Feeling old

Sitting out in the driveway are a Genesis sedan, a Lexus RX350, a Cadilac SRX, and a Chevy Equinox.  Beat up old F350 is about to be replaced by a GMC Duramax Dinali HD loaded to the gills.  It has a back seat and four doors!  Who needs that in a work truck?  Still have all the sports cars, but they are stashed in the garage or parked in by all the old guy rides and rarely get driven.  How did I get here?  I'm getting soft.  Youngest daughter graduates college this weekend.  I need to change the way I have been going about things.  Might be time for that mid life crises I keep hearing about.  Been accused of that with my sports cars for 30 years now.  Thinking I should embrace it now.  I'm sure alot of you guys are just as guilty as me.

I used to joke and say when I make that last college payment next March I'm heading over to Chevrolet and ordering a new 6.2l, 6-speed manual blue Camaro.  Except Camaro is gone so it can only be a Mustang.

Last week I made the decision to part with a project car I've had for a very long time. A dream of mine. 
 

I did it because I knew I didn't want to crawl around on the concrete floor under it, and realized I could afford to buy a new one.

Yep. I'm getting old. 

Now that we are retired and have time and some money the toy accumulation does become a thing.  Since I have the time to enjoy them the collection keeps growing.  The new issue is keeping them all healthy.  But this, as they say, is a good problem!

SV reX said:

Last week I made the decision to part with a project car I've had for a very long time. A dream of mine. 
 

I did it because I knew I didn't want to crawl around on the concrete floor under it, and realized I could afford to buy a new one.

Yep. I'm getting old. 

As an old guy who was crawling around on the concrete under the 66 Chevy II yesterday, I wonder why, after being green-lighted by the wife to get one, that I still don't have a 2-post lift in my detached garage.

Get a lift!  You'll feel ten years younger! 

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

Somewhat related: How to extend your wrenching years

In reply to Colin Wood :

I have all of the author 's aches and pains - but have been blessed with zero surgeries!

Some might help me hurt less, but I'm still trying to tough it out. 
My dad made it to 72 before his first surgery (gall bladder) but I ain't sure I can match his family record!

Datsun240ZGuy said:

I used to joke and say when I make that last college payment next March I'm heading over to Chevrolet and ordering a new 6.2l, 6-speed manual blue Camaro.  Except Camaro is gone so it can only be a Mustang.

I did that only it was a red Porsche 911.  My wife reminded me about it a year after I made the last payment.  I bought it, but I only kept it a few years.  Though the car was great and everything I thought it would be while lusting after one for decades, I just didn't enjoy it enough to keep it.  I'm not sure what changed in my head or heart, maybe I got old.

I feel like I had a reverse mid-life crisis.  I sold my Camaro somewhat recently and am very seriosuly considering selling the motorcycle I haven't ridden in a couple years.  I'm down to the two cars that fit in my garage.  Neither is exciting nor cool, but they are newer and relatively comfortable.  I don't have the patience to work on things, nor perhpas the physical dexterity (accumulated consequences from injuries).

Somewhat ironicly, my wife has been bringing up wanting a "fast car" that has me casually considering something.  I never did get that Porsche my younger self wanted.  But honestly, I like my simple automotive appliance life right now.

As much as I like my classic cars (Minis) I do enjoy getting into the modern Audi  - it's quiet, smooth, plenty quick and gets great mileage.

But it feels huge and I find myself heading back to the tiny car again.

03Panther said:

In reply to Colin Wood :

I have all of the author 's aches and pains - but have been blessed with zero surgeries!

Some might help me hurt less, but I'm still trying to tough it out. 
My dad made it to 72 before his first surgery (gall bladder) but I ain't sure I can match his family record!

Man I wish I had that kind of luck. 2 hernia surgeries, one shoulder. I feel it when the weather changes, which here in Indiana is literally every damn day. 

I think I'm halfway to being old. Garage holds 3 Kias, one auto CUV for the wife, 2 manual cars for me. I did sell the motorcylce a few years ago because I just didn't feel like I was with it enough in todays distracted traffic.

In reply to stuart in mn :

Sadly, that is mostly true!

I insist on A/C for my DD now.

In reply to bobzilla :

No kids, and several years back, I realized I liked owning a 4 dr, better than 2 dr! Now THATS old!

In reply to Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) :

That's another one that crept up on my. 
I can deal with the heat... but the NOISE of the window down... 

1988RedT2 said:

SV reX said:

Last week I made the decision to part with a project car I've had for a very long time. A dream of mine. 
 

I did it because I knew I didn't want to crawl around on the concrete floor under it, and realized I could afford to buy a new one.

Yep. I'm getting old. 

As an old guy who was crawling around on the concrete under the 66 Chevy II yesterday, I wonder why, after being green-lighted by the wife to get one, that I still don't have a 2-post lift in my detached garage.

Get a lift!  You'll feel ten years younger! 

I've had a 2 post lift.  (Might again some day)
 

Yes, it makes auto work much easier. But my shop is a combination shop that includes woodworking, with a lot of machines, tool boxes, and benches on wheels. The 2 post is a big commitment of real estate, with or without a car. Seems like the posts were always in my way. 
 

Not now. 

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

I think you misunderstood my post. I don't really need a lift. The joy of owning and working on crap cans is gone. 
 

I don't need to anymore. A lift might make me feel 10 years younger, but having a nearly new car I enjoy makes me feel 20 years younger. 

I went to a concert on Friday, and I thought it was too loud. 

When does this E36 M3 become appealing? It must be, because the people who liked this 35 years ago when I started paying attention to cars are long dead, and yet it's still being glued onto cars today .

In reply to Appleseed :

I saw a White Cadillac Deville with it parked in front of my house the other day. I legit stopped short because for a second my lizard brain thought my grandpa, deceased for 9 years now, was visiting. He had 2 others identical to it too (one was black though), and 2 Town Cars with it before that. 

In reply to Appleseed :

Maybe if I make it to 100, I'll change enough to see the appeal. I hope not. But I never thought I'd prefer a 4dr, either! 

I'm not there yet, but a buddy of mine was a few years ago. His solution? Sell the cars, switch to motorcycles.

I was listening to 'Classic Canadian Artists' the other day at work when I heard Billy Talent come on and I realized I was getting old because I remember being in High School when they first appeared on Much Music.

Automotively, I am leaning more to casual meetups and want to get decent food vs loud obnoxious meets with 300 foot lines for a variety of food trucks. My stomach doesn't agree as well the next day anymore it seems.

In reply to DjGreggieP :

I must be old. I didn't understand one single thing you just said