So I traded vehicles today, something we don't talk a lot about here. I won't use brand names here because I don't want to sound like a commercial. My old reliable red pick-up truck from 2005 still had a lot of good miles on her but she was getting less and less dependable. So I traded for a good used 2019 pick-up truck and got a pretty good deal. So, you CAN get a good deal if you look long enough and hard enough.
But why do I feel so bad about walking-away from my Old Friend of so many years? As I cleaned out all my old stuff to the new truck, a flood of memories, some good, some not so good, of all the adventures we had been on together. And I felt bad about leaving her behind as I drove out of the car lot. :idiot2: I found myself hoping she gets a, 'good home' and someone who'll take good care of her. :idiot2: :idiot2:
Why do we Humans attach personal feelings to inanimate objects? Is it because we're Humans? Or are we just naturally afraid of change? Or do I just need therapy?
I know what you mean about saying good bye to old cars and wondering if the new car will ever feel the same.
Some of the cars I've owned were hard to let go even though I knew I needed something newer and more reliable. Other cars I've owned we so much easier to get rid of because they were nothing but headaches from day one.
For me at least, there is some emotional attachment to some cars.
I have named every car I and my family have owned. Sometimes women's names, sometimes names like 'Blue Devil' - my current car. In the last five years we've had two cars totaled (one from a deer, The Wife was driving and one in a multicar pile up, I was driving) and even though all people involved walked away unharmed, I still felt like a family member had died. I love cars and trucks so I identify with what you say above, Slash.
Both cars that were totaled were by the same company but in adherence to your OP I will not name names. But even if I wasn't already madly in love with this particular car company, I would still be extremely loyal as they saved both The Wife and I from severe injury or worse.
I've never named or felt attached to any car/truck I've ever owned. I always just looked at them as a way to get from point A to point B.
In some ways, a long term vehicle is no different than a pet in a few ways (and maybe this is a horrible way to compare things); you treat them right and they'll stay with you until they can't anymore. Treat them wrong, and they'll be problematic. And some vehicles just come into your possession already messed up and you either fix them or get rid of them.
If you've a vehicle long enough, it makes sense to form some sort of attachment to it.
I've driven manual transmission cars my whole life. They become an extension of yourself while you're on the road. Three years ago I traded in my 12 yo Volvo for a 3 yo Mazda. Even after 3 years of driving the Mazda I still yearn for my old car. The new one just doesn't feel the same.
^We had a 2007 Volvo XC70 that was an unstoppable Norse tank until the rear suspension literally exploded out the rear of the car after 5 years. Too expensive to repair, I was heartbroken. I loved that car.
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 24, 2021, 03:18:13 PM
Why do we Humans attach personal feelings to inanimate objects?
There is a school of thought that imbues all matter with the property
of consciousness. In such a system, the difference between animate vs. inanimate becomes
an artificial distinction.
Therefore, it becomes fair to say that your car has fond memories of "you"
and is unsettled by your absence. It is sitting somewhere thinking, "I
did exactly what he wanted me to do to the best of my ability. Why did he
get rid of me? Is there something I could have done differently? If I am
melted down and reincarnated in the image of another car model he likes, will we
be reunited again?"
This concept is broadly known as Panpsychism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism)
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 24, 2021, 04:01:45 PM
I've never named or felt attached to any car/truck I've ever owned. I always just looked at them as a way to get from point A to point B.
+1
On the other hand, I still drive my 2003 Suburban with 409,000 miles on it and recently spent 15 k on it for a new engine, transmission, leather interior, etc because I am too cheap to spend 65k on an equivalent "modern" vehicle. Not to mention the new models seem to be made increasingly of cheap plastic. I should be good for another 350,000 miles. My wife thinks I need a new paint job.
I have a 1999 Ford Expedition sitting in my garage that I take out once every few months. I keep it because it comes in handy to haul or tow every now and then and insurance on it is dirt cheap. It also still runs well and I had it repainted a few years back so it looks pretty good.
But there is certainly a nostalgic angle. I bought the Expedition new and put over 225,000 miles on it myself. Many good memories. I never gave it a name, but part of me does think of it as a 'loyal horse.' Another part of me is just amazed by the resilience of the thing.
My wife is trying to get me to toss the Expedition for a brand new Honda Ridgeline. The sticker shock from the Ridgeline made me comment to her that I could have the transmission and engine of my old warrior rebuilt, for less than a 1/3 of the cost of the Ridgeline; she accused me of "being silly." My younger sister seems to think I 'want to be buried in the Expedition.' In the end, maybe they are both right.
I checked out the Ridgeline too, very highly rated by a lot of people but I could not see the draw myself. It's a car that's trying to act like it's a truck. Or vice-versa, I'm not sure which.
I hate the looks of the Ridgeline. Get an F350!!
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2021, 11:05:49 AM
I hate the looks of the Ridgeline. Get an F350!!
Yup, only the finest grocery getter!
^Can't tell if sarcasm...
As a dyed-in-the-wool truck guy (learned on a '77 Scotsdale and have had a truck of some sort ever since), I detest the path the manufacturers have taken in making trucks here in the U.S. just overly large cars with a tiny, little bed.
