You buy a car work at it till it's the way you want it then get bored

[mercmancdi]

Ever done this .
I have bought cars and thought I am going to get this car mint and keep it for a long time , then when you have spent a load of money ,sweat and tears and it the way you want it , you change it and realise perhaps it's the challenge and the work you enjoy more than the actual car .
Nutts or what .

 

[turbopete]

probably sums me up perfectly. I'm never quite finished (even though many of the changes I do are small due to budget constraints) and then I change the car and start all over again.

 

[mercmancdi]

probably sums me up perfectly. I'm never quite finished (even though many of the changes I do are small due to budget constraints) and then I change the car and start all over again.

That's it , exactly that's what I do , and keep promising myself I am going to stop doing this as the new owner gets all the benefits.

 

[turbopete]

that's a relief. I thought it was just me!!!

 

[Brizzle]

I bought a brand new Discovery II back in 1999 (a fully loaded Td5 automatic ES model) and over the next 16 years averaged about 10k miles per year in it. In 2015 I realised it would failt the MOT due to a rusty chassis - I was never very conscientious cleaning underneath after off-roading - so decided on a galvanised replacement and a full engine, gearbox suspension and drive train rebuild. No expense spared and no time frame for completion - this would be my daily driover for the rest of my driving days

As I got close to the end of the rebuild (with just the interior to finish off) a friend of a friend asked if he could see what had been done so I took him to see the car and an hour later had agreed to sell it to him I justified the sale to myself on the basis that the wife's arthritis was at the point that getting up into the Discovery was painful for her but the day he drove it away I knew it was a mistake. I have first refusal on it when he decides to sell it on and I'm certain I will pay over the odds to get it back again

 

[mercmancdi]

Funny how when selling a perfectly good car you can always think of an excuse to sell , then when it's gone the doubts creep in , and you say to yourself that would have lasted for yrs yet.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Speaking of Discoverys... Just rolled up next to a new white disco at the traffic lights today.... The rounded rear end is a sight to behold, and not a very nice rear end view at that. More akin to the rear end of a fork lift truck than an upmarket 4X4. Pity because the rest of the car looks quite good...

 

[om613]

Yep, serial offender.
Recidivist.

 

[turbopete]

or you have spent a fortune, said 'sod it I'm not spending any more on it' then sell it and its faultless for years! ive seen that happen SO many times

 

[mercmancdi]

Speaking of Discoverys... Just rolled up next to a new white disco at the traffic lights today.... The rounded rear end is a sight to behold, and not a very nice rear end view at that. More akin to the rear end of a fork lift truck than an upmarket 4X4. Pity because the rest of the car looks quite good...

Prefered old shape myself.

 

[PINBALL]

Enjoy your youth whilst you've still got it !

Done many a car in the past 50 years of driving and written off quite a few too.

Now I'm well past 65 I just can't be bothered and don't have the energy or flexibility to crawl around in restricted spaces to correct problems, which are very few in my rocket ship the E320 Wagon.

Enjoy it while you got it and have fun doin it.

 

[kid-jensen]

This is why people buy TVRs..... they go wrong so much faster than you can fix them, so you never get bored!

Mind, you never get ot enjoy driving it either....

 

[bob 6600]

I am like this with my W210. Initial niggles were sorted when I bought it (instrument cluster, door not locking, fog lamp broken) but I always find something to do or 'make better'.

I won't bother selling it on when it dies, not worth it but whilst I have it I want it to be perfect (or as near as), well mechanically anyway.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Note to self....

Buy a car off Mercmancdi or turbopete

 

[Frontstep]

My car is on a rolling program of replacement its always getting something mainly because it might have a Mercedes badge but its not a real one.

 

[tjamesbo]

I have 4 cars each has a specific purpose , but the end result is that i have gaps between driving each, which means i dont get bored with " the sameness " and as i get in each one i appreciated it for what it does that the others cant and its a lovely change
CLK 430 my favourite after 4 years i never tire of every sound that V8 makes even the deep rumble of every single start sometimes i look at the MPG and I dont care,its worth every penny down the exhaust pipe
VITO 120CDI Dayvan use for long trips lovely upright seating position drove it for over 11 hours the other day with a few stops and no aches or discomfort ( I'm 61 and long journeys in the others means all kinds of stretching and rehab on getting out ) being the 3 litre V6 its also a bit of Fun alongside cars under acceleration quiet and smooth but not a round town choice
W124 220TE again never tire of this it just feels "right" 232 K and I've had it about 15-17 years now its not fast but plods about at a nice solid " gentlemanly pace " its like a comfy pair of old slippers you just slide in and go also it seems to naturally settle at the speed limit for a road so you dont have to keep braking or looking for cameras etc when driving it it just oozes character and heritage and life slows down
THE WIFES CAR ........ used to be a 1997 V6 C240 lovely round town but recently replaced with a 2.5 AWD Jaguar X-type have to admit the cabin is beautiful leather and wood everywhere , doesnt feel as teutonically solid as the c-class did , but does feel special in the same way as the three pointed star makes you feel, a Jag is a Jag a nice place to be
So i alternate all 4 and as a result rarely get bored, only have a few hankerings for more , but got to do a deal with the wife to have another car as i dont wnat to get rid of any of the above which is another problem ........................
Boyd

 

[PINBALL]

VITO 120CDI Dayvan use for long trips lovely upright seating position drove it for over 11 hours the other day with a few stops and no aches or discomfort ( I'm 61 and long journeys in the others means all kinds of stretching and rehab on getting out ) being the 3 litre V6 its also a bit of Fun alongside cars under acceleration quiet and smooth but not a round town choice

Nice to hear and thanks for that input on the Vito.

Was given a Vito when they 1st came out for a weekend trial from the dealer and was somewhat impressed with the comfort and nearby gear lever and can concur with you on no back-ache after a long run.

Only car that gave me such a bad back-ache that's worth remembering was a Volvo 740 with a lumbar support that had little effect, and after a 400 mile trip was forced to spend a nights recuperation in a Travelodge and contemplate getting a W124 Estate again - did so - and never regretted it once since.

Nice hearing about the Jag too and gives me better understanding why my brother seems besotted with them & he's now on his 4th.

No good to me though as I need a roomy estate with a flat and flush loading floor without a obstacle hitting lip that other estates have and have to be lifted over when removed, whilst the Merc loading floor allows for unninterrupted removal of large Jukeboxes and Pinball machines, & love to see that 3 pointed star on the bonnet.

 

[daveenty]

My last E Class (W212) was the last car I was ever going to buy, back in Jan 2014. I spent months and a lot of money getting it to how I wanted it on loads of mods and tuning. It ended up with ample power and, more importantly, it retained driveablilty. It then got to the stage I though that I couldn't really go any further with it without more investment so I sold it to a mate (who's on the forum) but regretted it immediately as noted by Brizzle above in his Disco post.

I now have a newer version (W213) which, for the moment, will be staying standard though we'll see how we go with that. In between I've had a plethora of 4x4s and other stuff which I've bought, tidied up to an acceptable standard, and then swapped out or sold on to make room for something else to do the same again with. Each one of them left here in better condition than it arrived in, though most cost me money. Possibly the worlds worst car dealer...

The only exception to all the flipping is the old 190 which is still undergoing a light refurbishment. I'm trying to get it back on the road for April but have resigned myself to "if it happens, it happens". This will not be sold on as, once finished (are they ever finished?) it will be just a car I can use on the odd occasion and enjoy. Hopefully...

Oh, I don't really want to sell the X Trail either really as, after a full service including all fluids, it's now running exactly how it should be and is a good little "go to" car and cheaper to run than some of the silly stuff I've had.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Note to self:
Bookmark this thread and watch above posters in case their cars come up for sale.

 

[LostKiwi]

I have 4 cars each has a specific purpose , but the end result is that i have gaps between driving each, which means i dont get bored with " the sameness " and as i get in each one i appreciated it for what it does that the others cant and its a lovely change
CLK 430 my favourite after 4 years i never tire of every sound that V8 makes even the deep rumble of every single start sometimes i look at the MPG and I dont care,its worth every penny down the exhaust pipe
VITO 120CDI Dayvan use for long trips lovely upright seating position drove it for over 11 hours the other day with a few stops and no aches or discomfort ( I'm 61 and long journeys in the others means all kinds of stretching and rehab on getting out ) being the 3 litre V6 its also a bit of Fun alongside cars under acceleration quiet and smooth but not a round town choice
W124 220TE again never tire of this it just feels "right" 232 K and I've had it about 15-17 years now its not fast but plods about at a nice solid " gentlemanly pace " its like a comfy pair of old slippers you just slide in and go also it seems to naturally settle at the speed limit for a road so you dont have to keep braking or looking for cameras etc when driving it it just oozes character and heritage and life slows down
THE WIFES CAR ........ used to be a 1997 V6 C240 lovely round town but recently replaced with a 2.5 AWD Jaguar X-type have to admit the cabin is beautiful leather and wood everywhere , doesnt feel as teutonically solid as the c-class did , but does feel special in the same way as the three pointed star makes you feel, a Jag is a Jag a nice place to be
So i alternate all 4 and as a result rarely get bored, only have a few hankerings for more , but got to do a deal with the wife to have another car as i dont wnat to get rid of any of the above which is another problem ........................
Boyd

Very similar to us.
5 cars and 4 of them from MBs stable.
500SL is without doubt my favourite. It just feels special in a way the no others do. Ample effortless power, smooth, refined and with a punch and glorious roar when provoked.
The SL500 is an emotional car - it won't ever be sold that I can see.
The E240 is a work horse. Superb car and very comfortable and capable but having used it as a daily driver all winter I'm getting bored of it. When the boredom gets too great I take the SL500 out for a day.
Smart Roadster. Noisy, small, impractical but immense fun. Last time we were in France I went to take it for a quick spin round the block and ended up doing 30 miles! I'm looking forward to swapping it over with the E240 end of the month.
Mini Cooper S is the other halfs car. It's fun to drive but a shade hard riding. Very economical though and goes very well.

Like Brizzle I had a land rover (several in fact). The Defender was bought as a toy and like his the chassis was rusted through. Like him it had a galvanised chassis fitted, rebuilt transfer box and the interior was revamped with a centre console containing a bank of carling switches for additional lights, interior lights etc, the rear was kitted out as a full length platform sleeping area with storage underneath, dual batteries, massive 270 degree enclosed awning, gas cooker at the rear etc, 9500lb winch, rock and body sliders, lifted suspension with air adjustment in the rear (for levelling the sleeping platform). You could cross the Sahara in it if desired.
I used it for camping twice (and it all worked perfectly). Moved house and it sat unused for 6 months and I took the decision to sell it. Do miss it now and was sorry to see it go.