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I'm not sure having a reliable, comfortable (read bog standard modern) daily is the answer, it's more like the death knell!
You get spoilt having a car that gets you where you want to go without fuss, drama or excitement. Then, pretty soon, you take it for granted.
If you actually DRIVE a retro as a daily, even the run to work or the shops can make you smile. Sure, you have to do a bit of maintainance every so often and you may even have to stay on top of the tinworm, but it's WORTH it cos every day you get reminded of just WHY you do this. If you have a running retro and a modern, how often do you think, "no i'll leave the toy at home, it might rain" (or other excuse) pretty soon it's got a flat battery and junk piled on the roof and you're thinking of selling it cos you don't use it enough.
I've felt so much better since simple finance dictated I stop driving the modern and drive my VED free classic instead (some modern, I have 2 Cavaliers, a 91 and a 95, but they weren't retro when I bought them in 2004 and 2006 respectively)
Anybody like a nice Cavalier?
Steve
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lord13
Part of things
Posts: 536
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Anybody like a nice Cavalier? Is it an auto?
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lord13
Part of things
Posts: 536
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I have avoided commenting on this thread for a few reasons . .. mainly because I go through much the same thing from time to time... I have sheds full of rubbish that 'might come in handy one day', I hate to throw anything out as I may need it 'later on', I even buy stuff I don't need because I may need it in the future. Which is one of the reasons I keep tripping over a carlton engine and box when I go to get the mower out the shed. It's an illness, but it's getting better The thing is you have to sit back and take stock sometimes, to look at all those piles of stuff and either sell it, give it away, or just junk it. I used to buy a piece of tat that I'd fallen in love with, spend loads getting it road worthy, but then i'd get curse word at it, so i'd get it mot'd or close to mot and sell it on, pile some money back into the house and use the rest to buy another piece of tat that I had also fallen head over heels for... and the cycle continues...until the last one, the last one broke me. I did make some money on the old girl but it came in in dribs and drabs because I broke it for spares and I never saw a penny, the house took it all. I was the worst person to live with, I was mardy all day, every week, kicking stuff about, arguing, I was like a child. Until the other day, the other day the mood just left me, I actually laughed when I realised I didn't care much about getting another toy, if one came along, great. If it didn't, well...there would be something one day, I just don't need one right now. What broke the mood? I dunno, maybe it was helping my mother sort out her house, maybe it was getting that song right on the guitar, maybe it was just having the time to sort out my garden for once . . .who knows. Bad moods just don't last all that long, especially if you have something to do that has nothing to do with what is giving you that bad mood. So my advice? Do some jobs around the house, help out a family member or a friend, buy a guitar and pick a song to learn ( mine was superchunk 'on the mouth' one of the greatest guitar pop songs of the '90s, not a technically difficult song but i'm not a technically good guitar player and it is good fun to jump about making a hell of a lot of noise ) Just do some stuff that has nothing to do with cars for a bit... a change is as good as a rest so they say
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Last Edit: Apr 24, 2019 6:58:25 GMT by lord13
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Apr 24, 2019 20:10:51 GMT
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Anybody like a nice Cavalier? Is it an auto? Both are auto, 91 2ltr GLi 8v auto saloon in champagne gold around 105k on the clock, runs and drives and stops, not been used in anger since 2014 and not MOT'd currently. Needs rack gaiters and a little attention to outer sills for MOT May need a brake refresh by now but have a complete set of rear discs, hubs, calipers etc if needed. Few other little bits to do but generally sound and solid. Prefacelift car, no ABS, airbags or cat. 15" Snowflake wheels, facelift front bumper headlights, tail lights boot panel and bonnet. GSi Grille Mechanically stock. Mine since 2004
Or a 95 2.0 GLS 16v auto saloon in metallic black with black leather Diplomat interior, around 150k on the clock runs drives and stops, not used since MOT ran out Sept 17 Sills and arches original and very sound but needs a tickle in the n/s boot floor and one or 2 other small spots. has a fair few bits of laquer peel that need looking at but mechanically very good. Lowered 40mm on 16" alloys Airbag deleted and drop column fitted, electric sunroof, lexus lights, push button start, mesh grille (by me) recent discs pads and rear caliper new fuel tank in 2012 lots of other new or newish bits, serviced every year or 6000 miles in my ownership, most everything works. Mechanically stock but a very quick example, ran 16.3 straight off the street at PVS at Santa pod a few years back. Mine since 2006. I also have a lot of spare parts and panels for cavs available by separate deal.
