Hold me Oppo, had to say goodbye

"g_berserk" (gberserk)
05/08/2015 at 11:22 • Filed to: None

I was very excited about the news that I’m going to be a Dad soon, but there’s one aspect of the whole thing that I don’t really like.

Today I’m delivering my car to it’s new owner and collecting something more family-friendly for the wife, and in a few weeks when the finances settle a bit, I’ll see what I can come up with for me.

Had been waiting for the chance to buy this car for a good 3 years, and now, just a few months later I have to sell it with 5k miles on it, and not even the chance to really fiddle with it. I was waiting to paying it off before doing some upgrades and start pushing it on the AutoX, but the baby news beat me for a month.

I honestly feel like a horrible parent-to-be if something like this can bring me so down.

On the funny side. The Oppo and Jalopnik stickers didn’t come off without a fight lol, had to bring out the razorblade to remove them since they were breaking into little nail-encrusting pieces. It left a sort of halo etched on the glass, which I don’t care if the new owner doesn’t appreciate, but I thought it was kind of poetic in it’s own way.

One last wash...

*Starts singing “See you Again” by Wiz Khalifa*

DISCUSSION (50)

505Turbeaux > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:24

congrats on the dad thing, well written! Now get a 1st gen Espace Turbo and make me proud!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux
05/08/2015 at 11:28

Need to ask if he’s in Canada. He could go Avantime shortly if so.

Flat Six > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:28

I sold my Miata just before my daughter was born 9 years ago. My dad sold his MGB just before I was born. It’s sad but the right choice - you’ll get a fun car again soon.

Grindintosecond > 505Turbeaux
05/08/2015 at 11:28

Mazda 3 does very well toddlering in the backseat....consider...

$kaycog > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:31

Sorry for your loss, but you going to be a daddy is awesome!

OPPOsaurus WRX > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:31

its not the end of the world. My WRX works just fine as a baby(s) hauler. Whats on your list? congratz.

supra-squirrel > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:31

Might i recommend importing a Nissan laurel with sr20det or a turbo charged Toyota Carina?

yamahog > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:32

*pours out some 5W30 in your honor*

CB > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:35

But you’re going to get a cool baby hauling machine, right?

Congrats on the parenthood, by the way!

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:35

This is why you ask yourself, “Can it baby.”, before buying any car unless there’s zero chance of ever having a child or you’re past those years of your life. After about 50-55, you can drive just about whatever you want.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Flat Six
05/08/2015 at 11:36

My dad sold a Datsun roadster. And, at around that time, a ‘50s Olds Holiday Coupe. And at some point an immaculate Model A.

Kinja'd!!!

RazoE > Grindintosecond
05/08/2015 at 11:36

YES. My Mazdaspeed3 does it all! Tons of room, and plenty of VRROOOOMM PPSSHHHH. Roomy trunk as well, and 6 airbags standard.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > supra-squirrel
05/08/2015 at 11:39

Or an r34 skyline.

Pricey, but awesome. RHD isn’t that odd.....

yamahog > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/08/2015 at 11:47

Zero chance FTW!

g_berserk > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/08/2015 at 11:48

Well, the missus car was supposed to baby, but when we bought the car seat we found out that it can sort of baby, but it’s a pain in the ass to cramp everything there, so both cars had to go. Her’s to get rid of the debt, and mine to buy two baby-able cars

Flat Six > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/08/2015 at 11:49

At the same time my dad sold the MGB, my mom sold her Plymouth Duster. They got a Datsun hatchback. So tragic.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > yamahog
05/08/2015 at 11:55

Yeah, a mixed blessing of it not being possible for a variety of reasons.

MonkeePuzzle > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:56

a true shame. I haul my two youngens around in a two door hatchback, but it certainly wasn’t easy when they were in those baby carseats, talk about contortion act to get them in.

Sam > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/08/2015 at 11:56

My dad sold his 560SL a little after I was born to pay for the house we live in now. I would have preferred the car, if I’m honest.

Sam > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:57

Please tell me you aren’t going to do something silly and buy a minivan for 1 baby.

g_berserk > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 11:58

The most viable options are a VW GLI, either Mk4, mk4.5 (that’s a thing here in Mexico) or Mk5.

I need something bigger, faster, stronger and bullet proof now that I’ll be carrying a near-exploding wife and soon enough a miniature hooman.

Sadly, there’s too little thing that can be imported here because of the laws, so I’ll have to settle with something from the local pre-owned market.

WhiskeyGolf > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:01

Congrats on the dad-ness! And the stickers are why I’m going to get some Oppo logos put on static cling vinyl haha

Tom McParland > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:03

Wait...why did you remove the stickers? The next owner could have benefited from the extra 20 horsepower? Congrats on being a dad...good times.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:03

My Dad bought his TR4A the same year I was born, but they sold whatever unremarkable car my Mom drove for a black Peugeot 505 wagon. Like this one:

Kinja'd!!!

My only memory of it was my Dad putting chains on the tires one winter, they traded it in on a Ford Explorer once my sister came along.

RallyWrench > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:03

Congrats on impending dadhood. There are plenty of cheap, fun cars that baby just fine, you’ll find something that doesn’t bore you to death.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Flat Six
05/08/2015 at 12:06

My mom had a Plymouth Cricket - but it might have gotten too beaten to death to continue, I don’t recall.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:06

A SEAT!!! Nice! I wish we had those.

Frank Grimes > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:13

my dad sold his gto and hasnt had anything cool since I guess he shoulda went to college or had less me

random001 > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:35

I recently sold my Z06 to be a responsible dad. I feel your pain, but it'll be short lived. Having a kid is pretty awesome.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:38

Now you should get an aircooled 911! When I was born 19 years ago, my dad didn’t sell his and it baby’d me around for years. We still have it and I’m driving it sometimes now, when it’s not broken. :p

LongbowMkII > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 12:47

been there. Sold my Miata since baby #2 was on the way and couldn’t afford car #2. I’d like another one, but it would have to be car #3 and I have a project funcar on my plate anyways.

LongbowMkII > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/08/2015 at 12:49

Nah, get something non-baby appropriate when you can. If a baby shows up you can always sell it. Lowered sports cars aren’t great when you’re old either. Get it while you can.

Hooker > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 13:23

Kinja'd!!!

I really dig this. Not sure why. But I really do. Also, congrats on the baby news!

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 13:24

Congrats and I’m sorry for your loss. Two things I never thought I’d say in the same breath.

Kinja'd!!!

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 13:24

Whats the issue, can’t the car baby? Wheres Torch when you need him.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RazoE
05/08/2015 at 14:32

I wish they make a Mazdaspeed 5. I can’t remember which car magazine made one, but it certainly wasn’t an easy looking swap.

g_berserk > LongbowMkII
05/08/2015 at 14:55

And that’s exactly what we did.
I honestly blame a friend who got a baby for making my wife want to have one 2 years before what we initially had in mind when we got married lol

g_berserk > CB
05/08/2015 at 14:56

Cool by my own standards, but maybe not as Jalop as some would want

g_berserk > Tom McParland
05/08/2015 at 14:58

I know, but I think it’s the responsible thing to do. Both, selling the car, and removing the stickers unless you know the new owner is one of us, which she isn’t yet, but I feel some potential there.

g_berserk > Hooker
05/08/2015 at 15:00

Part of my teal period as the artist would call it.
The wife had to facepalm more than she would imagined when she saw that I match the shoelaces to the calipers every time I change the color in a car

g_berserk > Sam
05/08/2015 at 15:02

Well, we got a loaded Caliber for the wife (her choice, not mine, I would have gone for the SRT-4) and I’m still debating between a cheap hatchback or sport sedan. probably a Jetta GLI.

g_berserk > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
05/08/2015 at 15:03

It can sorta-baby... not really much, I wouldn’t mind but it’s our first child and my wife is freaking out a little bit (a lot).

I would rather drive something older and cheaper if that means she will be at peace.

Sam > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 15:39

Thank goodness. Too many people decide that, since they have one kid, the need something that can haul at least 8 people.

yamahog > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/08/2015 at 16:00

In my case, just a full-on blessing that I was able to find a surgeon willing to do a tubal ligation on a 23 year old with no kids.

Justin > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 16:33

It takes 9 months to make a baby... I’d have kept it for 8 months and 29 days. Maybe even a little longer if you’re lucky. Not like shes going anywhere for a little while at first right? You could have posted it for sale online for an outrageous price and just told her no one was interested...

Also I don’t know what that is but its neat. Some sort of Skoda?

g_berserk > Sam
05/08/2015 at 17:09

hahaha, yeah, but no. We’re still young and a bit reckless in the healthy way =)

g_berserk > Justin
05/08/2015 at 17:18

You need to do a bit of research in the “nesting syndrome” my friend.
2 days after we found out my wife was pregnant, we had about 30% of all the stuff a baby could possibly ever need. I have spent my weekends painting, decorating, shopping but it will never make a new mom be at peace no matter how much you prepare.
You can, however, compromise in some aspects (like the car for instance) to let her at least sleep tight till the next crisis arrives.

Now, to be honest, I did post the car online for a ridiculous amount of money hoping it wouldn’t sell till the baby was here and my wife saw that it could work with some compromises. But one day just to make it clear that I was “actually trying to sell it” I posted it on the newspaper for the same amount and closed the deal with the new owner the very next day.

For all that could go wrong, I think this was the best case scenario. I got to get something decent for my wife, pay the debt on her car, and when I sell that one, I have green light to buy whatever the hell I can and want, but just to make sure, I’ll get something fun, but a bit on the sensible side.

Sam > g_berserk
05/08/2015 at 17:21

I’d say the GLI is a good choice. Luckily, the auto is a DSG, so it’s still reasonably fun to drive. Plus, there are TONS of mods for them.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > g_berserk
05/11/2015 at 10:49

My dad sold his 356B Super 90 after my oldest brother was born. The sacrifices we make for our families are always worth the cost. Congrats on the little one!

g_berserk > Sam
05/11/2015 at 16:32

Yeah, I had a 6spd GTI of the same generation just a year ago. I still have some of the parts I haven’t sold waiting for a new chance to shine