We went out looking at a sports car, but on the way home came up with other ideas.
I had an absolutely excellent trip to Zealand a couple of weeks ago: We were four grown up men on tour in my Mercedes S-class, basically going out to look at a sports car. Yes, I might as well say it: The sports car was a Porsche 911. The travel team consisted of four of the same five friends who are going on holiday in the Alps together this summer, and as a matter of fact we have all our car needs covered, thank you. Who’s counting, but I’d say between us we have at least 15 classic cars and basically all of us have chosen our steed for the Alps in five months time.
Nevertheless, two out of the four dream of a Porsche 911, and I myself have no doubt that I will have to have one too, eventually. The big question is, in fact, shouldn’t all car enthusiasts? I honestly think so, but I had actually made up my mind that for my part now is not the right time. So I do not count myself on the team of the two 911-dreamers – that is, until the idea of a shared 911 arose. You know how men driving and talking sometimes get great ideas, right? This one was particularly good: I promised myself not to have a 911 just now – but if we shared one I could keep my promise and still have a 911, for example a third of one. A completely different situation, that, and one I could really see myself in.
And that’s how the conversation went on merrily, obviously mostly about cars and since that topic is inexhaustible and we agree on many things but still disagree on many others, we were not finished with the conversation at all when we arrived at our destination. Absolutely fresh from the relaxed comfort of the trip, the sort of which is exactly what the S-Class was built for those 35 years ago. After a few hundred kilometers, despite a stubborn air conditioning system, I also managed to find a proper temperature in the S-Class, and I was not the only one happy with the trip as my passengers were also praising the comfort, quietness and not least magnificent space on the back seat of the S-Class. It really does drive supremely comfortably considering its age. Or because of it.
But let us not forget that we were there to look at that sports car. And test drive it. Interrogate the dealer about it. Who on his own initiative asked more about the S-Class, which I had parked right in front of the showroom, where it actually looked pretty lovely. So far so good. But after having examined the 911 with everyone crawling under, over and next to it, it was obvious that the car was certainly not without its flaws. For the price we did not expect that either – but you could probably find one in slightly better condition for the same money. As there were and are several 911s on the market to be inspected we got back into the comfort of the S-Class with an unresolved 911 case.
Here the talk went on again, and it could have lasted for a very, very long time, simply because the 911-topic is so multifaceted and the opportunities so many. But then at one point someone said that it had actually been a mighty nice trip, well helped by the S-Class’s comfort, so how about we found a limousine as a car to share – which we could then use when we went out to look at 911’s or even other cars?
Admittedly I can see now I write these words just as they were spoken that it does it sound completely over the top with a car dedicated to the purpose of driving to see other cars. But actually, in the very positive atmosphere of the cosseting S-class the idea was well received and was discussed diligently for the rest of the trip. Well, it just seemed obvious right there at the moment!
It quickly became clear that deciding on such a car would not be much easier than finding the perfect Porsche 911, because there are actually a great many variations over the theme of comfortable travel limousine. The Jaguar XJ was pretty obvious, we had discussed the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud before and there are also more exotic limousines from both Maserati, De Tomaso and Lancia, if your wishes should go in that direction. Maybe a good spacious GT car could be used too, as a matter of fact? Ferrari 400-Series, Jensen Interceptor, Fiat 130 Coupé? And just for the sake of good order, we really only meant real classic cars, over 35 years old as per the Danish rules. Which still leaves a lot of possibilities.
In the days immediately after our road trip the situation can be boiled down to the following: The one who most wanted a 911 is still talking about which 911 it should be. The rest of us talk mostly about that limousine. Who comes first is a very good question.
