Emotionally attached to cars
Discussion
Hello PH
On Friday last week I made the rash decision to sell my BMW M2 LCI. Financially it made sense, as it needed a major service, x4 tyres, front pads/discs and I could swear the wastegate rattle was getting louder.. But that might be my obsessiveness.
I went through a rough time 18m ago, where I lost interest in everything in life, apart from my M2. It really kept me going, and it became a friend. A loud, obnoxious, but loveable friend. One that I won't forget, and looking at the for sale pics from the garage brought a tear to my eye.
I'm normally sad once I've sold a car, especially my old Impreza WRX, but this feels different. It feels like I have lost a companion and my driveway looks so bare without the M2 dwarfing my Clio RS.
As you can likely tell, I adored the car. It was truly pampered during my 2 1/2 years of ownership, it never failed to make me smile. I would always look back at it while walking away, it was and still is my dream car. Without doubt buying the car was a milestone in my life, and one I dreamt of since my dad bought his first M car when I was a young lad.
So, PH, tell me, have you felt like this after selling a car? And, finally, did you end up buying it back?
NG
On Friday last week I made the rash decision to sell my BMW M2 LCI. Financially it made sense, as it needed a major service, x4 tyres, front pads/discs and I could swear the wastegate rattle was getting louder.. But that might be my obsessiveness.
I went through a rough time 18m ago, where I lost interest in everything in life, apart from my M2. It really kept me going, and it became a friend. A loud, obnoxious, but loveable friend. One that I won't forget, and looking at the for sale pics from the garage brought a tear to my eye.
I'm normally sad once I've sold a car, especially my old Impreza WRX, but this feels different. It feels like I have lost a companion and my driveway looks so bare without the M2 dwarfing my Clio RS.
As you can likely tell, I adored the car. It was truly pampered during my 2 1/2 years of ownership, it never failed to make me smile. I would always look back at it while walking away, it was and still is my dream car. Without doubt buying the car was a milestone in my life, and one I dreamt of since my dad bought his first M car when I was a young lad.
So, PH, tell me, have you felt like this after selling a car? And, finally, did you end up buying it back?
NG
When I was younger I didnt really notice as it was always about they next thing, the regret came much later but you cant keep them all.
Have had regrets, like selling a perfectly solid Mondeo for a ropey Fiat Coupe.
I know I would miss my Fiesta ST bitterly so despite getting a new car I have kept it, for £800 or so a year for tax, insurance and an MOT its worth not having to go through the pain.
Have had regrets, like selling a perfectly solid Mondeo for a ropey Fiat Coupe.
I know I would miss my Fiesta ST bitterly so despite getting a new car I have kept it, for £800 or so a year for tax, insurance and an MOT its worth not having to go through the pain.
I have this with my old E36 BMW 318is Coupé.
Bought it brand new in 1999. It served me impeccably the whole time until the tin rot started to set in a few years ago. Pestered a local restorer repeatedly over a number of years with a view to getting it perfect but he was always too busy. Just over a year ago a rear trailing arm pocket failed, due to corrosion, and that was it. It's been locked in the garage ever since.
I don't want to let it go as it has immense sentimental value. It's worth about as much as en empty crisp packet in its current state, so it's not like there's a ton of potentially useful money sitting in it. I can't justify the cost of the level of restoration it now needs, as things currently stand, but in five years when some financial bits and pieces have reached their conclusion, I will be able to. But, I'm currently in a rented house, looking to buy and, not being rich, won't get to be too picky where I can buy and if there'll be a garage, so I might have to offload it because, in the interim period, I might not be able to accommodate it. Annoyingly, in five years I will be able to, but it might have to go before then.
Bought it brand new in 1999. It served me impeccably the whole time until the tin rot started to set in a few years ago. Pestered a local restorer repeatedly over a number of years with a view to getting it perfect but he was always too busy. Just over a year ago a rear trailing arm pocket failed, due to corrosion, and that was it. It's been locked in the garage ever since.
I don't want to let it go as it has immense sentimental value. It's worth about as much as en empty crisp packet in its current state, so it's not like there's a ton of potentially useful money sitting in it. I can't justify the cost of the level of restoration it now needs, as things currently stand, but in five years when some financial bits and pieces have reached their conclusion, I will be able to. But, I'm currently in a rented house, looking to buy and, not being rich, won't get to be too picky where I can buy and if there'll be a garage, so I might have to offload it because, in the interim period, I might not be able to accommodate it. Annoyingly, in five years I will be able to, but it might have to go before then.
Bought a C63S coupe as a 40th birthday present, saw me through Covid and it was my 'last' fun car, planned to keep it forever but over time it slowly got used less and less until 2024 when it cover 600 miles. Not to worried about the milage but it was around £3k a year to keep on the road with tax, insurance and servicing and the choice was either put it in long term storage somewhere or let it go. It was sold a couple of months ago and I miss it dearly but I have put the cash from the sale in a bank account and will buy another when the time is right.
I looked at it a couple of times on Autotrader thinking should I buy it back but it sold within the week and now has a new home, hopefully they are looking after it like I did.
I looked at it a couple of times on Autotrader thinking should I buy it back but it sold within the week and now has a new home, hopefully they are looking after it like I did.
OP, you are allowed to change your mind.
It definitely sounds like you already have.
Discs, pads, service on an M2 is probably a fair chunk of change, but once done, you are good to go for another 5-6k miles.
Are you planning on replacing it with something else if you sell it? If so, what do you have in mind?
It definitely sounds like you already have.
Discs, pads, service on an M2 is probably a fair chunk of change, but once done, you are good to go for another 5-6k miles.
Are you planning on replacing it with something else if you sell it? If so, what do you have in mind?
Totally understand how you feel. Loads of cars and bikes that I should never have let go.
Sold a really nice Black metalic LHD 80 model 911SC back in April 2004, for just £6 grand, looks like it was Exported in 2006, it’s a £50 grand car now…..
Sold a really nice red 86 3.2 Carrera in 2006, as I just could not live with the colour, I should have had it painted black metalic, but a very expensive job to do. Its now listed as Grey, with a dodgy plate and I think it’s been “ back dated “
Sold a really good Griff 500 in early 08.
Had a breakdown and sold my lovely 88 3.2 Carrrera in late 2008 for just £10,400 ( £50 k car now )
Stupidly sold my much loved E46 M3 back in 2017 for just £6,000. I was short of ££ and it needed a pair of front wings, rear springs, rear shocks and rear tires.
However, some of the cash paid for a great 4 week Euro trip six weeks later.
Then in the September I sold the last of many R5 GT Turbos I have had over the years.
I tracked the M3 and R5 down a couple of years ago, the 5 sold for £19 grand……
However, in 2019 I tracked the Griff down, the same lovely guy I sold it to still had it. Finally went out to Germany in 22 and fetched it back.
Sold a really nice Black metalic LHD 80 model 911SC back in April 2004, for just £6 grand, looks like it was Exported in 2006, it’s a £50 grand car now…..
Sold a really nice red 86 3.2 Carrera in 2006, as I just could not live with the colour, I should have had it painted black metalic, but a very expensive job to do. Its now listed as Grey, with a dodgy plate and I think it’s been “ back dated “
Sold a really good Griff 500 in early 08.
Had a breakdown and sold my lovely 88 3.2 Carrrera in late 2008 for just £10,400 ( £50 k car now )
Stupidly sold my much loved E46 M3 back in 2017 for just £6,000. I was short of ££ and it needed a pair of front wings, rear springs, rear shocks and rear tires.
However, some of the cash paid for a great 4 week Euro trip six weeks later.
Then in the September I sold the last of many R5 GT Turbos I have had over the years.
I tracked the M3 and R5 down a couple of years ago, the 5 sold for £19 grand……
However, in 2019 I tracked the Griff down, the same lovely guy I sold it to still had it. Finally went out to Germany in 22 and fetched it back.
Nearly 17 years on, and still miss it virtually every day.
Saw it through from this...
To this, over a 14+ year period...
Went without holidays and socialising, lost friends and partners along the journey. I sold road cars to fund engine parts and spent money I didn't really have at times too. But, I don't regret a second of it, my "Christine".
Never, ever, ever been emotionally attached to a car.
It's an inanimate object - it's not a dog.
I think back with a smile to some of the memories I've had in cars and as a result of cars, but it's always the experience I'm wistful about and not the car itself.
There's always another car to come along if I want one - they're not unicorns (at my level of expenditure anyway)
I have to say I don't really understand those who get upset when they sell a car. Do you get upset when you sell a house or something else second hand?
It's an inanimate object - it's not a dog.
I think back with a smile to some of the memories I've had in cars and as a result of cars, but it's always the experience I'm wistful about and not the car itself.
There's always another car to come along if I want one - they're not unicorns (at my level of expenditure anyway)
I have to say I don't really understand those who get upset when they sell a car. Do you get upset when you sell a house or something else second hand?
Olivergt said:
OP, you are allowed to change your mind.
It definitely sounds like you already have.
Discs, pads, service on an M2 is probably a fair chunk of change, but once done, you are good to go for another 5-6k miles.
Are you planning on replacing it with something else if you sell it? If so, what do you have in mind?
Think OP has already sold it.It definitely sounds like you already have.
Discs, pads, service on an M2 is probably a fair chunk of change, but once done, you are good to go for another 5-6k miles.
Are you planning on replacing it with something else if you sell it? If so, what do you have in mind?
And as for emotional attachment, never.
Well maybe my first car, a Mini, in which I lost my virginity.
Edited by Monkeylegend on Monday 24th March 09:53
Muzzer79 said:
Never, ever, ever been emotionally attached to a car.
It's an inanimate object - it's not a dog.
I think back with a smile to some of the memories I've had in cars and as a result of cars, but it's always the experience I'm wistful about and not the car itself.
There's always another car to come along if I want one - they're not unicorns (at my level of expenditure anyway)
I have to say I don't really understand those who get upset when they sell a car. Do you get upset when you sell a house or something else second hand?
Have you strayed into the wrong website?It's an inanimate object - it's not a dog.
I think back with a smile to some of the memories I've had in cars and as a result of cars, but it's always the experience I'm wistful about and not the car itself.
There's always another car to come along if I want one - they're not unicorns (at my level of expenditure anyway)
I have to say I don't really understand those who get upset when they sell a car. Do you get upset when you sell a house or something else second hand?
TX.
Like MitchT above, I too bought a BMW in 1999.
It was a 1998 323i SE and it did duty as my work car, as a family car, taking 2 of my 3 home from being born in hospital, left to family only duties and then my car again, once a bigger family wagon was bought.
It crossed the UK, covered continental trips, helped me move numerous times after wife and I separated.
Sadly after 22 years of faithful service I had to sell it. Nought wrong with it but thanks to President Khan's ever spreading ULEZ, here in London.
It really hurt to let it go at around 140,000 miles. I still follow it's wellbeing via the Check MoT site. Still going strong at 180,000 miles.
It was a 1998 323i SE and it did duty as my work car, as a family car, taking 2 of my 3 home from being born in hospital, left to family only duties and then my car again, once a bigger family wagon was bought.
It crossed the UK, covered continental trips, helped me move numerous times after wife and I separated.
Sadly after 22 years of faithful service I had to sell it. Nought wrong with it but thanks to President Khan's ever spreading ULEZ, here in London.
It really hurt to let it go at around 140,000 miles. I still follow it's wellbeing via the Check MoT site. Still going strong at 180,000 miles.
Interesting that quite a few posters are talking about getting attached to German cars which are meant to be devoid of 'soul' and are assumed to be possessed of emotionless Teutonic efficiency...
I still miss my E39 M5 to the point I nearly bought the one that was up for auction a few weeks back, in fact I also miss the e34 and e36 that proceeded it.
I still miss my E39 M5 to the point I nearly bought the one that was up for auction a few weeks back, in fact I also miss the e34 and e36 that proceeded it.
I get very attached to all my cars, except the Evo 8 we owned. It was actually bought as a joint car at my partners insistence (she'd always wanted one), right one came up through a friend and we both drove it for a while until she decided she didn't like how big it was (pranged it on the garage reversing in) so she bought herself a 306 GTi6 and I had the 8 as mine. Incredibly quick and capable car but it just didn't really have any "soul". Drove it over to the continent and all over the UK, most practical car I've owned. Just got bored of the infinite capability in the end and sold it, we split the funds and she got her 350Z and me the Corvette. Neither of which I can see us parting with any time soon 8 years later.
The one I really miss is the 300ZX Twin Turbo I had. Never regretted selling it (needed serious money spending on it at the time, regularly in the garage and no support for them) but every time I see one I forget all the negatives and remember how great it was when it was all running well. That said no amount of nostalgia could make me part with what unmolested examples are fetching now
The one I really miss is the 300ZX Twin Turbo I had. Never regretted selling it (needed serious money spending on it at the time, regularly in the garage and no support for them) but every time I see one I forget all the negatives and remember how great it was when it was all running well. That said no amount of nostalgia could make me part with what unmolested examples are fetching now
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