OPINION
Should we feel bad about moving on, asks John?
Is it OK to fall out of love with a car? It's not as if they have feelings, apart of course from Eighties Minis if the ads were to be believed. Any notion of personality, emotions and so on are imprinted by us onto these inanimate mostly-metal objects, and we enjoy the fantasy of animal interaction that results. You know: talking to it, sensing its motive enthusiasm or unwillingness, maybe even giving it a name – although I have never been sucked down that particular path.
So why do some of us feel guilty about parting with a long-owned car? Is it actually just anthropomorphised regret at letting go of something that has been important to you?
The bond between you and your car, although one-way, can be very deep. That's particularly true if you have put a lot of effort into making it as good as it has become, so you know every last nook, cranny and foible. Naturally, you will feel protective of your work, and you might worry that a new custodian won't fully appreciate it and nurture it. Again though, that's more about you than your car. You feel you are losing a little piece of yourself, which can never be replaced.
Regular use required
Another forger of a strong bond is sharing happy times together, discovering new places and enjoying being on the road. Fond memories come not just from having owned the car, nor even from having worked on it, but from doing things with it: driving it to shows, driving it further and with more commitment on road runs and trips abroad, having adventures and meeting people who appreciate your unusual and interesting mode of transport.
All this proves just how important it is that we use our classic vehicles on a regular basis, rather than tuck them away to be admired only occasionally. A well-exercised classic is a happy classic, and usually a reliable one, too.
But I digress. What makes us fall out of love with a car? It might be a feeling of having 'done
