[RPM]

Porsche ownership for me has always been both highly emotional and rather mercenary. I buy a car and fall in love with it, care for it, and drive the hell out of it. Then, eventually, the time comes to move on - and hopefully up. That time has come for my 968. I about have it sold and am actively looking for its replacement. Most likely a 02/03 Carrera, possibly a C4S if I can find the right options (and price).

One of the biggest regrets in all of this is that I will no longer be a regular member of 968 world. And it is a wonderful place - full of unique characters and fabulous cars. I want to thank a few people who have made my 968 ownership time so rewarding. I doubt I'll have ever again have this type of experience with any car I own in the future.

Damian Deblis - You helped me find the 968 and went out of your way on a cold Sunday to take a look at it and then deliver a detailed review. I bought the car largely on your feedback and never regretted it. Thanks.

Bob "Flash" Larson - Your enthusiasm and energy is exhausting... and an irreplaceable part of why the 968 just keeps getting more interesting as the years go by. The work you put in on this site is overwhelming - only outdone by your hospitality. Thanks.

Paul Johnson - Having a wrench-friendly 968 guy just around the corner has probably added years to the life of my car (and big holes to its airbox!). Thanks for you time, hard work, and friendship. I'm glad that while we won't be parking next to eachother at future Oktoberfests, we will both be there.

That's about it. I'm keeping my membership here (not that I actually ever gave Bob any money - oops). I have always been proud of being a first day member of 968Forums. I also know that guys who joined today are just as passionate about these marvelous cars.

Cheers!

Ralph

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[rhudeboye]

Well put.

I hope you check back in on us from time to time and share with us your azz heavy 968 replacement [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img] .
You will be missed.

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[Mark]

Enjoy the 996, it is a fun car and since you have already owned a red headed step child of the Porsche family you know to ignore the people who talk bad about the 996. I really liked the one I drove this spring and came very close to buying it.

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[DiREW0LF]

Make sure you post some pictures of the replacement before you completely forget about us.

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[ds968]

Ralph, farewell but please do stay in touch here, the 968 community will miss you ..

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[flash]

ralph - you will indeed be missed - you are always welcome here (or feel free to stop by when you're i town too)

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[94SilverCab]

Once a 968er, always a 968er...maybe we'll see your new ride at Hershey.

Regards,

Jay

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[PorscheDude]

Congrats!
Enjoy the new car!!

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[benspeeder]

I had my '92 barn find car up for sale - it went in one day! Deliver tomorrow morning - when the deal is done I'll pull down my ad.

Sold it for $8500 to a friend - gave him a screaming good deal. Since I still made a tidy profit I figured let's not get greedy.

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[RPM]

Consigned my car with a local specialty dealership that I have known a long time.

Motorcar Investments

They got a lot of quick, serious queries - from as far away as New England and Arizona. Now it looks like a local guy will buy it. My end profit will be just about what I had hoped to get for the car... And the dealership does all the advertising/sales/paperwork and gives me a check. Sweet!

One interesting thing - the dealership had a detailer who refinished and then dyed the cracked seats. There were no bad holes, just old leather. It looks great! If I had know that would only cost $80 I probably would have done it a couple of years ago. Really shows the difference between a professional and what you can get yourself out of a can.

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[rhudeboye]

<!--quoteo(post=82347:date=Oct 23 2009, 01:01 PM:name=RPM)-->QUOTE (RPM @ Oct 23 2009, 01:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->the dealership had a detailer who refinished and then dyed the cracked seats. There were no bad holes, just old leather. It looks great!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I called a leather guy in the Annapolis area for a quote on this service and he was over $250.00
$80 for quality work is a good deal. But not quite worth a trip from MD to NC.

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[prj24149]

Ralph, Thanks for the kind words. Don't be a stranger on this forum. Your insights and comments are always good and welcome.

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[RPM]

She's gone.

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif[/img]

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[benspeeder]

Are you willing to share the sales price?

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[RPM]

Sure.

I don't know the exact final price the dealer got - just have not sat down with him yet. He was asking $11,900. But he paid for the reconditioning of the seats and a few other things, and had advertising costs, and I know he had to come down some on the price, and he has to do all of the paperwork with DMV.

I get $10k - which was essentially my goal when I decided to sell the car. A car is just worth more at a nice specialty dealership, plain and simple. This place has three late model Ferraris and a Maserati Corso sitting on the showroom floor. I am pretty certain that I could have spent a lot of time and effort, and dealt with a bunch of people trying to get something for nothing, and wound up with the same money.

Paid $16k in 2004 with 60k miles. Sold for $10k in 2009 with 117k miles. Pretty darned good.

Just don't add up the repair receipts... ever.

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[flash]

wow - sounds like he might lose money on the car after all that work - the market is so weird right now - a good time to pounce if you want a 968

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[RPM]

... or a 996 [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

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[rxter]

or a house or a boat or a company or a ...

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