From Bob

"My first real Porsche encounter was in 1995 at a Skip Barber Advanced Driving course at Sears Point.  Porsche was filming a TV commercial and had five identical black 911 Turbos on the track.  I was watching them film during my lunch break, when Hurley Haywood, head of the Porsche racing program, walked over to me.  S**t!  Hurley Haywood!  I introduced myself, trying hard to remember my own name.  He smiled and extended his right hand, not to shake mine, but to offer me a set of car keys.  "Ever drive a Turbo?" he asked.  I shook my head "no" and he continued, "Have a good time, keep the shiny side up, and stay on the track.  We need it back in 30 minutes."  Oh-My-God.  He pointed to the one on the end, and I walked -- no ran, before he could change his mind -- to the designated Turbo.  I was wearing a Skip Barber one-piece racing coveralls, and gloves, so I was READY.  Hot air was rising off the tarmac, just like in a Tom Cruise movie.  Where is the percussion soundtrack when you need it?

This thing was pure sex:  Beautiful, dangerous, mysterious, unavailable, athletic, and smelled like new leather and Mobile 1.  I could feel my heart in my ears.  Gotta keep the shiny side up.  Hell, gotta not make an a**hole of myself.

I sat in it, buckled myself in, adjusted the seat and mirrors, inserted the key, and turned...  Gawd, what a sound.  I tweaked the pedal and the revs climbed from idle to 5500 in milliseconds.  I looked around at the all-black leather interior.  It looked like it had been carved out of a solid block of black granite.  Felt like it, too.  This thing, I thought, was not made on some assembly line, but by a few hands.  It was PERFECT.  It's a surgical instrument with sound effects!

I slipped it into first gear, SLOWLY let out the clutch, and exited the paddock area, heading for the start/finish line.  The exhaust whispered a warning:  I am not for amateurs.  I will kick you’re a**, sonny.

The next 20 minutes was a blur of adrenaline, squealing tires, and disbelief.  This machine is AMAZING.  Acceleration forever.  Brakes that stop so quickly they leave you in yesterday.  Steering that can thread a needle.  One thought began to emerge, starting quietly in the back of my head, getting louder, and moving slowly to my frontal cortex:  I want one of these. I NEED ONE OF THESE. I don't care what it costs, I want it -- NOW!

I drove back to the paddock area, now fairly confident, parked THE MACHINE next to the others, turned the engine off in a deliberate way, and exited.  I walked a few paces away, and turned to look back at The Machine.  (If I still smoked, I would have lighted one, taken a deep drag, and wondered if that would ever happen to me again.) The thought now completely filled my head.  I couldn't hear anything else: I need one of these, now!  I walked towards Haywood, who was busy talking to a cameraman.  He looked at me, as I handed him the keys.  He didn't ask the obvious question: "So, how'd you like it?"  Nope.  He just said, "You have that look on your face.  I get that a lot.  I'll bet you own one before the end of the month."  I mumbled a thank you, something about a lot of money to spend, something about lack of luggage room and my mortgage  He nodded and returned to the cameraman.

He was wrong on two counts:  I bought a 993 Carrera 4S, not a Turbo.  And it was way before the end of the month.  Since 1995, I have owned seven Porsches; five 911s, a Boxster, and a Panamera.  I have a 2013 991 Cabrio on order.  I have also taken the Porsche Sport Driving School's Performance Driving course and the Masters' Class, and I plan to take the Masters' Plus this year.  These courses, at the Barber Motorsport Park near Birmingham, AL, are exceptionally well taught.  Hell, they are the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

I should also add a few words about Porsche of North Houston.  For the most part, buying a car today is an unpleasant experience, filled with high pressure, misinformation, and disappointment.  I also remember what it used to feel like.  Years ago, it was fun, even exciting.  And picking up a new car was a little like Christmas morning.  Well, trading with Houston North is like it used to be.  Really.  The sales staff consists of people who love Porsches.  They don't just sell them:  They own them, race them on weekends, and participate in all kinds of Porsche events. They are informative, low-key, and treat you like they'd like you to be a customer for a very long time.  And the service department is amazing.  They are friendly, accommodating, and they know what they are doing.  They are also, like the rest of the staff, very nice people who just want you to be delighted with your car.  I know this must sound like a paid commercial message.  I swear:  It isn't.

Best of all, when your new car is ready for delivery, and they call you to come down and pick it up, there is one thing you can count on:  No matter what the date, it will be Christmas morning.

You only live once.  Buy yourself a 911 while you can still enjoy it.  I promise you, there is no substitute."