Unless you hate cars and live under a rock, you have undoubtedly seen the recent pictures of the Porsche 911 whose driver tried to take a shortcut through freshly poured concrete. It has been emailed, Facebook'd and even posted on my own message board with snarky comments about the arrogance and ignorance of Porsche owners. With good reason, Porsche owners are jerks. I should know, I am one. But, rather than use my car as an excuse to act like a Jersey Shore cast member, I try to be the exception. As a self-appointed representative of Porsche owners, you would think I find the behavior of these clowns annoying and a setback to my cause. I actually appreciate it. When expectations are low, surprising people is easy. When you have manners, life becomes a seller's market. When you have manners and a 911, life is like hocking free water at a Las Vegas 5K. My friends delight in reporting every mis-driven 911. My El Camino and MG Midget stories don't come close to generating the venom a stock Porsche comes with ex factory. Every karma-invoking Carrera story will be emailed, twittered and messaged with sneering joy. I have met Porsche folks, they can be tools. Chances are the driver of the concrete-footed 911 was a S.O.B. and probably deserved it. Had this happened in a Camry, I would not have seen it, and neither would you. It's not the car's fault. Chuck Norris drove one in Good Guys Wear Black. Like all well made things, 911s are a symbol of accomplishment, sought after by those who equate appearance with success. That is enough for self-entitled asshats to park a Porsche in handicapped space. When that happens, it will end up on the internet and emailed to me. With a 911, you can tie young widows to railroad tracks, laughing maniacally while stroking your waxed mustache – people will nod knowingly, and say: "Yep, driving a Porsche." These stereotypes are OK, because they actually make me look better. Driving up to a business, intersection, or even an autocross; the immediate assumption is that I am a d-bag like the rest of them. The slow evolution of the 911 means few can tell that my car is 13 years old. An updated front disguises the rebuilt title and that I paid less for it than what a 3 year-old Honda Civic would have cost. The end result: I look like a choad, but I am really an enthusiast on a budget. When I drive a 9011, and am respectful, I stand out. An honest smile, firm handshake and deep southern manners make more of an impression when no one sees it coming. Coming from neutral, I can still make a good impression. But when I am pre-judged as a jerk, it works all the more. Let someone in front of you in traffic in a Subaru and it is appreciated (unless they are in a Porsche) but not shocking. But drive a Porsche, wave in the delivery box truck, and he is sincerely surprised. Give a genuine "thank-you" wave at the Buick who let you merge and get a real smile in return. It's just not expected. See, I'm not a Porsche owner who learned manners; I am a well-mannered southern man who bought a Porsche. Aside from the fact that my Momma will still not hesitate to travel to Oklahoma and slap me for being rude, I discovered some time ago that it matters to be polite. This past weekend on a trip, my tire went flat. Bright and early I was at a tire store seeking a rubber unicorn; a set of high performance tires in the middle of a Nebraska winter. The challenge compounded by the loathing on the manager's face when I rolled up on the spare. Instead of demanding my car be ready within the hour, I actually acknowledged the task ahead of him and thanked him for the effort. Immediately, he was on the phone, found a set in his warehouse and had them on my car 4 hours later, for $100 less than the estimate. When he was done, I shook his hand, thanked him and left a good review online. Not extraordinary behavior, but miles away from what he expected when I pulled up. I don't feel bad about owning a Porsche. I certainly don't get bothered by endless recounting of the endless idiotic exploits of the owners. So should you encounter one of these incidents, bust out your camera phone and drop me an email, text, or FB post; I probably owe that guy a thank you. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com | |||
| |||
| |||
|
Friday, February 24, 2012
Porsche Owners Are Jerks. Ask Me Why I know
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Archive
-
▼
2012
(7297)
-
▼
February
(621)
- Hyundai i-oniq Concept: A Hatchback for Hyundai’s ...
- Citroën DS3 Racing Limited Edition Honors Rally Go...
- Audi Announces U.S. A3 e-tron Pilot Program; R8 e-...
- Swedish Film: Volvo V40 Official Photos and Video ...
- 2013 Buick Enclave Headed to the Big Apple with Up...
- Volkswagen Prices 2013 CC Sedan From $31,430, Top ...
- Nissan Leaf EV Available to Customers Nationwide i...
- Cars.com Reviews the 2012 BMW 3 Series
- Volkswagen Looking To Overtake Honda In The United...
- Jaguar XF Gains Wagon Body Style at the 2012 Genev...
- Name That Car Clock: Black Analog Quartz
- Nikkei: Honda’s Future Hinges On A Kei Car
- 2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta: First Look
- PSA And GM Are Doing It While Marchionne Watches
- LeMons Good/Bad Idea of the Week: Bribing with Dio...
- BRAND NEW Hates BRAND NEW Jaguar Logo. And They Sh...
- Ferrari F12 Berlinetta; More Wretched Excess
- Kinetic Motorsports to Expand Availability of Perf...
- 2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake Officially Debuts [Genev...
- Cars.com News Briefs: Feb. 29, 2012
- Jaguar XF Sportbrake; A Diesel Wagon, But Alas, No...
- 2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta – Official Photos and Info
- Mini Adds John Cooper Works Edition to Countryman
- Chinese Government Fools Autoblog, Autoguide, Left...
- Driven: Volkswagen Cross Up! / E-Up! / Up! GT Conc...
- Review: A Week In A 2012 Nissan Leaf
- Junkyard Find: 1977 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
- Piston Slap: Justy-fied Freestylin’ over CVTs, Par...
- Back That You-Know-What Up
- Cars.com Family Reviews the 2012 Nissan Juke
- Dodge Unveils Test Configurator for 2013 Dart
- 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet Photos and Info...
- Supplier Magna Steyr Creates Oddball MILA Coupic C...
- Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 125
- 2013 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman Gets Specs ...
- TechArt Announces Body Bits, Exhaust System for 99...
- Subaru, Mazda Rise, Ford Crashes, in Consumer Repo...
- The Iranian Connection In The GM/Peugeot Alliance
- 2012 Kia K9 RWD Sedan Photos and Info: Insert Unin...
- Fisker Hires Former Chrysler Boss LaSorda, Company...
- 2013 Volkswagen CC Starts at $30,250
- Volvo V40 Gets 254-Horsepower 5-Cylinder, Start-St...
- Lamborghini SUV Rendered, Coming in Concept Form Soon
- Nissan Teases Hi-Cross Concept
- Aston Martin Updates the Vantage Range for 2012
- Quote Of The Day: “Five Years From Now, When I’m N...
- Fisker Names Ex-Chrysler Boss Tom Lasorda As New CEO
- Backup Cameras Likely Mandated for 2014
- NASCAR Shouldn’t Run In The Rain — And Neither Sho...
- This Is Not The Most Beautiful Cars Of All Times. ...
- Cars.com News Briefs: Feb. 28, 2012
- Kia KH Heralds The Start Of The “Monkfish Age” In ...
- Lighter, More Muscular And More Striking Boxster P...
- When Was The Last Time You Used Your Sunroof?
- Marchionne: Every 5th Auto Plant In Europe Should ...
- Coming Soon: Kia's K9 Flagship
- Junkyard Find: 1971 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
- Car Collector’s Corner: 1985 Oregon Highway Patrol...
- Best Selling Cars Around The Globe: Chile Loves Ja...
- Tycho’s Illustrated History Of Chinese Cars: A Red...
- What's the Most Affordable Full-Size Crossover?
- 2012 Toyota Camry: Car Seat Check
- Odd Couplings: GM To Buy 7 Percent Of PSA? What For?
- Blind Spot: Electric Cars And “The Freedom Thing”
- 2012 Audi A1 Quattro Driven: 256 HP, All-Wheel Dri...
- Pininfarina Cambiano Sports-Sedan Concept Revealed...
- Jaguar XF Sportbrake Brochure Leaked [Geneva Auto ...
- 2013 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster Spy Photos: Th...
- 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Spied! We Catch the Sev...
- Bill Ford’s “Blueprint For Mobility” Calls For Car...
- Nissan Hi-Cross Concept is Coming, Probably a Hybr...
- Audi Announces Electric Pilot Program
- Jaguar XKR-Based Lyonheart K Pays Homage to E-Type...
- Leaf’s Grandfather
- Name That Car Clock: Extremely Classy Cartier Analog
- TTAC Photo Documentary: Carlos Ghosn Talks The Yen...
- Kia K9 Rear Drive Sedan Spied In South Korea
- Land Rover Eyes Convertible for Evoque
- QOTD: What’s wrong with this statement?
- Recall Alert: 2012 Nissan Murano and Nissan Rogue
- Finally, Real Pictures Of The Volvo V40
- Capsule Review: 2012 Hyundai Azera
- Cars.com News Briefs: Feb. 27, 2012
- Name That Shifter, No. 65
- Recall Alert: 2011-12 Porsche Cayenne
- Recall Alert: 2011-2012 Infiniti M, QX and Nissan ...
- Detroit Sleeps Through Chinese SUV Boom
- Junkyard Find: 1983 Mazda GLC Sedan
- Piston Slap: Frontal Area, Our Friend?
- Would You Buy It? Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon
- 2012 Hyundai Azera First Drive: It’s a Long Way to...
- Avoidable Contact: Lexus killed Saab, but GM let S...
- Hammer Time: Past Profits, Future Prophets
- China Billionaire Special: The Dartz Prombron Blac...
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic
- Junkyard Find: 1992 Ford Tempo GL
- Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week
- TrueCar Projects 14 Million New Car Market, Confir...
- High Speed Pursuits Endanger Your House
- Car Collector’s Corner: 1965 Mercury Comet-Rescued...
-
▼
February
(621)
No comments:
Post a Comment