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On Saturday, I owned a 1989 Mercury Tracer.
On Wednesday, a 2000 Porsche Boxster...Believe it or not, this was my very first car purchase. From
beginning to end, it took just 4 days. Of course, now I'm ruined. I'm going to expect every car purchase to be this
easy, and every car this amazing. <sigh> I guess I simply need to stick to Porsches!
This story ended up quite a bit longer than I expected. It's a good story, but if you want, you can cut to the chase.
The Beginning1997: Yup...I've been waiting 2 years for this car. (Not literally, of
course.) The Tracer's getting tired, and I start thinking. I'd love to get a convertible...I think. I've never been
behind the wheel of one, but I bet it's fun. Definitely a sports car, though. At this point a Ford Mustang is on the top of a very short list (of
one). I'm living in Hoboken, NJ - where parking is a
nightmare. As soon as I can find off-street parking, the new car will come.
1998: A year later, still no parking. Some of the garages in Hoboken still have a 6-month+ waiting
list. I'm getting a little more ambitious. The BMW Z3 gets added to
the list, but it's mostly a dream. The Mustang is still on top.
Summer, 1999: Some of my friends are getting new cars (one got a Maxima, another an Accord), but I
still can't get parking. Now that they have their new cars, THEY get ambitious with MY money and start
urging me to get something pricier. The Mercedes SLK and Porsche Boxster enter the mix, but they're entirely
dreams - fun to think about, but totally unrealistic. To buy myself some time, I make an excuse to wait and see how
the (then) rumored Boxster S will be priced. Meanwhile, a solution to the parking problem presented itself - but it
wasn't exactly what I was expecting...
October 1, 1999: I move to Philadelphia. I was recruited to join an internet startup company...the idea
was amazing, so I said, "Let's do it!" I scored a great apartment in Manayunk - with garage parking! WooHoo!! Can't be long, now...
December 5, 1999: I took a business trip to
Pasadena, CA. I was supposed to get a Dodge
Neon rental car (yawn), but I ended up with a Chrysler Sebring Convertible. My first time driving a convertible (yeow!!). Maybe it was the
great weather. Maybe it was driving through Beverly Hills. I found the meaning of life:
nEcessary = Me + Convertible 2
December 25, 1999: Merry Christmas! I've been in Manayunk, with garage parking, for 3 months. No new
car. What's the deal?? It's my practical side (thanks, Mom and Dad) overriding the new car since the Tracer's running
great. But, I'm getting tired of seeing Mercedes, Jaguars, BMWs, Audis, a Dodge Viper, and an Acura
NSX parked next to my ultra-cool '89 Mercury Tracer in the parking garage. I start thinking...A Boxster wouldn't
look too bad parked next to those guys...
January 1, 2000: What a boring new year...no Y2K catastrophes or anything! I make a new year's
resolution...It's time. I do the research and crunch the numbers. Definitely a Boxster...But do I want to go for the
S? Bigger engine, red brake calipers...Sure, why not? Well, then again, there's the wait...
January 6, 2000: I discover Niello Porsche
(Sacramento, CA) while doing research on the web. They have a nice online ordering process, and they claim to be a
very large dealer. I sent them an email to see if I could order through them, and have the car delivered to Philly.
Sure, no problem, but there's an 11 month wait for a S. Yuck!!
The Chase January 8, 2000: Don Rosen Porsche is the local dealer, but their web site only shows used cars. A little
disappointed, I figure I'd give them a try anyway, just to see what's there. Maybe even take one for a test drive.
(That's right, 2+ years of waiting, and I never once drove a Boxster...) So I pull into the parking lot in my '89
Mercury Tracer. How embarrassed am I? Well, I try to park and get out as fast as possible...maybe they won't notice.
I see an S with a window sticker. Black with tan interior. Not my first choice, but it'll do...
A salesman walks out and greets me with "So, you're getting rid of the Tracer?" Damn! They noticed.
I ask, "That S wouldn't have someone's name on it, would it?"
"Nope...But you don't want that. Let me show you some used Boxsters over here."
Great. They're not taking me seriously. I take a look at the used Boxsters. Three black and one Silver. But then I see
it: a brand new red one right next to the Silver...it still has the shipping protection on the body. I start eying
it. The salesman must have seen the look on my face...He goes inside to get someone else to help me, since he doesn't
deal new cars. 20 minutes go by. No salesman. Great. Now they really don't think I'm serious.
Finally, someone helps me. "I'm looking for a Boxster. Is that S available?" It was sold 10 minutes earlier. I
guess that explains the 20-minute delay. Damn! (again!) He says "That's OK. Let's go for a drive.
I grin.
We start in a demo S that they have. The salesman starts driving to take me out to where I can't do any damage. He
drives faster than I'm comfortable with...but what a feeling!! The growl of the engine. Cornering like we're on
rails. Acceleration that presses me quite nicely into my seat. Oooh, baby! Now it's my turn to drive. I get in the
drivers seat, strap in, and hope I don't stall.
I ease up to speed in 1st gear. So far, so good. I slide the shifter into second (like a hot knife through butter),
release the clutch, and drop the hammer. We rocket up to 50 mph before I know what's happening. This is definitely
not a Tracer! So tight and precise. I can't believe I'm actually driving this thing!
Next up, the base Boxster. First off, there's nothing "base" about this car. I open it up, and I'm still pressed
nicely into my seat. I can't tell the difference. (It's a 33 horsepower difference - I'm sure professionals and
enthusiasts can feel it, but I'm not going to miss it.)
I figure all I'd be getting for the extra 10 grand is a set of red brake calipers, so I ask "What's the wait for a
regular Boxster these days?"
"What do you mean? I have that red one just waiting for you."
Hey, wait a minute...He cheated! He must have seen me drooling all over the brand new red one back at the dealer. We
go back, and I take a close look. This car almost exactly matches the features I'm looking for. It was
unloaded from the truck just 2 days earlier. (It still had the packing foam on it, and plastic on the seats.)
I say, "Let me think about it."
That's my practical side kicking in again...What the heck is there to think about??
January 9, 2000: Sunday. Dealer's closed. Why didn't I buy the thing on the spot? What was there to
think about? What if someone snatches up this beautiful red Boxster? I'm nervous.
January 10, 2000: Monday, 9am. Dealer's open, my salesman is home sick. I'm really nervous. I
get the sales manager on the phone and explain the situation. "Don't worry - the car is yours." <whew!> Paul
(my salesman) will call tomorrow to finish things up. I'm sure my work friends are wondering why I'm grinning from
ear to ear...all day...non stop...
January 11, 2000: Tuesday. Paul calls me about 10am. "So, when do you want to pick it up?" Wow! This is
the real deal.
"Well, I'm working, so how 'bout Saturday?"
"We usually like to introduce you to the mechanic that worked on your car. How 'bout tomorrow?"
<gulp> Uhhh, OK.
January 12, 2000: Wednesday. 5pm. Four days after my first visit to the dealer. I leave work and take
the train back to Manayunk. I'm thinking the whole time "I can't believe I'm going to drive home in a Porsche!"
I jump in the Tracer for the last time, and head off to the dealer. It's a nice evening, nice clear weather, not too
cold. Perfect for a nice drive home. We went over the whole car with a fine tooth comb, I met the mechanic, and
filled out all the paperwork. They're giving me $1000 for the Tracer. Not bad... By 7:30, we're all done. Paul gives
me the keys.
I walk outside, unlock the door, and get in. I actually sat there for a second, getting a grip on myself. Adjust the
seat. Adjust the mirror. Start up the engine. What a sound!! Lights on. First gear. I'm even more nervous than my
first test drive. Away I go!
I drove for about 2 hours that night. Grinning the whole time. Still do...every time I drive it...
January 16, 2000: Sunday. Just 4 days old. It's 50 degrees and sunny. You know what that means...The
top's coming down!
I thought this car was fun with the top up! I can't even begin to describe the experience. There was actually very
little wind, even without the wind deflector. It was surprisingly quiet cruising around, at least until the engine
roars to life under hard acceleration. What a thrill! I found a nice park by the Schuylkill River to take some pictures.
The End?January 30, 2000: No, this is not the tragic crash of a new Boxster. It's doing
just fine right now, in a heated parking garage in Manayunk. It's been snowing ever since the 16th. OK, I admit
it...I go out to the garage and say "Hi" every once in a while. I can't wait until Spring. Nothing to do now, but
build a web site to show off this car...
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