Hero to Zero. How quickly does your desire for car come and go?

[NorfolkNWeigh]

On Saturday early evening I was idly browsing Autotrader for a possible replacement for my work car (doesn't need replacing just bored).

I always use the same search parameters up to 7 years old,3.0-3.5l, up to £8,000. The usual Merc/BM/ Audi suspects are often supplemented by Lexus GS,Phaeton and Nissan Murano etc, but this time a rarity

 

A Passat R36, I'd forgotten they even existed, but 286 bhp,4 wheel drive DSG box and all the trimmings for £4.5k with 90,000 miles.

This suddenly became the must have car for me. I decided that the lower cost of petrol would mean that going from 40+ mpg to 24 was ok that leather is overrated anyway. I bored my wife and kids for about an hour on the attributes of having a petrol- driving into Paris etc etc.

I was completely smitten and intended to phone it up first thing on Sunday.

Then... I went to pick up a curry and saw about 11 Passat cabs rushing around taking chavs for a night of drink,drugs,casual sex and violence.

On the way to the Indian ,my phone rang and on the car's screen the name 'Dan S-Class' came up, a colleague asking if I could cover a job for him. My youngest piped up " if you get that R36, do you think people will have you in their phone as Richar Passat?"

By the time I got home I went back to despising Passats,as every right thinking person should.

So my infatuation lasted about 3 hours.

[Jerzy Woking]

Not so much cars, but motorbikes - there are some bikes I see for sale that i just have to buy, whether they be new or (for my 600 mile weekly commute) sites.

 

No matter that some are ideal for commuting duties, such as cheap as chips to buy and run Suzuki GS500) I soon get bored with them, and find something much less sensible and suitable for the role. Really into V-twins (and not American ones) at the moment, but probably not for long.

 

As for the VR32 Passat, they are the preferred unmarked motor for Czech traffic police..........Never seen, or noticed one there myself. Probably a bad thing.

[Richard]

I wanted a Mk1 Astra right up to the moment I actually drove one. It was certainly faster than the clapped out 70s bangers I was used to but everything was such hard work. Even winding down a window was a massive chore.

 

I was similarly disappointed with a 205 after having a 305.

[Cavcraft]

Even I will admit that Passat looks nice. But there must be cheaper, more reliable swimming pools out there.

[chaseracer]

Great thread idea.  I await with interest the contribution of D Wobbler...

 

[Jerzy Woking]

Now looking at Triumph GT6's, since I just read a post on them here. Look like fun.

[xtriple]

I've wanted a Bentley since I was a nipper! Still not acquired the stones to buy one for fucks sake! Now looking at Arnages preferably with the (oh dear, BIG swear coming up) BMW engine! Apparently, the big V8 was a bit overstressed when the big turbos got bolted on in the last Turbo R and the first Arnage.

 

Cars that I lust after tend to get replaced frequently, what I want and what I need, are two VERY different things!

 

The Honda is boring (in an interesting sort of way) but is what I need. I really want something different!

 

With bikes, I used to get bored after about a fortnight, but instead of selling that, just buy another and alternate! That's how I ended up with ten bikes at the same time, when one got on my tits, I'd just use something else until the love came back. The only bike that was a persistent favourite was my Bonnie and as that used to develop faults with alarming frequency (even though it was rebuilt and looked after like a baby... though thrashed, it liked being thrashed!    ) I always 'needed' something else.

 

My favourite car time  in my life was when I was skint and using cars as a means to making an income, they used to come and go on a weekly basis so no time to get bored of them. Had some right heaps and loved them and some really nice cars that I hated!

[The Moog]

I end up reading about something on here, deciding that I need one of them in my life* go through all the reasons why I need it. Explain away all the foibles then have the conversation with Missus Moog who sighs and points out that 3 big dogs wont fit in a MGF. Then my ardour tends to get cooled. 

 

 

 

*not a gold punto 

[cort16]

I usually have that thought that I can't live without it, bid and win on it on ebay then 15 minutes gets the sinking "what have I done" feeling.

I started looking for a car recently convinced I needed a Mk2 16v Astra GTE in my life, a few days later I have a v8 Rover P6. I mean they're practically the same thing!

[PiperCub]

Usually takes a few months with me but as I've got older, infatuations are less frequent than before, unless what I've bought turns out to need more work than originally allowed for in which case it gets out-ed quickly.

 

Having said that, last year I really fancied the idea of an E46 Beemer saloon as a 'winter-hack' before they all either get expensive or turn to worn out crap. I searched for a 320/323 pref manual box'd in tidy condition for under £1.5K - found and saw a few but none were worth buying so with the keepers being put away I had to take-what-I-was-given as my old mum used to say and settled for my £350 406 dizzle (no problem - been a great car).

Now I'm in a position again to look for one but my enthusiasm for the E46 has largely gone, it's not a criticism of the car, it's just me. I can't really see what I saw in them originally and am trying to decide what to get next.

[Inspector Morose]

Started out looking for a cheap mgf for a bit of cheap summer fun.

 

Ended up buying a rover P4. I've got that sinking feeling already and I haven't picked it up yet.

[Junkman]

I usually desperately want a car until I check my bank balance.

[Jerzy Woking]

I am no longer interested in GT6's.

