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What I discovered about myself regarding sports cars Posted by MI-Roger [Email]  (#882) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from MI-Roger) on Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:38:49
In Reply to: Will there ever be another basic sports car?, GFW3pedals  [Profile/Gallery]
, Thu, 14 Jan 2016 08:08:16
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In early 2013 I had just retired from my first career, had a long nourished lust to acquire a summer fun car, had a supportive wife regarding this desire, and the free time to go looking for such a car to whet my appetite. I had always longed for old British Sports cars (in addition to Saabs) so I focused my search on MGA and MGB models as anything with Healey in the name was far too costly.
My search territory included all of Michigan south of a line between Grand Rapids and Flint, North West Ohio, and North East Indiana. I looked at a number of cars with prices ranging from under $5K to around $20K. Condition ranged from high quality restorations to barely running, and the correlation between condition and price was much less than 1.0
I discovered a number of interesting things about myself on this search, I discovered:
My self preservation instinct prevented me from buying anything where the top of the door panel was at a lower elevation than the running boards on factory stock SUVs and Pick-ups in adjacent lanes.
I enjoy having glass windows rather than plastic. Particularly ones that can be mechanically/electrically raised and lowered rather than being clipped onto a door panel.
I wanted a car that could be refueled with some grade pump gas without first needing to have the head removed, re-machined, and hardened valve seats inserted.
I wanted a car in which the seat and steering wheel positions could be adjusted without the need for wrenches.
I appreciate seat belts, three point belts, and Air Bags in that order of ascension.
I wanted a trunk that could carry a picnic basket, a personal cooler, and a couple of lawn chairs without needing to remove the spare tire.
I appreciated interiors made from materials more stout that cardboard covered with leather embossed paper.
Four seats, even if only a 2+2, are far better than just two seats.
I appreciate a weather tight convertible top. Even more so, a top that allows the car to be driven in winter if ever necessary.
I enjoy power steering and power brakes.
I wanted a vehicle that had been crash tested to meet a minimum safety standard, and which had door skins sufficiently robust to resist cracking from the weight of the attached side mirror.
In the end I bought a Saab Viggen convertible.
Old basic Sports Cars generate a warm glow in our hearts and mind's eye. What I didn't realize until after examining and driving a number of these cars was the glow is caused by the Rose Tinted Glasses I didn't know I was wearing.
->Posting last edited on Fri, 15 Jan 2016 07:50:57.
_______________________________________ Saabs owned: 2008 9-5 Aero Sedan, sold at 227K miles 2006 9-3SC 2.0T - Wife's daily driver 2000 Viggen Convertible - Sold May, 2022 1964 Quantum IV Formula Car - Retirement project 2000 9-5lpt Sedan, sold at 318K miles
, Thu, 14 Jan 2016 08:08:16
, Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:11:33, Fri, 15 Jan 2016 08:05:02, Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:38:49 <-- Viewing This Message
, Fri, 15 Jan 2016 16:15:41, Mon, 25 Jan 2016 08:44:47, Fri, 15 Jan 2016 05:53:31, Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:06:37, Fri, 15 Jan 2016 07:45:43
, Thu, 14 Jan 2016 12:05:58, Fri, 15 Jan 2016 07:56:22
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