In love with the 996.

We at Elferspot Magazine are constantly looking for exciting vehicles and their history behind them. Of course, we are particularly interested in the people who, driven by love and passion, turn these cars into special vehicles. This time we were allowed to talk to Nicholas from San Francisco, who owns a lovely Porsche 996 Carrera 4S.

Hi Nicholas! Thank you for taking time for Elferspot magazine. We met through Instagram and if I interpret your profile correctly, then you are a big fan of the Porsche 996 Carrera 4S. How came it?

I’ve always been a fanatic about the entire Porsche brand, but it was always elusive to me. I live in San Francisco, which means it’s very difficult to own a car if you don’t have a garage. San Francisco is also a very expensive city to live in, which made It hard to justify buying a Porsche and parking it on the street. I started getting serious about buying my first Porsche about 5 years ago. At that time, everything was out of reach financially, with the exception of the 996. This car would be my second car parked on the street so I didn’t want anything too precious. I did a lot of digging and came across the 996 4s, which I immediately fell in love with. It had a wide stance in the rear and the lines were super clean. It was also an incredible value, which allowed me to let go a little bit and really enjoy pouring lot of miles on! It also let me get comfortable parking on the street.

I did a lot of digging and came across the 996 4S, which I immediately fell in love with.

What else can you tell us about you as a person?

I’m a designer by training. I practiced architecture for many years, then went on to design furniture. After being in furniture for about a year, the owner of the company asked me to run the show. I stepped up and rocked out for about two years. After I completed my largest project at that business, I rewarded myself with a Porsche Carrera 4s. The client that I was working with had a 4s…I knew at that point I was on the right path. That was about 2015. Since then, I started a new role at Adobe, got married, had a son, and remodeled a new apartment for my little family. I’m now a very proud Papa and husband. Oh, and I also scored a garage for the Porsche!

Thus, the 996 is your first Porsche, right?

Yes, this is my first Porsche.

The 996 is very polarizing car. Why do you think Porsche people are so divided?

I think any significant change can be polarizing. I experience this every day in my work, so I completely understand why some may be opposed to the departure from the earlier generations to the 996. A fundamental design change was made to the heart of this machine going from air cooled to water cooled, that’s number one. Number two, the 911 was no longer this exclusive machine with dedicated parts. The 996 shared many parts with it’s little, less expensive brother, the Boxster. That move actually saved Porsche as a company by the way. Porsche found what some people in my company call “a synergistic opportunity to scale”. I’m not corporate at all…this line just cracks me up and I use it every chance I get!

Porsche found what some people in my company call “a synergistic opportunity to scale”. I’m not corporate at all…this line just cracks me up and I use it every chance I get!

I do have a baby seat in the Porsche and will take my son with me on shorter drives. I’d like to think I get ‘cool Dad’ points for that one.

How often do you get out for a ride?

It’s tough to find time to drive these days, but it’s a priority since it’s the only time I truly have to myself. I do long drives up and down the coast about twice a month. I commute from San Francisco to San Jose once a week, every now and then I’ll take the Porsche. Most of the time I’m in our Volvo SUV. I pick up and drop off my 10 month old boy at daycare…the Volvo is better at that than the Porsche. I do have a baby seat in the Porsche and will take my son with me on shorter drives. I’d like to think I get ‘cool Dad’ points for that one.

What about your family? Do they like your cars as well?

Yes, my family loves cars! I’m the only Porsche owner though. I hope to get my son in karting when he gets a bit older. I look forward to learning all about engines with him! I think that will be a very unique skill by the time he can pick up a wrench. I don’t think there will be too many combustion engines on the road in California in the future. I’m hoping to hang on to this particular car long enough to pass down to him….probably when he turns 35.

I don’t think there will be too many combustion engines on the road in California in the future.

If you could choose another 911 right now, which one would you take?

Wow, tough question! I’m intrigued by the new GT2 RS. That thing is a monster! The only problem is that there’s no seat in the back for my son Nico, but I think we could figure something out.

Many thanks, Nicholas. It was a pleasure speaking to you.

Pictures: Nicholas V. Ruiz
Interview: Markus Klimesch

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