I could have spent some of my time on better things probably but that would be like wishing I didn't have freckles as a kid. It's simply part of who I am.

That said, I've decided in the last 48 hours not to "invest" an untold number of hours and cash into a Porsche project I picked up recently. In contrast, Grady's car would have been a worthy candidate but also an enormous time and $$ suck. I'm reaching the point in life where I just want to enjoy driving and going somewhere. This is a change. :)

DITTO. Enough working on metal already. Time to start driving...
driving to dinner, driving for drinks, driving around in circles, spending more time with a beautiful woman SmileWavy

I think this would sum it up for me nicely .

No regrets what so ever, it's what I enjoy, have always enjoyed and will always enjoy as a hobby and a job but it's not the most important or only thing in my life.

My car life started by playing with model cars to now buying model cars of the real cars I have done design work on.

I'm too busy working on other peoples cars to spend much time on my cars but when I do have time I find it very relaxing and sociable

Monogram model cars to Maranello real cars in around 30yrs :)

Re: the guy in the quote you attached. You're not doing it right!!;)

Had a air cooled VW in high school. Had a friend who's parents were completely into vw's. Spent many a weekends working on our cars including hot rodding them,. There were many incidents of revving the heck out of the engines at 3 in the morning. Fast forward to today. Talking to them, we asked how did they put up with this crap. The answer: They knew exactly where we were and what we were doing. Besides, we spent all of our money on our cars. No money for drugs or alcohol. But plenty for gas. :-)

On a related note, know someone who grew up when the Fremont Raceway was still around. Turns out any "disagreements" were settled at the race track in front of everyone so there was no doubt on the outcome. Especially nice because all the safety crew was there and of course the official time slips. Forced the young men to get jobs to pay for all their go fast parts. They had no time to get into trouble as the hobby was all encompassing in terms of upholding one's honor. A nice romantic snapshot of Americana...

It's a blessing. And a curse. A curse because I sold some pretty cool cars to get the next one. And the garage can only hold so many cars. Sometimes, wonder why I didn't take up stamp collecting, as the hoard could be so much more substantial. Then I remember I don't like stamps.

I bought my 944 S2 when I was 16 and it is the reason why I decided to go to school for engineering. I'd say it's a blessing, and something that not a lot of young people understand.

A Blessing - I learned a lot.
A Curse - I spent a lot.

944 was my first, and they hit an age a few years where every part made of rubber or plastic is saying good bye to this world. I'm attached to them, don't mind the work, but the $$$ even with doing my own labor is a bit shocking to me.

With the exception of the 1971 914 I totaled in 79, I've made money off every Porsche I've owned.

In some cases as much as 3 or 4 cents per hour!

This is why I like cars close to stock these days. Less hassle and more driving.

I'll have to sell mine first to calculate my ROI, but I'm in awe!

I'm not really a car guy like most here...stumbled across this place way back when when considering a 928, next thing ya know, I'd purchased a mint example and pretty soon began the DIY $lippery $lope while buying every tool I used along the way....no regrets!

No way that happens without this place.....it's evolved over the years, and PPOT is my go to site for nonsense and sound advice :p

Been in the car hobby since my friend bought a rust bucket TR3 in high school in 1964. We just played with it and then I moved away. I've had so many cars over the years that I learned on, fix, and then sold just because I wanted something else. I've never lost any money ??? on any sale and i kept the cost of ownership down with all the things i can do, even though there are many things i can't do too. But I have my wife 43 years and she never complained about my cars, some of she didn't like. I play lots of golf also, and both bring me fun times. One thing , whenever I sold a car, it was in better shape then when I bought it.

As a non-douche ;) 29 year old... I continually learn from my obsession with cars. Aside from the mechanical knowledge so few people care to posses and accumulate today it's taught me even more about life priorities.

I can wrench on just about anything, I've taught myself or will teach myself how given subject functions etc. More importantly I've learned when it is or isn't time to learn and work on my own stuff... opportunity cost you might say. But with 2 kids under 2, new home projects and an accelerating career, there are times when I can work on my own stuff for pleasure and other times when just getting something done is required.

My cars being my hobby used to be my only focus, now with wife and mini-mes running around...they're just cars but they are something I look forward to "playing" with learning from as they also provide motivation for success.

That being said, I've recently put my Porsche hobby aside for at least 2 years to save for a new engine/trans set-up and determine a direction with the car as a whole. It will also allow me to focus on my boys growing up...they're only little once and the 911 will always be a '78 SC...

Sad to hear of long unfinished car projects that the owner's could not out live.
Me, no regrets on any street cars.
Race cars consume more, pita.

The future is car-less/garage-less city dwellers that will Uber to save $$$.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1445445122.jpg

What are YOU thinking, sugarwood?

Everything costs.

Are you looking for advice? If so, then back away from the car thing. It is a poor allocation of resource when judged by those that bother to do that sort of thing.

I don't give a shiet what people think about me and my choices. (well, not totally true)

Bottom line is, it's what I did. If I feel bad about it, given my one chance at life, then I am a owned by my past. Eff that.

Funny I'm almost done with my BMW project that is all about money and time and not much about riding when I'm done. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It'll be pretty though. :)

To touch on a few of the more personal questions in the OP’s original post, a person needs to pursue the activities, which make them happy. The things that ignite our passion. To pursue the avocations that we’re good at, or trying to be good at, or are just interested in knowing more about. Sometimes these same activities become our careers, sometimes they’re just an escape or diversion. I think it’s an underlying component of the human condition; pursuing our passions…satisfying our curiosity as to what makes us tick…what are we good at…what are we meant to do. It’s about development and self-exploration.

I also think every person needs some time to themselves, no matter how strong a marriage or relationship is. I’m a better, happier man when I’ve gotten some wrench time in. When I have some dirt under my nails. When I have a sense of accomplishment from a job well done; that some hulk of metal and moving parts did not beat me, though it tried to. And I should have that time without feeling guilty or being brow-beaten. And like everything, there’s a balance. I’m not suggesting we spend every waking moment in the garage and neglect our other obligations. It’s give and take.

A woman either gets you or she doesn’t! Without getting too far into it, my one and only marriage finally came to an end after nearly 20 years. And if it were not for the kids, it would have ended many, many, many years earlier…and it should have! I was young and dumb and refused to heed the warnings, which all pointed to: “run Forest, RUN”. That relationship was unhealthy and I nearly lost who I was to avoid confrontation with a crazy person…keep the peace. F_CK THAT! No more drama for me.

I’m back in another longterm relationship with a person that gets me. She supports my hobbies. Has even helped me put together a nice garage space and thinks it’s pretty cool that I have these skills. She has an entirely different perspective on it. Sometimes she sits in the garage with a cocktail, while I work, and keeps me company, which I enjoy. She helps work out the details when there’s a race I want to see. And I support her endeavors. We work together without judgement or malice.

The anonymous person quoted in the OP’s thread opener, does not seem happy. He seems beaten into submission. Like he's had to talk himself into believing something. I dunno, maybe he sucked at DIY and it's better this way? Whatever. Give and take…

For me it's all been great but I care mostly about where it has lead me in terms of friends and now family. I can draw a very direct correlation between buddies I met racing to my fiance. This is us last Christmas with her granddaughter.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1445520061.jpg

My next race car was just purchased from the brother of one my best friends who died last year suddenly from a rare form of lymphoma. I consider this way more than a car. I've become the caretaker of part of Bruce's legacy and knowing his last race car will still be out there has a lot of meaning to the folks in our vintage race group.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1445519570.jpg

The cars (and motorcycles) have been and will continue to be fun to drive, fix, upgrade, race and learn from, but the people are what makes it worthwhile.

Ya, that's it. :D

Some good sentiments shared by all though.

I joked ( based on reality. ) in the same time while I played with metal, power tools and construction equipment, my son got his engineering degree and bought and paid for a new mustang;)

I'm a management consultant
I could have just earned money and bought finished projects, but I agree with the sentiments here as long as they are not out of balance

A great book that addresses this strange need that I/we have is titled
" "
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work

Although I do not consider myself a wrench bender I am well capable of checking the oil filter on my Boxster(now sold). My interest in cars started when my father had a car dealership in northern England. He did not do any wrenching either as he paid the men to do it. As my father was talking to his mechanics in the garage I being a very small lad saw a big container of grease and I just had to stick my finger in it. The mechanics smiled as I did not know what to do with the grease on my finger. Anyway I have tinkered with cars ever since and the highlight and perhaps the low point was the Boxster which enabled me to dip my toes into the ocean of exclusivity of the car world(many would dispute that).

Those of you who have wives who are enthusiastic about your hobby are very fortunate.
My wife does not agree with cars that cost money to run. In our garage we have a Camry and an RX350 which are two totally dependable cars. I don't even think about CEL lights on these cars. Turn the key and go. However with no sports car in my life there is a definite void.

This is a great thread Sugarwood. In the meantime I will vicariously enjoy the pleasure of reading about all your cars until I get something more fun to drive.

Cheers, Guy