Having trouble adding pics tonight, will try again in a bit! Interested?
Steve
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Apr 24, 2019 20:16:13 GMT
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Now I can do pictures! Steve
Edit, sorry for going off topic! Won't happen again!
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Last Edit: Apr 24, 2019 20:17:46 GMT by carledo
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Apr 24, 2019 21:05:03 GMT
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I don't remember ever seeing a mk3(?) Cavalier saloon. Were they rare back in the day, or was I just wondering around with blinkers on?
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Complete mojo failureluckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Apr 24, 2019 21:12:29 GMT
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Needs lows
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Apr 24, 2019 21:43:23 GMT
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I don't remember ever seeing a mk3(?) Cavalier saloon. Were they rare back in the day, or was I just wondering around with blinkers on? Id never really thought about it, probably rarer than a hatchback. TBH the only ones I can remember were ones that looked like this
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Apr 24, 2019 22:12:42 GMT
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I don't remember ever seeing a mk3(?) Cavalier saloon. Were they rare back in the day, or was I just wondering around with blinkers on? Blinkers 😂. Do you not remember the gsi’s or the turbos?
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,582
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Apr 25, 2019 18:09:38 GMT
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I keep meaning to comment on this post as i too keep going in and out of complete mojo failure! (right now I'm in it ) I've had my mk3 Escort for 6 years and it was an occasional car until moving to London, then i scrapped my daily (2002 Focus Estate) and long story short, i've done a few jobs on the Escort and it did 8000 miles this year no major problems. This lead me to buying a Capri off here as I wanted a running project as the Escort has always been pretty solid. Since i bought the Capri I've been chasing some mechanical problems that at first were interesting but now its used most of my budget/not fixed and i'm mainly chasing electrical problems after having a little smouldering under the dash a couple of months ago... since then i don't trust it and might have to get an auto electrician in. So i definitely feel your pain and don't really know what the answer is. I think i really needed a better car to start with (although its not a bad car at all) and I've thought of buying a new daily to replace either my good Escort (that would be a hard one) or move the Capri on and get a modern... then i drove my dads 2011 Audi A3 TDI and the plug light came on 100 miles into my trip... realised if it was my car it would maybe cost as much as 2 jobs on my Escort. Just shows they can all be as bad as each other. If you have the Focus i'd use that as much as you can and try and get one of the classics to a point you can use it. This is probably just my ramblings as i've come in frustrated but i feel your pain!
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I don't remember ever seeing a mk3(?) Cavalier saloon. Were they rare back in the day, or was I just wondering around with blinkers on? There are about twice as many hatchbacks as saloons around. The factory decided (don't ask why) that all the really hot models, GSi, Turbo, 4wd (or any combination thereof) were all saloon variants. Therefore the saloon is now much more sought after amongst the Cavalier cognoscenti. Though there are quite a lot of bodyshell differences between the stock saloon and the factory hot rods (which had a full IRS) that make shell swaps harder, the saloon is still the one to have! Not that I bought mine because of that, the preference wasn't there 15 years ago! I bought saloons cos I preferred the shape!
To Lucky 7 The Black car is already 40mm below stock, which is plenty for local roads here in Shropshire. And as a matter of personal preference, I like to see the top of the wheel inside the arch.....JUST!
If you are now thinking "I could roll in that!" it's for sale and I don't want silly money. Cavs are simple, reliable and surprisingly good on gas for their size. parts are available and relatively cheap. What's not to like?
Steve
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paul99
Part of things
Posts: 410
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Apr 26, 2019 12:44:56 GMT
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Saloon shell should (theoretically at least) be stiffer than an equivalent hatchback. How much diference you or I would notice in the real world is debateable though.....
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Frankenhealey
Club Retro Rides Member
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death
Posts: 3,875
Club RR Member Number: 15
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Complete mojo failureFrankenhealey
@frankenhealey
Club Retro Rides Member 15
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Apr 26, 2019 13:52:38 GMT
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I keep meaning to comment on this post as i too keep going in and out of complete mojo failure! ^^^^ What he said. You're not alone. We all go through it. Mostly we come out the other side and start up again as what is the alternative? Once a classic enthusiast/petrolhead always one unless you can be one of those individuals who can sublimate your passion by gardening and going to Tesco's with the Mrs.
