Greatly dissappointed

[stutgart]

Hi all,
I am posting this as a long time lurker and early 911 owner as a comment on how I feel our hobby and community inside and outside of the internet is being ruined by speculators and dealers many of who disguise themselves as so called enthusiasts when in reality all they are trying to do is make some nice side money by selling early cars tax free. Maybe they will also strip all the decent parts such as seats etc of the cars and sell them seperatly as more money can be made that way. These people are rife within our world now in the clubs and on this board and in my opinion do no favours to genuine enthusiasts. Someone who sells more than 2 early cars a year, every year is a dealer not a collector or whatever other name they call themselves. At a recent club meeting in VA I was surprized how many comments I heard along the lines of "I am going to buy a late model 911as I am done with the early cars, or early porsches are no fun anymore all anyone wants to do is turn a buck".
Does anyone actually drive and enjoy their cars anymore like me and a few others or is everyone more concerned with sitting in their basements glued to ebay etc looking for the opportunity to screw a newbie out of some cash? I thought the whole point of owning these cars was the pleasure they brought in driving and owning a piece of cool motoring history.

Please note this isn't written as an attack on anyone specific more a comment on how I feel the "fun" is leaving early 911 ownership...............

[67Porsche911S]

These feelings/situation are not early 911 specific. This happens with any sort of interesting and quite rare car. It only means that the later 911 are not as desireable as the early ones.

[super9064]

Hi stutgart,
I do understand your point of view, speculators and the internet have changed the way we view our cars and the hobby. Ebay has really effected swap meets, Hershey is a perfect example, I think many people don’t bother bringing parts, just put it on ebay. On the other hand, I have purchased items from Europe and other places that I would not have access to otherwise.
There is always someone that is going to try to make money with their hobby, if for no other reason than to finance their hobby. That said there are several individuals that post items for sale at rather staggering prices, but we all vote with our wallets, I cannot fault someone for wanting to get top price. I can give a big thumbs up to those members who have helped a brother out, by passing on needed items, to others at little or no cost.
The increasing value of our cars, have priced some out of the market, on the other hand, it offsets the very high costs to maintain and upgrade. Prices are ultimately established by the end user, the market will correct, if there is an imbalance.

So, your in DC. I’m in Odenton, Maryland any locals out there, for a early 911 get together? ….internet… people meeting people … good thing!!!

[Milou]

I know what you mean, especially that real "enthusiasm" and "passion" can transform anyone into being vulnerable to dealers and speculators.

The Techno Classica in Essen is clearly driven by money, without the current hype it would probably never have taken off, and prices there are insane and unlikely (although they do sell apparently). Nevertheless, it is a feast for the eyes and a real treat.

So the hype does have advantages too; it multiplies the events, autojumbles, car shows and historical rallyes. It also makes us all feel very "clever" for having purchased a pre 74 classic when the prices weren't as high... (this works even if you purchased your car last year).

[FL-Frank]

Does anyone actually drive and enjoy their cars anymore like me and a few others

I do. I log about 6K miles per year in my 911, and quite frankly, I really don't care what it's "worth".

[boba]

more a comment on how I feel the "fun" is leaving early 911 ownership...............

Stutgart,
Only you can make the determination if the "fun" is leaving for you. For many the fun continues, and what constitutes the "FUN" may be different for each of us. For me it takes many different forms, I have a '65 356SC which I still drive and enjoy today after 30 years of ownership, I have form time to time bought and sold cars, I have been involved in racing from SCCA DP 2.0l 911 to 996 gt3 at Daytona 24hr. I am building a hot rod '72 now. It has and continues to be fun. I think that is because I am the only one that determines what is my fun. It is not determined for me by what others do.

Long live the FUN.

Regards,
Bob

[Jens]

The fun is not leaving my enjoyment of early cars. The early cars and people associated with them are the light of my life (after my Heidi, of course). It has never, ever been as much fun! ...and I've been wrenching and hotrodding early cars for myself since 1962.

I'm going out right now and tear up some mountain switchbacks and use up some tires!!

[Eade Hopkinson]

I just put a new motor in my 67S, and that was complete on the 1st of April 07. I just turned 5,200 miles since the rebuild, and loving every minute of it Over 1,500 miles on the Iron Bottom Rally, and another 1,100 on the Rgruppe event. And I drive other cars to work, not this one

I agree, fun is what YOU make it, not someone else, let the drives begin.

[andyjboy]

I covered almost 2000 miles last weekend in my '70T/2.8 twin-plug car.

Along with 30+ other pre-'74 cars (& a few more modern 911's) we drove (at a very 'spirited' but safe rate I hasten to add ) some superb roads on our 'Tour' of the Scottish Highlands.

Here's the assembled group at our base on the banks of Loch Tay:




& here are a couple of examples of the type of road we were blessed with:





See here for more photos:

http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15247

[CurtEgerer]

I'm sick and tired of people saying the early 911 hobby has been ruined by escalating prices, flippers, eBay, etc. Anyone who is truly interested in this hobby can still buy a nice driver for less than the cost of a new Hyundai. Can't afford that S or RS you dream of? So what. A real early car nut will buy a $10,000 beater and have fun anyway - NOT complain about not being able to afford a car!! In the group of guys I hang out with, it doesn't matter if someone is driving a beater T or a $250,000 original RS, they're treated exactly the same.

Events? There're so many these days (even here in the Midwest) that there's no way to attend them all. These aren't concours shows where cars are trailered in and polished all weekend - these are events where most of us drive a few hundred miles just to get there, run the piss out of the cars all weekend, and then turn around and drive them home.

All one need do is click on the Drives/Tours/Gatherings section of this website to see if anybody is still having fun

2000 miles from home ..........