bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Jul 25, 2006 11:39:15 GMT
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Tat or glory? Show winner or barn full? I've often wrangled with the amount of rusty tat I have lying around and sometimes dreamt of owning a show winning, magazine cover-worthy ride. I can never quite decide though, and as it's easier to buy £500 tat, than save up and build something nice. But ultimately what does this mean about my enjoyment, I don't relish mechanical work and I love to drive, so am I just a hoarder? Or plain lazy? Realistically I'd probably have a highly tuned BMW or Volvo, or maybe a big proper off road, buggy. Or maybe both, say £15K limit... Is it really just a financial question, or is there more to it? So do you own tat, but long for glory? Or does the thought of polish and prizes repulse you? Come on now, be honest...
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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Jul 25, 2006 11:43:29 GMT
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I think you do more of a service to the retro community by having one top quality car,.. than by having 50 snotters... I think those fields and garages full of half started/finished cars just rotting into the ground are one of the sadest sights known to man... So one thing well I say But I'm not into polishing... so it doesn't need to be shiney
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Jul 25, 2006 11:46:38 GMT
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one shiny MOT'ted motor
and a shed full of scabby tat
its the only way to go - if I had 'em all shiny - i would be very bored
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room.
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Jul 25, 2006 11:49:44 GMT
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Can we have a third option of 'highly tuned grot' ?
Or am I mising the point?
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention '02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think '03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic) '09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
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Jul 25, 2006 11:52:48 GMT
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I go with highly tuned grot too!
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This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
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Jul 25, 2006 12:03:04 GMT
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In theory I want a show winner but in practice my attention span is too short ... as are funds after the race car ... so cheap tatt fills the hole nicely (and keeps Keith out of trouble and me in amusement watching him throw his toys out of the pram every so often)
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Jul 25, 2006 12:14:03 GMT
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KWOLITEA all the way. If you have an acre of rotting worthless tat, with no 'game-plan' and no funds left to deal with any of it, then it remains just that - trivial tat. But then if it makes you happy, where's the harm. Of course there is a perverse pleasure to be gained from driving about in a disgusting snotter, but this is a short-lived thrill and the desire for shiney things quickly comes back. It's easy to become distracted from the focus of one 'main project' as I know only too well. But there can be nothing like the satisfaction of having people drool over your car everywhere you go. I'd love to be able to sink thousands into a show-stopper, but I don't have those thousands. However, I'm pretty happy with what I've got right now and I can 'evolve' it over a few years...
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Nick
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,483
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Jul 25, 2006 12:14:09 GMT
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i've been struggling with this decision lately,
and for the time being ive come to the conclusion to sack off some of my cars and spares and try stick to just 2 cars.
i don't want either extreme, a show winning minter, i'd be too scared to use for its purpose and the real rusty curse word is starting to depress me,
so i just want one daily cool retro car thats in medium condition and one project and thats it..
as it has been i have had 5 or 6 cars for a while and although that isnt a vast amount compared to some of you i just feel overloaded with things that need doing to them and end up achieving next to naff all.
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idea stolen from rattely eddie.
this weeks car count "5"
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Jul 25, 2006 12:14:57 GMT
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I go with highly tuned grot too! Yeah that's cool, I guess by definition it's more of a 'what to do with your money' thing... So if you had the funds... I am fast coming to the realisation that one good car is indeed worth five wasting away, so that's what I'm headed for. Just recently I've had some really good cheap thrills though. Smoking around Le Mans in a £1300 Mk1 Tina estate was legend, slammed with Revos and 1500 motor was a recipe for pure satisfaction... Peaches my attention span is very short too, which i think may also be a contributory factor. I think Keefy may have it best, killer car on the way and a cheap smoker for everyday use... A good example of how to do it right, although I'd be interested to see if he agrees.
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Jul 25, 2006 12:15:05 GMT
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In theory I want a show winner but in practice my attention span is too short ... as are funds after the race car ... so cheap tatt fills the hole nicely (and keeps Keith out of trouble and me in amusement watching him throw his toys out of the pram every so often) Respect to you for putting it like that. I think you represent a lot of people who simply can't afford a show winner due to over commitments but wants one. A lot of other people would simply make out they don't want one and that's why they don't have one.
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Jul 25, 2006 12:22:38 GMT
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A lot of other people would simply make out they don't want one and that's why they don't have one. Good point, 99 out of a 100 feature car owners I talk too all say they never intended to build one or go so far with a project. So to cut out the middle man and a whole load of wedge, maybe I just want to get back to cheap fun smokers... But that still doesn't solve my yearn for something mega desirable. I'm also aware of knee-jerk modifying. My Volvo estate is case in point, battling against weight, transmission issues and parts pricing has slowed it right down. But in time honoured tradition, logic doesn't really figure.
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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Jul 25, 2006 12:25:50 GMT
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In theory I want a show winner but in practice my attention span is too short ... as are funds after the race car ... so cheap tatt fills the hole nicely (and keeps Keith out of trouble and me in amusement watching him throw his toys out of the pram every so often) Respect to you for putting it like that. I think you represent a lot of people who simply can't afford a show winner due to over commitments but wants one. A lot of other people would simply make out they don't want one and that's why they don't have one. Agreed, I'd love a show stopping car. At this particular point it's absolutely 100% not possible, not even remotely. And if you've seen the For Sale section today, you may have noticed I'm having a big re-think, for exactly that reason! Anyway, you pays your money etc etc, anything that keeps old cars on the road (as long as they're safe and legal) is great in my book!
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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Jul 25, 2006 12:32:50 GMT
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One other point to note is about this 'where do you draw the line' business... If I put a bit more effort into my BMW, i.e. sorted a few minor paintwork issues, refurbed the wheels, I could have a (admittedly not very exciting) prize-winner on my hands. It wouldn't actually cost me that much to do. But it might detract from the enjoyment that i get from it. It's a fantastic car to drive, and I love giving it some beans on the country roads. But if I got it to perfection, would I be too scared to use it in the same way, cosseting it and wrapping it up for the winter etc? Maybe if i'd bought a car that wasn't so enjoyable to drive it would be a differnt story - if all it was for was pootling to shows and meets and sunday afternoons and maybe the odd straight line blast at the pod it might be a different story. I can live with stone chips in exchange for the grin i get from driving the thing.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Jul 25, 2006 12:38:21 GMT
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One other point to note is about this 'where do you draw the line' business... There is a member of PassionFord who has an absolutely immaculate white 3dr cossie, I means the real version of immaculate, not the 'that cars mint version'. Every summer he rags around in it, come sun or rain, drives it like he's stolen it and attends all the shows. Then come winter he takes the whole thing to bits and completely rebuilds it. The guy is clearly dedicated on a whole new level but must also have the time and finances to do it. And I'm sure many on here would too if they could.
