Dad needs rationalization!
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Dad needs rationalization!
Love CF and the passion you all bring to this. Incredible! 
Looking to get a C5 'vert but know that we'll then be a 3 car family with Ohio winters and kid hauling duties. Can spend ~ $30-35k on the Vette but will still need another car. Current car has 100k+ miles. Question -- how do most of you northern dads deal with this additional expense and hassle? Just keep an inexpensive third car and drive it into the ground? Or just assume that having $50K+ in two cars is the entry fee for living your dreams?
I need some encouragement and good rationalizations I can share with the wife!
Looking to get a C5 'vert but know that we'll then be a 3 car family with Ohio winters and kid hauling duties. Can spend ~ $30-35k on the Vette but will still need another car. Current car has 100k+ miles. Question -- how do most of you northern dads deal with this additional expense and hassle? Just keep an inexpensive third car and drive it into the ground? Or just assume that having $50K+ in two cars is the entry fee for living your dreams?
I need some encouragement and good rationalizations I can share with the wife!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Bought my vert 1 week before Xmas in 2004. Told my wife on Thursday to take off early on Friday because we were going to Florida to check out a vette. I never asked permission to by it - I just did. My wife knows that there are many worse things I could be doing with my time.
DD is a Tahoe. Looking at an H3 this afternoon. Another non-rational car.
There is no rational reason to own a vette. Rational reasons are for minivans.
DD is a Tahoe. Looking at an H3 this afternoon. Another non-rational car.
There is no rational reason to own a vette. Rational reasons are for minivans.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 700
Likes: 75
From: SW Missouri
I live in the Midwest and bought my first Corvette back in September, a 99 Pewter Coupe. I went through the same thing you are going through. My daily driver, a 96 Toyota has 125,000 miles on it and I am hoping that it will make it until at least 200,000. My Toyota is paid for but the Corvette is not. We use my wife's Minivan to haul our two kids around town. I would shop arond on pricing for C5's, here in the Midwest a C5 Vert. can be had for $25,000 or less. Hope to see your C5 pics soon.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '05
I have a cheap 3rd car that serves as my bad weather driver and kid hauler. I bought a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee off of eBay. I bought it 2 years for $8400 shipped from CT to MO. I wasn't picky about color or options. Just made sure the title was clear and the seller had good lots of good feedback. You can save a lot of $ by buying a vehicle on eBay if you looking for a 3rd car that doesn't have to be perfect.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Windsor Ontario
I guess I'm one of the luckier ones. I have a company car that gets replaced every 3 years and they pay the insurance, gas repairs ect. It takes most of the 
Wife has her van and the vette is for playing around with. 
If I didn't have a company car would probably just buy a used car for commuting to and from work.
Wife has her van and the vette is for playing around with. If I didn't have a company car would probably just buy a used car for commuting to and from work.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Originally Posted by ScottN
I have a cheap 3rd car that serves as my bad weather driver and kid hauler. I bought a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee off of eBay. I bought it 2 years for $8400 shipped from CT to MO. I wasn't picky about color or options. Just made sure the title was clear and the seller had good lots of good feedback. You can save a lot of $ by buying a vehicle on eBay if you looking for a 3rd car that doesn't have to be perfect.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
I think Scott did a good thing there. Bought a DD that could haul kids, stuff and make the wife happy when she drove it too. Not some junker that no women would get into. You driving it is a different story.
Then have the vette for good weather.
Of keep your 100K car for you winter DD. What does the wife have??
IMHO once you get into the drives seat of a vette, crank over the engine, and just drive. . . . ahhhhhhhh
there is no other felling like it in the world. Get a baby sitter so you and the Mrs can hit the open road for an hour or two.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Originally Posted by ScottN
I have a cheap 3rd car that serves as my bad weather driver and kid hauler. I bought a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee off of eBay. I bought it 2 years for $8400 shipped from CT to MO. I wasn't picky about color or options. Just made sure the title was clear and the seller had good lots of good feedback. You can save a lot of $ by buying a vehicle on eBay if you looking for a 3rd car that doesn't have to be perfect.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
check seller feedback - mine was a MO used car dealer with 100% positive feedback. The Jeep is pretty much pristine.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Stevensville Maryland
Go for it! You only live once! I bought my 2000 Millenium Yellow Convertible - 6 Speed - with 24,000 miles on it about 6 months ago. I too have two kids and needed to keep the old Lincoln for hauling them around. I paid around $31,000 for everything (taxes, tags, title, etc). The previous owner rarely drove the vette and it sat in her garage for over 5 years before she traded it in for a Mercedes. It is loaded and I feel really lucky to have found it. Lovin life ever since.
You won't regret it!
Good luck.
You won't regret it!
Good luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
I've found that it's sometimes difficult to rationalize with a women on these sorts of acquisitions 
I'd go ahead with it, get an inexpensive DD like I have and enjoy. She'll get over it - they always do. But I have found they've got their limits - you'll know it when you hear it.
I'd go ahead with it, get an inexpensive DD like I have and enjoy. She'll get over it - they always do. But I have found they've got their limits - you'll know it when you hear it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 2
From: Resume Speed Tennessee
Originally Posted by 14U2ENV
You only live ONCE!
And when you're dead, you're dead a long long time... Enjoy while you can.
"He has spent his life best who has enjoyed it most. God will take care that we do not enjoy it any more than is good for us." --Samuel Butler
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I don't try to rationalize it. I have the 03 AE Vert, 04 PT Cruiser GT and we just ordered the wife a Mini Cooper S.
You only live once, and since they haven't figured out how to transfer funds to the afterlife, you can't take it with you.
Chris
You only live once, and since they haven't figured out how to transfer funds to the afterlife, you can't take it with you.
Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 10
From: Columbus OH
Trying to rationalize a Corvette ?
Isn't that an oxymoron ...
In my case, I have extra cars or at least I will again once this house buying ordeal is over. Mine is driven only in warmer months and in warmer months it's barely driven too. I also have a daily driver (a '95 Nissan 240SX SE that will be replaced by a BMW E36 M3 soon). I keep my daily driver below a certain price level, I can't justify driving an expensive car for daily, too much loss than that I care to accept.
My goal is to have daily drivers for me and my wife, one each. A Corvette as a weekend warrior and a powerful family hauler. Daily drivers are daily drivers but the other two will mostly sit in the garage. Yes, I like just having cars in my stable In the perfect world, my stable will also include an RV, a tow vehicle and an enclosed car carrier.
Isn't that an oxymoron ...
In my case, I have extra cars or at least I will again once this house buying ordeal is over. Mine is driven only in warmer months and in warmer months it's barely driven too. I also have a daily driver (a '95 Nissan 240SX SE that will be replaced by a BMW E36 M3 soon). I keep my daily driver below a certain price level, I can't justify driving an expensive car for daily, too much loss than that I care to accept.
My goal is to have daily drivers for me and my wife, one each. A Corvette as a weekend warrior and a powerful family hauler. Daily drivers are daily drivers but the other two will mostly sit in the garage. Yes, I like just having cars in my stable
In the perfect world, my stable will also include an RV, a tow vehicle and an enclosed car carrier.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
An Alternative to a 3rd car
We have an F-150 SuperCrew for family stuff, and the C5 is a daily driver, at least on those days when I can't take the motorcycle.
We decided to not keep a 3rd car. Our plan is to drive the vette most of the time, i.e., when the roads are in at least decent shape, but on those rare occassions when the roads are snow packed/ice/slush/etc., rent an econobox for the day.
Fortunately, we have an Enterprise place a stone's throw from the house, so her 4x4 can get us over to pick up a car easily. We figure ~$40/day once or twice a year beats the dickens out of the annual outlay for a 3rd car's depreciation, insurance, taxes, maintenance, etc. -- especially when that money would be going out for a car that would do nothing but sit at the curb for 98% of the year.
As long as I keep up on the cleaning and undercarriage care (yet another reason for a lift), we think this will be a workable approach.
We decided to not keep a 3rd car. Our plan is to drive the vette most of the time, i.e., when the roads are in at least decent shape, but on those rare occassions when the roads are snow packed/ice/slush/etc., rent an econobox for the day.
Fortunately, we have an Enterprise place a stone's throw from the house, so her 4x4 can get us over to pick up a car easily. We figure ~$40/day once or twice a year beats the dickens out of the annual outlay for a 3rd car's depreciation, insurance, taxes, maintenance, etc. -- especially when that money would be going out for a car that would do nothing but sit at the curb for 98% of the year.
As long as I keep up on the cleaning and undercarriage care (yet another reason for a lift
), we think this will be a workable approach.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 12
From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by ScottN
I have a cheap 3rd car that serves as my bad weather driver and kid hauler. I bought a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee off of eBay. I bought it 2 years for $8400 shipped from CT to MO. I wasn't picky about color or options. Just made sure the title was clear and the seller had good lots of good feedback. You can save a lot of $ by buying a vehicle on eBay if you looking for a 3rd car that doesn't have to be perfect.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
I bet you could find an older Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee with decent miles for a very reasonable price.
Hey Scott.
Just a note - the Jeep GC is a very dangerous car if you are hit from behind (as I was).
Best bet to avoid injury (from the seat breaking) is to place a box of books behind the drivers/passenger seats, wedging it between those and the rear seat.
Keep in mind that I have now spent over $600k in doctor/medical bills due to being hit at 40mph while stopped at a red light.
Issue: the seat broke and threw me into the rear - when/where the majority of injuries occurred.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,723
Likes: 1,088
From: NE OH
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Originally Posted by sjm97
Love CF and the passion you all bring to this. Incredible!
Looking to get a C5 'vert but know that we'll then be a 3 car family with Ohio winters and kid hauling duties. Can spend ~ $30-35k on the Vette but will still need another car. Current car has 100k+ miles. Question -- how do most of you northern dads deal with this additional expense and hassle? Just keep an inexpensive third car and drive it into the ground? Or just assume that having $50K+ in two cars is the entry fee for living your dreams?
I need some encouragement and good rationalizations I can share with the wife!
Looking to get a C5 'vert but know that we'll then be a 3 car family with Ohio winters and kid hauling duties. Can spend ~ $30-35k on the Vette but will still need another car. Current car has 100k+ miles. Question -- how do most of you northern dads deal with this additional expense and hassle? Just keep an inexpensive third car and drive it into the ground? Or just assume that having $50K+ in two cars is the entry fee for living your dreams?
I need some encouragement and good rationalizations I can share with the wife!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles CA
I agree...you can't think rationally!! I was buying a $50K dual sport sand/desert car and the wife said...Instead of buying a race car that will sit most of the year, why don't you buy a Corvette? I had an '02 in the garage within 2 months!!
As far as having a thrid car, we have an '02 turbo Beetle that the is the wife's DD, I drive an '02 crew cab PU and the Vette is relegated to weekend driving. She used the truck also once and a while to tow the horses. Works out good. 3 payments and insurance sucks, but when i drive the Vette, all my cares and worries go out the window!
Good luck,
Russ...
As far as having a thrid car, we have an '02 turbo Beetle that the is the wife's DD, I drive an '02 crew cab PU and the Vette is relegated to weekend driving. She used the truck also once and a while to tow the horses. Works out good. 3 payments and insurance sucks, but when i drive the Vette, all my cares and worries go out the window!
Good luck,
Russ...
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Ostrander OH
with everyone.I told her it was my goal in college to own a Corvette. That is what motivated me to finish and I had a goal to own one by age 30, (it took me until 32) and I hate to not accomplish my goals!
4 years ago I bought a 97 4x4 Blazer with 85k with the goal of paying it off in 3 years and buying a used Vette. Well I did just that. The Blazer now has 140,000 miles and is still in great shape. We just had our first kid (a boy) on thursday so the car seat is in the Blazer for when I need to haul him around. She has an 02 BMW 525 with a car seat also.Look around on Verts - I bought mine in May last year - '99 with 25k miles for $27,500 in Akron - pm me if you want the dealer's name - he often has nice vettes in and is a huge car nut.
I like the advice of finding a well cared for 4X4 SUV? to drive in the winter and other errands.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
extra car
Don't have any kids at home but do have three very large dogs. We have an Excursion for travel, they go with us, and a 4 runner for around town and short trips. Vette stays in the garage for most of the winter here(salt and chemicals on the road for the snow). You won't regret getting the vette.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Good thoughts, thanks guys. The wife has an Expedition so I don't need a big hauler as a third car. Probably can just keep what I have now as the third car. If it dies, there's plenty of others for under $10K that I can use on the daily commute.