Getting Old Sucks. Never Lose your Talisman Against Age

"King Kong ain't got shit on ME!"

-Denzel Washington in Training Day

"Peter Pan ain't got shit on ME!"

- theevildrsin

My retired dad tore down his basketball goal recently and I think that was the point where he gave up and decided to get old. Before that he shot baskets for 30-60 minutes every possible day. Hell, he shot better that I did (I do suck at basketball). I think that was his talisman against aging and now it's gone.

Yes, age is just a state of mind and all that, but a physical object or maybe a thing you do, or dream of can be a powerfully symbolic reminder. I urge you to figure out what that is and never give it up. Maybe when some aging dude has a midlife crisis and decides to get a chopper, he's lost his talisman and is trying to figure out what it is.

I think mine is most likely my mid-engine convertible. It is eating dessert before the dinner. It is not waiting till retirement to start enjoying life because you may never get there. It is wishing for a go kart your whole childhood and getting it 25 years later. It is being seven years old again and hopping on your Big Wheel and pulling up on the handbrake and spinning out. I never freaking asked myself if I could carry all my toys on my Big Wheel or how safe it was.

And at this point, I've started thinking about trading in my car for something a little more (gasp!) practical. Actually seating four people, low maintenance costs, uses regular unleaded, will allow me to own it for 20+ years, have a roof to mount a roof rack and wow, gets good mileage.

But don't worry if I trade in my car for a diesel Subaru Outback one day. I was a Boy Scout and I'm always prepared. I have a spare talisman..my other convertible.

And dad, better start doing some light stretching because I'm getting you a basketball goal whether you like it or not.

It's just a matter of time.

Currently I've either matched or surpassed my record for years without trading in my car(s) and buying something else. I've changed cars from as quickly as 6 months to at most 3-4 years. I think I'm hitting 4-5 years right now. The past few cars has been an arms race, trying to "upgrade" to something faster or cooler. Looking back, that determination looks a little more questionable in relation to money spent.

'91 Toyota Celica ST> '85 Jeep Cherokee + Honda Hawk motorcycle > '00 Toyota Celica GTS > Celica plus '04 Dodge SRT-4 > SRT-4 plus '96 Mazda Miata > Miata plus '99 FRC Chevy Corvette > Miata plus Current Car. The Miata has been a dream car of mine since it came out and I prob will never get rid of it because it is so fun for so little money and plus not worth selling.

At this point, I feel like any car I get that I can afford will be a "downgrade" compared to what I currently have. This is a psychological hurdle because really, how much car is enough for the street? I used to buy just with performance in mind.

So what car do I think I would be happy to own for (the next) ten years, aside from the Miata? I'm thinking a '06 supercharged Mini Cooper S or a Subaru WRX STI (hatchback). The goal is long term reliability, minimal running costs, lots of fun and decent performance, and more utility than a two door passenger convertible. Also a solid roof for addition of a roof rack.

Other possibilities:

Mark V VW GTI (reliability?)

2011 Mustang.

Honda Civic Si Sedan (seems to meet all requirements, but perhaps a little dull)

Toyota "FT-86 / Celica"

Any other suggestions?

We will see what happens.