Why we lose interest

[JB400]

Yes, I know it's a Chevy based article, but it flows into other brands as well:

http://www.superchevy.com/news/1801-how-and-why-we-lose-interest-in-our-project-cars/

[DAY CLONA]

Yes, I know it's a Chevy based article, but it flows into other brands as well:

http://www.superchevy.com/news/1801-how-and-why-we-lose-interest-in-our-project-cars/

If that's the "way" an individual goes about a "project", I can see why one loses interest?


For myself I've always had a clear desire and vision for a particular vehicle, and will do whats necessary to achieve it, I've never had that "loss of interest" in any endeavor, automotive or other, the only thing of loss, was funds! as every project always mushrooms, I guess some lack the proper drive abilities/stamina/endurance/perseverance/etc, to achieve the end result?

[BDF]

I didn't lose interest in my (wasn't going to be!) long term project. Having children just slowed it down for 30+ years...

[Bad B-rad]

I would say 90% of the time it is just life that gets in the way.
And that can make our projects fall out of priority.(not that we want or ment for it to do so)
I have built hot rods before, with all the best horse power building parts, and on my current project, I am going with a basically stock style CAR, lol.
A car that looks and drives like a 69 car would look and drive in maybe 1974.
I can always upgrade later, but for this project and at this time in my life, I just want to enjoy the drive with the family.

[XH29N0G]

Thanks for posting.  It is an interesting read.  I haven't yet lost interest, but my goals have changed over the years.  My original goal (in the late 1970's/early 1980's) was to fix up the car and park it on a turntable in my parent's living room.  I don't think they would have let me if I hung onto it.  I also don't know if it would have dropped through the floor.  They have white rugs, my mom's piano, and a bunch of beautiful art in that room.  I just figured the car would set it off.

Jump forward almost 20 years... they made me bring it to my house and it barely fit in my garage.  It came apart in and was put in bags by friends and students and then I realized I was in over my hear.  Ten years after that I signed up here, got the car together and started learning.  After that a restore and rebuilt engine, then the driving, track, etc.....  Now I want to keep improving it.  It keeps me sane and relaxed.  I hope I never lose interest.

[Bad B-rad]

Well xh29nog, good news is you still are interested in your car, and now that you have your own house you can make the car on a turntable in the living room thing, happen, and you don't need parents permission!!
What a great idea!!!!

[XH29N0G]

   My living room isn't big enough for the car.  I don't actually know if any of the rooms in my house are. 

It doesn't matter any more because I really enjoy driving the car and tinkering.

[TruckDriver]

For me it simply was the cost of the collector car market. It sky rocketed so fast, and my pay hasn't. I can't afford what it cost to redo a Mopar and most, not all other cars I like. This summer, I made a deal with one of my old bosses I am friends with, to buy a 1980 Mack truck to restore to a working truck. I did the math, because I have all the parts for the truck, it will cost me less to get it running and safely driving then it would to restore a muscle car. And I can make money with the truck by putting it to work once it's painted. Lot of these still working even as old as they are. I'm getting the truck for $1,000 and it runs.

[Ryan.C]

For me it simply was the cost of the collector car market. It sky rocketed so fast, and my pay hasn't. I can't afford what it cost to redo a Mopar and most, not all other cars I like. This summer, I made a deal with one of my old bosses I am friends with, to buy a 1980 Mack truck to restore to a working truck. I did the math, because I have all the parts for the truck, it will cost me less to get it running and safely driving then it would to restore a muscle car. And I can make money with the truck by putting it to work once it's painted. Lot of these still working even as old as they are. I'm getting the truck for $1,000 and it runs.

I feel your pain about the extreme cost of muscle car restoration. I am looking at getting into the LX platform cars after this current resto is complete. Not because I am like them more, they are just far cheaper for what they are.

[Bad B-rad]

I am a die hard old school Mopar muscle guy, but there is no doubt the LX Hemi cars are GREAT!!!
I am on my 3rd one, a 2016 Charger 5.7 R/T(no Scat Pack it was out of my price range)But with the 2016 I am running the 1/4 in 13.002(almost 12's)@107MPH on street tires and 100% all Chrysler factory parts(some parts are from a 6.4 but they still factory Mopar LOL)And my wife can get 20MPG combo driving.
We used to get 25+MPG on highway and 22 combo with the stock 2.62 rear, but it went down a touch with the 3.90's.
The modern Hemi cars are so much fun, again I am still an old school Mopar guy, but I am also a working man with a family, so I do know the pain of the cost of things, and that was the main factor of me spending a bit more up front for my 1969 Charger(and not getting an original R/T car)I have less work to do in order to drive and enjoy my car.

I bought a rust bucket 1973 Challenger years ago, and after 5 years of welding new metal on and getting parts for it, my wife got ill and I had to sell it, so I was not looking to get into a long project this time around.
Because it is easy to get distracted, or loss focus on a big resto when it is drawn out over a long time, all that hard work you start to forget why you are working so hard all the time, and sometimes you just cant see the light at end of the tunnel.

Nice buy on the Mack!!!!I am sure you will enjoy that resto!!!
I wish I could have gotten my dad's 1995 Top kick lop pro, when he passed(but evil step mom)I would have loved working on and with that truck(cat 3116)And maybe going 5.9 24 valve Cummins with a NV-5600(six speed)!!! but it is hard to ever pull a Cat engine.
Good luck and hope you make some cash with her!!!

[HPP]

Mary Pozzi is a very well know autocross driver,so seeing an article like this rfrm her is actually funny, because she spends more time on the track than many people.

I would agree with Bad B rad, life just gets in the way sometimes. Not all of us can be full time all the time car guys. Some of us have to split time among  multiple projects, some of us have to slice it even thinner between work, kids, friends, and life. 

If you are one of those builders who changes vision on your build constantly, then yea, completing a project may be a harder subject for you than someone whoe knows what they are after and bee lines to that goal.

Do I wish my car was further along, yup. Do I regret the things I've done in the meantime that have put my project automotive progress on hold, generally speaking, no.

[A12 Superbee]

Pussy.

[Bobs69]

Could be, or he lacks focus.

Or...............maybe he's doing what a adult does.  Looks after his family and maintains a home?

I realize the last post was likely a joke.

[HANDM]

I'm thinking A12 means
"why we lose interest" = pussy gets in the way

[Bobs69]

I'm thinking A12 means
"why we lose interest" = pussy gets in the way

That's true, and allowed.

[Ghoste]

It's been the undoing of every plan I ever had since the day I found out women weren't men.

[Fred]

Yes, I know it's a Chevy based article, but it flows into other brands as well:

http://www.superchevy.com/news/1801-how-and-why-we-lose-interest-in-our-project-cars/

If that's the "way" an individual goes about a "project", I can see why one loses interest?


For myself I've always had a clear desire and vision for a particular vehicle, and will do whats necessary to achieve it, I've never had that "loss of interest" in any endeavor, automotive or other, the only thing of loss, was funds! as every project always mushrooms, I guess some lack the proper drive abilities/stamina/endurance/perseverance/etc, to achieve the end result?

Same here.  When I start a project I have tunnel vision (nothing can distract me) till it's done.

[alfaitalia]

Only thing that slows me down is time taken to accrue the necessary funds for the next task....well that and a six days a week job, family, wife's demands...................

[Fred]

Sounds like you've got it made!   

[ws23rt]

When I start a project and get to 95% I lose interest in taking the last few steps.
Maybe it's because I know it can -never- be finished and don't want to realize that fact.  

The other real factor is aging. I remember my socks rolling up and down about my cars -in the day. Today is 50 years on and it is no surprise that memories are different from reality today. I preserved the car of my early dreams but that came late in my life.
The 95% "project" (that I have lost some interest in) is waiting for me to step up and make my next move.

[A12 Superbee]

I'm thinking A12 means
"why we lose interest" = pussy gets in the way

Correct! 

[bakerhillpins]

Mary Pozzi is a very well know autocross driver,so seeing an article like this rfrm her is actually funny, because she spends more time on the track than many people.

I would agree with Bad B rad, life just gets in the way sometimes. Not all of us can be full time all the time car guys. Some of us have to split time among  multiple projects, some of us have to slice it even thinner between work, kids, friends, and life.  

If you are one of those builders who changes vision on your build constantly, then yea, completing a project may be a harder subject for you than someone whoe knows what they are after and bee lines to that goal.

Do I wish my car was further along, yup. Do I regret the things I've done in the meantime that have put my project automotive progress on hold, generally speaking, no.

This!

To all you folks that can just put your head down and get er done. More power to you. My dad left when I was young so my 1st and foremost "project" is making sure that my family is taken care of. If that means the Charger sits while I go to high school sports, have fleet maintenance to do or to fix the domestic water system that just up and died. Or even if it's making pizza for them every Sunday evening and eating together every night, that's what comes first. What ever works. I pick and poke at all my hobbies, it keeps me happy and I have to leave some for a few years to return later. When they all go off to college I will have more time to work on the hobbies. In the meantime I'm slowly making progress and have to remember that there will be more time for this in the future.

As always, YMMV

[Dino]

And sometimes it cannot be explained. I have always loved 2nd gen Chargers, I'm on my third, but at this moment I could not care less about them. It's actually scaring me.

[brad mcintyre]

i think people get out of focus sometimes because they keep looking at the whole project .i try to look at each job separate .when i start to lose drive i go work on something else for awhile than go back to it later .but biggest thing is life and family do what you have to

[b5blue]

  I've seen many cars lost from going too far. Endless upgrades to every aspect until overwhelmed with costly details. Buying and storing up bunches of parts way before needed creates it's own layer of problems. Loosing the ability to just jump in and drive, even just short trips really frustrated me. Now I try to keep it road worthy constantly. (I'm through the worst of it for my car though.)