Greetings from an old newbie

[Ben-IbizaABF]

Greetings all, I am a long term user of this great site but have always used my fathers login details until today. (Apologies)

It's now been 10 years since I bought my beloved 98 Ibiza GTI 16v Cupra Sport and as you can imagine, plenty of sound, repair advice has been gained and most of it from here!

I have found myself at bit of a crossroads as our new arrival has forced me to buy a more "family friendly vehicle" so I'm after some inspiration regarding the future of the old girl. It's sad but I really am emotionally attached to the car and don't want to sell or break it.

The idea of garaging it and fixing the few issues to roll back out for the summer months is really appealing but I live in the North East (not coastal but cold and wet) so would really love to hear of others experiences. The worry is the winter and very limited use will be the death of it and that would be a real shame for such a rare little car.

All the best
Ben

 

[Greydar]

I have found myself at bit of a crossroads as our new arrival has forced me to buy a more "family friendly vehicle"

You have my sympathies. I know exactly what you mean because I went through the same thing with a Peugeot 205GTi. But you will find that priorities change, and even your driving style will change because now you are responsible for several lives, one of them small and very precious. If I could re-do things then, instead of selling the GTi I would have had her preserved in carbonite or something but for most of us normal earthlings that is not possible.
If you can afford professional storage then great, otherwise I think you are going to have to let your beloved Ibiza go to a good home, and concentrate on your family. In a few years (and it will be years) you can get yourself something that is not a "family" car. Like some of us old-timers
All the best, whatever you decide.

 

[Seastormer]

Welcome to SCN, I did the same with my Kawasaki's back in the 70's, they had to go for a sensible car for my upcoming young ones. The time passes quick though and now both bikes and Cupras have been part of my life again for several years and my grandkids love them.

 

[Ben-IbizaABF]

Thanks a lot, much appreciated. That's exactly the advice most people are giving me.

It may be time to let go but I'll mull it over a little while longer . Storage would be in an unheated garage so not ideal for the long term but possibly ok until the Spring. Really needs a radiator and a few other minor bits but all jobs we can do at home and I just feel with only 6 left on the road (according to howmanyleft.co.uk) I should try and preserve it, it's served us so well for so long.

It's starting to feel like an old dog... that can't be normal haha.

 

[Greydar]

It's starting to feel like an old dog...

There may be a reason why there are only 6 left on the road

It may be hard to part with, but when you come back from your family car excursion there should still be some nice modern motors to choose from. I just love the idea that with mine you can just press a button to choose between decent comfort normal everyday to ridiculous fun in less than a second. Just start saving now (and for godsake hide it from the wife/significant other)