The one that got away!
Discussion
Sometimes, for reasons beyond our control, or just sometimes down to a poor decision, selling a loved car can happen to many of us, leading to regret later on in life.
Let's see what cars you have sold on, and later regretted.
I'll start:
2004 Volvo S60 D5 Sport (face-lift). During my ownership I had it mapped, fitted T5 front brakes, EGR And Decatted, upgraded the sound system and fitted various upgrades to an OEM standard.
I owned this car for over 4 years. This car was a brilliant daily, the seats were like armchairs, it has plenty of power (it saw 130 on a private road and didn't break a sweat), it returned 50 mpg on a run and was utterly reliable.
This car was on my must have list since I was younger after starting in the motor trade. I fell in love with the styling, design and build quality.
My particular car pulled me through many memorable moments in my life, and it was definitely the best car I've ever owned.
Sadly I needed to free up some cash and I was able to quickly sell it on to raise some funds.
8 years on and I occasionally check it's MOT status, wishing i held onto it.
Let's see your cars that you regret selling on...
Let's see what cars you have sold on, and later regretted.
I'll start:
2004 Volvo S60 D5 Sport (face-lift). During my ownership I had it mapped, fitted T5 front brakes, EGR And Decatted, upgraded the sound system and fitted various upgrades to an OEM standard.
I owned this car for over 4 years. This car was a brilliant daily, the seats were like armchairs, it has plenty of power (it saw 130 on a private road and didn't break a sweat), it returned 50 mpg on a run and was utterly reliable.
This car was on my must have list since I was younger after starting in the motor trade. I fell in love with the styling, design and build quality.
My particular car pulled me through many memorable moments in my life, and it was definitely the best car I've ever owned.
Sadly I needed to free up some cash and I was able to quickly sell it on to raise some funds.
8 years on and I occasionally check it's MOT status, wishing i held onto it.
Let's see your cars that you regret selling on...
When I was 21 years old (40 years ago) I had this TVR, I really enjoyed driving it and I learnt a lot about cars as it could break down just looking at it. I kept it for a few years then sold it to buy a new 2 bed house and get married. 40 years on I still think about it now and again, amazingly the car is still out and about today as I tracked it down on the TVR forum last year, same registration albeit it is now green .. 
I had the pleasure of three supremely comfortable years in a D2 A8 - a simply exquisite vehicle from design to ergonomics, even in lowly 2.8TQ sport guise. Following an accident involving a London bus while neatly parked, their assessors considered it a write off and I got it back with a nice sum and full intention of getting it to its former. It didn't need much doing really, but I never got it done, and eventually, stupidly sold it to a keen marque fan who I'm 90% sure drove it into the continent where more abundant part supply and questionable modifications awaited.
Similarly, I once found an incredibly well specced first gen Allroad complete with 2.7T lump; threw some tuning and tasty treats at it, and a week after said work was completed it was also written off - this time by a clumsy van driver.
I'd have either back in a heartbeat.
Hindsight is a b
h.
Similarly, I once found an incredibly well specced first gen Allroad complete with 2.7T lump; threw some tuning and tasty treats at it, and a week after said work was completed it was also written off - this time by a clumsy van driver.
I'd have either back in a heartbeat.
Hindsight is a b
h. There's 2 for me my WRX STI V3 555 wagon I was scared I'd eventually lose my license if I kept it (late 20s I wasn't as careful as I am in my 50s!). My pride and joy RX7 FC3S Turbo 2. It was heavily modified running about 450bhp and that did affect the engine life! In the end I just couldn't afford to keep it in the knowledge that one detonation due to running lean or another unexplained boost surge could throw a seal through the turbo AGAIN! I do really miss the noise and the ridiculous power once the turbo spooled up at 4000rpm! 
Edited by rotarygoth on Saturday 4th April 00:46
Only two cars we have ever regretted selling.
And this one.
This one goes on Tuesday. Weirdly despite it being my wife’s ultimate dream car, it’s never really tugged on the heart strings in reality. Covering about 2000 miles in 3 years. Fantastic car, goes like stink and should be missed, but won’t be.
And this one.
This one goes on Tuesday. Weirdly despite it being my wife’s ultimate dream car, it’s never really tugged on the heart strings in reality. Covering about 2000 miles in 3 years. Fantastic car, goes like stink and should be missed, but won’t be.
Not really one that got away, but I had an XKR that was a lovely thing, just not that exact example. It had gearbox issues, peeling leather dash and some of the paintwork was less than good, so i was refunded after 3 months from a from a very good seller.
But I do still think about how lovely it was when it did work....
But I do still think about how lovely it was when it did work....
Two cars i always think of. When I was 23/24 I had an H reg A70 Toyota Supra 3.0 Turbo manual, in white with blue leather interior. That went when I got a wiff of steam over that gorgeous long bonnet. I was still on apprenticeship wages so part exchanged it quickly for a nearly new W reg Focus while it still worked.
The other was an L322 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 in Santorini black with black interior. Gorgeous thing, put 60k miles on it in my time, but tje sudden arrival of the EML light and needing both EGR valves replacing put it beyond my pocket at the time.
The other was an L322 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 in Santorini black with black interior. Gorgeous thing, put 60k miles on it in my time, but tje sudden arrival of the EML light and needing both EGR valves replacing put it beyond my pocket at the time.
My 1980 2.0S Ford Capri in Forest Green with black interior, black (with yellow and orange tartan pattern) fishnet recaros.
Not the best Capri going, but the exterior colour, "S" branding and the stunning interior made it look almost as goo as capri's get IMHO.
Sold for £200 in the early 00s. To be fair, even back then, it needed every panel replacing due to insane amounts of rust. God knows what would be left if I'd kept it.
Not the best Capri going, but the exterior colour, "S" branding and the stunning interior made it look almost as goo as capri's get IMHO.
Sold for £200 in the early 00s. To be fair, even back then, it needed every panel replacing due to insane amounts of rust. God knows what would be left if I'd kept it.
Weejus said:
When I was 21 years old (40 years ago) I had this TVR, I really enjoyed driving it and I learnt a lot about cars as it could break down just looking at it. I kept it for a few years then sold it to buy a new 2 bed house and get married. 40 years on I still think about it now and again, amazingly the car is still out and about today as I tracked it down on the TVR forum last year, same registration albeit it is now green ..
More than 40 years ago, around the same age, I bought a 3000e Capri, ran it for a few years. I didn't know then what the black sticker on the inner wing meant, I knew my step father had bought it from Ford Dagenham direct and that it was a directors car.
Fast forward to about 12 years ago, I wanted to find that exact model, contacted the clubs, only to be told Ford never built that car, they did, my step father sold it to me. I replied.
What I actually had wasn't a production car, though 250 of the limited edition Emarald green cars were produced, 250 in black and red too, but they were all based on the 1600 or V4 2000 drive train.
The car was actually a 1 of 1 SVO build, and I sold it for 200 quid.
rotarygoth said:
There's 2 for me my WRX STI V3 555 wagon I was scared I'd eventually lose my license if I kept it (late 20s I wasn't as careful as I am in my 50s!). My pride and joy RX7 FC3S Turbo 2. It was heavily modified running about 450bhp and that did affect the engine life! In the end I just couldn't afford to keep it in the knowledge that one detonation due to running lean or another unexplained boost surge could throw a seal through the turbo AGAIN! I do really miss the noise and the ridiculous power once the turbo spooled up at 4000rpm!
I failed to mention that I have also owned various High performance cars as well as the Volvo. Edited by rotarygoth on Saturday 4th April 00:46
Here was my Series 5 FC3s turbo 2 that I had for 3 years
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff