For sale - mentally

I find myself at a very weird place emotionally with my cars. I'm lucky enough that I have several cars that don't seem to be depreciating. That makes the cost of ownership pretty cheap all things considered. I enjoy the cars but lately I feel like moving them along would be the right thing to do.  

I've never been in this position before. I've always either needed to sell something or hated a car enough that I wanted it gone. I've never really been ambivalent about ownership before. I don't need the money enough to actually try to sell them, but I'm not emotionally attached enough that I'd refuse an offer. I think the biggest thing keeping me in these cars is the knowledge that I probably wouldn't spend the money to buy them again, once they're gone, they're gone.  

Not even sure what I'm trying to say, but I thought some of you would understand. 

Absolutely understand.  I was holding on to the Poncho for a long time - probably 10 years - without loving it like I should have.  I think emotionally I was waiting for someone like Curtis to come along who would love it for me.  Good thing he did - the decision was quick and almost easy as soon as he posted his want ad.

If they don't bring you enough joy to buy them again...That sounds to me more like a reason for letting go of them than it does keeping them.

I just sold a 56 Chev I bought in 1977.  I last worked on it in 1983.  It went to a better home than I was giving it, and if I ever get a chubby for another 56, I can go buy one.

When a car is for sale mentally and you don't love it anymore but you haven't told it yet, that is when you are at highest risk of cheating on your car.

I totally understand. I was moving cars around before the hurricane arrived and checking with the insurance to make sure everything was OK. 

S2000 has been used 500 miles in two years

'97 M3 has moved 15 miles in the last 2 years  

Neither is depreciating but they are not being excersized enough. I made up my mind I am going to sell the S2000 after all this. 

I just moved a whole slew of them along for a similar reason. Still loved them but not using them if anything they were going up in value.  

Going to get something that I will really love and that I don't mind not putting miles on. It will be Art for the garage for 99% of its life but I am getting OK with that. 

Robbie said:

When a car is for sale mentally and you don't love it anymore but you haven't told it yet, that is when you are at highest risk of cheating on your car.

Priceless.  Just priceless...

We're talking about the CTS-V and the R63. Both of them are amazing in their experience. Driving them is fabulous. I drove the kids to school in the R63 today and three times this week. Knowing how few of these there are I almost feel like I'm hoarding this experience. To drive your kids to school in a 500hp minivan is magical, I kind of want to share that. Find me another dad with a high risk tolerance and for moderately well equipped Odyssey money that can happen.  

The V wagon was my first  "good" new car. My first track day. My first One Lap. My first pass down a drag strip on that One Lap. I've done enough with the car that the memories of it far eclipse what the car is.  

It's all squishy emotional stuff, I do like the cars. They make me happy, but they are by no means my only avenue of automotive happiness. I have the 911 to drive which blows them both away. I've retired the V from track duty because it's faster than I'm comfortable with and I'd rather drive a $5k car at 9.5/10 than the V at 8/10 on track. 

Or... so many cars, so little time

Or... so many cars, so little time

That is definitely my problem. And space. A severe lack of space, which hinders my ability to work on them and drive them as often as I would like to.

But I still love them. And if I sold any of them there's a strong likelihood I would buy a replacement sooner or later. 

I feel that way about the elky and challenge car.  Probably going to sell out my half of the challrnge car to dallas afterwards. 

The elky? Its essentially an appliance in my mind. Doesn't seem to get the attention it deserves from me, or the care. But im so upside down in it that it would be stupid to sell. But if i got a 10k offer, id run like hell.

So yeah, totally understand. 

When I read this I thought you meant the 911 and was going to say you would regret it... But a caddy wagon and a minivan? Bah.

I wouldn't give it a second thought.

With the new inspection laws coming in to effect in MA I am of the same mind as the OP.  

I came to the  conclusion to day on the way to work that I should just get an appliance and say good by to having a fun car that I can wrench on with my son.  No more fun builds.  It really sucks but it is the reality of things at the moment .  I am hanging on to the hope that the new policy's are being over blown and that they are more applicable to things that are blatantly in violation but I fear that at least for the initial inspection process it is going to be taken to the letter of the new regulations.    

mazdeuce said:

I almost feel like I'm hoarding this experience. To drive your kids to school in a 500hp minivan is magical, I kind of want to share that. Find me another dad with a high risk tolerance and for moderately well equipped Odyssey money that can happen.  

Go on...I happen to know of a pretty good guy with the tools and knowledge, who might persuadable to helping guide a rebuild of the engine, should the need ever arise...Does it happen to seat 7?

I'm in the same mindset with my 90 miata, 05 ranger, and 06 Suzuki DR650 - They're cheap to own, but I'd like something different.  And yet I don't want to deal with Craigslist, so I just keep hanging on to them.  Maybe someone will offer me $$ as I'm out driving around one of these days...

In reply to Dusterbd13: 

I can relate to the Elco. It's not that I want to sell things, but I feel like my best experiences with the cars are behind me. 

In reply to Driven5:

The R63's seat six. You give up a bench in the middle for two amazing reclining sliding seats. My kids get into physical arguments about who gets to sit in them. 

In reply to mazdeuce :

I'm seeing a second row console...Presumably that doesn't come out to allow an 'aisle' to access the third row, does it?  And I'm guessing the second row seats don't tip forward to access the third row in such a way that a pair of hard mounted car seats in the second row wouldn't impinge their rear-access motion?

I'll tell you what.... I'll take you CTS-V off your hands for $2017 and run it at the challenge for you then dutifully care for it for the next 10 years. That way you get to move on and I get a CTS-V. Win-Win for all involved.

EDIT: in all seriousness, I'm good. I'd love to get the wife (and by association me) something nicer to drive like a 15 Sonata, but I'm good with everything else. For once. It feels weird to be content with the vehicles (not necessarily their state of repair). 

I've gone through that.  In the past few years I've sold off everything but one car.  I've been looking on and off for a new toy for a couple of years, but I keep having issues pulling the trigger.  That's something I've not experienced before.  I'm enjoying the simplicity of it all.  My old race car, and the last car I've built or restored, recently came back up for sale and I even passed on that.  Instead of another sports car or race car, I've been thinking along the lines of something like a FJ Cruiser.  There's something liberating about a simpler car future.

In reply to Driven5 :

There are two versions of the R63 interior. Mine is the one with the console. My little kids walk through the middle but it would be tight for someone with proper sized legs. If you hard mounted car seats in row two you'd lose the ability to flip the seat forward. There's a reason nobody bought the R class. 

Taking the family to Sonic in it tonight, taking it to Cars and Coffee tomorrow morning, getting groceries with it on Monday. It's still the best car I own in it's own way. 

Thanks for letting me vent. Now I'll go enjoy my cars. 

In reply to mazdeuce :

Well poop...I guess I'll just have to continue living vicariously through you, and go back to looking at 'ordinary' minivans.  My wife probably would have killed me for the suggestion anyways.  

507hp makes up for a LOT of ergonomic issues. 

it's weird, two of my cars are actually appreciating in value. Both my Fiat and Saab are worth more than when I bought them. I think the Disco bottomed out as well as all the non-cared for ones have gone to the boneyard.