Now that your car is done, do you seem to use it less?

[1969chargerrtse]

Most of you know I have been through hell and back with my eBay special car.  I worked long and hard to get it where it is today.  Which is just fantastic.  It fires right up and drives great.  I haven't had an issues with it in over 2 years and I use it a lot.
What I'm noticing about myself and wondering is,  Now that your car is basically finished and where you want it, do you find that you actually use it less?  Odd but that's where I'm at.  I see it basically finished and now enjoy that it's sitting in the garage and take it out basically on weekends when last year I was using all week every week until winter set in.
Thoughts?

[Darkman]

Time to sell it (to me) and move on 

That is my biggest fear, that I will not enjoy it as much when it is complete. Having said that, I will be building mine to a very nice daily driver quality so the excitement factor may dwindle, but I will find myself driving it almost daily. Food for thought really 

 

[Chargerrtforme]

Time to sell it (to me) and move on  

That is my biggest fear, that I will not enjoy it as much when it is complete. Having said that, I will be building mine to a very nice daily driver quality so the excitement factor may dwindle, but I will find myself driving it almost daily. Food for thought really  

 

I'll buy it!!

[MoparManJim]

Well from my stand point of view here. People tend to want things they don't yet have. But when they get the things they want, for while they use or look at all the time. Then after so long of owning something, you start to loose the "ah I want that, or I have that" to getting so use to it that it just wares off of you is all.   

[1969chargerrtse]

Time to sell it (to me) and move on 

That is my biggest fear, that I will not enjoy it as much when it is complete. Having said that, I will be building mine to a very nice daily driver quality so the excitement factor may dwindle, but I will find myself driving it almost daily. Food for thought really 

 

Not for sale.  It's not a negative feeling, more of a feeling of accomplishment.  I still have the same happy grin on my face when I drive it.  I just feel more content and tend to family things more on week days and cruise in the Charger just on week ends.

[1969chargerrtse]

Well from my stand point of view here. People tend to want things they don't yet have. But when they get the things they want, for while they use or look at all the time. Then after so long of owning something, you start to loose the "ah I want that, or I have that" to getting so use to it that it just wares off of you is all.  

I understand that in a way as I always thought if I had all the money I ever needed and I could buy any car I wanted the interest would be so much less.  I worked long and hard on this car and so much appreciate it's done.  I bet my weekend driving alone beats many people's total year driving.  My all the time driving was like most peoples daily drivers.

[PocketThunder]

I use my car as much as i can afford to put gas into it...!   

[bobs66440]

I think it's common to feel that way. For some, it's the thrill of working on it and when it's done...time to move on. It really depends on how long it takes you to finish it too. If it's a years-long drawn out nightmare, the thrill is usually gone by the time it's done and you don't want to look at it any more (that happened to me on a Corvette resto).

For a while I was in with the hot rod/street rod ranks and many of those guys generally build it, drive it for a year and sell it and start another project. That's why I think if you check, in most every state, the vanity plate "FOR SALE" is most likely taken.    And most are on a street rod.

I didnt have to do a lot on this one after I got it, so I drive it quite a bit...though the weather hasn't cooperated this year...

[ACUDANUT]

 I drive my cars once a year...I always am busy restoring something else..It's a nice feeling knowing they only appreciate in value though .  I need to really start driving my toys that are road ready and keep the fluids moving.   I am a fair weather guy...If it's too Hot I don't want to get into a oven and money for gas is always a issue.

[Darkman]

Time to sell it (to me) and move on 

That is my biggest fear, that I will not enjoy it as much when it is complete. Having said that, I will be building mine to a very nice daily driver quality so the excitement factor may dwindle, but I will find myself driving it almost daily. Food for thought really 

 

Not for sale.  It's not a negative feeling, more of a feeling of accomplishment.  I still have the same happy grin on my face when I drive it.  I just feel more content and tend to family things more on week days and cruise in the Charger just on week ends.

I realise it is not for sale, I was just  , and I believe that I will be in the same boat (Charger if you like) when the time comes (make it a weekend cruiser)

[71wrenchhead]

my suggestion......pick up photography, then you get to appreciate your work, show others your work to appreciate, AND get to drive it to new and exciting places for different backgrounds
either that, or get another project
thats my plan
charger
wifes roadrunner
RAT ROD
(cant wait for that last one)

[ChgrSteve67]

Mine just sits around collecting dust.
I should probably take it for a spin around the block one of these days.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Once I finish a car I tend to be more protective of it, so yes, I tend to drive it less from that point on. But I still get them out and enjoy them.

