Originally Posted by crosvs

k here we go:

thanks guys... as for this "father" discussion which has spawned more of a response than i thought, you may be interested to know this background bit then:

a HUGE reason why my dad has always been so generous with me is because when HE was growing up, his father was VERY selfish with him. in fact, it was BECAUSE of that selfishness, apparently, that my dad went out and finally treated himself to the 996 last year and IMMEDIATELY allowed ME to drive it to my heart's content, and even take it to Thunderhill with him.

the story, as i was told, was that my dad's father used to have one of the original 911s back in the day (1950s?) and ... IF MY DAD WAS LUCKY, he would be "allowed to wash it" for his father.

hence my dad's 180* flip to be so generous with his only son, me.

Originally Posted by crosvs

haha, yeah, my dad never ceases to amaze me, esp when you consider he's 69 yrs old; an ex-marine; a phd; an ex lotus super 7 race car driver; and still wants to go do some more track events with me and drive circles 'round me

btw, as far as your decision on which car to get ... wow that is a VERY tough call.

i'm guessing it's not going to be your daily driver? if not, then i say go with either the 996 GT3 or Z06. If quality/prestige > raw performance, then go with GT3; and vice versa if performance > quality/prestige obviously.

also, i don't know if you're planning on doing a lot of track events, and if so, how accomplished a driver you are. have you driven a porsche before? if not, i think you'll find the z06 INFINITELY easier to drive than the GT3. that said, they're both designed to do one thing very well: go round a racing circuit very very quickly only real recurring criticism i've heard of the Z is that the steering is a bit vague and makes it kinda hard to listen to what the car's telling you at the limit. personally, that would really bother me, but then, i've never tried driving a Z before so i don't know from first hand experience.

i CAN say i couldn't stand the 996 at thunderhill ... it REALLY intimidated me. even during spirited mountain runs i didn't like how the 996 felt. the 997, so far, inspires FAR more confidence, which to me, is the trademark of a well-designed sports car.

seeing as how you're currently driving an S2K, i've never driven one, but i know they are FANTASTIC driver's cars, and really confidence inspiring (at least the later models). so that's something to consider too. also, if you're tall (6'4"+ like me) you will find the 996 interior TERRIBLY cramped. with a helmet on, i could not find a good seating position -- i finally had to make do with a compromise that i really didn't enjoy for track.

however, if it's going to be your daily driver, i say definitely go with the 997 S ... i cannot beLIEVE how amazing they are now that i've enjoyed over an hour behind the wheel of my dad's.

it is a RADICALLY different beast to the 996, 200% better in EVERY quantifiable (and qualifiable) way.

gluck, and lemme know how it goes!!

p.s. where in LA are you from? i'm often in westwood and beverly hills with my girl

Originally Posted by crosvs

i guess "odd" is that which is different from what one considers the norm. if it is "odd' to you, then yes, i suppose it IS odd.

but to more directly answer your question, i never thought twice about it: growing up with no siblings, i grew up in a very close-knit family. we never had individualized possessions: whatever my parents owned necessarily also belonged to me, and of course vice versa. and it continues to this day. i never once heard my parents say something to the effect of "no, that's mine, you can't use/eat/touch/play/have it."

so in fact when i say "my M3" i really mean "OUR" m3. same with my dad's porsche. or my mom's benz. or anything else in the family for that matter. perhaps it's the influence of my mom's persian culture? most (all?) of my persian friends and my persian gf would agree with how i've explained this.

and finally, i also listed them because they are -- for the foregoing reasons -- cars that i have regular access to and therefore regularly drive whenever i'm visiting them up here in Marin.

savvy?

Originally Posted by LABrit

Century City.

I have spent many hours in the 993, 996 and 997 as my closest relative has changed his cars over the years and taken all of them to the malibu canyons for spirited yet safe runs.

I have to test drive the cars in my sig once i move at the end of the month, repaint the front of my car, sell it then find a new one to replace it.

I would only buy a white gt3 (with under 8000 miles non tracked) / 997 's' and a black z06 at below invoice so i am not going to have an easy time finding whichever car i want.

Originally Posted by crosvs

i guess "odd" is that which is different from what one considers the norm. if it is "odd' to you, then yes, i suppose it IS odd.

but to more directly answer your question, i never thought twice about it: growing up with no siblings, i grew up in a very close-knit family. we never had individualized possessions: whatever my parents owned necessarily also belonged to me, and of course vice versa. and it continues to this day. i never once heard my parents say something to the effect of "no, that's mine, you can't use/eat/touch/play/have it."

so in fact when i say "my M3" i really mean "OUR" m3. same with my dad's porsche. or my mom's benz. or anything else in the family for that matter. perhaps it's the influence of my mom's persian culture? most (all?) of my persian friends and my persian gf would agree with how i've explained this.

and finally, i also listed them because they are -- for the foregoing reasons -- cars that i have regular access to and therefore regularly drive whenever i'm visiting them up here in Marin.

savvy?

Originally Posted by PorscheC4

i know what you mean man. the cars that we have in my family are also driven by me. my dad and i like to switch cars sometimes, but i dont feel the need to write them in my sig. thats awesome you guys are close, my family is the same way.

Originally Posted by crosvs

Sure, if family possessions are based upon monetary contribution. But that's where our cultures differ, perhaps: by virtue of being "of the family," a thing is by definition owned by all members of the family, regardless of who actually put up the money for it.

Hence the expression, I guess, "what's yours is mine, what's mine is yours."

SAVVY?!?!?!

anyway thanks guys ..... hope to meet most of you at santana row on saturday