The reasons I have decided to sell are straightforward. Firstly from some time I have been suffering from a bad back. Often it is a really bad back and early 911s with sports seats are incompatible with bad backs. Getting in and out of the car is painful.The laid back seating position is painful. The offset pedals do not help and neither does the lack of power steering and the cable operated clutch. Put simply an early 911 is no place for an old man.
Secondly, I tended to drive my Porsches quickly -where conditions permitted, of course. But even the most experienced drivers can have an 'off' and in an early 911 even a small damp patch in the shadows can catch you out. Or more likely on a narrow rural road you could meet head on an enormous suv or ute travelling at high speed and taking up all the road. In a modern car, such as my Mini, even a major accident can be survivable but hitting an object at high speed in an early 911 could well be a very different story. No deformable body structure. No airbags. No ABS. No dynamic stablity control. It could very easily be no driver or at best a badly injured driver.
Thirdly, owning the 2021 Mini Cooper S has really spoilt me. I love the handling, the better than the Porsche performance, the electronic driver aids. The 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox is a joy compared to the very challenging 5 speed manual gearbox in the 911.
Yes, it really is time to say goodbye. It's been a load of fun over many kilometres, so thanks 56600H.
i do understand we adults are getting older but at least you got to drive her how she was meant to be driven she should fetch a pretty decent amount cause shes very clean and desirable!! i am 59 and just retired myself i bought a veloster fast and fun but not like the classics!! goodluck my friend i still loves your pics ! tt soon . texas usa dewmannhc@gmail.com if youd like to email at times!!!!
ReplyDeleteSad moment, but you've enjoyed the car for many years and it sounds like the time is right. To everything there is a season.
ReplyDeleteJohn and I became acquainted some years ago. When he visited the World of Speed museum near Portland, Oregon on one of his stateside trips. I was a docent at WoS before it closed due to the Covid outbreak. As we are/were Porsche 911 owners and enthusiasts , we maintained a correspondence.
ReplyDeleteAs I enter my 80s, I too am ready to sell my 911S after enjoying it for 43 years. Sadly, all good things must pass.
Peter Linsky