How do you keep from worrying?
 

I've had my 88 Targa for a little over a year now. I still can't stop thinking about it. The problem is that every time I take it somewhere, I start worrying when it is parked away from my sight. I'm afraid that something will happen to it. I don't live in a high crime area. I installed a paging alarm, thinking that would solve the problem, but it didn't. I am actually thinking about selling the car if I can't find a way to deal with this. Any ideas?

Dont sell . put a remote actuated start / on off switch hidden location

My alarm already disables the starter circuit.

Geez, sorry, but is this post for real???? F#$@, what's happening to the tech forum??

lo jack. Then, realize what your life is, a great car in a bad area. You could have a bad car in a great area instead.

I didn't mean to offend you juicersr, but I'm just looking for some advice from people that may have had the same issue. Maybe I should have put it in OT. Sorry.
Milt, I don't live in a bad area, but you never know what people are capable of. As I get older, the ones that worry me more are the kids, just hanging out and causing trouble.

Oh Man,

You need to breathe, it's only a car and you insurance right? You can not be so worried about something that you can not control. Just enjoy it and try your best not to put her in a situation where she can be molested.

I love my baby too but refuse to let her control my life. I really enjoy driving her and working on her when I have spare time. Hell, better than watching the Boob Tube.

hypnotherapy. seriously.

I'd recommend acupuncture, but you never know, they might try to stick a needle in someplace to see if they can make your arm flail around involuntarily.

Don,
When you don't have a ton of coin & your lifelong dream car is there in your driveway, I can understand the anxiety - but only to a point. It stops being a "dream" car & becomes a "nightmare" instead. The idea of the 911 is to enhance your life, not detract from it.

My '84 is a very nice part of my life. But it's not supposed to make me crazy, it's supposed to help keep me sane as I go through midlife. :)

Seriously though, do what you can within reason, and learn to let go of the stress. It's a nice car, but it is a CAR. Replaceable. Mental Good Health isn't replaceable.

Man don't do that!!!!!!!!!! They'll have the cross ready in 5 seconds :D

That's what I figured! ::D

Take her to the Track, That will fix your obsession! my 2 cents

i agree with those who have said it's a mentality issue. it's only a car. i mean it's not ONLY a car, but at the end of the day, that is true. i certainly learned that when my car got stolen. just enjoy it while you have it. if something happens, insurance will cover it, and there are many others out there.

that said, if the negatives outweigh the positives, then perhaps it's time to consider letting it go.

hey it could be worse. you could own a honda or a camry...those things get stolen all the time. just go out and drive it like YOU stole it... problem solved.

It's just a car. It may be your pride and joy, your lifelong dream fulfilled. But at the end of the day, it's still just a concoction of metal, plastic, glass, and rubber. If something happens, stuff will always be replaceable/fixable.

Don:

I'm glad it's not just me. I worry about mine constantly- ever since come fuch threw a cup of soda in through the open targa top while we were in a restaurant eating dinner. I try to park it where I can see it- not always possible- but I know someday it's going to get vandalized whatever I do.

All:

I understand why you say it's just a car, but to me it is way more than that- a cumulation of many years of dreams and a source of much happiness. I take very good care of my stuff and expect others to respect that- unfortunately humanity does not extend me that courtesy.

Worst thing is, few 'haters' realize that I paid less for my 911 than a decent used Accord!

Cheers,

Paul.

it's


a


car.


and as an 88 Targa, incredibly easy to reproduce. but again, it's just a car.

buy a really really REALLY BIG HANDGUN! werks fur me!

As has been said it's only a car.

We all have stuff, some you want and some you need, so for me I would rather have the "cool stuff".

As for getting to the point of feeling comfortable about your car, the more you DRIVE it the less you will revere it and the more you will begin to accept and appreciate it for what it is, which is many different things to different people but it's a man made machine to all, to me, a cool one!

Drive it, drive it, drive it, and you won't worry about it being parked.

David

Maybe it would help to realize that there is really nothing on or in your car that cannot be replaced somehow except you. Say someone keys it- repaint it. Say someone steals the rims- replace them. Say someone steals the whole damn car. Somewhere there is one similar enough that you could mod it to be exactly like yours before it was stolen. Down to every last detail.

Put the focus on the things that cannot be replaced and maybe you will rest easier.