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Tales of the Volcano Lair hereFrankenBug - Vulcan Power hereThe Frankenhealey here
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samta22
Club Retro Rides Member
Stuck in once more...
Posts: 1,272
Club RR Member Number: 32
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Complete mojo failuresamta22
@samta22
Club Retro Rides Member 32
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Apr 26, 2019 15:29:30 GMT
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I keep meaning to comment on this post as i too keep going in and out of complete mojo failure! ^^^^ What he said. You're not alone. We all go through it. Mostly we come out the other side and start up again as what is the alternative? Once a classic enthusiast/petrolhead always one unless you can be one of those individuals who can sublimate your passion by gardening sheep taming and building shelters going to Tesco's with the Mrs. FTFY On a more relevant note, I suspect all of us on this forum go through this from time to time, I know I have, and I know plenty of others who do the same. I try to be marginal in how I approach the time of 'when it all becomes a bit much' (mostly as a result of my own doing - too many projects etc.). On the flipside when things are going well and you're spinning all the plates, there's no better feeling in my book - just a lot of bewildered people standing about wondering how you're doing it As as already been said, sometimes a change is as good as a rest, sometimes I sit down with a big bit of paper and work it all out - what am I really trying to achieve and where 'efficiencies' might need to be made. I too am a great user of the 'how do you eat an elephant' phrase - having petrol in your veins means you often need to be. One thing I would say though, having witnessed it numerous times with various mates, is don't overreact by selling everything in sight. Sure you may feel better in the short term, but when you come out the other side and you long for your one favourite toy and it's no longer there, that sucks even more... especially if you then can't afford to buy it back.
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'37 Austin 7 '56 Austin A35 '58 Austin A35 '65 Triumph Herald 12/50 '69 MGB GT '74 MGB GT V8'73 TA22 Toyota Celica restoration'95 Mercedes SL320 '04 MGTF 135 'Cool Blue' (Mrs' Baby) '05 Land Rover Discovery 3 V8 '67 Abarth 595 (Mrs' runabout) '18 Disco V
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BLU
Part of things
Posts: 347
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Apr 26, 2019 15:46:28 GMT
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As others have said, it could be simply the number of vehicles and trying to spread yourself too thinly. I only have the one project and I've been at it years. And on occasions it has made me consider burning the garage down or taking a hammer to it. I simply shut the garage door and walk away, often for weeks at a time. What do I do for motivation? I come on here and look at other people's projects. It shows me that it can be done and I slowly regain my mojo. I head back into the garage and reassess. That works for me. That is exactly what I do!
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The future's bright, the future's BLU
Silver 1987 MK2 Fiesta Ghia White 2006 MK6 Fiesta ST150 Yellow 2007 MK6 Fiesta Zetec S Anniversary #279 Green 2007 MK6 Fiesta Zetec S Celebration #471 (diesel conversion) Red 2008 MK6 Fiesta Zetec S Anniversary #893
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Apr 26, 2019 15:57:48 GMT
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Late to this thread, and have only read the OP.
I do agree with some of the other comments on page 1 that it's best to just have one project/hobby car. I've always stuck with one and I marvel at those times where I'm being told I don't know what I'm doing by somebody who owns 17 cars, none of which have seen the road for years, while mine is a regular, reliable, daily driver.
Sell the lot. Get one car.
But maybe that's not even it. I have been feeling the same as you describe for a while now, and it doesn't seem to be passing. I really find I just cannot be faffed any more. I've got some sizeable things I would like to do with my car. Got the parts all lined up. Had a plan to force myself to get it done for RR:GG2019 but it's just not going to happen. I cannot be 4r5ed right now.
My car friend is always buzzing me about not being interested anymore. He doesn't really understand it. He always falls into the same old refrain when I say I've lost interest. He says "Well if you want to own an old car you've got to be prepared to work on it'... which is nothing at all to do with my lack of interest really and everything to do with his self-image as the more capable of the two of us who has the right 'can-do' attitude and who loves to spend a weekend under a car getting things done.
The funny thing is though, he owns three retros and a classic currently.
He bought an utter dog of an old car off ebay. Paid way over the odds for it. It's a total rust bucket. He told me all about how he'd spend two weeks on it, throw less than £300 at it, and then he'd sell it for a handsome profit. That was about 3 months ago I reckon, and each time I ask how it's going he's discovered something else that needs replacing, welding, patching, fixing. I've noticed a distinct change in his cheery optimistic go-getter tone now when I ask. He will be lucky to make any money on it in my opinion by the time he's totted up what he's spent, and paid for the use of the garage space he borrowed from a commercial business to do the job in.
But whilst doing that he discovered his core plugs are shot on his classic. So he's had to stop working on the ebay profit maker and pull his engine to do his core plugs. Having done that he's finally admitted to himself that his head gaskets are pucked. I told him that last year when he pulled up outside mine and his coolant was puking out of the rad cap in rhythm with the piston stroke. He wouldn't have any of it though because stupid old me... I don't know anything, and he's been working on cars for his whole life. Only now... he has to do the head gaskets as well.
Okay so two cars to work on. He's keeping a stiff upper lip and trying his best to make out it's all good, but I can see it's getting him a bit down now. Especially as his retro daily driver has now also blown its head gasket so he has to deal with that too. He's down to one useable vehicle. That's not the most reliable of vehicles either. Its the one he spends most of his time fixing.
He's about 2 bad hours away from deciding he's had enough I reckon, and he's the most enthusiastic car person I know.
I think a point comes where we just decide there's probably more interesting things to be spending our time and money on. That's how I feel about it all right now.
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Last Edit: Apr 26, 2019 19:33:11 GMT by Deleted
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fer4l
Posted a lot
Testing
Posts: 1,497
Club RR Member Number: 73
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Complete mojo failurefer4l
@fer4l
Club Retro Rides Member 73
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Apr 26, 2019 19:14:48 GMT
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Cheerful reading!!! I say be grateful, pause when you have to and otherwise horse on - we're a long time dead!! All best Matt
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Apr 26, 2019 19:35:59 GMT
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pause when you have to and otherwise horse on Agreed. That's what I'm doing. It's tempting to think about selling it and moving on, but I can't help thinking interest will be revived eventually and I'll be driving my wife crazy by buying something else three months down the line. So I've decided in my case I'll just keep driving mine and if it needs work that's not too demanding I'll do it, but if it goes kaput in some way that I cannae be bothered with, I'll sell it as a project and go carless again for a while.
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Last Edit: Apr 27, 2019 9:03:17 GMT by Deleted
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BiAS
Club Retro Rides Member
Insert witty comment here
Posts: 2,230
Club RR Member Number: 147
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Complete mojo failureBiAS
@cheeqi
Club Retro Rides Member 147
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Apr 26, 2019 21:55:12 GMT
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Not really got anything to add that hasn't already been said far more eloquently by others. That in itself I think probably speaks volumes about our hobby. Personally, I had an epiphany quite a few years ago. I'd put a lot of time into building the Honzuki but after realising that I needed to re do a section I'd just finished it occurred that I simply wasn't enjoying working on it any more, wasn't looking forward to the finished product and had spent nearly every sunny weekend of the previous year in a dark garage. It felt like a weight around my neck, so I walked away from it for a bit, moved it out of the garage and just left it sat there, did other stuff. 6 months later I still felt the same so I broke it up for all the parts that had a financial value and weighed the rest of it in. Don't get me wrong, I felt a tinge of sadness as the grab took it off the trailer but it felt like such a relief to not be obligated to its completion any more. Since then I've enjoyed the freedom of me having a car hobby rather than it having me. If storage of a selection of broken cars isn't a financial burden for you then you have the perfect opportunity to take a step back. Life is for living
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(car+wheels)-rideheight=WIN
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keyring
Part of things
Posts: 913
Club RR Member Number: 47
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Complete mojo failurekeyring
@keyring
Club Retro Rides Member 47
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Apr 27, 2019 19:56:56 GMT
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Really late to this thread, and most has already been said, but I’ve had this happen to me recently, and a couple of times in the past, and I sell stuff, usually at a loss to get rid of it (stupidly) go modern, and then a few months later go back to something retro. This has happened a couple of times now, I’ve got a few projects sitting around I bought a corrado to re-shell my mk2 into, but realised I’d miss the mk2 too much, so I’ve now sold that and bought the panels for the mk2. I think everyone goes through stages of losing interest, and as others have said, you have to just take a step back, have a break and come back to it later. I’ve finally made the jump and had an offer accepted on a house, so I guess for the next few months car stuff may go on the back burner, but it’s got a big workshop, so I’m looking forward to having plenty of space to get stuck into projects now
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Last Edit: May 4, 2019 11:52:15 GMT by keyring
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