The Fire is Gone
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 4
From: Regina Saskatchewan
Personally I was getting tired of taking my vette out on the highway and listening to the "drone" at 3000 rpm until I threw the 700R4 into it. Now I can't think of enough reasons to take it out. Its probably too late for our OP , but those of you who are 'kinda' getting tired of your old car , think about adding an OD. Changes everything !
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,623
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
I know if I sell my 80 I'll miss it, but after going for alot of drives in a C-5,C6 , man technology is addictive, But like someone above mentioned , all the new vettes look like regular cars now , they don't have that WOW affect. Ron,
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Buy a new Corvette (or near-new C6) and be happy with Dawn. Best wishes and good luck.
No excuses needed for getting rid of the old.
I am contemplating selling my old girl (no not my Wife). No shame involved. Life marches on and time sometimes is not kind.
My days of crawling underneath for repairs are long gone.
No excuses needed for getting rid of the old.
I am contemplating selling my old girl (no not my Wife). No shame involved. Life marches on and time sometimes is not kind.
My days of crawling underneath for repairs are long gone.
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 10, 2010 at 07:42 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
From: Heartland
I think we all feel this way at times.... I have told my son Danny when he finishes his masters in 4 more years I will give him the keys to the C3. Baby will be his, and then I will get a C6 Z, but I will always wrench, A supercharger will be the first part me and the boys will install...
But I will add this, .... We own a C5 also, went on a trip from central California to so-cal.... 2 days, and not one comment or one look or one thumbs up....
After the trip, although MUCH more comfortable than the C3, the wife vowed to never take a road trip again unless its in the C3....
Can't go to the gas station down the block in the C3 (Baby) without someone commenting on her...EVER.... no one cares about a C4,5 or 6... but when in a C3... people look.... there is no other ride like her....jmho
yea, I want the ride and feel and creature comforts of a C6, but I will miss Baby..... I will not miss the C5 when I sale it... but it is a nice car...
and on a side note, you can make a C3 smoke a C6, keep up with a C6Z and smoke any C5 on down, and I will tell you, the look you get when you smoke on a C6,,,,priceless!!
But I will add this, .... We own a C5 also, went on a trip from central California to so-cal.... 2 days, and not one comment or one look or one thumbs up....
After the trip, although MUCH more comfortable than the C3, the wife vowed to never take a road trip again unless its in the C3....
Can't go to the gas station down the block in the C3 (Baby) without someone commenting on her...EVER.... no one cares about a C4,5 or 6... but when in a C3... people look.... there is no other ride like her....jmho
yea, I want the ride and feel and creature comforts of a C6, but I will miss Baby..... I will not miss the C5 when I sale it... but it is a nice car...
and on a side note, you can make a C3 smoke a C6, keep up with a C6Z and smoke any C5 on down, and I will tell you, the look you get when you smoke on a C6,,,,priceless!!
My 78 is a blast to drive but I'd trade it in a NY minute for a C5 or C6 if it would kill the looks of gawking people.
I own and drive my old C3 for myself and I'm not interested in what other people think. Like I said before, if I knew I could evade the looks of other gawking people, it would almost be worth the forty thousand difference in price if nobody would notice my new C6....but unfortunatly we ALL know better !
My wife of 43 years once said that she doesn't like to ride in the C3 because she doesn't appreciate all the people looking. I told her to do what I do....I don't look at people so I can't see them looking at me. I can enjoy my outing and be a humble person too.
Everybody wants to be a "wanna be"...... but I enjoy "humble".:o
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Sugarland, Houston Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I personally do not seek the admiration of other people nor do I need their validation of what I use to get from point A to point B and back. My personal worth is not about where I live or what I drive or how much my house/car (or I) am admired.
My 78 is a blast to drive but I'd trade it in a NY minute for a C5 or C6 if it would kill the looks of gawking people.
I own and drive my old C3 for myself and I'm not interested in what other people think. Like I said before, if I knew I could evade the looks of other gawking people, it would almost be worth the forty thousand difference in price if nobody would notice my new C6....but unfortunatly we ALL know better !
My wife of 43 years once said that she doesn't like to ride in the C3 because she doesn't appreciate all the people looking. I told her to do what I do....I don't look at people so I can't see them looking at me. I can enjoy my outing and be a humble person too.
Everybody wants to be a "wanna be"...... but I enjoy "humble".:o
My 78 is a blast to drive but I'd trade it in a NY minute for a C5 or C6 if it would kill the looks of gawking people.
I own and drive my old C3 for myself and I'm not interested in what other people think. Like I said before, if I knew I could evade the looks of other gawking people, it would almost be worth the forty thousand difference in price if nobody would notice my new C6....but unfortunatly we ALL know better !
My wife of 43 years once said that she doesn't like to ride in the C3 because she doesn't appreciate all the people looking. I told her to do what I do....I don't look at people so I can't see them looking at me. I can enjoy my outing and be a humble person too.
Everybody wants to be a "wanna be"...... but I enjoy "humble".:o
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 810
Likes: 48
From: West Chester Pennsylvania
In true forum fashion, you need to post some pictures of BOTH the 71 and your girlfriend. We'll vote which one stays and which one should go... sort of like survivor. If she wins, you can get her a bloomington gold tattoo.. Of course, if you post any pictures of the hood up on the Corvette, be sure to demonstrate some parity. 
Of course, if you post any pictures of the hood up on the Corvette, be sure to demonstrate some parity.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
Getting sick, tired of her.... I don't think so.
We tore her apart (both of us) 4 years ago....took us one year. Rebuilt her from bumper to bumper, even painted her...been driving ever since with very, very minor hiccups. Put these puppies together properly (even original) and they will hold!! Muddy
We tore her apart (both of us) 4 years ago....took us one year. Rebuilt her from bumper to bumper, even painted her...been driving ever since with very, very minor hiccups. Put these puppies together properly (even original) and they will hold!! Muddy
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 15
From: IL, Chicago area.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
It's been awhile since I've been on the board and while I was never a heavy poster, I enjoyed reading about the lunatic hp freaks here and wrenching on my Vette from time to time. I just got back on the board to list a few parts I had for sale and to reignite the flame so to speak, yet now I realize something: the fire is gone.
I no longer have the will to wrench all night with numb fingers trying to wrestle upside down with a rusted bolt. No longer do I dream of sidepipes cackling away to the tune of a solid lifter cam. No longer do I want to rebuild yet another carb. and lay down a tune for some late night cruising. What happened?
A 2009 Corvette is what happened. I got to drive one for a weekend and since that time with the most beautiful woman sitting next to me hitting 160mph on a cold January night with the top down and the heat turned up, I no longer have the fire to wrench, only to drive. Maybe I got too old, too fast. Maybe I'm just a schmuck. Maybe I lost. Eh...that's not the truth though. That girl sitting next to me is what happened. As beautiful as the dawn she was named after, that's what really happened. I'd rather spend my time with her.
With that said. I know what will unfold in the next few months: I will only turn a wrench to get my 'ol '71 back on the street and when she's ready, I'm going to sell her. This month is our 13th year anniversary. Maybe it's just an unlucky omen. Maybe it's just a sign of the times. Maybe I've just been putting off the inevitable.
I hate to say it, but I think I fell out of love with my Corvette.
Coming soon: 1971 Corvette 454 with turbo 400 & 3.73 gears. Once loved. Once cared for. Now forgotten.
I no longer have the will to wrench all night with numb fingers trying to wrestle upside down with a rusted bolt. No longer do I dream of sidepipes cackling away to the tune of a solid lifter cam. No longer do I want to rebuild yet another carb. and lay down a tune for some late night cruising. What happened?
A 2009 Corvette is what happened. I got to drive one for a weekend and since that time with the most beautiful woman sitting next to me hitting 160mph on a cold January night with the top down and the heat turned up, I no longer have the fire to wrench, only to drive. Maybe I got too old, too fast. Maybe I'm just a schmuck. Maybe I lost. Eh...that's not the truth though. That girl sitting next to me is what happened. As beautiful as the dawn she was named after, that's what really happened. I'd rather spend my time with her.
With that said. I know what will unfold in the next few months: I will only turn a wrench to get my 'ol '71 back on the street and when she's ready, I'm going to sell her. This month is our 13th year anniversary. Maybe it's just an unlucky omen. Maybe it's just a sign of the times. Maybe I've just been putting off the inevitable.
I hate to say it, but I think I fell out of love with my Corvette.
Coming soon: 1971 Corvette 454 with turbo 400 & 3.73 gears. Once loved. Once cared for. Now forgotten.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,981
Likes: 6,207
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I also have a C5 convertible. I have news for you... as minor as the "gawkers" are with the C3, NO ONE looks at the C5. They are a dime a dozen. If you want less lookers, buy the C5.
Your post doesn't come across as someone who's humble. You are trying so hard to prove something or convince everyone of something, it's hard to tell where you are coming from. "Humble" isn't what comes to mind, because truly humble people don't have to cram their humbleness down everyone else's throat.
Last edited by vettebuyer6369; Sep 12, 2010 at 11:55 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
No one looks at C5s?
Nudge this thread back on track though, enough of the mud slinging, help the poster with issue of how to keep the romance without losing the fire!
Last edited by seeul8tr; Sep 13, 2010 at 01:46 AM. Reason: Nudge thread back on track