A Chat About Cars

The other day, my husband was talking with some friends he met through his car hobby, and this kind of conversation came up.

(Setting aside financial issues,) selling a car is more difficult and troubling than buying one.

They said.

Of course, buying a car can be a challenge too—if it’s new, you agonize over which manufacturer, model, grade, and specifications to choose. When buying used, it’s often a long wait searching through listings to find exactly what you want. But selling a car apparently demands even tougher decisions.

That’s because even if you have your eye on the next car you want, it’s hard to let go of the car you currently have, knowing you’ll regret selling it, so you end up unable to sell and just add another car instead.

I wonder if people with other hobbies like watches or bags feel the same way. Maybe those who truly love their hobbies put so much thought and care into buying that letting go becomes just as difficult.

I’m the type who usually only needs one of something—my bags and wallets tend to be used until worn out before I replace them. Thinking about it, I probably don’t get attached because I buy quickly without much fuss, so I’m not reluctant to part with or throw away things.

About Letting Go of a Beloved Car

I said to my husband,

It’s a bit of a luxury problem to say selling is harder, but it’s true that for our 911 GT3 Touring, 981 Boxster GTS, and 911 (964 C2), I’d probably regret letting any of them go. Personally, I really hope we never sell the 981 Boxster GTS—the sound alone can’t be experienced in any of the latest Porsches anymore.

My husband replied,

Yeah, selling any of those cars would be incredibly tough. Especially the 981 Boxster GTS—I don’t think I could ever part with that one.
It’s not about whether we can afford it or not; the worries when buying a car and when selling one are fundamentally different.
When buying, you’re focused on the ‘now’—which car, which specs. But when selling, you think about the ‘future’: Is this the right time to sell? Will I regret selling it later? Is the next model better?
With Porsches in particular, you have to consider if the car might become a classic or gain popularity down the road, so you have to be very careful. It’s kind of like buying and selling stocks.

That’s what he said.

There are many ways to look at it, but I guess you only see these perspectives once you’re actually in that world. Still, I’m reminded how deep and absorbing the hobby of cars really is these days.