How emotionally attached are you to your car?
Discussion
swisstoni said:
pablo said:
I'm as emotionally attached to my car as I am my toaster, my microwave or my power drill. That is somewhere between f
k all and a tiny bit annoyed when it fails to operate as expected. The reason for this is because I have family and friends who take up far more of my time and "emotional attachment". I know some people will be at the other end f the spectrum and that's cool but I can't help think they are missing out on something.
So this is just some random site you signed up to is it?k all and a tiny bit annoyed when it fails to operate as expected. The reason for this is because I have family and friends who take up far more of my time and "emotional attachment". I know some people will be at the other end f the spectrum and that's cool but I can't help think they are missing out on something.
Have been motoring since 1965 but in all that time there are only two cars that really, really, got under the skin. - and the tear ducts when they were sold.
1) Porsche 928 S4 auto. Bought at 4 years old, 35K on the clock; sold at 13 years of age, 157K showing. Had to go for 100 practical reasons and I couldn't afford to own two cars at the time, otherwise I'd still have it.
Having done 122,000 safe and enjoyable miles in it with very little trouble and mostly at high speeds, I definitely had an emotional attachment there. Still look longingly at 928's whenever I see one now.
2) This second pick makes no sense at all, but it supported me through a dark period in my life by allowing me to put in a modest fight-back against the system. Put "Nissan Bluebird" into the PH on-line search facility and you'll find you are then taken to the PH thread for "Shed of the Week" dated Friday 14th June 2013. Look for the Andybu contribution and read on from there..
1) Porsche 928 S4 auto. Bought at 4 years old, 35K on the clock; sold at 13 years of age, 157K showing. Had to go for 100 practical reasons and I couldn't afford to own two cars at the time, otherwise I'd still have it.
Having done 122,000 safe and enjoyable miles in it with very little trouble and mostly at high speeds, I definitely had an emotional attachment there. Still look longingly at 928's whenever I see one now.
2) This second pick makes no sense at all, but it supported me through a dark period in my life by allowing me to put in a modest fight-back against the system. Put "Nissan Bluebird" into the PH on-line search facility and you'll find you are then taken to the PH thread for "Shed of the Week" dated Friday 14th June 2013. Look for the Andybu contribution and read on from there..
That's what owning a Alfa Romeo does to you, its get into your heart and you have an attachment to it like no other car.
I can speak from personal experience as i currently own a Alfa GTV and have spend much time effort and more importantly money on it, more than the value of the car and that i will never get back if i ever came to sell it (not that ever would) but that's not the point.
The reward for me is when you go car show with other like minded people or when your parked up either in the street of somewhere and a stranger comments on your pride and joy that's what makes it all worth it or when you go for a drive not to go anywhere or to see anyone just you and your pride and joy and hopefully a good road this in turn forms a memory and that's why people including me have emotional attachment to their car.
I can speak from personal experience as i currently own a Alfa GTV and have spend much time effort and more importantly money on it, more than the value of the car and that i will never get back if i ever came to sell it (not that ever would) but that's not the point.
The reward for me is when you go car show with other like minded people or when your parked up either in the street of somewhere and a stranger comments on your pride and joy that's what makes it all worth it or when you go for a drive not to go anywhere or to see anyone just you and your pride and joy and hopefully a good road this in turn forms a memory and that's why people including me have emotional attachment to their car.
battered said:
WTF is a quick detailer? I sometimes give my cars a wipe with a wet spomge, I suppose you could keep one of them in the boot.
Wet wipes are handy for giving the iterior a bit of a wipe when you are waiting in traffic and it's getting a bit grubby.
Quick detailer is exactly what it says on the tin, a handy bottle size liquid to wipe your car clean of dirt and dust.Wet wipes are handy for giving the iterior a bit of a wipe when you are waiting in traffic and it's getting a bit grubby.
ShuthanVtec said:
Quick detailer is exactly what it says on the tin, a handy bottle size liquid to wipe your car clean of dirt and dust.
Good stuff, I use Meguiareshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-Car-Care-Product...
Cotty said:
Good stuff, I use Meguiares
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-Car-Care-Product...
I use Chemical guys stuff, my whole detailing collection is from them. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-Car-Care-Product...
Wow it's been a thousand years since I last posted on PH! - Been a bit busy you see...;)
But spotted this thread and made me think... There are two cars I really bonded with and miss for different reasons:
1) my RX7 Turbo II - Had it for about 8 years (4 of which it was off the road!) invested a lot of time, effort and money to get it to where I wanted it - wasn't ever perfect, had some rust, a few scrapes and knicks, bue the Bridgeport engine, huge turbo (was a little laggy in traffic) removal of all sound deadening made it such an experience to drive! 7mpg, lack of time on the drag strip and engine rebuilds finally persuaded me to knock it on the head...
2) 1st MX5 (Eunos) - this was my first 'decent' car and had to hit a lot of sales targets to get it, had it for 5 years (ended up buying it off the company I loved it so much) but it wasn't practical as a family car!
My current A5 is a 'better' car, but I am not really attached to it - nice cruiser, but...
But spotted this thread and made me think... There are two cars I really bonded with and miss for different reasons:
1) my RX7 Turbo II - Had it for about 8 years (4 of which it was off the road!) invested a lot of time, effort and money to get it to where I wanted it - wasn't ever perfect, had some rust, a few scrapes and knicks, bue the Bridgeport engine, huge turbo (was a little laggy in traffic) removal of all sound deadening made it such an experience to drive! 7mpg, lack of time on the drag strip and engine rebuilds finally persuaded me to knock it on the head...
2) 1st MX5 (Eunos) - this was my first 'decent' car and had to hit a lot of sales targets to get it, had it for 5 years (ended up buying it off the company I loved it so much) but it wasn't practical as a family car!
My current A5 is a 'better' car, but I am not really attached to it - nice cruiser, but...
not that I was that attached to it that much but my old mondeo really put up a fight when it was time to go, had a big skip in for a load of corrigated sheets so I though drop it on top took over an hour using the front loader on my tractor to get it in it kept slipping twisting just when I thought I had it squared up it would suddenly slip to nose down or rear down not matter how I set the chains so in the end I used the bale spikes, really felt sorry for it
peter2b
peter2b
My '87 205 CTi Cabrio 1.6, red of course. Owned it for 15.5 years, we were 2nd owner, took it all over New Zealand including one Targa NZ rally tour(non competitive drive), used it for hillclimb races, car club nav trials, everything. It run up about 150,000 miles on original engine, original rings, 2nd gear synchro was worn, bodywork starting to look a bit sad, soft top perishing but people often admired it, commented favourably & I loved the little bugger. Had a 309 GTi 5 door hatch, also a great small car, and 2 different 205 GTi 1.9s incl a '94 Classic with full leather upholstery. Still have a 1970 Pug 404 saloon, repowered with a '70 504 motor of 2 litres, a truly great post WW2 vintage car(they won East African Safari rally twice), utterly reliable car- no electronics, even the electric clock still works!!!
Cheers
Cheers
ZesPak said:
I've seen that a lot of people take offense to emotional attachment to an inanimate object.
There's varying degrees of attachment though.
A simple test would be : would I care if tomorrow someone replaced it with the same model and similar mileage?
yes because no two cars are the same.There's varying degrees of attachment though.
A simple test would be : would I care if tomorrow someone replaced it with the same model and similar mileage?
However, the attachment isn't so emotional that if i felt the new car was better that i wouldn't be happy.
Also, i know my cars' histories and that they've been serviced, had the best oils etc. That's less emotional and more practical maybe.
Then there's TG's Mr Manlove, what would he find in the replacement?
Yeah I tend to agree with this sentiment.
I am running a 2008 118d BMW, not everyones favourite car (clown shoe design), but its the 3-door one, so its abit of a looker compared to the 5 door one imo. Had it for 4 years and its on a comfortable 160,000 miles now. Dents all over it really, its looking dog-eared...But I just don’t want to sell it. Even though I look daily on auto trader etc, but i just don’t like anything, I have always managed to get everything in it, boot or roof bars…I just can’t find anything i could trust…I don’t know.
I have driven nearly all them miles on it bar the 30k when i purchased it. Its been all over the UK in it and been to Italy/Tuscany twice in that time also, and it has never missed a beat.
Each car has its idiosyncratic traits. You kind of “grow old with the car” as you drive it, its weird really. Like an old friend.
But i think I will keep this till, well I don’t know.
I have a 1966 Beetle in the garage, which i bought 6 years ago (they were a lot cheaper then, than now) as a preservation/toy thingy, again, I’m still attracted to this as a piece of automobile history, which is a little different I think.
I am running a 2008 118d BMW, not everyones favourite car (clown shoe design), but its the 3-door one, so its abit of a looker compared to the 5 door one imo. Had it for 4 years and its on a comfortable 160,000 miles now. Dents all over it really, its looking dog-eared...But I just don’t want to sell it. Even though I look daily on auto trader etc, but i just don’t like anything, I have always managed to get everything in it, boot or roof bars…I just can’t find anything i could trust…I don’t know.
I have driven nearly all them miles on it bar the 30k when i purchased it. Its been all over the UK in it and been to Italy/Tuscany twice in that time also, and it has never missed a beat.
Each car has its idiosyncratic traits. You kind of “grow old with the car” as you drive it, its weird really. Like an old friend.
But i think I will keep this till, well I don’t know.
I have a 1966 Beetle in the garage, which i bought 6 years ago (they were a lot cheaper then, than now) as a preservation/toy thingy, again, I’m still attracted to this as a piece of automobile history, which is a little different I think.
Edited by DailyHack on Friday 26th August 14:21
Edited by DailyHack on Friday 26th August 14:24
Interesting thread. I'm trying to find some commonality between cars that I became emotionally attached to (205 GTi, 325i, Impreza WRX, C250TD, Grand Cherokee) and ones that I haven't (Astra, MX5, Golf, Polo, Corolla, Civic).
1. The former, I owned all of them outright. It's difficult to become attached to a car when it's costing you x amount per month and one is constantly wondering whether one couldn't get a better car for the same payment.
2. The former were all "older" when I had them and cars tend to gain character with age. I get to drive a lot of new cars through my work and most of them are "nice" (haven't driven a "bad" car for ages) and in many cases quite expensive but don't touch me on an emotional level.
3. Older cars are more unique. It would be difficult to go out and buy another exactly like it, whereas something like my 3 year old Civic, not so much.
4. The former (apart from the C250TD) were all heart vs. head purchases. I traded out of newer cars to get the 205/Impreza, something that my non-car friends will never understand and most of them cost me quite a bit in repairs.
5. Driving something that you couldn't have afforded to buy new at a fraction of the price and the smugness you feel when it runs reliably (and the pain when it doesn't).
6. Experiences. I remember specific journeys in the cars in the former list i.e. crazy late night drives in the 205, going to the Nurburgring in the Impreza and taking our first child home from the hospital, holidays with my friends and my girlfriend in the 325i etc, the rest were just A to B.
Two years later, I still question getting the 18 month old Civic over the older MINI Cooper S that I also looked at. As expected, the Civic has been 100% reliable and at the time having warranty vs. no warranty was a big draw but it's totally devoid of character The MINI would almost certainly have cost me in repairs but I would have had fun and now I have no warranty on my Civic anyway!
1. The former, I owned all of them outright. It's difficult to become attached to a car when it's costing you x amount per month and one is constantly wondering whether one couldn't get a better car for the same payment.
2. The former were all "older" when I had them and cars tend to gain character with age. I get to drive a lot of new cars through my work and most of them are "nice" (haven't driven a "bad" car for ages) and in many cases quite expensive but don't touch me on an emotional level.
3. Older cars are more unique. It would be difficult to go out and buy another exactly like it, whereas something like my 3 year old Civic, not so much.
4. The former (apart from the C250TD) were all heart vs. head purchases. I traded out of newer cars to get the 205/Impreza, something that my non-car friends will never understand and most of them cost me quite a bit in repairs.
5. Driving something that you couldn't have afforded to buy new at a fraction of the price and the smugness you feel when it runs reliably (and the pain when it doesn't).
6. Experiences. I remember specific journeys in the cars in the former list i.e. crazy late night drives in the 205, going to the Nurburgring in the Impreza and taking our first child home from the hospital, holidays with my friends and my girlfriend in the 325i etc, the rest were just A to B.
Two years later, I still question getting the 18 month old Civic over the older MINI Cooper S that I also looked at. As expected, the Civic has been 100% reliable and at the time having warranty vs. no warranty was a big draw but it's totally devoid of character The MINI would almost certainly have cost me in repairs but I would have had fun and now I have no warranty on my Civic anyway!
I am very attached to my cars.
Brought my mk2 Golf GTI 16v from Portugal in a truck together with all of our belongings when the company transferred me to the UK 2 years ago (sold our A6 2.5 TDI quattro estate before moving). Drove it here as a daily for 6 months and now it's sitting, still with Portuguese licence plates, waiting to get an MOT (will have to spend some money to get it through) and UK licence plates. Just couldn't leave it behind in a garage...
Still have my grandfather's FIAT 127 mk1 in a garage in Portugal. He gave it to me when decided he was getting to old to drive. Was my daily in University. Could never part with it.
Drove my father's Alfa 156 from Portugal to the UK (kept it after he passed away) when we moved and have it with me here in the UK. Also couldn't leave it behind.
6 months ago bought a 2.0 TS Alfa GTV as a daily here in the UK and have the feeling I'm going to have a hard time letting it go too. The thing is getting under my skin...
Wife's X3? Most of the time don't even remember it exists...wait...that's right, we sold it 3 months ago...
Brought my mk2 Golf GTI 16v from Portugal in a truck together with all of our belongings when the company transferred me to the UK 2 years ago (sold our A6 2.5 TDI quattro estate before moving). Drove it here as a daily for 6 months and now it's sitting, still with Portuguese licence plates, waiting to get an MOT (will have to spend some money to get it through) and UK licence plates. Just couldn't leave it behind in a garage...
Still have my grandfather's FIAT 127 mk1 in a garage in Portugal. He gave it to me when decided he was getting to old to drive. Was my daily in University. Could never part with it.
Drove my father's Alfa 156 from Portugal to the UK (kept it after he passed away) when we moved and have it with me here in the UK. Also couldn't leave it behind.
6 months ago bought a 2.0 TS Alfa GTV as a daily here in the UK and have the feeling I'm going to have a hard time letting it go too. The thing is getting under my skin...
Wife's X3? Most of the time don't even remember it exists...wait...that's right, we sold it 3 months ago...
Edited by RSN on Friday 26th August 15:37
RSN said:
I am very attached to my cars.
Brought my mk2 Golf GTI 16v from Portugal in a truck together with all of our belongings when the company transferred me to the UK 2 years ago. Drove it here as a daily for 6 months and now it's sitting, still with Portuguese licence plates, waiting to get an MOT (will have to spend some money to get it through) and UK licence plates. Just couldn't leave it behind in a garage...
that's devotion, as you probably know that car is worth 4x more in Portugal than here!Brought my mk2 Golf GTI 16v from Portugal in a truck together with all of our belongings when the company transferred me to the UK 2 years ago. Drove it here as a daily for 6 months and now it's sitting, still with Portuguese licence plates, waiting to get an MOT (will have to spend some money to get it through) and UK licence plates. Just couldn't leave it behind in a garage...
CABC said:
that's devotion, as you probably know that car is worth 4x more in Portugal than here!
That's right. Not only that one but in general, cars in Portugal are 2-3x the price when compared to the UK. Huge tax load.Like so many others here, It's not the money. I've spent on it much more than it's worth, even considering Portuguese values. I'm keeping this one...
I had a tear in my eye when my GTA drove away. I'd owned it 4 years, 2 years more than any other car.
Had done a lot in that car, been through several house moves and girlfriends. It held some memories too, having driven it to Paris along with less exotic places around the UK such as Cheddar Gorge and I'd spent a fortune keeping it on the road...then went and got a girl up the duff. I had to sell my one bed house and the car and use the money for a new house.
Got written off shortly afterwards.
Had done a lot in that car, been through several house moves and girlfriends. It held some memories too, having driven it to Paris along with less exotic places around the UK such as Cheddar Gorge and I'd spent a fortune keeping it on the road...then went and got a girl up the duff. I had to sell my one bed house and the car and use the money for a new house.
Got written off shortly afterwards.
I have a stty old Astra G that I refuse to get rid of. It's the most battered Astra in the entire country I reckon, has many faults that I constantly repair/replace but I just cannot bear to see it go to the scrapyard! I was already attached to it anyway, but the bond got even stronger in January this year.
Pretty much a carbon copy of Clarkson's story with the Porsche 928... I got a phone call from my Mum crying her eyes out as my 83yr old Grandmother was on her deathbed up in Inverness. We jumped in without checking any fluids and in a mad rush... My Astra took us non-stop through the night from Warwick to Inverness in six and a half hours despite the A9 being a good 4-5inches deep in snow once we were past Pitlochry. It soldiered on, surefooted throughout despite driving like I was on a rally stage, and we made it to Inverness with half an hour to spare before she died.
As far as I'm concerned, best car in the world hands down. I'll be heartbroken when it finally dies.
tty old Astra G that I refuse to get rid of. It's the most battered Astra in the entire country I reckon, has many faults that I constantly repair/replace but I just cannot bear to see it go to the scrapyard! I was already attached to it anyway, but the bond got even stronger in January this year. Pretty much a carbon copy of Clarkson's story with the Porsche 928... I got a phone call from my Mum crying her eyes out as my 83yr old Grandmother was on her deathbed up in Inverness. We jumped in without checking any fluids and in a mad rush... My Astra took us non-stop through the night from Warwick to Inverness in six and a half hours despite the A9 being a good 4-5inches deep in snow once we were past Pitlochry. It soldiered on, surefooted throughout despite driving like I was on a rally stage, and we made it to Inverness with half an hour to spare before she died.
As far as I'm concerned, best car in the world hands down. I'll be heartbroken when it finally dies.
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