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
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
radiodanno said:
Yesh Yesh! 
I hope to GOD it's called GoldMember?
Nice car. I remember an old boss of mine bought one on a total whim back in about 2004. "Saw it, liked it, bought it" (alright for some). Apart from the HGF which he was already prepared for it was a hoot.
Jewish racing gold I will have you know. Not only had it had the HGF sorted with the Land Rover rememdy - accepted as the way to go with these, the previous owner emailed me detailed photos of it being done, and gave me a box with the failed HG, the dowel bolt things and the water pump that were taken off as proof - they correspond to the pictures. He said it was important to have physical evidence not just paperwork if I ever came to sell it.I hope to GOD it's called GoldMember?
Nice car. I remember an old boss of mine bought one on a total whim back in about 2004. "Saw it, liked it, bought it" (alright for some). Apart from the HGF which he was already prepared for it was a hoot.
To say the new car is clean is an understatement. The seller was pointing out paint defects to me before purchase. I pretended to see them - he really was a fussy owner and the car is a credit to him.
Axionknight said:
I understand the sentiment behind this situation and I don't blame you for buying another one but sorry, that colour, it's terrible IMO.
Each to their own I guess.
Yes the first time I saw the car - in a local garage when I was looking for an MGF - the colour turned me off. So much so, that I used the fact I hated the colour as a means of getting a few quid knocked off the price. The intetnion was to buy the car for the honeymoon which was in August, then sell in the autumn. To be honest, I wasn't too keen on the whole idea at the time.Each to their own I guess.
The colour - sienna gold - grew on me. I love it now, but see why people might not appreciate it.
Just to keep the sentimental theme going.
I kept the original OEM car mats. My mum - now not with us - bought them for me as a preset for the car. They have the MG logo on them and when I sold the car, I put them safe in the attic.
Last night, I remembered them and brought them down. They were stored with a carrier bag which I also brought down. Inside - the ancient Sat Nav we used on our honeymoon. No power in it but I have the charger etc for it. My long lost sunglasses that I bought for the honemoon were there too, but also a cheap yellow plastic funnel. The funnel was what I used to fill the screenwash as the tank is low down in the front compartment. When not in use, it used to live in the spare wheel well with the jack etc.
Why is the funnel special? It is one of the earliest things I remember. My late Dad used it round the house and to fill his car up with screenwash when I was a kid.
It is back in the wheel well now and mum's car mats are back in the footwells.
OK - this is PH, lets stop the sentiment now....After a manly group hug...
I kept the original OEM car mats. My mum - now not with us - bought them for me as a preset for the car. They have the MG logo on them and when I sold the car, I put them safe in the attic.
Last night, I remembered them and brought them down. They were stored with a carrier bag which I also brought down. Inside - the ancient Sat Nav we used on our honeymoon. No power in it but I have the charger etc for it. My long lost sunglasses that I bought for the honemoon were there too, but also a cheap yellow plastic funnel. The funnel was what I used to fill the screenwash as the tank is low down in the front compartment. When not in use, it used to live in the spare wheel well with the jack etc.
Why is the funnel special? It is one of the earliest things I remember. My late Dad used it round the house and to fill his car up with screenwash when I was a kid.
It is back in the wheel well now and mum's car mats are back in the footwells.
OK - this is PH, lets stop the sentiment now....After a manly group hug...
Edited by wildcat45 on Sunday 2nd February 13:25
Edited by wildcat45 on Sunday 2nd February 13:55
TwigtheWonderkid said:
You're not sentimental over the car. You're sentimental over your wife, and are projecting it on to the car. Which is nice, given the whole SWT attitude on PH. How long married?
26 yrs for me. Our honeymoon car was a Mk2 Fiesta 1.4S. Not sure my wife would be impressed if I brought home another one now!!!
Well she shold be impressed. An S model. Beats my mate Dave's MKII Popular Plus - he always emphasised the PLUS bit too. 26 yrs for me. Our honeymoon car was a Mk2 Fiesta 1.4S. Not sure my wife would be impressed if I brought home another one now!!!
7 years - known her for 10. Asked her to marry me after knowing her a week. It was the consquence of a disagreement about a Volvo V70R. Yeah, she loves cars and is a way better driver than me.
Edited by wildcat45 on Sunday 2nd February 13:48
wooooody said:
Wildcat, just seen your profile says Galloway? Do you happen to live next to a massive house in deepest Galloway that's just been sold to new owners with a blue elise and S8? Asking as my friend's neighbour had one in gold when we visited at the weekend.
No mate, we've not been over in the F yet. I live near Gatehouse, and there was a gold one knocking round there last summer.chris watton said:
Very tidy - it looks as though you have the MGF Trophy 160 alloys on it, too.
We have had our Trophy 160 for 9 years - I part exchanged my first for a TF 160 and hated it, so chopped it in for a TVR - but I always loved that Trophy 160, so bought my wife the one we still have now back in 2005. It is as mollycoddled as the TVR - and like you, I don't really care what other's may think.
ETA - I felt exactly the same when I sold my Tamora in 2007, sound's silly, but it felt as if I let part of me go - but have bought another since, won't be making the same mistake again....
Yes Trophy wheels were the first thing I bought. Along with new Toyos.We have had our Trophy 160 for 9 years - I part exchanged my first for a TF 160 and hated it, so chopped it in for a TVR - but I always loved that Trophy 160, so bought my wife the one we still have now back in 2005. It is as mollycoddled as the TVR - and like you, I don't really care what other's may think.
ETA - I felt exactly the same when I sold my Tamora in 2007, sound's silly, but it felt as if I let part of me go - but have bought another since, won't be making the same mistake again....
Edited by chris watton on Thursday 13th February 14:45
We had a 160 TF but loved the F more.
I am surprised a private investigator could not come up with the goods.
Did something similar 15 years ago, to try and find two of my Dads old cars. Suntor camper vans, based on the Arina that had not been scrapped. No luck with owners clubs and a little mention in Practical Classics mag.
What I panned to do with the cars f I had found them is anyone's guess?
I hope you find your old car.
My F having had it for a month or so its actually better than my original one. Mechanically it seems just right. and the bodywork is near perfect.
I have put in leather seats, like mine had, and I have sourced the OEM radio. Not yet fitted.
Mine is an X reg, Te old one was Y with a distinctive but not personalised number. I'm hoping to get a reg no that is close to my old car.
Would I want the original car back? No. I don't know what sort of life it's had after me.
Perhaps one to tide you over in the meantime would be a good idea? Keep looking and good luck.
Did something similar 15 years ago, to try and find two of my Dads old cars. Suntor camper vans, based on the Arina that had not been scrapped. No luck with owners clubs and a little mention in Practical Classics mag.
What I panned to do with the cars f I had found them is anyone's guess?
I hope you find your old car.
My F having had it for a month or so its actually better than my original one. Mechanically it seems just right. and the bodywork is near perfect.
I have put in leather seats, like mine had, and I have sourced the OEM radio. Not yet fitted.
Mine is an X reg, Te old one was Y with a distinctive but not personalised number. I'm hoping to get a reg no that is close to my old car.
Would I want the original car back? No. I don't know what sort of life it's had after me.
Perhaps one to tide you over in the meantime would be a good idea? Keep looking and good luck.
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