Diagnosed With Car Bulimia, No Known Cure!

[e21Keith]

My partner has diagnosed me with Car Bulimia.

Apparently the symptoms include spending many hours looking at second-hand cars online, buying them (whether they are needed or not, or even if we have space for another car), fiddling with the cars for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, fixing a few faults and then selling them on at little or no profit, sometimes at a loss. Excuses for buying the cars include "It's a great deal, I can't lose money on this one, I'm sure someone in the family will want it, don't you love the colour" etc. Recent manifestations of the condition include Mercedes SL, Golf Mk4 (x3), Jaguar X-Type, e36 Compact, Passat B5.5, Mazda Mx5 (still got that one), that's just in the last 6 months! I seem to be immune to cars under 15 years old.

I don't know of a cure for the condition, research on the internet hasn't helped. Strangely my partner has a similar condition, Shopping Bulimia, which involves buying great quantities of clothing online, trying it on once and then sending it all back or trying to palm it off to a family member or work colleague. I wonder if the two conditions are related or even if one of us has infected the other?

Luckily the condition hasn't impacted the relationships I have with my e39 M5 (14 years), e21 (8 years) or e30 (7 years) and I feel confident they will remain unaffected.

If anyone suffers from the same condition, maybe we can put together a help group. Should I be concerned about the condition, could it get worse? Maybe its a healthy condition and I don't need to worry about it?

[Jeroen]

Definitely need a help group, but perhaps we can't be cured. Does it really matter? Even though most of my finds are BMW's, still the same fun. Sometimes you just need to check off a certain model, right? Some cars stay longer, the good ones hehe. E21 I'm currently driving is already with me for 12 years, sold the E30 320iS after 19 years... and some are gone in a week.

Good thing if your better half is able to accept this shortcoming. I hear of spouses threatening with divorce if they buy one more, mine luckily has lost count hahaha

Still I believe we need to get together and let this all out. Bring drinks and an old car please.

[323baur]

Hahaha, I am very sick too.
Nothing helps, only buying more cars.

[Manitoba]

UwBuurman has the best “cure” to handle with this at home. But he has to tell himself.

Greetz,
Walter.

[uwbuurman]

Ah oke, I always tell the wife that I have just one woman in my life and several cars. And that it can be the other way around aswell. Her choice. Works like a charm. She even told me to go get a car, recently.

[uwbuurman]

Hahaha, I am very sick too.

Yeah a very sick person, you are. In the context regarding the car boulimia you are ill to.

[323baur]

Hahaha, I am very sick too.

Yeah a very sick person, you are. In the context regarding the car boulimia you are ill to.

Very true, but nevertheless I sold one today without buying one back immediately.

[uwbuurman]

Hahahaha, there's always tomorrow.

[323baur]

Hahahaha, there's always tomorrow.

True.

* stops searching on leboncoin.fr *

[Jeroen]

Very true, but nevertheless I sold one today without buying one back immediately.

you picked up a new car one week earlier

[e21Keith]

At least it seems I am not alone and as far as I know so far there are no known long term health issues associated with the condition (well apart from my second divorce when the condition was cited as grounds).

I haven't bought a car now for over 2 weeks and it's nearly a week since I sold one, I am however viewing a TVR when I go on holiday to Cornwall next month.

[LloydRT]

Ohh that explains it. People get infected by just browsing the forums and get the mod addiction ideas.

[e21Keith]

Went to Cornwall and bought a TVR

It's a 1994 Chimeara 400 that has been sat in a not entirely dry barn for 11 years. I didn't even attempt to start it, the radiator core has basically disintegrated and there is surface corrosion on everything. I couldn't inspect the chassis properly as I had no jack and could only get to one side of the car where it was stored. I'll need to clear some space for the car and go back to Cornwall with a trailer to collect it in December.

I'll do what's necessary to get the engine running but after that I think it's going to be a body off restoration, hoping there is enough of the chassis left to repair. I don't think this is going to be a short term project but as I'm now semi-retired I need something to keep me busy!

[Jeroen]

Hahaha love it! I was browsing Chimearas just the other day as well. Difference is, I realized there was no room left in the shed so I didn't buy one. No guarantees for the future though haha. Keep us posted on your progress! BTW, in the meantime I did buy this shopping cart with my mate

[Jeroen]

Well have you ever.... I posted on topic info in the off topic section