How's your relationship...

[j2k4]

...with your car, and what's it mean to you?

For me, it isn't a mid-life crisis...crisis is entirely the wrong word, with the wrong implication.

It's recognition of a need for a wee bit of self-indulgence - I think, as the years go by, we realize that there is precious little in this life that is precisely the way we want it to be, and having a car like this (or any car, really) presents an opportunity to pursue an ideal.

It's not a way to gather compliments or draw stares (those are occasional bonuses), though it can be enjoyable to have someone identify it knowledgably and remember it from it's time.

It doesn't personify me or define me, but it does obsess me, in a way...I wonder how I would have felt about it had I owned it after my divorce. :rolleyes:

Oh, yeah - boost is good stuff, too. :)

[niterydr]

My car is an outlet for stress. In some ways it is a mistress (and the wife understands that). I enjoy time spent working on the car and the enjoyment it brings when I drive it. The group of friends associated with the car scene are invaluable. The looks, races, and competition I get out of the vehicle are added bonuses.

[Emilie@GZP]

A sick obsession, cause for chronic ageda, and a drain on my bank account.


Kind of like a bad girlfriend..... hmm.... :scratch:


... And by my sig list... I'm quite the whore.... :lmao:

[j2k4]

A sick obsession, cause for chronic ageda, and a drain on my bank account.


Kind of like a bad girlfriend..... hmm.... :scratch:


... And by my sig list... I'm quite the whore.... :lmao:

Hah...Em, I seriously overlooked the female POV - thanks.

That last shows a highly desirable empathy any guy will recognize. :lol:

Hans is a lucky guy. :)

[Hans@GZP]

So lucky lol. Work on these things every day and then maintain your own fleet and get back to me :p

[Emilie@GZP]

Hah...Em, I seriously overlooked the female POV - thanks.

That last shows a highly desirable empathy any guy will recognize. :lol:

Hans is a lucky guy. :)

Highly desirable = 1 car that your girl loves, and likes to accessorize.

Having to maintain your, and your girlfriends collection of no less than 10 3/S's at any given time, with nearly all of them being modified to extensively modified, or in the process of being modified, then subsequently broken....

es no bueno. :lol:

[j2k4]

At least you both seem to be on the same page; I mean, it wouldn't occur to me (if my wife were an enthusiast) to supply her with...pink parts, for example. :)

[Emilie@GZP]

oooh, you guys haven't seen the best stuff yet either!!! :runaway: Waiting for the call to go pick it up... will post pics as soon as the new stuff is done :p

[j2k4]

oooh, you guys haven't seen the best stuff yet either!!! :runaway: Waiting for the call to go pick it up... will post pics as soon as the new stuff is done :p

Oh, I can't wait! :lol:

[Zaroth]

I would describe my relationship with my car as having a girlfriend that is a really needy and bitchy but great in bed.

[Emilie@GZP]

I would describe my relationship with my car as having a girlfriend that is a really needy and bitchy but great in bed.

shmexy tailpipe, eh?

[Zaroth]

shmexy tailpipe, eh?

And an ass for days :P

[IPD]

i'm kinda like kevin. i have this vision in my head of what my ideal car is---and i want to pursue it with my 3/s. accolades are inconsequential, obviously. i AM going to paint my car purple, after all. ;)

[FeaRpb]

Love Hate Love

The car is my drug. And I'm addicted to it.



Post via Tapatalk

[j2k4]

i'm kinda like kevin. i have this vision in my head of what my ideal car is---and i want to pursue it with my 3/s. accolades are inconsequential, obviously. i AM going to paint my car purple, after all. ;)

If you do it in purple, don't forget: Blood for coolant! :)

[CoopKill]

"She" is a carrot on a stick for me, but in the end will be the Carrot CAKE Desert!

Definitely not a mid-life band aid, as I have wanted her since I bought the 92 NA for my wife years ago. Passion/Obsession/Mistress seems to fit appropriately.

My "Boostosterone" seems to come in waves, as I leave her garaged for weeks at a time, then she gets rode hard/put away wet... :suspect:

[ictponder]

I have mixed feelings towards my car. It's non turbo, which goes against how I usually approach any purchase (settling for the lesser) Mostly for me it's about owning something that I have complete control of how it looks and how it's taken care of, anyone who knows me knows this.

