Why do you own 4 cars?
Now ordinarily my response is........Why not?
However today's response was, actually I own 5!!!!
Yes another addition was added to 'The Fleet' as they have come to be collectively known by me.
Allow me to try and explain......
Lets start with what I currently own:
- Ford Fiesta 1.1 LX - My first ever car i spent thousands of pounds on it over the 8/9 years I've owned it. Was almost written off by a neighbour at one point when I got car number two (should have been written off but insurance chose to repair?!)
- Citroen Ax GTi - the desire for a bit more power took over and i ended up with an eBay bargain for a mere £400. Has progressively been turned into my track car with various upgrades and is currently awaiting a full turbo conversion.
- Seat Toledo V5 - when I got my current job several years ago it required something a bit smarter and this came up on eBay for a bargain price. Fully loaded top of the range it has done shed loads of miles in my ownership, and averages 1250 miles per month.
- Volkswagen Polo 1.0 Mk1- Another eBay bargain (£300) that came up on a dreary Saturday when i was bored, the week before my birthday a couple of years back. A speculative bid saw me win and ad the retro Polo to the collection. Rare car and appreciating in value.
- Citroen Ax 1.1 TRE - The week before an Ax Owners Club meet this popped up for sale locally very cheaply. The chance to turn up to an Ax meet in an Ax was too good to miss so it was paid for and found to be in exceptional condition for its age. Now a rare sight its beginning to reach classic status
1
2
3
4
5
23
45
So why do I still have five cars?
Reason 1: Well it's my environmental contribution. I can only drive one at a time therefore i have saved four cars being on the road at the same time as me, thus reducing pollution by 4 vehicles! Significant reductions in Co2 surely?
Reason 2: I'm a sentimental fool and get too attached to cars. Buying cars is and emotive thing for me. Its not a cold callous thing, not merely a means to get from A to B. Its an extension of who I am, who I aspire to be, and who I was once.
Reason 3: I'm a hoarder! I am one of those people who will keep things 'just in case' it is needed or is of value in the future.
Now when you look on the face of it these are quite trivial reasons, but the truth of the matter is if i had the space I would have more cars!!
Driving and working on cars puts a smile on my face, as well as frustrating, annoying and bemusing me occasionally.
Each of these cars evokes a memory, an emotional response within.
Memories of happy days, of forgotten friends, of life changing events, of near misses and life lessons. Some tinged with sadness, some with regret others sheer elation.
A photograph can capture an essence of something but when you run your hand down a bonnet that you once used to slide across in a 'Dukes of Hazzard' stylee its hard not to reminisce of those glorious summer days when you were care free and the world was at your feet.
It's one of those passions that isn't rational or particularly sensible, it takes up my time and money, but at the end of the day it's a part of me and who I was created to be.
Consolidation or Acquisition?
Well that's dependant on many factors. In truth I am saving money for a house so the fleet will have to be slimmed down. Other factors involved in this are the general health of the cars, the main one being the Toledo V5 not coping so well with the mileage these days. Having just crossed 128,000 miles (34,000 in my possession) its feeling decidedly queasy so it's probably time to upgrade again to something newer.
This opens up the possibility of utilising the 'Governments Scrappage Scheme' (you know the supposedly 'environmental scheme' to boost the car industry....I can't think of a better oxymoron!) to get a new car and lose one of the fleet as well as part exchanging the Toledo thus reducing the fleet by 2 and only adding 1.
Aside from this its most likely to be last in first out so watch this space for some dramatic update about how I've gone eco and got a G-Wiz.
Or alternatively keep on asking the question why do you have so many cars?
hopefully at least now you'll have part of the answer.
The Highwayman
Reason 1: Well it's my environmental contribution. I can only drive one at a time therefore i have saved four cars being on the road at the same time as me, thus reducing pollution by 4 vehicles! Significant reductions in Co2 surely?
Reason 2: I'm a sentimental fool and get too attached to cars. Buying cars is and emotive thing for me. Its not a cold callous thing, not merely a means to get from A to B. Its an extension of who I am, who I aspire to be, and who I was once.
Reason 3: I'm a hoarder! I am one of those people who will keep things 'just in case' it is needed or is of value in the future.
Now when you look on the face of it these are quite trivial reasons, but the truth of the matter is if i had the space I would have more cars!!
Driving and working on cars puts a smile on my face, as well as frustrating, annoying and bemusing me occasionally.
Each of these cars evokes a memory, an emotional response within.
Memories of happy days, of forgotten friends, of life changing events, of near misses and life lessons. Some tinged with sadness, some with regret others sheer elation.
A photograph can capture an essence of something but when you run your hand down a bonnet that you once used to slide across in a 'Dukes of Hazzard' stylee its hard not to reminisce of those glorious summer days when you were care free and the world was at your feet.
It's one of those passions that isn't rational or particularly sensible, it takes up my time and money, but at the end of the day it's a part of me and who I was created to be.
Consolidation or Acquisition?
Well that's dependant on many factors. In truth I am saving money for a house so the fleet will have to be slimmed down. Other factors involved in this are the general health of the cars, the main one being the Toledo V5 not coping so well with the mileage these days. Having just crossed 128,000 miles (34,000 in my possession) its feeling decidedly queasy so it's probably time to upgrade again to something newer.
This opens up the possibility of utilising the 'Governments Scrappage Scheme' (you know the supposedly 'environmental scheme' to boost the car industry....I can't think of a better oxymoron!) to get a new car and lose one of the fleet as well as part exchanging the Toledo thus reducing the fleet by 2 and only adding 1.
Aside from this its most likely to be last in first out so watch this space for some dramatic update about how I've gone eco and got a G-Wiz.
Or alternatively keep on asking the question why do you have so many cars?
hopefully at least now you'll have part of the answer.
The Highwayman
