Wives
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear Lake CA
Wives
Do many of you fellow 'Vette owners have problems with your wife complaining about the amount of time and money you are spending on your car?
Any suggestions on keeping the peace, and the car?
Or am I the only one who has the little women upset.
Thanks,
pivan
PS: The family is still well taken care of...
Any suggestions on keeping the peace, and the car?
Or am I the only one who has the little women upset.
Thanks,
pivan
PS: The family is still well taken care of...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Wives (pivan)
Maybe try getting her to drive it or help you with the car.....My girl loves to drive my car.......Also if she starts biaaatching at u......You can always Leave! :lol: :lol: :lol:
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Wives (pivan)
LOL usually she doesn't complain, but I've been spending just about every waking moment for the last two weeks build a set of headers and she's starting to 'kid around' about me working on it so much...
But I just remind her how expensive it would be to pay someone to work on the car, keeps her quiet for a while :D:D
But I just remind her how expensive it would be to pay someone to work on the car, keeps her quiet for a while :D:D
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Wives (pivan)
When I spend money on the vette(s), the wife buys clothing. A happy medium (I spend my money and she spends BOTH my and her money) :D
I'm waiting on that $2500 shopping spree (700R4 from Bow-Tie and new rear diff/brakes.) once she is working again... She doesn't know about the $1200 in cylinder heads and dual exhaust that are still being shipped... :blueangel:
[Modified by TedH, 10:39 AM 9/19/2001]
[Modified by TedH, 10:40 AM 9/19/2001]
I'm waiting on that $2500 shopping spree (700R4 from Bow-Tie and new rear diff/brakes.) once she is working again... She doesn't know about the $1200 in cylinder heads and dual exhaust that are still being shipped... :blueangel:
[Modified by TedH, 10:39 AM 9/19/2001]
[Modified by TedH, 10:40 AM 9/19/2001]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Wives (pivan)
My wife is great. Within reason she doesn't care what I spend on the vette. As for time spent in the shop I try to remember she is sitting alone in the house so I try not to spend all evening in the shop. Must work because I have been married to 33 years, to the same woman and she is still happy.
We are still good friends.
Norval
We are still good friends.
Norval
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,880
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Wives (pivan)
Some of you guys are very lucky. My wife gives me hemorrhoids about the Vette. On the other hand she's probably the first one to jump into it and go cruis'n with me. I think she really likes to be "seen" in the '70 and enjoys all the heads we turn. She does however, give me a lot of grief about how much $ and time I spend fixing her up.:(
I don't know how to show her that the car can't be driven unless I repair it periodically.
I don't know how to show her that the car can't be driven unless I repair it periodically.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Mi
Re: Wives (1970 Stingray)
I've found two (oops three) things that work:
1. Take her to track and let her see how much faster everybody else is...My wife was embarrassed and fully authorized whatever it took to at least not be the slowest.
2. Have the car break down with her in it....The Vette's never done it to me, but the GTO puked an oil pump once with her in it and a fuel filter on Labor day and she had to come get me.
3. Don't tell her how much. (Just make sure you pay off the card)
1. Take her to track and let her see how much faster everybody else is...My wife was embarrassed and fully authorized whatever it took to at least not be the slowest.
2. Have the car break down with her in it....The Vette's never done it to me, but the GTO puked an oil pump once with her in it and a fuel filter on Labor day and she had to come get me.
3. Don't tell her how much. (Just make sure you pay off the card)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Algonquin IL
Re: Wives (pivan)
I have found that completing the majority of the 'honey do' list can go quite far when wanting to work on something you want to do. I also have my son help me where he can, so that gets one of the two kids out of her hair for a while. I also try not to spend both weekend nights working on the vette.
As far as spending money, I set up a budget for what I was going to spend on the vette a month and she is ok with that.
As far as spending money, I set up a budget for what I was going to spend on the vette a month and she is ok with that.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Wives (pivan)
My wife is and was supportive during the restore process (took 3 years). She's a little less now if I want to do something to the car that it doesn't need. Now she wants to go for drives in it often. We very much enjoy this time together. One thing she does demand though is that the time spent with her better be two things (1) more than the time spent on the vette, and (2) that time better be 'quality' time and not just eat and sleep time. I can do that... :yesnod: :lol: There simply is not anything better than a loving wife, even if it is a Corvette. Remember, these cars are asleep until you turn the key....wife/girlfriends are always on and operate well only with constant attention. ;)
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Re: Wives (pivan)
I'm very lucky: the GF has an MG & TWO motorcycles that I service/maintain/polish up for her. After 2 months of evening/weekend work, one of her Bikes won a "Best of Show" award in the summer, which was great as she can't give me any earache now about the amount of time I spent on the Vette (although I'm starting to give myself some grief - I could really do with a night down the pub ;) ).
The money is a different matter. I didn't get paid last month & it looks like I won't this month, so she has started taking an avid interest in my financial affairs :( I've tried lying about the cost of things, but I think she has sussed out that a set of factory alloys, new lug nuts, new centre caps & 4 new tires cost more than a couple of quid :lol: She loves the Vette but questions like "you had wheels on it already, why have you bought some more?" can be tricky to answer!
I'm still working on a solution to this question ;) Have you tried chocolates & flowers?
:cheers:
Paul
The money is a different matter. I didn't get paid last month & it looks like I won't this month, so she has started taking an avid interest in my financial affairs :( I've tried lying about the cost of things, but I think she has sussed out that a set of factory alloys, new lug nuts, new centre caps & 4 new tires cost more than a couple of quid :lol: She loves the Vette but questions like "you had wheels on it already, why have you bought some more?" can be tricky to answer!
I'm still working on a solution to this question ;) Have you tried chocolates & flowers?
:cheers:
Paul
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 25
From: Blue Ridge Georgia
Re: Wives (pivan)
Not too bad on the time spent.
No grip on the money.
Raised all billy h*ll went I started stripping the body, she thinks I've destroyed our baby.
Finally, she loves to go to the local car shows with our vette.
No grip on the money.
Raised all billy h*ll went I started stripping the body, she thinks I've destroyed our baby.
Finally, she loves to go to the local car shows with our vette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: Wives (pivan)
The last girl I dated before I got engaged really had a problem with the amount of time I spent working on the 'Vette. Needless to say, we're not together anymore. As for my fiance, I took her to the Corvette Expo in Knoxville, TN in the spring. I looked around and she was gone. About an hour later, she came back with a bag full of catalogs, and some goodies for my car. I think I've found a keeper. :D
:flag
--Adam
P.S. If you ever have to tell your wife that you care more about her than the car, be sure the car can't hear you.... bad mojo...
:flag
--Adam
P.S. If you ever have to tell your wife that you care more about her than the car, be sure the car can't hear you.... bad mojo...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 14
From: CA
Re: Wives (Tym2Think)
You have to have a schedule. If you randomly wrench on your car in your free time you are asking for conflict.
However, if you stick to a schedule - like keep Friday nights & Sundays open for her, things will go a lot smoother.
However, if you stick to a schedule - like keep Friday nights & Sundays open for her, things will go a lot smoother.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 774
Likes: 0
From: Palatine IL
Re: Wives (pivan)
My wife enjoys our Vette but she doesn't have the same passion that I do so that can cause some tension between us. :boxing She is really cool about the time and money I spend on the Vette because she knows that it is my hobby and it makes me happy. :D
There are times that I go over board and work on it too much or talk about it too much and that makes her mad. :mad I just need to keep a balance. She and my son are way more important than the Vette and I want them to enjoy it as much as I do.
There are times that I go over board and work on it too much or talk about it too much and that makes her mad. :mad I just need to keep a balance. She and my son are way more important than the Vette and I want them to enjoy it as much as I do.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Re: Wives (pivan)
My baby looooves me! :D She has her own bad habits (purebred dogs, horses), so we have an agreement - I don't ask about the doggie/horsie expenses, and she leaves me alone about the wheels. We do budget our time for the 3 boys and ourselves :cheers: so that there is no :boxing :cry ;)
Seems to work for me...
Hans
Seems to work for me...
Hans