I feel like I am inflicting pain upon myself!!!! Not a day goes by(literally) that I don't sit and look at cars! I am either looking at 2nd Gen Maros(70-74) or c3's(which is my favorite style of car period)

So recently my wife and I started a small Dog Boarding/Grooming/Daycare business(8 months ago) and I have been pushing 90+ minimum hrs a week. We sold two of our cars and are sharing a 92 400e. And we need another car...so the smart thing would to just buy a more recent reliable car. Yet my wife and I don't really do what's smart...we just do what makes us happy at the time. Sooo next month is my 30th birthday, and all I have wanted to do for my 30th is to go out and buy the car I want. Not the car that is good on gas mileage(the business is less than a mile from the house so mileage is a non issue) Not the most reliable car, not the car that can haul our 4 dogs around...just the car I WANT! My wife also wants me to just go out and get what I want too....but I feel like it is such an irresponsible thing...and I kinda talked myself out of it...But then....THEN... what do I do? I join this forum(I've been a stalker for a while) I keep reading all the c3's for sale...I keep reading about all the projects and mods everyone is doing...how much fun everyone is having...and the worst thing...I keep seeing why I love these cars sooo much. They are just absolutely beautiful!!! But what makes it even worse is that I know of a car for sale...that seems like a decent price and seems like a decent car(do you agree http://carsincstore.com/view/1108/RE...n-Woodstock-GA ) I feel like I am torturing myself...and I just had to share my pain with someone. But I am driving myself crazy I just needed a place to rant...and figured you guys might understand or feel my pain a little...thanks for listening!

J.

 

One thing to consider is that if it is going to be a daily driver in an area that you can use it all year long, it has transportation value, besides just enjoyment.
If per say, you drove it for 10 years and decided to sell, you should be able to recoup almost all your money. I've always been able to do that. Try doing that with a new $30,000 vehicle after 10 years.
Keep in mind, you don't have to restore it to new standards and comparable repairs are most often cheaper than with newer vehicles.

 

Great Points Noonie! I updated my profile so it shows my location...but I am in Atlanta. So I might not be able to drive it 1-3 times each yr. Since that is about how often we get snow or ice down here. My plan actually is to drive it for a good while...might not be a daily for 10. But then after a few yrs do a modern resto-mod.

 

Look at it this way: if you buy a C3 in decent condition (that includes the frame condition and the mechanical aspects of the car--not just the appearance), you shouldn't be forced to leave it in the garage or regularly have to work on it. You can use it when you want and just enjoy it for a while, until you get ready to mod it. And, during that period of time, the value of the car won't really depreciate--like 'everyday' cars would do--so you are not going to take any 'big hit' if you decide the C3 is not the way to go.

Since you will eventually be modding the car, DO NOT pay a big premium for purchasing a 'numbers matching'/factory-condition car. Get one that has been taken care of and has sound mechanical systems and decent paint job. You can't really go wrong.

 

dont spend your last dollar on the purchase. it WILL need something....

 

I give up. What's a "maro?"

 

Looking at the vette in the link, you dont have to worry about it being Orig. The nose is a 80-82 and the rear bumper looks like maybe a C-4 bumper modded to fit the C-3. Those tail light holes look like the more square that they used on the later C-4s. I might be wrong but that what it looks like to me.

Mike.

 

a firebird with the soul sucked out of it...

 

LoL interestingly enough... I love firebirds more than Camaros...except for 1970-74 especially one with a Split grill...black....white stripes...OH Yeah. Other than that. Firebird all day

 

You are right on actually. The rear bumper is a C-4 style bumper made for C-3's. And that is one thing I like about it...there is no need to worry about what I do to it..because it isn't an original, and I won't feel any remorse for modding it the way I want.

 

the value of the car won't really depreciate--like 'everyday' cars would do--so you are not going to take any 'big hit' if you decide the C3 is not the way to go.


Good point.

 

Ok. Don't spend my "last" dollar...so if I have a few left over ...its ok?


I am pretty certain the guy would take 9k for it. I have seen the car and talked to him...he own a restoration shop and the dealership. But aside from what he is restoring and selling he told me he owns over 70 cars of his own. His orignal price was 15,500 about a few months ago and has dropped 3 times and is now 9,800. It seems like a good looking sounding car...I haven't inspected the frame or birdcage as of yet, because I don't want to go through all the trouble if I am not even going to buy it...but we shall see...

 

I was about to ask the same question....

 

(Ca)maro

 

O.I.C. some kind of foreign language, I guess....

 

Oh boy, one more victim of the sexiest car in the world.
Those are real mistress, they can drive you mad and make you cry.
I can account for my own resto, I didn't plan it and it's not fun everyday (for years). I read you started a business, don't even thing about restoring it, it gonna swallow all you free time.

Wrong attitude, it's called the 1st vette fever (at least I call it that way). Go see the car, get used to it, drive it, then try another one, and more. Once you stop having this stupid smile one your face, you know you think straight again and consider purchasing one.
If you set your mind first, you won't see all the concealed nastiness when inspecting.
I consider myself pretty rational, I bought my Vette like a 10 years old child.
What makes me sad is I can't even regret it

 

 

Seems like a decent car to me. And if you like the mods , you need daily transportation , and you've checked it out - go ahead. I had a '79 vette when I was a young guy. Only car I had and I live in Saskatchewan , Canada. Drove it every winter. -40 ? You bet. Put a smile on my face everytime I drove it. Especially when it was -40 and I was the only vette driving around. The one I have now still puts a smile on my face too although I park it when it gets cold. (Well I drove it a couple times in Jan and Feb - nice days, only -25)

I've been thinking of picking up a C4 for my winter DD

 

Good point I will probably go drive it this weekend along with some others at a nearby Classic Car Sales place..they have a ton of C3's ... http://www.streetsideclassics.com/ve...ow=&pricehigh=

But I have never regretted anything I do...even if it was the worst decision ever...I learned something so no point in regretting.

 

I like this guy .

Also I know that this is an OLD car...and that no matter how good it looks...it is going to need SOMETHING done to it. But if the car is in decent condition...and if it does need repairs here and there and overall maintenance...how bad or how much can they possibly cost? I mean I am maintaining a 1992 Mercedes Benz 400e at the moment...and EVERYTHING on that car costs...I know they will all need something but it can't be THAT bad can it?