Had enough of your osf?

[mk2 mike]

I have! I've had enough of things not working, having no idea how to fix them. I've had enough of spending thousands on a car that just sits in a garage. I've had enough of taking time off work to get things done on it. I've had enough of something else not working every time I go to it. I'm so sick of it I can't even be bothered to put it on eBay. Think I'm just going to let it rot.

 

Rant over. ;0)

[deltamal]

Wrap it up so it doesn't go rusty, and look at it again in the spring when the sap is rising, you will want to be out in it again!   

[dalmarshall]

The bad weathers setting in now mike so you're not gonna miss any events etc. you've got plenty of time to get things sorted (and I bet they're all little tinkering things) ready for next season. Don't lose heart, like deltamal says, leave it a while until you feel the love again.

Sometimes I wish I'd have persevered with my old GT, too late now though, someone else is doing it and I think I'm gonna feel a bit gutted when I see it again

It's all part and parcel with old stuff whether it be OSF, VW, bikes etc. they're old, need TLC sometimes but when you're out in it, you can't beat it!!

Stick at it old chap, you'll crack it soon enough

[tina70]

stick at it. i have been on my tina for 8yrs. decided many times to scrap it. but after the hard work already put in,

there would be a bit of sadness if it went . 

[damian1969josh]

know how you feel..i am the same spent loads this year and the thing still lets me down . not look at it or cleaned it since the summer show and it broke down then lol  BUT i love the scene and one day after a lot more money will get my car how i want it   .......or just sell........for a easy life  lol 

[frankthefencer]

Isn't the tinkering, modifying and breakdowns etc half the fun??? I love em. I like the time it eats up, I like the modifying and even breaking down !!!

Winter is here . Time for cleaning and upgrades and servicing ready for spring. . Stick at it mike it is worth it . Enjoy all the car has to offer,

[Jiffer]

its my salvation my, I spend hours in my man cave working on mine, normally struggling on my own which is a proper piss off, resetting mole grips etc just for the fact of no one else to hold the spanner up above, proper fookin annoying. cold miserable and fed up but in the end I did it, its mine, its got soul, yes it will break down and piss me off but a simple life is a boring life, and it will spank the shite out of the local plastic. 

if I wasn't doing this I would be face down in the gutter either hammered, or bleeding and on to many occasions both.

stick with it mate.

[mk2 mike]

Isn't the tinkering, modifying and breakdowns etc half the fun?,

 

No.

 

Problem is I don't have time to tinker. I'm working about 16 hours a day 6 days a week. The other day I spend with my girlfriend 70 miles away from where the car is.

 

The car is in a lock up with no power, no lights. I don't have any tools or knowledge to fix anything. If I have any work done to it I need to use my annual leave from work to arrange people to come round. I have no more time off now till April 2014. Simple things that should take 30 mins like fitting bucket seats have taken me nearly two months and I still can't get them in. Its hemorrhaging cash faster than I can earn it. I barely use it. I've never let anything beat me before but this car is causing me more grief than I've ever known lol. I've just had enough of it.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love driving it (when it's working) and love the osf scene, I've met some great people through owning it but I've completely list any remaining interest I had in it. I spoke to the girlfriend about selling it today and she is devastated. I don't know what to do, I just needed to vent lol. It was either that or put a bucket seat through the windscreen!

[shaun1.6ghia]

if I wasn't doing this I would be face down in the gutter either hammered, or bleeding and on to many occasions both.

.

You my friend most likely would lol

How's the new one going?

 

It is very true the anxiety buzz of breaking down is half the fun but with these old fords there's nothing like the great feeling of satisfaction cracking out the spanners at the side of the road an limping the ol girl home an knowing you did it.

For the summer drivers this is the time to get everything up to scratch ready for the summer you know it'll be worth it when cruising along the motorways on the way to the best shows of the year

[Mk2Jo]

Why do you think mine has sat in the garage since June 2012!! I feel frustrated that I can't fix things myself and I hate the unreliability of it ... every time I go out it either breaks down or something falls off it ..... not like my comfy, reliable Scooby! !!! But I am determined to be back out next year! don't give up hope Mike ... tuck it away and go back to it next year <br />

[zetecmk2]

mine has been off the road for 18mts..........now i want it back otr again!!! just wait.....when you have left it to rot for a while......you will get all funny inside!!

[Savvi]

I've said this before and I know I get boring ............. but I've done over a 1000 miles in my STANDARD Mk1 Camper this Summer and we didn't break down once !!!!!

 

 

I think so many people feel they have to run modified and "upgraded" cars these days and in my eyes unless you have it done by the pro's at huge cost they start to become unreliable.

 

Having said that my plans over Winter was to fit a bigger engine and do some slight mods to give me a little more power, shame I cant see me being able to do that now due to unforeseen circumstances which may also see it being wrapped up and stored until I can sort out a new life !!!

[theloudboy]

Mike what needs doing i'm sure the Essex mob will help you fix her they help me I don't know anything about the car and would be lost without all of them

[theloudboy]

Mike me and steve will be round  with the tools to help you all we got to do is sort out a date

[D-FENS]

No.

 

Problem is I don't have time to tinker. I'm working about 16 hours a day 6 days a week. The other day I spend with my girlfriend 70 miles away from where the car is.

