Like many others - and yes, I am vacuous - anyone who claims otherwise is, is, is.........even more vacuous ! - I just got the 911 itch to scratch, and after a bit of round-the-houses, I got a really, really nice 87 one.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~moylan/my911.jpg
First thing: no of owners. It's a fact of life, especially here, that if you buy one, and don't use it, you'll suffer the Mother & Father of buyer's remorse. Likewise if you do use it, but just not enough. So, they do change ownership a lot. Mine had, iirc, 10 owners. It mattered not a jot - the car was good, and passed scrutiny by two different Porsche afficienado's, so it didn't bother me, and I became owner 11. Didn't bother the next guy, either, and he became no 12, about 14 mths later........
The cars can be reasonably bought, insurance is not too painful (so long as it's not a very recent one.....), but I have to say, the annual car tax, at Eur1343, is a major, major, bummer. I'd much prefer to put 1343 p.a. into the car, rather than the exchequer, every year. Or most of it, anyway. So, every week, without so much as sitting in it, you'll be coughing up Eur26 every week to Brian Cowen. In my case, it also works out at just under Eur1.00 a mile, as well...............
Surprisingly, the car is roomy inside, and my wife and I could bring our two kids. Not so cute, however, was the fact that it had no power steering, and I wasn't enamoured with the clutch, either. But, as they say, 'they're all like that'.........with 3.2l out the back though, you won't be changing gear all that often.
In the end, I sold it, reluctantly, as it had a repair bill coming up that I just couldn't justify, so I passed that on as discount to the next guy who did spend the money on it, and he ended up with a very, very good car. I still miss it, and will go back and try another one again, but a bit newer this time. Yes, the electrics are a bit, mmmm, 'eccentric' ?, but contrary to popular opinion, mine had a very good heater, and the car was enjoyable. There's something special about a car that could just make you go out in the drive and look at it..............probably too many past memories of Billy Coleman etc..etc...
And the noise. Ah yes, it's only in recent years that the likes of Aston etc have re-engineered sound as a component in the car experience, and in a 911, you're getting the Original of the Species.