Unique Cars

EDITORIAL

THE JOYS OF OUR TOYS

- Guy ‘Guido’ Allen

MAYBE WE should preface this by pointing out you should never, ever, accept financial advice from me–or any of the Unique Cars staff–without first getting a second opinion from someone who might actually know what they’re talking about. Right, here’s my tip for the day: do not sell t hat toy.

Okay, that is kind of a sweeping statement, and relatively easy to say from the comfort of an over-crowded shed. But stay with me on this. Almost everyone at the moment is saying that now is a bad time to sell given the uncertain state of the economy and the hair-riasing job losses, and there’ s probably a little truth to that.

However the market had already flattened out to more realistic price levels and there may not be a whole lot more room to move. And people will be in the hunt. We know a few folk fortunate enough to have a bit of cash floating about, and they’ re out there actively looking.

I also lean towards the view that if you’ve already gone to all the trouble of saving and scrimping to get that special car, you should do ever y thing in your power to hang on to it, unless you’re selling to make room for another. Switching or upgrading is relatively straight-for ward and involves a fair few thrills. Such as hooking an enthusiast­ic buyer and then hunting the replacment.

But starting from scratch, finding the room, motivation and cash to buy something that isn’t actually a necessity is a whole other ballgame.

Here’s the real catch: we sometimes forget to value what the toy provides in other, less measurable, terms. I think we all go through phases when a car is giving us the screaming irrits and you’ll happily sell. It will be because it’s just spat a component or you’ve skin ned your knuckles changing an oil filter .“That’ s it, I’m selling the bloody thing !”

Partner Ms M senior knows to ignore these little outbursts and, incredibly, has on occasion talked mug gins out of a rash decision.

Why? Because, with a little luck we get a whole lot more out of the things than we put in. My old 633 shark snout is as good an example as any. It costa mere $7500 several years ago, and I’ve probably sunk half t hat again into repairs.

Meanwhile it’s provided many hours of joy on drives, events, or just the odd trip out to the shed to give it a pat. What value do you place on that? So that’ s really why I won’t sell.

Still, I suppose if needs must and we needed t he cash, there will be other days and other cars ...

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia