Here's one for you to ponder....

[greenwoo]

I saw a prog on the telly the other night - which happened to feature a place near Ypres that a few of us visited in - well not sure, 6 years ago? about a dozen of us went over in the Kits, made a day of it ending up witnessing the 'Last Post' address at the Memorial before blatting back to the Chunnel.

As i watched it reminded me that there were a few faces that day that went into the 'Black Hole', never to be seen again, well maybe once or twice.

It led me to think about others who have popped up, been keen, waxed lyrical about the driving/car/fun - whatever, and who then disappeared.

So here's your poser for the day. Do you think that owning ( & using ) our cars a transient 'fantasy' for some/many? I understand that life changes, kids/mortgages etc get in the way and maybe the 'toys' have to be shelved. But without sticking an age on it, i'd guess that those guys would be under 40'ish. So say owners in the range 25-40. If you think about it, on that basis, there's more headroom for the numbers of owners 40+.

So, taking financial / family commitments out of the equation, why is there ( and is there) such a rapid 'dipping in of the toe'.....
not what they thought it would be ? why?
ticked the 'bucket list' and moved on

It intrigues me. I mean, if you decide to take up golf and like it you don't suddenly say after 2-3 years i'll stop now. And strangely, I don't think i've ever met anyone who has said after 'obtaining' a kit/caterham etc, 'meh, i'm not sure,it's ok but.....' Normally a newer owner waxes lyrical about how fast/the thrill/the rawness etc.

[Dicky94]

You think to much!

[Larkingabout]

Oh dear very deep!!
There are two distinct camps the polishers and the drivers. I think many people do the bucket list tick just to say they have one. Then there are the other camp that get out and drive them. I fall into both polishing and cleaning camps in that first and foremost I like driving but I do keep it clean. I also have a very understanding wife who enjoys getting out and about as much as I do and enjoys the banter and comraderie of the club. Without the club I don't think the experience would be the same. Driving around on ones own isn't the same level of enjoyment as going around with kindred spirits. I fear that many cars are not quite what people expected either. It may be comfort, nagging from SWMBO, or if not in a like minded group a feeling of isolation. Kit cars bring out the child in people and it many a small boys dream to own one of those "funny looking" sportscars. However, reality sometimes kicks in and the money can be put to better use. I am sure there are those far more learned than me who could write a book on the subject so will wait for them to respond.

[nelmo]

It's just a matter of free time - whether it's family, friends, work or other hobbies, driving the kit has to share space with the rest of your life. For some, they don't have enough time to fit the driving bit in (and, to be honest, with only 2 seats, it's quite a selfish hobby), so it has to go.

The difference between a car and golf is that you don't have to pay much to not do golf, whereas a car has to be MOT'd, insured, serviced etc - you still have to pay money for something you aren't doing.

Two next door neighbours have, in the past few years, sold their respective 'toys' - an Elise and a Cobra - because they couldn't use them enough. They didn't want to but it was just too expensive to keep them and not use them...

[leegav]

owning a kit, using it and staying linked to the club is a way of life....

it takes a lot of commitment not to mention cash to keep it safe, reliable and in working order.... i think alot of people dont realise that and go all guns blazing to begin with then slow down slightly...

if it is your way of life...you're active with the club... if its an add on to your life people will come and go when they have the time to fit in there "hobby".

New SKCC sticker?

SKCC - A way of life!

[greenwoo]

The difference between a car and golf is that you don't have to pay much to not do golf, whereas a car has to be MOT'd, insured, serviced etc - you still have to pay money for something you aren't doing.

mm, not sure that i'd agree with that. A kit costs about what £120-180 to insure, no service really needed if its not being used that much and depending the engine could be done by many at home. Tax/mot yep, but again, could be sorned for a few months.....
if the golfer isn't a member of a club then sure aside from their sticks there's no annual cost, but if they are a member that's what £700-1500 a year?

and aside from Cobs/gt40 replicas etc, the majority of the kits are what 4-8k. Hardly a life changing amount to cash in.

I don't see cars as any more selfish than any hobby that doesnt involve the whole family, and i used golf as an example as that's a morning or afternoon 'gone'. Maybe those guys have too many hobbies and can't fit a car in + 'another'.

Sweeping generalization but i reckon; seems like fun, enjoys the rawness for a while, life gets in the way (to whatever degree) and they don't use it for a while ( +didn't miss it), really thought that the sun would shine ( or that it wouldn't rain and they don't have a coat).....bit of a bucket list thing?

[greenwoo]

it takes a lot of commitment not to mention cash to keep it safe, reliable and in working order

does it have to? i don't think so. A few of us have chosen to have cars that are far from 'standard' that has its pitfalls in terms of looking after them. But i'd bet if i'd kept my 1st one boggo standard that it would have cost next to bugger all.....change of oil every couple of years and a set of plugs? and a yearly nut and bolt check paid for or done at home.....i bet most of the group i'm alluding to never did any ofthose things.
The true cost of the cars is deciding that you want to change x/y/z to make it what you want - bit like buying a blue elise and deciding next week to want to respray it!

[leegav]

my first kit once i joined the club fell to bits everytime i came out... cost me a fortune

remember the exhaust flying off into a field in France? drove home with it bungied on.... that bungie could have lasted at least another year...lol cost me a fiver in bungies...cheap as chips!

maybe people buy kits for something to do..... spend a couple of years doing it, doing a few trips then move on...

i personally do think its a way of life,owning, driving, been active. The kit car is my life,.... id be lost without it. It gives me somethings to look forward to every year and most weekends.

it must just be natural turnover then i guess.....

[leegav]

god has it really been 7 years since i joined you bunch of loons!

wouldnt change driving to meet you all on that cold winters morning for a second......

the club has changed my life, its gave me something to focus on and look forward to...and ive had some amazing experiences that most dream of with you guys. Prolonged membership may not be for everyone

[mk1]

I think i'm a good example of what happens. I had great fun and enthusiasm during the build and thoroughly enjoyed my lonely evenings in the garage over the 2 year build process, not sure SWMBO would agree. It was definitely a bucket list project. Some great memories from the runs with the club during summer evenings and club events. But with 4 children and just completed a self build project I have disappeared off the club radar for the last 2 years. I still have the car and definitely hope to join in on some runs again this year. The desire to drive the car is still as fresh as the first time I drove it and the banter / friendliness of the club will see me back out soon.

Mark