Do you grow out of certain types of car?
Discussion
I think I have.
In my teens and early twenties, I couldn't get enough of hot hatches and the like.
Yet when lately I was driving my puma at 34 I couldn't help but think I felt a bit daft driving. I swore this would never happen to me, but somehow I never quite felt right driving it.
I got offered a 328 coupe at a price which, frankly, was just too good to refuse, and I couldn't be happier. I love the way it looks and drives, and although it's not a fast car, I just love driving it.
It seems official, I'm getting old
In my teens and early twenties, I couldn't get enough of hot hatches and the like.
Yet when lately I was driving my puma at 34 I couldn't help but think I felt a bit daft driving. I swore this would never happen to me, but somehow I never quite felt right driving it.
I got offered a 328 coupe at a price which, frankly, was just too good to refuse, and I couldn't be happier. I love the way it looks and drives, and although it's not a fast car, I just love driving it.
It seems official, I'm getting old
I think you also grow 'in' to certain types of car too.
In my youth, I just didn't understand cars with boots. Hatchbacks were always the way to go and the fewer doors the better. Why did my dad always buy booted cars? I never got it.
Then came my early 30s and 5 door hatchbacks looked more up market to me. 3 doors started to wain.
Now mid 30s and booted cars are the future - I get it now. I think they look fantastic and a 5 door hatch moves to (a distant) second place. 3 door hatch is now of zero interest and I cannot explain why.
Rapidly moving up the charts are 4x4s too, and the idea of weekend off-roading just for fun is peeking into my mind and occupying space that should be reserved for fun runs in a sports car enjoying limits on the twisties..
Up next... Jag and Volvo. Must resist...must resist...
Funny old world ain't it...
In my youth, I just didn't understand cars with boots. Hatchbacks were always the way to go and the fewer doors the better. Why did my dad always buy booted cars? I never got it.
Then came my early 30s and 5 door hatchbacks looked more up market to me. 3 doors started to wain.
Now mid 30s and booted cars are the future - I get it now. I think they look fantastic and a 5 door hatch moves to (a distant) second place. 3 door hatch is now of zero interest and I cannot explain why.
Rapidly moving up the charts are 4x4s too, and the idea of weekend off-roading just for fun is peeking into my mind and occupying space that should be reserved for fun runs in a sports car enjoying limits on the twisties..
Up next... Jag and Volvo. Must resist...must resist...
Funny old world ain't it...
Paul O said:
I think you also grow 'in' to certain types of car too.
I think you're right there, when I had my original 328 I didn't really get it and ended up selling it but lately I can't get them out if my head so when I was offered this one I jumped at the chance.I love the plush (by my standards) interior and the relaxed demeanour of it, yet I don't feel like I'm missing out on much with its great rear drive handling and sonorous engine. Priorities change I guess.
It's an interesting point. I had a couple of scooby STI's in my late 20's. I started to feel like a bit of a gimp driving those in mid 30's, so I went all sensible, and bought a Honda. Every time I see an STI saloon for sale now, I get the urge to buy. I know it will get me the 'mid life crisis' label, but I don't really care.
I think you do. I can't help but think I'm getting on a bit to be pratting around in a hot hatch, its a bit ostentatious and a pain in the arse if I have 4 passengers..
That said, pretty much everything from the last 5 years or so doesn't really appeal for one reason or another, meantime my car is costing me little to keep going, certainly far less than the depreciation on a newer vehicle and when I go get a chance to use it properly I still like the way it drives.
Last time all the new stuff was all naff I just kept the car i had, eventually more interesting stuff turned up from the manufacturers. Not sure it'll happen this time.
That said, pretty much everything from the last 5 years or so doesn't really appeal for one reason or another, meantime my car is costing me little to keep going, certainly far less than the depreciation on a newer vehicle and when I go get a chance to use it properly I still like the way it drives.
Last time all the new stuff was all naff I just kept the car i had, eventually more interesting stuff turned up from the manufacturers. Not sure it'll happen this time.
Gwagon111 said:
It's an interesting point. I had a couple of scooby STI's in my late 20's. I started to feel like a bit of a gimp driving those in mid 30's, so I went all sensible, and bought a Honda. Every time I see an STI saloon for sale now, I get the urge to buy. I know if will get me the 'mid life crisis' label, but I don't really care.
A friend was poking fun at me recently, "mid life crisis" was mentioned. If thats the case its been going on since I was 19 Just bought a TVR 350i Wedge
I'm 60
Over the years I had MGs Caterham, TVR, Lotus, Clan, BMW M3 etc etc
But over the last 9 years I've been driving Volvo 940 Estates and by hell it's great to get back into something a bit sporty.
That said my legs don't fold enough to get into a frogeye sprite anymore, a Lotus Elise seems just too much to live with and I don't know if I'd get into a Caterham anymore
I'm 60
Over the years I had MGs Caterham, TVR, Lotus, Clan, BMW M3 etc etc
But over the last 9 years I've been driving Volvo 940 Estates and by hell it's great to get back into something a bit sporty.
That said my legs don't fold enough to get into a frogeye sprite anymore, a Lotus Elise seems just too much to live with and I don't know if I'd get into a Caterham anymore
I'm not sure I'm growing out of any type of car (I'd happily drive pretty much anything), but I am getting more and more attracted to (dare I say it!) 4x4s and (less controversially) big executive saloons. I'm 26, but in a couple of years I'll be buying something from JLR - I'm just not sure whether it'll be J or LR yet!
I enjoyed my VXR8 and it did get a lot of attention, but it was usually from a pretty iffy demographic. I think if I did the fast saloon thing again, I would take the RS6 route and may even de-badge it too. Far less likely to leave me embarrassed, either in a social situation, or at the traffic lights!
David87 said:
I'm not sure I'm growing out of any type of car (I'd happily drive pretty much anything), but I am getting more and more attracted to (dare I say it!) 4x4s and (less controversially) big executive saloons. I'm 26, but in a couple of years I'll be buying something from JLR - I'm just not sure whether it'll be J or LR yet!
Same here. I have a Saab 9-5 Aero, and my neighbour (a year older than I) has a nice looking tweaked Astra VXR, which also sounds excellent. I would happily drive/own both I think (although I've never driven an Astra VXR).Oh yeah, I'm 20.
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