Does your spouse drive your Porsche?

[Cliff Claven]

My wife has never asked to drive my 911. She's said she doesn't much want to drive it and I haven't seriously encouraged her to do so -- cuz the transmission is kind of difficult, and it's hard to steer, and well, it's just, mine, after all. 8)

But I'm looking at the 2005 DE schedule and I'm thinking there is no way my wife is going to like me going to all of these events, plus maybe some others held by other regions or clubs, unless... I can get her interested in driving as well. :wink:

Then last night, when I broached the subject of her entering the HPDC, and I suggested that she could maybe drive this 83 928 5spd (with electrical problems) I've been looking at and thinking of making into a track car -- she smiled and said, yes. :) And that she'd like a 928. :) :)

So I'm wondering, do other people share their Porsches with their respective spouses or significant others, or do spouses/SOs get their own Porsches?

[John Clay]

We would love to have two Porsches in the family, but it is definately not in the near term budget. I think having two would be quite a blast.

2004 was our first DE year and our first year with the 944. My wife did 3 Summit Point events, I did the Potmac Region's Mid-Ohio and VIR events. We will probably start sharing the car if one of us gets promoted. None of this was planned when we bought the car. We just liked the car and planned on doing some autocrossing.

My personal highlight for the season was the grin on my wife's face when she stepped out of the car after her first session. I knew she was hooked.

I really enjoy going to the DE's with the family even though I don't drive. I love being able to combine family time with such a great hobby and group of people. The kids do enjoy going to the track.

BTW, I think our car is quite easy for anyone to drive.

[87turbolook911]

My wife and I did HPDC with BMWCCA last season and she had great fun. She drove our 3 series touring. But she isn't hooked on doing future events.

Guess what I'm trying to say is...you might want to make sure she's into it before investing in a car just for her. You may end up depleting your toy fund and having a car no one is gonna drive.

However, attending HPDC gave my wife a better understanding of "going to the track"

Just my $.02

[Charlie Stylianos]

Anne is scared of the 911, may be the rawness of it all, but she does want a P-car at some point. She really likes the 928's :shock:, but thinking a low mileage 968 would suit her (and me) better.

[racer]

When I met my (now) wife I had a 914. She vowed not to drive it due to how uncomfortable she thought it was (cm.. tail shifting tranny, Roll cage, that's not uncomfortable.

After I bought my 911 I convinced her to attend an NNJR ladies day at Pocono. She seemed to enjoy herself but is not really interested in Track, and she flat refused to let me show her how much the car had in reserve compared to her driving style

Now, having driven in Va, and to a few Play dates with friends who seemingly "can't drive" she is slowly expressing interest in Autocross.

I try not to pressure too much for concern of backlash, but then again, I let my mom tease her instead (My mom did DE for 15 years and instructed too!)

Eventually I figure all the time I spend at the track will either: 1) strain the good times or 2) encourage her to come along :D

[Mackliet]

I politely asked my wife to please drive "our car" this past weekend on Saturday. Without power steering, she only managed to drive it around the block...and that was that. She can now look forward to driving it again in 2006. :roll:

[Trak Ratt]

Linda drives mine (DAS COUPE) and hers (RENN MON) :!:

[Jim Richards]

I think no matter how I respond to this, I will encounter significant jeering. So, jeer away! 8)

[jpnovak]

My wife just enjoys being in the pass seat in the targa. She has no interest in driving it. Says the tranny is too hard, but then again, she doesn't like driving a stick.

I managed to get her out to the HPDC a few years ago in the Volvo wagon. She didn't like it at first since she was not in a Pcar and a few less than desirable A$$holes gave her crap about it. In the end she had a great time. It didn't hurt that is was pouring rain and that understeering 7 pass car was the only one that would turn in at Jefferson. It was even funnier to watch as a 944 and another car would not let her pass in the afternoon lapping session. Two days later she admitted to having a great time. Of course, I can't get her back out on the track now.

