Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I don't get the paying some one to do the work as thats part of the fun for me. It means that car becomes mine and part of me.

The throw money at it means that I have no connection with the car and it becomes an object nothing else.

mate you should know sometimes it's impossible not to throw money at cars, otherwise everyone with a bit of mechanical knowledge would be able to fix everything for free.