Do you have any obsessions?

[anonymous-user]

My wife and I see cars very differently

She just couldn't give a monkeys about brand, colour or performance etc - As long as its reliable, meets the needs of a vehicle ie space, comfort and ability to do what she needs it for. If it gets a bump, scrape or whatever then if its not too bad she'll live with it or ask me to touch it in. If bad then get it fixed.

I'd love to have that approach

I'm the opposite with cars and I hate being that way. I scrutinise every panel in minute detail to a forensic level. Even a brand new car I'm all over it checking for any sign of imperfection be it a minute dent, blemish, or any 'repairs' carried out prior to handover.

Once happy then i tend to not enjoy the ownership experience - worrying about stonechips, parking dents, scuffs etc - all stuff that highly likely to happen if driven and used over the course of ownership. If I do spot or get a parking dent I cant rest until my dent chap has removed it - it can actually keep me awake at night with worry.

One used cars I can a ccpet a little more but I still have to spend getting it looking aesthetically right - wheel refurbishment, parking dets removed, maybe some paintwork etc. At the same time I'm listening for noises, clunks, checking for oil use, water loss etc etc - Its a good few weeks where I relax as such.

It's just cars though - Its not carried through to my life and I'm not obsessive about lots of stuff thankfully.

I've had sheds, nearly new, brand new and multiple types but I'm never happy with a car.

I absolutely hate being like this. I know there are far more important things to worry about and far worse off people but I doesn't stop my behavior.

Anyone else have obsessions that cause anxiety with any of their 'stuff'?

[vikingaero]

I like to be prepared for most motoring eventualities and I like being able to jump into any of our cars knowing they are fuelled up for any long journey, drinks and snacks are present in vast quantities, knowing the right breakdown equipment is already present, tyre pressures are 100% spot on, tyres are checked for nails/screws etc, fluids are 100%, and the glass is optically clear inside and out. Even if it's cold, raining and traffic is bad, the fact that the inside of the car is 100% spotless will make it a nice place to be. Each one of my cars has a handbrush in the boot to brush down the mats - textile in summer, rubber in winter.

I did limit cleaning The Shed once a month, but maintained the tyres/fluids/windows and interior every week.

[Whats on Second]

I did have a thing for her at the chippy, but since they changed the batter recipe I have gone elsewhere,
but every time I see a lass with greasy skin and pigtails I think of her.

[Trailhead]

Used to obsess over my car also, but it is something you grow out of when you get a bit older.

[Agarange]

Mine is bicycles. Cars too, old ones. Basically mechanical thing with wheels and that take all my money.

[JimmyConwayNW]

lord trumpton said:

My wife and I see cars very differently

She just couldn't give a monkeys about brand, colour or performance etc - As long as its reliable, meets the needs of a vehicle ie space, comfort and ability to do what she needs it for. If it gets a bump, scrape or whatever then if its not too bad she'll live with it or ask me to touch it in. If bad then get it fixed.

I'd love to have that approach

I'm the opposite with cars and I hate being that way. I scrutinise every panel in minute detail to a forensic level. Even a brand new car I'm all over it checking for any sign of imperfection be it a minute dent, blemish, or any 'repairs' carried out prior to handover.

Once happy then i tend to not enjoy the ownership experience - worrying about stonechips, parking dents, scuffs etc - all stuff that highly likely to happen if driven and used over the course of ownership. If I do spot or get a parking dent I cant rest until my dent chap has removed it - it can actually keep me awake at night with worry.

One used cars I can a ccpet a little more but I still have to spend getting it looking aesthetically right - wheel refurbishment, parking dets removed, maybe some paintwork etc. At the same time I'm listening for noises, clunks, checking for oil use, water loss etc etc - Its a good few weeks where I relax as such.

It's just cars though - Its not carried through to my life and I'm not obsessive about lots of stuff thankfully.

I've had sheds, nearly new, brand new and multiple types but I'm never happy with a car.

I absolutely hate being like this. I know there are far more important things to worry about and far worse off people but I doesn't stop my behavior.

Anyone else have obsessions that cause anxiety with any of their 'stuff'?

Why does it matter.

I sell cars and some people, like the chap who has just left unhappy this morning, that a 3 year old Golf R with 38k miles has a few stone chips on it.

Of course it does, its not a fking new one.

Its about having realistic expectations.


I mean new car give it a once over but why check every single panel, what do you get out of it?

[Sway]

LT - it pretty compulsive behaviour regarding cars, as I think you're aware.

If you do want to change it, especially the anxiety etc., that gets triggered, then I can strongly recommend hypnotherapy. Worked incredibly for my better half on a similar-but-different 'thing'.

[23.7]

I look forward to my wife's car picking up the 1st scuffs and scratches.

Once scratched it's no longer new, therefore I can use it without fear.

[swanseaboydan]

It’s amazing to me how many people obsess over cars, servicing, cleaning etc but Ignore their house / guttering / boiler maintenance etc etc.
But we all have our foibles - I can’t leave stuff in the washing machine - I have to be here when it finishes to take clothes straight out before they crease or get musty . . What a freak !

[23.7]

swanseaboydan said:

It’s amazing to me how many people obsess over cars, servicing, cleaning etc but Ignore their house / guttering / boiler maintenance etc etc.
But we all have our foibles - I can’t leave stuff in the washing machine - I have to be here when it finishes to take clothes straight out before they crease or get musty . . What a freak !

Are you my wife?

[jimPH]

Rusty subframes

I had a GTR that broke my heart when I looked underneath it.

If I'm buying/looking, I'm underneath like a rat, sucking through the teeth at rusty subframe fasteners.

All my cars are now fully treated underneath with rust inhibitor and every couple there after.

I'll never buy a rusty car again.

[FoxtrotOscar1]

I used to care about the cars. I happily dont. I just want them to work. Im too busy to care about stone chips or kerbed alloys. granted its a 3yr old work wagon but I honestly dont even flinch when I hear stone chips or kerb meeting alloy.

[anonymous-user]

Sway said:

LT - it pretty compulsive behaviour regarding cars, as I think you're aware.

If you do want to change it, especially the anxiety etc., that gets triggered, then I can strongly recommend hypnotherapy. Worked incredibly for my better half on a similar-but-different 'thing'.

Yes I know and accept it - I do have that trait in my personality and it seems to manifest in cars.

It does show up in other areas every now and then but generally the focus is on cars and 'defects' and things that can go wrong or may need fixing.

Needless to say, and I say this in total 100% truth, honesty and with no exaggeration - I've had WELL over 200 cars in the 30 years of driving. I either find something that causes to much stress and sell or pick up some damage and sell.

[Steve H]

lord trumpton said:

Yes I know and accept it - I do have that trait in my personality and it seems to manifest in cars.

It does show up in other areas every now and then but generally the focus is on cars and 'defects' and things that can go wrong or may need fixing.

Needless to say, and I say this in total 100% truth, honesty and with no exaggeration - I've had WELL over 200 cars in the 30 years of driving. I either find something that causes to much stress and sell or pick up some damage and sell.

Not sure about obsessive but changing your car every six weeks for 30 years sounds exhausting and utterly mental.

If you find faults on every car then you are just opening yourself up to fresh pain every time you swap .

[Mack11]

When someone is finally interested in the car you are selling and wants to come see it

When you find out it is Lord Trumpton

[skyetom]

Golf.

[Alex_225]

lord trumpton said:

Anyone else have obsessions that cause anxiety with any of their 'stuff'?

I have experienced it. Not to the point it's caused problems but I can see how for some it could. I like my cars clean, I love detailing but it's partly because it has to be clean. Even found things I've thought about after finishing up that's bothered me until the next time I've washed the car. Again not in a big way but brain wouldn't let me forget it!

Well used cars are the solution I find, brand new or mint condition is hard to maintain but driving an old car day to day that you can forgive not being immaculate is no bad thing.