Strange Thoughts and Missing my Camaro

[rocknroll_jeph]

I was away on vacation for a month and left my car parked in my garage, covered up. When I came back it fired right up and brought a smile on my face once again. While I was away I had some strange personal issues that I am sorting through and want to share….

For this year’s vacation my wife and I took our 03 BMW Z4 on a huge road trip like we do every year. We had a great time visiting lots of national parks and monuments around the US. I do love driving that car but I really missed my Camaro, which I own in China. The funny thing is that I saw plenty of other Camaros on the road in the states but I didn’t really feel too excited to see them, in fact I thought many just looked too plain. However, when I got back to Beijing and took the cover off mine I felt like the first time I sat in it again. I felt strangely complete and whole again, back in my home far from home.

I wonder why I don’t get excited to see other Camaros in the states. I still get giddy when I see other cars I like on the road. Was I jealous? Do I only have a special attraction to my own Camaro?

Another strange thing was that as my vacation in the states went on, I started to get homesick for China, even thought I am an American. Maybe it was just because my Camaro is in China? Maybe it was because I bought quite a few parts to install once I got back to Beijing and was anxious to do some mods...

I always had a strange feeling that my Camaro picked me. There were two nearly identical Camaros at the lot when I bought mine and I naturally gravitated toward the one I ended up buying. It also feels different to drive than other Camaros (and other cars for that matter), and something about it is just right. I guess that is why it is my car.

Anyway, those are just my random thoughts I felt like sharing. Am I the only one who has these feelings toward a car? Probably not, but I am one of a few just crazy enough to share my musings with total strangers.

[Scalded Dog]

You are experiencing a case of "Car love."

There are some rare instances in which a person LOVES their car. Most people will never experience this, and even "car guys" will not feel it with very many cars. Lots of cars to like, and to lust after, but very few will ever be truly LOVED.

It's sort of like human to human (gender- based) love: You will probably only REALLY love one, or perhaps a small few, people in this way. You may LUST after many others (don't tell my wife I said that), but only a very small few will ever achieve that level of LOVE. And, it's not always logical, either... sometimes it can't be explained.

I have owned about 50 cars over the course of my lifetime. I have only LOVED three: My Cutlass, my Silverado, and this Camaro. I must confess, my love was probably deepest for my Cutlass, and perhaps no other car will ever compare again.

I can see other Cutlasses, Silverados, and Camaros... ehh, they are okay, nice looking, many better than the ones I have owned. But I love only my very own.

[RubyCamaro]

Well said.

Glad you got your permagrin back on OP!

[Quicksilver-SS]

Are there many Camaros in China??

[rocknroll_jeph]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver-SS

Are there many Camaros in China??

There was a boatload (literally) of 2011's that were officially imported so you can see them around occasionally. I like it because they are pretty rare. I will see more Ferraris or Teslas in a day than Camaros. They can also ordered from the dealer so there are a few newer ones driving around too, but most are V6 hardtops. The V8s and convertibles regardless of the engine will cost about $100,000USD after tax.

[rocknroll_jeph]

Originally Posted by RubyCamaro

Well said.

Glad you got your permagrin back on OP!

Thanks, Ruby. I do have to admit that every time I saw a red jewel tint Camaro I was looking to see if it was yours.

[rocknroll_jeph]

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

You are experiencing a case of "Car love."

There are some rare instances in which a person LOVES their car. Most people will never experience this, and even "car guys" will not feel it with very many cars. Lots of cars to like, and to lust after, but very few will ever be truly LOVED.

It's sort of like human to human (gender- based) love: You will probably only REALLY love one, or perhaps a small few, people in this way. You may LUST after many others (don't tell my wife I said that), but only a very small few will ever achieve that level of LOVE. And, it's not always logical, either... sometimes it can't be explained.

I have owned about 50 cars over the course of my lifetime. I have only LOVED three: My Cutlass, my Silverado, and this Camaro. I must confess, my love was probably deepest for my Cutlass, and perhaps no other car will ever compare again.

I can see other Cutlasses, Silverados, and Camaros... ehh, they are okay, nice looking, many better than the ones I have owned. But I love only my very own.

Thanks for this answer and I am glad someone else feels the same. My wife definitely does not understand and even though she is into cars I don't think she can understand. She thinks I should be lusting after cars I can't afford and would never use for their intended purpose.

[trodecke]

Originally Posted by rocknroll_jeph

I should be lusting after cars I can't afford and would never use for their intended purpose.

That's what a lot of the folks I work with think as well. We had a conversation one day about our dream cars (when you're oncall 24x7 and you tend to do more work after 10:00pm than you do between 8-5, you can take some time off during the day for idle chat). They all came up with Lambos or Ferraris or some other exotic car. I said I wanted my '79 Camaro Z/28 back, with just a few mods to it of course. They said I wasn't thinking big enough, etc. Of all the people in that conversation, I'm the only one now driving something close to my dream car.

[sherob]

I do love my Camaro... and it's the one car that always makes me smile when I start it... and back it out of the garage. I also enjoyed my 91 Toyota Pickup, and my 70 Austin America... probably the only other vehicles I would still like to own.

There are other Camaros out there... but only one of mine.