I received an email the other day from a new member of the 993 family. He had just purchased his first Porsche and it happened to be a 993 (’97 White cab with blue top to be exact). Aside from complimenting the picture of my car (which will always get my attention and a response) he wanted to know what advice I could give to a first time Porsche and 993 owner to help “enhance” his overall ownership experience.
Here was my response (edited for content and privacy):
Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the family!
As for enhancing the experience, that’s a tough one. I’ve found that so much of what people want to get out of their Porsche is unique to the individual.
With that said, I can let you know some of the things that I’ve done and the reasons for them.
- JOIN THE PCA – When I bought my first Porsche, I immediately joined the PCA. I did this for two reasons: 1. the subscription to Panorama magazine (this alone is worth the price of admission); 2. The social aspect. I found it was a great way to meet people with similar interests.
- Take some DE (driver’s education classes) – One of the great things about owning a Porsche (any Porsche) is that you truly have a “super car” that can be used as a daily driver (if you so choose). DE classes are a great way to find out what your car is really made of and will also help you as a driver learn to handle your 993 in ways you may not have thought possible. This is advice that I need to take as well. While I have taken DE classes in my ’73 911, I have yet to do so in my 993. I have put it on the calendar for this spring.
- EXPLORE THE WEB – If you haven’t already, explore the various web forums (especially Rennlist). There is so much great info out there that at times it is hard to absorb it all. I’ve listed the most popular in this post and would still love to know if I’m missing any.
- UPGRADE, UPGRADE, UPGRADE – There are lots and lots of inexpensive to very expensive modifications that can be done to your car in order to enhance both performance and looks (depending on budget, function and your own personal style). I’m in the process of making my upgrade list right now and would love more input on it. Fortunately for me, my car came with a lot of nice options. I now need to do some small things to personalize it as well as getting rid of the “SUV” ride height.
- DRIVE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE – More than anything, I think this is the most important piece of advice I can give. While we all bought these cars for our own reasons, I have to assume that we share a common bond in our love for driving them (not to mention the way they look).
This list is by no means comprehensive and would love for you to share your thoughts on what else can be done to “enhance” the Porsche ownership experience. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to review these 3 reasons to subscribe to FlatSixes.com.