Auto Attachment Disorder

[RapidBreath]

I think I have auto attachment disorder. My car is 13 years old. She needs a new transimission, intake air manifold (thanks a heap Ford for making it out of plastic. ) and now my brother is telling me that I have to donate it. I don't want to. Me and that car have been together for ten years, since I was in junior college for pete's sake! How can I look that faithful car in the headlights and say Bu-bye!!!

I know. Its nuts.

Any of you gals suffer from auto attachment disorder? I probably should let the car go. I just don't want a car payment and without it fixed, I have nothing to drive. I can't even get a job. I have a few more weeks of this editing (video) job and thats it. No more.

 

[JeanneMarie]

I can relate! I drove my last car for 10 years. It had almost 200,000 miles on it. My DH was buying me a new Mercedes for Pete's Sake and I didn't want to give up my good ol' Mazda.

So, I decided to sell it for peanuts to a friend of my DS's who was in college and struggling. He needed a car bad, so my dear Mazda went to him for half what it was worth and it's still going strong... and the best part is I know she has a good home and we helped out a kid in need! (She even comes to visit when the friend comes by to see DS! )

Now I love my CLK, and will be driving her until the wheels fall off too.

 

[Dela]

Oh I had the opposite disorder, until my current car, I always leased, and rarely was even able to hold on to one for the full 3 years! But the car I have now I love, I actually had leased the same one (different color and suspension/model), then when that was up, I bought the one I have now.

I think I have to agree with your brother, it's time to let go. Maybe you could have a little closure ceremony. Those repairs are just not worth the expense, at 13 years, it's likely more things will continue to go, you are better off putting it towards a down payment.

I recently saw ads for 2 new cars under $20K that look interesting, the Nissan Juke and the Mazda 2 (although might be best for city driving over highway). And you can never go wrong with the Mazda 3.

 

[Jonezie]

I can TOTALLY relate! I was so in love with my first car...a 1991 gun metal gray Toyota Camry named Maggie. When I sold her, I cried for a week. I couldn't even look back when the new owner drove her away.

I so admire your loyalty and heart!

Jonezie

PS...can't you keep her AND just get a new car?

 

[PhyllisG]

I absolutely have auto attachment disorder. Years ago my DS wrecked my car and I went around for months talking about how he had "murdered" my car. I was only half kidding. Now I am suffering from the same disorder with my 1991 red Saab 9000. I LOVE my car and thankfully it is running fine tho I did just have to do $600 worth of repairs and to me it is worth every penny. The thought of parting with it gives me an anxiety attack. Glad to hear others suffer from this disorder also. My mechanic thinks I am slightly nuts.

 

[buckeyegirl]

Absolutely! I always get attached to my cars. I think the worst was my VW bug I traded in recently. It was a stick shift and so much fun to drive, but not the most practical when it came to hauling kids and driving in the snow. When I traded it in, I was cleaning it out and when I pulled the little flower out of the vase, I started crying. I decided to leave the flower in the vase When the mechanic drove it off, I sad "you be nice to him and leave that flower in the vase". I'm sure they thought I was nuts, but who cares.

I do miss Hamilton at times still

Buckeyegirl

 

[cindi1]

Just think about the good you are doing by donating it to charity.

 

[mom418]

i haven't experienced this yet, but i'm sure i will.
my dh's special car is Little Red. It's a red early 90's Eclipse. He's had it forever. it's fun, but again, not so practical for hauling kids and driving in snow. He mostly drives the SUV.

We refuse to have a car payment, and don't have enough money to be paying that much anyway. we buy used, and save up to buy in cash.

Good luck figuring out a solution.

 

[kathryn]

I had a hard time getting rid of 'Thelma" (my first car: a 1988 Dodge Shadow that I bought (barely) used, and had for 14 years).

I traded up to a 2004 Prius (my first new car, and the second car of my own ever!), but I felt a bit sad leaviing Thelma at the dealership and driving away with Madeleine.

Madeleine may be prettier, but Thelma was a die-hard and a workhorse, and she had a substantial horn (I hate the little Toyota "toot" horn! Give me a big, bold Dodge horn any day!)