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With a baby on the way, a Porsche 911 owner eyes a Chevy Bolt, finds many others have made a similar move

"Absolutely a great idea."

A silver Chevrolet Bolt.

Photo Credit: iStock

A 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and a Chevy Bolt rarely appear in the same sentence, but for one expectant parent, that was exactly the choice on the table.

With a baby on the way, the thrill of a sports car was weighed against comfort, practicality, and the opportunity to save money.

Here's what to know

In a Reddit thread, the original poster said he was considering parting with his "admittedly old Porsche," a 2007 997.1 Carrera 4S, and swapping for a Chevy Bolt.

A growing family was part of the reason. He wrote that his wife "doesn't like being in the car" and said the 911 is stiff and something that "continuously needs to go in for maintenance." With the couple getting ready for a baby, that wasn't ideal.

Cost was another factor. He said he was considering "buying a Chevy Bolt and investing the difference," turning an expensive-to-own sports car into a cheaper EV while freeing up money.

He also said the Porsche's image had lost its appeal, writing that he was "sick of the flashiness" and that "budget EVs have the same if not better torque around town."

The replies were mixed, but plenty of commenters viewed the Bolt as a sensible everyday choice. 

One commenter laid out the case: "When you got a baby coming…. Life is going to change. The bolt is a good car and maybe the best I've owned."

More background

The discussion was not only about specs. The poster was weighing impending parenthood, a spouse who dislikes riding in the car, and a sports coupe that no longer seemed worth the trouble.

Some readers argued the Porsche was worth holding onto, though, framing it as an asset in addition to transportation. One commenter said it "will probably outperform any investment you make with that cash" and added that "the older manual cars will be in high demand."

A different camp suggested a two-car compromise instead of choosing one philosophy over the other. One commenter said they own "a new Bolt, and an 87 911," while another said they have "a new Bolt and a 69 Camaro."

Another commenter made a similar point from the EV side, saying they reach for a spouse's Blazer EV for everyday use "10/10 times" instead of a 991.2, suggesting practicality often wins.

What can be done?

The thread offered a few practical paths rather than one universal answer. One common idea was to avoid an all-or-nothing decision. Instead, the original poster could keep the 911 if possible and add an EV.

One commenter described doing something similar after having a child, writing: "For the first few years when my daughter was little I just hard parked my mustang for a while. Tinkered on it when she was asleep at night."

The same commenter added that now their daughter is "old enough to sit in a booster in the back and loves going out in it."

Others thought the better move was simply to sell if the Porsche no longer fit the family's needs. 

"When you say it as 'swap', yes, that's crazy," a commenter wrote. "But 'Sell the 997, buy a bolt, save the difference' is absolutely a great idea."

The original poster said they were leaning towards keeping the 911.

Where can I learn more?

If you're weighing practicality against fun, other drivers' experiences offer more context.

• Across Reddit, drivers said cheap charging and easy upkeep made switching to an EV feel obvious.

• Nissan Leaf owners said myths about EV life faded quickly once daily savings appeared.

• Auto experts have said perceptions are still holding Americans back from EVs, despite lower running costs.

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