Oliver Giltrow and his student runabout
(Oliver Giltrow), and his thoroughly practical alternative to the average teenager's Corsa:
"My love of all things Porsche is due to my Dad. From the age of six until I was 15 our only car in the family household was a 911, starting off with a 964, a 993, a 996 and my favourite a new 996 Carrera 2 in Speed Yellow which was then enhanced with a GT3 aero kit. The last Porsche he had was a Cayenne which was a great beast but unfortunately it was stolen and under pressure from my mum he took-up his option of a red Volvo C70 company car. (Sigh... Ed.) This is where the Porsche ties ended, though the fire still burned.
"When I passed my test my parents helped me buy a 1.0 Corsa. I sold it and supplemented with savings from my part time job, bought a three month old 1.2 SXI Corsa. This was supposed to be the car that would last me the whole time I was at University and also provide me with reliable transport for the foreseeable future. However, having had the car over a year, I began looking at the classifieds, religiously keeping an eye on the prices of Porsches. While this was happening, the recession hit and Boxsters were pushed well inside my hypothetical budget of 10k. I had invested my student loan in some shares (thank you RBS) doubled my money and that was it, a Porsche Boxster became a reality in my eyes.
"Being only 19, the first factor of my purchase was insurance. I had looked at the 2.5 and 2.7s and although they were plenty powerful enough compared to my humble 1.2 Corsa, I wanted the 3.2 S due to the better spec that they came with, however insurance companies were all quoting me over £4,000. I tried for weeks to get this figure down whilst talking my Dad into the idea and once he started looking at quotes he got one for £2,200 fully comp. I was sold on the idea and we started looking for potential cars.
"After checking the classifieds the exact car I wanted turned up After a week I was driving home in it - which was totally surreal as I was still 19 and in my second year of Uni'. It took a long time to sink in that I had achieved my goal so early.
"I remember only the second time I used all the power pulling away from a set of lights and the back end stepping out which made me realise just how careful you have to be. The best thing about the early Boxster S is that they have no electronic aids apart from the ABS so it really does feel like it's just you and the car. I pretty much always have the roof down.
"The car isn't a garage queen either, as it's my only car and gets used every day taking me to Uni' (which provokes some funny looks from other students, if only they realised that their year-old Focus was more expensive) and I have taken the car on a number of weekend breaks. Despite what people think, the car isn't that expensive to run. My Dad helped me replace all four CV boots and change all of the rusty bolts to stainless ones. Also I fill it up with Shell V power and the mpg averages at over 25.
"The thing I enjoy the most is going to my local Porsche Centre in Bristol and getting treated the same as a customer who has a Carrera GT, such as being offered the chance try out a new Cayman S for the day which I absolutely loved. You get discounts on parts if you're a Porsche GB club member and you feel the enthusiasm for the brand from all of the staff there.
"If you are young and think that you have to own a sensible hatchback for your first few years of driving, then think again as it may be cheaper than you would imagine getting the car of your dreams, and you don't even have to get one that's yellow!"
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