{"id":135449,"date":"2019-09-29T12:30:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T16:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.automoblog.com\/\/?p=135449"},"modified":"2023-06-23T18:45:40","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T22:45:40","slug":"porsche-911-practically-free-supercar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.automoblog.com\/porsche-911-practically-free-supercar\/","title":{"rendered":"Automoblog Book Garage: Porsche 911; The Practically Free Supercar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Affiliate Disclosure:<\/em><\/strong> As an Amazon Associate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases, including the book featured here.\u00a0<\/em>Our\u00a0Book Garage series<\/a> showcases what every enthusiast should add to their library<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here’s a wonderful little book that’s a bit of a throwback. Porsche 911; The Practically Free Supercar<\/em> was written and self-published by a Scottish fellow by the name of Robert McGowan. The book is, in addition to being a rather enjoyable read and a good source of Porsche information, a true\u00a0buyer’s guide.<\/p>\n

Up until the late 90s or so, car-buying guides were pretty ubiquitous things. Now, 99 percent of that info can be found on the internet – especially in marque-specific forums – but that didn’t stop Mr. McGowan.<\/p>\n

And we’re all the better for it.<\/p>\n

The full title of the book is Porsche 911; The Practically Free Supercar – The beginner\u2019s guide to the smartest route into Porsche ownership. <\/em>And it’s clear from the onset McGowan is of the Porsche faithful.<\/p>\n

Setting The Stage<\/h2>\n

The first paragraph states: “The Porsche 911 is the best-selling and most iconic sports car in history. Some say it is the greatest sports car of all time. Whatever your view, one thing is undeniable. The 911 is truly special.”<\/p>\n

Verily, that is written like one of the anointed, from the lips and soul of a True Believer. The only problem is how gearheads like this can literally be true believers about any <\/em>car. I once ran into an older guy at a breakfast place years ago who told me, with a straight face, the Studebaker Avanti was clearly a better performance car than a Lamborghini Countach. This is the problem with True Believers. Logic does not apply. For them, this is a matter of faith.<\/p>\n

For us gearheads, at least McGowan picked a good car. Although the 911 has its faults, it didn’t make it this far only because of its fan base. McGowan\u2019s task is pretty simple: Convert you. Well, actually, he has three tasks: convert you, inform you, and entertain you. He does all three equally well. When it comes to 911s, it doesn\u2019t take much to covert a person. One ride is usually enough.<\/p>\n

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In his book, McGowan provides a real-world account of owning three different Porsche cars. Photo: Robert McGowan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking For Your Dream Porsche 911? McGowan Can Help<\/h2>\n

So, you come to this book because you’re in the market for a Porsche 911. Does it help? Oh yes, very much so! In addition to giving a well-written introduction of Porsche – both the men with the name and the cars – McGowan first gives you a primer on choosing the right type of 911; and then breaks down specific model types and special editions. He even takes time to give a brief once-over to Boxsters, Caymans, 914s, and 924\/944s.<\/p>\n

The meat of the book is found in the sections where he guides you through finding the best value in a 911, various trouble spots with specific models, the buying and selling process, running costs, and the investment potential.<\/p>\n