[Trak Ratt]

I think no matter how I respond to this, I will encounter significant jeering. So, jeer away! 8)


JEER, JEER, JEER :!: :!: :!:

"Lu's car" LOL, ROFLOL,

JEER, JEER, JEER :!: :!: :!:

[William Miller]

Sharon loves the car but was embarrassed to drive it because,well, it looked like crap. Part ofthe reaon for thepaint job. It did give me the oppertunity to upgrade the suspension.

What's the deal with Husband/ wives at HPDC and DE.
She has always wanted to take a car on a track.
Is there any way we can go to the same events?
I see 2 days scheduled for HPDC. Is it a 2 day event or 2 sessions?
Thanks!

[cmartin]

Each day is a mirror of the other, so 2 1 day events. (At least it has been in the past)

[Vicegrip]

Teresa tried one HPDC and it was doomed from the start. Cold rain off and on and she was driving my track tight set up, no heat car.
She loves to ride in it at speed but not drive it at all. Someday when they are cheap I will get her a gently used Boxster.

To answer Bill's DE question.

For a couple to use the same car at a DE they need to be in different run groups. I recommend that the more enthusiastic of the two sign up first for as many events as is needed to be moved to Blue. If other sports do not beckon then 3 or 4 might be all that is needed. Then the second person can start in Green and the couple can share a car. Two green students cannot share a car unless they share run sessions as well. Full price X2 half the driving= half the fun. I don't recommend that the couple trade events. i.e.. she does the March and he does April. The time between events is too long and each move up (slowly) together.


BTW. Saying "928 with electrical problems" is redundant. :wink:

[KJinDC]

MY SO likes driving my Audi S4 and does so at plenty of Audi events but she's only done 1 PCA event so far. She'll probably be around more this year. I just need to learn how to share my car!

-KJ

[OldTee]

Has my wife ever driven my Porsche?

Ans: Only once. My 73T. It was all that was left one day, the kids had the other car and the other-other car was in the shop. I marveled at the robustness of the Porsche transmission, clutch and engine. Her comment: "Smelly, when do I get MY car back!"
ARF

[BlackTalon]

My wife drives our Targa a few times a year, usually when the weather is nice and she can drive to work with the top off. She also drives it when her Toyota is in the shop (although now she is favoring our Volvo S60R)She drove in 2 HPDCs and 2 DEs, but decided she does not like driving on the track (she didn't get past the 'apprehensive' phase, and she did not drive the car often enough to be able to shift in a timely manner on the track). However, the 'exposure' helped her understand my interest in DEs, and she supports my desire to attend 4 or 5 DEs a year.

She has expressed an interest in autocrossing, so I hope we can attend a few this year now that Potomac is reinstating their program. In fact, we watched a PCA autocross about 6 years, and that sparked us to join the club.

She has mentioned a few times in the past that she might like to have a Boxster, but she rode in one a month or two ago and was disappointed. She complained about it being too cushy! :)

[Jase007]

My wife has driven my Targa at a HPDC and decided that the other a$$holes in the afternoon open track session (read = Instructors giving joy rides :shock: ) was to much. At this particular HPDC ... they were a little out of control.

Put her off of trying DEs or other events for a while. She'll eventually get behind the wheel again but at her own time ... either in a DE, auto-X, HPDC or whatever. All team SSPI rides are open for her to try but I think she likes the silver Targa best :D

Can you imagine T in the IROC :shock:

Jase

[VaSteve]

My wife drove mine twice. Once was last spring for about 2 miles in a straight line.

I convinced her to drive it the week before I took out the engine. She drove back from the Safeway (about 2 miles). If I knew I'd be replacing the clutch I would have had her go further. :)

I tried to get her to open it up, she wouldn't. I think maybe we were doing 1/10. :lol:

As far as riding in it, I don't think she even likes that much. I drive it spiritedly so she'll closer her eyes. I thinks she's mpre worried about me getting a ticket. Truth be told, I think I drive the Bimmer faster!