[mercrocker]

From the age of 8 to 17 I wanted a Beetle. My Grandad had one, my best mates dad had one. People I knew who drove Corsairs hated them and that made me want a Beetle even more. At 17 I got a Beetle - it was shit.

[dollywobbler]

My desire does come and go at various rates. The XM appears not to bore me at all after almost six months, but the Rover that preceded it took an entire two days to utterly unthrill me.

 

Like Junkman, desire usually gets utterly thwarted by sheer lack of funds. I've often identified some cracking* potential purchases, but then get scuppered because they're miles away, and a £300 car suddenly becomes a £500 car by the time I've factored in getting it home.

[Parky]

I change my mind like the wind but seventies Renaults, Renault 5's of any age, and Mazda MX5's are a constant.

 

Occasional drifts into Mini's, BMW 2002's or E21's and Fiat Uno's.

 

Reasons for not partaking? Time, space, kids. Need I say more?

[forddeliveryboy]

How fast does desire come and go?  Sometimes it doesn't come fast enough and procrastination results in missing the buy of the decade*.

 

That Passat is fugly, well avoided.

[Junkman]

I've often identified some cracking* R16s, but then get scuppered because they're in France, and a €500 car suddenly becomes a £2,500 car by the time I've factored in getting it home.

FTFY

[Ghosty]

Some wants come and go - often '80s VAG products such as B2 Audi Coupés and Golf Clippers , but there are some things I'll always be after, mainly Cortinas and Dolomites.

[gordonbennet]

Since t'internet, probably a couple of days of intense research sees me either buying and liking what i probably knew i would, or avoiding completely.

 

Umpteen years driving car transporters changes you, speed handling ultimate performance become secondary to instant starting, good all round visibility, low engine speed torque (must sound nice) and simple controls...and the underside design becomes more important than the shiny side....i bet pro mechanics judge cars mainly from under the bonnet.

[Asimo]

There are cars I just fancy because they look attractive to me, in this mood, today. I don't buy them because by the time I get around to it something else has caught my eye instead.

 

When I do buy it is almost always the first one I have ever tried. This is because I like the rare and the weird and the cheap which limits the choice. This often leads to rapid dissenchantment., ie Gamma, Avantime: they still get me excited but I know that basically, as cars, they are duds. This sort of dissapointment has so far stopped me buying a Lotus Elite '70s or a Toronado, but even after 40 plus years, I still would like to (but probably won't)

[Bobthebeard]

Personally I have got bored very quickly with every motorcycle I owned. Have owned plenty until 2012 when I gave up riding bikes as could never find anything I was happy with/comfortable on.

Longest I had one without changing was around three months! Tried cruisers, sports bikes, tourers etc...

Now getting interested in old mopeds as they are small, cheap and fun.

I usually get bored with my cars after a year or so. The exceptions being Hondas for some reason. The last Honda Accord stayed for five years, the replacement Honda Accord is a keeper also.

The 1990 Honda Prelude has been with me for almost a year now and no chance of me parting with it anytime soon, if ever.

Just a matter of finding the right car/bike and enjoying the process of buying/selling chod until the right one turns up. Then keep that and buy something unsuitable as well!

[eifion]

I tend to build up a desire for a new car over months, spend ages on the internet researching every aspect of them, then spoil it all by buying the first one I go and look at. Thankfully, this approach has not let me down yet, even when buying XMs.

[Cavcraft]

I was dead excited about getting Hairnet's Honda 650 twin, and couldn't wait to get out on it. I seem to recall the excitement could be measured in yards, like less than 500 yards.

It was bloody horrible, no endearing features whatsoever, but at least I know never to bother with a big* twin engine again.

[captain_70s]

I always really like my cars until about 30 seconds into ownership and which point they usually go wrong in large and expensive ways. Thankfully I usually start liking them again after a while...

[DVee8]

There are lots of cars that i would like to try including some moderns but i don't want to own them, say 3 month test drive just to get a feel then hand them back and move on to the next.

 

The mgf when i saw it and drove it i wanted it.On the way home in stop start traffic in the pissing rain i thought what have i done.

Now it just makes me smile every time i take it out.

[New POD]

I once bought an AX 1.4D and kept it 4 years. I hated it for 3 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days and 22 hours.

[cort16]

I thought "I need to get another Cortina",  "I need to get another Cortina",  "I need to get another Cortina",  "I need to get another Cortina". I sold my SD1 and got another Cortina. It's pretty shit compared to the SD1. It'll be much better once I get a few things sorted. Mainly an MOT and seats that don't feel like your getting a bed spring up the jacksie. 

It'll be interesting what one is the favourite once I get the p6.

[oman5]

I've never lost my desire for RWD brick volvos. They are the absolute perfect car for me.

[Jerzy Woking]

I needed an automatic as my knees many my daily driving was, well, a pain to drive. Ended up with a Mercedes 300e purely because it was close and available for well under the price of every battered and shagged hatchback I saw previous to finding it.

 

3 and a half months on, with the initial ocassional misfire cured with a complete ignition and fuel overhaul completed (around £120 for parts and 90 minutes fitting), I love it and it's ability to waft in perfect comfort. Last job to do is a transmission fluid and filter change next week. Can't see me getting shot of it anytime soon, or losing the enjoyment of having a car that is so simple to look after.