-you can wrest my '90 F-150 from my cold, dead hands
You know what they say about guys with tiny beds.
They work at Grogheads? Or maybe they hang-out at Grogheads. I'm right there with you Dammit Carl. O0
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2021, 11:20:15 AM
^Can't tell if sarcasm...
Sarcastically literal...I live in what can be construed as "the country" in NJ and I cannot tell you how many Super Duty trucks (usually Fords) I see being driven by 30 or 40 something Mom's that you know the closest they get to off-roading or towing something is driving over the curb and putting a bike rack on it.
BTW, my solution to needing to haul stuff? I am currently sporting our now old Odyssey and I ripped out the middle row seats. I can still seat 5 if I need to and I can also fit full sheets of plywood.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on March 26, 2021, 11:25:40 AM
As a dyed-in-the-wool truck guy (learned on a '77 Scotsdale and have had a truck of some sort ever since), I detest the path the manufacturers have taken in making trucks here in the U.S. just overly large cars with a tiny, little bed.
-you can wrest my '90 F-150 from my cold, dead hands
Well maybe GM will bring this one to the USA...or at least the concept. 9K for a pickup? ???
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa57.foxnews.com%2Fstatic.foxnews.com%2Ffoxnews.com%2Fcontent%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F03%2F1862%2F1048%2Fwuling-3.jpg%3Fve%3D1%26amp%3Btl%3D1&hash=11d9ef72bc8d1d0b456074c218c3e13dcac4907f)
forgot to include linky: https://www.foxnews.com/auto/gms-newest-pickup-costs-9000
I also live in 'the country' of the Hudson Valley - trucks are king here. And Subarus. I couldn't get out of my driveway without my Subaru.
Some of the trucks here are ridiculous...but maybe it's just my envy/jealousy talking.
Quote from: steve58 on March 26, 2021, 12:43:11 PM
Well maybe GM will bring this one to the USA...or at least the concept. 9K for a pickup? ???
Snowball's chance in hell of them doing anything like that. Hell, Toyota still makes basic trucks beloved by militias worldwide (seen plenty overseas) but can we get simple, rugged trucks here? No. Gotta be these engorged monstrosities lumbering about with blind spots the size of half a basketball court. Thank God we've got these spacious heated bucket seats for our luxurious American asses!
-think I've derailed things a bit here
There was a 35 year old Toyota Tacoma truck down the road from me until a few years ago that had 1 million + miles on it. It was red and had a set of those 'truck balls' hanging from the rear axle to match. The thing ran in all weather, could tow a boat, never stalled, etc. It was a treasure to behold and I one day hope to own a truck as ugly, tough and endearing as that one. It just wouldn't die.
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2021, 11:20:15 AM
^Can't tell if sarcasm...
Depends how much food you eat. Or how big a family.
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2021, 11:05:49 AM
I hate the looks of the Ridgeline. Get an F350!!
stfu you ford shill!
Ive had my S10 for 20 years and it still kicks ass. I'd put it up against a same year Toyota Hilux any day.
oh, and the Chinese pos truck doesnt even have 100hp so good luck using it for anything useful like carrying sheets of plywood or towing anything besides an R/C boat.
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2021, 01:14:24 PM
There was a 35 year old Toyota Tacoma truck down the road from me until a few years ago that had 1 million + miles on it. It was red and had a set of those 'truck balls' hanging from the rear axle to match. The thing ran in all weather, could tow a boat, never stalled, etc. It was a treasure to behold and I one day hope to own a truck as ugly, tough and endearing as that one. It just wouldn't die.
Got a '95 Tacoma still with 298k on the clock. Had a factory clutch that only went out two years ago and lo and behold! "New," clutch is already shit. Thing that's gonna put 'er down is the corrosion that's eating its way into the frame and rear end at this point.
true story
crazy ex girl friend shows up trashed at 3am one night while I had other company.
she then proceeds to back down my 50 foot straight driveway in her grand cherokee, put it in drive.... and then plow through a 4 door hyundai which then crushed up against my S10 which was then pushed 4 feet into my second bedroom through a concrete wall.
I drove it to the dealership to start repairs the next day.
the hole in my house became a nice set of French doors.
the crazy ex lost her job, lost her home and was on probation for years. O0
and to answer the unasked question of why this woman would do this I can only say....
my penis is really that golden. :bd:
8)
Star is slowly getting back to his old form. This is good to see.
FWIW I think what killed the truck down the road from me, after 30+ years, was also the clutch.
No fair! Star's truck got more action in one night than I have since I was 21. :'(
Pimpin' aint easy.
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 26, 2021, 10:05:24 PM
No fair! Star's truck got more action in one night than I have since I was 21. :'(
What is this "action," of which you speak?
-married 20+ at this point and cannot recall "action." Get off my lawn.
24 years with Our Collective Wife. Action is putting socks on in bed to keep my feet warm.
(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/memepediadankmemes/images/0/01/297.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180908193511)
I've had some women crash vehicles trying to get OUT of my driveway but never getting into it.