How do you view your cars? Are you a caretaker for a future owner, saving them for a son or daughter–or just whoever ponies up the cash?
Or is what’s yours yours? Do you use them as you please, even if that means leaving little other than memories, perhaps some trophies and charred, smoldering husks?
For many of us, cars …
For my cars?
I am sad to say see "deferred Russian maintenance" in the Russian Invasion thread.
I do the thing that makes the least financial sense. I buy the cleanest, nicest, preferably one-owner, preferably 100% stock car I can find and then tastefully modify it completely ruining the value and premium i paid for said car. I generally keep all the stock parts incase I want to return it to stock but that hasn't happened yet in the 30+ cars I've owner. They normally just get thrown into the deal when I sell it.
Actually, I guess buying basket cases and then modifying them to good condition and then doing that can sometimes cost more but still.
As for the other question, I'm more of the make myself happy with the car and don't worry about the next owner because in my head all the cars are keep forever (until they aren't).
I would fall under a rinse and repeat but I seem to be keeping the cars longer.
We've now had the 1990 E250 camper van (tow vehicle) for 14 years & next month makes 8 years for the 2011 Outback. I'm currently sprucing up both vehicles. You can't find camper vans for under 15K, so it make sense to fix this one up as we are only into for 7K. The Outback is a 6 speed manual and finding one in the first place wasn't easy, so it's staying as well.
My previous M.O. was rinse & repeat but it's now more of a rinse and re-beat. I've been thrashing the Datsun for 38 years. I keep saying I want to treat it to a cosmetic restoration but I running it. I thought it would get done this summer but now that I'm upgrading the engine in the F500 the Datsun will be pressed into service more.
I've had the F500 for 7 1/2 years so it may be a long term keeper as well.
I'd much rather see a cool car fall apart at the seams from heavy use then sitting untouched in a museum.
I admit, too, that I like driving cars that just look good. I'm not saying totally original, but stance and presentation matter to me. YMMV.
I buy cars that I like and I drive them. That's literally why they were built. I take care of my cars. Keep them maintained mechanically and cosmetically. I hate seeing garage queens though. I was putting 8k on my M3ti when it was my daily and now that it's not, it's moving on. I'm putting close to 15k on my Jeep. I love seeing rare and special cars with high mileage.
buzzboy said:I buy cars that I like and I drive them. That's literally why they were built.
I feel like it's easy to forget that the whole point of the automobile was to get us from point A to point B. Sure, we found ways to make them more fun to drive and even make really cool noises, but if the car can't drive point A to point B, then what's the point? Is it even really a car at that point?
Being a caretaker for a future owner is a lot like saving your super model wife for the next guy..... it's yours, enjoy it,
I drive them until they are a smoking pile of junk that is so used up that no one would even want parts from it.
I do service my cars to a higher standard than many and all preventative work/fix's are done. I do this so I can ride them hard and have fun with them while having the highest level of reliability possible.
Cars should be used and enjoyed. A car should not own you.
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) said:Being a caretaker for a future owner is a lot like saving your super model wife for the next guy..... it's yours, enjoy it,
This!!!!
Where I live rust is usually what kills them. So getting as many miles out of them before they disintegrate is the mission.
The one car brand that has been exceptionally good at not rusting has been Porsche's. It is a big reason I got away from Everything Mazda RX7 and went 944.
In reply to dean1484 :
That galvanized steel the 944s are built with is pretty amazing. I wish Subaru used it for WRXs.
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