Ever fallen back in love with a car?

[crisp packet]

I've had my 911 (997 Carrera 2S) for 6 years. It had already had a Hartech rebuild and I added Ohlins (and all the associated squishy bits) set up by Center Gravity. Manual, short shift, alcantara steering wheel, etc. It's always been wonderful to drive but i've been mostly using a cayenne to commute in and hadn't driven it since October.

I'd sent it to my specialist for a few jobs to be done and it came back on Friday all sorted and fully valeted, With the state of the roads and the fact i'm getting on a bit (54) I thought whilst it's looking so good i'll advertise it for sale. I'd convinced myself that an SUV is the only way to go for me now as i've not done a Cars and Coffee type drive for ages, and even longer since i've just gone out for an early mornng blast.

Well, as it happens two of the household cars need MOTs so, despite the weather being grey and not wanting to get any road grime on it when it looks so good, I took it to work this morning. 19 miles of A and B roads. What a revelation! I'd honestly forgotten how brilliant it is. I'd focussed on the actual drive. The feel of the car. My brain recalibrated from long months of just getting to a destination and thinking of other things whilst I do so.

I spent time re-setting the seat (my mechanic had dropped the car off), re-set my bluetooth, warmed the car gently and set off. I revelled in the road sensation and connection i'd not felt for so long. The wonderful gearshift, firm and mechanical but not too much so, the precision of revs pulling away (just a tickle needed), the sound (I turned my music off to just listen to it), the relative lightness, and its agility. The size, meaning I can steer around potholes and stay within the lines, the linear thrust and the general tactility of the experience. All at sensible speeds. God i've missed this car.

I feel a bit embarrased that i'd lost my way so much. I felt 20 years younger when I climbed out. It was like i'd mainlined something. A bit of me I didn't know i'd lost was back.

I'd resonated with the 'fallen out of love' thread so this felt odd but brilliant. Anyone else?

[thejaywills]

I go through periods of not using my 996.

Every time I take it out (usually months between) it feels like a new to me car.

996, factory aero, x51, gemballa wheels, suspension, full exhaust, tune, few other bits. absolute laugh out loud fun

[mwstewart]

I certainly have - I found it to be part and parcel of long term ownership.

[mintmansam]

I’m fortunate to have more than one car so I’ll allow myself to get nostalgia about the other car. It can go a few weeks or months but I’ll get back to driving it.

I alternate with a campervan (diesel) hot hatch (2.0 NA) and big saloon (2.9 NA auto) they all do things differently. It’s getting out and enjoying them that’s the key I think

Sometimes it’s us and not the car

I’ve found spending a bit of time searching for local places / events / new fun roads has spurred me on to use the cars more, cars always represent discovery for me.

[brillomaster]

not really - never had a car that i haven't driven for more than a month at a time. even my weekend track car gets driven a bit through winter.

i am consistently reminded how good my 987 boxster is every time i drive it properly though... theres just something about porsches it seems!

[Deranged Rover]

I regularly occasionally fall out of love with my Range Rover when something breaks on it, then fall back in love with it again when it's fixed.

[fflump]

I fell out with my Alfa 156 twin spark, particularly its automated manual Selespeed transmission. Once I realised that the up/down gear shift buttons on the steering wheel were merely a request, rather than a demand, I 'got' the car and enjoyed its supple chassis and fizzy engine. It was one of a long line of Alfas and Maseratis and it taught me to love the soul of the car, warts and all. Probably the car I least gelled with was an F-3 series which was too competent without having much character.

[Gordon Hill]

I fall in and out of love with driving more than any particular car.

[crofty1984]

I've had a second wind on my Lotus. I started a restoration 12 years ago, but it's basically sat at my in-law's farm with me occasionally tinkering.
My wife had it transported to our house for my birthday and I've made an enormous amount of progress in the last 4 weeks compared to the previous few years.