Mid-life crisis?....
Discussion
Now, I can guess I'm not exactly going to get a unbiased response to this but here goes....
The 450 now gets out for about 3-4 trackdays a year and only every so often at weekends or, like at the moment, when the Saab packs up on me! Although I've always said that I'll never sell it unless I desparately need the cash, I have to ask myself whether it is really worth me keeping her for this little use. With 2 young kids, I can't even take them both out at the same time in the TVR (one reason why it so rarely gets used at weekends).
As it's my official mid-life crisis today ie. 40! (I've had many unofficial ones), should I :
a) sell
b) keep
If I sell, I will replace her with something that could be used more on a daily basis if I want to. Bearing in mind I couldn't spend any more than I get for her, the main option at present is a Renault Alpine GTA.
Words of wisdom please
ps.
If any one wants to buy the 450, then the advert could go like this :
"1 of only 35 450SEs built. Totally original, concours condition. One careful lady owner. Never used on track or wet weather".
All of that would be a lie except the 1 of 35 bit....so for those of you that know my car, it's a bit difficult to value as well.
The 450 now gets out for about 3-4 trackdays a year and only every so often at weekends or, like at the moment, when the Saab packs up on me! Although I've always said that I'll never sell it unless I desparately need the cash, I have to ask myself whether it is really worth me keeping her for this little use. With 2 young kids, I can't even take them both out at the same time in the TVR (one reason why it so rarely gets used at weekends).
As it's my official mid-life crisis today ie. 40! (I've had many unofficial ones), should I :
a) sell
b) keep
If I sell, I will replace her with something that could be used more on a daily basis if I want to. Bearing in mind I couldn't spend any more than I get for her, the main option at present is a Renault Alpine GTA.
Words of wisdom please
ps.
If any one wants to buy the 450, then the advert could go like this :
"1 of only 35 450SEs built. Totally original, concours condition. One careful lady owner. Never used on track or wet weather".
All of that would be a lie except the 1 of 35 bit....so for those of you that know my car, it's a bit difficult to value as well.
Keep, keep, keep and keep.
And the Alpine alternative (not to stop you from dreaming), I think you can only sit in it with two and carry less lugage (like nothing). And in the process you can't take the roof off, loose the best noise in the world (especially yours). Probably you told yourself this already as well a couple of times.
Perhaps you can find somebody to swap nice cars for a year, and probably you would like it back after it just drove of.
Or pickup something like a nissan (yes) 200sx for next to nothing as a daily drive with a back seat..... (strike out what you don't like). But the message is that there are very cheap cars out there that won't cost alot (nobody wants them), with good performance and run it besides the wedge. Think that mazda have a coupe like that as well, mx6 anyone?
There is also a way to look at it on the bright side: you can take somebody with you in the wedge. Ok not the whole family, but my solution is go with two cars: wife takes the family hack, and I take the wedge and one of the kids in turn. Yes, we need to be mad, but my agrument is that a backup car is always nice if the wedge breaks down (but they don't, don't they?).
And by the way, 40 is only halfway.... and another 40 years coming to make noise and enjoy the best roof down motoring.
That is only me of course. Good luck with keeping the awesome 450se.
Rob
And the Alpine alternative (not to stop you from dreaming), I think you can only sit in it with two and carry less lugage (like nothing). And in the process you can't take the roof off, loose the best noise in the world (especially yours). Probably you told yourself this already as well a couple of times.
Perhaps you can find somebody to swap nice cars for a year, and probably you would like it back after it just drove of.
Or pickup something like a nissan (yes) 200sx for next to nothing as a daily drive with a back seat..... (strike out what you don't like). But the message is that there are very cheap cars out there that won't cost alot (nobody wants them), with good performance and run it besides the wedge. Think that mazda have a coupe like that as well, mx6 anyone?
There is also a way to look at it on the bright side: you can take somebody with you in the wedge. Ok not the whole family, but my solution is go with two cars: wife takes the family hack, and I take the wedge and one of the kids in turn. Yes, we need to be mad, but my agrument is that a backup car is always nice if the wedge breaks down (but they don't, don't they?).
And by the way, 40 is only halfway.... and another 40 years coming to make noise and enjoy the best roof down motoring.
That is only me of course. Good luck with keeping the awesome 450se.
Rob
It is a complete waste of money, just a big expensive toy really. You should sell it to me but given it has lost a number of original features the price would be much less than a standard car.
I bought the white 350 last year (age 41) did the Snetterton track day and bought a 400SE just before I hit 42 and did Brands, yours would add to the set nicely. Of course since I have not actually managed to sell the 350 yet and I have a wife that I would prefer to stay married to...
I reckon you would be mad to sell and you have only hit mid-life crisis not senility.
I bought the white 350 last year (age 41) did the Snetterton track day and bought a 400SE just before I hit 42 and did Brands, yours would add to the set nicely. Of course since I have not actually managed to sell the 350 yet and I have a wife that I would prefer to stay married to...
I reckon you would be mad to sell and you have only hit mid-life crisis not senility.
KEEP IT!!!
For what money you'd get for it, nothing comes even close.
I contemplated getting rid of my 400. I thought an Elise? - after driving one, no chance.
If you had to go four seats, the Lotus Carlton is still very pricy and too rare, You could pick up the older style BMW M3 - there nice, have 4 seats and you can get a drop top.... but its "only" a BMW.
Other option is a Porker 911. My Mum had one a few years back & a cracking motor to boot. When I reached mid teans she got rid because it was too small and she couldn't fit us in. It just depends how old your kids are...
For what money you'd get for it, nothing comes even close.
I contemplated getting rid of my 400. I thought an Elise? - after driving one, no chance.
If you had to go four seats, the Lotus Carlton is still very pricy and too rare, You could pick up the older style BMW M3 - there nice, have 4 seats and you can get a drop top.... but its "only" a BMW.
Other option is a Porker 911. My Mum had one a few years back & a cracking motor to boot. When I reached mid teans she got rid because it was too small and she couldn't fit us in. It just depends how old your kids are...
How shed-like is a 911 going to be for Wedge money? ..and it may have extra seats but it's still got the engine in the wrong place. Soulless, teutonic beetle, spit#! Take two cars out on family outings. If one breaks down you can always tow it home with the Wedge!
# IMHO you could do a lot worse (thinks... beetle)
Leo
# IMHO you could do a lot worse (thinks... beetle)
Leo
thanks for all the advice! The stupid thing is that my wife hates the wedge and I've always said I won't sell it - so I really should keep it just so I can carry on annoying her and filling the house with petrol fumes everytime I put it back in the garage.
911 - no chance for the same sort of money.
200SX - had one as a day to day car before the Saab (pre kids) and it gave both of us back ache, had cr*p luggage space and was way more scary in the wet than the Wedge which has 120bhp more!
The Saab stays as family hack so luggage space of an Alpine wouldn't be an issue.
One option is close to the swap idea...only that I'd get an Alpine for 6 months then work out which one of the two I want to keep (well, that's what I'd tell the wife is the plan..in reality, I'd aim to keep both)
What would I miss about the 450? - definately the roof off experience and the noise. What wouldn't I miss? - it's not exactly fun to drive on normal roads other than open sweeping A roads. Also, as I'm using it everyday while the Saab is being fixed, I wouldn't miss the £25 fuel for a 70 mile round trip!
911 - no chance for the same sort of money.
200SX - had one as a day to day car before the Saab (pre kids) and it gave both of us back ache, had cr*p luggage space and was way more scary in the wet than the Wedge which has 120bhp more!
The Saab stays as family hack so luggage space of an Alpine wouldn't be an issue.
One option is close to the swap idea...only that I'd get an Alpine for 6 months then work out which one of the two I want to keep (well, that's what I'd tell the wife is the plan..in reality, I'd aim to keep both
) What would I miss about the 450? - definately the roof off experience and the noise. What wouldn't I miss? - it's not exactly fun to drive on normal roads other than open sweeping A roads. Also, as I'm using it everyday while the Saab is being fixed, I wouldn't miss the £25 fuel for a 70 mile round trip!
Edited by cirks on Thursday 21st September 21:54
Been having a similar set of thoughts myself. I think you should keep it. When they are older your kids will appreciate it and you may even want to pass it on.
I've decided to keep the Wedge, taking it off the road next month to start a ground up, new chassis restoration, with no real time scale to get it done by. At the moment the prices are fairly low, but in another 10 years, there will be very few Wedges around I fear and it will be both more valuable, more collectible and rarer.
I still love driving it when I get the chance, which isn't that often TBH.
I've decided to keep the Wedge, taking it off the road next month to start a ground up, new chassis restoration, with no real time scale to get it done by. At the moment the prices are fairly low, but in another 10 years, there will be very few Wedges around I fear and it will be both more valuable, more collectible and rarer.
I still love driving it when I get the chance, which isn't that often TBH.
Wifey says that I am in a mid life crisis, I say so what !! some blokes have one and sod of with a 25 year old, bar maid dog from the council estate, at least my mid life passion is only for a car, (which is much safer than a big bike by the way) I have always wanted a TVR and at 45 I can now afford one without the need to feel guilty about the cost. I dont intend to get to 65 -70, look back and think, if only ........ If something else takes my fancy in a week, month, year or two and I have to sell the Wedge to do it, so be it, but for now the 400 is it. Its a great feeling to think its sat at home in the garage and..... its mine !! Its a 24/7 comfort blanket for a sad, balding, over weight, middle aged, extrovert, petrol head.
Nuf Said
Nuf Said
BadRedWedge said:
Wifey says that I am in a mid life crisis, I say so what !! some blokes have one and sod of with a 25 year old, bar maid dog from the council estate, at least my mid life passion is only for a car, (which is much safer than a big bike by the way) I have always wanted a TVR and at 45 I can now afford one without the need to feel guilty about the cost. I dont intend to get to 65 -70, look back and think, if only ........ If something else takes my fancy in a week, month, year or two and I have to sell the Wedge to do it, so be it, but for now the 400 is it. Its a great feeling to think its sat at home in the garage and..... its mine !! Its a 24/7 comfort blanket for a sad, balding, over weight, middle aged, extrovert, petrol head.
Nuf Said
Nuf Said
Wot he said
BadRedWedge said:
some blokes have one and sod of with a 25 year old, bar maid
Can I have one of those too... (see, not the dog bit) BadRedWedge said:
I have always wanted a TVR and at 45 I can now afford one
Well, I seem to be able to afford one less now than when I was 22 (when I got my first 350i)
I've had the 450 for 10 years so at least I wouldn't be looking back and saying "if only". BadRedWedge said:
Its a 24/7 comfort blanket for a sad, balding, over weight, middle aged, extrovert, petrol head.
Nuf Said
Nuf Said
That's no way to talk about my wife....oops, that's not what you meant is it
unfortunately the description fits me quite well Edited by cirks on Friday 22 September 09:26
Well hopefully mine's a mid-life crisis too, but as I'm 52 that might be pushing it by a few years! Had mine 13 years and decided a few years ago for a lot of the reasons stated that I won't sell it unless I have to - I suppose that's one good thing about prices/values falling - soon gets to the level where there's little point in selling it anyway.
Can't even get in it at the moment as I'm waiting for a hip replacement (I was the one with the walking stick at BBWF) but it sit's in the garage as something to focus on and look forward to after recovery from the op.
Interesting comment FrenchTVR - I've often thought about leaving the chassis until something major fails and then rebuilding onto a new one. I seem to remember a post a few years ago that a new one was about £2500?
Cirks, I remember yours from the first BBWF and I know I would avoid selling it if at all possible.
Speaking of BBWF, what happened about the raffle prizes? I won a RR tuning session but heard nothing since?
Can't even get in it at the moment as I'm waiting for a hip replacement (I was the one with the walking stick at BBWF) but it sit's in the garage as something to focus on and look forward to after recovery from the op.
Interesting comment FrenchTVR - I've often thought about leaving the chassis until something major fails and then rebuilding onto a new one. I seem to remember a post a few years ago that a new one was about £2500?
Cirks, I remember yours from the first BBWF and I know I would avoid selling it if at all possible.
Speaking of BBWF, what happened about the raffle prizes? I won a RR tuning session but heard nothing since?
cirks said:
SteveHall said:
Had mine 13 years and .... I'm waiting for a hip replacement
Obviously it's a Wedge induced problem...I've had mine for 10 years and have arthritis in both hips so will also need hip op by the time I'm similar age to you....Do you think we should sue TVR
I was thinking more along the lines of getting their research department onboard (once they've decided where they're going to live). Kevlar hip joints must be good for a few years - should lose a bit of weight too!
SteveHall said:
Speaking of BBWF, what happened about the raffle prizes? I won a RR tuning session but heard nothing since?
Aha, then it was you then Steve. Will mail you later - but basically you need to contact Mark Adams to arrange. This reminds me that i still have to send out the £100 Rimmers vouchers as well!
dickymint said:
SteveHall said:
Speaking of BBWF, what happened about the raffle prizes? I won a RR tuning session but heard nothing since?
Aha, then it was you then Steve. Will mail you later - but basically you need to contact Mark Adams to arrange. This reminds me that i still have to send out the £100 Rimmers vouchers as well!
Thank's for that Dicky - may be a while before I can use it, though I suppose a round trip from Yorkshire to Surrey/Sussex (?) in a Wedge is a good a test of a new hip as any!
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