How emotionally attached are you to your car?
Discussion
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.
Just for the record, I have a wife,children and friends, so I'm not missing out. If anything, cars are something that I enjoy with most of them so they are an extra rather than a replacement for anything. Most of my friends are the same. I will concede that giving your car a name is a bit OTT, the closest I get is a few choice expletives when somethings not working.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.I've never been attached to any car I've ever owned. I have fond memories (more about the journeys and people I've shared those journeys with) and have enjoyed some cars more than others. There might even be one or two models I'd perhaps like to own again but for me, once they're sold, they're sold.
Unfortunately for me I get very attached to my cars. I'd far prefer to see them as white goods and get rid when it's sensible to do so.
I was devastated when I got rid of my first 'proper' car, a BMW 320i (E30) but it had so much wrong with it which would have cost a fortune to rectify so it had to go and I got offered a fantastic trade in price for it.
Its replacement, a BMW 325i coupe (E36) was with me for several years before I sold it in a moment of madness but managed to buy it back three years later having spotted it for sale here on PistonHeads. That was about eight years ago and I still have it. It's not in the best condition and recently failed its MOT on rust. It doesn't make any sense to repair it and keep it going but I can't bear to part with it so I'm going to store it in my garage until I retire and then I'll have it restored properly.
I had a Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 which I loved but it was so expensive to run in terms of repairs it had to go. I had a real lump in my throat when it went but I know I did the right thing.
I'm equally attached to my other two cars (A3 3.2 and ex army Land Rover) and will never part with them.
I was devastated when I got rid of my first 'proper' car, a BMW 320i (E30) but it had so much wrong with it which would have cost a fortune to rectify so it had to go and I got offered a fantastic trade in price for it.
Its replacement, a BMW 325i coupe (E36) was with me for several years before I sold it in a moment of madness but managed to buy it back three years later having spotted it for sale here on PistonHeads. That was about eight years ago and I still have it. It's not in the best condition and recently failed its MOT on rust. It doesn't make any sense to repair it and keep it going but I can't bear to part with it so I'm going to store it in my garage until I retire and then I'll have it restored properly.
I had a Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 which I loved but it was so expensive to run in terms of repairs it had to go. I had a real lump in my throat when it went but I know I did the right thing.
I'm equally attached to my other two cars (A3 3.2 and ex army Land Rover) and will never part with them.
Short answer: waaaaay too much
Long answer: I bought my first car when I was 15, a 1972 MGB GT in orange. The pervious owners called it Garfield so the name stuck, as for the car I learnt my mechanical skills on it, as well as propper driving techniques. The car has only grown on me more and more and I'm never selling him, he's too precious to me.
Especially since I paid £2000 for it 6 years ago and now it's worth £4000
Long answer: I bought my first car when I was 15, a 1972 MGB GT in orange. The pervious owners called it Garfield so the name stuck, as for the car I learnt my mechanical skills on it, as well as propper driving techniques. The car has only grown on me more and more and I'm never selling him, he's too precious to me.
Especially since I paid £2000 for it 6 years ago and now it's worth £4000
Short answer: Not at all.
Long answer: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If I didn't
I'd be
Long answer: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If I didn't
I'd be
I'm not that attached to my car, a Honda Jazz Hybrid. It's just a tool for getting about in, I don't love it although it's very, very good at what it does and it is very well looked after. It's an excellent family car.
My 1997 Triumph T595 Daytona is another matter. It's the bike that I dreamed of owning before I could even ride a motorcycle. I spent ages looking at classified adverts, with a very high standard. I wanted to buy the very best available and I think that went very well. As a machine, I just love it. I sometimes go down to the garage just to look at it, and kick the sidestand up and feel the balance and weight at standstill. The whirr and high pitched squeak of the fuel pump priming and the neutral light glowing green. It's far from the fastest bike around these days. Even in it's day, the litre bike competition were better on paper and on track. Despite this, I still giggle at it's fearsome performance and the brilliant noise it makes. I've got so many good memories of that bike.
My 1997 Triumph T595 Daytona is another matter. It's the bike that I dreamed of owning before I could even ride a motorcycle. I spent ages looking at classified adverts, with a very high standard. I wanted to buy the very best available and I think that went very well. As a machine, I just love it. I sometimes go down to the garage just to look at it, and kick the sidestand up and feel the balance and weight at standstill. The whirr and high pitched squeak of the fuel pump priming and the neutral light glowing green. It's far from the fastest bike around these days. Even in it's day, the litre bike competition were better on paper and on track. Despite this, I still giggle at it's fearsome performance and the brilliant noise it makes. I've got so many good memories of that bike.