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Jul 25, 2006 13:00:11 GMT
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Ask the guy with 3 yanks, 2 Vauxhalls and a Capri and who is still taking the bus to work and late on his commitments to send stuff out to people etc. I had 16 cars at once at one point. Now I have 6. I still can't manage them all. Priorities are making it look less and less likely I'm going to be able to throw a wad of cash at any of them. But I can't sell any of them I did think about selling em all and buying a cheapo Saab or something for a daily driver and a kinda bitchin ride for the weekends (a mates Plymouth Duster in fact was a lined up option) but I couldn't do it. I curse and swear at jobs on them, I put off doing stuff and my wife asks me "why do you do it when it only makes you angry and miserable?" and the more to the point "why do you do it when you don't enjoy it?" It all seems extra pointless when it seems every shiny, finished car has to be sold on shortly after to pay for the debt I incurred doing it or to fund the much needed renovation on the next one in the queue. I don't know. I'm stuck on a production line of rust and broken parts. I'd love a shiny car, one which didn't make people laugh and point and generally take the p!ss out of me for owning. I'd like reliablility, performance, luxury... Hell, lets even hope for some fuel efficiency as well if we're asking for the moon. And occasionally I have it. I've had some sweet cars, some shiny ones. But they got sold and now I just own too much rotten old tat. I think its an addiction. I am driven to it. Ever car is a fresh adventure, a new goal, new targets, new ideas, new challenges... I'm feeling less drawn to it though. We used to be up and down the country most weekends buying tat but now I like gardening, drinking tea and relaxing. And then forcing muself into wrestling with broken tat I already own. I have two cars in lockups. I have to move one or both cars to new lockups. Just thinking about it half of me thnks just scrap 'em, whats the frikkin point in all that pain and effort and wasted time. At least my mates finally picked up the Bruiser to fit the new flex plate for me so I might be back on the road by the weekend. You do what you do I guess.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jul 25, 2006 13:01:18 GMT
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I think about this everyday now! Original brief was an old school custom car. next brief was solid powerful street racer, that looked smart but provided no nonsense fun. Working on the second brief but I got side tracked by loads of cheap as chips must haves! I still do, trouble is i don't really have time to work on 1 so why do I have nearly a virtual 4! Because its what I do, and makes me tick and I'm learning loads with this hands on get out there approach. Hope to see ya in a waxoyled 3dr come CaRS 2007, or a half-resto Cortina GL, Sounds like I have a plan. I haven't! LOL Edit: No vote cos i'm half n half.
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,949
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Quality of Quantity?bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Jul 25, 2006 13:11:40 GMT
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Not sure where I fit in to this..........................
Did get overloaded with projects a while back and was achieving nothing at all - in fact I was struggling to keep even one on the road.......... 8 was just too many!!!
Had a clearout as I was "modifying" the Monza to what it is now (A snotter from the outside - but underneath it's sound as a pound) and got myself back to 5 cars
Polo (hers) Monza (Track day toy and currently daily driver - finished) Carlton GLi (Out on loan) Senator (Daily Driver once finished) LC (Off the road)
So that's
- 3 on road - 1 off road (saving me lots of cash compared to using it rather than anything much wrong with it) - 1 - WIP (Yes I've restarted the Senator Project at last)
The Commo means 6 and as a result I've passed that dangerous threshold again but it's safe and secure and not on my drive so I can forget about it for a few months while I finish the Senny...........
I reckon if I'm truely honest I'll sell two of the cars next year and I won't miss either of them!!!
(Hastily adds it won't be the Monza, Senator or Commodore
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Jul 25, 2006 13:13:54 GMT
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Ideally I think you shuld have three cars.
1 - tidy, reasonably entertaining/characterful daily driver. 2 - finished car, weekend toy - restored vintage or full on racer, what ever floats your boat. 3 - the project car - something you can tinker with in a millions bits, weld/grind/sand/paint/wire away to your hearts content.
That way you have something to go to work, parts chaser, winter hack, etc. You're on the road and no problems.
You have something to take to the shows/strip/track whatever it is you want to do.
You have a toy to imerse yourself in the project of. Something you can bench build and discuss with your mates and all the things you do when you have a project on.
But you still have one on the road for daily use and one you can enjoy the use of the rest of the time. So theres no pressure on anything.
As soon as you move away from the three car rule you are moving towards trouble.
Alistair's law simply states: the more cars you own the less chance there is of one actually working.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jul 25, 2006 13:24:35 GMT
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Ideally I think you shuld have three cars. 1 - tidy, reasonably entertaining/characterful daily driver. 2 - finished car, weekend toy - restored vintage or full on racer, what ever floats your boat. 3 - the project car - something you can tinker with in a millions bits, weld/grind/sand/paint/wire away to your hearts content. Alistair's law simply states: the more cars you own the less chance there is of one actually working. I think you are spot on, I'm doing this but I'm close to having none working soon. 2 is ok too. Make sure one is realistic
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Jul 25, 2006 15:22:18 GMT
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Alistair you are spot on.
I'd love to do that but sadly don't have the room.
Interestingly enough I actually kerbed scuffed and scratched my 'show car' yesterday in a series of incidents.
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