It's Hard To Let Go..
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
February 26, 2012 5:22pm CST
..of the CAR! Haha! Had you going there!
Yes, I'm afraid John's Honda Concerto is so old that it's costing too much money to actually keep it going. The car itself would've been 21 in December and John bought it second-hand in 1995, so it was relatively new at that point.
We've been everywhere in that car since 2003, especially in the early years of our relationship when petrol didn't cost as much as it does now. In the last couple of years - whenever we picked Mum up from Blackpool we've had to use the in-laws' car as it was more reliable. John started a new job in 2008 and that began the Honda's decline as he has to drive 35 miles a day which isn't good when the car already has thousands of miles on the clock.
Anyway, we now look to the future as John cannot get to work without a car, unfortunately. Earlier today John's Dad (with John in attendance) bought a Ford Focus 1.8L in blue that was built in 1998, a bargain at £550 (some have been known to be sold for £895) but John's nephew works with the seller so this helped with "negotiations."
The only thing upsetting me now is that the Honda is at his Dad's and parts are going to be "sold off" so he can recoup the money back he spent on the Focus. I hate the idea of the Honda being in bits (and it has leather seats too) but I suppose it's better than being towed off to a scrapyard like my Dad's Peugeot was about 3 years ago.
Do you become attached to your vehicles? I never thought I'd be so upset about letting a car go..and no, I don't want the bloody registration plate (in-laws' daft suggestion), I'd rather have the car back thanks..but we have to be realistic. The Focus is going to be more reliable and parts will be more readily available due to there being so many of them on the road.
Do you become attached to your vehicles? I never thought I'd be so upset about letting a car go..and no, I don't want the bloody registration plate (in-laws' daft suggestion), I'd rather have the car back thanks..but we have to be realistic. The Focus is going to be more reliable and parts will be more readily available due to there being so many of them on the road.5 people like this
13 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
27 Feb 12
My car is 16 years old now and I haven't put much into it so far. I don't drive a lot, though, and that helps.
But to answer your question, yes, I do get attached to my cars! I've traded off quite a few in my lifetime. It feels like I am betraying a friend when I walk off from them. I know it sounds silly, but I wonder if somehow the electronics and so on eventually "fit" a person so that it's a part of you somehow... Okay. I know it's silly, like I said, but I still feel bad when I get rid of a car. 
3 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
I know exactly what you mean. John "suited" his Concerto perfectly. Yes, it was difficult to drive at times (his sister hated it) but that added to its uniqueness and made him concentrate lol.
The engine itself though was amazing and I've always liked the look of old engines, ones that haven't got fancy computers running them, do you know what I mean?
Even the Focus hasn't got electric windows in the back (does at the front) so the Honda wins there..and it doesn't have leather seats either. Have to pay a premium for those now.
Another positive was the fact John bought the Honda all on his own without his Dad's intervention..and bought well. If he gets another 10 years out of the Ford his Dad saw before him, all well and good..but if he wins the Lottery..well, he can buy whatever car he wants then.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
26 Feb 12
We've had a number of vehicles before but I never did get attached to them. Most of them were company vehicles that's why we had a lot. My parents had to return them whenever they're offered something new. Right now, my brother has a Honda Civic. It's okay. It looks presentable in most situations. You can even bring it if you plan to go clubbing. I haven't had a car for me exclusively, though. I'm not sure when I'll get one.
3 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
I've had a lift in one of the newer Honda Civics (the ones with those fancy lights on the back) and it was more like a 4x4, huge thing. I knew someone in the workplace who had an Accord as well (in the 90s) but I'm not sure if that model is still being built. The Concerto definitely isn't as the Civic replaced it, ironically.
I'm sure you will get your own car very soon.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Feb 12
We only buy very old used vehicles. The last one I was remotely attached to was a Mercedes. Yes, those leather seats are great. It had too many problems, however, and they require special tools to work on them. It is still being driven around town by the man who bought it. It let me down once on my way home, and I just rolled it off the road into the cemetery.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Feb 12
Yes, it was quiet and ran smoothly, even though it did have some other troubles. I do miss it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
I love Mercedes cars, they're one of my favourite Teutonic brands, closely followed by Audi and BMW, although I wouldn't say no to a British Jaguar!
