Since many of the forum members here are older than me, me only being 19, 20 in November. I've been thinking about selling the Vette that i've worked so hard and spent so long finding. Me and my girlfriend have been together for almost 4 months now, not long I know. In these 4 months we've traveled more than I have in my entire life and I'm amazed how different things are outside of my little town I live in. I'd love to do more traveling but given my funds that's not really possible, even little weekend trips add up. I have no time or money for the vette, I've driven it twice in the past 3 weeks.

I own the truck and the Corvette, neither of them being good on gas, when you're going through over a tank a week it definitely adds up, i'd be buying a used more fuel efficient vehicle for most of my traveling, which would also help with insurance. It's the worst time to sell the car but i've been considering only selling it through here, as I'm not desperate to sell the car by any means and I only want the car going to a good home. I'm just curious if you guys have any advice, or if you've been in the same situation I am, I'm thinking I can always buy a fast car when I'm old, I can't travel and do the same things I can now.

 

19 years of age is WAY too young to feel like you are saddled to a car - I would sell it. At 19, you should be focused on your education - whether it be college or a skilled trade. When you build up your skills to the point where your salary starts to move up, THEN consider a car like a Corvette. Also, do NOT get married at such a young age either. More than anything, that would divert your energies from improving your skills in the work world to just support your day to day existence.

 

That was also what I forgot to mention, I plan on starting school in the spring. I don't feel comfortable parking the truck or the Vette where I'd be going to school given the area and the limited parking.

 

If its not worth much then keep it.

 

If you like the car and there's space, consider parking it and waiting a bit to sell. Go ahead and buy a cheap runabout to take to school. I agree that you'll want a car there. Or take the truck. You won't be driving as much anyway, if you're putting the time into your studies.

Where I am now (MD) you have to maintain minimal insurance or turn in your tags. If the car isn't worth too much, the insurance might not be an issue. Make sure you're aware of homeowner's policy or other insurance limitations if that's important to you. Also, bear in mind that you'll want to prep the car properly to store or you'll want to run it and move it a bit periodically.

I say this because I've gotten rid of a couple of cars that I've later wished I hadn't when I could have parked them. The money wasn't enough to be a factor (hundreds, not thousands) when I sold them, and was rapidly spent. Now, for example, I have a 16 year old that could be driving my old Tracker if I'd have parked it for three years.

Best,
Jerry

Best,
Jerry

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Re: parking... Friends or family? When I was transferred overseas, I parked my Datsun 240z under a tarp at the house of a friend of the family.

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A bit of advice. If you're worried about parking eother of them at school, you will worry about ANYTHING at school. It's just a habit of being a car guy. I had a saturn with plastic dent resistant panels and I still worried. You aren't parking an irreplaceable 1 off ferrari race car, or a high dollar exotic. Don't worry about the little bits of wear, especially if you're having paint problems on the vette.

You've been dating this girl for 4 months. That's nothing, especially at your age. Don't let her factor in to your decision, for all you know she will meet another dude at school and dump you.

If you really want a more efficient vehicle, buy some cheap little crapbox. You looked for you car for a LONG time, I remember. If you sell it now, you're going to get little for it and then be looking for another unknown car with unknown problems. If you can't afford the trips, slow down on them. If the girl can't handle that then find a different pne.

One more bit of advice. Don't go into debt for fun during school. Try to a avoid debt for school, but definitely don't do it for fun. I have a friend who had a v6 mustang, then upgraded to a new v6 genesis cpupe, then got a new mustang gt in college. He's been out for years and drives the car his girl drove in college now because he can't afford to drove anything better and pay his loans. Trust me on this, limit your debt from school and you will be happier long term.

Edit: One more thing. You can buy a fast car when you're old, yes. But you won't enjoy it as much. You can also travel when you're old, and you will enjoy that more because you will have the money to do the stupid touristy crap people want to do. Hell, you will probably move for your job after school and maybe even get a job that causes you to travel for work. Don't get too caught up in things now, just chill and things will work out fone.

 

You may or may not find a good home for it here. You definitely won't get top dollar. Not a single contact from the ad I placed on this forum for my '95 in September.

Aklim and others here were trying to tell me it was worth no more than $4-5K.

It sold last month on Craigslist for $8,500.

Only you can sort out your priorities. A parked corvette is not much fun.

 

X2...big time. bb62 is giving some strong advice, here.

 

This!! Sounds like somehow she has an influence on your decision...you wanted it for so long and all of a sudden not, why?

As said if you dont need the money put it aside...if you had never met her would you still be considering this? Leykus 101

 

Bingo

 

I am a lot older and actually have a 19 year old son who will turn 20 this month. He drives a 13 year old Honda lives in a 300 sq ft apartment and is working full time on an engineering degree.

When I was 21 I met a girl and ended up married 2 years later. That was 31 years ago and we are still married. Looking back the two things that got us were we are were long range goals and a Budget. The budget drives your decisions. If the budget says a good used economy car is the answer, then sell the vette and truck. Get school done.

IMO, my generation has done a **** poor job of teaching your generation how to plan and budget. Everyone should read Money Matters by Dave Ramsey. But don't buy it, borrow it from a library. 10 years from now you'll be amazed at what you have.

 

Thanks for the advice so far guys, I appreciate it.

 

Life is full of "opportunities" Sometimes you have to sacrifice for opportunities.

You decide what your needs are and only you.

If you feel like you could sell it, then sell it. Who knows what you can afford in a couple years.

It's hard, but save now buy later. I went 6 years with out a sports car, then I had one sit for like 8+ years in my garage ignored. It's 80% the way I want now. (I could do anything I want to it, but it's not important to me)

If you can trade them in on a car you think fits the puzzle right now do it.

 

You have the car that you worked hard to get and looked awhile to find what you wanted. do not give it up. find a family member or a good friend who can keep it for you till you work out a better place for it to stay.
If the girlfriend of 4 months has anything to do with you getting rid of it, get rid of her.

 

Lots of good advice so far, but I will add my .02. Getting rid of your truck is not an option (it was your Grandfather's if I remember) and the 6MN C4 was a car you searched a very long time for. I don't want to get into your wallet, but will the $5k or so that you will get for the Vette change your life ? Knock off the weekend getaways with your new girlfriend, focus on school, and get another Geo if you are worried about MPG's.

 

How much more savings will you get with this new to you car? IOW, if you get 20 mpg now and the new car gets 22 mpg, is it worth a car payment? You need to see how many miles you will rack up and how much you save if you get this new car with better fuel efficiency and how it translates into money including average maintenance and insurance.

What is important to you? If traveling is more important, by all means, you can get a faster car later on. You have to sacrifice something so what is the lessor of the evils? Will you even trade or have to make payments? What will the insurance be like? IOW, will it be cheaper to insure it than a C4? Call your insurance agent.

 

Ah, that is true with the caveat that you may have less time to do it in.

You may. My Dad did. Had an expense account to travel too. Ate whatever he wanted at wherever he wanted. It was pretty cool for a bit till he reached the point that going out to eat wasn't as much fun as a home cooked meal. I might not simply pay you to travel. I might expect you to work and at the end of the day, you might just want to eat and go back to your room and crash.

 

If you can find the guy with money burning a hole in his pocket, life is good. OTOH, if I have to take a loan out and the bank won't finance it, well, it could be a long road I might not wish to take. That cuts down your chances. Salesmen have been good enough to sucker someone into falling in love with the item and pay more than it is worth. BTDT myself but I wouldn't count on it.

 

He was single and wanted to hook up some tail. Today he is not and doesn't need it for that anymore? When I was single, I shopped for nicer shirts. Today, other than work attire, if the T-shirt isn't free, I don't want it (unless there is something significant)