131 Domestic Bliss

[Rob 131]

Leading on from 131 shrink it appears that there is always some kind of compromise between a settled domestic life and the ownership of 131's (well that is probably the case for most of us). My situation has been that my car was garaged (owing to the childrens and neighbours children )footballs / bicycles etc). This was not such a problem as regards ownership of a 131 because my finances and time were always diverted elsewhere. Plus the wife didn't like them until she saw a 131 Sport at a show in Tattenhall. Plus after 10 years loyal service (marriage) I was authorised to buy one I'd of bought one anyway.

However with children getting older and more money available 131 ownership became a reality. However I am now required to work abroad extensively  and wouldn't have time to enjoy it. One day

[mirafiori76]

The reason my 131 fleet shrinked wasn't just because of marriage or children. In fact, my son (almost 5) is really thrilled about the 131 (especially my Abarth group 4). Taking over a company and have to let go of an Abarth Stradale for financing can be a reason sometimes...
I guess everybody has his or her own story of losing/gaining 131's. You love it, or must hate it. And I love it so much...............

[simon131]

If I had to sell my Abarth Stradale I don't know what I'd do. It's one of the family now and each of my kids has asked me to leave to them in  my Will, despite me being in the best of health and only being 43!

Last year I was hit hard by the recession in the UK Construction Industry and worked for only one day a week for almost the entire first seven months - not easy with a huge mortgage and three little mouths to feed - but it was my problem and nobody was about to help me out of my situation - and I mean nobody. So, in order to make ends meet I had to sell my silver Racing, much to the disgust of my kids who I was actually funding

Fate is a fickle mistress and now I find myself gainfully employed and earning the most I ever have - but because of my 'bad patch' I am reluctant to rush headlong into another car purchase for purely financial reasons.

To be honest, if I sold all of my 131s my wife would leave me and my kids wouldn't talk to me - and I'm deadly serious. My wife Wendy has always known that I come with a Fiat 131 - end of! And my kids have grown up with the Abarth and the orange Special = both of which I am extremely lucky to own out-right now.

I guess what I'm saying is, don't ever stop believing that you can own a 131, or any other car of your dreams, you'll get what you want if you want it badly enough

[kev131]

and only being 43!

Is that all...?

[kev131]

....not easy with a huge mortgage and three little mouths to feed -

And one..."not so little mouth"... if 3MA pictures are anything to go by....! 

[simon131]

and there was me - pouring my heart out....

[Rob 131]

Simon

I see you like me were a victim of the UK Construction industry and the downturn. Living in the North West of England and having spent many years working in the South I was not overly concerned when the North West Market started faltering in the summer of 2008. However when the London market around this time started faltering too, I concentrated exclusively on International work and thus far has proved to be a good decision. I remember the days in 2007 and the first half of 2008 when recruitment of staff was a complete nightmare with a lack of suitably qualified personnel. How times change and I can't see things improving for many years in the UK.

The Mirafiori will have to wait a bit longer until I am back on a more permanent basis.