Never thought getting gas was that dangerous.

[Dino]

Remember when I almost lost my car rrecently?  This morning I'm driving my daily beater, I get to the very same intersection and some chick in a Civic coming the opposite way takes a left turn at a RED light right in front of me.  Once again I had to stomp the brakes.  If you can't see a friggin' red light that's visible about 2 miles away, what the hell hope is there?This is not uncommon nowadays.

I drive extremely defensive right now.  In my eyes, everyone is about to do something stupid so it keeps me on my toes.EXACTLY

Cooter, I'd rather lose the Charger on the road then let it sit in my garage.  If I can't drive it, there's no reason to own it.  Sure it needs ot be road worthy, hence the need for bigger and better brakes, but I'll never stop driving it.No way you should leave it at home, but be aware, the more it's in the raod, the more of a chance this will happen. Just have it insured up the crack in case you need to replace it. It WILL get hit sooner or later, and big, HUGE brakes isn't gonna stop it. Sure, it will help, but won't stop it. Mine was 3 hours out the spray booth when some douche hit it. THAT'S why I refrain from driving during the weekdays if at all possible, but the urge does hit every other Friday or so. 

I'll never go to a show with it though and I try to fill up at odd hours of the day or night so there's fewer people around.  I usually fill up where there's two stations across from each other.  One is always a penny cheaper than the other so everyone goes to the cheaper one while I spend an extra penny and have the whole place to myself.  Peace of mind is priceless!   This is the thinking I try to advise on.

Ack 3 hours after paint!     How did you refrain from not drawing blood?

You made a good point there, I have good insurance but maybe I should up it a little.

[Cooter]

What could I do Dino, he was a buddy and clearly wasn't using his head. He paid for the repair, but I still didn't like having the car back in after only 3 hours enjoyment.

[Dino]

What could I do Dino, he was a buddy and clearly wasn't using his head. He paid for the repair, but I still didn't like having the car back in after only 3 hours enjoyment.

Yeah that makes it a little tougher.  Still sucks though.

[lloyd3]

In what is now a "throw-away" society, most people see a car as an expendable thing.  The fact that we care about something that is 40+ years old makes us somewhat deranged in the eyes of the vast majority of the general population. 

[Fred]

 I care about our daily drivers too and look after them well. Even new cars cost a lot of money.  And money doesn't grow on trees. 

[bill440rt]

Imagine your "buddy" totaling your Charger after an exhaustive 5-year OE resto. 

I get gas in cans, & fill it up now at home. 

[ws23rt]

Our hobby cars mean more to us than what we buy from a dealer these days. The gen public does not see a distinction. A car is transport and insurance can make it whole again. Not the case with what we are talking about.

[bakerhillpins]

Imagine your "buddy" totaling your Charger after an exhaustive 5-year OE resto. 

I get gas in cans, & fill it up now at home. 

  sounds like a story in there. 

[6spd68]

Worst I've ever had was with my 85 Bonneville (355SB conversion with GN rear-end), nicely done car, not at all a beater.  I'm pumping similar to the OP and this douche-canoe in a blue Jeep Liberty pulls infront, and rams into me with his trailer hitch.  What does he say when he gets out? "Oh!  I used to have an old car like that, it's fine, they can take a beating "...  To which my first thoughts were; "No, you can take a beating with my tire iron #$%@!"