Insure it for 50 grand and hope someone steals it!

upstate ny? im there too.

i worry as well. but if it gets stolen, hopefully my insurance will cover it and ill go get another one. its not like these are rare cars. even though its my dream car, its just a car. if it gets dinged...well, the car has a ton of dings already so i dont care. if it were totally ding free, i would be paranoid. when i look at my dings, i tell myself that and i feel better about them

& i dont use it as a daily driver and if im going "out" at night where there are a bunch of drunks, i leave it home. seems like no matter where i leave it, when i come back to it there are people appreciating it at close range. ive yet to find anyone sitting on it etc..and if i did, well...not sure. i would try to avoid getting myself shot or beaten by waiting behind some bushes until they leave :-)

enjoy your car

My main worry when I come out of the restaurant is whther it is going to start, and how much it's going to cost me when I need some serious work done. ;-)

I'm well on board with the other guys. I guess I was cured after my last one caught on fire and was totaled without comprehensive!

But like so many have said- you can just pay the man and get another. It hurts but is certainly not the end of the world.

imagine how people driving low production, self restored cars must feel!

i get anxiety when i'm in the car and actually have to remind myself that i bought it to drive, not polish. if somebody is going to eff with it well so be it i'll just try to make the best of it.

i understand your anxiety but what it boils down to is it's better to lament the loss of a great car than to wonder how it feels to own one.

exactly. my biggest worry is that the car will leave me stranded some night out in the middle of nowhere and i will have to eat twigs and berries until help arrives. the inevitable repair headaches/costs worry me much more than jerks messing with it or stealing it

Boy do I second that concern !!!!

Just make sure she's (heavily) insured. Drive the frikin' wheels off the car..

Best,

I've had the same thoughts and worries with a tuner type car the kids all lusted after, but I don't worry at all with an older 911 in upstate NY. It seems like Porsche theft in California is common for parts, but I just don't see the demand in NY. Maybe some squirrel looking for a joy ride.

I agree; INSURE IT AND FORGET IT.

[QUOTE=GBG1000;3961083]My main worry when I come out of the restaurant is whther it is going to start, and how much it's going to cost me when I need some serious work done. ;-)

Exactly true for me, too. The high cost of a new transmission or an engine causes more anxiety for me than any sort of malicious damage or theft. And the fun factor more than makes up for the worry. Gotta pay to play. I'm lucky I have the disposable income to have a nice toy like this.

Hahahaha!

I think we've found a solution to your problem.

Someone mentioned lo jack. and good insurance. And then you can start worrying about something else, like getting hit by a bus when you cross the street. Jeeeeez!

Maybe you can't afford it...:rolleyes:

I used to be the same way.
My car was "over restored" with a show quality paint job. BIG mistake, I should never have done that. A lot of time had to pass before I became comfortable parking the car near others.

It really has little to do with fixing a ding or scratch. It is all about the original perfection being compromised. Once the newness wears off you'll enjoy the car more. If not I would get rid of it for something you can enjoy.

My 0.02

RarlyL8,
You have hit the nail on the head! It's not about the cost of fixing a ding or a scratch. It's more the idea of something happening to 'my idea of perfection'.
I guess I'll get over it in time.

Worry is a useless emotion.

No matter what you do to try to prevent it, if someone really wants to steal it they can and will.

Just be glad it's not a coupe. :D

I have a friend that always worries about his car when driving it around. I don't think he actually enjoys driving the car because he is so worried about that big dip in the road and the rocks being thrown up by cars and trucks.

One point he does have is that he cannot repair anything himself and doesn't know the mechanical aspect of the car. So if anything happens it is very costly to him and a whirlwind of what-ifs. For me, I know every part of the car, so if something breaks I know the exact effect and how to fix it.
I think that makes a difference in the worry factor as well.

Bingo Jeff.
That is my issue with the paint. Mechanicals don't bother me but I am no paint/body man. I had such a horrific experience getting this car painted that I NEVER want to see another body shop again.

Take it to the track and drive the piss out of it - unless you are saving it for the next owner. Then don't drive it, don't enjoy it keep it in the garage and wipe it down with a diaper once a week. If you sell it to me down the road - I'll pick it up when it's raining - do a couple of donuts in the driveway on my way to flogging it at the track.

I resemble that remark!!!!!!!!! :cool:

I bought an '88 targa. I used it as a daily driver for about 4 years. I loved every minute of it. I parked it in parking lots with the rest of the cars. I got a couple of door dings here and there (mostly when parked at work). Most of the time that I saw kids look at it, they were oogling the thing.

About 2 years into ownership, the central locking stopped working, so I didn't lock the car. For two years I drove the car and never locked the doors. I had an alarm that killed the fuel pump relay. I never had anything weird happen.

Relax, it's just a car. Better to use and enjoy it than not.

A) Don't worry about it beyond taking the usual precautions.

B) Seek professional counseling.