For quite some time now I’ve been pursuing a dream. The
Porsche 911. I first started looking for one ex-USA while we were in Canada,
but time got away from me, Caroline changed her mind and ultimately,
registering a left hand drive car in South Australia was going to be
problematic.
I turned my attention to the UK market because the prices
were right and it seemed to be only a matter of time before the right one would
come on the market. I had two inspected, both of which proved to be less than
what I was looking for. I was being patient, well kind of patient. I was at
least patient enough that I didn’t leap into too many more vehicle inspections,
but with that itchy ‘I really want it now’ thing going on in the background. As
I watched the market though, two things happened. The number of cars that I was
interested in started to disappear and the prices of those same cars were
escalating.
A vehicle came up locally and I enlisted the assistance of
the walking Porsche encyclopaedia that is James to check it out. It wasn’t in
great nick and the price certainly didn’t adequately reflect it. As we drove
back to my place, James said something that I’d been considering on and off as
I searched for my car.
“Does it have to be a 911?”
It was a good question. Ultimately the dream was indeed to
get into a 911. I may even have been one of those people that dismissed the
idea at times because I wanted a ‘real Porsche’, but as the prices rise, dreams
sometimes need to be modified. I started looking at 944’s.This time it seemed
like the timing might just be right.
At a better price point, there were more recent cars in even
better condition available. There was one available locally that fit the bill …
an ’89 S2. From the photos it appeared in good enough condition to warrant
checking out.
I headed off on my own, just for a first pass. You know the
signs are good that a car is loved and well maintained when you arrive at
someone’s house and find a hoist in their garage. A hoist, an Evo kitted out to
race and a 944 turbo race car in ‘the other garage’.
I had a look, I spoke to Caroline. I pondered and I waited.
Then last weekend, I decided that it was well and truly worth another look.
This time I took James along as well as the financial controller. My suspicions
were confirmed. The car is in excellent condition. And the price is right.
So, meet my new addition:
