Anyone else become disillusioned with owning a whole bunch of cars?

1607 Views 26 Replies 16 Participants Last post by vwnate1, 4 mo ago

crunk04gtp

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago

So I'm about three years into my 'neck fever dream of owning way too many old cars. For a while it felt like I was genuinely living my dream. Recently I took on a huge project in buying a fixer upper cabin that takes all of my time. I realized I was just going to have to farm out repairs for the time being (which hurt both my pride and my wallet). But the one thing I've always said I will not pay someone else to do is change oil. It's just too simple. Yesterday I realized four cars are in need of oil changes. For some reason the prospect of parading them in and out of the garage in the freezing cold was the nail in the coffin for my dream and I've now decided to start selling off cars.

Anyone else find themselves in a similar position or am I just not keeping it real?

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

khomer2

· #2 · 5 mo ago

Respectfully, not realistic, if you don't have the footprint and cover to handle what you have.

5Mbs, Minivan, 2Tractors, 1MiniBH ALL have proper (separate) coverage plus all the necessary tools* to service, plus room for the neighbors rides** when servicing. No *Lift (not yet....

)

*- It's nice to have colleagues that have these niceties and more (bartering and sharing locally works)
**- service in exchange for meals - works for me. (been doing this for years)

As for Oil changes - topside on the MBs has always worked for me (provided one does regular routine maintenance - of which many, these days, do not, unfortunately,

cdk4219

· #3 · 5 mo ago

Yes having too many old cars, especially German ones, becomes a full time job

Reactions: 3

KoboldWrangler

· #4 · 5 mo ago

im 26 and have 8 cars and a neglected garden tractor -- '82 honda prelude, '86 lincoln continental, '81 orange tercel hatch, '81 2dr tercel, '81 red tercel hatch, '85 4wd tercel wagon, '86 2dr tercel, '83 300sd, and an engine swapped gravely 8122 garden tractor.

Can you tell that I'm into a specific niche of cars? lol. Clapped luxury and econo-sh!t boxes are my jam.

Most at least run and drive enough to move around, though they all need some sort of work done to them. It is a bit much for me, however i keep stumbling into free cars or cars too cheap to pass up that would have otherwise been sent to the scrapper when they still have life left in them. I have a hard time letting cars go that I've dumped a bunch of time into cause a. they still arent worth anything and b. i feel like i put part of my soul into these cars, and dont want to see them go to the wrong person.

Reactions: 3

record10carvon

· #5 · 5 mo ago

I keep going back and forth about donating one of my wagons to something or someone. One charity turned out to be basically a scam....but, did not expect to get the new E63 when I did.....

Reactions: 1

TPBenz

· #6 · 5 mo ago

KoboldWrangler said:
im 26 and have 8 cars and a neglected garden tractor -- '82 honda prelude, '86 lincoln continental, '81 orange tercel hatch, '81 2dr tercel, '81 red tercel hatch, '85 4wd tercel wagon, '86 2dr tercel, '83 300sd, and an engine swapped gravely 8122 garden tractor.

Can you tell that I'm into a specific niche of cars? lol. Clapped luxury and econo-sh!t boxes are my jam.

Most at least run and drive enough to move around, though they all need some sort of work done to them. It is a bit much for me, however i keep stumbling into free cars or cars too cheap to pass up that would have otherwise been sent to the scrapper when they still have life left in them. I have a hard time letting cars go that I've dumped a bunch of time into cause a. they still arent worth anything and b. i feel like i put part of my soul into these cars, and dont want to see them go to the wrong person.

A fellow Toyota fan

I tend to buy/sell. '70's- Crown's, Celica's, Corona's, MKII's.

Reactions: 2

natejgreene9871

· #7 · 5 mo ago

I’ve had my ups and downs and have considered selling many times but the hoarder in me always wins out. I justify it because I don’t really like modern cars, they are just appliances

Reactions: 2

Gtv6george

· #8 · 5 mo ago

KoboldWrangler said:
im 26 and have 8 cars and a neglected garden tractor -- '82 honda prelude, '86 lincoln continental, '81 orange tercel hatch, '81 2dr tercel, '81 red tercel hatch, '85 4wd tercel wagon, '86 2dr tercel, '83 300sd, and an engine swapped gravely 8122 garden tractor.

Can you tell that I'm into a specific niche of cars? lol. Clapped luxury and econo-sh!t boxes are my jam.

Most at least run and drive enough to move around, though they all need some sort of work done to them. It is a bit much for me, however i keep stumbling into free cars or cars too cheap to pass up that would have otherwise been sent to the scrapper when they still have life left in them. I have a hard time letting cars go that I've dumped a bunch of time into cause a. they still arent worth anything and b. i feel like i put part of my soul into these cars, and dont want to see them go to the wrong person.

I’m in the same boat as you.
Currently I have a 1983 gtv6 that was my daily driver until I took it off the road two years ago for rust repair which has been going well but slowly. Then I found a great deal on a 1995 164 quadrifoglio. It was a great deal because as I later found out the motor had no oil pressure. Rebuilt that motor with all my money. Then that was too nice to drive in the winter salt so I got a great deal on my 1984 euro 4 speed 300D. And now I’m in that. I don’t have a problem keeping up with the cars but my ADD and love for the cars keeps making my motorcycle projects get pushed off more and more. Which is interesting you’d figure getting my BSA, Tomos, and yz250 back up and running would be a lot faster than the cars but I guess not.
That trecel wagon must be sweet!

Reactions: 1

isthenew

· #9 · 5 mo ago

I've pretty much had at least 2 cars for over 20 years. And when I was married, we had 4 for the two of us. I do most all the repairs. But when we had the 4 cars, I paid the dealerships to do the oil changes. Back then, it was every 3 months, every car. One car a month, year round was just too much oil on my hands.

Stutz

· #10 · 5 mo ago

Well I am kinda in that boat but now its simply wanting to buy a car that is fun but not a lot of work. I am done pulling engines, trannys etc. Ive owned over 50 cars starting at 15 and now at 68 having ice water dropping on me is not so much fun anymore. Besides junkyards are not what they used to be. Set of camel humped heads anyone? See if someone picks up on knowing what that is

Reactions: 1

RobTheMod300sd

· #11 · 5 mo ago

The camel humped heads are what every 327 Chevy builder wants. Not easy to find in the junkyard anymore.

I’m not disillusioned with old cars. I make OK money sorting out the new ones, I could tell the tale of the Audi with the $18,000 check engine light. But none of my aged fleet can break like that. Not the 107,126,170, BMW 540i, Jag XJ8, Ford F-250, C4 Corvette… at least four of those are forever cars. Life is too short to drive a generic grocery getter.

Reactions: 3

brauhaus

· #12 · 5 mo ago

Owning more cars than you need can become a hassle real quick. I've pared down to 2 and its been much better, instead of the never ending scroll of things that need work. Otherwise, schedule oil changes for the summer, fall, or spring instead of the dead of winter.

Reactions: 1

KoboldWrangler

· #13 · 4 mo ago

Gtv6george said:
I’m in the same boat as you.
Currently I have a 1983 gtv6 that was my daily driver until I took it off the road two years ago for rust repair which has been going well but slowly. Then I found a great deal on a 1995 164 quadrifoglio. It was a great deal because as I later found out the motor had no oil pressure. Rebuilt that motor with all my money. Then that was too nice to drive in the winter salt so I got a great deal on my 1984 euro 4 speed 300D. And now I’m in that. I don’t have a problem keeping up with the cars but my ADD and love for the cars keeps making my motorcycle projects get pushed off more and more. Which is interesting you’d figure getting my BSA, Tomos, and yz250 back up and running would be a lot faster than the cars but I guess not.
That trecel wagon must be sweet!

Mhm youre into weirded cars than I. I cant imagine finding parts is too easy for those alfa's stateside. Parts for the tercels are quickly drying up. The 2nd gen wagons, specifically the 4wd ones, are suffering from transmission failures due to low oil, and there are exactly zero parts for them, and people are hesitant to let go of spare parts.

My wagon has a 7age swap done to it -- 1.8L block with the 1.6L twin cam 4age head. Power went from 62 crank hp to 122whp. It really hauls now haha.

I try to keep my jdm cars out of the salt and slime they spray on the roads. Winters are more mild here in missouri, so I dont have to worry too much. I used to daily the prelude until winter hit, which is when I switched to my 300sd. Its already heavily rotted, and I know I will probably be its last owner.

Reactions: 2

Gtv6george

· #14 · 4 mo ago

KoboldWrangler said:
Mhm youre into weirded cars than I. I cant imagine finding parts is too easy for those alfa's stateside. Parts for the tercels are quickly drying up. The 2nd gen wagons, specifically the 4wd ones, are suffering from transmission failures due to low oil, and there are exactly zero parts for them, and people are hesitant to let go of spare parts.

My wagon has a 7age swap done to it -- 1.8L block with the 1.6L twin cam 4age head. Power went from 62 crank hp to 122whp. It really hauls now haha.

I try to keep my jdm cars out of the salt and slime they spray on the roads. Winters are more mild here in missouri, so I dont have to worry too much. I used to daily the prelude until winter hit, which is when I switched to my 300sd. Its already heavily rotted, and I know I will probably be its last owner.

Actually the Alfas aren’t horrible for parts. Definitely not good but there’s enough of a following in Europe that you just get parts from over there. That must be a fun trecel with that motor. My 300D only has rust on the rear floors so I don’t mind driving it in the salt. I’ve been washing it religiously and I plan on replacing the floors this summer so what’s a little more salt in the meantime. I’m also the same age as you. And have a buddy the same age in Joplin MO that has a bunch of really weird cars mostly Alfas that I go and visit. Really good painter.

Reactions: 1

KoboldWrangler

· #15 · 4 mo ago

Gtv6george said:
Actually the Alfas aren’t horrible for parts. Definitely not good but there’s enough of a following in Europe that you just get parts from over there. That must be a fun trecel with that motor. My 300D only has rust on the rear floors so I don’t mind driving it in the salt. I’ve been washing it religiously and I plan on replacing the floors this summer so what’s a little more salt in the meantime. I’m also the same age as you. And have a buddy the same age in Joplin MO that has a bunch of really weird cars mostly Alfas that I go and visit. Really good painter.

well, if youre ever in kc, lmk and maybe we can get a coffee or somethin!

the wagon is super fun, however i am currently working on another tercel with a turbo 4age. aiming for 200whp. Ive got no idea if the trans will hold together -- the highest known power is 140 crank hp from a jdm 20v 4age.

also curious how the mercedes will feel with an upgraded pump, turbo and IC haha.

Reactions: 2

Gtv6george

· #16 · 4 mo ago

KoboldWrangler said:
well, if youre ever in kc, lmk and maybe we can get a coffee or somethin!

the wagon is super fun, however i am currently working on another tercel with a turbo 4age. aiming for 200whp. Ive got no idea if the trans will hold together -- the highest known power is 140 crank hp from a jdm 20v 4age.

also curious how the mercedes will feel with an upgraded pump, turbo and IC haha.

Don’t know if I’ll ever be up that way but if I am I wouldn’t miss a shot at seeing a Tercel with some power.

Reactions: 1

vwnate1

· #17 · 4 mo ago

Well Crunk ;

It took me over 50 years and God alone knows how many old cars, trucks and Motocycles I've had, like many here I'd save them from the crusher, here in Southern California they last long with very little rust .

I'm a retired Journeyman Mechanic who simply can't do much lifting etc. any more so I gave away some cars and am trying to find homes for lotsa junk .

If it's not fun anymore, don't do it .

I still enjoy trouble shooting and fixing little niggly things that no one else ever bothers with but after a full day's work I writhe in pain in my recliner .

Ibuprofen -can- be your friend BUT over time it collects in your liver and gives you a horrible painful slow death so mind you go easy with it .

khomer2

· #18 · 4 mo ago

Nate,

treat yourself to a good full body massage and a chiropractic adjustment.

Reactions: 3

vwnate1

· #19 · 4 mo ago

Yeah well ;

The time for those is well past .

I'm badly broken and my old Chiro said it'd be dangerous to give me an adjustment now .

I have plates in my neck and arm / hand blah blah blah .

It takes me about 1/2 day to do a proper oil change, followed by recliner time .

At least I'm still more or less ambulatory, I can still ride my Motocycle to so no complaints out of me .

Reactions: 3

Mlowery

· #20 · 4 mo ago

crunk04gtp said:
So I'm about three years into my 'neck fever dream of owning way too many old cars. For a while it felt like I was genuinely living my dream. Recently I took on a huge project in buying a fixer upper cabin that takes all of my time. I realized I was just going to have to farm out repairs for the time being (which hurt both my pride and my wallet). But the one thing I've always said I will not pay someone else to do is change oil. It's just too simple. Yesterday I realized four cars are in need of oil changes. For some reason the prospect of parading them in and out of the garage in the freezing cold was the nail in the coffin for my dream and I've now decided to start selling off cars.

Anyone else find themselves in a similar position or am I just not keeping it real?

Absolutely agree with this. I had six, bought a house that needed work and felt overwhelmed. As a result I parted with some beloved vehicles and regret some decisions...

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 27 Posts