Your car hobby. Was it a mistake? Or a blessing?

[Gogar]

I'm happy about my car hobby, and it is a blessing and a curse.

I feel the societal norms about DIY have drastically changed in the past 10-15 years.

I've dated a few professional women who don't understand my enthusiasm.

It's almost - If I can't "pay" to have something done to the car then I'm almost less of a man.

A previous Ms. Gogar actually was upset with me because I did her Panamera4S brakes in my garage, for cost. Apparently a "real man" would have had more important things to do, and would've just dropped the car off and paid . . . well . . . 3x more than I did it for. In 3 hours.

Yes, she totally blew right by the part where I did her brakes, perfect, at home.

Such a bizarre attitude.

That said, I'm very happy that, because of Pelican, and other places, I can take the engine out of a car, fix it and put it back in the car and drive the car away. It's soon to be a lost art. All these 30 year old douche-lords with their beards and their decaffucinos can suck it.

[look 171]

I fixed cars out of necessity during those college years. That was enough and I do not enjoy working on cars any more due to the lack of time. If I can just take the damn thing apart and put it together slowly, that would make me happy. With kids and a family, time spend with them is more important then my car hobby. When I do have the little extra time, I rather go out and ride my bike instead of changing plugs. I am ok with being a check book mechanic. One thing for sure, the 930 brought me here to tech. I don't think I have been to tech for years. Before that, I didn't know what a forum was. I enjoy you cranky old bastards.

I still enjoy going to car shows looking at cool stuff

[Scuba Steve]

I think it's been a blessing. Being able to fix things (cars / houses in particular) has been something that's both confused and amazed the wife, so she doesn't mind if I want to go do it.

[sc_rufctr]

No regrets... I did my car stuff because I wanted to and it's saved me a lot of money over the years.
Did I spend a lot? Not really because aside of running costs I often broke even at sale time.

I think as we get older staying active become more important so I plan on DIYing as long as physically possible.

[sand_man]

I found that the confidence gained through advanced DIY'ing with my car hobby, also lead me to tackle other, more house related projects.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by sand_man

I found that the confidence gained through advanced DIY'ing with my car hobby, also lead me to tackle other, more house related projects.

Same here. "Jack of all trades, master of none"

[sand_man]

I always went into it like this: "if I get in over my head and screw it up, fine!!!! I'll have it towed to a shop, eat some crow, and pay an "expert" to make it right!" I've never had to!

Even the new cars I've owned, once I drive them off the lot, I never return to the dealer for service, unless it's a recall, or some "software update". I'm sure if there was a big expensive failure covered under warranty, I'd go back, but I've been lucky. Even had a couple of cars with free oil changes, and never wanted to bother with the hassle of waiting around and/or making an appointment. Oh man, I think I'm broken!

[Seahawk]

My appetite for heavy duty car DIY has waned since I bought the farm 20 plus years ago. Not enough time for much beyond oil changes and other routine stuff on cars since so much other stuff needs attending.

That and as I age crawling around under a car, once a quick DIY monkey roll, is now time consuming old guy yoga

That said, my daughter is very car aware and knows how to do the basics since she enjoyed working on cars.

My son worked for an independent shop owner for two summers and is very good around cars. He is the first to say he is not a mechanic or technician, but he knows a lot more now than I do.

They also enjoyed my car hobby since the hobby cars I have owned have been cool and they got to drive them.

[GH85Carrera]

No doubt my car hobby has been a good thing for me.

February will mark the 40th anniversary of my 1st Autocross. I would have to guess I have done well over 300 autocrosses and I have no plans to stop any time soon.

Virtually all of my friends are people I met only because of cars. My pharmacist, and my primary care physician are both people I first met from PCA.

My wife pouts on occasion because she says she is a garage widow. I remind her if she wants me just go out into the garage. If I was wasting my money and time with fishing or hunting or golf or a private airplane I would be far from home. I know friends that have more money in a nice bass boat and a tow vehicle than the cost of a new Cayman GT4.

Because of Porsche Parade I have driven my 911 to states and places I would have never even heard of. Next year is Vermont and all the New England states.

No doubt the best part is the long term friends I have from the car clubs and events.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

This was an interesting quote from another thread:



In retrospect, was your car hobby a poor allocation of your finite time, energy, money, and efforts?
Do you wonder about the opportunity cost? If you could do it again, would you do it differently?
Spend your free time in other ways? On your career? Family? Other hobbies?

Or was your car hobby a great thing in your life?
Gave you something to do with yourself. Gave you a goal?
An opportunity to learn and grow? The feeling of accomplishment?

Did the car thing get in the way of your life?
Or was your life a way to do your car thing?

Live to car? Car to live?

What is your take?

Absolutely not a mistake! Cars are one of my hobbies, but they were also the centerpiece of my education (engineering school, art school) and have been the same for my career. From my first track event in my 320i as an 18th birthday present to myself onwards, I've loved all of it as a hobby. I've done all my own maintenance since I was about 20 (I'm 40 now) and it is something that I've always enjoyed, something that has made me very familiar with my cars, and something that has saved me a ton of money. The track events I used to do were fun, and just driving my cars is fun. I am not much of a club person, but even some of that (Fiats) has been fun. I do find that these days I would often rather, say, spend an afternoon riding my bike than an afternoon doing maintenance on one of my cars, but I don't think I'll ever be willing to give it up. I live in Chicago and have 4 cars, for goodness' sake! And with my 911 (which is to say, a fun car that is not a project car, that I can get in and drive anywhere at any time), I feel like I got my 'car guy' card back.

[Chocaholic]

Would much rather risk life and limb in the garage than join my wife and daughter for back to back episodes of "say yes to the dress" in the evening.

[jcommin]

I have been a car guy all my life but maybe not the same as you. I loved to draw cars as a kid. I started sketching cars ever since I can remember. In the 50's I would run up and down neighborhood streets just looking for the new models. I sent drawings to GM and Chrysler at the age of 14 ( I still have their responses). My dream was to become an automotive designer - in the same company with Harley Earle, Bill Mitchel and Vigil Exner.

Dreams are dreams and I never made it as a designer but became a mechanical engineer. I have spent most of my career in automotive and have seen many automotive plants. I have had a good career in manufacturing.

I still draw and paint today - never gave up the passion. I love car shows and auctions. I admire the beauty and grace of automotive design, some more than others. Some of the designs are just timeless.

[asphaltgambler]

For me it is both, but it runs in my blood so deeply it has defined who I am, my career and my hobby.

[vash]

total blessing!!

i got better at wrenching.
my car got more valuable...and that never happens to me.
and i made some new REAL friends. we met because of my 911SC, and we still are the greatest of friends. just went to an awesome wedding a few weeks ago!!
made some new "REAL" friends..and by "REAL" i mean some nice friends i have never met, and will probably never meet, (and in some rare instances) probably shouldnt meet.. but i still consider great imaginary friends on the internet.

[Rich Lambert]

It's the people.

[monoflo]

Its been a nice ride so to speak.

Great conversation starters and met a lot of good people and of course the odd ball lout.
No regrets -just beginning to not really enjoy the full blown labor intensive stuff.

Lately starting to like a wider range of autos - like my recent interest in Packard California converts.

nothing beats a successful DIY project in my book.

[Eric 951]

UGH--sort of a mixed blessing.

I like being able to DIY repairs.
I hate when said repairs are absolutely necessary to make vehicle drivable and said repair involves me laying on a piece of cardboard in the snow in January replacing a rear main seal.

I like having a variety of unusual vehicles.
I hate that I am doomed to purchase and drive unusual vehicles which will inevitably require the type of repair cited above since I just cannot bring myself to purchase a "regular, normal" vehicle.

I like improving my vehicles through tinkering.
I hate the glut of removed parts I have accumulated because "I might need it someday", purchasing parts I don't need because the "price is too good to pass up"--I'm looking at you Alfa Romeo Campy alloys--no I don't now nor ever have owned an Alfa--and "friends" turning me on to cheap project bikes, spare parts, and other assorted things because they know I am "into" the hobby.

So--for me it has been both.

[1990C4S]

I enjoy:

- self sufficiency, I can fix anything on my car
- the cost savings, my money is better spent elsewhere
- driving a car that looks terrible to the casual observer, but is very well sorted once you're behind the wheel.

All of those are blessings.

[HardDrive]

I don't think of cars as a hobby. When I was a kid, I loved taking things apart and seeing how they worked. I love all thing mechanical. It's not something I chose, it's just who I am, and loving cars is just an extension of that. It's caused some minor squabbles with my wife over the years, but for the most part it's been a wonderful part of my life.

The things I've got to do and see...wow. In 2013, I drove my 997S across the country solo. Straight through, only stopping to sleep when needed. Waking up in a rest area in eastern Montana as the dawn is starting to grow. Step out of the car, yawning and stretching in the cool air. Get back in and start it up, the growl from the exhaust filling the cabin. Let it warm up a bit, while I get my bearings, then easing towards the onramp to the empty highway. *sport mode*, I plant my foot firmly on the gas, and get to the highway rocketing towards 100mph....120....130.......Somewhere north of 150 I decide I've got the blood pumping sufficiently, and slow down to somewhat sane speeds. I wouldn't trade those moment for anything.

Oh yeah, If I wasn't into cars, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to get my hand smashed shooting Jeff Higgins .45 long colt with hot hardcast rounds that he had brewed up in his evil laboratory

[wayner]

Originally Posted by aigel

That OP quoted - whoever wrote it - reads like some whipped guy. Go for dinner and drink wine instead of being able to repair a car for your wife?
G

It was me

Maybe feeling little whooped right now, but definitely not whipped

I may have over done it a bit along the way...