Cars won't make you happy.

[narly1]

This came across my desktop today. I hope this isn't too touchy-feely for you all but it does give you something to think about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2-6ObKn9ajlat8jXwWqm0pZqLtpQhJSHJ1inCGdxHcBD6Yyct0h-ouWDg&v=4bS9lsxecAg&feature=youtu.be

[GoDadGo]

I Bet He Never Built A Factory Five!

[narly1]

i bet he never built a factory five!

lol.

[David Hodgkins]

I agree with the premise. If you get into the hobby to impress others you're probably in it for the wrong reasons.

I still double-take a look in the garage after 14 years so this pretty much doesn't apply to me...

:)

[narly1]

I would like to think that kit cars like the FFRs are far more personal to their owners than the average custom car. This being due to the increased amount of owner involvement in their very creation.

Further, because of this I would suggest that they are built more for the owner than anybody else.

[Sdonnel]

Well, that's 3 minutes of my life I won't get back. I think he should change the title to "I don't know what I want, so you can't know either". I happen to have a 93
RX-7 sitting in my garage keeping the Cobra company (It's my sons). It's not my thing, but then again, that's why car companies produce different models.

[nuhale]

All I know is my car is in paint now and gone for the next 2-3 months. I am lost without it and have no idea what to do with myself. I spent all weekend staring at the wall. Soon my wife will take over my project list which can be devastating.

Guess a Wenkel engine isn't the answer.

[narly1]

Well, that's 3 minutes of my life I won't get back. I think he should change the title to "I don't know what I want, so you can't know either". I happen to have a 93
RX-7 sitting in my garage keeping the Cobra company (It's my sons). It's not my thing, but then again, that's why car companies produce different models.

I warned you that it might be touchy-feely but you watched it anyways LOL.

[GoDadGo]

I warned you that it might be touchy-feely but you watched it anyways LOL.

And We Loved It Anyway Mr. Narly!

[Al_C]

I agree with the premise. If you get into the hobby to impress others you're probably in it for the wrong reasons.

I still double-take a look in the garage after 14 years so this pretty much doesn't apply to me...

:)

I agree with David. My car makes ME happy.

[Mike N]

I have built a number of cars over the years and they all make me smile and I often find myself taking a peak in the garage to get a 'fix'. Very true what others have said, I chose my cars to make me happy and not to impress anybody else. I think that's the key.

[narly1]

I have built a number of cars over the years and they all make me smile and I often find myself taking a peak in the garage to get a 'fix'. Very true what others have said, I chose my cars to make me happy and not to impress anybody else. I think that's the key.

Like I said before the very "build it the way you want it" nature of these FFR cars leads to a higher level of owner contentment.

[AZPete]

That guy really needs to build a Factory Five to know what car love is.

There's nothing as good as seeing a cool expensive car (Ferrari, Maserati, etc.) and thinking, "Meh, all he did was write a check. but I built mine".

[NiceGuyEddie]

My car has made THOUSANDS of OTHER PEOPLE happy - the thumbs-up, toots, and hollar's is what motivates me to take out the car. I don't need the attention, I'm just glad people are thrilled to see and hear it!

[David Hodgkins]

Hey Eddie! NICE CAR!

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12314

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12263

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12286

:)

[GoDadGo]

My car has made THOUSANDS of OTHER PEOPLE happy - the thumbs-up, toots, and hollar's is what motivates me to take out the car. I don't need the attention, I'm just glad people are thrilled to see and hear it!

I just went to get gas and drop off a package at U.P.S. and I can't believe the attention the car gets at every outing.
I've had more than my fair share of nice Hot Rods and other assorted Cool Cars over the years, but this is ridiculous.

[Spada84]

Happiness is in the eye of the beholder.

I have had many cars and motorcycles. I currently have a 2015 BMW x1 35i M-Sport in white. 2 different BMW dealers have called it a unicorn. It's stock. Also have a 2010 Harley CVO Ultra Classic in Hot Citrus and Burnt Orange - another rarity and I have made mods to that one. Either one, I sometimes look back after parking and say "damn!"

Read once that if you don't turn around and look as you walk away you bought the wrong vehicle.

When I eventually get my FFR built I'll probably die by tripping over something whilst walking away from it backwards.

[narly1]

Knowing that your own two hands touched every bolt, every square inch of bodywork, and every running system in your car is a feeling that money can't buy.

[Joel Hauser]

I drove my FF roadster to a dentist appointment this morning. It was 35 degrees outside. I still had a smile on my face. I built the guitars I play, the car I drive, the motorcycle I ride. If I bought a new Martin D28, a new corvette or new "retro" Triumph Bonneville, I'd just feel and look like an old man trying to impress someone of the opposite sex. I build things for me. These things make me happy. There is nothing wrong with that.

[GThompson]

Interesting video. His mistake with his RX-7 was in not holding out for an R1 model, then he’d feel differently.

I’ve got an e36 M3, picked it up about 8 years ago to have a fun car to drive while finishing my Daytona. The Daytona’s still not done (body work is taking a bit too long, I’m not that good at it apparently...). But, having the M3 has also changed my thinking in what I want out of my fun cars. It’s probably the best car I’ve owned. It drives great, is comfortable, can be used for any of the motorsports I’m interested in (autocross & road rally and, with a cage and taller suspension, would be good for performance rally), and is easy to work on & parts are relatively cheap. It even draws some attention now and then. But, the most dangerous thing it has done is changed my thinking about the Daytona. I originally wanted to build a replica of CSX2299 when it wore #5 at Le Mans in 1964 and wanted to do as much as I can on it. As of right now the only things I haven’t done myself are engine machine work & balancing and rear diff assembly. Putting the engine together was a challenge but, after dialing in the Webers pretty well, it revs really quickly & smoothly and pulls strong. I’ve autocrossed it a couple of times but the ancient billboards really killed the performance.

So now I’m rethinking the Daytona. It will work for summertime pavement activities but really won’t work for rally or rallycross. I was hoping it would fill more purposes but then found the M3. And the M3 is roughly 1/4 the cost so far of the Daytona. Perhaps it’s time to cut my losses, stop all of the thinking, rethinking, & redoing the seemingly endless to-do list, sell it, roll the majority of the money back into savings, and buy a ready-to-go log-booked car (like a Miata so I could go to the track to watch some racing in these days of non-spectator club racing).

No, cars don’t always make you happy. They can but, if you take too long, it can turn into a chore and kill the hobby for you. I’m dipping my toe in the 3d printing hobby pond right now, is fun.

[j33ptj]

I have owned my BMW Z1 for over 27years now. Aside from replacing the steering wheel, the K&N Filter, the shocks and the addition of a front air splitter (and the third radio), it is pretty much stock, but then it is a pretty unique car!

It gives me pleasure when I drive it, so my car does make me happy!! But then I bought it for me well before the internet even existed....

[David Hodgkins]

I have owned my BMW Z1 for over 27years now. Aside from replacing the steering wheel, the K&N Filter, the shocks and the addition of a front air splitter (and the third radio), it is pretty much stock, but then it is a pretty unique car!

It gives me pleasure when I drive it, so my car does make me happy!! But then I bought it for me well before the internet even existed....

Interesting car! I've never seen one of those before...

[GoDadGo]

Interesting car! I've never seen one of those before...

Nor I Super Dave, Nor I!

What a crazy car with "Sliding Doors" to make it really unique.

[Gumball]

I've had my license for 40 years and bought my first car when I was 15 (left it at a friends so I didn't have to tell my parents I was the proud owner of a '69 Charger). Over all those years, I've owned (and sold) almost too many cars to remember. When asked why I sold a car, my usual reply......... "it wasn't the answer."

That said, there are cars that have brought me pleasure - whether it came from driving, caretaking, restoring, proving it can't beat me with all its problems, just looking at beautiful lines, or other reasons. But, I can't say that any of them, FFR7074 included, have brought me happiness. That's reserved for God and my wife.

[j33ptj]

Interesting car! I've never seen one of those before...

There are ever only 8000build, never imported during the production time to the US, there are a few (probably less 100) now imported as old timers in to the US.

Robert

[GoDadGo]

I just walked into my shop with my three cats in tow along with Hershey our Choco-Lato-Lab and looked at my car.
I Smiled, Actually Grinned, So Yes These Cars Can Give Us Some Joy & Happiness!
If the weather is nice tomorrow I'll likely take Mrs. Go-Dad out to lunch, in our Rebone Roadster of course.

[R. Button]

Maybe it's because we are looking for happiness in the wrong place? You ever stop to help someone?
A person broke down along the road
A person you hear about that lost everything from a house fire
A single parent whose only means to support for the family has the car quit running
Yes even a person begging at the corner or along the street.

At a rest stop a young child runs over to look at your car. Parents catch up with the child telling him be careful don't touch the car. Only to have the owner of the car tell the child you want to sit in the car to see what it feels like. In their eagerness to climb in grabs the wind wing snapping the top of it off. Parents start yelling at the child out of fear, that this will be expensive. The owner sits on the ground next to the crying child to tell him... want to hear a short story?

When I finished painting the car I drove it out of the barn and not watching, in my eagerness I caught the rear corner of the car snapping it back and cracking the new expensive paint. Come with me to the other side of the car and I'll show you what happened. Run your hand over the cracks in the paint. The owner said, I have been driving that car ever since knowing it's just a car. The broken part is just a part I will replace later. To me it's still more important that you get to sit in the car, try out the seat belts, wear the leather helmet with the special goggles. And then after your parents take pictures of you in the car I have a new hat for you to take home! The child and parents when off happier. They never will know who the owner was as he never would tell them.

Getting involved can be messy, can require work, and sometimes gifts to help, but in the end don't you feel just a tiny bit happier at the end of the day? The car becomes just the tool to meet others and a few you get to see them walk away with a smile on their face. And you get a happy smile on your face as you drive on down the road. Happiness is found in giving not getting.

[Nigel Allen]

I am sitting at work with tears in my eyes. Thank you Ralph, your story is what it is really about to me.

Kindest regards,

Nigel in South Oz.

[David Hodgkins]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ralph Button is THE MAN!

:)