End of the road? Should it go??
Discussion
What to do... what to do...?
Been fortunate enough to have had 7s now for 16 years - first of all a second hand 1700 SuperSprint, then built my Vaux HPC (on carbs; a CKD kit), which went on the road in April 1995. Love the style / the feel / the car but for the last 4 years its only done just over 350 miles a year (story of its life really) - when I do use it the old grin factor comes back. Done track days and all that before but learnt that I am not a mega speed merchant, nor am I a tech/mech genius. She is sitting in a garage under a dust sheet; not even seen her for about 5 months now. Work and family have come first always and got in the way of using her much. Does not cost a huge amount a year to keep (thats the car not the wife . . .)
Should I just sell her? Or should keep her? Anyone else had 'issues' like this?
Captain SC
Been fortunate enough to have had 7s now for 16 years - first of all a second hand 1700 SuperSprint, then built my Vaux HPC (on carbs; a CKD kit), which went on the road in April 1995. Love the style / the feel / the car but for the last 4 years its only done just over 350 miles a year (story of its life really) - when I do use it the old grin factor comes back. Done track days and all that before but learnt that I am not a mega speed merchant, nor am I a tech/mech genius. She is sitting in a garage under a dust sheet; not even seen her for about 5 months now. Work and family have come first always and got in the way of using her much. Does not cost a huge amount a year to keep (thats the car not the wife . . .)
Should I just sell her? Or should keep her? Anyone else had 'issues' like this?
Captain SC
Yes, keep the car.
I have often sold things purely because I've not been using them and regretted it later down the line as it always costs a lot more replace them!
If it's not costing you a lot, you don't need the money you'd get from selling it or you don't need the space then keep it. Look at it as a once a month drive that way when you don't end up going out in every week it won't frustrate you as it's new purpose is only for the occasional drive and polish.
Edited to remove rolling eyes smiley - don't know how that got there!
I have often sold things purely because I've not been using them and regretted it later down the line as it always costs a lot more replace them!
If it's not costing you a lot, you don't need the money you'd get from selling it or you don't need the space then keep it. Look at it as a once a month drive that way when you don't end up going out in every week it won't frustrate you as it's new purpose is only for the occasional drive and polish.
Edited to remove rolling eyes smiley - don't know how that got there!
Edited by number2 on Sunday 7th March 19:08
Keep It
ALways regretted selling my first Lotus7 in 1977 bought a big bike which really aint no substitute, wanted another 7 AT THE time just bought house/marriage etc couldn't afford one, In 1986 bought a Dutton, loved it to bits but still wanted a 7, bought another Lotus 7 in 2002, rebuilt it, use it regular, on Caterham Blats - awesome
But I still have the Dutton now 24 years of ownership, not used it for 3 years - But I can never sell it, just rejoined Dutton OC, at stoneleigh you'll see my Genuine Lotus 7 Parked on the Dutton stand, alongside,ultima's,GT40's oh and of course Dutton's
Mal
ALways regretted selling my first Lotus7 in 1977 bought a big bike which really aint no substitute, wanted another 7 AT THE time just bought house/marriage etc couldn't afford one, In 1986 bought a Dutton, loved it to bits but still wanted a 7, bought another Lotus 7 in 2002, rebuilt it, use it regular, on Caterham Blats - awesome
But I still have the Dutton now 24 years of ownership, not used it for 3 years - But I can never sell it, just rejoined Dutton OC, at stoneleigh you'll see my Genuine Lotus 7 Parked on the Dutton stand, alongside,ultima's,GT40's oh and of course Dutton's
Mal
A friend of mine built his own Caterham back in 1990 with a gorgeous Lotus Twincam engine. Used it quite a lot and then the inevitable wife/child thing happened. Car had pretty much stayed in the garage untouched for 5 years but now his son is a bit older he has more time and is looking forward to enjoying the car again.
My life could be going that way, got married last year, hope to start a family this year. I've had my HPC for 5 years and last year I did less than 1000 miles when previous years it was about 4000 miles plus. Suspect it will get worse before it gets better but I couldn't sell up and, thankfully, I have no pressure from the wife to do so.
If you have some emotional attachment to the car (I do with mine and I didn't even build it!) and you don't need to sell then hang onto it rather than making a rash decision that you may regret.
Cheers
SS
My life could be going that way, got married last year, hope to start a family this year. I've had my HPC for 5 years and last year I did less than 1000 miles when previous years it was about 4000 miles plus. Suspect it will get worse before it gets better but I couldn't sell up and, thankfully, I have no pressure from the wife to do so.
If you have some emotional attachment to the car (I do with mine and I didn't even build it!) and you don't need to sell then hang onto it rather than making a rash decision that you may regret.
Cheers
SS
I sold mine for similar reasons. I don't regret it really because it's absence has reignited why I wanted one in the first place. It'll be a mental jar not having a car I bought and built from new, but I'll get over it with the current rebuild as I start to accumulate parts.
By the time it's road-worthy, I will have achieved that same state of mind I had in 1998 when I realised I could finally afford one. Excitement..!!
Sell it. Have some time away. Buy again when/if you feel the need. In the interim, try a few other cars. I tried a 4.5 V8 Cerbera which was a total blast. Loved it but logistically difficult for me (it only just fitted in the garage). I nearly went for a Hawk Stratos build but the right 2nd hand Caterham rebuild cropped up just as I needed to make my mind up, so I took that path.
By the time it's road-worthy, I will have achieved that same state of mind I had in 1998 when I realised I could finally afford one. Excitement..!!
Sell it. Have some time away. Buy again when/if you feel the need. In the interim, try a few other cars. I tried a 4.5 V8 Cerbera which was a total blast. Loved it but logistically difficult for me (it only just fitted in the garage). I nearly went for a Hawk Stratos build but the right 2nd hand Caterham rebuild cropped up just as I needed to make my mind up, so I took that path.
I had a Superlight R, moved on, then found myself talking about 'when I had my Caterham' all the time, despite having a 944 Turbo. That got boring - bought another that I hope to never sell
Usual method of getting back into Sevening is to force yourself to use it. Drive it to work. There are always a number of fantastic moments during any drive you don't get in other types of cars, that should convince you
Usual method of getting back into Sevening is to force yourself to use it. Drive it to work. There are always a number of fantastic moments during any drive you don't get in other types of cars, that should convince you
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