THIS IS AN ESSAY I WROTE DURING THE SUMMER...tell me what you think
- thanks in advance
Why that Porsche?
Since 1933 when Hitler gained interest in Ferdinand Porsche's automobile designs for the “People's Car”, the trademark of Volkswagen has been associated with Germany's most reliable and practical manufacturer of automobiles. When Ferdinand decided to expand his chain of people's cars to a performance line, he left a permanent mark with the rear-engine, air cooled, round-headlight design of the 365 coupe. These design features are kept in today's 911s, but they are most exquisitely expressed in the Porsches of the 1980s. Other German manufacturers available to the U.S. market, such as Bayerische MotorWerke (BMW) and Mercedes-Benz, are just pretenders, advertising unnecessary cosmetic and technological luxuries and pushing a premium name to sell their horseless carriages.
The 911 was introduced in 1963 as 901 and was based on the legendary 356. Porsche had to change the name of their first sportscar, because Peugeot had a copyright on all three digit car model numbers with a zero in the middle. There is no other car that is so well built around its engine as the 911. The rear-placed six cylinder engine is aircooled and had a volume of 2.0 liters in 1964. The car was very fast in those years. The 911 immediately did well on the race tracks and is ever since known for its outstanding performance in handling, acceleration and most of all braking. The body of the car, which makes it so easy to recognize a 911, was designed by Ferdinand "Butzi" Porsche. The design is so well done that every line seems never ending and the car looks good from every angle, the reason for the Porsche team not to change the car's body very much in 30 years. When Lagaay, Porsche design director, was asked why they hadn't redesigned the new 911's door he simply answered; "it's a good door".
Reliability and simplicity has been part of Porsche through its more than 70 years of existence. JD Power & Associates often gives the 911 line of Porsches a 10.0/10.0 for reliability. Even Consumer Reports rated the Porsche 911's reliability with their solid red “excellent”. Other research suggests that models from 2005 to 2009 are also consistent in reliability with previous models, but little can be found on Porsche's 911's from the 1980s. However, with such reliability ratings in the 21st Century, when automotive electronics manufacturing is outsourced to China and quality tends to droop as “we don't make things like we used to”, Porsches of the 1980s should fare well for many years to come, even with a few thousand miles on their odometer.
Along with Japanese-car-like reliability, Porsches are known for their stability during normal driving and at high speeds (not that I plan to speed) because of their high-quality independent front and rear suspensions. Furthermore, these old Porsches actually accelerate faster than a 2009 Audi TT. While an Audi TT (2000cc, Turbocharged) takes 6.1 seconds to get to the 60mph mark, a stock Porsche 911 Carrera (3164cc) from 1984 takes 5.5 seconds. The reasons that the old Porsche fares better than a brand new Audi is for two reasons: the Porsche both weights less and has a bigger and beefier engine. These extremes of performance are the very same that make the car very safe. In addition to the air bags that are standard (and virtually unchanged) since the late 1970s, the steering capabilities and quick acceleration and braking of these classical Porsches makes their accident avoidance capabilities excellent. Also, the tighter suspension allows the driver to feel his speed through the automobile's vibrations, preventing one from, for example, going 90mph without noticing the fact.
Though surprising, it is assumed that Porsche models dated 1984 have a miles-per-gallon (hwy) rating of over 25. This is impressive for a six cylinder engine, especially for one made in the 1980s.The Audi TT, a four cylinder turbocharged vehicle, gets 26 mpg.
In terms of insurance, the higher the value of the car, the lower the impact on the wallet. Also, insurance discounts for good grades and policy combinations will make the expense of protecting a young driver less evident. On Progressive.com, for example, monthly payments to insure a 1984 Porsche 911 are $411.26 for their Custom package (with all forms of coverage maxed-out) or $2250 when paid in full. Despite what had been predicted, insurance for this vehicle is not so extravagant after all.
With reliability, sensitive handling and pedal response, decent gas mileage, and respectable safety, this 1984 Porsche 911 widebody should prove a great first car for a spoiled teenager to remember and cherish through to his middle ages (similarly to our former next-door-neighbor). With these advantages, sufficiencies, and the styling to make mom happy, little can justify the purchase of a Honda Accord coupe or Audi TT instead of this truly beautiful specimen of classical German engineering.
I am a n00b for now, but I plan to become auto savvy the same way I became computer hardware and water-cooling savvy: through FORUMS
Hope nobody minds...