I’m not really a car guy anymore.
 

I remember who I used to be. I loved it.

Now, not so much. I tried to rekindle the fire of the weekend-shadetree mechanic but it didn’t take. I hated it. Climbing in, out, around, and under a greasy leaky mess is no longer a good time for me.

I bought a beater recently and regretted it damn near immediately. Thankfully a buddy really loved it and bought it off my hands.

I’ll do the occasional maintenance thing now. Change oil, empty and refill a transfer case, no problem. But shining up a turd? No thanks.

Let’s just say I no longer want an old Toyota FJ-40 ever again. What a mistake (for me). I’m no Leland Pate!

I can’t put a finger on what changed inside of me. It isn’t being lazy. Maybe, I tend to get OCD, I think. I can’t let a problem lie until “later”. It just isn’t in me anymore. Kinda sad in a way, it’s how we all met on this internet thing.

Yea I agree. My 911 just sits there waiting for “someday” like it has for years. Little to no use. The joy and romance of driving has largely gotten ruined in recent years and it’s such a chore now, plus the expense and difficulty... all to sit in traffic? Sure there are those moments :) but they’re fewer and further between sadly...

Everything passes.

I had dreams of being able to drive my 911SC when I was finally retired...then I got laid off two years earlier than I thought I could retire.
So much for the best laid plans as they say.
Guess I'm just glad I have a somewhat sports car that is paid for and gobbles up highway miles while keeping me comfortable. Frankly, I'd rather drive the car than work on it now.

Welcome to the club, guys. However, I still have certain performance likes when buying a car. Rear wheel drive, decent handling, good brakes, air conditioning, nice seating...1/4 mile around 14 or less.

My no status Mustangs fills those likes...so not really looking for another car.

Nothing wrong with paying the Porsche tax if it's what you like doing.

I hear you. Was a long time when playing with it was way better than driving it because of it being so purpose built.

Testosterone?

Well I was never a DIY person when it come to cars. I'm in it for the driving. I pay people to do the work, and cost that into my budget. If my experience had to included getting under a car and chewing up my knuckles and blowing my whole weekend, yeah, I would probably not be into either.

Perhaps change your approach?

One factor is that the world that made us "car guys" has moved on...much of the cool and fun factors of driving a special car are no longer around. Not for me, anyway.

Grateful to have played with cars during that era...lots of fond memories.

I go through periods of not wanting to wrench on cars. I’m in a short one now. After I finish some home projects, I’m pretty sure that I’ll be dying to get back to my car project.

I have the Westfalia if I feel like wrenching on anything but at this point I pretty much just drive it the way it is and the bump, scrapes and blemishes both exterior and interior just add character.

Still have to wrench on my daughters car sometimes but those old 5.0 Mustangs are pretty straightforward.

There is a reason I moved to newerish non air cooled 911's, so I could drive them and not work on them.

Me neither

I really enjoy working on the 356s and the VW. It's probably because I've spent so much time with them. They are like old friends. The 911 - not so much.

Me too. The State, the congestion, the incompetence.....there is little joy in it any more.

I'm there. Waiting until the economy comes back or I get an offer I like.
Now on the trickle charger.

I'm still the car guy I always have been.

Well, my 911 and other 911s. I don't care too much about modern fancy schancy sorta cars like Audi Q7s or cars that the dealerships can bend you over any time they like.

I had a beautiful run in the 911 the other day. It was like that flat six was speaking to me...

I was reading the recent barn find thread, some people were mortified that these cars were neglected, my thought was "who cares, It's a damn car".

There's often a sweet spot for middle class people where their age and income and enthusiasm for the hobby intersects. I'm still enthusiastic about cars in general, I still like talking and thinking about them, but my desire to own them has dwindled along with the elasticity in my skin.

Outliers like Roger Penske and Jay Leno, people who are as passionate today as they were 50 years ago are few and far between. I think there are still a few on this board, but I think just as many have lost the spark.

For me it’s a question of time. The last year has been terrible, three kids in sports, my wife and I both coaching, 50+ hour work weeks, travel, I had zero time for an old car. Now, in the age of CV? I’d kill for a fun car project. I’m absolutely the kind of guy that could retire and restore an old 911 bolt by bolt. It’s more fun when there’s no pressure, that’s one thing I’ve learned.

Cliff have you thought about buying something newer, fun, and just reliable? Paul’s suggestion is valid, a car that’s fun but just needs oil changes every 5k. I’ve considered it myself, particularly in the age of 0% for 84 months. A PP2 or Bullitt Mustang sounds pretty good sometimes.

Glad, and kinda sad, to discover I'm not alone.

I still get out there, but working on cars is no longer the therapeutic salve to my psyche it once was. Interestingly, however, the garage itself still offers a sort of respite from the world - like my personal fortress of solitude.

_

What is a PP2?

^^^ How long it used to take me to take a leak, squared?

(although cubed would be more accurate)