About ten years ago I bought a used sedan. Everything worked, but I saw a vision for it and thought with some TLC it would become a really nice ride.

I replaced the headliner, fixed the torn upholstery, hand painted it with each coat hand-rubbed before the next, new wheels and tires, and some moderate chassis and engine work.

After 5 years I turned this sedan into one tricked out, cherry fucking ride for my family and I really loved that car. I enjoyed every moment in it and I had a sense of satisfaction and joy whenever I drove it.

Then the damndest thing happened. Over the next 2-3 years this sedan had a Transformer/Mighty Morphin Power Ranger moment and turned itself into a fucking 6-speed, convertible sports car.

And let me tell you, it gets attention. I go to the bar, come out of the bathroom, and there's someone admiring my car. I go to the grocery store, come out and there's someone looking at my fucking car.

It gets so much attention I sometimes feel silly driving it, like I don't belong in it. I no longer have the right tools to work on it. There is no manual for it and I really don't know how the fucking thing runs, much less how to maintain it.

When I park it in the garage I worry about it being stolen. When I take it out for a drive I enjoy the attention the car gets, but I just feel stupid in it, like I don't belong.

Someone else took my car joy-riding and I found out about it. I'm pretty sure they didn't check the oil or put in the dipstick, but I'll never be 100% sure, will I? And the guy who took it for a ride is a professional driver.

So I just read a book (MAP) on how to be a better mechanic, and even if I exceed my training, I'll never be able to afford the tools or be able to perform the maintenance necessary for this sports car. If I was younger I'd have enough time, but there's only so much I can do in the years I have left to work on this shit.

So I'm trading it in for, yep, you guessed it, another sedan. Something a little newer, needs less work, but something I understand and that my tools and experience can handle and I'll get to enjoy.

TL;DR: Wife is a 9.5, I'm a 2 on my way to a 6, maybe a 7 if I work really, really hard. That gap feels like shit, all the fucking time. We were both a 5 when we married, she just fucking blossomed. Who knew?

Anyone else in a SMV gap like that?