MILLENNIAL ROMANCE

Millennial Romance

Tim Chen pays tribute to the quiet competence of his Porsche 996 daily driver.

For Tim Chen, a Porsche 911 was never meant to be a trophy. Following his time in Kyoto he returned to Taiwan and found himself moving between construction sites and high-pressure meetings. He sought a sanctuary that could navigate the high-intensity rhythm without losing his soul on the way. His choice was a violet Porsche 996 Carrera. It was his first car, and it quickly became the ultimate tool for his daily life.

As the founder of design consultancy ASOBI, Tim’s connection to the 996 is rooted in a deep professional empathy for its creator, Pinky Lai. He admires how Lai balanced the constraints of the time while preserving the 911’s iconic soul - to Tim, the 996 represents a masterclass in resilience. This connection goes beyond aesthetics, as Tim describes driving the car as a return to “millennial romance,” a nostalgic portal between the raw mechanical past and the digitized future.

Nearly 100,000 kilometres in just three years is a testament to the 996’s profound utility. ‘Sally’ has become a relentless daily companion on his commute across the city, a machine that never falters. He defends the Tiptronic gearbox as a conscious lifestyle choice, allowing him to maintain a sense of calm amidst Taipei’s dense urban flow. The car has become as essential to his identity as a favorite pair of sunglasses.

The core of Tim’s practice revolves around the spirit of the “Uncompleted.” He finds a profound kinship in the 996 because it feels raw and mechanical compared to the digitized perfection of modern iterations. Lacking electronic aids like TCS or PSM, it offers a direct feedback that Tim finds incredibly grounding. He believes that starting with the essentials and allowing a space to evolve over time is the truest form of design. This journey proves that the best way to honor a Porsche is to live with it, allowing its analog pulse to drive your creative life forward.