One of 21 Meteor Grey Metallic 6 speed GTS cabriolets delivered in the US. www.GTSence.com/blog @GTSence I’ve been a car guy for as long as I can remember; Hot Wheels, Revell models, all the usual fixes. A taproot car for me was a 1999 Miata that I purchased new. Though it wasn’t my first car purchase, it was the first time that I could afford to buy what I wanted. It was a sport spec with the Bilsteins, strut tower brace, and other sport bits included from the factory. I still remember it as one of the best cars that I’ve owned. I wrenched on that car because I wanted to learn, and because I couldn’t afford to buy the upgrades plus pay someone to install them. One of my mods was an oil filter relocation kit. It moved the filter to the firewall, so it was easier to access. Well, one day the kit failed. The engine lost oil pressure and was damaged. In a move I still regret, I decided to sell the car. It was 2006. Though I liked the Miata, I wanted something upmarket with more power. I cross-shopped the Boxster and the S2000. I took the lower cost choice and drove the Honda until I traded it for the 997 GTS. The next part of this backstory behind buying my 997 GTS Porsche must be one of the longest sales cycles in history. When I drove the Boxster in 2006, the Porsche salesman was really a great guy. He spent the time sharing his knowledge of the brand and treated me well even though it was clear the Boxster was likely a stretch. He actually referred me to his friend at a Honda dealership who sold me the S2000. By 2013 I was ready for a Porsche. I drove to the dealership, walked up the receptionist, and asked if Richard happened to still work there. He did. We picked up right where we had left off 7 years earlier. He asked if I’d ever driven a 911, grabbed a set of keys, and off we went in a black, 997 Carrera Cabriolet. I knew in less than a mile that I wanted one. Being an astute salesman, Richard nudged me towards the 997 GTS that I now own. As they say, the rest is history. It’s hard to image parting with the 997. It was my first Porsche. It was the first car each of my kids drove when they earned their learner’s permit. Though I admittedly prefer the flyline of a coupe, the cabriolet is especially nice for the exhaust noises and the openness of the cabin.