to Buy or Not to Buy...UPDATE!

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Home › 🌌Off Topics › 🌌Off Topics Main Discussion › to Buy or Not to Buy...UPDATE!

04-25-2018 02:17 PM 34 months ago

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RM3

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to Buy or Not to Buy...UPDATE!

Ok, while pondering during my bouts of boredom here at work I find myself locked into a YOLO and YODO battle.... (if you dont know what YOLO & YODO is look it up)

So Ive been driving the same "sports" car for 21 years... a Firebird V8... Its got enough miles to make it to the moon, The paint is flaking, the plastic interior parts are cracking, Ive worked on the drive train numerous times though out the years for various problems like the clutch, oil leaks, waterpump, AC, cooling system, so I know how to fix it if it breaks, but now lately its developed an engine knocking sound which indicates a bad crank/rod bearing (after showing a BMW whos boss

)... which means the engine needs a full rebuild. The suspension needs to be restored, the tranny needs to be rebuilt, and the diff as well.

So This is where I find myself: retire the Firebird, buy a cheap commuter car and use the spare funds to restore the Firebird as time/money allow (stroke the engine to 450hp, repaint, redo interior, suspension upgrades) OR let it go and pour my funds into a late model (not newer than 4 years or so) Corvette that Ive always wanted, but then not have much money to do anything else (PLUS vettes are a serious PITA to work on when they do need work)showing a preference will only get you into trouble, 90% of everything is crap...

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04-25-2018 02:38 PM 34 months ago

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BeltFedBrowning

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If you put a clutch in a 4th gen "F" body, then you have a lot of patience. I put one in mine and swore to never do it again. I would dump the Firebird and get the Vette. You could put a scrapyard engine in the Firebird if you are worried about the resale. LS motors are pretty cheap on the used market if your Firebird is new enough for that. If it is an LT1, I don't know if I would bother.
I had 350,000 miles on my Camaro. I gave it to the local metal scrapper when I got my new car. It still ran, but everything was getting loose and there were a lot of rattles. I didnt want to deal with the caliber of person that would be attracted the the sale of my '97 Camaro for cheap. My luck, they would never transfer the title and never license it, but that wouldn't keep them from driving it and crashing into someone.
Unless you just like long term projects that you can't drive and enjoy, I would get the Vette.

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04-25-2018 05:12 PM 34 months ago

0Post 3

spaceman spiff

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Tucson

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Depends on your own skills, desires, and situation. I built a few cars for cheap when I was younger, they turned out OK, but they were a lot of work, and really were not all that fantastic when finished. Back in the day I did it because I was poor, but I am not poor anymore. For me right now, it is an easy choice between a massive fix up project of an old car, or buying a newish one. I would go with the new one.

My old buddy has been a corvette nut all his life. We go on road trips occasionally to see American Lemans races. We got an opportunity to let it loose on Laguna Seca raceway. It was very impressive. The upside, is it is an amazing car, the downsides; it has very little room for toys, groceries...

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04-25-2018 05:45 PM 34 months ago

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outhouse

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I have a Z06 and I work on it constantly just for fun lol. Suspension was fine but poly bushings are under 100 bucks and its just a labor of love. Coilovers 1300. How much money do you want to spend? You can pick up a low mile z06 for mid 30's OR you could drop 10 into a Firebird and have a sick car.

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04-25-2018 06:26 PM 34 months ago

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RM3

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Killeen, Texas - USA

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outhouse You can pick up a low mile z06 for mid 30's OR you could drop 10 into a Firebird and have a sick car.

thats part of the issue...

say I get a garden variety Vette... not a ZO6, just a Grand Sport, or base with a LS3... they make about 425hp in the price range of $24K - $30K depending on year...

but by dropping only $8K into a late 90s F body which I already own... I can get 500hp car that very few people have that would look very nice and perform just as good if not better... $5k more and the interior and exterior can be made better than new too... all for half of the cost of a used Vette.

BUT it will never be a Corvette... ever.

BTW around here vettes, camaros and stangs are like a-holes... everybodys got one

showing a preference will only get you into trouble, 90% of everything is crap...

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04-25-2018 08:23 PM 34 months ago

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Machinehead01

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Lower Michigan

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I've seen some of your skill set....

You've got what it takes. Find a cheap transpo work car and refurb the Pontiac. Nostalgia value alone, sets it away from everybody else. 21 years, you already know the in's and out's of the car. Uniqueness, and standing out from the crowd, is an understated quality in it's own right.

My 2 cents."You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone."

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04-25-2018 09:18 PM 34 months ago

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ticedoff8

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Morgan Hill, CA. USA

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But, it is still a 1997 Firebird.

Which, looks like a tamer version of a 'vette or a Sunbird

+ > ÷
Believe 1/2 of what you see and none of what you hear.
Fake News will be the downfall of our Republic!

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04-25-2018 10:06 PM 34 months ago

0Post 8

RM3

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that firebird in the pic sure has some serious "Mulletude"

showing a preference will only get you into trouble, 90% of everything is crap...

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04-25-2018 10:08 PM 34 months ago

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spaceman spiff

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04-26-2018 12:01 AM 34 months ago

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spaceman spiff

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Important to point out that some models have the ventilated seats option.

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04-26-2018 12:16 AM 34 months ago

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ssmith512

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Indianapolis, IN USA

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C6. But I am biased. I love my C6. Maybe one of the best new cars I have ever bought.

Carpe Diem. You can start enjoying a Vette now or spend the next (multiple) (years) ???? resto-modding the Firebird.Steve

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04-26-2018 12:22 AM 34 months ago

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banshee rider

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Phoenix AZ.

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I would buy something like this its fun and it "Appreciates"
It doesnt "Depreciate"
Plus Im sure you will get to "Tinker" on it some also

https://austin.craigslist.org/cto/d...6562926669.htmlageing is manditory maturity is optional

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04-26-2018 12:23 AM 34 months ago

0Post 13

outhouse

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auburn ca

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BUT it will never be a Corvette... ever. Thats why I jumped in and built this. Aldan coilovers, poly bushings, Dewitt aluminum double wide radiator, mild 116 cam, ported heads, MSD ported intake and TB. New rotors and brakes and tires. 600HP high 10's but daily driver.

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04-26-2018 12:31 AM 34 months ago

0Post 14

BeltFedBrowning

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Kansas City

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I always thought I wanted a '69 Corvette... till I drove one

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04-26-2018 03:32 AM 34 months ago

0Post 15

RM3

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Killeen, Texas - USA

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outhouse Thats why I jumped in and built this.

thats really nice... although I love my F-Bird... yeah it may compete power wise with high performance engine parts if I choose... but in the looks dept, no amount of money and labor will give it the looks of a Vette.showing a preference will only get you into trouble, 90% of everything is crap...

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04-26-2018 01:08 PM 34 months ago

0Post 16

NRoof

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Palmyra, NY

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Whats the car worth now?
How much would it cost to restore it?
What would it be worth restored?

These are the questions you need to get the answers to.

As an example:
If the car is worth $1000 now but would be worth $30000 if you put $15000 into it then you could make $14000 on the car. You could then keep the car or use the $14000 to help pay for the Corvette.

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04-26-2018 01:52 PM 34 months ago

0Post 17

ssmith512

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Indianapolis, IN USA

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Carpe Diem friend!!

You could gold plate your'97 Bird and it would never be worth $30k.

Get the Vette and enjoy it NOW - while you can. As the Bird is not costing you anything at the moment, put it aside and slowly acquire parts and pieces for a future resto-mod.Steve

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04-26-2018 06:04 PM 34 months ago

0Post 18

BeltFedBrowning

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Kansas City

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That's what I was going to say. Put $15,000 in the F body and it would be worth $7,500

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04-26-2018 06:43 PM 34 months ago

0Post 19

RM3

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Killeen, Texas - USA

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BeltFedBrowning Put $15,000 in the F body and it would be worth $7,500

very true... but that goes for anything really... anything looking to be sold is only worth what the other guy is willing to pay for it. The issue is what is it worth to me.

many men grow old and often seek to reconnect to their past, often its a car they first owned, a gun they first hunted with or even a place they frequented with a loved one.... these things are not often valuable to others, but to the individual they once were a part of no price can be given.

the Vette vs resto-mod is different though... Ive always wanted a vette... but could never really afford one, but I dont want to crappy vette either. but I also have a connection to my car as its the first car I ever bought and driven exclusively. Do I have room for both in my life? yes. but do I have enough funding to have both running? no.

so I have regret for what I could have vs gilt for letting go of something dear to me...

buy the vette and have no money to spare fixing my old car, and not have money for much of anything else either... or fix up my old car and never get a vette...

maybe its that I simply cant afford the Vette... Im on the edge of being able to and not being able to... thats probably the main issue... I dunno.showing a preference will only get you into trouble, 90% of everything is crap...

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04-26-2018 06:46 PM 34 months ago

0Post 20

RM3

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Killeen, Texas - USA

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spaceman spiff Important to point out that some models have the ventilated seats option.

funny.. I figured out the reference based on my other thread... good point!showing a preference will only get you into trouble, 90% of everything is crap...

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