golfboy

In regards to the cost of owning and maintaining an old Corvette compared to the value received from said car, I have learned a very important thing early on, don't keep track of the money spent on the car and parts for it. If you do, you will get depressed! I have a 78 Indy Pace Car and have owned it for two years during which I have put 10,000 miles on it in that time. Several things have been upgraded or replaced on the car and several hundred dollars spent. The way I can justify this money being spent is from the entertainment value that I get back from driving it. I know all of us love C-3s or we would'nt be on this site and our cars run the gamut of garage queens that hardly or ever see the road to daily drivers and everything in between. But for me, the most value is to take the car out and drive it on the road just about everyday that I can. And to get the waves and thumbs up signs along with all the positive comments from bystanders and other drivers is just icing on the cake. These cars seem to get a lot of attention from the futuristic styling that they have and everyone knows what they are at first glance. I can honestly say that my Pace Car has given me miles of smiles every time I take it out for a drive. That's my opinion on cost vs. value.

The13Bats

I relate to your feelings and respect each persons idea of value, yield and investment from c3 ownership but what is sad is it seems any thread like this gets someone butt chapped.....

Greg

If you don't monitor the money your wife spends you'll have a long happy marriage as well. Some things are better forgotten.

cv67

At least you see the value which is using it
Unless youre buying and flipping cars are lost money

I dont understand those who stay up all night worrying about spending money vs what will it be worth next yr. If thats the case imo that person cant afford the car in the first place. Seems like work.

Never once thought about what my car would be worth either way dont care. Its about having fun one way or another that costs money, cant live life on a spreadsheet

teamo

I never worry what I am spending on cars. I'm not in it for a return on investment. The way I look at it, it costs money no matter what you enjoy doing. Some people play golf 2x a week, some people ski every week in the winter, some people gamble, some people have their own airplane, or whatever. Add up the cost of anything that people put into their hobbies/interests and it can more than equal what we spend on these cars.

John Ulrich

I purchased a new 1990 Honda Accord and a few months later a 1981 Corvette for similar money. 26 years later the Accord is probably in the junk yard and the '81 is still in my garage with minimum issues over the years to fix.
My C7 has lost more value in 3 model years then my total investment in the '81 over 26 yrs.... now that's one to debate!

Bikespace

I have never bought a car without the intention of fully using it up and then donating it to charity. I've done that several times, and I've been wrong a few times. Twice I gave nice cars to family that are still on the road. Once I had one car that I traded to a dealer, after GM failed to make good on a warranty repair (so, no new GM cars for us, until they start selling Pontiacs again).

The Corvettes are different, though, in that I don't consider them disposable. I fully expect to lose a pile of money on them making them better than I found them, maybe better than new (but not stock). I hope to one day hand the keys to the next curator for nothing more than a "thank you", and I hope that day is a LONG time from now.

The sunk cost of the purchase price, and whatever I spend to get them to where I want them to be, will never be recouped. I don't total receipts, and I don't care to. So far, I enjoying every part of the journey of fixing, buying upgrades, and most importantly DRIVING!

Mod75

A Vette as an investment? I don't think it works like that.
Owning the same Vette for 43 some odd years its more like an un-investment, you know your going to loose. Its like having a good addiction if that's possible.

540 vette

Does it really matter.

Faster Rat

Nope. Nothing does these days.

Gordonm

Between the 2 fun cars I own the 72 Vette and the 65 Cobra replica I have tens of thousands of dollars in them. If they were to go away tomorrow or be worth nothing I have enjoyed them to the utmost. Every time I drive one of them I get out with a smile a mile wide. Worth every penny I put in them. Not worried if they will be worth anything in the future and really don't care. My Vette I now know my son wants in the future. I will most likely give it to him. The Cobra who knows but both are awesome cars to drive and it makes me happy and feels good to drive them. My motto is if it does not give you joy or happiness anymore move it on to someone who will enjoy it.

63Corvette

It depends! My 1963 Z06 has been invited to Monterey 3 times, to Indy twice, and to CoTA each year. NO other car, the I could afford would get me THAT honor, which I value very highly.

lowbuck72

You can also look at is this way. Buy a new whatever for $30K+. Besides the payment you'll be making, it will be depreciating at the rate of about $500 a month. Your C3 will only be worth more as time goes by. After 20 years, that new car will be essentially worthless.

Primoz

The amount of money I spend on mine is returned to me tenfold when I drive it!
I love my corvette more and more as the days go bye.

Priya

The last time I tallied what I had spent and expected to spend on my 79 I was at 37K. I don't regret it as when I'm done I'm going to have a Corvette that is tailored to my tastes in a way the factory couldn't have come close to replicating.

Tonio

I wonder; do people monitor how much they spend on golf, vacations, sporting events, and other flash-in-the-pan entertainment events?

Bob K

I just added 1500sq ft to my garage so that the baby’s can stay dry. My wife knows how much I enjoy tinkering in the garage. She also know where I am��.

Bob K.

Faster Rat

Only if they can write them off on their taxes, legally or not. Then again, those things are not a physical asset, especially one that appreciates in value. My personal opinion is that people are either spenders or savers. Nobody is going to convince me that money doesn't matter. The ONLY reason I have extra money for toys is because I have struggled and saved my entire life to finally be able to acquire and enjoy them.

CheezMoe

Word! Totally agree the value is in the ear to ear grin of 70 mph and the wind in your face looking out over the hood and fenders at an open road! My theory has been to not let the car stay down for long periods of time. Do winter projects but make sure she is ready to roll for summer. Too many years sitting idle not running causes some to get distracted and lose interest. Investment? The tangible is you have a cool car in the garage, as opposed to that platinum membership at the club. The intangible is that wind in your face. Profitable? Not likely. Maybe for your heirs !