Natalie Stratos
My Targa is still being looked after at the garage so there was no driving around London over the festive period. Instead of taking the roof down and getting my beautiful tree in the back of the Porsche as I do traditionally every year, I had it delivered. Unlike
Keanu Reeves, who strapped a tree to his Porsche Carrera 4’s roof with string.
The actor was slated by Porsche enthusiasts, but I love that he did that. A car can be beautiful if imperfect and also needs to be practical, in my mind. I’ve moved home in my childless years and managed it with all my stuff in the Targa (with the roof off). I’ve delivered the weekly stock of clothes for my shop in Selfridges stacked high, I’ve dropped off building equipment for my brother’s company, and of course an array of dogs for my dog business have been ferried around in the Targa. I would always encourage a convertible Porsche for any prospective buyer, even if the older models leak. The break in the line of the side-profile of my Targa is more beautiful with the targa roof incorporated.
I contracted Covid mid-december so managed to watch all of Netflix. I was enjoying Yellowjackets, but when I saw that Juliette Lewis’s character drove a Porsche I enjoyed it even more. When she opens the boot to produce a rifle it still impresses that there’s no engine at the front of the car. It still surprises people when I load shopping in it. One of the reasons I loved Californication…
David Duchovny drove a Porsche that was always dirty and slightly bashed-up, just like mine. It gave the car so much more individual character, but I guess for Porsche lovers it would be a disgrace.
So what car to drive while mine was still in car hospital? My friend has a Ferrari 2012 California and let me drive that around town with her by my side at first. Then she let me loose in it. It’s such a different beast to my manual Targa.
For a start it’s longer and not as nippy as the 911. In my Targa I can manoeuvre in London traffic with ease. The Ferrari is more of a cruiser in my hands. Maybe I’m just more nervous of pranging it. Her Ferrari and my Porsche have taken many trips together, vying for attention. I’m biased, but I think my car gets way more love and appreciation. However, they do make a beautiful couple.
Hopefully, I’ll soon get back behind the wheels of my beauty of a Targa 911.