Goodbye

[Hertsman]

Enjoy retirement lads  tho it’s not all it’s cracked up to be   If you have worked 40 plus years it’s very difficult not to  just sit about  bit of part time work is the way to go  with a trip every 8 week or so.

Nah, there’s a big world out there and you don’t have to be spending money all the time to enjoy it.
After decades of dancing to other people’s tunes you can dance to your own. Sitting round is optional, you can make the most of every day in all sorts of other ways should you choose, there’s a wealth of things to do no matter where you live that can cost as little or as much as you like, absolutely no need for boredom. But at least you get to choose, health permitting.

Blimey, I can remember when you could sit on this forum all day and you’d not get bored! Fun times, much quieter now.

Back to Watts post earlier - I was thinking the same thing, your GTI sounds a good bet to hang onto Pixwix and still enjoy your motoring (and being part of this forum!)
It’s not too late to change your mind. At almost any price there are few better cars out there than a mk7 Golf and you could do worse than hang on to a good one. 

Totally agree with the you do not have to spend much money, one of benefits as get older is you realise much of the material just passes through and what you value most is not that expensive, since Covid for example, we really discovered the joy of long walks in some beautiful places, and for me, love coaching grassroots, neither cost very much at all, but take up a lot of my free time, and if had extra time, sure they would fill that also, and we have stripped back quite a bit in recent years, live a lot more simply and would say to the improvement of our overall well being, you can do it, and really do not want for anything.

We had good discussion on cars, we both like our cars and driving, usually out to some nice locations locally and around UK when we have breaks, not a single part of country we not been to in last few years. The agreement on cars is we still buy something interesting, but strictly used and for cash, and we just keep them well maintained, the fortunate part of that policy now is that most cars are pretty well specced so there is nothing that comes new, that will really miss, whereas previously you would suffer on some of the modern tech if bought used.

So after a run of a new car every 3 years for last 15 years, cannot see us buying new ever again, even if some additional monies come our way that mean we could, think its just a sound policy given quality of cars available used now.

Its quite a coincidence seeing this thread, as it was only this weekend gone that we started to discuss my personal roadmap into exiting the workplace, so this just added to them thoughts and is convincing me have got it about right in what intend to do.

[Gulfstream11]

Best of luck. I hope retirement opens up a whole new world for you.

I am also 8 years into ownership of My MK7 PP. 66k and like was mentioned earlier after 23 years with the brand its last man standing, it or me. My plan was to retire last year (60) but just couldn't do it. I Enjoy my work, 6.5mile rural trip to the office, no stress until the Americans wake up, ( They still work in inches you know) and a good set of lads to work with. My wife has already jumped, she loves it,but I'm not ready to play Golf with 28 handicappers. 2 more years then I'll bail,tell my boss I'll consult if needed for some extra cash.

Again, Best of luck. Happy Retirement.

[Hertsman]

Best of luck. I hope retirement opens up a whole new world for you.

I am also 8 years into ownership of My MK7 PP. 66k and like was mentioned earlier after 23 years with the brand its last man standing, it or me. My plan was to retire last year (60) but just couldn't do it. I Enjoy my work, 6.5mile rural trip to the office, no stress until the Americans wake up, ( They still work in inches you know) and a good set of lads to work with. My wife has already jumped, she loves it,but I'm not ready to play Golf with 28 handicappers. 2 more years then I'll bail,tell my boss I'll consult if needed for some extra cash.

Again, Best of luck. Happy Retirement.

I have to do top and bottom of the day, APAC, and then the US, with the Europeans and UK sandwiched in-between But become pretty good at only arranging and attending meaningful meetings, and like you, though there is attention to detail and the making of good decisions, work with good folk all over, some quite bow to talented and never felt the retirement itch, but as you said, recent 60 does trigger that thinking and maybe 2 years more for me, then maybe a phased third?? who knows, though my wife 4 years younger than me, so she will be keeping work lights on, and me with roof over head (unless annoy her too much, by getting under he feet in work day)

We should be ok financially for a standard, simple living and that does mean that lavish indulgences on cars will be thing of past, will prioritise plenty of trips and interests/activities, so can see taking cars to ten, and chopping them in for 5 yr old as being the way, worked out that by time our MK 7.5 are at ten, we should be in affordability band for a decent performance MK 8.5

[Watts]

Hertsman, good for you that you enjoy your work! I'm going at 57 as my work has been a constant pain and a stressor for many years and I reached the point where a reduced pension was well worth it to escape the nonsense and corporate bullying. I've no idea how I'm going to fill my time at the moment but like you I enjoy getting out for a good walk so that will be a start. Generally getting fitter and not doing shifts, no more alarms!

Maybe we need a retirees thread!

[Adam T7]

I retired at 58 and realised after about a year it was way to early, so back at work for a mate who has his own business just a couple of miles away, so GTI gets used most days when I don’t walk to work.
No thoughts of selling it at all, just a great car that still makes me smile after 5 years of ownership.

[Yusee]

I’ll be taking mine into retirement- and I’m a good 10 years away.

Truly great car.

I should add that, contrary to what I’ve read on this forum, it is a beautifully built car- not a single rattle or creak after 5 years and 33k miles.

[P6GTD]

I got my first performance Golf WHEN I retired and now on  my 4th GTI.
This one is going nowhere…why would it?
I get immense satisfaction being “the old guy with the hot hatch” but in fact this car is such a great all- rounder I can never find anything to replace it with (keep secretly googling 135is though but don’t tell anyone)
On the subject of retiral, I am on my third “false start” still doing some consulting but none of the crap that goes with a full- time post.
Maybe we should indeed start a retirees section as I can just imagine what a turn- off this string is to anyone under 50 😂😂😂😂
Maybe #bunchofoldbuffers!

[clubsport]

I currently intend to keep my Ed40 as the sensible car in retirement, it doesn't get much use as I seem to be driving the sports cars more of late and using the free bus/train/tube pass.

A friend really wants my Golf in a deal against his 250 mile GR86, as tempting as it is I think I will hang on to the Golf?

[Hertsman]

Hertsman, good for you that you enjoy your work! I'm going at 57 as my work has been a constant pain and a stressor for many years and I reached the point where a reduced pension was well worth it to escape the nonsense and corporate bullying. I've no idea how I'm going to fill my time at the moment but like you I enjoy getting out for a good walk so that will be a start. Generally getting fitter and not doing shifts, no more alarms!

Maybe we need a retirees thread!

Its funny how things just happen, my work history is split in two, the first part as an engineer, pumping equipment on Ready Mix sites for additives, then forklifts, then vending machines, then worked for Hoover, and then moved to BT for the up the poles and down the holes, which seemed a good to job to settle in for long stint, but the site that was based was run by a pair of dinosaur bullies, entrenched in the old ways of management, and they made my life a misery, so one day, just said to wife, you going to have to back me, i am leaving today, which did.

Next action that day was to go to an agency for some temp work, and there was a short term contract on an IT desk, at basic level, something never done before, but thought what the heck, its only temporary and can look for something more permanent while get paid to train, however, really took to it, the folk there were great, polar opposite to last experience, and found my problem solving skills actually transferred quite readily to the environment, and 22 years later still there in a way advanced position to when joined and still enjoying working with some talented folk.

Suppose motto of that story, is that understand the feeling of being completely unhappy in what doing and how being treated and you just have to back yourself and be brave and make the change, you can always make other changes down the line, like some here, they have returned on a more casual part time basis to keep hand in, can see myself doing similar, though my return would be away from IT and more in area where can give something back hopefully.

Remember everyone 60 is the new 50, certainly not felt the drop off that maybe my grandparents did, sure it will come! but hanging in there

Cannot see my car taste changing, ever, anything drive will have to have some performance and do the day to day well, and despite the groans to what VW do sometimes, nobody really does the combination better, so as long as VW are making them, sure will have a version in the stable.

[DSGboy]

I was required to take Early retirement on ill health grounds in 2011. I was devastated.   My lovely wife encouraged me to buy a car that I really fancied as a treat, soon after retirement started.   I agonised. Eventually opting for a Golf GTI that I’d always liked, but had never quite been in comfortable, let alone easy reach.
A New Mk6 GTI was ordered in Jan 12 and delivered in May with some carefully chosen options.  Black. 18” Monza Shadow wheels. Dynaudio and Cruise +,+.  It was a gem of a car. A real head turner.  Got many an approving nod.
I part Ex’d it to upgrade to a new R in 2019. I wish I’d kept my GTI as our second car. They become like a second skin.  I understand  It’s still a beaut.  65k miles and Not a single Advisory to be seen aged 12, Hahah.