Do you get attached to your cars?

"Maddox Kay" (thestigssocalcousin) 06/04/2014 at 00:19 • Filed to: Question of the Day

2

50

Question is in the title. Discuss.

As car enthusiasts, some of us have a tendency to develop attachments to the machines which take us places, bring us joy, and are by our sides through both good and bad times of our lives. These memories we create with our vehicles imbue personality traits onto them, and after memories accumulate, we view our cars less as conveyances and more as old friends. These enthusiasts are the type of people who tend to keep their cars for a long time and be sad upon having to sell them for one reason or another. When they look at their car, a film reel of the good times they've had together plays through their head.

Other enthusiasts enjoy their cars, sure, but live more in the moment and don't dwell on the past. They may keep a car 15 years or 15 months, however long it suits their needs and fulfills its role in their garage. They are unburdened by sentimentality and can thus view cars more objectively. It is easier for them to sell cars and simply replace them. When they look at their car, they see a cost/benefit analysis of the negatives and positives of their current car. If that analysis is not favorable, they replace the car (funds permitting) and thus don't end up putting up with as much crap because they "love" an unreliable heap.

Personally, I fall into the first camp. When I look at the A3, I smile remembering the road trips, the late night canyon runs, the nervous first dates, the summer days spent with friends, and the parties outside which she patiently waited as I experienced teenage life. I think of the bad days made bearable by taking the long way home, and the good ones made sweeter by doing the same. As my first real car, I would find it hard to sell.

How do you guys feel?

PheeNoIVI > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:22

1

Im still on my first car. But I'd say I get attached. Its a fun little car. Celica 7th gen. And I want to move up. But I want to keep it as a toy to mod and drive around. I think I'm this way because my dad tells me stories of his old Z that he sold long ago, and I can tell he wish he didn't. So I don't want that to be me.

Leadbull > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:22

1

I'm attached to my 2005 Hyundai Tucson.

So, yeah...

offroadkarter > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:24

5

If my car ever gets totaled I'm either going to part it out and bury the body/frame up in the woods of PA or take it to a scrap yard and make sure it gets torn up to the point where nobody can ever rebuild it.

Now if it ever gets stolen and I found out who did it

My car is not leaving my hands in any other way, ever.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:24

2

I am emotionally attached to a 1997 monte carlo LS because it was the first car I went autocrossing in and I probably went to over two dozen events with it. I also modified the rear badging so instead of saying "Monte Carlo LS" it said "CAR LOL". It was ridiculous, it was slow, it broke down a few times, and its hatred of me was only surpassed by its fear of me (it tried to kill everyone else who drove it. It stopped trying to pull that shit on me after an eventful autocross where I almost put it into a wall) but it was mine. I am the only person allowed to talk shit about gen 1.5 W-bodies because I actually owned and modified one for 5 years and drove it harder than the #MiataLife crowd. Unless you've done the same, watch your tongue. As for the LOLCAR? Rot in hell you bastard, I'll miss you.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:25

1

Yes. I'm on my first car too, still haven't broken down yet, but will probably break down before I graduate so I'll never be able to drive it again.

I'm probably most attached to the first car we got here, a 2000 Honda Civic, when we came to the US that my dad ended up selling to his coworker that totalled it and I always bring it up as something that made me sad because I never got to drive it.

Maddox Kay > PheeNoIVI 06/04/2014 at 00:26

1

Those celicas are very fun, tossable cars! My mom had an orange 240Z in HS and absolutely loved it, she still reminisces about it

PheeNoIVI > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:28

1

Yeah I love the tossability which is why I don't want to ever have a heavier car now lol. Yeah my dad had a 280zx turbo. Had to sell it because he said he would've killed himself eventually...lol

Maddox Kay > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 06/04/2014 at 00:28

0

Perfect example of "it's not what you have, it's how you use it." Well done.

