Do You Sometimes Wish You Weren't A Car Enthusiast?

[Foggins]

Ever since I can remember, I have been car crazy...from my very first car 30 years ago (Honda Civic Si) to my current M, I always have cars on the brain. Looking back, that is a lot of time and money spent on something pretty frivolous. While i like to think I am a good father and husband, I sometimes think it would have been much better to not obsess so much over cars and use this time and money differently. My older brother buys a solid car once every 7-8 years (he currently drives an Acura TLX) and never thinks about it in between. I wonder if this is a better way to go?

[GT3fan]

Never, but I'd probably have an extra $300k in the bank from the lost depreciation over the past 30 years.

Then again, part of the driving force in my career goals was to make more money to enjoy my car hobby.

[shimmy23]

Wish? No. But I have found myself trying to take on other hobbies that aren’t as costly... mt biking, photography, etc. I have other things I love to do like fishing and hunting but it’s more something a share with my dad and not one of my own hobbies.

All the above has resulted in me just spending more money

[inTgr8r]

Lol..... Only when I look at my bank account.

I've been doing this for mannnnny mannnnny years and don't see it ending anytime soon

[Ab28]

Nope. Not for a second. It’s part of who I am and until they tell me I can’t drive anymore, it ain’t gunna change.

Sure it costs money, but the enjoyment factor isn’t something you can quantify. Life is short. Besides, who wants to bird watch and drive a Prius??

[1MOREMOD]

Yes and every other hobby I'm addicted to, booze, guns, cars, primarily.

[TedA]

Originally Posted by FrozenAg

Ever since I can remember, I have been car crazy...from my very first car 30 years ago (Honda Civic Si) to my current M, I always have cars on the brain. Looking back, that is a lot of time and money spent on something pretty frivolous. While i like to think I am a good father and husband, I sometimes think it would have been much better to not obsess so much over cars and use this time and money differently. My older brother buys a solid car once every 7-8 years (he currently drives an Acura TLX) and never thinks about it in between. I wonder if this is a better way to go?

This is heresy talk!!!!!

[GRUESOM3]

You could be doing far worse with your time and money.

[Scharbag]

Every time I look at my bank balance...

[Helmsman]

Never!

[Flying Ace]

Yes, but then my other vices would be a hooker or cocaine enthusiast. That considered, being a car enthusiast is much less damaging to my health and financial situation.

[Yoddha]

I get what you're saying. I've had those type of thoughts too when I am sitting there opening up my wallet for the thousandth time, panicking from something that sounds wrong, or cleaning yet another spot my OCD convinced me to take care of. Every habit and hobby has its pros and cons.

I personally forget each and every one of these grievances when I'm on a mountain road with a car that has 414 unchained ponies under the bonnet; sitting on a set of four Michelin tires that cling on more than a psychotic ex-girlfriend with a fabricated paternity test.

[nrubenstein]

Yes.

[Transfer]

The money wasted is a real concern to me but I suppose not enough to change my dirty ways.

[vsix]

Beeing car crazy is our personal choice enjoying life. Others take drugs, have plenty of woman and before someone replies you can be car crazy AND have plenty woman along with drugs, I do understand that but thats not my point. When we release our final breath, we won‘t have any regrets. We wasted our life time with stuff that made us escape from reality, kept us going through hard times and kept us motivated.
If you have any doubts, rethink your love and passion and the time you spend with it, because life is short my friend.
Cars are my life, even through hard health related situations, checking my forum or driving my car, kept me distracted and therefor gave me power to overcome it.

Everyone’s different but my passion and love for cars gained me alot beautiful moments and situations and finally decade long, still existing friendships.

[Raek]

Nope. I'm a fan of many things on wheels and wouldn't change a thing.

[GMe90]

I sometimes have the same thoughts. But ultimately, focusing on cars is an innocent endeavor that doesn't harm anyone. You could be out there doing drugs, fueling a bad alcohol problem, womanizing, gambling, or doing a number of other less productive and/or harmful things. So long as you don't allow the car habit to destroy you financially, keep focusing on what you love. One day, as we to take our last breaths and think back on our lives, those memories of buying your dream car, driving it hard on awesome, curvy roads, and smiling every single time you step behind the wheel will be as vivid as ever and will make you realize that it was all worth it and a big part of making your life well lived.

[G80indy]

I agree on the OCD stuff.....
Kinda pointless in the big picture.
I must say it's nice to hear from others that are grounded and give such perspective.
Thank you
And
Merry Christmas

[Solo_M_Tech]

I don't regret being an enthusiast, and neither should anyone else. Life is too short to worry about how much money you would have if you didn't spend it.... what kind of life is that?

[loveskiing]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

Yes, but then my other vices would be a hooker or cocaine enthusiast. That considered, being a car enthusiast is much less damaging to my health and financial situation.

Excuse me, did you say would be??? For some strange reason I'm thinking that should be replaced with "are"

[roastbeef]

i wouldn't be as driven to succeed if i didn't like cars.

[loveskiing]

Well some of us aren't as ancient as you...but our grandparents told us about the cars that they fell in love with...like the Triumph spitfire, GTO, Shelby Cobra, Chevy 409, 66 Vette, etc...and isn't it like little boys to dream of the day they'll be Steve McQueen in Bullitt, or Gene Hackman in The French Connection? So whether you call it car crazy, pimp mobile, or like some on here who use it to carry their trunk hookers, cars represent more than just transportation from point A to B...and I for one love em!