She did do the Sept HPDC in the BMW and (I think) liked it. I don't think she really pushed it that hard, but it's the family car and an automatic. She kept out of the lapping sessions, because of the other "passenger" :wink:

At least now I can tell her not to grab the wheel at the bottom to steer. :)

[michael lang]

Three weeks ago Shelly & I went to my company's Christmas party in Tysons. I think that was the first and probably last time she will ever set foot in my car. I was quite surprised at that since she is always looking @ 993's & 996's. Maybe my car is not cool enough for her!!


Mike

[Jazzbass]

My wife has never asked to drive my 911. She's said she doesn't much want to drive it and I haven't seriously encouraged her to do so -- cuz the transmission is kind of difficult, and it's hard to steer, and well, it's just, mine, after all. 8)
Ditto, except I have encouraged her but she still won't drive it. Hates the tranny (she see's me double clutching and is terrified), the steering, etc. And she's afraid of wrecking it.

[Trak Ratt]

Linda’s attending a class in Arlington this week, driving her ’87 Targa back and forth regardless of rain, traffic and parking garage threats :!:

[Don Wohlfarth]

MY SO likes driving my Audi S4 and does so at plenty of Audi events but she's only done 1 PCA event so far. She'll probably be around more this year. I just need to learn how to share my car!
-KJ
Let me be the first to say Hello to KJ, he's been lurking since Oct.
My wife never wants to drive my Porsche. "You want me to shift gears?" has a familar ring to it. I think she's a snob. :lol:

[Cliff Claven]

Judging from the replies here, it seems that wives don't much drive Porsches. Is it because driving Porsches is a man thing? I wonder if I could get away with the following: "Sorry Honey, I'll change Ginger's diaper when you learn to drive a Porsche." :wink: Probably not a good idea (and not just because I don't even know how to drive myself)....

I'm wondering what the best Porsche for a woman might be. Wendy seems to like the look of a 928. She thinks it's how a sportscar should look. Reminds her somehow of that old Barbie Vette she had as a kid.

[Jim Richards]

Lu actually likes driving the 73E; however, she didn't like driving the 993. Go figure.

[87turbolook911]

I'm wondering what the best Porsche for a woman might be.

My aunt has an '01 Boxster and she loves driving it.

[Jase007]

"Sorry Honey, I'll change Ginger's diaper when you learn to drive a Porsche."

I wouldn't try this unless you like this:

http://www.jrgach.com/pictures/Was-His.jpg

Note: not saying you have a boxster :wink:

Jase

[Trak Ratt]

Jase saw that one some time ago during our commute :!:

The “which Porsche makes a good chick car?” should be approached with caution :shock:

Do a search on that other local Porsche site to see what I mean :wink:

[Jazzbass]

Lu actually likes driving the 73E; however, she didn't like driving the 993. Go figure.
As far as the 73 goes, maybe Lu will post about how much you like driving her Porsche :wink:.

[Jim Richards]

Lu actually likes driving the 73E; however, she didn't like driving the 993. Go figure.
As far as the 73 goes, maybe Lu will post about how much you like driving her Porsche :wink:.
I think she's more likely to post about how much I like working on her Porsche. 8)

[KJinDC]

MY SO likes driving my Audi S4 and does so at plenty of Audi events but she's only done 1 PCA event so far. She'll probably be around more this year. I just need to learn how to share my car!
-KJ
Let me be the first to say Hello to KJ, he's been lurking since Oct.
My wife never wants to drive my Porsche. "You want me to shift gears?" has a familar ring to it. I think she's a snob. :lol:

Thank you sir!

[KeithLambert7]

Dawn likes to drive in the 356, and can but doesn't like to drive it. :D

The '89 911 is another thing. :shock: She loves to drive it, and took it out yesterday for 4-5 hours, drove all over NoVa and returned it dirty. Now it's too cold to wash it (my job of course :cry: ).

Careful what you guys ask for... :?

Keith

[keithmckenney]

My wife drives our 'family' '90 964 Targa everyday to work and has done so for the past 8 years. She is 5'2" and likes the cozy feel and responsive nature. It wasn't always this way......

Our first P-car was a 912 and she never warmed up to it, driving a Volvo wagon instead. Then came our 951, which she thought was OK as a passenger when pressed, but never drove it much. An '88 911 was no better as she thought it required too much effort to drive. So.....as the two kids grew up and we needed a new family car, she said find a good used one.....I thought she meant 'car' and she meant 'family car'.

She came home from a trip to find the 964 all pretty and parked. She refused to ride/drive it as it was not a 'family car'. After a couple a weeks I had a trip out of town and when I returned, well, she has driven it nearly everyday since. It is 'her car'. She has put some 60 K miles on it. The targa leaks, the engine drips lots of oil, but she loves it.

I think the take home message here (if you get this far) is many women can drive the pre 964/962 911's but the effort required may be more than some enjoy. The PS and short throw in the 964 are part of what makes my wife's driving fun for her. javascript:emoticon(':D')

My 0.02 $ worth

[bettyc]

Guess it's time for a woman to reply. You knew it would happen, didn't you? 8)

There are as many reasons why women don't drive sports cars (not just Porsches) as there are makes/models. Trying to categorize driving based on gender is a risky business.

My take:

-Women from past generations, for the most part, were raised to believe sports cars were "boys toys". Girls were given Barbies to play with and boys were given toy trucks and cars. You get the idea.

-SO's don't want to drive your car because you are so emotionally attached to the thing and she doesn't want to be responsible for breaking it.

-It can be tough for both spouses to drive a car because it sets up a "competition" that may not be healthy for the relationship.

-Track driving is a risk sport and if you have children perhaps she is thinking that both of you involved is not in the best interests of the kids.

-Don't use the "too hard to handle, no PS" excuse. I see too many out of shape, untalented men drivers at the track to believe that one.

-Lots of guys like to overemphasize the dangers involved in track driving, the near misses, the high speeds and then are amazed when the SO declines to participate.


I was lucky enough to be raised with three brothers and a mother that never told me I couldn't do something because I was a girl. I was working on cars when I was 16 and had my pretty little mustang taken away from me three weeks after Daddy gave it to me because I was caught drag racing on the local highway.

Gary and I have shared cars and had separate cars. I have to say it is much easier on the relationship to have separate cars, even if you end up swapping back and forth. The 914 I'm currently driving is very much "my" car and set up for me. Gary is free to drive it whenever he wants but he cannot change any of the setup (like brake bias) and he cannot complain about anything on it (the seat isn't set up optimally for him). Likewise I cannot complain about his car when I drive it. Not tough given what he drives. :shock:

You might be interested to know that about 10 years ago our PCA Potomac autocross competition was set up with separate classes for men and women. There were a handful of women participating that were offended by this "handicapping" system that seemed to imply that women couldn't compete directly with men. Anyway, because of many protests by the women, the "ladies classes" were done away with. It might surprise you to know that women were running first in class at individual events and in the overall standings.

I really don't believe that driving is a gender specific sport. I'll agree that we approach risk sports differently and we learn differently but the end result is the same.

[BlackTalon]

...I see too many out of shape, untalented men drivers at the track...

Hey, leave me out of this! My wife has done track events in our 911! :lol:

[bettyc]

:P

Not picking on anyone in particular. Besides, I fall right into that category....just hate that "the big bad car got away from the little lady" concept. A girlfriend and I were noticing at one of the last events of 2004 that we were both driving the vintage race cars with no PS and our husbands were driving the newer, cushier cars. I thought it was kinda funny.

[Jim Richards]

Ha! My wife dislikes automatic transmissions, never uses A/C, and doesn't require power steering or brakes. And to one of your points Betty, she worries about driving "my car" because she doesn't want to worry about door dings in parking lots or minor scrapes. Somehow she thinks I'll get mad at her. Who me? 8)

[Cabman4007]

Since we have a 50/50 relationship I cant say no to my wife's request but I cant be in the 996 when she drives it. I go nuts when she downshifts. She pushes the clutch in, downshifts and pops the clutch and jerks the car. I just cant get her to learn how to use the gas and the clutch together when downshifting.

So, yes, my wife drives the Cab but I need to keep my stress level down and opt out from joing her. It's only a machine we know but a P Car is more like a family member.

Guess this is somewhat a sore subject but when we get married and subsequently buy toys we are joint owners.

Cabman

[Chopper Dropper]

Cabman, I guess you failed as an instructor :wink: . Diffficult situation, try and get her to do an HPDC, "advice/instruction" from outside may help. Mind you, that might be the first step on the slippery slope.
Dirk

[Cabman4007]

First of all,, it would be easier to find a cure for cancer than to give a spouse constructive criticism. I would have to find a professional instructor that could teach her the specifics in shifting.

When she drives the truck (5 sp) I hardly notice any discrepencies mainly because I dont care what she does to it. But the Porsche is a different animal.

I tried teaching her, but again,,,, it doesnt work. I am sure you all know what I am talking about.

Cabman

[}{arlequin]

My gf loves driving sports cars, and seems attached to my vintage T as well. She was nervous driving it first few times, probably b/c I was in the car and (she claims) my presence always puts pressure on her driving.

Before I got a garage spot and brought the car here, it was w/ her and each time I came to visit she'd pick me up and drop me off at the airport in the turtle. She says she didn't drive it when I'm not around, but I suspect she did, but not too much b/c Boston roads suck for that car.

Here are two good reasons why it's nice to watch women handle such a car:

http://img72.exs.cx/img72/3522/sue2resize4bt.jpg

[Jase007]

The fridge / washer and the green stool?

no, wait ...

The water jug and the plastic bag?

no.no.no....wait...

The water jug and the green stool! ....right?

:lol: :lol:

Jase

[BillJ]

What water jug, plastic bag, and stool? There is a fridge there? 8)

[}{arlequin]

There is a fridge there? 8)
LOL, warehouse fridge where we keep the Sapphire cold :wink:

[9NINE6]

Been watching this thread with interest for the last couple weeks and deceided to chime in, cause IMO, anyone that doesn't at least try to get their SO involved is missing an great opportunity to have a LOT of fun as a couple.
After a few days at SP just watching (BTW- not good) Deb relunctently agreed to the HPDC and ended the day with "THAT" grin firmly set, which now reativates itself every time DE is mentioned. Not to say that there haven't been low points in the early going, (for both of us) but every time that grin started to fade and that "what am I doing here" question surfaced, there seemed to be an supportive instructor come along that helped answer the question. We shared a car for Deb's 1st season, and have since been fortunate enough to have or own competitive cars. FWIW, you can not imagine the first time the SO is big as life in your mirrors, or see the telltale cloud of dust in front of you and there as you go by your SO is off the side of the track waiving at you, then give the thumbs up...priceless! BTW when we run together, I'm now more often than not, in her mirrors. advice? no.. but I think its worth restating,, Leave both your egos at home, and let the instructors instruct...and thanks to the "Fast Bi**hes" for making Deb's experience even more enjoyable.

Roy

[Trak Ratt]

:o Hey guy, I was wondering when you would chime in :!:
Welcome to the board! Some might want to hear more about your speed yellow 996 cab track car and you SO’s 996 track coupe. I remember the first time at Curry’s a few years ago. You had a lot of questions about roll bars and were both looking forward to becoming more involved? Looks like you made it :!:

[Jase007]

Welcome Roy!

Glad to see you found the board.

Anytime you want to let me check out the "new & improved" 996 cab, just give a hollar! :wink: :lol: I think you've made a few changes since I was last in it.

Jase

[BillJ]

Welcome Roy and Debbie!!!!! If some of you have not met this dynamic duo yet, find the opportunity to do so. They are fun, fast, and really help the club out whenever they can. Great to see you chimed in here and on this very appropriate thread.

Bill J