[HANDM]

For me it was all about the journey and not so much about the destination......

[aussiemuscle]

you see lots of 'just finished' project cars on ebay. i guess you're not alone.

[472 R/T SE]

you see lots of 'just finished' project cars on ebay. i guess you're not alone.

Lots of folks are like that.  They get their thrills out of restoring them, once they're done they get bored with them & sell.  In essence to move on to the next project to get their fix.

I have a buddy like that.  He'll buy something that's already painted but upgrade/tinker with it & then sell.  He's had 100's of cars' but has only rotisseried a dozen or so.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I have used mine less & less over the years.  I do take it out once in a while but since a few of my good car-show-buddies moved away, I have less an urge to go to a local cruise night.   Mostly take it to the larger shows & thats it.

I also attribute my laziness to the fact as well.....since I have a 1 car garage, detached behind my house and a 1 lane driveway, I now have to shuffle 3 other cars to get the Charger out.  Also sometimes the Mustang wins out because its car #3

[tan top]

price of fuel has a lot to do with it 

what i do get & thought i would of had enough of working on cars ,   been doing it as a day job since 87 ,  & think i need my head testing     wanting to start another rebuild in my free time ,     with all these new repoped AMD parts now !!   (( there is nothing like new fresh sheet metal !! ))  got an itch for more pain & using up  another 3 years of my lifes  weekends & after work  time !!        if i had the dough & was younger would look around for a charger to rebuild    

[1969chargerrtse]

I have used mine less & less over the years.  I do take it out once in a while but since a few of my good car-show-buddies moved away, I have less an urge to go to a local cruise night.   Mostly take it to the larger shows & thats it.

I also attribute my laziness to the fact as well.....since I have a 1 car garage, detached behind my house and a 1 lane driveway, I now have to shuffle 3 other cars to get the Charger out.  Also sometimes the Mustang wins out because its car #3

I can understand that.  I plan on buyinmg another Honda Gold Wing this winter and when springs come around I'll use the charger here and there but when it comes to going for a fast cruise to visit a friend or grab a coffe the gold Wing will win.

[1969chargerrtse]

Once I finish a car I tend to be more protective of it, so yes, I tend to drive it less from that point on. But I still get them out and enjoy them.

I think I relate to this best.

[440]

Not driving it all the time and only taking it out on occasion makes it feel more special when it does go out. If you drove it every day you'd take it for granted.

On the other hand it if only sat collecting dust and never went out then I'd say you'd probably need a new project. Like anything it only stays "new" for a while until things start discoloring etc.... ...

[bobs66440]

Mine just sits around collecting dust.
I should probably take it for a spin around the block one of these days.

Yeah...the "block" for you is the continental United States! 

[Patronus]

Maybe its time for the next one...??

[gtx6970]

For me personally , in recent years I seem to enjoy  the hunt and build process more so than the driving part.
Thus why right now I have nothing old in my garage that isn't a paying customer.

When my last one ( 1970 Challenger 340 ) was done it sat , and sat,,, and then the decison was made to sell. Family activities take presedence over old car time. With 2 girls in every after school activity imagineable. Leaves little time for dad, and I'm fine with that,,, for now.
Besides I think I want a Hemi or wing car next, and that requires saving. There is a very slim chance I may get this done sooner than later. But thats another story.

[XS29LA47V21]

Some of us have some very similar thoughts on this topic.  For me it has always been a part of my life back to hot wheels days in the 70s, still playing with cars.  Inherently some days, months I look back and see limited drive/play time.  But that comes with other wonderful things too, like family, friends, kids other hobbies, work, etc.  Ok not the work so much....   But I know the cars are always there when the time comes .  The photography thing is a great idea and is also one of my things too, chasing cool photo opportunities which I can frame as shop/garage art which in turn also shares memories with family, kids and friends which is fun too.   May consider additional cars, to include a beater that you can drive more and worry less, leave outside, drive to store, park wherever, hammer on.