I was 13 when the C5 came out...Relatives had older models and I was a Vette fan well before 96-97, but the "want" of one never occurred until I saw the C5...So this year at 27 I was finally able to get a Mag Red II '04 Coupe with dual tops. 43,000 miles...I love the car, it is exactly what I always wanted with 0% let down in expectations. No mods other than inserts, sills, etc...Here is where the problem starts.

I am not in the need of funds whatsoever, but lately I am feeling as if I would rather have the money than the car. Not ready to buy a house, but I know the additional cash will come in handy when time to do so. On top of this my parents are struggling, my Dad retired 2 years ago and had a heart attack and it has stressed my Mom beyond belief, financially they are struggling as well. Not that I intend to give them money or that they would ever ask, but I can't help but to think other family members are saying "they are going through all of this and you're driving a Corvette." In fact, both sides of my family and all of my friends are in the money dump as well. Also, my fiance has always been a GTO/Camaro fan and never had much interest in Corvettes, now that she drives mine on a regular basis she doesn't want anything else. If I bring up getting rid of it I have to hear about how I've talked about one for a decade and that it's silly to part ways with it now...She makes a good point that I could drive it for another 1-2 years and the value wouldn't drop that much and that I could sell it then without out much loss on the original purchase price.

Cars are cars, but a Vette is not...It is a shame that I somehow feel guilty for having one. This is not buyer's remorse so much as it is owner's remorse...Anyone else experience anything like this?

 

Don't feel guilty. You earned it.
If you need the money, then it's a different issue, however if it's a car you can afford, then keep it and never look back.
Your parents would want you to have what you want and what you deserve, I am sure they are proud of you for accomplishing a milestone in your life.

 

I have been/am in the same situation. I won't go into the details but I will if you want to pm me.

Don't punish yourself for what happens to others. If you can help if needed to then help. But I look at it this way. I have plenty for myself, but if I tried to solve everyone else's problems, all I would accomplish is placing myself in the same position as they are.

Good Luck, you sound like a good man.

 

You can't control what happens in life - you have it and it is what it is.

Anything could happen right after you sell, if you should, and all those funds would be gone in a flash -

Don't let guilt get to you. It's not a brand new 2012 ZR1 that cost $100,000+ it is a 5th Gen Corvette bought used, NOT NEW but used, so help your family and friends where you can but stop the personal guilt trip or you will never be happy. You'd sell it and be UNHAPPY too!

Thanks,Matt

 

Would you still feel guilty if you were driving an new Toyota? Probably not but you would have as much or more invested and would loose more on trade in. If the Vette fits your needs keep it after all you have to have something to drive.

By the way great choice! I may be biased as my car is a mag red '04 coupe with about the same miles. There is no way I can drive that car and not have a smile on my face. That has got to be worth something

 

Don't worry about what others may be saying or thinking. You obviously enjoy driving the car, so keep driving it! You don't know what tomorrow has in store for you...my advice..."live like you are dying" each and every day!!

You can't control what happens in other people's life nor what they may or may not be saying or thinking!!

 

You got it....may as well enjoy it.

I financed mine and it would be great to have that monthly money to save or whatever.....and in these times, saving is a good idea while one has a job.

But here's the deal......stress is a killer. Guilt is an even worse sort of stress. And if I'm stressed, I can climb in my Corvette, just enjoy the ride, and forget about the crap that is happening or could happen or whatever.

You're lucky to have the car. You're VERY lucky the fiance' likes it. You earned it and you could have squandered the money gambling or drinking or bought stocks that took a nose dive. Your money is well spent and you NEED some sort of enjoyable toy. Plus it gets great gas mileage and is dependable....what more can you ask for in a car these days? You just have the extra bonus of having a fast car that handles well :^)

If life throws you a curve ball.....then sell the car if you need to. Until then....ENJOY!!

 

Well you already have the car, and yes it is a used Vette. People see that you have a Vette and they automatically think you are rich or have money.

In reality a used C5 is in the ballpark of 15-25k give or take!

The average new car today is 25-35k for a nice car!

So I say you keep your car and be proud to drive it as you worked hard and saved up for it. Your parents want you to be happy! Just try and help them out in other ways and be a good son!

Congrats on your new Vette!!

Also if your dad is going through a rough time, take him for a long ride, have lunch and spend some quality time together!. And let him drive home

 

As an older guy and father myself, one of my biggest pleasures is seeing my kids reach a goal they have set for themselves. All I want from my kids is to spend a little quality time with me. Don't feel guilty about the car. If you had a Toyota of the same value, would you feel guilty about it? Don't concern yourself with what others may or may not be thinking.

 

Either way, you still NEED a car. And as stated previously by several people, a 7 year old C5 is not an overly extravagant car. Now, if you had just bought a new C6 for $50k and you still don't have a house, then you're priorities might not be in order.

Don't get me wrong, cars are a horrible investment. However, having said that, think of your Vette as an investment (liquid cash) for your house that you can sell at any time in the future when need be. A used Vette is not going to depreciate as much as most other cars. Say you drive your vette for 2 more years, and you are able to sell it for $17k in 2 years, when you might have been able to sell it for $21k today. That $4k depreciation hit amortized over 2 years is a small price to pay for you to be driving and enjoying a car that you love. Then think of this on the other hand: being stuck in any other boring new car that you bought for $30k and doesn't even fulfill your car passion that will depreciate twice as much over those 2 years.

Keep the Vette. It's what you love and have always wanted. You'll have an empty spot and always regret it if you sell it.

 

As a high school teacher, I often get the same feeling from others.....must be nice to own a corvette.....

Tough.....I think if a person has debt, then it might be wise to get something less expensive, get ahead a bit, then step in to the vette.

personally, I paid off my house and made some investments first, then got the vette. Still felt guilty after buying it. Using it as a daily driver is much easier to defend than letting it sit most of the time like I do. When I first bought it, realized that it was costing about $18/day between the loan and insurance...felt like an idiot.

But it has since been paid off and very very happy to have it sitting there for the nice days. For what its worth....drove a crappy 84 blazer while paying off the vette.....

But others' comments about new cars being just as much are right on...but you could drive a beater and save big bucks between payments, depreciation, and insurance though.

 

So you want to make your life less enjoyable due to the suffering of others? Very honorable but not very smart. You will regret it if you love the car. Not to mention you didn't buy a new car that would have already lost 10k so it's not so bad. You can always sell it when you do need the money.

 

42 years ago I sold my '66 390 HP, four speed side piped roadster.

Still kicking myself.

 

You're folks are struggling how? As in they are candidates for foreclosure? I'd sell my car and do anything I could to help prevent that for my folks. Other than that, they'll be OK. As other have said, you have to have a car to drive and an almost 8 year old corvette certainly isn't an extravagant purchase regardless of how much value you put into it personally. You'd spend as much on a newer truck or car so why not drive what you like? Selling the car to avoid feeling guilty isn't a path I would take. F what other people think about how much money you have or don't. All that matters is what you know in your heart to be true about you and your folks.

 

I agree - sounds like you earned something you have wanted for a long time. No reason to feel guilty - and too bad the others may make you feel that way. If you decide you need to help your parents out and the only way to do that would be to get rid of the car, then so be it - that's a good excuse.

 

Parents aside, but for the friends comment. They might just see that if you can accomplish your goals and have a corvette then maybe they can too. If they are the jealous type then it doesn't really matter what you do, they will never see it your way. I know the reason I bought mine at age 26 was because a friend of mine bought one and I said if he can do it why can't I, and my second reason and most important reason was to share in the corvette hobby with my father, something I would have regret not doing. There is always 2 ways to look at it, in the end you have to do whats right for you and not concern yourself with what others might think. If they really care about you then they will be proud and happy for you.

 

Thanks for all of the comments. As several have said that parents would be proud of such a milestone, you are all correct, both had huge smiles when they found out I had it. We live in different states and I had it for 7 months before they found out. Hard to bring it up when I know they are going through stuff right now. "I know money is low, but I just bought a Vette." is tough to say on a phone call. As far as friends go...I had one who had their car die and was struggling to buy another car that was about 170,000 miles deep, like $1,000 tops. I had to step back and look at myself. We have 4 cars, the Vette, an 04 Alero, 04 Eclipse Spyder and my first car, an 02 Cavalier. As someone else said, it is a 7 year old car, but it gives off the vibe of excess. The other 3 cars wouldn't make me feel this way, but the C5 did...

Guess we sometimes worry about others too much, almost as bad as not being concerned at all. I am blessed/cursed with a heavy heart. As much as my career has turned me into a cold hearted employee, I am still just like my Mother in regards to watching out for other people. To tell the truth, after much thinking to myself, a lot more than this is going on in my life and perhaps I am just directing it into the feeling of owning the car...AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE HELP AND REMEMBER TO WAVE...

 

if you are debt free, who cares? work hard, play hard.

 

I had similar thoughts and wants but I am much older than you.

I had a 1970 454 that I felt I would have died for!

During an ugly divorce that forced me to sell the Vette to pay for my daughter's college, I honestly never thought I'd ever have another Dream Car. (I now have two!)

In your heart, its more than a car, but family is family.

You have to make the decision based on your upbringings, not what the "Survey Sezs" from the forumn.

If you decide to sell and help those who brought you into life - you will not forget it!

If you decide to keep the Vette, maybe you could get a 2nd job to help out.

Bottom line is that it MUST be your decision!

IMHO

 

Pics of fiance or BAN!

keep the vette btw.