade or two. Probably right as I don't generally sell my stuff. He has some great cars including rally cars ex world champions. Best part of deal was when I bought him lunch and we chilled and chatted -- parts prices-- don't much care really. Good folks and friendships; priceless.

Scene has changed so many have become avericious which is a pity.

Steve

[rower]

I don't see people in it for the money anymore. I see people that love cars, and at worst are worried that they could lose money but not that they won't make money. The commercialism seems to be gone and those that were attracted to all the glitter and the money seem to be gone too. At least in my little corner.