Cure for Obsession
Turbo Mini Forums

It's time I did something to cure my obsession. It's taking over my life and is costing the earth to maintain.

Before I have to resort to burglary or fraud to fund my habit, I thought I would ask you guys for some advice.


















F@cking Minis.

We have five Minis at this house and although only one is mine, as soon as anything goes wrong its my fault so they may as well be mine.

Three are currently road worthy, one is used daily by my eldest son and gives me the greatest concern. One has no engine at present and the other has no front end, awaiting a full restoration.

I have four engine projects on the go:
Turbo 998
NA 1275
Supercharged 998
K100 980

I spend several hours a day reading posts from other affected individuals on the Turbo-Minis forum and regularly spy on others.

I spend Sundays in the summer, walking around fields looking in boxes of rusty car parts looking for something I do not really need, but would be nice to have.

I recently calculated that my obsession is costing me at least £5k per annum.

HELP!!!!!!!!!

Edited by Paul S on 13th Mar, 2008.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Sorry, I can't be of help. I've been spending over £350 a month on my car since October.

That's £4200 PA

In the 13's at last!.. Just

That's the problem.

We are all as bad.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Well I seem to be turning into a compulsive hoarder, and buying shit I really don't need for the car.

I reckon my mini will owe me over 5k (excluding purchase price) after only 2 years of ownership. plus I am a student, therefore skint anyway.

It's not just the money.

It's most of my free time as well.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Three letters explain all

OCD

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Your problem there is that you are adding up how much it is costing you! I'm blissfully unaware of the cost of my project, so therefore don't class it as an obsession! 8-)

Tim Rowe

"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"

GTM Coupe Turbo

You become aware of the problem when you explain to neighbours or colleagues what you do at weekends!

Their reactions vary from pity to laughter.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Have you considered impregnating the wife again?
Surely a new-born / young child will help eliminate whatever time you waste on your obsession?

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

I reckon what you need to do is train your offspring to complete said Minis for you. That way you can spend your weekends relaxing in a comfy chair barking orders at your minions.......

In the real world I think I fit firmly into the "hoarder" category, and I stopped adding up money spent on Minis a long time ago.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

How did you explain that away then??!!

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

lol, i agree with the training of the offspring!!

If you do find a cure you could sell it on here. I'd definately buy it. You'd be an overnight millionaire. LOL!

Sorry to say this but you slipped up several years back, you should have got the kids working on the cars from a young age (my Dad had me working on his cars when I was still in primary school) that way by the time that they where old enough to have there own cars they'd be able to do all the work themselves.

Your only option now is to sell the kids, this will not only free up money but will reduce the number of cars you have to work on.

Or perhaps we show have pre-arranged TM work on car days where Alex takes the server down for a weekend so we aren't distracted (getting Internet in my garage/workshop/whatever was not a good move).

On a serious note you need to reduce the number of projects you have, by you son a copy of the Haynes manual and tell him that his car is his responsibility and only help when you really have to, it may sound harsh but it's the only way.

EDIT, I've never added up how much I've spent as it's almost impossible to define the boundaries, do things like a Volvo Estate count (if I didn't need a car capable of towing a Mini I wouldn't have got it) and do tools count?

Edited by Rob H on 13th Mar, 2008.

I must point out that the "kids", 16, 19 & 21 have help me a lot in the past.

Sturgeo helped me build the Cobra when he was only 9 and Axel has put a lot of hours into my car.

The problem is more my obsession.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

I don't see the problem. All sound like fun to me.

I just hop fathers day brings you thanks and beer

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

buy a lotus

Then when you get up on a sunny day you then think

"hmmm now shall i spend hours fixing the mini, or shall i clean the lotus"

get a bit of spare paul this will keep you from your obsession ...lol

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

You could always try drugs and alcohol! Will get rid of one addiction anyway!

Twincharge and inject a 998 and get rid of the other engine projects.
dave

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."