All things considered it makes no sense though lol. I've owned the car for over 5 years now and have only put 11,000 miles on it. Logically I should sell it and get something that I actually use.

[AdamVR4]

It's just another hobby at this point. At one point it was my primary focus, damn near an occupation. Now it's more like a trophy of past conquest... Or maybe a retired race-horse. Either way, she still looks damn good in the garage and I love being able to take her out whenever I want to feel that intense pull from 4000 RPM's on... I'd be totally crushed (grown man crying crushed) if something happened to the old slut though. I often have nightmares where the house burns down and I couldn't get the VR4 out. She's more like an old lover I can go to whenever I want without any consequences... Heh.

[UTRacerX9]

It's just another hobby at this point. At one point it was my primary focus, damn near an occupation. Now it's more like a trophy of past conquest... Or maybe a retired race-horse. Either way, she still looks damn good in the garage and I love being able to take her out whenever I want to feel that intense pull from 4000 RPM's on... I'd be totally crushed (grown man crying crushed) if something happened to the old slut though. I often have nightmares where the house burns down and I couldn't get the VR4 out. She's more like an old lover I can go to whenever I want without any consequences... Heh.

That pretty much sums up my feelings about the Stealth, though I'm probably a bit further down the line from my previous "obsession" phase than you. I have a question that's been plaguing me for months now... Do I put the new 300M OS in and Billet TC, and fix the power steering leak while I'm fixing the refrigerant leak, buy a 97 bumper, paint it, and get to install the fixed headlight conversion kit I bought? Or... do I sell the parts I've collected, and just fix the few things that need fixing (but might lead me to just decide to sell it if I don't have this extra money into it?) Or... do I just let it sit in the garage and do nothing, so that way I keep it because I don't like the thought of losing it?

Sigh.

[AdamVR4]

That pretty much sums up my feelings about the Stealth, though I'm probably a bit further down the line from my previous "obsession" phase than you. I have a question that's been plaguing me for months now... Do I put the new 300M OS in and Billet TC, and fix the power steering leak while I'm fixing the refrigerant leak, buy a 97 bumper, paint it, and get to install the fixed headlight conversion kit I bought? Or... do I sell the parts I've collected, and just fix the few things that need fixing (but might lead me to just decide to sell it if I don't have this extra money into it?) Or... do I just let it sit in the garage and do nothing, so that way I keep it because I don't like the thought of losing it?

Sigh.

I've still got dreams of future glory that make it impossible for me to have similar thoughts. Unfinished bidness, if you will.

If you don't have any goals for the car and don't feel that satisfaction you once did when you improve it, it might be time to sell :(

[NOMIEZVR4]

Ahh..what a wonderful thread...My VR-4..I can't put it in words how I feel about it..its my baby, my love, my obsession, my first wife, even though shes pretty beat up cosmetically, I can't wait till shes redone in black(in progress) and slammed with coilovers, with a dark black tint and new rubber...shes gonna gleam. I think about her everyday..and each time I drive her my love for her only increases. Great thread OP...I just wish I had enough $$ to do it exactly how I want...that's for later though.

[TurboSinceBirth]

I guess I must be a 3S pimp then because I was working on 4 at a time narrowed down to 3 right now. :p It can be a love/hate relationship sometimes on my project. I put way more into it than I get back out but at the same time I always have to be working on one or else I get bored. If nothing else I always come away with more knowledge of the car. With each 3S I end up having more extensive plans just different directions. I don't know what it will take/if there ever will be a time when I'm not without a 3S. I like being the underdog taking a car, making it faster, and improving the weak areas so it become a well-rounded car for less than a factory high end sports car costs. :)

[j2k4]

That pretty much sums up my feelings about the Stealth, though I'm probably a bit further down the line from my previous "obsession" phase than you. I have a question that's been plaguing me for months now... Do I put the new 300M OS in and Billet TC, and fix the power steering leak while I'm fixing the refrigerant leak, buy a 97 bumper, paint it, and get to install the fixed headlight conversion kit I bought? Or... do I sell the parts I've collected, and just fix the few things that need fixing (but might lead me to just decide to sell it if I don't have this extra money into it?) Or... do I just let it sit in the garage and do nothing, so that way I keep it because I don't like the thought of losing it?

Sigh.

Yes, and what do you do with this remnant obsession - is it still an obsession?

How will you know, unless you...:wink:

Seems you're biting a bullet either way.

How much do you think it has to do with these cars' relative lack of worth?

Is it the pretty girl with the questionable pedigree, or the alluring bitch who continues to tease?:)

[Hans@GZP]

My yellow stealth is like that relationship you wish you could go back to because you royally fucked up. Things would just be ok if you didn't do one little thing wrong and it would still probably be the love of your life.

I pulled the engine/Trans 6 years ago because of a bad clutch hose. I had dreams of tons o different setups. Now, 6 years later, it remains a heartless bitch that should be getting the attention it deserves, but I still lack the long term interest in seeing it through to the beautiful ending we want.

[j2k4]

My yellow stealth is like that relationship you wish you could go back to because you royally fucked up. Things would just be ok if you didn't do one little thing wrong and it would still probably be the love of your life.

I pulled the engine/Trans 6 years ago because of a bad clutch hose. I had dreams of tons o different setups. Now, 6 years later, it remains a heartless bitch that should be getting the attention it deserves, but I still lack the long term interest in seeing it through to the beautiful ending we want.

So you have a fidelity issue, with a large side of incest, eh?

Edit:

I've arrived at a better formulation:

You have a realistic chance to bang every girl at the 3S family reunion, but that first one wants another dance...

[92pearltt]

My yellow stealth is like that relationship you wish you could go back to because you royally fucked up. Things would just be ok if you didn't do one little thing wrong and it would still probably be the love of your life.

I pulled the engine/Trans 6 years ago because of a bad clutch hose. I had dreams of tons o different setups. Now, 6 years later, it remains a heartless bitch that should be getting the attention it deserves, but I still lack the long term interest in seeing it through to the beautiful ending we want.

He pretty much said it. My white car has been down on and off, mostly off for 6 years. I hate looking at the damn thing but would be utterly devastated if something where to happen to it, due to sentimental value. On the other hand my yellow stealth is just another vehicle that gets me from point A to point B and looks good doing it.

[UTRacerX9]

I've still got dreams of future glory that make it impossible for me to have similar thoughts. Unfinished bidness, if you will.

If you don't have any goals for the car and don't feel that satisfaction you once did when you improve it, it might be time to sell :(

Well, for me, my first highly modded car was my 91 Talon TSi. I got that car running high 12's, possibly even mid-high 11's with race gas and better tires, at a time where the upgrade paths was basically HKS this, HKS that... It was very respectable. The Stealth was what I always wanted to mod back then... but couldn't afford to do so. When I did finally get my blue Stealth TT, I think a significant portion of the "need to prove myself/car" mentality had already faded. My goal for this car was always to run an 11.7... and I am very confident that it could do so, but haven't been to the track for years to prove it.


Yes, and what do you do with this remnant obsession - is it still an obsession?

How will you know, unless you...:wink:

Seems you're biting a bullet either way.

How much do you think it has to do with these cars' relative lack of worth?

Is it the pretty girl with the questionable pedigree, or the alluring bitch who continues to tease?:)

I am the second owner of this car. All work/mods was performed by me, except for the one time I took it to an import shop to install some cam gears/60k service that they proceeded to screw up. I can't go into the garage without looking at it and admiring it; when I do drive it somewhere, I park it and always catch myself looking back at it. The 3/S is an undeniably beautiful car, and the lines I feel are timeless (Stealth TT/RT ;) )

I've owned this car for about 10 years now, and owned two Stealths before it. It was an obsession, it IS an obsession... but I'm coming to feel that the obsession is not the Stealth per se anymore, but simply the joy of owning a gorgeous sports car, which could be many different makes. In the mid 90's, I wanted a Porsche Turbo. Twin turbo AWD... but with more horsepower. Styling however, I had to give the nod to the 3/S, and certainly the price, for a high school kid to afford. Fast forward a few years and several job transfers later, the 3/S is discontinued, Porsche and others have continued to improve on their cars...

