Hi, I'm DD and I'm a Caraholic.

[DirtyDaily]

Over the last few weeks I have discovered I have an addiction. I say addiction with full sincerity despite the slightly silly title I think I have reached the point of where owning vehicles has crossed from a hobby in to a damaging addiction.

I have made excuses of "cheap motoring", "making a profit" and "new experiences" as an excuse for sinking a frankly silly amount of money and worse a considerable portion of my life. The cost is something that after looking over the last few months the amount I have spent running cars (not including purchases or loss on the vehicles) has got to a point that I could lease a new Porsche 911.

I'm not a very wealthy man so that is an unacceptable amount.

As said though the time has become excessive, I have neglected my studies, my mental health and time with my other half. If you have seen my other posts I have put my foot down on myself and am selling all my cars other than the 2 economic cars at colossal losses to just wipe the slate clean. I feel sad and relieved. In future a healthy balance needs to be struck so this hobby can be enjoyable, it has been anything but for quite a while.

I hereby declare this thread CA (Caraholic Anonymous). A safe space to admit that cars can become bad decisions.

[S2000]

I have a car i will not name that in 2 years of ownership I have spent 9K on in ‘repairs’ and it has done less than 500 miles in that time. It was a bad decision and I store it far enough away to be out of site and out of mind, I want to sell it but need to plough at least another couple of grand into it to sell it for less than I paid for it.

in summary, my name is S2000 and I’m a CA.

[DirtyDaily]

Thank you for sharing

[Shite Ron]

I often think how easy life would be if I just had 2 or 3 cars, I could have a much cheaper house and a brand new Porsche but I have no interest in a new Porsche or any other new cars. Life could be easier and also more boring. I agree there is probably a good balance somewhere which I have not achieved but it could be much worse,  I have an addiction to cars but it is far better than an addiction to alcohol or worse still drugs. Becoming addicted to sex is maybe another option preferable to drugs or alcohol but I think I’ll stick with cars. Also it is much better in my opinion to being addicted to PCP’s and debt which seems popular.

[DirtyDaily]

I often think how easy life would be if I just had 2 or 3 cars, I could have a much cheaper house and a brand new Porsche but I have no interest in a new Porsche or any other new cars. Life could be easier and also more boring. I agree there is probably a good balance somewhere which I have not achieved but it could be much worse,  I have an addiction to cars but it is far better than an addiction to alcohol or worse still drugs. Becoming addicted to sex is maybe another option preferable to drugs or alcohol but I think I’ll stick with cars. Also it is much better in my opinion to being addicted to PCP’s and debt which seems popular.

My addictive personality means I should probably try to avoid. It's like an alcoholic just having the one pint on a night out.

[HMC]

Um, hi everyone, just checking in, ill just sit over here. Needless to say I hear you all. Ive lost count some years ago.

Im HMC Im a C.A.

[SEATMad]

Thank you for sharing you story, everyone here is so brave.. No, seriously though defiantly feel all of you. I use cars as a coping mechanism in life. Usually when shit hits the fan I always seem to find myself with a new motor, usually one I paid way too much for and doesn't work properly, thus adding to my depression. However the dopamine hit I get when I purchase a car is like nothing else. Even if it's the biggest shitter, Its addictive. 

I defiantly know I have an addictive personality. I smoke, I used to drink like a fish (I'm now teetotal) and some bad substances before the RAF came calling. So it makes total sense to me why I and others feel like this. I often wonder where I'd be financially if I'd of just taken all the advice and packed it all in but this is my passion. I always justify it as this is a healthy release from the big bad world. I look forward every weekend to coming home from work just to spanner of my old shitboxs. I know i spend an absolute obscene amount of money on this "hobby", however it's what makes me happy. Plus, as I always say to my Mrs, It could be worse I could be addicted to crack... 

Anyway, gushy shit over with, I'm SEATMad and I'm a CA. 

[Six-cylinder]

I protest, I am just a normal bloke with a mild interest in cars.

Addiction ridiculous, I have only bought 4 so far this year!

[junkyarddog]

Nah,no addiction here,even if I was an addict(I'm not) I could stop any time I want!

No siree,no addiction here.....🤥

[eddyramrod]

I feel you all.  

I've always had cheap old cars, and done as much as possible myself, but with the march of time the definition of "cheap" has grown beyond all recognition and my ability to deal with their physical needs has dwindled to extinction.  I have now signed the pledge at Motability, which should eliminate any need for "the old stuff."  But the draw will always be strong.

Let us take this journey together, lean on each other when we feel the uphill stretches.

[Rocket88]

I’m in…. But it’s an addiction I have no wish to fight

[DirtyDaily]

Addictions can be healthy and unhealthy I think. People have made very valid points that cars tends to be a much better use of money than any of the other choices of poison (alcohol, drugs, smoking, gambling etc.)
We all need a vice and an escape. I will be back to exercising my addiction at some point but at the moment I need a break and that's okay.
I think people ultimately know when the fun stops, stop.

[Schaefft]

Last year got a little out of control. But you know what, as long as you have fun and don't lose too much money it's no different to any other hobby (haven't lost any money buying and selling cars in years, and that's often incl. tax and insurance). The latter never was a real goal and there's plenty of cars I'll never see a penny back from again but that also is just typical car ownership. If you are lucky you develop the skills to make a living from it.

Just make sure you don't neglect other important things in life, do it within your financial means and try to avoid driving others mad. Maybe easier said than done!

[eddyramrod]

Like a smoker mainlining Extra Strong Mints, I have found a substitute, one I can afford because the costs are minimal; one I can actually do because my hands can still work at 1/43 scale.  Yes, I'm talking about my little broken diecasts that I love to restore and/or recycle.  I make something I can be proud of; an unwanted toy gets a second life.  Landfill is starved.  Everybody wins!

[Stinkwheel]

I totally feel everyone's pain.

Ive stepped waaaay back from cars and buying in the last few years. I realised that even though i had a great big workshop/storage unit with lots of projects and interesting things to do. I was only ever getting one or two done, then never really enjoying them due to worrying about all the un finished stuff. It really impacted my mental health quite a lot after a while (and my mental health has been fragile on and off since about 2007 anyway, for several boring reasons)

Then you start feeling guilty about renting storage space and not spending as much on the cars/bikes. Then one day you step back and realise you have enough things to do for, possibly, the rest of your life. Not even kidding, rest of your life (and thats assuming you dont get too ill or become infirm etc) As it happens I also became ill (not terminally and hopefully, not too long term)

Thats when i started giving a few bits away  (the BX estate, Green XM, GSA etc etc)

Ive still to actually knock the unit on the head, as it needs a final sweep to clear the last few things and general junk. But im getting there. And that part of my life at least, is causing a lot less stress and worry.

My advice, just be sensible, dont get carried away and try to finish one before getting more (or 5 more) I have realised i had an issue and one man does not need 16 vehicles at one time. Not ever.

It makes my better half a lot happier that we actually have time to do things together as well

 

[grogee]

I'm a caraholic.

It's a form of gambling, at least for me. I've 'won big' on a couple of fix & sells (Audi A6, Ford Focus) but also not even broken even on others (Saab 9000, Saab 9-5, BMW 5er, Toyota Celica, others I've forgotten). On the other hand almost all of those were also transport/my car, so if I was paying Europcar to rent something it probably works out cheaper the way I've done it.

Most of my money and a lot of my time has gone into the Puma, which is now for sale, and I won't recoup either (although I could do with the money). The "expert" would say 'ooh, hang onto it, bona fide future classic'. But that does not consider the need for winter storage, the running costs (even sitting idle) and the liability/risk. Realistically, keeping it garaged for six months every year would be £360. Is it going to appreciate £3600 in ten years? What repairs will it need in the meantime?

Now my efforts are focused on the Maestro. At the moment I'm enjoying driving it and knowing the work I've done has made it semi-reliable. But I still have plans to take subframe and rear beam off, sandblast then powder coat, plus I'd like to skim the block and maybe change bearing shells, blah blah. All more £ and time off the road.

I've spent a lot on my Toyota in an attempt to get it up to some sort of 'turnkey hack' that I can just drive and do minimal servicing. New turbo, rustproofing, stereo upgrade, fixing water leaks, full service. Once I've fixed the AC I'm hoping to leave it alone and just use it.

I have amassed a pretty wide selection of tools in this time, using the justification that 'tools are cheaper than garage labour'. It does sort of force me down the road of doing stuff myself.

I will say that most of my disposable currency goes on parts/tools, but it's better than gambling/drink/drugs/women. Isn't it?

[skoda_fan]

What an interesting and honest thread! +1 here for admitting to being a CA.  I hate to think how much money I have wasted over the years...probably enough to buy a half-decent property. Yet I have no intention of changing, I shall continue to waste money in this way until my dying day. Even if I am compelled to give up driving I shall probably buy cars just to look at and sit in.  The same old pattern will continue: take a shine to something advertised, to the point where I can think of nothing else....go and pay too much for it....gradually fall in love with it...spend a lot of money fixing it...then either A keep it for years or B move it on at a massive loss. In my case there is no cure, nor do I seek one. My default position in my brain is thinking about cars. For about forty years I have been "learning to play the piano". I have got nowhere because every time I sit at the thing I am bored within ten minutes and start looking online at car stuff.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I have 6 cars. But I used to have 12.

It is therefore clear that my recovery from my addiction to shitty old cars is progressing well*.

[skoda_fan]

Just now, Sigmund Fraud said:

I have 6 cars. But I used to have 12.

It is therefore clear that my recovery from my addiction to shitty old cars is progressing well*.

Ditto. Same here in every respect😄

[Dyslexic Viking]

I had a inplus car purchase problem. Couldn't afford that many cars a year, but enough that it caused financial problems. The worst incident was that in a short time I found out that I wanted a van, found one on the other side of the country and 16 hours of driving later I now had a van and had traded in a car I really loved with no possibility of getting it back and wondered what the hell had happened. In one case a inpulse car purchase ment I couldn't even afford to eat enough for a while afterwards.

Autumn 2019 was an awakening and a turning point. I started cleaning up all the financial problems caused by cars and started making a plan about car ownership for me and trying to get control over my impulsiveness. The plan was to buy a sensible car that was cheap to run and then spend the money on a few fun cars on the side.

In autumn 2020 I got a good deal on a Hyundai and paid it off as soon as I could, this meant that in August 2022 I could afford to buy one of my dream cars. So the plan worked and I have managed to control my impulse car buying for sevral years now. Last year was the first year in 13 years that I didn't buy a car, something I'm proud of and 12 August this year marks 2 years since my last car purchase, which is incredible. 

[mercedade]

I used to use car buying as a way of Doing Something when I was otherwise dissatisfied with life/work/relationships etc. "If I get a new one, then I'll be a bit cheerier for the next few months/weeks/days/hours".

I've mostly calmed down now with two reasonably sensible cars, but there's now a Rover festering away that lurks in the back of my guilty mind.

[cort16]

It's a disease to, which there is no known cure. 

I cut back the madness once they changed the rules around car tax not being transferable. I had 9 cars all on the road scattered across the town. Some in the tennis club car park (of which I'm not a member), others at home and some parked at the train station.  That was too much.

I'm now down to 3 cars one of which I'm selling. I have also slightly gone off older stuff so my impulse to buy random old shite off ebay has somewhat disappeared.

It doesn't stop me looking ALL THE FUCKING TIME though.

[DirtyDaily]

I used to use car buying as a way of Doing Something when I was otherwise dissatisfied with life/work/relationships etc. "If I get a new one, then I'll be a bit cheerier for the next few months/weeks/days/hours".

This resonates quite a lot.
Doing something like buying a car to get temporary relief I think is a real problem. One I need to overcome.

[Dyslexic Viking]

I've only had 4 cars most at one time so I've wondered a lot how some of you cope with over 10 cars.

And does anyone know what the worst case is? I think few surpass Scott Newstead Cold War Motor on youtube with over 70 cars most are yard art but still.

[straightSix]

I found that owning a load of old rammel had almost become my identity and what I was known for. It's definitely a lifestyle that's cost a lot of time and money and at times caused an unnecessary amount of stress. Much like yourself it got to the point where I've needed to just clean the slate and free up the headspace. And it's meant holding back on a lot of interesting stuff that's been up for sale on here

[Matty]

Just popped in to say I'm a Catholic too. Then read the title properly 😄

[Matty]

20 hours ago, Shite Ron said:

I often think how easy life would be if I just had 2 or 3 cars, I could have a much cheaper house and a brand new Porsche but I have no interest in a new Porsche or any other new cars. Life could be easier and also more boring. I agree there is probably a good balance somewhere which I have not achieved but it could be much worse,  I have an addiction to cars but it is far better than an addiction to alcohol or worse still drugs. Becoming addicted to sex is maybe another option preferable to drugs or alcohol but I think I’ll stick with cars. Also it is much better in my opinion to being addicted to PCP’s and debt which seems popular.

Could be worse bud. You could be a golfer.

[Shite Ron]

4 hours ago, Sigmund Fraud said:

I have 6 cars. But I used to have 12.

It is therefore clear that my recovery from my addiction to shitty old cars is progressing well*.

I used to have 12 cars and now have very close to three times that, I had to list them all to have an idea of the number.  What is the car equivalent to the Priory? I may need to check in.

I have thought many times that less cars would make life easier, especially when looking at houses as it is relatively easy to find a house with a double garage and even a triple garage but when it comes to garaging 25+ cars then options become very limited.

I am with @skoda_fan on this point though but I am very happy with the cars I have already I love looking at them and sitting in them as much as I enjoy driving them and could certainly never be without a Cortina.

5 hours ago, skoda_fan said:

 I have no intention of changing, I shall continue to waste money in this way until my dying day. Even if I am compelled to give up driving I shall probably buy cars just to look at and sit in.  

If I was left to my own decisions I probably would only have around 12 cars but my partner now has several cars and encourages me to buy more when I say we have too many, some instances I think she was right such as the Granada’s and mk4 Cortina’s. The Alvis, BMW, Rover 216 etc. I would get rid of tomorrow and knew some were bad choices at the time.
There are two other things that are mental issues I have with selling cars, one is I really hate losing money and have real problems if I have to sell a car for less than I paid for it, I also hate seeing good / interesting cars scrapped and as we all know once we sell a car then the new owner can do as they wish, maybe I need help but overall I am comfortable with my situation. I do however have full respect for @DirtyDaily and others who feel cars are having a negative impact on their overall quality of life and are doing something about it. It is easy to moan about things but less easy to take responsibility for your own life and make a positive change, anyone who makes difficult decisions to improve the overall quality of their life has my respect.

[DirtyDaily]

I would say I would be much happier if I had:
A more time
B more space
C More money

At that point numerous cars would be fine. However I have no off street parking so all cars need to be insured, taxed, MOTd etc and if they aren't it plays on my mind. If the cars need work it plays on my mind. If I can't afford all the repairs on all the cars it plays on my mind. If I don't have the time it plays on my mind.
Next house I buy will have room for several cars and a garage and I think that will allow for a greater amount of cars without stressing me out too much.

[Agila]

My addiction comes and goes to proper extremes. Sometimes it all gets too much and I have a clear out. I've just agreed to buy another car today but we'll all ignore it being a 500 mile round trip. This one is more "needed" than wanted.

It will probably replace an A4 convertible that was totally unsuitable at the time of purchase and still is. I bought it because I could and it was too cheap and local to turn down.

I don't see me having a problem as I still pay my mortgage and my family don't suffer though. It's fairly harmless so not really like a proper addiction.

It has cost more time and money than I'd like sometimes, I just take a step back. It also tends to be seasonal, I can't be arsed at winter time.

As long as it doesn't cost more than £500 pcm I'm happy. No different to a football or drinking hobby.