I still want my Ruby. Nothing diminishes that.
I drove the black '96 on Saturday night. Heart and head have to agree and logic has to prevail. If I kept and fixed the Ruby, it would still be a high milage, wrecked, patched together car with the same issues it had before, some cosmetic, some deeper. I'm going to let it go and hope it doesn't end up outside with doors and hood open, animals nesting in it, waiting for a salvage yard employee in a rusted out LTD to pry parts off with a hammer and screwdriver. The insurance company put in a haul-off request for Wednesday, after 2:00. I won't be anywhere around to see it go. I got final pictures and my personal stuff, including my straight pipes, and am ready to get the goodbyes over with. Lingering hurts.
I'm ready to get the insurance money and a bit of financing so I can bring the Obsidian home. It'll be two weeks, and no, the car's not going to be sold out from under me.

I'll do what I can not to drive the Corvette in the rain. It rained again today, and I even slowed way down and wouldn't use cruise in the work van or pick-up truck. Speaking of which, my pick-up now needs a new water pump. Is leeeaaaking. The truck's a '97, and has NOT been a garage queen. I think I can fit the bed in the garage, but the cab won't clear the door. My garage is in the basement, short quarters.

I've appreciated reading that I'm not alone in failure to maintain due care. It looks like it's been a hard couple of months or years for our cars. I still feel like I let my car down and am still letting it down by not keeping it and fixing it, but it has no emotions. I'm projecting. I'm glad I can tell the tale and nobody has to tell it for me.

 

Good luck with your new ride and keep all four wheels on the pavement . I really like Black, I had a black car a couple of years back. It's hard to keep clean but when it is it's . Black on Black was my original choice when I was Vette hunting but my wife isn't big on Black cars so I went with the Ruby since we both like Burgundy. Don't forget to post some larger pics when you get it.

 

Im glad to hear thats the direction you went. Looks great!

 

Looks like you're getting to where you need to be with this. That's very good news. After a bit of time has passed, you'll realize that the emotional attachment you had to the car was not in your best interests. In a sense, a car has a "personality" of sorts, but it has no soul, and therefore is incapable of loving you, and should not be loved by you in the true sense of the word. Love to drive it, love to take care of it, love the freedom it brings you. But don't love the car itself. Reserve that for those which have souls -- people and pets.

Congrats on the soon-to-be new acquisition. I'm sure it'll help you to move forward with a renewed zest for life. Check in with us and let us know how everything goes.

Be well,

SJW