 

The car is in a lock up with no power, no lights. I don't have any tools or knowledge to fix anything. If I have any work done to it I need to use my annual leave from work to arrange people to come round. I have no more time off now till April 2014. Simple things that should take 30 mins like fitting bucket seats have taken me nearly two months and I still can't get them in. Its hemorrhaging cash faster than I can earn it. I barely use it. I've never let anything beat me before but this car is causing me more grief than I've ever known lol. I've just had enough of it.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love driving it (when it's working) and love the osf scene, I've met some great people through owning it but I've completely list any remaining interest I had in it. I spoke to the girlfriend about selling it today and she is devastated. I don't know what to do, I just needed to vent lol. It was either that or put a bucket seat through the windscreen!

I,ll second this Mike i feel exactly the same as you only i havn,t spent the money yet.Every time i have a blast in it i love it but only done 5 miles last year .Would love to sell up but hate the whole selling/argueing bit that seems to always happen to me.

[Skimmer]

Thats rubbish ive had my Cozzy (YB) van on the road around 4 - 5 years and apart from the gearbox issue ( i broke it )  its been everywhere and driven properly in rain ,sleet and snow, and im no pro builder its totally reliable , just check the oil and water now and then and just drive it .....

 

With alot of these old cars leaving them in the garage causes problems/faults , the more there used the more reliable they are ......

I think so many people feel they have to run modified and "upgraded" cars these days and in my eyes unless you have it done by the pro's at huge cost they start to become unreliable.

 

[Vista]

My first thought Mike is that working 16 hour days 6 days a week is insane. 96 hours is more than double the working hours most people do. There is no amount of over time hours that is worth the time you don't get to have a life. I worked those hours for 9 months straight in 2003. It was soul destroying and I had no life left at the end of it. Cut back on the hours and spend a bit of time with your girlfriend, tinkering with the simple things on the car and using it. Enjoying yourself in your spare time, it's what makes life worth living.

 

 

[Savvi]

Thats rubbish ive had my Cozzy (YB) van on the road around 4 - 5 years and apart from the gearbox issue ( i broke it )  its been everywhere and driven properly in rain ,sleet and snow, and im no pro builder its totally reliable , just check the oil and water now and then and just drive it .....

 

With alot of these old cars leaving them in the garage causes problems/faults , the more there used the more reliable they are ......

 

 

Difference there tho Mark is you know what your doing and probably fitted it yourself, for someone like Mike who admits he knows nothing about cars............ a car like his that has had mods done which it makes it even harder for him to repair it.

[over_head_cam]

Mike. I've got some chill-pills here, I'll try and bring some up to you over the next couple of weeks

 

Don't stress mate

[mk2 mike]

I agree Scott, however my job (and in particular the department I'm in) dictates my hours, and i get no say in a reduction of hours. At the moment its 4am-8pm and will be till at least the new year. I love my job but the shifts are challenging to say the least I'm in no doubt its partially responsible for my ranting lol. The car was the final straw this morning!

 

Thanks for all your suggestions and offers of help (mark, Phil) and words of calming advice (Joe and others). I think my plan of action is lock the car away for a couple of months and when I get time next year have another look at it. If I feel the same then it'll be on eBay, but I suspect I'll be chomping at the bit to get it sorted.

 

Thanks all, this forum is a convincing reason to stay in the osf scene. Group hug....

[over_head_cam]

Love ya man

[nosher 64]

Good on ya Mike...

Makes perfect sense to stick away for a while and not think about it....

[Vista]

I agree Scott, however my job (and in particular the department I'm in) dictates my hours, and i get no say in a reduction of hours. At the moment its 4am-8pm and will be till at least the new year. I love my job but the shifts are challenging to say the least I'm in no doubt its partially responsible for my ranting lol. The car was the final straw this morning!

 

Sorry Mike but I don't agree. You may be under pressure by your employer to do that kind of over time but the working time regulations are quite clear in stating that no-one can be forced to do over a 48 hour week averaged over 17 weeks.

 

There are certain exemptions to the rule, one if which is the police, but the exemption only applies in certain circumstances. Those circumstances are probably during emergencies but either way are highly unlikely to include because the force is short staffed or whatever reason you're being given for such a dangerously long shift. Neither is an exemption likely to be applicable over such an extended period.

 

I'd take it up with your superior personally. 4am to 8pm is way above and beyond the call of duty.

[Blimey]

You can fix anything if you try,Google anything you need to do ,Also buy a cheap generator for when you go to the garage ,Its cheaper to buy tools and do it yourself than to pay a pro,Stick it out ,It is way more satisfying doing it yourself ,Even the odd hour.

[mk2 mike]

 

There are certain exemptions to the rule, one if which is the police.

 

I am in the police. Unfortunately its not as black and white as the regulations state. I can't say too much on here about what I do, but in my role we are required to work outside those regulations. We wouldn't be able to do our job if we stuck to them. Its a choice we make when we join our department and as I said I love it and wouldn't do anything else, despite the hours. I just have to suck it up and get on with it. Anyway, back to topic; I've decided to give it a little break and give it another go. I feel much calmer today. What a difference a few hours sleep makes!