never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Topic: never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit. (Read 3547 times) previous topic - next topic

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

November 23, 2012, 10:27:51 PM

But I think I'm over my Thunderbird passion.

It's like spending the last 12 years with your high school girlfriend, only to realize you don't really care for the ordeal as much as you once did.

Think in the spring I'm going to cut the ties and sell it, or part it.

This ain't no "I'm mad, sad, drunk, or whatever" induced feeling, but in the past 2 months, I've not thought about the car once, other than to push it in the shop so the snow and leaves and mice wouldn't get in it.

Vinnie...want another project?

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #1 – November 23, 2012, 10:44:12 PM

No way. The Sport would NOT allow another Bird to be in the driveway. Now, parts.......that's another story.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #2 – November 23, 2012, 10:54:15 PM

I know the feeling...every time I take the convertible out now, I think to myself, "Man...this thing really is a squeaky, bouncy rattletrap." It rides like total . It gets horrible gas mileage. In fact, it's got exactly two redeeming qualities: it's fun to drive, and it has a top mechanism that works. Sometimes I wonder why I even keep the ed thing around. With a lot of issues that needed or still need addressed around the house, it's not like I have any spare cash to throw at the car. Most of the time I actually prefer driving the '84 because it's got a decent enough ride and is really quiet.

So yeah...why do I keep it?

Oh. I remember.

It may be a beat up old cooch, but it's MY cooch.

Keep your chin up. If it's meant to be, you'll find a way to keep it. But you also have to know when to let it go. That's the tricky part, finding that point.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #3 – November 24, 2012, 12:24:29 AM

in the words of thunderchicken to be exact

,..........

"Fox Birds and Cougars are like herpes. You can never get them totally out of your system. No matter how long you go without showing any symptoms, they will flare up again at some point"

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #4 – November 24, 2012, 12:38:08 AM

Gotta agree with that....

Quote from: jcassity;403116

in the words of thunderchicken to be exact

,..........

"Fox Birds and Cougars are like herpes. You can never get them totally out of your system. No matter how long you go without showing any symptoms, they will flare up again at some point"

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #5 – November 24, 2012, 01:18:50 AM

Quote from: jcassity;403116

in the words of thunderchicken to be exact

,..........

"Fox Birds and Cougars are like herpes. You can never get them totally out of your system. No matter how long you go without showing any symptoms, they will flare up again at some point"

If some people knew how true that saying is they may shy away from our foxes more!!! I had a Tbird from the time I got my license til up until about 4-5 years ago. I had everything from 83-88, 2.3-5.0(even a 5.0 HO swap), good looking to total rust buckets. All of a sudden I decided Id had enough, got rid of the 2 I had and never looked for one another one. Well low and behold I suddenly found myself looking for one(which is also how I found this site). I guess I just needed a break from the addiction called fox tbirds. If I had even the slightest idea that I would be back to them I would have never gotten rid of the 87 3.8 and the 88 5.0 sport(the one I swapped the 5.0 HO into), I would have taken the best parts of each and made one good one. Ill be keeping this one as long as I can keep the old girl still functioning, and Im on the lookout for another possibly low miles(may have a line on one). Think about it long and hard before you do anything because who knows if you do sell it and decide later down the road you want one agian, the prices could be thru the roof as the numbers of fox tbirds and cougars dwindle down.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #6 – November 24, 2012, 02:38:48 AM

Same cars, same sig pic, same everything for me. The number of Cougars may change but extreme cirspoogestances are the only thing that would take that number to 0. Been an '83-'88 Cougar fan for 28 years and don't see it stopping.
But that works for me...understand we are all different...yadda, yadda open mind and such.

Do you have anything else in mind, focusing on the Mustang or giving the car hobby in general a break?

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #7 – November 24, 2012, 07:38:53 AM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;403113

I know the feeling...

Keep your chin up. If it's meant to be, you'll find a way to keep it. But you also have to know when to let it go. That's the tricky part, finding that point.

What Eric said.....
I haven't drove my 87 since 2003..... but I keep it because its been with me for almost my entire adult life. If I never drive either one again, I'm good with that, and I enjoy knowing that I did all the work on them, and that people still love to come over to see them.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #8 – November 24, 2012, 08:46:35 AM

I've been driving an '88 Thunderbird since 1987. It's just part of me. Plus, they are getting more unique by the year. NOBODY around here has one, and when we go to any car event in this area, the Sport draws a lot of attention, nobody else has one. The Sport has pushed the limits lately, but she managed to apologize at the last minute.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #9 – November 24, 2012, 08:49:00 AM

BUT, if you're selling parts, let me have a list of what you will have so I can buy them from you.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #10 – November 24, 2012, 11:24:38 AM

We all go through cycles in life. Even with our favorites car. Sometimes we push so hard to accomplish something with our projects that we get burnt out from it and then wonder why we do what we do. I have sold a few cars over the years thinking I needed to get rid of them only to find out 2 years down the road I wish I had it back. There are times when something must be done and as Eric said the tricky part is knowing when that is. Think it through and you will find the answer.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #11 – November 24, 2012, 03:17:26 PM

you could do what I do and push it aside for a few months then go back and do some things. All in all I love the birds but there is a point when enough is enough. Beau, I'm here for you thick and thin, anything you need let me know.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #12 – November 24, 2012, 05:09:32 PM

Sometimes it's not so much the Fox T-Bird/Cougar thing that you lose interest in, it's a particular car. That's what happened with my '88. It was the only Fox car I ever actually did any of the things I'd always wanted to do to a Fox car (T-5 swap, TC rear, built suspension, TC interior and sheetmetal, etc) but even after owning it for 7 years I just never bonded with that car. I've mentioned the main reason here before: It wasn't my first choice in Foxness. In fact it was way down the list. First choice would have been a four-eye Bird, a close second would have been an 87/88 Cougar, third would have been an 88-92 Mark VII LSC, and way down in fourth place was the '87-'88 Bird that I settled for (and even then I'd have preferred a TC or even a Sport over my base model). Sometimes when you settle for something no amount of work can make up for the fact that you've settled, so I sold it. And while I do miss having a project car that I poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears into, I don't miss that car.

I still love the FoxBirdCats, but even now after having gone without one for two years I'm not sure my next project car will be one. Next time I think I'm gonna go back to my first ever car and find myself a '77-'78 Trans Am. My '85 V6 Bird was my first NICE (or even presentable) car, but my first car was a '78 Bandit T/A, black with gold chicken, and I've longed for another one ever since. The first one was a $600 piece of shiznit that took every nickel I had just to keep it running, but I'm no poor teenager any more, so this time around it'll be a nice one. I'm thinking 100% stock body and interior, but with an EFI LSX/T56 swap to make it reliable. I actually have a bit of a history with second gen F-bodies - my second car was an '80 Formula Firebird. Car #3 was a '66 Galaxie 500, and only after that did I get into T-Birds with my '85...

Another possible next project would be a 78-82 Corvette, again with an LSx powering it. I have always, always, loved the looks of those cars (what can I say, I was born in the early 70's and was an impressionable young lad in the 80's, when these cars were everywhere), and you can buy them dirt cheap. The LSx would be necessary because late 70's Vettes with their smogged, carbureted small blocks, performed even worse than stock FoxBirdCats...

Of course I certainly wouldn't pass by a nice four-eye Bird or anniversary Cat, but it would have to find me - I'm not going looking for one. And it would have to be spectacular...

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #13 – November 24, 2012, 07:29:18 PM

The Sport and I have really bonded. We have a pretty good relationship. The issues the car has had haven't been the car's fault. it was OLD parts that had far exceeded their use, or, damage caused by a substandard part.

never thought I'd feel this way...with an edit.

Reply #14 – November 24, 2012, 07:56:53 PM

Here is a photo of me and my brother BARRY. Compared to today's cars like my LS3 turbo Camaro it is a DOG. But this photo taken 43 years ago says it all. That car is memories and this photo was taken in our shop. Things change time goes on but MEMORIES ARE FOREVER. Good luck my friend. And i am sure you will build another dream car in the future!!! Peace. HAY BARRY I LOVE YOU BRO!!!