A Book Given to My Husband

A few years ago, I completely stopped reading books. Long ago, I was into Miyabe Miyuki and often read Ryotaro Shiba’s works, but after entering the workforce and reading business books, I found my brain getting unusually tired, and before I knew it, I drifted away from books.

Yet, ironically, I diligently write text every day on my blog. What am I, really? lol(I do like writing, though)

One day, my husband handed me a book saying, “This is interesting, give it a read.” It was a book by Kenichi Yamakawa titled “Why We Love Porsche.” It’s a well-known book among Porsche fans. My husband bought a used hardcover on Amazon, but apparently, the paperback sometimes sells for over 20,000 yen.

Actually, I had read another book by the same author titled “Why Top Men Don’t Buy Kei Cars” because the title caught my eye, but I felt it wasn’t written by a true car enthusiast, and the tone didn’t suit me, so I didn’t have a good impression of books about cars.

Seeing my lack of interest, my husband said, “Read this part, it’s a super famous phrase!” and opened the book to show me. It read:

Imagine you’re driving on the highway. It’s evening. It’s a bit crowded, but you’re in a hurry. You want to cut in over there, right? A Porsche is that kind of car. In that moment, it’s already there. Before you know it, you’re already there. That’s what this car is all about.
* From Why We Love Porsche – The Long Story of How I Got My Porsche 911

Wow… what a memorable quote…

This was said by the former racing driver and automotive journalist Arisue Tokudaiji. That phrase piqued my interest, so I decided to read the book properly later.

Why We Love the 911

“Why We Love Porsche” was first published in 1991. The author, Kenichi Yamakawa, is a Japanese writer, rock critic, and rock musician, who has also published many books related to motorcycles and cars.

Although the title is “Why We Love Porsche,” the Porsche mainly discussed in the book is the “911.” (After all, this was published before the Boxster was even released)

The book tells the story of the author’s lifelong love of cars, his determination in middle school to someday own a 911, various stories about the 911 he heard from senior enthusiasts, episodes after owning one, and the driving points and charm of the rear-engine 911.

Yamakawa-san is very knowledgeable about Porsche and the 911, but when he bought his first Porsche (a used 911), he was so careful to avoid mistakes or regrets that he spent day and night researching and thinking about the 911, becoming an expert in the process.

The content is mostly based on Yamakawa-san’s real experiences. You can vividly imagine the conversations he had with senior car enthusiasts and the feelings while driving, making it very easy to read. It feels like reliving Yamakawa-san’s life and discovering new charms of the 911.

Truly, professional writers are amazing…(Of course lol)

Also, since Yamakawa-san himself is overflowing with love for cars and Porsche (he doesn’t own a car just for fashion or status, though that’s not a bad thing), I felt very happy after finishing the book and grew to love Porsche even more.

His respectful attitude toward Ferdinand Porsche and the engineers was also admirable.

Memorable Quotes

I’ve heard many people say that “reading this book made them love Porsche or sparked their interest in Porsche,” and I totally agree. But after reading, I also had a simple question.

Many car and driving enthusiasts seem to have been motorcycle riders at some point in their youth, passionately into bikes before returning to cars later (like Yamakawa-san and my husband). Why is that? (-_-)

Anyway, setting that aside, I marked the parts of the book that especially moved me with sticky notes, and it got a bit out of hand lol.

Of course, I can’t share them all, so I’ve narrowed it down to 13 quotes (random number lol) to introduce here.

Race on Sunday, Drive on Monday

If treated carefully, the Porsche 911 is a tough and powerful car, and more than sufficient as an everyday ride. I believe the 911 is not only a sports car but also fully capable as a GT.

What current Porsche owners say unanimously was already written in this book about 30 years ago.

The Road to Becoming a Porsche Owner

Try hard to get better, practice as if you were a beginner again. Then go to Hakone. One more thing: no matter what happens, even if you get bored, you have to drive this car for at least five years. If you don’t drive it that long, you’ll never really understand the 911.

These words were said to Yamakawa-san by Arisue Tokudaiji when he showed his 911 to him after buying it.

Becoming a true Porsche owner is clearly no easy feat. And yes, you really have to go drive in Hakone lol.

Porsche Is Beautiful

The 911 looks like a jewel. Its texture is different from other cars.

Yamakawa-san felt this when looking down at a 911 from the fourth floor of an apartment or a high-rise building. Indeed, it’s hard to put into words, but the 911 is a very beautiful car from every angle—front, side, and rear.

Feeling the 911

Open the door. Get in and close the door. Then, a world of 911 unfolds before you. Even before starting the engine, it’s nowhere else but inside the 911’s space.

My husband often says similar things when getting into our air-cooled 911 (964). Yamakawa-san wrote that getting in and out of the car, especially a 911, is a very important factor.

A Sports Car That Seats Four

Some complain the rear seats are cramped, but that’s wrong. We should thank Dr. Porsche for including those small rear seats. Mid-engine sports cars only have a passenger seat, so if you have luggage, only one person can ride. Compared to that, the 911 can comfortably seat two even with some luggage.

People who complain about the rear seats… that’s exactly me. But when you think about it, having a 2+2 sports car that can carry four people is something to be grateful for.

Wearing a Porsche

I don’t know who first said it, but there’s a phrase, “wearing a Porsche.” I think it’s a great expression. The compact body, the just-right snug interior, simple but well-maintained 1960s-style gauges. When a driver maintains a sense of tension while driving, he truly feels like he’s wearing the 911.

The feeling of wearing a Porsche is hard to experience in modern, larger 911s. My husband once said when he got his 964, “It feels like carrying a backpack, like I’m carrying the Porsche on my back.”

The 911 Is Alive

In these four years, I have never lent my 911 to anyone. I even refused to let anyone drive it “just around the block.” Call me stingy or stupid if you want, but I absolutely hate it. Because the delicate clutch and transmission, described as glass, would be affected.

You can tell how much Yamakawa-san treasured his 911. The 911 must be like a living creature.

Love for Cars

Loving a car isn’t just about that. For example, don’t people wish their ex-lovers a happy life? Cars are the same.

This was Yamakawa-san’s response when a friend said, “You don’t need to warm up the engine; you won’t drive this car for 10 years, and if warming it up affects anything, it’s after you sell it.” Such a beautiful love for a car.

Let’s Drive on Winding Roads

Winding roads. This is where the 911 shows its true fun. Leave the highways to V8 Mercedes carrying busy executives and politicians.

I laughed out loud. Also, car lovers tend to say “Mercedes” instead of “Benz,” so maybe I’ll start calling it “Mercedes” too lol.

911’s Cornering

Think of the 911’s cornering like motorcycle cornering.

The author, who is also a motorcycle enthusiast, said this as a disclaimer before explaining the 911’s cornering principles. My husband often says, “Driving an air-cooled 911 feels like riding a motorcycle.” I’m sure many Porsche owners resonate with this.

Are You a Porsche Driver?

The 911 is said to be a deep car. That probably means there are differences in cornering skills among individuals. (Omitted) So, honing your cornering skills means challenging the 911 itself.

My husband often says, “It feels like the 911 is testing me.” I feel the same every time I drive an air-cooled. Modern 911s, however, feel like they allow even less confident drivers to drive safely and reasonably, so this feeling is unique to the air-cooled era.

Advice When Buying a Used Porsche

If you want a good Porsche, be patient. (Omitted) Don’t rush, wait.

Yamakawa-san’s first Porsche was used, and he was told by Mitsuwa Motors at the time that “it takes six months to a year to get a used car.” Patience is key.

For Some Reason, Only Ferrari…

He deeply loves cars in general and looks warmly on all sports cars, but for some reason, he sees Ferrari as an enemy.

I burst out laughing. This was from a story about an actress who dated a 911 driver when she was young, listing 10 common traits of men who drive 911s. I agreed with all points, but this Ferrari one was especially funny and true.

Let’s Take Care of Our Cars

Reading Yamakawa-san’s car-loving book made me reflect on my daily habits—like not slamming doors, treating the car more carefully, wiping off dirt promptly, not letting kids eat snacks or drink juice in the car, and having them take off their shoes.

The 911 isn’t just a vehicle for moving people and things; it’s a sacred thing carrying a person’s life, and it’s alive. I realized I need to cherish it more.

“Why We Love Porsche” is truly a highly recommended book.