“How can YOU afford THAT”??
Discussion
After chasing after a used Boxster for a few weeks, I’ve now bought a new 718 Cayman. I pick it up on March 1st.
I’m astonished at the response from colleagues and friends. Nobody has said anything complimentary; it’s all a variation on the same theme.
Like it’s anybody’s business...
I’m astonished at the response from colleagues and friends. Nobody has said anything complimentary; it’s all a variation on the same theme.
Like it’s anybody’s business...
That’s exactly how I’m feeling. It’s hard to change my colleagues, but I’m shocked at the reaction from some friends.
I have a pal in Dubai who has a stable of beautiful cars, and I’ve never felt anything but happiness for him. It would never in a million years occur to me to question anybody’s personal financial matters.
Some people just have no class.
I have a pal in Dubai who has a stable of beautiful cars, and I’ve never felt anything but happiness for him. It would never in a million years occur to me to question anybody’s personal financial matters.
Some people just have no class.
I’ve only told a couple of people at work so far, but after next Thursday it’ll be in the car park every day. I’m feeling apprehensive, and I should not have to.
First World problems and all that, but in this country, we do not like it when other people appear to be doing “better” than us.
First World problems and all that, but in this country, we do not like it when other people appear to be doing “better” than us.
Ilovejapcrap said:
I had a friend kick off because I purchased a motorbike ( a 2.5 grand one at that).
People are horrible
In similar fashion, I had a friend ring me out of the blue and harangue me at length over my then-proposed purchase. Said I already had a nice car and why did I want to do this. Came up with all kinds of reasons why I should rethink. Then he did it again a few days later in person, although in slightly more muted fashion. People are horrible
I really like the guy so I reasoned that it was simple envy and frustration, and bit my lip.
But I am in my 50s. I can make my own decisions.
And in my view, friends don’t do that. It’s tainted my perception of him, sadly.
Si-3PO said:
I don’t know about that, I’m one to downplay things and possibly cover up things to friends of mine that are less fortunate than me.
Somebody finding out you have a new Porsche and being a di*k about it is one thing but I think the bigger di*k is the one that goes around telling people who aren’t in a position to buy a nice car about their new Porsche before they’ve even taken delivery!
I assume this is directed at me, the OP. I wasn’t going to respond because of the ad hominem, but your sentiment did make me take stock. Somebody finding out you have a new Porsche and being a di*k about it is one thing but I think the bigger di*k is the one that goes around telling people who aren’t in a position to buy a nice car about their new Porsche before they’ve even taken delivery!
I considered whether I had in fact been gratuitously flaunting my good fortune, and whether I was indeed “going around telling people” about my new car. But I haven’t. I’ve told only a very few people, whether at work or outside, and they are people with whom I would normally share and receive stuff like this.
So whilst I may well be a d*ck for lots of reasons - I am, like everyone I know, a deeply flawed human being - your post gave me pause for thought, which is only ever a good thing. Thank you.
EGTE said:
"Social" media is horrible. Bin it completely and live happily in the real world, just like we all did up until 10 years ago.
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/04/12/facebook_...
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/05/tech_addi...
I could not agree more. I dropped Facebook 5 years ago when I realised all had brought to my life was anxiety and stress, and 6 months ago I bailed on Twitter when I became conscious of how compulsive and addictive and utterly meaningless it is. YMMV. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/04/12/facebook_...
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/05/tech_addi...
m444ttb said:
The thing I find odd is when I know ask me how I can afford it when they have two kids, two new/nearly new cars on finance and a large mortgage. None of which I have. Instead we have a teenage 996, a 20 year old 3-series, a smaller house / mortgage and a cat.
Absolutely. Your situation closely reflects my own; I only have one car, but I do have a cat and I have precisely the right number of wives and children. KPB1973 said:
Sadly, because of our natural 'British reserve' we often have this small-minded tendency to see displays of 'wealth' as being somewhat vulgar.
It's very small-minded and peculiar, but not always down to jealousy, per se.
OP - people will quickly get over their negativity towards your choice and worry about better things in their lives. Plus, if you're the humble person you seem to be, they'll quickly understand your motives for buying the car and most will be pleased for you.
Likewise you'll soon learn not to care about other people's opinion because you'll be too busy enjoying your Porker (which is lovely, btw - congrats!).
Thank you. I don’t mind sharing the fact that I never envisaged a time where I would be driving a new Porsche; I’m ridiculously excited at the prospect and even now, I worry that something will go wrong before I collect it next Thursday and my dream will be dashed. It’s just the way my mind works. My inner Chimp, if you like. It's very small-minded and peculiar, but not always down to jealousy, per se.
OP - people will quickly get over their negativity towards your choice and worry about better things in their lives. Plus, if you're the humble person you seem to be, they'll quickly understand your motives for buying the car and most will be pleased for you.
Likewise you'll soon learn not to care about other people's opinion because you'll be too busy enjoying your Porker (which is lovely, btw - congrats!).
It will require sacrifices in other areas of my life, but my primary consideration is the monthly payment, and this new Cayman is coming in at less than the cost of the used Boxster I was originally pursuing.
I am literally not sleeping with excitement. And that’s as it should be. How many times in one life do you get to buy a new Porsche for the first time?
It’s really nice to share this stuff with people who understand.
KPB1973 said:
Brilliant comment.
This is your thread but indulge me for a few moments here, as there's a point to my waffle.
I didn't buy my (2009) 987.2 new, but I took my 4-y-old to pick it up with me on Xmas eve just gone. He was excited from the moment he clapped eyes on it, and loves 'Daddy's racing car'.
It was a little, relatively inexpensive, Xmas pressie to myself that was partially-funded by inheritance after losing both my parents in the last 3 years.
Dad was a motor mechanic most of his working life, prior to that did time in the sharp end of the armed forces and was lucky to see beyond his mid-20s. He was the person who always encouraged me to experience as many fun cars as I could. 'You only live once son...' he'd say.
Mom was the speed freak. She loved any car with poke and always wanted a passenger ride when I had a new-to-me hot hatch etc.
In between their passings, my lad had emergency open heart surgery. That was an eye-opener to say the least.
For all my missus knows about cars, it could be a Trabant, but she insists on having the top down irrespective of weather because she loves the rush of the air and being able to see the sky (she also tells me off if I go over the speed limit).
So when I see that 'oh look its the mid-life crisis man in his Porsche' expression on a few people's faces, I don't feel like I have to justify anything to anyone. In the back of my mind I know the reasons why I bought it. The key fob with 'Happy Motoring, Daddy' means more to me than the Zuffenhaus badge on the fob.
You, like everyone else on here, will have your own story of life's ups-and-downs - and i'm just chuffed you've made a very sensible decision to enjoy your life even more. Good on you.
Drive safe, give it some proper beans, and report back!
Fantastic post, man. Thank you. This is your thread but indulge me for a few moments here, as there's a point to my waffle.
I didn't buy my (2009) 987.2 new, but I took my 4-y-old to pick it up with me on Xmas eve just gone. He was excited from the moment he clapped eyes on it, and loves 'Daddy's racing car'.
It was a little, relatively inexpensive, Xmas pressie to myself that was partially-funded by inheritance after losing both my parents in the last 3 years.
Dad was a motor mechanic most of his working life, prior to that did time in the sharp end of the armed forces and was lucky to see beyond his mid-20s. He was the person who always encouraged me to experience as many fun cars as I could. 'You only live once son...' he'd say.
Mom was the speed freak. She loved any car with poke and always wanted a passenger ride when I had a new-to-me hot hatch etc.
In between their passings, my lad had emergency open heart surgery. That was an eye-opener to say the least.
For all my missus knows about cars, it could be a Trabant, but she insists on having the top down irrespective of weather because she loves the rush of the air and being able to see the sky (she also tells me off if I go over the speed limit).
So when I see that 'oh look its the mid-life crisis man in his Porsche' expression on a few people's faces, I don't feel like I have to justify anything to anyone. In the back of my mind I know the reasons why I bought it. The key fob with 'Happy Motoring, Daddy' means more to me than the Zuffenhaus badge on the fob.
You, like everyone else on here, will have your own story of life's ups-and-downs - and i'm just chuffed you've made a very sensible decision to enjoy your life even more. Good on you.
Drive safe, give it some proper beans, and report back!
Rojibo said:
Looks lovely in blue that.
I'm 26 and I get the same from work colleagues, though it's not too bad. People who know me talk to me about it, I just ignore the how can you afford that comments and tell them they should have got a job in IT.
I'm picking up mine on the 1st, I suspect we're both as excited! Here she is waiting:
Thanks a lot. Your car looks stunning. Only five sleeps to go for us both!I'm 26 and I get the same from work colleagues, though it's not too bad. People who know me talk to me about it, I just ignore the how can you afford that comments and tell them they should have got a job in IT.
I'm picking up mine on the 1st, I suspect we're both as excited! Here she is waiting:
d. Rojibo said:
Where’s your OPC? Mines Sheffield which normally gets a fair bit of snow, and I have to drive it back across the pennines...
Newcastle, and thankfully it’s only about 5 miles from my house. They’re forecasting another 10-15 cm for us between now and tomorrow morning, but unless the roads are actually closed, I’ll be there to collect. I’ve cancelled the insurance on my part ex as of midnight tomorrow, so fingers crossed it all happens. Good luck, stay safe!
PhantomPH said:
Congrats on the car - I saw on social media yesterday, that the guys had cleared the space pretty well, but then it's all come down again overnight. Sure you will have no problem collecting, but be safe on the roads - the last thing you want is the jealous people looking on with delight as you slide your new 718 into a high curb. 
Coast road and Silverlink should be fairly clear - just the surrounding bits will be dicey.
I was genuinely anxious about what 'the world' would say when I bought my CGTS. I drove in to work the first day wondering if I would be gossiped about or whatever. The irony being that my car was not the most expensive in the carpark, but to the layman it had a Porsche badge and was a sportscar so...
I even worried that the directors at work would question my salary! I was totally irrational.
I think that says more about my insecurities than anything else tho, since with literally one (clearly jealous) exception, the response and feedback I got from people was incredibly positive.
The exception mentioned above wasn't even that bad. A guy I know said, "I thought with all the gushing people were doing, you must have bought a new one.". I simply replied with, "Mate, if I'd wanted a new one I'd have bought a new one...and saved myself a few quid in the process".
Thank you. I’ve just ventured out to the dentist, which promises to be a lot of fun, but it does help the anxiety to keep reminding myself I’m picking up my car tomorrow 😁 Coast road and Silverlink should be fairly clear - just the surrounding bits will be dicey.I was genuinely anxious about what 'the world' would say when I bought my CGTS. I drove in to work the first day wondering if I would be gossiped about or whatever. The irony being that my car was not the most expensive in the carpark, but to the layman it had a Porsche badge and was a sportscar so...
I even worried that the directors at work would question my salary! I was totally irrational.
I think that says more about my insecurities than anything else tho, since with literally one (clearly jealous) exception, the response and feedback I got from people was incredibly positive.
The exception mentioned above wasn't even that bad. A guy I know said, "I thought with all the gushing people were doing, you must have bought a new one.". I simply replied with, "Mate, if I'd wanted a new one I'd have bought a new one...and saved myself a few quid in the process".
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