I buy a Boxster S and it's the best handling car I've ever driven. Makes a modded, lightened 3/S feel like a fat pig, just doesn't have the brute power of my Stealth. A few more years go by, and I buy parts for the car and never put them on, too busy. Sedans and other 4 door cars are now boasting 300+ horsepower and 5 and 6 speed automatics. (Mercedes S65, 604 horsepower stock!) I come to the realization that, while my car is certainly sexy looking, more and more effort is required just to keep up with modern stock cars. Not to mention hassles with registration for a car with no cats and a Super Dragger exhaust.

Worth... is a relative term. I've said many times that my car is priceless, because I would never sell. It was certainly true at the time. But now... I just don't know.

[NOMIEZVR4]

Damn...lots of guys pouring their hearts out in this thread...:p

[wingnut]

LoL, the mistress analogies are frickin great!

I've now had mine for 6 years and just about to clear putting 100,000 miles on her :D

what does one call a long-term mistress...besides "wife" :lol:

[MR2]

"nothing is too expensive for her, it's just a matter of time"

would have put way past 100k now :) all it takes is one twisty road...one hard launch, for everything...every nick, every grazed knuckle, every cent to be worth it ten times over.

[GTOJOE]

LOL the car is a part of me now. Part of my identity. All my mates know that me and the car are forever :lol: the wife already thinks I love it more than her. I just wish I had more time to play with it :p

[DK77]

I guess my obsession with 3S could be characterized as my first true love as well as love at first sight. Growing up I always thought I liked cars, but outside of the most common muscle cars I knew practically nothing about performance/sports cars. After I graduated high school, my dad told me there was a Dodge Stealth for sale near his office. At the time I didn't even know what a Dodge Stealth was. So I said I'd go check it out and see what the deal was. First thing I did was check the insurance cost since I assumed it would be astronomical... turns out it was pennies compared to my Dodge Dakota I had (still don't understand why). As soon as I got in the driver's seat, I fell in love. I took it for a spin and was amazed at how well it handled and how powerful it was (N/A as well). All I knew was I wanted it. I couldn't come to an agreement with the seller at that time because he wanted more than I was willing to pay, and I am very grateful of that. Less than a week later, I talked to the used dealer where I bought my Dakota and he was getting a Stealth TT on trade in. The Stealth never made it to the lot because I bought it as soon as it was ready.

Honestly though I think the forum and the 3S community is my favorite thing about this platform. When I got the Stealth I didn't even know how to change oil and was terrified of anything under the hood assuming it was going to dismember me. Now I really think I want to try and open a tuner shop someday. Almost everything I've learned about automotive has come from working on my Stealth and countless hours reading on the forum.

As for how my girlfriend feels about my relationship with my Stealth, she's jealous until race time. Tonight she was telling me I should find someone to race since I haven't raced at all since the beginning of summer.

[Granny]

My car has been changing my life since the first day I saw it.

[Sin'sVr4]

I would say i have a love hate relationship with my car. It is my baby, but its made me grow in ways i never thought. It has caused many fights with my wife, and i have seen alot of things transpire due to owning this car. Ive owned her since 2007, and have put 3 engines, 2 trannys, 7 turbos and alot more into thi car. I was obssesed with the car for the forst 4 years honestly. Then i realized its just a car.

I love the fact that most people in my town know my car and dont usually try to fuk with me. The feeling that makes me happy right now is knowing that my car runs great, looks great and i can take it out fro a long drive and not worry about if I can make it back home. My wife finally gave in to the realization that the car isnt going anywhere after the amount of money we put into this thing (notice i said we...whats mine is hers ;) )

I do love this car, but God, my wife and kids will always come first. When she says enough is enough, Thats what it is. I am going to be putting in my new TOB and output shaft seal in, and will be saving up to get a new billet TC, and then thats hopefully it. ( ya right lol).

But, I do love this car and the enthusiast that love them as well. I need to get some pics with my new front end and slicks on it :)

Mike-

[IPD]

i don't put god before my car. my car at least grants me tangible pleasure from time-to-time as it drains my wallet.

[93STLTH]

I look at the car as more of a child than a mistress or girlfriend. I will protect it as best I can and try to show it off as a proud father would an accomplished child. I'm always looking for ways to make it a better child and I'm making sure it's face is clean and teeth are brushed. Entering it in shows is kind of like having a child that plays sports. You want it to win and you're disappointed when it doesn't. Taking it out for a drive is like playing catch in the back yard. It you and your kid and no one else and you just have to enjoy the time together. And of course, you're devastated when your kid gets sick or hurt.

[CoopKill]

I look at the car as more of a child than a mistress or girlfriend. I will protect it as best I can and try to show it off as a proud father would an accomplished child. I'm always looking for ways to make it a better child and I'm making sure it's face is clean and teeth are brushed. Entering it in shows is kind of like having a child that plays sports. You want it to win and you're disappointed when it doesn't. Taking it out for a drive is like playing catch in the back yard. It you and your kid and no one else and you just have to enjoy the time together. And of course, you're devastated when your kid gets sick or hurt.

Haha, great analogy!

[wingnut]

i don't put god before my car. my car at least grants me tangible pleasure from time-to-time as it drains my wallet.

ok, ill bite...

...so, if it does not give you tangible pleasure then it ranks below your car?!?

[stealthify]

Growing up, the 3S was always my "Eleanor." I recall seeing it at the most inopportune moments, usually driving in the opposite direction, and only granting me 3-4 second glimpses of it before disappearing out of sight. We played this game for years, as I didn't know much about cars, and I knew even less about the type of car this was... and, all I knew, was that it looked good. My relationship before owning one is best described as "chasing the ghost," as no other car sparked nearly the same amount of interest.

Once I purchased my first one, we had our honeymoon phase... for about 10 years... in fact, its not quite over. I still love this car, and it's become so engrained in my life that I can't picture myself without it. If I was short on cash, I'd rather sell my kidney before getting rid of her. It is undoubtably the only inanimate object that I feel some strong obligation to protect and keep in my life.

Reading back over this, I probably need some help. :p But being part of this community, I don't feel so alone in this regard.

[DK77]

This really is the only platform that the ownership base has this type of relationship with their car. Most other cars are just a car and there is always something better that the owner would rather have. Most 3S owners I know would rather put more money into their 3S than buy another car, even if it is more advanced.

[Granny]

This really is the only platform that the ownership base has this type of relationship with their car. Most other cars are just a car and there is always something better that the owner would rather have. Most 3S owners I know would rather put more money into their 3S than buy another car, even if it is more advanced.

I hope this is really not true

[futurevr4man]

my car is the epitome of a girlfriend for me at the moment.

a lot of people say it jokingly to me, but it really is the truth. i spend all of my extra time and money on it and i enjoy it arguably more than any female i have ever dated. its not that i cant get a girlfriend, its more that i dont want one right now (the reasons varying from time, focus on school, as well as wanting to find who i am before trying to get into something serious).

i think once i complete my build, i will feel like a new stage in life is upon me, and at that time i may or may not quit obsessing over it so much :)

[CoopKill]

my car is the epitome of a girlfriend for me at the moment.

a lot of people say it jokingly to me, but it really is the truth. i spend all of my extra time and money on it and i enjoy it arguably more than any female i have ever dated. its not that i cant get a girlfriend, its more that i dont want one right now (the reasons varying from time, focus on school, as well as wanting to find who i am before trying to get into something serious).

i think once i complete my build, i will feel like a new stage in life is upon me, and at that time i may or may not quit obsessing over it so much :)
HEH, good luck with that!

[DK77]

I hope this is really not true

I have seen it before. I know some people personally that have awesome cars and after a couple years they are planning what they're going to buy next. They have no attachment to their car, even though it may be a really sweet car. And how often do you see someone post something about some new advanced car and everyone says, yeah that's nice but I would rather spend half that on a 3S and go way faster.

[Granny]

I have seen it before. I know some people personally that have awesome cars and after a couple years they are planning what they're going to buy next. They have no attachment to their car, even though it may be a really sweet car. And how often do you see someone post something about some new advanced car and everyone says, yeah that's nice but I would rather spend half that on a 3S and go way faster.

Somehow I just don't want to beleive we are the only owners that are totally consumed by their car.
Kind of Christine creepy like....

[IPD]

This really is the only platform that the ownership base has this type of relationship with their car. Most other cars are just a car and there is always something better that the owner would rather have. Most 3S owners I know would rather put more money into their 3S than buy another car, even if it is more advanced.

couldn't have said it better. there are quite a few people who have a "love it and leave it" mentality towards our cars. they don't last long.

[Street_Chally73]

Mine's definitely become a quest to return it back to its former glory, with the exception of changing out some of its weaker links...In terms of it being simply "an object", it certainly grows on you & gives you that feeling of accomplishment after you've just got done dumping a lot of money into aesthetics/performance parts/repairs (okay, mainly repair work!) & finally getting a chance to take it out for its first drive since the issue(s) arose. I can't say that it completely engulfs my life, but it's definitely a part of it as is my other car (the Challenger & essentially my first car I purchased on my own). I like to think of my R/T as a great way to get away from all of life's stresses & just spend a night, afternoon, or weekend wrenching away at it & feeling good knowing that I'm making it that much closer to how I've always envisioned it.

[mb3000]

3/s owners are the guys who break down in tears as they watch the new owner drive away their old 3/s, If they are ever forced to sell.

[DK77]

Somehow I just don't want to beleive we are the only owners that are totally consumed by their car.
Kind of Christine creepy like....

I guess I should have said one of the few, not only. But in terms of the size of the platform in regards to how devoted the owners are, I would say we are the most nuts about our cars.

[MR2]

I would say the really old muscle car guys probably have more of a following..Rat rods and that sort of thing...lots of those guys live in tin sheds so they can spend 200k on their car.

[Rakuny]

I guess my obsession with 3S could be characterized as my first true love as well as love at first sight. Growing up I always thought I liked cars, but outside of the most common muscle cars I knew practically nothing about performance/sports cars. After I graduated high school, my dad told me there was a Dodge Stealth for sale near his office. At the time I didn't even know what a Dodge Stealth was. So I said I'd go check it out and see what the deal was. First thing I did was check the insurance cost since I assumed it would be astronomical... turns out it was pennies compared to my Dodge Dakota I had (still don't understand why). As soon as I got in the driver's seat, I fell in love. I took it for a spin and was amazed at how well it handled and how powerful it was (N/A as well). All I knew was I wanted it. I couldn't come to an agreement with the seller at that time because he wanted more than I was willing to pay, and I am very grateful of that. Less than a week later, I talked to the used dealer where I bought my Dakota and he was getting a Stealth TT on trade in. The Stealth never made it to the lot because I bought it as soon as it was ready.

Honestly though I think the forum and the 3S community is my favorite thing about this platform. When I got the Stealth I didn't even know how to change oil and was terrified of anything under the hood assuming it was going to dismember me. Now I really think I want to try and open a tuner shop someday. Almost everything I've learned about automotive has come from working on my Stealth and countless hours reading on the forum.

As for how my girlfriend feels about my relationship with my Stealth, she's jealous until race time. Tonight she was telling me I should find someone to race since I haven't raced at all since the beginning of summer.


:lmao: I did the same thing.. I remember checking the oil and that it was low.. I was scared to put oil in it because I wasn't 100% sure that I was putting it in the correct place.. LOL. I got the oil changed at the dealership that first time.. directly after this I was installing a new BOV.. took it for a test drive and the oil hose blew off (previous owner removed the oil cooler and I didn't know.. they used a single hose clamp and expected it to hold). I drove it 2 miles without oil to test my BOV.. it stalled just outside my driveway I started it back up and pulled in and it stalled again. There was a big puddle of oil where the car was parked and a huge streaming line going all the way down my driveway. I put some synthetic in and the car drove okay for approx 3k miles. Turbo seal blew at that point.. I paid a local member to do an extensive 120k. Machine shop found a scuffed piston, I can't believe it didn't spin a bearing :eek4: