They say you can never go home........
Discussion
.....You know, leave the past where it is. You had a great car, you moved on, you miss it but the past is the past.
Something I would have agreed with until this week.
Many years ago, my wife to be suggested we have a soft top for our honeymoon which she wanted to be a touring holiday.
I bought a six year old and hardly used MGF. It came in a rare colour, and we loved it, so much so that we meticulously maintained it, kept it for years, and even kept it and ran it alongside a replacement which we sold.
I flogged it in a fit of temper (minor problem but sometimes you just fall out of love with a car) for a new MX5 in 2011. That lasted 18 months before we chopped it in for a Land Rover.
The love for the MGF was stil there. A bit like a pet you have who died. Fond memories - we had a photo of the car with us taken by a friend framed and it sits among the wedding photos on a table.
The car in question was traced through the web by me. Modifications not to my taste, a sad looking thing these days. I considered buying it, but decided not to.
The other week I am out with a mate when I get a picture message of an MGF from my wife. Same colour as our old car, I click on the link to the Ebay ad. Its the same age, same spec, lower miles than ours was and a fantastic service history.
I bought it.
I hope I am not jinxing things, but it is like it has never been away. The feel, the smell, the sound, the instinctive way you know where things are in the cockpit, the feel of the stitching on the steering wheel, the glow of the insturments, the creaking interior which is better than I remember, the crap headlights, the feeling of putting it into reverse, the sound of it starting when cold, and the lovely noise over your shoulder when you stretch its legs.
Like finding a favourite pair of shoes in the cupboard.
It just feels so right to have one back - even the feel of the key and fob when I reach into my pocket to get change in a shop is reassuring, taking me back to my early married days.
I know they are not to everyone's taste. It isn't so much about how good the car is, (I could go and buy an F Type if I really wanted one - and may do in a couple of years once the deal is up on my Land Rover} but what the car is to me.
Driving it yesterday my wife said: "Whatever and no matter how many cars we buy in future - Jags, Mercedes. Landies - whatever happens we keep this car."
I hope that is the case.
Something I would have agreed with until this week.
Many years ago, my wife to be suggested we have a soft top for our honeymoon which she wanted to be a touring holiday.
I bought a six year old and hardly used MGF. It came in a rare colour, and we loved it, so much so that we meticulously maintained it, kept it for years, and even kept it and ran it alongside a replacement which we sold.
I flogged it in a fit of temper (minor problem but sometimes you just fall out of love with a car) for a new MX5 in 2011. That lasted 18 months before we chopped it in for a Land Rover.
The love for the MGF was stil there. A bit like a pet you have who died. Fond memories - we had a photo of the car with us taken by a friend framed and it sits among the wedding photos on a table.
The car in question was traced through the web by me. Modifications not to my taste, a sad looking thing these days. I considered buying it, but decided not to.
The other week I am out with a mate when I get a picture message of an MGF from my wife. Same colour as our old car, I click on the link to the Ebay ad. Its the same age, same spec, lower miles than ours was and a fantastic service history.
I bought it.
I hope I am not jinxing things, but it is like it has never been away. The feel, the smell, the sound, the instinctive way you know where things are in the cockpit, the feel of the stitching on the steering wheel, the glow of the insturments, the creaking interior which is better than I remember, the crap headlights, the feeling of putting it into reverse, the sound of it starting when cold, and the lovely noise over your shoulder when you stretch its legs.
Like finding a favourite pair of shoes in the cupboard.
It just feels so right to have one back - even the feel of the key and fob when I reach into my pocket to get change in a shop is reassuring, taking me back to my early married days.
I know they are not to everyone's taste. It isn't so much about how good the car is, (I could go and buy an F Type if I really wanted one - and may do in a couple of years once the deal is up on my Land Rover} but what the car is to me.
Driving it yesterday my wife said: "Whatever and no matter how many cars we buy in future - Jags, Mercedes. Landies - whatever happens we keep this car."
I hope that is the case.
Edited by wildcat45 on Sunday 2nd February 11:48
CHN said:
you need to get out more
This is exactly what makes PH awful sometimes. Ridiculous & not needed posts!OP, I know it's not really the same, but as my first car I had a '94 'Orange' VW polo. Everyone hated the colour, but I loved it, along with the car. Would have it back in a heart beat!!
steveeeW said:
This is exactly what makes PH awful sometimes. Ridiculous & not needed posts!
OP, I know it's not really the same, but as my first car I had a '94 'Orange' VW polo. Everyone hated the colour, but I loved it, along with the car. Would have it back in a heart beat!!
Oh come on, it was a joke...OP, I know it's not really the same, but as my first car I had a '94 'Orange' VW polo. Everyone hated the colour, but I loved it, along with the car. Would have it back in a heart beat!!
I did something similar with a Toyota I had. At 19 it was my first decent car, fully loaded exec mobile. 6 years later I'd become lazy with it then cursed it when it needed a bit of TLC. (From memory, just a wing and a ruddy battery!)
The second I saw it on the back of a trailer heading off to its new home in Germany I knew I'd made a mistake.
Last year I bought a pretty much identical car, even in the same number plate sequence. I'm bloody glad I did.
Enjoy it man. x
The second I saw it on the back of a trailer heading off to its new home in Germany I knew I'd made a mistake.
Last year I bought a pretty much identical car, even in the same number plate sequence. I'm bloody glad I did.
Enjoy it man. x
As the great Jimi Hendrix said, 'you're livin in the past'.
Those little MGF's really are special little cars. I still can't decide to keep ours or sell it. It was bought as a summer car, instead of going on holiday, then we intended to sell on (about five years ago), which never happened due to falling for it.
Last July we bought a replacement car, so it's in the garage redundant.
We really have a soft spot for it. About two years into ownership we test drove an MX5 to replace it but didn't like it as much. so it stayed.
Back to topic. I tried living without an integrale. I was like you in love with it, I missed everything about it, it was like a part of me, the smell, the door handles, the dash, the steering wheel, it was everything I wanted. I bought a fancy pants German car when the rust set in. The car was at a friends being repaired but it was too far gone. I couldn't live without one. So I bought another and sold the German car.
Although a newer slightly different model, it didn't matter. I was home again, I shall never be without one.
Must say though, the replacement manages to hit the spot pretty good aswell. There's really no space for two mid-engined rwd cars
I think we all need to invest in bigger garages.
Those little MGF's really are special little cars. I still can't decide to keep ours or sell it. It was bought as a summer car, instead of going on holiday, then we intended to sell on (about five years ago), which never happened due to falling for it.
Last July we bought a replacement car, so it's in the garage redundant.
We really have a soft spot for it. About two years into ownership we test drove an MX5 to replace it but didn't like it as much. so it stayed.
Back to topic. I tried living without an integrale. I was like you in love with it, I missed everything about it, it was like a part of me, the smell, the door handles, the dash, the steering wheel, it was everything I wanted. I bought a fancy pants German car when the rust set in. The car was at a friends being repaired but it was too far gone. I couldn't live without one. So I bought another and sold the German car.
Although a newer slightly different model, it didn't matter. I was home again, I shall never be without one.
Must say though, the replacement manages to hit the spot pretty good aswell. There's really no space for two mid-engined rwd cars
I think we all need to invest in bigger garages.
Edited by deltashad on Sunday 2nd February 12:18
RobM77 said:
I actually thought it was a lovely story.
I still miss my Mk1 MR2 in the same way.
It is, well written and passionate. Thats my sense of humour, when I see something like this, a long post with more effort than normal, it makes me chuckle when someone replies with a short sI still miss my Mk1 MR2 in the same way.
te post, like mine.No offence intended to the op.
I'm glad I'm not offended about tiny little things like this as some of you guys are. Each to their own though.
Not offended. Sometimes becasue things are written, the tone of the comment doesn't come through. if I told this story to say my business partner on a night out, he'd smile, tell me to get out more and buy me another beer.
And thanks for the replies. Nice to know its not just me who gets sentimental over cars. The problem for me is storage. Probably a good thing. I have two homes but no garage. My main house can take two cars easily - I could with a bit of work and removing a bit more garden make it 3 - but Edwardian town houses like mine have space at a premium when it comes to their footprint. Room after room going upwards. Lots of space at the front and side where you'd never be allowed to build a garage and a tiny back yard - or courtyard if you want to be a poncy estate agent.
My home in Scotland could take 3 cars - but building a garage would be an expensive and protracted affair. I think it might be in some sort of preservation area too. Just as well as I already have another car I love - my Mazda CX-7 with my father in law on long-term loan - it is in his name now - as I couldn't bare to sell it. I take it out now and then, and like the MGF but in a different way - it feels like "home"
And thanks for the replies. Nice to know its not just me who gets sentimental over cars. The problem for me is storage. Probably a good thing. I have two homes but no garage. My main house can take two cars easily - I could with a bit of work and removing a bit more garden make it 3 - but Edwardian town houses like mine have space at a premium when it comes to their footprint. Room after room going upwards. Lots of space at the front and side where you'd never be allowed to build a garage and a tiny back yard - or courtyard if you want to be a poncy estate agent.
My home in Scotland could take 3 cars - but building a garage would be an expensive and protracted affair. I think it might be in some sort of preservation area too. Just as well as I already have another car I love - my Mazda CX-7 with my father in law on long-term loan - it is in his name now - as I couldn't bare to sell it. I take it out now and then, and like the MGF but in a different way - it feels like "home"
Edited by wildcat45 on Sunday 2nd February 12:30
wildcat45 said:
Not offended. Sometimes becasue things are written, the tone of the comment doesn't come through. if I told this story to say my business partner on a night out, he'd smile, tell me to get out more and buy me another beer.
Good, I'm glad.Incidently, I've just gone back to an Elise having sold my original one several years ago (coincidently we sold the MGF to get the first Elise). As you say, as soon as I wedged myself back into it, it felt just right and stirred up many fond memories.
I don't think we've timed these purchases very well though, roll on the summer!
OP - lovely sentiment in your post, i truly hope it is everything you are expecting.
I often look at the classifieds for my first car, a white 205 1.9GTi with a full sliding roof. Man i loved that car. When i am in a position to have one (ie, somewhere to keep it!) ill snap one up like a shot.
Good luck with the car.
also, like to add, your missus - she's a keeper!
I often look at the classifieds for my first car, a white 205 1.9GTi with a full sliding roof. Man i loved that car. When i am in a position to have one (ie, somewhere to keep it!) ill snap one up like a shot.
Good luck with the car.
also, like to add, your missus - she's a keeper!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff