andy_cain
05-01-2004, 07:09 PM
With all the demodding going on around here, I got to thinking about it.
That is the best way to get the maximum value out of your truck, most people don’t want to buy a modded “L” as half the fun (at least for me) is fixing them up.
I personally (to suite my needs) have taken my “L” to just about the boundary’s of my “Project L”goals for what I consider to be safe and still avoid a total money pit by building up my block and so forth…so I consider my “L” to be for all practical purpose and intent, “Finished”.:(
The problem now seems to be that I almost need a new project as I am bored with the “L” for the most part (still love it to death and keep her tip top), just not really content without some project of the sort going on.
If you have read this far and are still here, here is my thought.:evil
I have had an itch for a Viper since before the Porsche, and frankly; should have done it then. I have the LT4 Corvette up for sale as of Yesterday and plan on using that money to completely pay off the “L” and use the remainder on a down payment for a Viper.
I figure the math kinda like this:
96-98 Viper with under 25K miles for under $40K (example for price purpose: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2474503636&category=6209&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2474503636&category=6209&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1) )
If ya put say 10K down, and financed the remaining (even at the higher % and shorter terms) your payments would be within range of what I pay on the Lightning that I have now.
If I took the money from the sale of the mods and some other cash I have scraped together, I could have payments the same or even less!:eek:
The question gets to be this:
Am I better to sell the Lightning demoded and keep the Vette as it is paid for and I do enjoy driving it (not as quick as the “L” but still a fun ride that actually has less miles per year (56K on “96” vs. Lightnings 40K in 5 years), it is almost completely stock, and one of the motors people look for (if they were looking for a C4 (I know T---“the C4 is a played out car” but I kinda prefer them as the C5’s seems to be everywhere (though I wouldn’t kick a Z06 outta the garage for sure);)
The nicest thing about the Vette is, it is soooo easy to clean and not really anything special that I “wouldn’t want to drive it in the rain” …(for those who know me):rll:
OR:
Keep the beloved “L” as a “Finished” project? (what is the objective to that again:confused: )
I have to say, I don’t think I could let her go unless it were gradual…. Like by demodding her. Even then, The 12 year old here says he would rather have the Lightning than the Viper even! … I may have influenced him too much there in the past…LOL
I did originally buy the Lightning for it’s brute power; and did enjoy racing until I decided I had to set a new personal best every few months until it reached the 11’s, then switched gears to “bling type” mods.
I am not sure I (even in my “unsane” mind:evil ) can justify having two garage queens that get less than 2000 miles a year each, and spend almost all my spare time polishing them.
Maybe I would be better with just one hobby at a time so I can obsess on it like I want to.:tu:
I know that if I were really smart (I never promised anything like that) I would just keep the Vette (use it for a daily driver) and the Lightning and forget another project that I will NEVER see a return on my “project that comes close to my expenditures…. But I honestly do not know what my next project would be.
Smartest would obviously be.. sell the Vette and use the Lightning as daily (weekly or less in my case) driver and save the money or pay down the house, but what the hell is the fun of that?:vomit:
I don’t really have a place for a boat and that defeats the “project” part of my equation….although I like the Lake party's :D
Perplexing to say the least… still not sure what I think I am going to do, but with the Vette for sale, I may just make another “wild hair decision” at the moment based on what makes me feel good when the Vette sells.
I know this is the Lightning forum and I expect everyone to say that the Lightning is the shiz, since we all have one…just exploring other options
One thing is certain, I would have to hide the calculator from myself if I considered selling the Lightning too much…it will never be worth more than it is today!
“Projects” seem to look vaigly like a black hole piggy banks. But in my own defense, who wants a stock ride? Reguardless of what it is? Where is the personality in that?:hammer:
That is the best way to get the maximum value out of your truck, most people don’t want to buy a modded “L” as half the fun (at least for me) is fixing them up.
I personally (to suite my needs) have taken my “L” to just about the boundary’s of my “Project L”goals for what I consider to be safe and still avoid a total money pit by building up my block and so forth…so I consider my “L” to be for all practical purpose and intent, “Finished”.:(
The problem now seems to be that I almost need a new project as I am bored with the “L” for the most part (still love it to death and keep her tip top), just not really content without some project of the sort going on.
If you have read this far and are still here, here is my thought.:evil
I have had an itch for a Viper since before the Porsche, and frankly; should have done it then. I have the LT4 Corvette up for sale as of Yesterday and plan on using that money to completely pay off the “L” and use the remainder on a down payment for a Viper.
I figure the math kinda like this:
96-98 Viper with under 25K miles for under $40K (example for price purpose: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2474503636&category=6209&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2474503636&category=6209&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1) )
If ya put say 10K down, and financed the remaining (even at the higher % and shorter terms) your payments would be within range of what I pay on the Lightning that I have now.
If I took the money from the sale of the mods and some other cash I have scraped together, I could have payments the same or even less!:eek:
The question gets to be this:
Am I better to sell the Lightning demoded and keep the Vette as it is paid for and I do enjoy driving it (not as quick as the “L” but still a fun ride that actually has less miles per year (56K on “96” vs. Lightnings 40K in 5 years), it is almost completely stock, and one of the motors people look for (if they were looking for a C4 (I know T---“the C4 is a played out car” but I kinda prefer them as the C5’s seems to be everywhere (though I wouldn’t kick a Z06 outta the garage for sure);)
The nicest thing about the Vette is, it is soooo easy to clean and not really anything special that I “wouldn’t want to drive it in the rain” …(for those who know me):rll:
OR:
Keep the beloved “L” as a “Finished” project? (what is the objective to that again:confused: )
I have to say, I don’t think I could let her go unless it were gradual…. Like by demodding her. Even then, The 12 year old here says he would rather have the Lightning than the Viper even! … I may have influenced him too much there in the past…LOL
I did originally buy the Lightning for it’s brute power; and did enjoy racing until I decided I had to set a new personal best every few months until it reached the 11’s, then switched gears to “bling type” mods.
I am not sure I (even in my “unsane” mind:evil ) can justify having two garage queens that get less than 2000 miles a year each, and spend almost all my spare time polishing them.
Maybe I would be better with just one hobby at a time so I can obsess on it like I want to.:tu:
I know that if I were really smart (I never promised anything like that) I would just keep the Vette (use it for a daily driver) and the Lightning and forget another project that I will NEVER see a return on my “project that comes close to my expenditures…. But I honestly do not know what my next project would be.
Smartest would obviously be.. sell the Vette and use the Lightning as daily (weekly or less in my case) driver and save the money or pay down the house, but what the hell is the fun of that?:vomit:
I don’t really have a place for a boat and that defeats the “project” part of my equation….although I like the Lake party's :D
Perplexing to say the least… still not sure what I think I am going to do, but with the Vette for sale, I may just make another “wild hair decision” at the moment based on what makes me feel good when the Vette sells.
I know this is the Lightning forum and I expect everyone to say that the Lightning is the shiz, since we all have one…just exploring other options
One thing is certain, I would have to hide the calculator from myself if I considered selling the Lightning too much…it will never be worth more than it is today!
“Projects” seem to look vaigly like a black hole piggy banks. But in my own defense, who wants a stock ride? Reguardless of what it is? Where is the personality in that?:hammer: