Some Peoples Kids….
Walking the dog last week, I noticed that a neighbor had left the garage doors open. Noting the cars in the stalls, including a familiar 911 C4S Cab, another car caught my eye. It was a white Infiniti QX60, a small sport crossover. The reason that it caught my eye was the familiar Porsche “Cayenne” logo on the back, painted in white to match the car. Nice humor, right? Yesterday, I ran into a grand-parent who was visiting the family and asked about the Cayenne badge. Having been told that the car is used by the grand-son, I could only imagine that he aspires to own a Porsche. My own son falls into that category as well. Independent, mid-30-s, professionally employed, he is in the process of wringing out the last breaths from his ten year old VW Touareg. In the next year he should probably part with the car, and has begun to casually look around. Faced with lots of attractive year end deals on brand new VW Atlas’ or Tiguans, he’s not biting. Same functionality. Brand new. What’s not to like? Instead, he’s looking for a well-maintained under 50k mile Cayenne, of the S or GTS variety- probably 5-10 years old in order to fit into a “new VW” equivalent budget. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only Porsche loyalist, whose family experience has led the next generation to go down a similar path. As a Dad of a “mature” age, I still worry about whether that’s the right decision for my “child”, even though that child is a parent himself and nearing middle age.
But as I look around, I find a lot of evidence that I shouldn’t be worried. Without naming names or regions our current region boards are filled with “legacy” Porsche children who’ve now grown up (sort of) and have turned their ownership into a life-style. One region VP recalls helping wash and wax Dad’s 930 beginning at age 6, and then the trauma of having the car “sold out from under him”, the day he got his license. (Give Dad a LOT of credit for that decision!). The President of another PCA region recalls lots of hours cramped in the back “seat” of a very early 911, which his Dad owned since before he was born. (Hmm…) A past region president and PCA Cup racer, has now raised 3 sons, all of whom are accomplished on the track. Within our general membership there are numerous examples of multi-generational P-Car families. We even have a member in the zone who doesn’t look a day over 40, and who just attended his 30th Porsche Parade. So I guess I just need to relax, and not worry about the kids. Yes kids…plural. I suspect our second “child” may go down a similar path when HER Golf R starts to get boring- which may be a LONG time.
So since you are probably reading this just before the year-end holidays, may I suggest a gift idea or two to support your progeny? The first is for that adult child. How about a day at the Los Angeles or Atlanta Porsche Experience Center. Run by PCNA, I’m told this is an unforgettable event if you’ve not really had the opportunity to understand the capabilities of a Porsche. The second idea is for you doting grand-parents to “leap-frog” your own children. You can sign your grandchildren up for PCA Junior, If you haven’t done so already. Run by PCA, it’s a program that sends “age appropriate” small gifts to the future Porsche lover. My 6 year old grand-daughter proudly wears her “rookie driver” PCA t-shirt. And it was free. Just go to PCA.org. All the details are there!
Worried about sending future generations down the “slippery slope”? Don’t. They are adults (or will be) and the evidence suggests that they are making their own decisions and not yours.
Happy Holidays!!!
Rich Sanders
Zone9Rep@pca.org