How emotionally attached are you to your car?
Discussion
I've not really been emotionally attached to a car or bike as yet but I am heavily invested in both time and money in my current car and I will be very upset if something happens to it just because of that. Not sure if that makes me 'emotionally attached' or not.
I don't expect to part with this particular car without a damn good reason. My thinking is that whatever other cars come and go, this one will be a constant; not in the least because I find a large estate car with a tow bar infinitely useful.
That is, if I can ever finish restoring it and keep the tinworm out of it from hereon in.
I don't expect to part with this particular car without a damn good reason. My thinking is that whatever other cars come and go, this one will be a constant; not in the least because I find a large estate car with a tow bar infinitely useful.
That is, if I can ever finish restoring it and keep the tinworm out of it from hereon in.
I have just gotten rid of my Evo VI that I've had since 2007. I was hoping to get it to a nice round ten years but the dreaded tin worm put paid to that. Not enough time, or space, to repair it to a proper standard so it's gone off to someone who has both.
It's bittersweet though as it was taking over my life, most weekends were spent tinkering with it, always something to do. Got some cash burning a hole in my pocket to spend on a new toy and much more free time.
However, my other car (Mazda 6) which I bought brand new in 2004, I think that's going to be a lot harder to part with. It's been through thick and thin with us.
It's our "France" car with over 120,000 miles on the clock and apart from the first three years services by Mazda has only been driven / worked on by either my wife or myself.
I've welded new sills / boot in, most of the rubber bushes have been replaced at some point, literally blood, sweat and tears have spilled over it. Nearly died many times in it (I learnt an important lesson in a layby in France in that four adults sleeping in the car would remove oxygen quicker than it would seep in).
I know that damn car inside out and I don't know what I'm going to replace it with. Mazda no longer do a 6 hatchback so would have to go with an estate. However, they apparently don't do a "base" model in the estate so would have to go with the built-in nav (which I don't want as it has to be updated at a cost unlike portable sat-nav) and the HID or LED headlamps (which I also don't want as I like paying £x.xx for a headlamp bulb instead of £xxx.xx).
I am again planning on keeping this next car for 10 years+ so it's quite an important decision to get right.
So yes, I am very emotionally attached to my cars.
It's bittersweet though as it was taking over my life, most weekends were spent tinkering with it, always something to do. Got some cash burning a hole in my pocket to spend on a new toy and much more free time.
However, my other car (Mazda 6) which I bought brand new in 2004, I think that's going to be a lot harder to part with. It's been through thick and thin with us.
It's our "France" car with over 120,000 miles on the clock and apart from the first three years services by Mazda has only been driven / worked on by either my wife or myself.
I've welded new sills / boot in, most of the rubber bushes have been replaced at some point, literally blood, sweat and tears have spilled over it. Nearly died many times in it (I learnt an important lesson in a layby in France in that four adults sleeping in the car would remove oxygen quicker than it would seep in).
I know that damn car inside out and I don't know what I'm going to replace it with. Mazda no longer do a 6 hatchback so would have to go with an estate. However, they apparently don't do a "base" model in the estate so would have to go with the built-in nav (which I don't want as it has to be updated at a cost unlike portable sat-nav) and the HID or LED headlamps (which I also don't want as I like paying £x.xx for a headlamp bulb instead of £xxx.xx).
I am again planning on keeping this next car for 10 years+ so it's quite an important decision to get right.
So yes, I am very emotionally attached to my cars.
Sort of, yeah.
Having had my ST170 for 4 years I fancied a change so bought a Mazda 3 sport, which is a decent car to be fair. The focus sat for a couple of months and the battery was f
ked, so bought a battery with the intention of, as soon as it starts, I'll clean it up and sell it on.
Put the battery on and started it, ran like a Swiss watch! The car is perfect so I thought fk it, I'm keeping it! I'm selling the Mazda now.
I'd hate to see someone else driving it. I love the thing!
Having had my ST170 for 4 years I fancied a change so bought a Mazda 3 sport, which is a decent car to be fair. The focus sat for a couple of months and the battery was f
ked, so bought a battery with the intention of, as soon as it starts, I'll clean it up and sell it on. Put the battery on and started it, ran like a Swiss watch! The car is perfect so I thought f
k it, I'm keeping it! I'm selling the Mazda now.I'd hate to see someone else driving it. I love the thing!
ZesPak said:
I've got kids and of course the car pales in comparison. I'm aware it's just an inanimate object and far from rare or perfect.
I was just surprised it hit me as hard as it did. I think it's more the journey I've done with this car, getting self employed, getting married, getting kids, moving to the new house,...
It's attachment through association which is why you feel that way. You've had a "journey" together, so it's no different to saying good bye to an old dying friend. It's "terminal" as you won't see the car again (probably).I was just surprised it hit me as hard as it did. I think it's more the journey I've done with this car, getting self employed, getting married, getting kids, moving to the new house,...
So, not so much the car itself as what it represents - it has been reliable and helped you through your journey.
DaveGoddard said:
....and the following night I had an epileptic seizure (first one I'd had in my life and me nor my family have any history of epilepsy) and haven't been allowed to drive since. The f**king thing cursed me!
You're better rid - it doesn't sound fit for purpose.Sorry.. hope you're better soon.
Sort of, yeah.
Having had my ST170 for 4 years I fancied a change so bought a Mazda 3 sport, which is a decent car to be fair. The focus sat for a couple of months and the battery was fked, so bought a battery with the intention of, as soon as it starts, I'll clean it up and sell it on.
Put the battery on and started it, ran like a Swiss watch! The car is perfect so I thought fk it, I'm keeping it! I'm selling the Mazda now.
I'd hate to see someone else driving it. I love the thing!
Having had my ST170 for 4 years I fancied a change so bought a Mazda 3 sport, which is a decent car to be fair. The focus sat for a couple of months and the battery was f
ked, so bought a battery with the intention of, as soon as it starts, I'll clean it up and sell it on. Put the battery on and started it, ran like a Swiss watch! The car is perfect so I thought f
k it, I'm keeping it! I'm selling the Mazda now.I'd hate to see someone else driving it. I love the thing!
omgus said:
Way more so than is to be expected for one and not as much as you would think for the other.
S2000, spent year not buying a second car and then finally got it and it is everything i wanted. Fast, a little scary, roofless and superb on the local lanes. Strangely not as liked as my daily driver.
Focus ST170, bought to fill the "fun daily" gap when i got rid of my scooby 5 years ago. I bloody adore it, the engine is a little wheezy but still pulls, the engine warning light has been on for 4 years and no one can figure out why, it's only economical when on the motorway (where it is superb), the exhaust wants to fall off every year, it eats front tires (well that might be me), i have to use two different seating positions as long journeys require my knee straight and changing gear often means i need to drop the seat level so you don't feel like you're in a transit van.
And yet it is my favourite car of the two.
To the point where i will probably spend more than it's bloody worth again this year at MOT time and then claim it owes me nothing and costs pittance if anyone asks me.
Judging by how much I've sunk into mine over the last year financially I think I am in the same boat! They really do not have student friendly running costs but I refuse to sell it as I enjoy driving the thing so much. For all their flaws the ST170's really are good all rounders.S2000, spent year not buying a second car and then finally got it and it is everything i wanted. Fast, a little scary, roofless and superb on the local lanes. Strangely not as liked as my daily driver.
Focus ST170, bought to fill the "fun daily" gap when i got rid of my scooby 5 years ago. I bloody adore it, the engine is a little wheezy but still pulls, the engine warning light has been on for 4 years and no one can figure out why, it's only economical when on the motorway (where it is superb), the exhaust wants to fall off every year, it eats front tires (well that might be me), i have to use two different seating positions as long journeys require my knee straight and changing gear often means i need to drop the seat level so you don't feel like you're in a transit van.
And yet it is my favourite car of the two.
To the point where i will probably spend more than it's bloody worth again this year at MOT time and then claim it owes me nothing and costs pittance if anyone asks me.
I was massively attached to a V6 GTV that I owned for a long time, and was so sad the day I sold it, but since then, even though the cars I've had are good I've not been as attached
I think a lot of it is down to the usage of the car, currently I mostly just use mine to get to work and back as it's not big enough the rest of the time - so not really a part of anything significant, but way back when I had the Alfa, I'd be using it to go and do all sorts of things
I think a lot of it is down to the usage of the car, currently I mostly just use mine to get to work and back as it's not big enough the rest of the time - so not really a part of anything significant, but way back when I had the Alfa, I'd be using it to go and do all sorts of things
stuart-b said:
It's attachment through association which is why you feel that way. You've had a "journey" together, so it's no different to saying good bye to an old dying friend. It's "terminal" as you won't see the car again (probably).
So, not so much the car itself as what it represents - it has been reliable and helped you through your journey.
Okay I cried a little, that's it, I've officially turned into a woman. I'll leave my balls at the door. So, not so much the car itself as what it represents - it has been reliable and helped you through your journey.
omgus said:
AdamIndy said:
Sort of, yeah.
ST170 ....
I'd hate to see someone else driving it. I love the thing!
Bloody hell someone else as daft as me. ST170 ....
I'd hate to see someone else driving it. I love the thing!
TheFinners said:
Judging by how much I've sunk into mine over the last year financially I think I am in the same boat! They really do not have student friendly running costs but I refuse to sell it as I enjoy driving the thing so much. For all their flaws the ST170's really are good all rounders.
We are all idiots!But how good are they at long fairly high speed journeys. They bloody eat up miles and seem to love sitting at a fairly daft cruising speed just below 4k rpm.
Refused to part with the 2009 MX5 Mk3.5 she has 61K on her, I bought her in 2013 with just over 27K on the clock.
Since then finished my Legal Practice Course, got a job down in Kent in 2014 and piled some miles on. MOved at the start of this into place with my future wife and had a need for a practical car so got the BMW, she is pretty much a garage queen now.
Had a replacement engine last year near enough the full value of the car....
Since then finished my Legal Practice Course, got a job down in Kent in 2014 and piled some miles on. MOved at the start of this into place with my future wife and had a need for a practical car so got the BMW, she is pretty much a garage queen now.
Had a replacement engine last year near enough the full value of the car....
Some more than others. The most is the Vantage - the opportunity to buy the very car-of-my-dreams from the Top Gear episode shown in 1993:
Next is probably the SVR. Told the dealer I wanted one on first sight of the spy shots, had it 'bespoked' by SVO, and got to sign my name on it when it was built on the production line with its sister - the 6,000,000th Land Rover:
Next is probably the SVR. Told the dealer I wanted one on first sight of the spy shots, had it 'bespoked' by SVO, and got to sign my name on it when it was built on the production line with its sister - the 6,000,000th Land Rover:
My first car (2010 Polo 1.6 TDI) was an absolutely hateful thing for which I had no form of attachment to whatsoever... Luckily it was purchased with a 1 year warranty which paid out over half the value of the car in the 11 months I owned it (PoS was broken almost as much at it worked. (the dealer never made it an easy experience either))... Traded it in at a dealer for a slightly insulting amount of money (they then sold it on within a week with a 2k markup) but I truly hope its current owner has zero mechanical sympathy and no care or respect for driving and maintaining it and is treating it like the piece of ste it really is!
The car I purchased after PX'ing the polo is my current Mazda 3 which is brilliant in every way, fun to drive (in a rag it around everywhere bouncing off the limiter/ hire car sort of way... its also a really good steer for a family hatch), cheap to run (£11/month servicing plan for 3 years) and almost a year into ownership has never let me down... I really do think I am starting to develop feelings of emotional attachment/ affection to this one!
The MX-5 is a recent addition the the family but has not been the most reliable thing thus far (ABS faults, leaky caliper issues, clutch judder and damper problems) And seems to have spent more time in bits in my garage or on the driveway than it has on the road... I love driving when the thing when it works but so far haven't really formed any sort of attachment to it... I also cant help but think that each time I get back into the 3 I'm having almost as much fun!
te it really is! The car I purchased after PX'ing the polo is my current Mazda 3 which is brilliant in every way, fun to drive (in a rag it around everywhere bouncing off the limiter/ hire car sort of way... its also a really good steer for a family hatch), cheap to run (£11/month servicing plan for 3 years) and almost a year into ownership has never let me down... I really do think I am starting to develop feelings of emotional attachment/ affection to this one!
The MX-5 is a recent addition the the family but has not been the most reliable thing thus far (ABS faults, leaky caliper issues, clutch judder and damper problems) And seems to have spent more time in bits in my garage or on the driveway than it has on the road... I love driving when the thing when it works but so far haven't really formed any sort of attachment to it... I also cant help but think that each time I get back into the 3 I'm having almost as much fun!
Ste1987 said:
My first car, had it for 3 years and it has taken me all over the place. So many memories associated with it. Now I don't keep a car long enough to get attached!
Ditto for the first bit. My first (and only) car has taken me a trip to Alton towers, several trips to see family on the Isle of Man, has been an utterly reliable commuting vehicle, helped move my stuff when I changed jobs and moved from Edinburgh to SE England, nice holidays with the Mrs to the highlands. It's cost me a few bob in expensive (but not grudged) bills for wear and tear, but I've definitely grown to adore/respect it. I'd rather use it until it's only good for scrap than sell it to be abused/neglected until it dies. Luckily a patchy service history prior to my ownership will make it fairly unattractive to buyers.I'd maybe feel less sympathetic to what is basically just a machine, if it was an unreliable POS.
I've been emotionally attached to all my cars. Plenty of people see their cars as nothing more than a white appliance and there is nothing wrong with that. I personally see cars as being a major part of my formative years and even now the opportunity they bring. Too many people fall in the trap of only considering the cost of a car, the depreciation, the cost per mile etc rather than the events a car will bring you and the experience. It's not just about the destination, the journey is just as important.
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