Maddox Kay > offroadkarter 06/04/2014 at 00:29

2

Singhjr96 > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:31

3

I'm attached to my cars. It does a lot more than get me from place to place. But I think the things that makes one attached to a car is not only the car itself, but also how good of a time you have in them. Whether that be honing them around a track and talking to others about cars, cruising down the road or highway, the fun times you've had in your car, or the simple satisfaction of owning that car and having it represent the success you have achieved. Everybody likes cars, just for different reasons. The longer you have a car the more attached you get. I drove my minivan around for the longest time, and I didn't like it because it is a cool minivan, I like it because of all the fun times I have had in it. Carrying around friends to mcdonalds to get food before practice, or some fun with a friend in the back ;). I love my accord because of the fun times i've had honing it around, the fun times in it, and the way it looks.

Maddox Kay > Singhjr96 06/04/2014 at 00:33

0

I agree, the memories are what do it for me.

Singhjr96 > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:35

0

Lets face it, you can want a car and lust for a car, but you won't truly get attached till you drive it and noon that thing around.

Maddox Kay > Singhjr96 06/04/2014 at 00:39

1

Exactly. When I think about my car, I think about the good times together more than the specific attributes of the car. Which is why I think one can get attached to any car they had at a fun period in their life, like you did with your minivan

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:41

1

8th year of owning MR2's

so yeah. I cried when my last one was totaled.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:42

2

I tell this story a lot but I had a really good course one day and despite a record turnout of about 60ish drivers, I ended up 11th. One of the top 10 was myself in a friend's car. Take out multiple drivers per car and I was 9th out of 45 or so. E30s, E36s, SRT-4s, GTIs, and much "better" metal was CRUSHED beneath the enormous testicles of my hard, throbbing 3.1L V6. The "fuck it, this works" rear suspension lead to much tripoding and the eagle GTs were the only reason my car did anything at all. Oh and my brakes caught fire. Which was cool.

I think it's funny how much we talk about "potential" in a car without realizing how much of that potential is lost to a buffer of "I don't want to hurt it......". I think that's the only reason I did as well as I did, I was one of the few driving like I didn't care if I smacked a wall or if it burst into flames. Both almost happened. It was a good day. I had a smoothie on the way home to celebrate.

Singhjr96 > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:43

1

I definitely think of the cars attributes, whether they be good or bad, along with the good times in the car too.

offroadkarter > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:48

1

I don't have a prius or a G-wiz BTW

I have a friend who years ago totaled his 04 marauder and basically stripped it to a bare shell. He ran the vin a few years after and found it was registered and back on the road. Either someone vin swapped it or someone actually rebuilt the car. Either way, thats my greatest fear if mine gets totaled and I just let insurance take it. Someone would rebuild it and be driving around in MY CAR, or worse, it'll end up on 50 different P71's.

*shudders*

Maddox Kay > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 06/04/2014 at 00:48

1

That's awesome. Especially since autocrossing favors those smaller lighter cars such as the E30s, GTIs etc that you mentioned. I agree that even when people think they are going "all out" they are often leaving a lot on the table as they are worried about wrecking (myself included!) 'Tis the beauty of having a beater.

wabbalosthiskey > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:48

1

First camp, reluctantly and against better judgement. It doesn't make any sense and I know it, but so hard to resist. Oh well, it's cheaper that way. I envy my die-hard car guy friends that are the opposite, able to switch cars up and experience more diversity that I can deal with. But I get to cheat having a hot rod shop and living through my customers :P

Maddox Kay > offroadkarter 06/04/2014 at 00:54

0

The marauder is such a great car. I hate P71 guys who keep the spotlights and everything just to look like cops and scare people but marauders get nothing but respect from me.

I don't mind the idea of my car being parted out and living on in other cars as opposed to simply being scrapped because I see it as the car getting to live on in pieces to save its injured comrades. However I get what you're saying about not wanting someone else to be driving around in your car.

offroadkarter > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:58

1

Don't worry, we do to. I call them poverty panthers. The black car next to mine is my friends LX sport

I would probably buy a fox body or something and drop the engine in it. Honestly I don't think I'd buy another marauder if mine went away. I love my car but buying another one won't make it MY car and I'd rather try something different. I've had this car since I was 15, I'm 22 now. I've had it as far north as rhode island, as far south as virginia and as far west as ohio all traveling form jersey. This weekend its going out to PA for the all ford nationals at Carlisle.

Stef Schrader > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 00:59

1

Yes.

Singhjr96 > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 06/04/2014 at 01:00

0

I would cry too if I had one. I so badly want to get an mr2.

Maddox Kay > offroadkarter 06/04/2014 at 01:04

0

Buying another car of the same model and expecting it to be just like YOUR car is like those people who get another dog of the same breed after their dog dies and name it the same thing. I agree, better to move on.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 01:10

1

This is the only vehicle out of the 10 vehicles I have owned that I have ever been attached to a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Megacab. it was the first new vehicle I had ever bought, I bought it at 21 years old while living on my own with no help from anyone so I had this huge sense of accomplishment when I was finally able to afford it. I had never owned anything over $10000 prior to this.

I got rid of it 3 years later, I would probably never buy a big truck again as I now realize that it is essentially the most wasteful way to get around. But this one will alway keep a special place in my heart

I owned much nicer cars than this since then but for me they were just a piece of metal. This truck is the only vehicle that was ever truly a part of me.

offroadkarter > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 01:11

1

especially now since most of these cars are 150k mile shit piles. Its hard to find a clean one anymore.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Singhjr96 06/04/2014 at 01:25

0

the consolation prize was getting a turbo one in even better condition with the insurance money.. and having $500 left over. The new one is insured for twice as much too, so if that gets totaled I'm up another $6k :P

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 01:45

1

My girlfriend jokes that my 2002, Alice, is my real girlfriend. I'm immensely attached to that car (and my 2001 Nissan xTerra that I had to sell because it was worth very little with over 200k miles and would've cost a lot to fix enough to pass emissions), but not to all cars. I had a Lincoln Continental for a month or so, sold it, and replaced it with an AMC Rambler which for a couple months. They were fun, but I wasn't really attached to them. And I'm certainly not attached to my Jeep right now.

Zibodiz > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 02:04

1

I love cars in general. I used to think the car had to have some special attribute for me to fall in love — it had to be a lifted truck, or at least 4WD, had to be a convertible, had to be RWD, had to be a stick... but then I found myself very, very poor and couldn't afford anything, especially anything I'd actually want. I guess I kinda had a change of heart, and decided that I was going to "love the one I'm with", to sorta quote an old song I hate. Instead I bought a car that was actually practical, and made myself like it. In the end I sold it and am NEVER looking back (waaaay too much work to keep it running), but while I had it, I loved it... because it was mine. And now that I have a car that actually does have some things that make it special for me, I really, really love it; the absence makes the meeting sweeter. When my current car sorta stranded me 1100 miles from home recently, I didn't try to dump it & get a new car... I love this car, and was determined I was going to get it home, even if it meant having to replace an engine in my father-in-law's garage during my vacation. I love the car because I feel like I've finally found 'the one'. I've had about 20 cars (I've been driving for about 14 years), and I've had things I liked about each one, but I finally feel like I've found the perfect fit for me, and I've no plans of trading up. If something dies, I'll just replace the bad parts and keep going. Eventually, I plan to buy a wrecked low-mileage parts car for the day my engine gives up the ghost.

For my past cars, I absolutely want someone to be driving them. I would love to know that the car I loved is being pampered by someone else. I actually saw one of my old cars recently, and it made me totally curious how it was doing. I also saw another of my past cars listed for scrap on craigslist, and it almost broke my heart. Someone else bought it, or I probably would have ponied up the $250 he wanted to buy it back lol.

In general, I love cars. But I especially love the cars that have been good to me. The '93 Civic and the '87 RX7, I pretty much just hate. They weren't nice to me at all.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 06:34

1

I fall into both groups, when it comes to my wife's car and my DD there isn't much in the way of emotional attachment.

