@sokogear...I used to own a Macan. I liked it so much it's why I ended up by buying the 911.
@millercarbon you may be right. I’m not a Porsche guy. Over the cars I’ve owned I’d rank my M3 and Aston Martin Vantage as cars that I enjoyed more. They weren't better 'cars' and in many ways the 911 was a superior car - it just didn’t connect with me emotionally.
Just like music and audio systems we each have our tastes. I tried the Porsche thing and in the end I realized I would rather have my money enable other things. |
Given MC's description of motor mount engineering, the OP might want to change the thread title to "systems and their members."
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The wheels in that video are sick. I only wonder what it would cost to replace one if you blow it out. ($5K or more). Pretty sure they will be at least a $20k option. But, carbon fiber! And remember, this is unsprung weight. I'm also getting PCCB. Together they are probably close to 10 lbs per wheel. 40 lbs might not sound like much but again, unsprung weight! Lighter wheels respond to the road much faster for better handling and a more supple ride. Also the lighter rims are much less mass to spin, so both braking and acceleration improve. Finally, carbon fiber is inherently vibration damping. So a smoother more quiet ride. Based
on your comments, I guess this is my last car (that only I drive with
rare exception). In only put on 5K a year. I'm surprised you didn't
mention any GT3s or GT2s. I guess you are talking about cars you can
fairly easily find without breaking the bank. By home run I mean the combination of a whole lot of different factors. The GT cars are always in a league of their own. But so is the Carrera GT. So is the 918. That's not what I mean. Your 997 isn't as fast as any of them, or as rare. But there is a balance of factors that come together to create a certain driving experience. I don't really know how to explain it. The 991 is a much better, faster car. In every way. But there is a special fun factor that your 997 has that the 991 just doesn't. Not saying it is not a great car. Totally is. Just not in the same way. You love your GTS, enjoy it. You will have a hard time finding better. Also, at 5k miles a year you will find it is going up in value. If not already then soon. All Porsche cars begin to appreciate at about 12-15 years. Some sooner, but all no matter what stop losing value and start going up like that. My 911SC was very common, depreciated from $25k to around $12k the first 10-12 years. Then started slowly rising. People are silly about these things, they only notice sort of at random. Gosh the market is getting hot they say. When in reality there was a long steady appreciation going on for years. They just don't notice. Until one day the SC is selling for $35-40k, way more than when new, they act like this is so shocking. Look around. See what I'm saying is true. Even the 996 are going up! Guess when that started happening? Around 2015. When the first ones were 15 years old. Just like I said. Right on schedule. |
MC- I have been in PCA for 18 years and am aware of the Porsche depreciation/appreciation curve. I always buy them 3-4 years old certified from a dealer and let the first guy take the $50K depreciation hit. I think with my car it actually happened sooner than normal. Maybe because my car is not real common. It’s not “rare” but certainly not abundant. I didn’t buy It to make $$- I need something to drive and I want the most possible fun. I guess I lucked out.
I also know the value of wheels weight reduction benefits. Even more so with bicycles, although not nearly as pricey. My recent purchase of a fairly basic carbon fiber bike included a wheel &tire upgrade that reduced the weight around 20%. |
Porsche 911 has grown, but is still way too tight for a comfortable drive for someone with knees. |
True confessions. I always coveted the original Speedster, but by the time I really thought about buying, Japanese collectors had driven the prices for the desirable examples to over $100k. So I had a replica built, based on guts from a Beetle. Even found original 50s gauges for the build (remember JC Whitney?) Fun, but I eventually felt guilty about running around in a "fake" car.
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Hey @glupson - have you ever been in a 911? I'm 6' and have more leg and head room than in my old 4Runner. Once you get in, it's very comfortable.
For someone in the back seat, that's another matter..... |
one of my good pals, fellow track buddy is 6-4 and fits comfortably in a 991.1 and 991.2 GT3 RS with helmet... does some 15-20 track days per year on average -- both cars had standard factory cf lwb’s, stock installation (without aftermarket recliner brackets)...