Did your Merc run quietly? I once travelled in a Mercedes taxi to Manchester Airport and couldn't get over how quiet it was. I'm amazed the driver didn't fall asleep at the wheel because he did conduct more than one Airport Run a day, I'm sure.
Did your Merc run quietly? I once travelled in a Mercedes taxi to Manchester Airport and couldn't get over how quiet it was. I'm amazed the driver didn't fall asleep at the wheel because he did conduct more than one Airport Run a day, I'm sure.1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
27 Feb 12
The car isn't essential to my life.I live in a small city with a population of several hundred thousand people,if I want to go out,there are bus and taxi.When I was at work,the factory bus picked us up every day.I know the car means a great deal to you.The car is a closed book to me,but I think what is important most is its oil consumption.Congratulate you on replacing your Honda with a Ford Focus!
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
Thank you!
To be honest, reliability was uppermost in John's mind when he picked the Ford Focus, a car that remains incredibly popular throughout the world.
I must admit, I do like the fact it's blue rather than silver. All silver cars look the same, in my opinion.
To be honest, reliability was uppermost in John's mind when he picked the Ford Focus, a car that remains incredibly popular throughout the world.
I must admit, I do like the fact it's blue rather than silver. All silver cars look the same, in my opinion.@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
28 Feb 12
What John thought is right.It is a good brand of car and one that finalize the design.I think the blue car is great .
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
27 Feb 12
I understand completely. You tend to be emotionally attached to a vehicle. I missed my Toyota Tercel. It was a 1989. It worked perfectly but it always smelled like gasoline and it leaked from the radiator. I let it go and got a newer car and the transmission went out in no time. I've been without a car now for a couple of years now because I can't go in debt for one.
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
My Dad had to give up his old Peugeot because of increased running costs but the main criticism was that he never used it enough when he had it..and he misses it now. Should've thought about that at the time and it was before the fuel increases..it was just it kept conking out lol.
Well, I know it's something completely different but I haven't had a mobile phone for about 4 years now and I don't miss it one bit. I certainly don't miss paying £15 a month which isn't a huge sum but if you're relying on hand-outs rather than benefits (I don't qualify) £15 a month is a lot, so it was the first thing I knocked on the head.
I admire the fact you're not prepared to go into debt for a car.
I wasn't in favour of the Car Scrappage Scheme because we're now left with cars older than 10 years on the road and new ones..nothing inbetween. It's like a whole generation of vehicles has been lost..perfectly good ones too!
@nanknibbs (31)
•
27 Feb 12
I cried when they hauled off my last car, I had to give it up because I couldn't afford to fix it. I had waited a long time to get the car, I didn't have enough money to buy a car. Then out of the blue I got a check from a old job. I bought the little car, drove it for 5 years. It was so cute when I got it, but it began to have break downs and got more expensive to fix. I was getting old too, and decided to give up driving when they took the car. But I loved that little car. It was my freedom, I could go anywhere I wanted with it.
Now if I want to go somewhere I have to call someone to take me.
I really miss that little car.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
Awww, how sad. My Dad was the same when he had to give up his car. He's in his 70s now and I really don't think his response times in certain situations would be bang on like they were then, plus the fact he can only afford old cars anyway. I think he'd still have a car if it were newer and not difficult to drive.
My Dad walks a lot now but it's frustrating that Mum has to bus everywhere..so no lift for her anymore.
My Dad was the same when he had to give up his car. He's in his 70s now and I really don't think his response times in certain situations would be bang on like they were then, plus the fact he can only afford old cars anyway. I think he'd still have a car if it were newer and not difficult to drive.
My Dad walks a lot now but it's frustrating that Mum has to bus everywhere..so no lift for her anymore.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
5 Mar 12
I have a little car that is 14 years old at the end of this year. It was Dad's and he gave it to me when he lost his licence just over 5 years ago. The car had only 26 thousand kilometres on it as Dad only drove 30 klms into town and back once a week week to do the shopping and maybe a bit further every now and then.
