MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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I come seeking some Retro Rides counselling. Like most on here I've been strongly into cars most of my life, a large part of my adult life has revolved around cars and most of my 'disposable' income has gone into them in one way or another. I've had strong desires for certain cars, dreams of my own creations, and used to see every vehicle as a potential base of great modifications. But around last autumn I realised I had lost my car mojo. Now nothing inspires me, everything just fills my head with negative thoughts about expense and hassle. TBH it's horrible because while I feel no desire and enthusiasm I still care a great deal because (and I feel sad to admit it) I feel a large part of my personality is made up by what car I drive and how it's modified. I guess what I am asking is, is this normal to go through? Have any of you guys just suddenly lost all your enthusiasm and if so what did you do to get it back? Some past passions:
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Apr 12, 2009 10:01:25 GMT
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That has happened to a lot of my my mates as they've got older, personally i flat out refuse to buy a sensible car at all, so i cant be tempted to loose my mojo, if you have a weird car as a daily driver you never forget what its like to be the only one you ever see on the road and see peoples heads turn as you drive past and feel that good feeling as you walk towards it, course they still annoy you when thngs go wrong with them, but i just think about my mate who has been trying to get Audi to find and cure a suspension clonk in his A4 for about a year now while i just get used to the nioses mine makes.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Lost My Automotive MojoBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Apr 12, 2009 10:03:15 GMT
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Yeah I'm with you, my mojo evaporated at about the same time. Still have a ton of work to do on my car, but just can't summon the enthusiasm. I try to remember what it was like driving it and how much I love it, but just can't get back into it.
And I know what you mean about a car reflecting your personality. I hate driving ordinary cars, I feel like I'm wearing someone elses clothes or something. I suppose this is normal, after all, we choose our cars and modify them to our own tastes, so it makes sense that they say a lot about you.
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Apr 12, 2009 10:08:05 GMT
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Hehehee, hadn't thought of that, but as i'm pretty long, smoke a lot and am generally scruffy i guess it fits.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Apr 12, 2009 10:24:38 GMT
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Thing is, it's not just retro cars I've lost all passion for, it's all cars. In Jan I decided I really needed to replace the Jeep with something more suitable for travelling up to Scotland and with money burning a hole in my pocket I toured Autotrader and Ebay, then went to the car show rooms and nothing excited me at all, or even felt would be more reliable.
I've sold my Jeep Cherokee and I'm rattling around in a Mk3 Astra I have which is wonderful, it's comfy, reliable and cheap to run. But it's so not me I'm almost embarrassed to be seen in it, I feel like a bit of a plonker in it.
I thought exposing myself to some inspiring tin would get me going like shot of viagra but even going to the states and perusing some awesome cars only served to confirm I'm in the wrong country to drive an American muscle car.
What's more is I seem to have this fear of compromise, in the past I've never saved up and bought something I've dreamt about, I've always bought what I can afford, what's available or a sort of compromise of features. Now I'm scared of doing it again and feel a sort of pressure to commit to a previous dream by spending a lot of money.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one though, maybe I should get to some shows or something like that?
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Apr 12, 2009 10:34:35 GMT
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Get outside your comfort bubble. Go to see some motor racing if thats not your usual thing. Do a road trip to somewhere interesting. Anything that connects you to the car. Or try and remember why cars of interest to you, after you strip away all the politics, clubs, shows etc. etc. Then give that a go
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Apr 12, 2009 10:47:46 GMT
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I'm in the same boat too, ive always had old cars, and i could never see myself in anything modern, all my spare time and money was taken up with old cars in one way or another, but now i just cant be bothered. Its due in some part by having 2 cars written off (one broke in a big way, the other was hit by a muppet) and having one car stolen. Before that happened everything was sweet, but all of a sudden it just seemed to go sour for me. the last 3 classics turned out to need more work than id planned, so i sold them on, in the past i would have been straight on it, sorting it all out, then doing something else to it untill i was happy that it was perfectly sorted. Recently, on my 30th birthday I received a phone car to say that my dream car was for sale. At the time I swore that id had my day with classics, but this was different. It was 40 years old, unrestored, rust free, all brakes renewed and a whole host of other bits done, it needed nothing. On top of that there was a whole host of history and connections with it that meant it felt like it SHOULD be mine, and it was local. On the day before i was due to pick it up I found out that a very similer car had been stolen in the area (NOT the same car) and all thoughts went back to the car that was stolen from outside my house a year or so. I realised that i just couldnt go through that again so I guess ill just carry on in my Pug 405 until i get even more bored with it than i am now. Wheels day helped out abit, I took my dads car which was nice, but now that I'm back to reality i realise what i miss sooooo much.
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Apr 12, 2009 11:35:51 GMT
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Dude everytime i do a job on mine that don't go to plan i always say it "Sod it I'm buying a brand new Kia with 7million years warantee"
But i never do! I'd miss it really, Trauling ebay looking for bits, The shows, stories, scene of it all!
I think to some extent around autum winter we all go though it!
I'm 24 now and i've already calmed it down a lot! Big jobs are hassel! If i want a fast car i buy a fast car i don't do engine swaps/conversions anymore! lol. Big jobs are for the garage up the road, their tools, time, blood, my cash! Both mainly down to lack of tools and workspace! But i still enjoy my old (and even not so) cars!
I have found buying a modern daily as helped a lot! Instead of looking at three projects, one of which is being used daily and feels like one step fwd two steps back. I look at two projects on the sidelines, and a nice looking, reliable, modern daily!
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Apr 12, 2009 11:39:31 GMT
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it happens to me as i get older so do my cars but i just put it in a barn untill the urge takes me ;D
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97 volvo 940 turbo wagon 87 fiat strada abarth 78 gs1000 82 katana 1100 84 gsx1100 efe
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Apr 12, 2009 13:43:49 GMT
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Dude, I've been through the same these last few months. But I'm slowly getting it back. Give us a PM if you fancy doing a show or anything (I'm service crewing on a stage rally next Saturday, for example), I'm only 30mins drive away from you.
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rod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,953
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Apr 12, 2009 14:32:17 GMT
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'tis a sad fact ,we all go thro' this ! I'm 56 ,and have built loads of stuff over the years ,and now cant be bothered . Stopped buying car mags many yrs ago . A mate brought round the latest Custom Car yesterday . To say I was uninspired by the contents is an under statement! I'm now building a trike for a friend ,just 'cos I can really ! I would love to sell my Merc Lowrider ,and be done with it all! Just cant be bothered ! SWMBO just doesnt believe me when I say I wont build another car from ground up again ,cos I ve said it too many times over many yrs,but I can honestly say I wont!I think I'm actually enjoying being mojo-less!
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richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
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Apr 12, 2009 14:36:19 GMT
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MWF
You've come to the right place! Earlier this year I put up a post saying exactly the same thing - a 2-litre X-TYpe seemed far more enjoyable than my '61 Pop or '32 Model B. Luckily the guys on here gave me wise words of advice plus in one or two instances a kick up the 'arris. Now I'm back into it - totally....
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I could finish my mini within a month. I have 99% of the parts to finish it. I have the time to finish it. I have the workspace and tools to finish it.
Cant be bothered though - Havent looked at it for weeks now.
There are a few things I believe are stopping me... Next job is prep and sanding for the paint - thats just so curse word tedious to do, I HATE it. Then the paint itself. I have done a reasonable amount of spraying before, but its always a big fear -runs, orange peel, rections, fisheyes...it doesnt take much to curse word on my enthusiasm. The biggest mental block though? I'm pretty sure I will eventually get it finished, drive it two or three times and be bored with it and want to sell it, thus making all the work up till now pointless.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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I kinda lost my MOJO last year, but it was primarily driven by having a prize cock for a mamnager at work.
Having Nicola was great, as it transfered my energy and passion into something else I like doing, thread to follow in readers other stuff.
However, Mojo did return with the comming of spring.
I think it is natural for all of us to go through cycles .
Look at what Hotwire says too.
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Its easy to loose your mojo with cars, you cant force it to come back. Maybe its best to leave cars for a while and come back when the mojo comes back to you, which it will.
Have you only lost interest in cars or have you lost it with other things that you usually find pleasure in? If so it could be signs of something deeper. Stress at work e.t.c can wear you down without you realising it (not a psychologist but been there)
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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Prud
Part of things
Posts: 308
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I lose it periodically. Normally just after I've been jerked around by some "workshop". But it does come in cycles. The only time I've done something really stupid is when the Mojo has disappeared yonder over the hill and I sold whichever toy was giving me grief at the time.
I've found the best way to get your Mojo back is a pointless road trip. And in Australia, stupidly long road trips are practically part of our national identity. One of my favourites was a trip from Newcastle to Canberra for a pack of smokes. Which is a round trip of about 12-14 hours. But in typical form both the mate and myself forgot about buying smokes until an hour into the return leg, even though we stopped at a servo in Canberra.
For me trips like that really reinforce why I love cars. It's a freedom thing. And the ability to do something well out of the ordinary. And if I do a trip like that in a bland late model thingy, or worse yet a mates toy, a fair chunk of the trip is spent thinking "man I wish I had the Morrie for this bit of the road".
Besides - anyone can go plonk down cash (or take out a loan) for a new/near-new repmobile. It takes a vision to take a standard car and make it your own. And it comes with a massive sense of achievement when you squeeze a huge power out of an engine, or you build a car capable of doing 1000 miles in 24hrs, or a 1/4 mile in 10 seconds - whichever goal you set out to achieve.
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rangerbob
Part of things
Mk1 VW Polo LS '78
Posts: 518
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I often lose my Mojo, not through lack of parts or lack of funds it's just time. Finding time now even just to wash the car is rare!! However, to me and my good buddy, a dose of Franz Koob in his Berg cup Fiat 128 brings back any lost mojo!!! try it
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EMAIL: rcsimpson66@gmail.com facebook.com/Rob.Simpson.Design
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GavinJ
Club Retro Rides Member
MGB 3.9 v8 Sebring
Posts: 927
Club RR Member Number: 209
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Lost My Automotive MojoGavinJ
@gavinj
Club Retro Rides Member 209
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I lost my Mojo last year, ended up having a 306 Diesel because it was 'sensible' hated the bloody thing and now covering 1500 miles a month in v8 mgb and loving it! i found going sensible for a bit soon got my mojo back for better things...
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Thanks for all your advice guys.
Yes there's been some personal/medical stuff involved which I wont go into however I've been more enthusiastic than ever about other things such as gardening, my freelancing and such.
I've been away from the shows, magazines and once marque groups for years now, I'm more of a general car fan - hence why this site is one of the few I still visit.
Perhaps I should just take the opportunity to sit back and save some money, then when the right cars come along I can get it.
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richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
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Good luck with whatever you choose to do!
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