6-3 or 6-4 drivers may need to recline the stock sofa sets (4 way or 18 way) in a 991 car with sunroof... but just a touch, depends on torso vs leg length... |
sokogear, "Hey @glupson - have you ever been in a 911? I'm 6' and have more leg and head room than in my old 4Runner. Once you get in, it's very comfortable." Yes, I have. I think every generation in the last 15-20 years although I cannot say which exact models. Only the most recent ones are somewhat manageable. Not comfortable, but at least a person can fit in there. Left knee is still in the way more often than not, toebox is kind of busy, and the metal part above the left window/roof comes very close unless sitting straight in the seat. All of that with the seat in the lowest possible position. I am not sure how one would fit the helmet there without the feeling that the roof is constantly pressing her/him down. I wish I remembered if that one I tried had any kind of sunroof, but I think it did not. Sunroof would explain such a discrepancy in headroom. Otherwise, nice car to look at. I really like it. For some reason, it grew over the generations, but lost space for a spare tire. |
@glupson- I’ve had a 996 (‘99-‘05), 997 (‘06-‘09) and 997.2 (‘10-‘12) and all were roomier than my 4Runner in leg room with sunroof. I haven’t raced, but I trust @jss49 when he talks about his 6’4” friend tracking a 911 with helmet . Also I’ve been to the track and a friend of mine is also 6’4-5” and drives an older one (993 ‘92-‘98 I think)- no problem. Not sure if his car has a sunroof.
Maybe you’re taller than 6’4” or didn’t learn to use the height adjustment. It’s tricky if you don’t have power seats.
Used to come with an inflatable spare I think. Now I just make sure to take my portable tire inflator that plugs into the ash tray on any trips outside 5-10 miles. |
sokogear,
The first thing I do when getting into a car, for unknown cars even before entering, is to lower the seat as much as it goes. The last Porsche 911, I even had a salesman with me. It may be that some people are more in love with what they get from the car than being bothered by the feeling that car is patting the top of their head all the time. If that is the case, I envy them. I am visibly more than 6 feet, but not even close to 7. Even more of an issue is that two appropriately-sized feet and three pedals get quite crammed down there.
Spare tire is my pet-peeve. Inflator is fine, unless it gets slashed on the side. Which is what every significant tire problem has been for me. Nails do nothing, it can go for thousand miles. I am really puzzled where the space for spare went. It used to be there when the car was smaller. "The Mystery Of The Missing Space". |
Wow - if you are much taller than 6', then I don't blame you for not liking your head touching the roofliner.
I guess for you to be comfortable, you have to get one of those big trucks/SUVs that the players in the NBA get.
Beleive me, Porsche used the space for the spare very efficiently. They don't waste on cc in the 911. The older ones had smaller engines and were air cooled, so no water pump. The new engines are more complicated as well. Ever look inside the rear hood in a water cooled one? The engine is jammed in there. |
To answer the original question. I have 3 systems, I think I have spent about 40k over the course of 20 years. - I still use my original system. All parts were bought used. Paradigm signature s8, parasound monoblocks + jc2
- My new system is kef ls50 + parasound hint 6 + M&K subwoofer
- My third system that I am working on building is Rotel Michi S5 + P5 which will be paired with Gershman Studio 2.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to save 30% of my yearly salary. I have no medical expenses, and our family is just me and my wife. I do own a house, but don’t buy super fancy cars. I do own 2 motorcycles. I am able to save money because we don’t have kids but I do support my parents financially and in any other way I can because they helped me save quite a bit when I was in college and because they are straight up best human beings I know of. The beauty of audiogear is that even if it’s old it can sound great for many years, so if I have something that sounds great why replace it? I plan to keep my three systems for at least next 10 years unless something fails. I don’t like to replace components just because new one is available. Before my kef ls50 meta I was using the original ones for 6 years until my nephew decided to poke the shiny golden driver 😭 |
To answer the original question. I have 3 systems,
Good story.... My best to you and respects... |
I don't mean to be unfriendly but your question strikes me as kind of.. odd. Would you approach a stranger and ask how they manage to afford their boat/car/vacation house/Rolex/kid's private schooling, etc ? That's not generally considered polite behavior in this culture.
If you are feeling frustrated about the "high cost of audio", I can sympathize, up to a point. Steve Guttenberg, for one, has posted multiple videos about low-cost systems on his Daily Audiophiliac Show on YouTube. Needless to say, you can always buy used/demo gear.
Over twenty years, I've slowly upgraded to the point where I've got about 25K invested, including cabling and tweaks. I have friends with much, much more expensive systems and yes, their systems sound good but only "different"-- not "better" than mine-- to my ears. Spending a lot of cash is no guarantee of ending up with a system that pleases you. You need to learn to listen and discover which factors of msuic reproduction are most important to you.
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I have friends with much, much more expensive systems and yes, their systems sound good but only "different"-- not "better" than mine-- to my ears. Spending a lot of cash is no guarantee of ending up with a system that pleases you.
Very good remarks... Most people think that this is money which give S.Q. Up to a limit yes... But at any price it is acoustic control of the room the greatest luxury... My 500 bucks system is one of the best there is for his ratio S.Q. /price, thanks to basic psychoacoustic laws.... |
The interesting things about members and their systems is it seems folks enjoy their systems...and isn't that the point?
Whether you have a $10k system or you received a stereo from a friend or family member that upgraded their system does it really matter?
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@mrklas:
"...it seems folks enjoy their systems...and isn't that the point?"
I sure hope so!
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I am amazed at the number of people I hear about on this site that have $100K invested in their current system (not including losses taken on past gear traded in) and how many are just counting one system that they use and not multiple components they switch in and out.
I would think that most $100K systems are bought by multimillionaires/billionaires who don’t spend a lot of time evaluating, thinking about or listening to their systems as they may be in a 2nd or 3rd house. They probably have a designer type making the decisions for them, and I would be shocked to see them posting on this site.
Please prove me wrong so I know that the equipment is being enjoyed. I hate wasting anything and not using something that a creator/designer of components is a waste. Just like cars that never get driven and are held for investments. Dr. Porsche and Mr. Ferrari would be turning over in their graves. |
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@sokogear why would you think a millionaire or billionaire doesn’t evaluate the usage of their money?
$100,000 invested typically doubles every 10-12 years. There’s always an opportunity cost for money. |
@sokogear I would think that most $100K systems are bought by multimillionaires/billionaires who don’t spend a lot of time evaluating, thinking about or listening to their systems as they may be in a 2nd or 3rd house. They probably have a designer type making the decisions for them, and I would be shocked to see them posting on this site.
Please prove me wrong so I know that the equipment is being enjoyed. not to be argumentative, but you are wrong - i am proof of that, i am not a billionaire (not even close) but i have done quite well in life moneywise not all folks who have wealth were born rich or hit the lottery, and then outsource purchase decisions to hired hands (not even most) in fact most of the wealthy people i know are that way because they are normal people, sensible, value conscious, care about what they buy, thoughtful throughout their lives about managing finances and assets (not to mention other life decisions) - when you have spent a major chunk of time and energy in your life earning/accumulating the wealth you have, you usually don’t stop caring about how it is used |
I didn't say all $100K+ systems owners are like that @jss49, (I know @millercarbon looks at every possible component and tweak and @mikelavigne is about as committed as anyone in looking at all his options) ) I'm thinking of the proliferation of the "smart home" places, which is what the only stereo store left in Southern New Jersey turned into and how audio is an after thought. https://hifisales.com/They make the majority of their money through installations, home theater set ups, and people throw big money at their "designers" who handle lighting, window shades, security, furniture, even renovations, etc. Also, not to be sexist, but the vast majority of audiophiles are not women, and they handle these types of decisions many times. (I know there are a few women on Audiogon, but please don't hang me.) The store's only person who knew anything about turntables quit after the store transitioned. They have a right to make money of course, but even Best Buy'a high end section Magnolia, makes more off the "services", except setting up turntables! I guess I am wrong about the only store selling stereo being gone in my area since Best Buy does sell McIntosh, B&W, KEF and other brands that have the ability to stock all these stores (probably not getting paid for the demo equipment up front that smaller manufacturers could not afford) that are in a small subset of Best Buys located well, demographically speaking. And some of these people don't care about $100K spent or how much they could make on that investment, they have more money than they can ever spend (not investing). And they don't have the time or interest in learning the details. Remember Tony Soprano on the Soprano's listening to Clapton in a memorable scene in his basement saying it sounds like Clapton is playing in the room? Doubt he knew what a preamp is. Any other $100Kers out there invested in ONE system, preferably using a turntable a good amount of the time, that are not in the stereo business or have the equipment left over after working in the business? Also, I am not talking about $100K list price, actual $100K invested in components and tweaks, cables, etc. That $100K system could easily translate into a $50K system (which is still more than I'd consider, but it's a different story) out of pocket on the current inventory. As a music and audio enthusiast, I just can't see how a system can be worth that much as part of a room where other activities take place, not a dedicated listening room (not counting part of the $100K invested in video equipment and furnture,etc.). |
