Falling out of love with cars?
Discussion
I've been well into cars all my life, ever since a young child.
I'm now 33, and feel myself just getting bored with the whole thing. I'm currently driving a 350Z and I do actually really like the car, but find myself thinking more about how much its costing me. £500 road tax. £600 insurance. 20 MPG on super unleaded, I drive 20 miles each way to work and its costing me a lot of money. I can afford it, but it means I have no spare money left. I only got it 2 months ago, and the novelty has worn off, yet I am paying for a loan for this, and doubt I'll get what I paid.
I feel filthy for saying this on Pistonheads, but has anyone else ever felt like this? I know cars are a labour of love for many, but somewhere down the line, I feel like I've lost that love
I'm now 33, and feel myself just getting bored with the whole thing. I'm currently driving a 350Z and I do actually really like the car, but find myself thinking more about how much its costing me. £500 road tax. £600 insurance. 20 MPG on super unleaded, I drive 20 miles each way to work and its costing me a lot of money. I can afford it, but it means I have no spare money left. I only got it 2 months ago, and the novelty has worn off, yet I am paying for a loan for this, and doubt I'll get what I paid.
I feel filthy for saying this on Pistonheads, but has anyone else ever felt like this? I know cars are a labour of love for many, but somewhere down the line, I feel like I've lost that love
Did you do the sums before buying? Surely even the most ardent car fan would see that having no money left over due to running costs would dull the excitement of a nice car very quickly? Perhaps the mistake was stretching the budget to the max with the loan, which locks you into the ownership unless you're prepared to take a bullet and sell at a loss and just pay the loan off month by month on a car you no longer own?
LiamB said:
Nothing beats a bike, a whole lot easier to commute on as well. 
On freezing cold, dark mornings the last place I'd want to be is on a bike. The roads around here get pretty treacherous, which is probably why most bikers I know, even the ones who will bike to work in bucketing rain, put their bikes away and come to work in their "cages" when the conditions really get dicey. Edited by Mastodon2 on Monday 12th November 20:55
I know what you mean. I have never had a slow car (well slow for me), 205 1.9 GTi, 207 GTi, BMW 318is coupe, Fiesta 1.6s but now I have a BMW X3 2.0d. Low insurance, low tax, 450 miles out of a tank (I don't have to pay for fuel though) and so far low on maintenance too.
I do sort of miss a revvy petrol and will want one again but what with all the restrictions and cost associated with fun driving nowadys I can't be arsed.
I do sort of miss a revvy petrol and will want one again but what with all the restrictions and cost associated with fun driving nowadys I can't be arsed.
Mastodon2 said:
Did you do the sums before buying? Surely even the most ardent car fan would see that having no money left over due to running costs would dull the excitement of a nice car very quickly? Perhaps the mistake was stretching the budget to the max with the loan, which locks you into the ownership unless you're prepared to take a bullet and sell at a loss and just pay the loan off month by month on a car you no longer own?
Thing is my previous car, a 172, which I bought hoping for more reasonable running costs, cost me more than this one did!Its not so much the money, its just that I find I don't really bother going out much in it any more for the hell of it, as I've already spent £400 a month just doing the mundane stuff.
I've had a run of bad luck recently with cars which might have something to do with it. To be fair this one is very reliable (god help me if it wasn't though).
TameRacingDriver said:
Thing is my previous car, a 172, which I bought hoping for more reasonable running costs, cost me more than this one did!
Why did the 172 cost more than your 350Z? I'm interested in getting a 182 as a cheap fun second car, but if you say the 172 is not cheap....Munich said:
Why did the 172 cost more than your 350Z? I'm interested in getting a 182 as a cheap fun second car, but if you say the 172 is not cheap....
Because they are made of chocolate, and I had one thing after another go wrong with it. The Z has needed nothing buy a set of belts and a slave cylinder, and a couple of tyres. In about the same amount of time, I had pretty much replaced everything on the clio and it was still going wrong...Can understand where you're coming from with the petrol. I do 5 miles each way in my 370z and I'm always surprised/ annoyed to notice that I need to go to the local BP. Again. Christ alone knows what doing 40 miles a day sets you back! I think if I ever had a proper commute I'd buy a 1 litre hatch for £200. Or does that defeat the object...
Munich said:
oh and to say on topic, I undertand what you mean. I've loved cars my whole life, and was always going for a drive just for the hell of it. However, recently I'm just not prepared to spend 200 EURs every time I want to go for a Sunday drive.
Indeed. The 350Z spends 90% of its time being driven to work and back, on the same roads. I find myself suddenly looking at 50 - 60 MPG diesels because the thought of paying £120 a month instead of £400 just to drive on the same roads seems more appealing (and thats before we take into account insurance, VED and tyre costs - the rest I wouldn't care about).I'm sure if I was rich I wouldn't care about this, though. I suppose its only us "poor" people who are vulnerable to these feelings...
daveyj0ls said:
Can understand where you're coming from with the petrol. I do 5 miles each way in my 370z and I'm always surprised/ annoyed to notice that I need to go to the local BP. Again. Christ alone knows what doing 40 miles a day sets you back! I think if I ever had a proper commute I'd buy a 1 litre hatch for £200. Or does that defeat the object...
I could use my GFs Corsa, but then I'd always wish I was in the Zed, as its obviously a far nicer place to be, but still.... and the thing is, I'd resent paying £1200 a year just to own the thing, before I'd even driven it. I so wish petrol was 70ppl again.Yes I know the feeling but sell it and then see how you feel. If your a proper petrol head then within days you'll be gutted.
I've done it before and regretted it. My Tvr sits in the garage a lot now, I try to give it a run every couple of weeks to keep things active but really I don't use it, however on those sunny days.......nothing beats the feeling and I'd be gutted without a fast car there to use at a whim.
I've done it before and regretted it. My Tvr sits in the garage a lot now, I try to give it a run every couple of weeks to keep things active but really I don't use it, however on those sunny days.......nothing beats the feeling and I'd be gutted without a fast car there to use at a whim.
daveyj0ls said:
Can understand where you're coming from with the petrol. I do 5 miles each way in my 370z and I'm always surprised/ annoyed to notice that I need to go to the local BP. Again. Christ alone knows what doing 40 miles a day sets you back! I think if I ever had a proper commute I'd buy a 1 litre hatch for £200. Or does that defeat the object...
I drive my S2000 in similar circumstances, I know it costs me a bit to run but I made allowances for this when I bought it.Plus if I need entertainment, there's plenty of roundabouts and a little stretch of tunnel one of my routes to work
Whilst the 350Z is a lovely car, it might not be ideal given the useage you've described. Have you considered getting a more economical sportscar? Something slower, with lower limits and better economy than the Zed?
That way, you save on fuel, and in my mind, it's fun being able to wring the neck of a car without risking your license.
Something like a Smart Roadster or Mk3 MR2 might be a good compromise...
That way, you save on fuel, and in my mind, it's fun being able to wring the neck of a car without risking your license.
Something like a Smart Roadster or Mk3 MR2 might be a good compromise...
TameRacingDriver said:
I've been well into cars all my life, ever since a young child.
I'm now 33, and feel myself just getting bored with the whole thing. I'm currently driving a 350Z and I do actually really like the car, but find myself thinking more about how much its costing me. £500 road tax. £600 insurance. 20 MPG on super unleaded, I drive 20 miles each way to work and its costing me a lot of money. I can afford it, but it means I have no spare money left. I only got it 2 months ago, and the novelty has worn off, yet I am paying for a loan for this, and doubt I'll get what I paid.
I feel filthy for saying this on Pistonheads, but has anyone else ever felt like this? I know cars are a labour of love for many, but somewhere down the line, I feel like I've lost that love
Sell it for a bundle, and buy a project car. That will restore the passion.I'm now 33, and feel myself just getting bored with the whole thing. I'm currently driving a 350Z and I do actually really like the car, but find myself thinking more about how much its costing me. £500 road tax. £600 insurance. 20 MPG on super unleaded, I drive 20 miles each way to work and its costing me a lot of money. I can afford it, but it means I have no spare money left. I only got it 2 months ago, and the novelty has worn off, yet I am paying for a loan for this, and doubt I'll get what I paid.
I feel filthy for saying this on Pistonheads, but has anyone else ever felt like this? I know cars are a labour of love for many, but somewhere down the line, I feel like I've lost that love
Or a mk2 MR2.
Edited by danjama on Monday 12th November 21:31
It happens, but you are way too young. My brother is 61 and, after owning a succession of interesting cars, has bought a new Suzuki Kizashi. NIce enough, but bland and boring compared with previous cars. When asked why, he shrugged and said, I just don't feel the need to have an exciting car anymore.... Sad.
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