Hi,
First, thanks to everyone who responded to my question about the windshield wiper cap coming off. I went to Hennessy Porsche in Atlanta, and they replaced it under warranty.
I was scolded for not posting pictures with my first post. I just ONR'd my car today, and this time brought a camera, so I can finally post photos.
I've never liked cars. I was always a motorcyclist. Mostly BMW's. My first was an R65, then a K75S, and finally a K100 RS. I was living in Hawai'i, when, about 10 years ago, I started having weird walking problems. It was nothing serious at first, but my Doctor referred me to a neurologist, who after a battery of tests concluded I had PLS, which is a form of ALS.
When someone has ALS, their upper and lower motor neurons are dying. Most people live 3 to 5 years after they are diagnosed. With PLS, only the upper motor neurons are dying, so it's not fatal, though you slowly lose the ability to walk, and develop a host of other nasty symptoms.
Eventually my disease progressed to the point where I couldn't ride a motorcycle anymore. Then, a few years later, I left Hawai'i for Atlanta, Georgia, where I had to get a car (in Hawai'i, I only had motorcycles and bicycles). I got an Accord figuring it was practical, and learned to live with the traffic of Atlanta. Driving was a necessity, not fun.
After a few years, on a whim, I got an Infiniti G37S, and started to drive for enjoyment. I took a few trips to Deal's Gap, drove the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway a few times, and discovered the roads around Suches, Georgia.
I liked the G37S, but it felt "big" through the twisties. It had paddle shifters, as I figured that was better than a manual transmission given my disease and the fact that it is progressive.
A few months ago, a good friend of mine custom ordered a BMW M3. Riding with him got me itching for a more agile car, and also for a manual transmission.
I started looking at Boxsters and was planning to wait for the 2013 refresh and custom order one. But that would have meant waiting almost another year, and as my condition only gets worse, I didn't want to waste a year. Plus, my friend with the M3 kept preaching the "Purist" position, how everyone was moving towards smaller displacement/turbo'd engines to meet fuel economy goals, and if I waited for the refresh I may be stuck with a four cylinder engine.
So I started looking around for a Boxster S with a manual transmission. There weren't many to be had. There were two in California, but I wasn't keen on their color. Finally, I found one at a dealer in Kentucky. which was the color I wanted, black, had most of the things I wanted.
I drove up to Kentucky on December 21st in my G37S, and returned in my new 2011 Boxster S. It has, as I already mentioned, a six speed manual transmission, 19" Carrera Classic Wheels, Sport Seats in Leather, Limited Slip Rear Differential, Heated Seats,
Sport Exhaust System, Bi-Xenon Light System with Dynamic cornering lights, Bose Surround Sound System, and the hard to get, and super-reasonably priced, Footrest in Sports Look.
I love the car! Although it has slightly less horse power than my G37S did, it is much, much, much more responsive. It is a joy to drive, and I can't wait for the spring to take it up to the mountains.
- Jim
Linear Mode