However when it comes to Dugga Boy my 04 Series II Discovery, The Shorty (88' Series IIA) and my dad's 64 109 Series IIA (just The Landie) all sense goes out the window. In my mind my grand kids will probably inherit those trucks, my dad has owned the 109 for 29 years now (I'm 32) and my earliest memory is helping him restore that truck (he bought it from a scrap yard and did a frame up restoration).

There is no way I'd willingly sell any of those trucks.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 06:44

2

Definitely attached. I've still got the first car that I ever fell for, my Alfa 156. When the engine blows, I'll swap in a 3.0l. When the body rusts, I'll repair it.

It's worth sod all, but I don't much care :)

Pockets > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 06/04/2014 at 09:28

0

Maybe I've asked this before, but which one is it at the moment? I miss my Alfas :(

Pockets > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 09:36

1

I feel like over the years I've become more selective; it used to be I'd get attached to pretty much anything while now, I still do but I have to have a reason to (either it's cool, it's got memories attached, or it's just plain characterful).

First car, very attached to it. The second, my first 'cool' car, I was very attached. The third was a panic-buy stopgap after the demise of #2 that lasted about 3 weeks before it went to the scrapyard, so I didn't get (but I felt guilty about scrapping it all the same). The fourth, I got a bit attached to for something I'd intended as a stopgap. The fifth I got attached to. The sixth was a terrible heap of lovable junk. The seventh a terrible heap of hateful junk. The eighth is so far, dull -which is what I need right now, but not attachment-forming. Maybe if I go on a memorable road-trip or something.

Agrajag > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 09:38

1

The first camp. I remember when my older brother's first car(1978 Mercury Monarch) got towed to the scrap yard. I cried. I've had around a dozen cars and the only one I don't miss is my (shudders) K-car. Any of the others I'd still have if they were within my capability to do so.

Maddox Kay > Zibodiz 06/04/2014 at 09:39

0

I'm with you on that I'd rather my car be driven and enjoyed by someone else than just wasted as a wreck in a scrap heap. What are you driving these days?

Maddox Kay > Pockets 06/04/2014 at 09:45

0

That makes sense. I'm sure part of the reason I'm attached to my current car is because its my first real car. Technically, my first car was a stopgap beater I had for about a month, but I didn't get attached to that and sold it with no regrets because I didn't really have any cool experiences with it and it didn't have any fun qualities.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 06/04/2014 at 10:12

0

I'm single now, but everyone that knows me jokes that my car is my girlfriend. In fact, it's part of the reason my last relationship ended. And, IDGAF. After we broke up I said my car was more reliable than she was.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Pockets 06/04/2014 at 10:46

0

Mine's a '99 Alfa 156 2.5l V6. Great car :) lovely noise, competent chassis, not too heavy, not too much electronics so you can work on it yourself.

Here's some pics if you're interested: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8174907…

Which Alfas did you have? I'd love a GTV6, 6, 75 or an Alfetta saloon myself.

Pockets > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 06/04/2014 at 12:47

0

Had a blue 155 2.0 1.6v (with some eibachs and a SuperSprint exhaust that was awesome), then a 156 2.5 V6, Y-reg with the Veloce pack but not the spoiler. Red with black leather. Got a 1.4 Corolla now :(

Nice pics, that garage is insane.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/04/2014 at 13:13

1

Shots fired!!!

That might be one of the best break-up lines I've ever heard.

The 2002 is always the real girlfriend. The trick is finding a girl who's willing to accept that. Ahaha

blueflood > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 13:17

0

I became attached to a 96 Geo Prizm that I bought from a coworker in 2007. He owned it since new and it had ~170K on it when I bought it. It was a manual that ran well and got excellent mileage. By the time I sold it last fall with 242K the driver's door was the only full functioning one and the rust was getting bad, but that little car has a special place in my heart. I sold it to another coworker and get to see it regularly. I'd love to buy it back eventually as a 24hr Lemons car.

Zibodiz > Maddox Kay 06/04/2014 at 23:45

1

3rd Gen Escort Wagon with a 5-speed. It's even [almost] brown. The 2nd & 3rd gens were made entirely by Mazda, so they handle like a Miata. It'd be perfect, if only it were RWD lol. The funny thing is, this is far from the newest, fanciest, or most expensive car I've ever owned — that title goes to the $17k Sebring Convertible that I bought when it was 2 years old — in fact, this is one of the cheapest cars, and had the most miles of any car I've ever purchased. There's just something about it that gives me that warm feeling every time I sit in it, or when I see it parked in the parking lot. I dunno why, but I'm just happy to no longer wish I was driving something else lol.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Pockets 06/05/2014 at 18:43

0

Sweet :) both very cool cars. Shame about the Corolla, but you could always view it as an interim...

ALFA - Always Looking For Another :)

Pockets > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 06/05/2014 at 19:25

1

Last time I had an 'interim' car it was a Volvo 850 T5, which was a bit more interesting, if not quite as fuel-efficient.

In the middle of trying to get a new job, so see how things go I guess. Not too sure I'd get another Alfa unless it's a classic, though. If I went for another 155 or 156, I'd just be thinking "it's not as good as the last one" all the time.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Pockets 06/06/2014 at 05:55

0

An 850 T5 is definitely more interesting :) very cool cars

I definitely want to go classic or at least retro for my next Alfa (possibly concurrent with this one). That is unless the new Alfa Spider actually get built. I might have to buy one of those :)

You could go for the one up in the scale 155/156-wise. Something like a 155 Q4 or a 156 GTA...

Pockets > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 06/06/2014 at 07:07

0

The Q4, maybe, but I've never found the looks of the GTA that appealing, either the exterior or the fancy seats. If I were to go with another 156 V6, I'd probably be wanting to throw the extra money at modifying a 2.5 instead.

I hope they actually do a new Spider, it's kind of sad at the minute that they don't have any interesting mainstream-y cars. Having said that, I'm too much of a cheapskate to ever buy new.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Pockets 06/06/2014 at 07:53

0

You and me both actually. I don't think the bodykit does it any favours, especially as the basic shape is so well proportioned.

What I want to do hopefully gets the best of both worlds. I'll swap in a 3.0l from a GTV, tune it up a little and leave it at that. Perhaps some alloy 4-pot brakes by Wilwood or Hispec and sportier shock as well, along with the GTA SW anti-roll bars I've already got.

I'm too much of a cheapskate to buy new as well, but I actually want to support Alfa so I'll buy one of their cars, provided they make one I want :)

PyramidHat > Maddox Kay 06/07/2014 at 22:32

1

A little late to the show, but the answer is: Yes. That said, I have two vehicles that have a fairly rabid fan base: A Tacoma (1st gen, 4WD x-cab SR5) and a Volvo station wagon (XC 70). I knew the Taco owners were a rabid bunch, but the Volvo fans were a surprise; then again, I can see why. Regardless, the Taco has 236K on it and I can't seem to part with it - all else aside, getting rid of it or trading it in when there's still life left seems to be such a waste of a good vehicle. I just got the Volvo last year, and am thinking that driving it in to the ground, then converting it to an XC70R (complete with an R engine and 6-speed manual, but that's about an $8 to 10$ conversion, I'm told, so time will tell).

Also attached: 2002 Triumph Bonneville. I know of guys that say "it's just a machine" or "motorcycles are like girlfriends; dump one and pick up another". I've always preferred LTR's...

Maddox Kay > PyramidHat 06/08/2014 at 00:34

1

Awesome. I love Triumph bikes

Naazdidit > Maddox Kay 10/28/2014 at 02:27

0

I love my 93 silverado. I starts up every day and its not to much else to ask for. I drive it kind of fasf to hear that v8 roar a little . Just a little.