How sentimental do you get about your cars?

[MOND30]

I looked up an address on Google maps this week, and in the Streetview image happened to be my winter white 2000 AUII Forte, which I owned from 2001 to 2004. Had the genuine accessory mags, the rear spoiler I put on, and the door strips and mirrors that I colour-coded with a can of spray paint. I was totally chuffed to see it again.

[OffRoadFalcon]

There's quite a lot of sentiment surrounding my Wagon.

The story starts in early 2003, when we lived in Perth, and I was 7 years old.
My folks had started looking at buying a new car, upgrading from a 1 car family to a 2 car. At the time they had a '90 EAII Falcon GLi Wagon, 4sp auto 3.9i.
Dad had become quite a fan of the looks of the AU2/3 Wagons, looking at them seriously. I remember a press image he printed off for me, of an AU2 Fairmont Wagon in Organza, and I also became a AU wagon lover.

Mid-April 2003, we all went to Pickles auctions and while the rest of us sat outside in the EA wagon. He was bidding on a white 2001 AU2 Futura wagon, with upgraded and lifted suspension, and bull-bar, ex-Transport Inspector, with 70,000 kms.

Me being a car nut since I can remember, was over the moon when he came out with the good news! And even more so when I finally got to see it! I loved the look, especially with the bull-bar which was a really cool feature to me. Things like power windows and electric antenna were also a buzz!
Since then the car has been known as Skip.

Ever since my love for it grew more and more. We took it on all of our holidays and adventures. Albany, Coral Bay, Shark Bay, Geraldton, uncle and aunty's farm in Mukinbudin (where all my pre-learners driving was done) and anywhere else in between.
It's always been the favourite to drive and be in (even over Dad's BA) and so useful.
So-o many memories.

Eventually I came up with the idea to build something like the RTV, inspired by axialmark's burgundy BA Wagon I found on the web.



I spent a year driving it on my L's, and passed my driving test in it too!


Then soon after, one morning Dad came and told me he'd just bought a 4WD - and that Skip was mine to buy! Now that's a feeling I'll never forget!

Since then I've been following the dream to create an AU RTV Wagon... and love my Wagon more than ever.
I could never sell it either. It's worth so much to me, and so little to anyone else, that I'd never get enough money to make it worth it. I'd regret it terribly.
I can't stand the thought of ol' Skip ending up trashed and on the wrecker's pile, or thrashed out bush and killed.

It's still known as the best car my family has had, and I've spent a lot of my lifetime with this car around, and intend to keep it around and keep making memories for many years to come! It's not only a project car - it's an old mate.

[NX74205]

Firstly, apologies for the thread mine but I just thought I'd ask you guys for your views on what you would do, given that some of you on this thread are sentimentally attached to their cars.

If you had been in an accident, and your car is a repairable write-off, would you repair it?

I was in an accident recently. Right rear side impact. Insurance assessment came to about $15,000 to repair, including replacing the entire right rear suspension assembly, and my car is only insured for $7,400. Thankfully, the panel beater took the car to a suspension specialist for a second opinion and now the car is being repaired under insurance.

Had that not been the case, however, I would have withdrawn my claim and paid that $15,000 to the panel beater to get my car back on the road without a second thought, despite advice to the contrary from everyone I've spoken to. I would've drained my entire bank account if it came to that. I wasn't just going to sit there and let my insurance company auction my car off to some wrecker so they can tear it apart.

So, what would you do if your car costs more to repair than it is insured for?

[xisled]

Originally Posted by NX74205

Firstly, apologies for the thread mine but I just thought I'd ask you guys for your views on what you would do, given that some of you on this thread are sentimentally attached to their cars.

If you had been in an accident, and your car is a repairable write-off, would you repair it?

I was in an accident recently. Right rear side impact. Insurance assessment came to about $15,000 to repair, including replacing the entire right rear suspension assembly, and my car is only insured for $7,400. Thankfully, the panel beater took the car to a suspension specialist for a second opinion and now the car is being repaired under insurance.

Had that not been the case, however, I would have withdrawn my claim and paid that $15,000 to the panel beater to get my car back on the road without a second thought, despite advice to the contrary from everyone I've spoken to. I would've drained my entire bank account if it came to that. I wasn't just going to sit there and let my insurance company auction my car off to some wrecker so they can tear it apart.

So, what would you do if your car costs more to repair than it is insured for?

Let the insurance company pay you out, then buy back it from them and fix it. But this does come with a few issues.

But for me medium to major accident damage would be enough for me to let a car go. I have seen so many times people pushing to have the car fixed and once the car is fixed problem after problem.

In saying the above I have also seen many cars repaired without an issue.

[mechanic]

Don't know if " sentimental " is the term I'd use but I have good memories of cars that are reliable.
64 Compact
XC sedan
Toyota Hilux 2.8 diesel ute.
Currently, I really appreciate the RTV and it will be a sad day when I'm forced to pass it on.

[MercurySilver]

Id let the car go
Keep the fond memories and start again and take the insurance payout

[Ben73]

Im not sentimental about my cars.
If I sell it there is a reason for it so I am not upset when I see it go.

Like my 300c, I loved that car. I enjoyed it very much, but once the repair bills started racking up I was so happy when I sold it.

Sometimes I will see one on the road that looks very similar to mine and it will think how I liked that car, then I remember the financial pain it caused ($9,000 in 6 months) and be happy I sold it.

[39ClevoUte]

I don't.

[snopony]

Im a shocker.
If the worst happened and she was a write off I would keep her home in my shed rather than let the vultures pick her bones.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by xisled

Let the insurance company pay you out, then buy back it from them and fix it.

I had considered that, but that would require the car to be written off in the first place, so I wasn't about to do that - even if it means saving a few grand. It doesn't make sense, I know, but when it comes to cars, emotion rules, not logic.

Originally Posted by xisled

But for me medium to major accident damage would be enough for me to let a car go. I have seen so many times people pushing to have the car fixed and once the car is fixed problem after problem.

In saying the above I have also seen many cars repaired without an issue.

I was made aware of that too. I haven't got my car back from the panel beaters yet, so I've just got to cross my fingers that there are no further unforeseen problems relating to the accident after the repair.

Originally Posted by snopony

Im a shocker.
If the worst happened and she was a write off I would keep her home in my shed rather than let the vultures pick her bones.

Me too. If I didn't have enough money to fix it, I'll keep it in my garage until I can afford to fix it.

The only time I would be prepared to let my car go after an accident is if it is a statutory write-off and the car is destroyed beyond all recognition. And even then I'd probably keep a few parts as a memento.

[castellan]

I would not say sentimental but sometimes I want my 5.0L 4 Speed HX Sandman P van back, had him for 18 years.

I was asked about 3 years ago in my old home town pub, hey do you still own that van, I just said yes in the moment to get a reaction. he said bulls--t ! he once owned a XA GT Hardtop years ago and was spewing that he sold it.