Cars

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bobolink

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I was wondering if it is sinful to ‘lust’ after cars? I am not quite sure *lust *is the correct word, but it’s the best I can do.

I am a car enthusiast, and I am thinking about my next car. I find a certain sensuality at work when I look at cool cars. Perhaps this is a problem for me. But I was wondering, would this be sinful, and if so, what kind of sin would it be?
 
Seems more likely to be greed than lust.

It’s not automatically greedy to decide to spend a responsible portion of your income on a car that does more for you than just get you to your destination. If it is essentially a hobby and occupies a hobby sized portion of your time, talent and treasure its fine. If it interferes with relationships, family and responsible budget you may want to worry more.

But if you are going to claim ‘car guy’ status you’d better prefer stick shifts. All others are pretenders! 😛

(note screen name…)
 
Dirk_Skene said:
If you can’t live without it, then it is controling you.
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I wouldn’t say it’s as bad as that. But certainly, there does seem to be an undue attachment to them. I mean, it’s not an on-going constant thing, it’s just that I find when I do start poring over car-maker’s websites and brochures, there is something that strikes me as unbalanced, and my drooling over the beauty inherent in many car designs.
 
All this time, I thought auto-eroticism meant something else . . .
 
I’m with manualman, as long as your enjoyment of mechanical beauty is at a level that doesn’t interfere with your life, it’s a hobby like golf or boating. Both of which can take up quite a bit of time and money, and have brochures full of baubles to gaze at - Not inherently sinful but anything can become an idol if you let it.

If your wife is annoyed by the time or money, or if you spend more than you can afford, then cut back. Been there, done that, still can’t afford to finish the paint job.

And nowadays it’s all about the paddle-shifted electro-mechanical transmissions but I’ll still take a stick.

Here something the catechism says about moderation that some applicability also:

2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.
 
Thanks people. I don’t have a wife nor the money to spend on cars. So I guess it’s all about moderation.
 
It occurs to me that some cars could be considered an investment, especially if you’re interested in restoring older cars. But that would involve being able to “detach” from them when you need the money.

God bless you,

Ruthie, who still wants a Karmann Ghia.
 
Ruthie said:
It occurs to me that some cars could be considered an investment, especially if you’re interested in restoring older cars. But that would involve being able to “detach” from them when you need the money.

God bless you,

Ruthie, who still wants a Karmann Ghia.
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Restoring cars is like playing golf. You’ll get some interesting hardware, spend a fair bit of money and spend a bunch of time working on it and enjoying it with like-minded people, maybe you’ll learn something. If you expect to end up getting more money out than you put in, you will likely be disappointed.

I had to “detach” from a '72 Mini Cooper last spring, I did OK, 'bout even after insurance and paint etc. Cars inherently degrade, and I found if I keep putting small (name removed by moderator)uts into a nice classic and it will hold or increase in value about in proportion to what I spend. At least you can come out more or less even after enjoying it. Late model cars always lose value so in that sense classics can be cost-effective.

My MG isn’t as nice as the Mini and can absorb cash quickly if permitted. A Ghia would be fun, but buy somebody else’s restoration if you want to drive, that how I did OK on the Mini.

Know thyself: Buy a car if you want a car, buy a project if you want a project.

Either way, have fun.
 
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