Yes, like Lainey said, it's the push of a button, that top, and two quick clicks to latch it. Bother?? Are you clinically depressed, Rob? When something you used to love and wanted to keep forever comes down to this, I can't help but wonder if you're depressed about life in general. Could it be that this is the root of the problem: Adam is leaving for school and will be at Virginia Tech for the next 4 years. That leaves only me and using the car alone isn't that much fun (anymore). Is looking at the car making you sad because you're going to miss Adam?

I know it crossed my mind this year to sell my S. I don't do any local drives. I don't take it back east. But then, I started making sure to drive it at least once a week, to my volunteer job. I make sure to corner fast to feel what it does best. I love my S2000!

 

Ten years ago I was driving my then 11 year old son to basketball camp in our new S2000 with the top down on a gorgeous day.
It was his first experience in a convertible. As we rode along he extended his arm outside and played with the wind cupping his hand, catching the air.
He turned to me and said " ahhh scoops of happiness."

Yeah, I get it Rob. The second son has been at school for 3 years now. Number 1 is off wandering California.
Between work and life, It's been a very tough summer and most of my riding in the toy has been commuting on Rt 495 in traffic.
It's parked at the moment because I haven't had time or motivation to do the oil change that's due.

The simple joy of driving has eluded me for now. I think largely because it's been hot and crappy.
Come the fall though, I wanna go get me some more scoops.

 

Same here;took mine out of hibernation,(winter storage)drove it to Spring Fling,came back home,put it in the garage,has not moved since...
Are we getting too old,for those toys ???

 

Sometimes I think I'm just getting too old and it has nothing to do with the toys.

 

Quit talking like that... WE aren't getting OLD!

Hasn't been the best summer to drive a convertible.... just too hot. Can't wait till it cools off some so us locals can get out for the drive we've been talking about for months!

 

Hmmmm...Patty may have a point, Rob. You and Adam have been so closely tied together with the car, maybe his leaving for school does have something to do with your decision?

 

Rob, your decision makes me pause and have to face the inexorability of aging and change. It is saddening in a way to hear of your decision, but I can understand your thinking. I don't think I could part with my S2000, though, I drive it daily, and enjoy tinkering, modifying it, and working on it. I love taking it to the track with my 16 year old son, Nick.

If I were to contemplate selling it, I'm sure I would be disappointed at the depreciated price that I would have to sell it for. I think it is still worth a lot more to me than I could ever sell it for. I'm older than you, so I would not have been able to meet you at Pebble Beach in twenty years anyway!

Well, I hope you reconsider and hold on to that little speedster!. I know that "Out West" is more or less out to Scranton to a New Yorker, but hey, it would be great to see you and Liz drive the S out to Colorado for a visit or a meet some day.

Dave <dlq04> is a good case in point for me. He sold his S. but it hasn't really changed his and Donna's relation to Vintage. What the S2000 has started will not necessarily end with its departure. But it would make us all feel much better if we knew that your S was still in the garage, and that it gets exercised now and then, top up or top down on some twisty stretches of highway! Just remember how much you would like to have your MGTD back now, after having let it go a long time ago.

Chris and I wish you happiness and good fortune in whatever you do about the S. Ha, ha, you know, it never was really the fastest color anyway!!

 

That should be enough to make Rob change his mind. Now he has to show you otherwise!

 

Talk about pressure! Not only is it the fastest color, it is the most beautiful. Someone once said "Sebring Silver is the girl next door. You don't notice her at first but when you finally open your eyes you realize that she is the most beautiful of all." The guy that said that used to be real smart. I wonder what happened to him.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. You've given me pause. I don't think I'll change my mind, but you've all given me a lot to think about.

Patty, Deb, it is true that Adam and I are very close and the S2000 is something that we've always had in common. He has more passenger seat time in it than anyone and he is the only other person I've ever allowed to drive it. Years ago if you came down our driveway on a warm Saturday afternoon you'd see the S on jack stands and two sets of feet sticking out from underneath. Adam's and mine. The fact that he's going away to college does sadden me a little, but it thrills me at the same time. This is what Liz and I worked our entire life for, this is the kind of thing we live for. I'm more than a little sure that the S2000 (and our garden tractor) is a big part of the reason Adam wants to be a mechanical engineer. But, as far as me selling the car because he's going, no, that's not it. It's been about two years since we've done anything together with the S2000. He's grown up beautifully and it's time for him to live his own life, not mine. That's the natural order of things and it thrills me. Its time for me to stand on the sidelines and cheer for him instead of the other way around.

Lainey, I think you understand very well some of what I'm feeling. Everything changes and life moves on. To everything there is a season, Turn, Turn, Turn.

Bolton, you know those happy scoops, well Adam and I used to have the same kind of thing. Sports cars are much more fun when shared.

Gene, you are one of my oldest and closest friends here or anywhere. Whether or not I sell the car that will never change. I'm sort of like a disease, you can't get rid of me easily. I'll always be here. Like it or don't.

And that goes for everyone else too. S2000 or not, I'm here.

The bottom line is it breaks my heart to see the S sit in the garage day after day and not be used. As much as I love the car, it seems like its wasted and it seems such a shame for it to just sit.

So far no bites on Craigslist. I'm asking $19,000. Half of me hopes I get it, and half of me hopes I don't.

 

Rob, I must admit that you are the last person I expected to hear was selling your S2000. But, if that's what you think is best; go for it.

I understand the 'sharing' experience part of it. Most of us can not really appreciate the experience of the adventure all by ourselves for extended periods of time. After owning MGA's for 40's I don't find myself jumping in the car on the first cool night for a drive by myself like I use to. Having Donna along on those nights means everything. On the other hand, I do regular drives alone (last weekend to vintage races, in two weeks to major state show, etc.). Of course, with those events I sharing the experience with other MGA'ers on the way or when I get there.

I've only been without a top-down-sports-car for a period of about 9 months since I started driving and it was a long, long 9 months. I swore then, never again. . . . .

But if you are not active with any local owners, kids gone, wife doesn't care, and there's no one to share the drive with - it's soul searching time about what you want from the car. For me and the S2000 it was when I didn't feel competitive enough at the track and I had almost 9 years of driving alone because, unlike the MG, Donna could not ride in the S2000. So I knew when it was time. Of course, I had another horse in the stable.