Escort silly prices, 1,200 miles a year, how to rekindle the love?

[thrashermax]

Had my RS2000 mk1 for 2 1/2 years now, my fifth mk1.

 

It has gone up in value by more than 50%, I do around 1,200 miles a year in her.

 

I keep looking at other cars, mk2s, E30s etc. Is this a psychological problem? Should I just enjoy the mk1 and stop lusting after other cars?

 

How do you keep the passion alive? Aren't others tempted to cash in!

 

How do you lot feel?

[Vista]

No, not tempted to cash in. I enjoy driving it, my wife enjoys driving it, my kids like going out in it and we all enjoy the events we attend as a family with the RS and the van in convoy. Increase in value, for me at least, is almost a -ve factor as it makes we worry about getting it nicked, being followed home etc.

 

Get involved a bit more and do things with it and you'll soon get your interest back.

 

Oh and E30 BMW instead of a mk1 RS? Do behave

[thrashermax]

Glad you posted that Vista, I do love driving her, my wife likes being a passenger, kids not too keen but overall they put up with long journeys.

 

I used her daily recently and it was huge fun.

 

I agree with you, I view prices as a negative, I worry about leaving her parked up. A lot of normal folk won't be able to buy now, that makes me sad.

[skeeter]

Do what I do - promise SWMBO that you will get rid of the rs to replace it, but cunningly buy the replacement first. Then simply forget to sell the rs. Over time you build a nice little fleet.......

[Rally Pack 2000]

Over the years I have found the ones that fall out of love with their cars fall into three categories, 1/ Those that take apart the car and loose sight of the end product and feel the task too daunting 2/ Those car enthusiasts of all makes loose that deep interest when they get the car totally finished and restored. How many times have you heard a proud owner of an immaculate car how they are searching for a new project? 3/ The ability to share that interest with someone. Im not talking about going for a drive with the wife or kids here, im referring to someone you can talk about all the obscure technical bits with and understands your frustrations and have solutions to get that SOB part in or out and tell you what a great job you have done afterwards.

 

I have had a couple of these affect me at some point. In fact Reasons 1 and 3 together. In my teenage car group we all had Escorts and they eventually fell away as they got married, had  kids etc. Then you get the those who stick it out (despite their partners objections) but stripped the car and the projects never get finished only to be sold off on the back of a trailer. Thus I was left the last owner. So with no one to talk about my work I was doing on the cars I lost most of my interest. I didnt even take the cover off my Twincam for a few years to be honest and believe it or not it was joining here and people asking me about it I thought I really should take the cover off and tinker with it again. (Go Oldskoolford!) It was seriously on the way to turning into some dusty barn find for someone.

 

To avoid reason No.2 I always knew that if I took my Mk2 off the road or disassembled it to any great degree I would never finish it. The fun in that car is finding that part or repairing small area over a larger degree of time rather than all in one hit. Basically its an ongoing hobby like collecting just about anything. I dont think of the project ever having an end. We have an analogy here in Australia doing some things is like painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thats a reference to the fact they never stop painting it. They start and one end and when they get to the other they just have to start all over again. Thats the way I look at my MK2. By the time I have replaced everything the parts I put on in the first place will need replacing again. The project maintains my enthusiasm and when I improve one small part of it it gives me a sense of accomplishment. You also dont notice the costs so much when your not putting out huge lump sums. If I did it all in one hit I feel it will be 100% restored I probably wouldnt take it out to risk it. I know someone with 3 Mk2 RS2000s, two complete and the third he is rebuilding. the two that are finished he restored with all new and original parts. Showroom stuff. But he wont drive them as a result in case they dont look new anymore and the third I can see ending up the same. Thats an extreme case but you get what I mean.

 

Keep it running and usable is the key but still tinker with it and have fun searching out that next piece. I bet if you find something you want to do with the car but perhaps have put off, think about jumping into that. I think you will find you fall back in love with it again after a alot of swearing and skinned knuckles. (Strange that)

 

The fun is often in the journey not the destination.

[colr6]

The fun is often in the journey not the destination.

 

Totally agree with you on that one to me the thrill is in the build, getting over the problems and having a vision of hopefully being better than someone else's car. To be able to stand back and say I built that !! With reference to OSF having an influence on what and how you do things again stirred me up to what I'm doing now, building another OSF. The thing of keeping interested in your motors as Vista says get out there in them shows,ride outs and so on. The people on here all have the same passion of there OSFs (well most do) my advice if in doubt get to a OSF show, meet the people and it's surprising the amount enthusiasm that can be transferred to you and gives incentive to get on with or keep and enjoy your OSF. Having moved over from the old motorcycle world you would not believe the difference in attitude of the people with the willingness to help and good banter Consequently Ive a garage full of restored old bikes just sat there primarily because of the attitude of show organisers and participants. People on here have said various things about the RS fraternity on here well believe me there pussy cats compared to the old Japanese bike world. .....so to sum it up get an OSF, tinker with it, show it and keep it. You won't regret it!

[puddy]

You must be talking about the 'Aircooled rd' lot  ^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Not a very hospitable forum , to put it mildly

 

In answer to the op's question , if you view your motor as a lump sum ,

 

you have already missed the point I'm afraid .

 

On a par with those boring people that bought their houses some years ago and love to tell you what its now worth

 

not what its like to live in and their helpful neighbours , etc .

 

Please do not end up like them .........

 

puddy

[thrashermax]

Thanks for the replies, some really good insight.

 

I don't view it as a sum of money, it's the market driving up the values that makes me sad. If they were cheaper, more people would have them and would enjoy them more.

 

I tinker now and again and love driving her. I only have one single garage, so can only have one classic.

 

I drove to Beaulieu motor museum yesterday, 160 mile round trip. Enjoyed every moment.

 

I guess, attending more meets, driving more and tinkering more will keep the interest up.

[thrashermax]

Do what I do - promise SWMBO that you will get rid of the rs to replace it, but cunningly buy the replacement first. Then simply forget to sell the rs. Over time you build a nice little fleet.......

I've done this a few times... I ended up with 2 M3s, Integra DC5, my RS2000 and my wife's Golf GTi. Neighbours thought I'd become a car sales man. On another occasion, I had a mk1 1300E, Porsche 944 Turbo, BMW 328 and my wife's Bora.

 

Now a days I limit myself to my daily, wife's car and the RS. It's safer on the bank balance and my marriage!

[thrashermax]

Yesterday at Beaulieu.

 

 

[Vista]

Seen pics of rows and rows of orange Focus' at Beaulieu on the internet. Nice car but not what I go to a show for.

[2512pf]

Some nice cars there old and new

[Rally Pack 2000]

Yesterday at Beaulieu.

 

 

 

This thread is just to pull our legs. How could you ever fall out of love with that! I want it.

[thrashermax]

A few others at Beaulieu:-

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

Me thinks you have had too many projects old son. I have a Twincam I would swap for the Mk1 RS2000 though, you could always try your hand at one of those

[thrashermax]

Me thinks you have had too many projects old son. I have a Twincam I would swap for the Mk1 RS2000 though, you could always try your hand at one of those

It's a good job you live in Australia, if you were here I'd be arranging a time to view your Twincam!

[khanlad]

It's a good job you live in Australia, if you were here I'd be arranging a time to view your Twincam!

 

It's only a plane ride! A nice holiday for the misses?

[2512pf]

It's only a plane ride! A nice holiday for the misses?

you won't get an escort in hand luggage

[khanlad]

Good point, best not fly with easy jet or ryain air! Hehe

[Rally Pack 2000]

you won't get an escort in hand luggage

 

Are you sure? I heard someone say they could last time I was in Thailand.

[colr6]

Surely you'd get one in normal luggage 22kg if you remove all the filler. ...LOL

[Rally Pack 2000]

It's a good job you live in Australia, if you were here I'd be arranging a time to view your Twincam!

 

About time you throw some square headlights into your Mk1 mix

[Rally Pack 2000]

Surely you'd get one in normal luggage 22kg if you remove all the filler. ...LOL

 

Hey, my Twincam doesnt have any filler thank you very much! It doesnt have much of a boot floor though if im honest.

[Huge]

Not sorry to resurrect this - The positivity of the comments from Vista, Rally Pack 2000 & colr6 from 4yrs ago are relevant today! I’m tinkering! And I’m learning about my Escort bit by bit & since joining OSF the help has been fantastic- I feel as though I’m not struggling anymore on my own - Thank you to everyone!