Eleven After Nine | A Porsche Culture Podcast

Want to get into air-cooled cars without spending Porsche money? Maybe the answer has been sitting right in front of us all along.

My guest today is Eva Gregory, Senior Manager of Marketing Partnerships at Hagerty, former Director of Operations at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, and host of the Be Differential podcast.

Eva's journey into classic cars started with a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle that she bought to replace her daily driver. Was it a sensible financial decision? Absolutely not. But it became the car that taught her how to turn a wrench, diagnose problems, borrow tools, and eventually replace an entire engine after a friend ignored the oil warning light and seized it.

We also get into her Karmann Ghia, a car she compares surprisingly closely to the Porsche 356 driving experience. Having owned a 356 myself, along with a rather questionable $500 Porsche 914 project, and still driving my 1972 911T, I had plenty to contribute to the discussion.

But this episode isn't just about old Volkswagens and Porsches.

We talk about why classic cars get under your skin, whether learning to work on them makes ownership more affordable, and why some of our most miserable automotive experiences become our favorite stories.

Eva also shares her perspective on making car culture more welcoming, how motorsport audiences are changing, what Formula 1's Drive to Survive got right, why IMSA offers such incredible fan access, and what her work at Hagerty has taught her about the enthusiast community.

And of course, I ask Eva which Porsche she'd keep if she could own only one for the rest of her life.
If you've ever fallen in love with an old car that made absolutely no financial sense, this episode is for you.

CONNECT WITH EVA GREGORY & BE DIFFERENTIAL

Website:
https://www.bedifferentialpodcast.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@BeDifferentialPodcast
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bedifferentialpodcast/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-differential/id1734341743

CONNECT WITH ELEVENAFTERNINE

Website & Porsche Buyer Consulting:
https://www.elevenafternine.com/
Main YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNine
Podcast YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNinePodcast
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theelevenafternine/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eleven-after-nine-a-porsche-culture-podcast/id1887344928
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0fpVL61pWEZDkaygT7cGZh
All Podcast Episodes:
https://shows.acast.com/eleven-after-nine/episodes
CONTACT
11afternine@gmail.com

QUESTION FOR YOU
Would you rather own an affordable air-cooled Volkswagen you can work on yourself, or save up for the Porsche you've always wanted? And if you've owned both, how different were the experiences?
Let me know in the comments. I read them!

If you enjoy conversations like this, please subscribe to ElevenAfterNine and give the episode a thumbs-up. It genuinely helps the channel.

ElevenAfterNine is an independent enthusiast podcast and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
#Porsche #AirCooled #Volkswagen #ClassicCars #ElevenAfterNine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is a Porsche really worth the money compared to the alternatives? And when is it not?

I sat down with Paul Schmucker and Todd Deeken of Everyday Driver to tackle a question Porsche enthusiasts don't always like asking: Are we actually getting more enjoyment when we spend more money?

Paul and Todd have spent nearly two decades driving, comparing, and reviewing everything from Porsches and Corvettes to BMWs and Lotuses. They're also the guys behind one of my favorite automotive YouTube channels, the Everyday Driver Car Debate podcast, and some fantastic automotive films.

We start with Paul's first real sports car, a 1988 Porsche 928 S4, and work our way through the Porsche ownership experience, including why the cheapest or least powerful car might actually be the most fun.

We also get into Porsche's rising prices, the obsession with horsepower, why people are afraid to put miles on their cars, and whether some of the alternatives offer a better driving experience for the money.

IN THIS EPISODE
Paul's Porsche 928 S4 and the car that started it all
Why Porsche prices are getting harder to justify
Are base Porsches actually the smarter choice?
The case for driving your Porsche instead of protecting its resale value
Track days, Hooked on Driving, Watkins Glen, and Palmer Motorsports Park
Cayman, Boxster, GT4, and the appeal of mid-engine Porsches
Porsche versus Corvette and other alternatives
How much horsepower do you actually need?
Finding a great driver's car for around $40,000
Todd's experience owning a Porsche Cayenne
Which Porsche would Paul and Todd keep?
Their experience driving the legendary Porsche 959

Paul and Todd have driven more cars than most of us will ever get near, and I appreciated how willing they were to challenge the idea that more expensive automatically means better.

CONNECT WITH EVERYDAY DRIVER
Website: https://www.everydaydriver.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EverydayDriver
The Car Debate Podcast: https://www.everydaydriver.com/
Hooked on Driving: https://www.hookedondriving.com/

CONNECT WITH ELEVENAFTERNINE
Website & Porsche Consulting: https://www.elevenafternine.com/
Main YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNine
Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNinePodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theelevenafternine/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eleven-after-nine-a-porsche-culture-podcast/id1887344928
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fpVL61pWEZDkaygT7cGZh
Podcast Episodes: https://shows.acast.com/eleven-after-nine/episodes

CONTACT
11afternine@gmail.com

QUESTION FOR YOU

What's the most fun you've ever had in a car, and was it actually an expensive one? Would you rather have a base Porsche you can drive everywhere or a high-spec car you feel obligated to preserve?

Let me know in the comments. I read them!

If you enjoy conversations like this, please subscribe to ElevenAfterNine and give the episode a thumbs-up. It genuinely helps the channel.

ElevenAfterNine is an independent enthusiast podcast and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
#Porsche #EverydayDriver #ElevenAfterNine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You just bought your dream Porsche. You got a great deal, arranged transportation, and now you're waiting for it to arrive.

But do you actually know who's transporting your car?

And what happens if it never shows up?

I've shipped quite a few Porsches over the years, but there's a lot about the transportation business I've never fully understood. Why can two companies quote thousands of dollars apart for the exact same trip? Is enclosed transportation always better? What happens if your car gets damaged?
And how do you know the company you're hiring is legitimate?

To get some answers, I sat down with Corey Fay of AVI Transportation, who specializes in transporting high-end, exotic, and collector cars.
Corey has moved everything from Porsche GT3 RS models and Lamborghinis to a Formula One car driven by Carlos Sainz. He's also witnessed some pretty unsettling things happening in the transportation industry.

We discuss brokers versus actual carriers, why the cheapest shipping quote might be a terrible idea, how to verify a transporter's insurance, and why allowing a dealership to arrange shipping can sometimes create problems.

Then we get into the really disturbing stuff: fraudulent transportation companies, cars disappearing, and a GT3 RS that suffered extensive damage during a routine tow.
This conversation changed how I'll approach shipping a Porsche in the future.

IN THIS EPISODE
• Open vs. enclosed Porsche transportation
• Soft-sided vs. hard-sided enclosed trailers
• Brokers vs. carriers and why the difference matters
• Why shipping quotes vary by thousands of dollars
• How to verify a transporter's credentials and insurance
• The risks of dealership-arranged transportation
• What to inspect when your Porsche arrives
• How car shipping scams work
• Why expensive cars sometimes disappear
• The GT3 RS towing disaster
• Why every Porsche owner needs a trusted transporter
• The Formula One car Corey transported
• The one Porsche Corey would keep forever

GUEST: COREY FAY
AVI Transportation
IG: @boston_transporter
Corey@aviboston.com
Phone: 617-928-1188

ELEVENAFTERNINE
Website & Porsche Consulting:
ElevenAfterNine.com
YouTube:
ElevenAfterNine
Instagram:
Instagram
Apple Podcasts:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify:
Spotify
CONTACT
11afternine@gmail.com
ElevenAfterNine is an independent enthusiast podcast and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Porsche should you actually buy for the money?

It’s probably the question I get asked more than any other. Do you buy a Boxster or Cayman? Stretch for a 911? Go older? Newer? And at what point does spending more money actually get you a better Porsche?

To help answer it, I sat down with James Martin of JayEmm on Cars. James has driven an absurd number of cars over the years, from cheap sports cars to some of the most expensive and desirable Porsches ever made.

We start with a simple budget and work our way up.

James thinks Porsche owners can get caught in a constant search for the “better” car, when the cheaper car sitting next to it might actually be more fun. We talk about why the 986 Boxster may finally be having its moment, why good examples are disappearing, the Porsches enthusiasts unfairly look down on, and why some expensive modern Porsches simply don't work as well on the road.

We also get into the 944, 968 and 928, Porsche gatekeeping, manual vs PDK, the Panamera Turbo that disappointed both of us, the GT4 RS, 911 S/T, and why James believes the right Porsche is ultimately the one that makes you want to drive it.

IN THIS EPISODE
• The best Porsche around $20,000
• 986 Boxster vs 987 Boxster
• Why cheap 986s may not stay cheap forever
• The best choices around $50,000
• Cayman R, 997.1 and Porsche 968
• Why James recommends the 991.1 GT3 at a higher budget
• Manual vs PDK
• Why the 911 S/T works, and where it doesn't
• The Porsche James says disappointed him most
• Why both of us were underwhelmed by the first-generation Panamera Turbo
• Why the Porsche 928 surprised James
• The forgotten 944, 968 and transaxle Porsches
• Why James doesn't love the Cayman GT4 RS
• Why expensive doesn't always mean better
• Porsche gatekeeping and the “wrong” Porsche
• Why the car you actually want may be the one you should buy

JAYEMM ON CARS
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@JayEmmOnCars

ELEVENAFTERNINE
Website & Porsche Consulting:
https://www.elevenafternine.com/
Main YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNine
Podcast YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNinePodcast
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theelevenafternine/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eleven-after-nine-a-porsche-culture-podcast/id1887344928
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0fpVL61pWEZDkaygT7cGZh
Contact:
11afternine@gmail.com

Buying a Porsche and want a second opinion before you wire the money? One-on-one Porsche buyer consulting is available at www.ElevenAfterNine.com.

QUESTION FOR YOU
If you had $50,000 to spend on one Porsche today, what would you buy?

00:00 What Porsche Should You Actually Buy?
01:08 Buy the Porsche You Actually Want
03:14 Why a Cheap Boxster Can Be Enough
05:14 Are Porsche Owners Always Chasing Something Better?
08:00 Porsche Gatekeeping and the “Wrong” Porsche
10:57 Which Unloved Porsche Will Be Next?
15:11 Why the 986 Boxster Is Finally Having Its Moment
19:11 The Problem With Classic Car Values
21:16 Buy the Car You Always Promised Yourself
25:07 Best Porsche Under $20,000
27:32 986 vs. 987 Boxster
29:01 Have Modern Porsches Become Too Refined?
30:36 Best Porsche Around $50,000
34:06 The Forgotten Porsche 968
35:15 Best Porsche Around $135,000
36:30 Why the 991.1 GT3 Is Still a Great Buy
38:13 Manual vs. PDK
40:08 What James Really Thinks of the 911 S/T
41:27 911 S/T vs. a Cheap Boxster
43:35 The Porsche James Says to Avoid
46:54 Why the Panamera Turbo Disappointed Both of Us
50:36 What Makes Porsche Different?
54:29 The Forgotten Transaxle Porsches
55:07 944, 968 and 928
58:12 Porsche Model Numbers Make No Sense
1:02:08 Why the 944 Still Matters
1:04:16 Why Younger Enthusiasts Love Pop-Up Headlights
1:08:00 Why James Doesn't Love the GT4 RS
1:10:51 Derek's Disastrous First Day With a 944
1:13:48 Bringing JayEmm to Drive New England
1:14:30 The Most Overrated Driving Road in America?

ElevenAfterNine is an independent enthusiast podcast and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a Porsche worth keeping for the rest of your life?

Patrick Long has raced some of the fastest and most important Porsches ever built. Jeff Zwart has spent decades racing, photographing, filming and living with them. Yet when I asked each of them to choose just one Porsche for the rest of their lives, neither chose the fastest car.

We talk about why older, slower cars can sometimes deliver more of a driving experience, whether you can modify an air-cooled Porsche until you remove what made it special, why Jeff still drives his cars through snow, and how a Porsche becomes a keeper.

We also spend plenty of time talking about Luftgekühlt!

With Luft 12 coming to Town at Trilith outside Atlanta on October 10, Patrick and Jeff take us behind the scenes of how they choose the cars, why the venue matters so much, what makes a Porsche “Luft-worthy,” and why a beat-up old 912 with a great story can sometimes be more interesting than a priceless museum piece.
And Jeff explains why, after 53 years together, his Porsche 914-6 would still be the one car he keeps.

And for anyone heading to Luftgekühlt 12 in Atlanta on October 10, let me know. After this conversation with Patrick and Jeff, I moved a few things around and I’m planning to make the trip down as well.

LUFTGEKÜHLT 12
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Town at Trilith
Fayetteville, Georgia
Tickets & Event Information:
https://luftgekuhlt.com/pages/luft-12

Luftgekühlt:
https://luftgekuhlt.com/

FOLLOW PATRICK LONG
Website:
https://patricklong.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/plmotorsport/

FOLLOW JEFF ZWART
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/zwart/

FOLLOW ELEVENAFTERNINE
Website & Porsche Consulting:
https://www.elevenafternine.com/
Main YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNine
Podcast YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ElevenAfterNinePodcast
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theelevenafternine/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eleven-after-nine-a-porsche-culture-podcast/id1887344928
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0fpVL61pWEZDkaygT7cGZh
Contact:
11afternine@gmail.com

CHAPTERS
00:00 What Makes a Porsche Worth Keeping?
02:13 Does Driving Great Cars Change What You Value?
05:30 Why Older Porsches Feel Different
06:28 What Makes a Porsche “Luft-Worthy”?
09:02 How Luftgekühlt Chooses Its Cars
11:40 Why Luft Is More Than a Car Show
12:26 The Cars Outside Luft Can Be Just as Good
15:38 Air-Cooled vs. Water-Cooled Porsche
16:08 How Jeff Zwart Designs a Luft Venue
17:39 What You Should Look For at Luft 12
20:39 What Luft 12 Is Celebrating
21:34 Can Luft Get Too Big?
24:37 Why Patrick and Jeff Stay Approachable
25:48 Jeff Zwart's 53-Year Porsche 914-6
27:28 Can You Modify an Old Porsche Too Much?
30:32 Can a Restoration Remove a Porsche's Character?
33:57 What Makes a Porsche a Keeper?
34:26 Why Jeff Drives His Porsches in the Snow
36:37 The Problem With Saving Cars Instead of Driving Them
38:02 Does a Porsche Factory Racer Still Want to Drive Fast?
41:16 One Porsche for the Rest of Your Life
41:28 Jeff Zwart Chooses His 914-6
42:37 Patrick Long Chooses His One Porsche
44:26 Patrick's Case for Air-Cooled Porsche
46:08 Luft 12 and One Final Thought
46:45 “How Did the Car Make You Feel?”

Buying a Porsche and want a second opinion before you wire the money? One-on-one Porsche buyer consulting is available at ElevenAfterNine.com.

ElevenAfterNine is an independent enthusiast podcast and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.