Five years later, I've taken it up to 104000 klms (I'm a volunteer driver and live out the back of nowhere) but that's still excellent for a car this old. It's cost me about $5000 in repairs that were avoidable (another story) so I figure as I got it for nothing, it owes me nothing. It's a beaut little car and a joy to drive but I'm looking forward to getting a late model SUV within the next 6 months.
I do become attached to my cars and I am worried as to what will happen to this one as it's a nice looking and reliable car.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
5 Mar 12
My in-laws witnessed our Honda being scrapped in front of their eyes. I don't think I could cope with watching that so I'm glad I wasn't "invited" plus the fact they've received £180 for the scrap value. Granted, it was they who bought the Focus for £550 so the £180 recoups some of that back..but it hurts just the same. I am willing to let go because I have to and the Focus is a more reliable car, so I can't really complain.
@derek_a (10874)
•
27 Feb 12
Hi Janey, I used to get attached to my vehicles, but not any more. I guess I have had too many of them since I started driving at the age of 17. I have had several Ford Focus's and still own one now - a 1.8 ghia. It performas well and is a fantastic drive in my opionion. I tend to keep my cars until they are falling apart too, as that is the best way to get value out of them. My last focus went around the clock and before that I drove the Ford Escort, that was the model before the focus came out. I have broken up many of my cars for spares when I was younger, but just put them in part-ex now, as my health doesn't really allow me to be crawling under cars and stripping parts of them. A shame really, because I did enjoy doing that. I hope that John will like his Focus. I am sure he will.. They are pretty reliable. _Derek
_Derek1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
Hi Derek! Aaah, yes, who could forget the wonderful Escort? I do prefer the "old" Mini rather than the..er..BMW version but that's due to the fact my Uncle Joe (when he was well) had two. The first was a British Leyland Mini in blue (late 60s, early 70s), then he replaced that with an old N Reg Maroon Austin Mini..and it went like "Sh*t off a stick!"
Haha!
The mechanical attributes by-passed John and manifested themselves into his nephew instead. John has basic knowledge of cars but if anything goes wrong he takes it round to his Dad's where both he and Josh can take a look. They have friends in that line of work too so tracing parts is a lot easier than John having to do this on his own.
I have told John to keep the Focus clean as I can tell the previous owner(s) looked after it really well. I don't even think the back seats have ever been sat on!
The mechanical attributes by-passed John and manifested themselves into his nephew instead. John has basic knowledge of cars but if anything goes wrong he takes it round to his Dad's where both he and Josh can take a look. They have friends in that line of work too so tracing parts is a lot easier than John having to do this on his own.
I have told John to keep the Focus clean as I can tell the previous owner(s) looked after it really well. I don't even think the back seats have ever been sat on!
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
27 Feb 12
I have this terrible quirk, that I do get attached to "inanimate" objects too....I really think that I wouldn't if I didn't name them all..LOL! My current truck is 27 years old..and called "Orca!" And (duh) I talk to it each time I start it! I think I got it from my father, as he always named his mechanical possessions..which made them feel more like yours! That's not a pretty picture, is it...talking to a truck!@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
Do you talk to it in a nice way or swear? I suppose it depends on how reliable it is lol.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
11 Mar 12
It's like my Dodge Caravan. It's a 1999 model, and I bought it in 2006. I think the money I poured into it has been more than what I paid for it. I know it isn't efficient anymore as I don't get good gas-mileage from it, but I it's really hard to let go. I wouldn't get much if I sold it, and it's so difficult not having a ride.
Maybe next year I could afford to finally replace it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Mar 12
Nooo you mustn't! That Dodge Caravan is part of you, so there lol.
The other day hubby received a Certificate of Destruction from the scrap merchants regarding his Honda.
What a way to go!
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
27 Feb 12
Never really in my life. I really have never felt a connection to a car. Now my old computer...that was another manner. It was the first one I had, it was rather something that I tried to make work longer than it should, but the final time, it was thrashed beyond repair. With great sorrow, I had to get rid of it eventually, which I think that many people do with their cars, so we're not so different.
Some people tend to really sink a lot of money into saving their cars out of sentimental value. Where it really gets to the point where it would it would be much cheaper to buy a brand new car. But obviously logic and sentimental feeling really does not really go hand in hand. It is really hard for people to let go, even when it gets to the point that they must.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
I have found out that Mini enthusiasts buy up the last "proper" Minis ever made and don't even bother driving them. I saw one on the internet being sold for £17,000. Minis are meant to be driven and this particular one had only got 35 miles on the clock. It looked so sad!
I know exactly what you mean about your old computer. The Sony Vaio Desktop I had before this Compaq version I had for 9 years. It was top of the range when I bought it so lasted longer than a cheaper model would. One of the first flat screens, that type of thing. How I loved that computer and I got far more attached to that one than the one I have now, even though this has a bigger monitor and larger memory.
I know exactly what you mean about your old computer. The Sony Vaio Desktop I had before this Compaq version I had for 9 years. It was top of the range when I bought it so lasted longer than a cheaper model would. One of the first flat screens, that type of thing. How I loved that computer and I got far more attached to that one than the one I have now, even though this has a bigger monitor and larger memory.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
2 Mar 12
Years ago I used to get attached to my cars. I have own Caddy's, Lincoln's and Ford's. I was always partial to Ford products. When I bought my first new Lincoln back in 1982, I was in love with that car. When I had to get rid of it it bothered me something awful. I still have the crest from the hood and pictures of it. I currently own a 2003 Focus and I would say they are awesome cars. They are great on gas and have lots of guts. I was surprised when I bought that car, I thought to myself, how could a 4 cylinder engine be as good as an 8 cylinder engine. But I was pleasantly surprised. It is starting to show signs of age now. But it still keeps on going. Your husband will love that focus and so will you.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Mar 12
It is growing on me, I must admit. In fact I used to love even smaller cars than the Focus (remember the original Mini, not the BMW version that's out now, well my Uncle had two in quick succession and I remember both very fondly) but there again I'm bigger than I was then..but you know what I mean.
One thing's for sure, John's already saving money on fuel because the engine is so efficient so I'm pleased for him more than anything. He's the one driving the thing after all.
In fact I used to love even smaller cars than the Focus (remember the original Mini, not the BMW version that's out now, well my Uncle had two in quick succession and I remember both very fondly) but there again I'm bigger than I was then..but you know what I mean.
One thing's for sure, John's already saving money on fuel because the engine is so efficient so I'm pleased for him more than anything. He's the one driving the thing after all.1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
15 Mar 12
I remember the mini. I was never a fan of them. I am a fan of big cars. I guess thats all they had when I was growing up. But I love my little Focus. That is the smallest var I have ever owned. My next car will be, hopefully, either a Ford Fusion or a Ford Edge. I like both of them. But I will see.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
27 Feb 12
Yes I was to my Ford transit build in 1970. Had so many holidays with it. I did a lot of renovation to the car myself but the older the car and I get the harder it is, also to find the right parts you need. So end of last year I head to let her go. It would be nice if someone would restorate it or could at least use the parts.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Feb 12
I love Ford Transits, I really do. I'm not surprised you got attached to yours.
Restoration (in the Concerto's case) would be difficult as there are not many of them on the road due to the Civic replacing them some years ago. It would be wonderful if that could happen but it looks like some of the parts are to be sold off and I really can't go round to the in-laws' house until it's disappeared entirely, as it would be like seeing an old friend lying there with no arms and legs. Do you know what I mean?
Restoration (in the Concerto's case) would be difficult as there are not many of them on the road due to the Civic replacing them some years ago. It would be wonderful if that could happen but it looks like some of the parts are to be sold off and I really can't go round to the in-laws' house until it's disappeared entirely, as it would be like seeing an old friend lying there with no arms and legs. Do you know what I mean?