40 + year old question

[dads_69]

For starters, I'm done w/mopars. I don't even own a single mopar part right now. Not sure if I ever will again. I'm 41 now, I've been told that has a lot to do with my recent reasoning of my love for mopars/car/trucks period. Mid life crisis? All I know is, I've had it w/mopars. I mean no offence to those who have a love for them still FYI. I don't even get that slight excitement when I see one driving the road now. I don't buy the mopar magazines anymore, the t shirts I bought from on line here I never wear. It has nothing to do w/winter here either. I've been known as *chargermark* since high school, over 25 years now. Whenever I hear that nic name now, I don't react. What propted me to write such a topic was my 5.5 year old little girl.
I was watching Death Proof tonight as she walked in on it, I hit pause due to the type of movie it is for her to view. She saw the charger though and said daddy, theres your car on TV. I replied what? She said the black car, the charger, that's your old cars, I've owned a lot of them. I almost dropped, I said yep, I used to own them, but not anymore. She says after wards, *cause they cost you so much money and pain*. I laughed my ass off after that comment, coming from a 5.5 year old little girl, that comment was priceless.
My point here, any input as to why I said screw all of it would be greatfull, somewhere along the line in recent months/past year I have said screw it all.
My wife keeps saying I'm having a mid life, any other 40 + year olds going through this crap?

I'm out.........Mark


P.S. Please send smartass respones to a minimum. 

[charger Downunder]

Chin up mate,Priorities change and life goes on.Sounds like you have a great little girl and family there,Im over 40 and my priorities have changed since having kids, over the years you can always replace a car but you cant replace a loved one.Maybe you have finally relized what a special family you have.My kids have changed my life and i would always put my family first.

[Mike DC]

 
I dunno.




I don't much believe in mid-life crisis stuff myself.  8 times out of 10 I think it's an unfair label. 


Show me a guy that just made a "pathetic midlife-crisis" purchase.  I can usually show you a guy that wanted that same thing for decades, and could just now finally afford it.   

 
 

[daves68]

Soooo-  what's for sale??

[moparjohn]

"hang up your Charger habbit, hang it up daddy-o or you'll be in trouble quick" Sorry you feel that way. If and when you are ready to come back we will be here, good luck.

[Todd Wilson]

My advice to you is to start drinking heavily!   


Todd

[moparstuart]

My advice to you is to start drinking heavily!   


Todd

[ITSA426]

Priorities change.  It's OK.  Be glad you can always come back to the cars if they become important again.  Not so with family sometimes.  Later

[PocketThunder]

 
I dunno.
I don't much believe in mid-life crisis stuff myself.  8 times out of 10 I think it's an unfair label. 
Show me a guy that just made a "pathetic midlife-crisis" purchase.  I can usually show you a guy that wanted that same thing for decades, and could just now finally afford it.   

Exactly!  "midlife crisis" is just a label people use to put on other people who can finally afford the toys we all want. 

[BB1]

I'm 42 and I love old MoPar no matter what.
When I'm dead, I hope heaven is full of old MoPars, or I'm going straight to hell. 

Die hard
Die hard
Die hard
Die hard

MoPars = Life

26 years and counting.

[70 Battle Horse]

I predict you will be in the market for a new Challenger R/T come spring time!!! Same thrill (sometimes better) - fewer hassles - probably less money in the long run.

[ACUDANUT]

 Well, to each his own.  I get that way sometimes, but it helps me out mentally to get off my butt and stop watching TV and go out to the garage with a cold one and DO SOMETHING productive.  Nothing makes you feel better than fixing something that you did yourself. (Not to mention you didn't have to pay out of the hinney for someone else to fix).

[Todd Wilson]

I'm 42 and I love old MoPar no matter what.

Dam! You are old!


Todd

[Back N Black]

I sorta the opposite in my mid life crisis. I got into Mopars in my 40's and loving every minute of it. I was always into trucks(Chevy) sold the truck to buy the Charger and never looked back. As long as you are happy and comfortable with you decision,that's all that matters. Good luck.

[70charginglizard]

My advice to you is to start drinking heavily!   


Todd

Hey thats my saying...lol

Honestly I know where your coming from though. I'm now 42 and the energy I once had to do this hobby has subsided a bit in the last year or two. Don't get me wrong. I still love my mopar but with my daughter getting older and closer to going to college age my priorites are changing from money that use to be focused on the cars to money focused on her future. Also this recent finacial crisis isn't helping my additude much either. I'm very worried about my job now and that could change a lot of things in my life it it comes to that. Especially my hobby's like this classic car stuff.

Chin up though. Maybe as time goes on and you get a little older you will find the interest again. If you don't I wouldn't worry about it. Family is whats really important and you should always focus on that anyway.

Cheers

[dkn1997]

My advice to you is to start drinking heavily!   


Todd

you should listen to him, he's pre med.   I thought he was pre law....same thing!

Seriousely though dad....I truly believe in the midlife crisis although it shouldn't be called that.  It is a real thing.  I just turned 39 and the last 2 years have see some big changes.  For me, it was a change in how I allow people to treat me mixed with an outlook that says, just have fun and enjoy life.   I was slowly turning into an old man mentally.  I just decided screw everyone and now I'm happier at work because everyone's on notice that the lunatic workalholic is not handling their shit anymore.  I stopped modifying my charger every day to get it perfect and just drive the damn thing (I was rewarded with a smacked up front end, but it's all good, i wasn't even mad)
Put the old lady on notice about her antics and she's striaghtened out her act.  

that's just my pathetic story, but I really believe that at this age, you do "wake up" and realize that a lot of what you were doing isn't "working" anymore.  Some guys quit smoking dope, booze.  Some guys shack up with a 20 year old crack whore, some guys buy a ferarri....and some guys like you, dad....give up an obsession that hasn't always treated them the best....mopars!!  It's all good, man.  really.  You might have a change of heart in a while and then you can get back to business.  

[The70RT]

I have had mine since I was 17. I am just now restoring it. Hell I want to cruise it so bad I should have just did the paint and interior and carried on. I like all old cars and yeah they all can be a pain in the rear. I can't ever imagine getting tired of old iron. What is more of a pain is when you are making a payment on your daily driver and then it goes down and you have to shell out...........so what's the difference. Even if you have a warranty it is a pain in the ass. At least if an oldie goes down it's most likely it is an easy fix. I plan on working on oldies till I can't anymore. Either your obsessed or your not.  I know you can get a new Challenger, Mustang, in your case a Lightning but when an engine or tranny goes your in the same boat and will probably cost more. If you are a real old car guy you will be back 

[TruckDriver]

I'm going to be 45 in March. And the only vehicle I own right now is my Dodge Dakota that I plan to make a trail rider eventually. Other then that, I don't know if I'll ever own another Mopar car again. I even could go buy a '71 Charger right now that runs and drives for $800. The problem I have is that they cost way to much to fix up, and the parts are to hard to find. And when you do find them, you have to have a closet full of gold to buy them. I'm most likely going to go back to my roots which is back to GM's and Fords. Parts are more then abundant, cheap, and easy to find. I'm getting ready to ask a garage down the street about a complete '79 Trans Am T-top car is for sale. It has been sitting with 4 flat tires now for at least 2 years (ever since I've lived here in town). I will always love Mopars, but the reality is, I can't afford these cars..... Period.



But then again, that can always change, we'll see

[RallyeMike]

No more Mopars? What a total loser 

[RallyeMike]

 

Sorry... couldnt help it.

Life goes on. Priorities and interests change. To me it sounds like you've figured out how to make a lot of things better and make your life happier. That's a pretty impressive accomplishment in my mind.

[bull]

Why are you asking us? Your daughter gave you the answer: "cause they cost you so much money and pain."

I've learned one thing throughout the process of restoring my Charger. I hate it and will never do it again. Don't get me wrong, I love the Charger but I really hate the restoration process and wish I would have just bought one outright. I'm also 42 but I started this project when I was 38 or 39 so I haven't been doing this kind of thing for 20 years like some of you but I also know myself better than I did at 22 and if I had started restoring cars back then I'd be beyond sick of it too.

Just take a long break and give it some time. Maybe by the time your 60 and have nothing else to do but fart around tinkering on one last project. You'll probably have a nice big heated shop and can take your time to enjoy it.

[SeattleCharger]

 
I dunno.




I don't much believe in mid-life crisis stuff myself.  8 times out of 10 I think it's an unfair label. 


Show me a guy that just made a "pathetic midlife-crisis" purchase.  I can usually show you a guy that wanted that same thing for decades, and could just now finally afford it.   

that is a good point ,  I agree 

 
 

[SeattleCharger]

isn't a midlife crisis like when you buy cars?   yours is in reverse by most definitions, heh
   
  sounds more like a family guy selling the toys and getting a mini van cause his family is his main thing now
     
           its funny what little kids can say, for five years old, they can really just hit the nail on the head and say it like it is

[Todd Wilson]

In all honesty from talking with you on the phone and seeing your messages here you are burned out simply because you dont have anything to drive. You do body and paint all day long at work. The last few years you have had a few projects at home to work on. Lets face it after a day at the shop the last thing you want to do is come home and beat out dents and hand sand on your own cars. With the daughter around now you dont have time. Perhaps if you had a Mopar that was done and driveable it would be a different situation. The beauty of the old cars or trucks for that matter is you can shut them off and they will be there ready to go in a week or 2 or 3 later when you got time to go to the cruise. Do family functions the next few weekends and then fire up the Charger and go for a cruise or to a show. My daughter really loves the old truck here and anytime we can go do something with the truck she wants to go.

Thats just my take on it.


Todd

[mikesbbody]

If your not into it, your not into it but your still here so i guess there's still some interest 
As everyone said priorities change i have often wondered if i sold the charger would I: still buy the magazines? still go to car shows? still look around when a mopar drives past? would i feel bummed out having a empty spot in the garage? (definitly) sometimes i feel like im over it, that its a waste of time but then a drive in the charger changes all that.