It’s easy to fall in love with your car when you first buy it. There is a feeling of newness and excitement around the new car. You probably spent a lot of money on it, and you want to justify to yourself and others how good an idea it was and worth every penny of it. But when you’ve had your car for a few years and the new and special car wears out, what’s compelling you to come back to it? Do you still love your car as much as you did when you bought it, or are you ready for something else? Do you still have your first car (and do you like it)?
I guess it depends first of all on your personality and your relationship with cars, right? I know a lot of people who slowly move from one good car to another, trying to experience everything. Equally, there are plenty of enthusiasts who buy the right car from the start and stick with it for decades. If you’ve had the car for a while, I want to hear about the car, why you still love it, and what keeps you coming back for more.
Maybe you have a special memory with your car, or a great driving road, or a weekly ritual you share together that keeps the love alive. What is it about your car that keeps the keys in your hand and your feet dancing on the pedals? There are many different ways you can answer this question, and the platform to express your love is yours. Have your say in the comments below and we’ll discuss. On Monday I’ll be picking a few of my favorites to recap for everyone else.
Projects keep the spark alive
The car that I’ve had the longest, and probably driven the most miles, is my 1976 Porsche 912E that I bought in 2015. I don’t think I’ve ever had a car last a decade before, so it’s nice to see this car stick around. Unfortunately the miles have started to take their toll on the car and it looks pretty worse for wear these days, and I haven’t done much with or to it over the last few years.
Despite its fading paint, a few rust bubbles, and a currently inoperable ignition system, I still love this car and appreciate what I have. Sometimes you have to go through the worst before things get better again, and I know better days are ahead for both of us. I took this car out of the barn and got it going again. So far I’ve driven it across the country many times, and I’ve taken it on many incredible adventures. The adventures we will have together in the future make me excited to see what happens next.
Now that my 911 Turbo project is nearing its end, it seems like it’s time to put in a little effort to bring my old flame back to its former glory, or perhaps a new form of glory. I guess it’s part of loving your car, growing up along the way. As I age and my needs change, I can shape this car to what I want and need. Take care of some cosmetic issues, make it run better than before, and maybe add a few more custom touches. I still like it, and it’s the squeezing that makes me like it more.
