Owning a classic car is a lifelong dream for many. It’s a very emotional process and often involves a deep love for the car that you choose. For this reason, a conflict can arise with the other great love in your life: your significant other. As you devote more and more time, energy, money and love into your car, your s.o. might feel neglected and resentful. What to do? Navigate this strait of relational strife with our guide.
First things first, establish your supply line
Restoring a classic car is a labor of love that thrives upon U.S. currency. As most people know, the cost of restoring a car can far exceed what it’s eventually worth. That means you need to convince your s.o. to let you spend an armored car’s worth of money on something just to make yourself happy. Sample dialogue:
“Hey, nice gardening.”
“Thank you.”
“I like the dirt, and the way you’ve molded it with the flowers.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“I’m just saying it looks nice is all.”
“…”
*walks back inside*
We’re not saying it’s going to be easy, asking to spend more money. With retirement to save for and the increasing cost of living in the U.S., you kind of need to have your ducks in a row to begin a classic car project. But with practice, soliciting funds can become as easy as appearing before an oversight committee.
Focus on shared memories you can make, not on horsepower
Sure, you might find the burble of the flat-four engine you’ve installed quite charming, but your s.o. might not see it that way. Instead of talking up the dual overhead cams and 13-horsepower increase to 176 overall, maybe focus on things that your partner might actually give a hoot about, like trips up to Rhode Island. In fact:
“I was thinking, and we’re due for a vacation.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’d be good to travel somewhere.”
“But where? You know, my sister’s been asking for us to visit for a while.”
“Yeah, I was thinking more like the Rockies, or Miami, or something cool like that, you know.”
“Oh but Davie’s in first-grade now, and I haven’t seen my sister in two years. Plus, you liked Phil, right? Don’t you guys like the same team?”
“No, I don’t like Phil; we don’t even like the same things. That guy is like the person at a bus stop who won’t leave you alone.”
“…”
“I mean….”
“Well, I want to see Doreen, and we’re going.”
So that didn’t go too well. What went wrong? Well, we didn’t specify a location up front. We left it very vague. To avoid train derailments like the above, do your research. Find out where your s.o. wants to go (that you also want to go), without hinting that you actually might go. Use as leverage.
Become the best special-interest lobby that you possibly can
Buy dinners, send gifts, show up impromptu, surprise them, catch them off-guard, spoil them, woo them. You’ve heard the phrase, “You have to spend money to make money”? Well sometimes you have to spend money to spend money. Become buddies with your s.o. Become their friend. Find out what they like to do and do it with them. Then, when the time comes for your project’s needs, it should be smooth sailing.
Well, that’s our best shot. This is a tough road, but you have a worthy goal. Good luck.