Destiny Calls
DESTINY CALLS
Words by Marco Rallo
In the end we always end up where we started. There is no way out, we can delay everything because we want to, try in every way to convince us otherwise, but it is as true as the Earth is not flat, that we always end up where our heart wants to go. It is so with women and so it is with cars (passion just as rewarding as slightly less expensive – let me say that). And so it was for our friend Luca (already on Auto Class’ pages on two other occasions), when at the end of last year he has brought home – literally – another Porsche. This time, however, has opted for something very special, a passionate and a connoisseur’s choice. A model that to many might seem anything but special and a color far from what you define a classic Porsche one.
His new toy is a 996 Carrera 4 S in”Indian Red” (if I remember correctly) and when I meant to say that he “brought it home”, I said it because from Bologna he went to pick it up in Valencia, Spain. Probably the previous owner was tired of being targeted by local bulls and has thus preferred to pass the torch to a guy that has already had a handful of Porsches in the not so distant past, even a 996 C4S. This specimen, spotless and with a few kilometers on the instrument, however, is special for a number of reasons, first of all the fact to be equipped with the official upgrade kit called X51. Purists know exactly what I’m talking ‘bout, while for others it might seem a simple code, but basically it is an upgrade that the maker offered to a certain number of models, and that, among other things, guaranteed a total power output of 345hp (+20 compared to the standard version). A surplus you would have paid rather expensive on the price list and that in the second hand market can guarantee to raise your voice and ask, if desired, a few Euros more. With this I do not intend suggesting Luca to sell it before Christmas, especially for the fact that he knows what has in his hands – a treasure tested as soon as he took the key and has traveled for about 1400km to get home, with some fellow travel companions, who have had the pleasure to share with him this magic moment.
The return trip, never as in this case, stipulates a real bond, an affinity test, the best way to get intimate with his car, in this case just purchased. To welcome a new member of the family is always special and so imagine how it could have been to have the excuse to spend two full days with it, discovering the peculiarities and enjoying the innate versatility of one of the most successful models around. The 911 is unmistakable and like a beautiful woman you can’t help but fall in love with its back – after all, it’s also the part that Luca prefers the most. Curvy, with soft lines and transmitting to you all its sportiness, however, remembering that it is perfectly capable of attacking a mountain road, just as to be a perfect cruiser for the French Riviera, or even juggling pretty easily in city traffic. Then I am thinking about the choice of the color: certainly red plays a perfect pair with Ferrari, but how do you see a red Porsche? A risky choice, a lone voice, a strong and safe response that makes it clear that this Carrera 4 S has nothing to explain, since it is able to demonstrate its full potential, guaranteeing excellent performance while remaining within the reach to the less experienced drivers. A naturally aspirated 3.6cc located over the rear axle will always be a reason for joy and entertainment for its lucky owner. A 911 will always be able to find its ideal keeper, maybe hundreds of kilometers away, but you can be sure that sooner or later will find it. Because it’s all about dialogue, feedback, imprinting. It’s all a matter of destiny, and in the end, it was all about another Porsche entering Luca’s garage.