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

[Phil N]

I don't think ownership is what a lot of people expect when they buy their first 7, I think a lot of people buy them as a cheap alternative to a classic car, which IMO they are not as they don't really fit in and aren't really catered for at shows. Then ownership can be a disappointment as often it's not easy to source parts for a car which has been thrown together with bits of this and that and there isn't a manual to say 'you need to replace this bit and this is the part number' etc etc. If you persevere, you'll get to an enjoyable level of ownership but quite often that doesn't come straight away. How many of us lost our cycle wings on our first runs

Unfortunately when I started my business up a couple of years ago I was a keen Golfer and a Regular on SKCC runs (not to mention the 2 manta's tucked away in a garage), they along with the family (including a then 6 month old baby) had to take their place whilst I concentrated on building the empire , many times I considered why I have these hobbies that I can't currently enjoy but in a way they kept me going as these are the things I want to have more time to do and the hard work I am doing WILL one day pay off.

[Nash]

You make good points Phil. I get all of that (accept maybe the manual and sourcing parts easily for a classic car lol). Life does get in the way and having these toys is important for the sanity and life balance. Lot to think about.

[steve m]

When I ventured into this "kit car world" in may 97, and bought the "book" I was hooked, two years to build a monster from scratch, no internet then, so it was hard work sourcing all the bits,
May 1999 on the road, and I and friends went to every kit car show, Newark, Stonleigh, Donnington, Exeter, and a couple more, but within three years they had all stopped, or I was working, (shift worker) also back then I would drive in any weather going, rain etc did not seem to hurt me,
But now, the slightest chance of rain, and im out

My car has been insured every year, since 1999, but not always taxed/motd, due to life, and what it throws at us, family takes an enormous chunk out any playtime, plus having four grandkids twins 4 years old a 7 and 17 year old,

Also as I said above I was until march 2016 a full time shift worker, and unable to do many Sunday meets, however I did do a couple straight after a 12 hour nightshift, something I couldn't even imagine doing now!

However I am now semi retired, at 57, and work part time delivering brand new cars, and some days can do up to 500 miles a day, so getting out in a small noisy wind battered car and doing 100 miles, and breakfast sometimes isn't very appealing, along with the hassle of breaking down, as in one blown engine in 2013, and one broken gearbox 2014, plus all the other "B" defects that happen

But, I will still make some Sundays and week evenings runs out when the weather is nice, and re enjoy the banter and fun, so I haven't left the building yet !!

steve

[greenwoo]

yep good points Phil. So my revised guess is that
seems like a great idea/bucket list/desire for the sporty aspect/trip down memory lane
enjoys just driving it here/there /everywhere for a while
the above wanes at the thought of have to tog up/get it out of the garage and move the other cars - ends up taking the family car where once he'd take the kit
family/house/whatever eats into the time when he'd like to take the kit out for a longer run, so it sits a while.
he's never owned a 'raw' car before,the of it being chilly/wet hadn't occurred and the passion isn't deep enough to tog up and do it anyway, or he's not meeting friends which is a stimulus to actually commit to going out even if the forecast is 'iffy'.
with little to prod him into using the car apart from 'perfect days'/planned days and because he's done all the local roads to death it sits in the garage, the habit/relationship is broken and hey ho, its gotta go.
oh and he gets peed off when he goes to start it and the battery is flat, the starter won't engage
and finding a local garage that's prepared to help look after it is nigh on impossible.
so its gotta go.....

(that's aside from having the need to cash in for whatever reason).

[zxr400]

I had westy for 6 years did love it,but to get were I wanted it did cost a bundle but what a car,but I do get bored rather quickly and found the buss wasn't what it was,the wet and cold didnt help my old bones lol the mx5 has filled the want ,the road trips were great the alps the first one was epic, and I remember mark the last post being played we stood there in a very moving moment in our life's .