Plenty emotionally attached, to many of the nearly 40 cars I've owned in the last 30 years. As others have said, a lot of it's the stage of life or the experiences you've had in the car.
Had a lot of fun during 5 years owning a 1974 Fiat 124 Sport CC 1800 coupe in the late 1980s / early 1990s - was only 19 when I bought it and it had only done 60k miles, was almost rust free, in as much as any 1970s Fiat could have been! The climate in New Zealand where I live is slightly kinder to shoddy Italian build quality than the UK would be... Took it to club days at Wigram air force base - a very fast racetrack on the occasional days it was open to car clubs / events - remember pulling about 105mph down the main (runway) straight with a friend in chipped Uno Turbo sailing past
, as well as club days and race meets at Ruapuna track. Grass motorkhanas....Hooning nights with mates.... Quick trips up country..... Sold in 1992 to buy a Fiat 124 CS spider I imported from the US. The spider is a lovely car, completely rust free still, and looks neat, but has never been as nice to drive as the 124 Sport. After 24 years I still have the spider so must like it (although I did drive it whilst on the first few dates with my wife so that might have something to do with it.....) but I still remember the 124 Sport fondly!
Current daily is a Golf VI Gti, which I love - quick enough to have fun - doesn't feel much slower than my 996 C2 in real-world situations, good for 20km daily commute on mix of built up and open road, economical, handles really well, has most features you'd want, big enough to carry most things but small enough to be nimble. After two years, think it's a keeper.
Very attached to my 996 C2 after about 12 years - still love driving it, still love the sound, the way the harder you drive it, the better it feels - especially on winding uphill roads. When I bought it the kids could fit in the back seats, now they are way too tall. The attachment could be broken by replacing it with a turbo 996 or 997 eventually though
Other cars fondly remembered.... 1979 Fiat 132 GLS sedan - the 2 litre with acres of plastic bumpers and wall to wall velvet inside. A big somewhat slow old bus but two years and 35k km with many long adventures to ski fields and holiday destinations with mates, yep those were good times! 1985 Fiat 130 TC Abarth - wow what a car, why did I sell that??? Also owned during early days of relationship with my wife, so good memories there - she used to call it the vibrator for the noise and shaking it had... A couple of late 1990s Ford Explorers we covered many miles in during three years living in Latin America - again the emotional attachment includes the memories of things we did, places we went, and good and bad times there.
Now on our third BMW X5 as family car - current is E70 diesel, which we love especially the growl of the diesel, but still miss the sound of the first one, which was a beautiful E53 4.4 petrol! Amazing V8 sound when nailing it!
Some other cars however just felt like appliances and were fairly quickly moved on - a 1994 Nissan Bluebird SES, a 2011 Audi A4 diesel wagon, a Golf VI TSi - interesting how different the TSi and Gti are, the TSi did nothing for me but the Gti I've replaced it with is amazing (suppose any PHer could figure that one out, duh!) An awful 1996 Ford Taurus as company car whilst living in the US. Tragic car. Gutless performance and boring to drive. Gearbox completely failed at only 60k miles and Ford didn't want to know about it.
Somewhat self indulgent post.... QED!
Had a lot of fun during 5 years owning a 1974 Fiat 124 Sport CC 1800 coupe in the late 1980s / early 1990s - was only 19 when I bought it and it had only done 60k miles, was almost rust free, in as much as any 1970s Fiat could have been! The climate in New Zealand where I live is slightly kinder to shoddy Italian build quality than the UK would be... Took it to club days at Wigram air force base - a very fast racetrack on the occasional days it was open to car clubs / events - remember pulling about 105mph down the main (runway) straight with a friend in chipped Uno Turbo sailing past
, as well as club days and race meets at Ruapuna track. Grass motorkhanas....Hooning nights with mates.... Quick trips up country..... Sold in 1992 to buy a Fiat 124 CS spider I imported from the US. The spider is a lovely car, completely rust free still, and looks neat, but has never been as nice to drive as the 124 Sport. After 24 years I still have the spider so must like it (although I did drive it whilst on the first few dates with my wife so that might have something to do with it.....) but I still remember the 124 Sport fondly! Current daily is a Golf VI Gti, which I love - quick enough to have fun - doesn't feel much slower than my 996 C2 in real-world situations, good for 20km daily commute on mix of built up and open road, economical, handles really well, has most features you'd want, big enough to carry most things but small enough to be nimble. After two years, think it's a keeper.
Very attached to my 996 C2 after about 12 years - still love driving it, still love the sound, the way the harder you drive it, the better it feels - especially on winding uphill roads. When I bought it the kids could fit in the back seats, now they are way too tall. The attachment could be broken by replacing it with a turbo 996 or 997 eventually though
Other cars fondly remembered.... 1979 Fiat 132 GLS sedan - the 2 litre with acres of plastic bumpers and wall to wall velvet inside. A big somewhat slow old bus but two years and 35k km with many long adventures to ski fields and holiday destinations with mates, yep those were good times! 1985 Fiat 130 TC Abarth - wow what a car, why did I sell that??? Also owned during early days of relationship with my wife, so good memories there - she used to call it the vibrator for the noise and shaking it had... A couple of late 1990s Ford Explorers we covered many miles in during three years living in Latin America - again the emotional attachment includes the memories of things we did, places we went, and good and bad times there.
Now on our third BMW X5 as family car - current is E70 diesel, which we love especially the growl of the diesel, but still miss the sound of the first one, which was a beautiful E53 4.4 petrol! Amazing V8 sound when nailing it!
Some other cars however just felt like appliances and were fairly quickly moved on - a 1994 Nissan Bluebird SES, a 2011 Audi A4 diesel wagon, a Golf VI TSi - interesting how different the TSi and Gti are, the TSi did nothing for me but the Gti I've replaced it with is amazing (suppose any PHer could figure that one out, duh!) An awful 1996 Ford Taurus as company car whilst living in the US. Tragic car. Gutless performance and boring to drive. Gearbox completely failed at only 60k miles and Ford didn't want to know about it.
Somewhat self indulgent post.... QED!
I'd rather remove my leg with a rusty saw than part with my E36, had it since i was 18 and have lots of memories with it. Other cars come and go though still feel a bit sad when i see them driven off.
Found my first car on ebay the other day, little fiesta 1.4 that i modified with a st kit etc when i was 17, was a bit chavvy looking back but I loved that car, It was dented, bits missing and paint missing everywhere, thought about buying it back for a minute then decided i have enough cars at the moment
Found my first car on ebay the other day, little fiesta 1.4 that i modified with a st kit etc when i was 17, was a bit chavvy looking back but I loved that car, It was dented, bits missing and paint missing everywhere, thought about buying it back for a minute then decided i have enough cars at the moment
Generally, by the time it comes to handing the keys over - I'm done with any emotional attachment. The emotion for me comes when making the decision to sell in the first place, by the time it's driven away - I'm usually glad to see the back of it!
The car I owned longest was a knackered old Seat Ibiza diesel, and when I traded that in I got pangs of regret/sadness when I realised I didn't even do a doubletake in the forecourt to have one last look at it. Oh well.
The car I owned longest was a knackered old Seat Ibiza diesel, and when I traded that in I got pangs of regret/sadness when I realised I didn't even do a doubletake in the forecourt to have one last look at it. Oh well.
Yep, emotionally attached to the extreme here,
My Accord Type-R, coming up to 2 years and already made many memories, it cheers me up when I am down, and I always check if its ok though it is in the garage, I go at night to check. I have put many miles on her and I have to drive it daily or I will feel my day is incomplete. It does everything I need and its a car I have wanted for a long time and I make sure shes clean when I can (Carry a quick detailer in the boot). My family and friends think I am weird but car people will know some cars form an attachment. Having owned many cars before this , this car is definitely a keeper.
My Accord Type-R, coming up to 2 years and already made many memories, it cheers me up when I am down, and I always check if its ok though it is in the garage, I go at night to check. I have put many miles on her and I have to drive it daily or I will feel my day is incomplete. It does everything I need and its a car I have wanted for a long time and I make sure shes clean when I can (Carry a quick detailer in the boot). My family and friends think I am weird but car people will know some cars form an attachment. Having owned many cars before this , this car is definitely a keeper.
Edited by ShuthanVtec on Wednesday 24th August 13:58
My Mondeo ST24. It had "ST" stripes on the bottom of the doors, an obnoxious exhaust and fluffy dice. I drove it everywhere like i was trying to catch the last ferry from Calais and raced everyone that was up for it.
It's probably more nostalgia from my youth but i loved that car to pieces. I fondly remember beating a Smart Roadster and getting the bird off the driver* for showing him up in front of his girlfriend.
It was tough parting with it for a "sensible" car when i moved out of castle mum and dad.
I've had good cars since then (Focus ST, Z4) which i love(d) but my ST24 will always be my favorite.
*as in the middle finger, i didn't claim his girlfriend like some sort of human prize
It's probably more nostalgia from my youth but i loved that car to pieces. I fondly remember beating a Smart Roadster and getting the bird off the driver* for showing him up in front of his girlfriend.
It was tough parting with it for a "sensible" car when i moved out of castle mum and dad.
I've had good cars since then (Focus ST, Z4) which i love(d) but my ST24 will always be my favorite.
*as in the middle finger, i didn't claim his girlfriend like some sort of human prize
To my Megane 225, very.
It's not the most desirable spec, it's not worth anywhere near what I paid for it new in 2006 and it's not moved from my garage in about 3 years.
But here's the thing, it signifies quite a tricky time in my life. I had just moved jobs working fairly local to suddenly moving to a law firm in the city (IT related).
I started working there on the 1st August and my dad passed away on the 4th August. I saw out my three month probation as you do and ordered the Megane which at the age of 23 was a dream car. It was always a weekend car due to the commute and I bought a daily runabout 6 months after buying so it was a fair weather car.
It's probably the best example of this model in the country and I still love it and I appreciate that at the time of buying it, the wait for a new car got me through a tough time. So I won't sell it.
Oh and the number plate it has assigned X666 ALX was a gift from both my parents for my 21st birthday so that adds to it.
It's not the most desirable spec, it's not worth anywhere near what I paid for it new in 2006 and it's not moved from my garage in about 3 years.
But here's the thing, it signifies quite a tricky time in my life. I had just moved jobs working fairly local to suddenly moving to a law firm in the city (IT related).
I started working there on the 1st August and my dad passed away on the 4th August. I saw out my three month probation as you do and ordered the Megane which at the age of 23 was a dream car. It was always a weekend car due to the commute and I bought a daily runabout 6 months after buying so it was a fair weather car.
It's probably the best example of this model in the country and I still love it and I appreciate that at the time of buying it, the wait for a new car got me through a tough time. So I won't sell it.
Oh and the number plate it has assigned X666 ALX was a gift from both my parents for my 21st birthday so that adds to it.
Edited by Alex_225 on Wednesday 24th August 15:06
Matt Harper said:
I'm verging on obsessed with my Challenger - I've owned a lot of cars over the years, but nothing as viscerally bad-ass as this 392. I absolutely love it.
Like that !I was emotionally attached to my Viper. But after 9 years of ownership I decided to try and move it on. It sold pretty quickly and I got back what I paid for it (made a few hundred disregarding running and upgrade costs). I thought I'd be gutted but I don't miss it at all.
I'm on the look out soon for a Camaro or a Challenger. Hopefully ZL1 or Hellcat.
I sold a Roush 427R Mustang that I couldn't import to Sweden and that really gutted me. I lost money on it and it was a fantastic car. Low miles. Like new. I nearly cried when it went.
I got close to selling my Tuscan a couple of years ago.
It had a misfire problem which was hard to trace and along with a project Chimaera, I was getting pretty frustrated and started to look at DB9's
When the problem was finally sorted, it really was a case of NOT SELLING THIS.
I occasionally think about the future and my original plan to sell at retirement age but I go into a cold sweat. I just turned 58 so not so far away.
I bought a Cerbera a few weeks ago and that's also getting under my skin.
So much for my retirement fund.
It had a misfire problem which was hard to trace and along with a project Chimaera, I was getting pretty frustrated and started to look at DB9's
When the problem was finally sorted, it really was a case of NOT SELLING THIS.
I occasionally think about the future and my original plan to sell at retirement age but I go into a cold sweat. I just turned 58 so not so far away.
I bought a Cerbera a few weeks ago and that's also getting under my skin.
So much for my retirement fund.
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 fk 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.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff