If you only needed a car a couple weekend a month... - Lateral-g Forums

BC69 · #1 12-03-2010, 06:55 PM

I have been posting time to time about my search for a new car now that I am out of NYC and in the sort of car friendly San Fran area. I have gone back and forth on the best options for a car. I narrowed it down a bit, but I will let you guys add some input.

Background - I can walk to work, and work Sunday - Sunday most weeks (its a blast I tell you!). So I would only use the car for fun on random free weekends. But would like to be able to take long trips down coast, potential to Las Vegas, ect ect.

1. Boring but Safe - New 3 Series/A4/C-Class/CTS (dont have to worry about maintenance, could do a low mileage lease, cheapest insurance option).

2. More Fun - Used E46 M3, S4, RS4, Cayman, 993 (These options push my budget for sure, but I am young and dumb. Would be fun and potential track day/autocross cars. Insurance on these is also outrageous at an average of $4500 a year with only 5k miles. And any major maintenance of repair would be painful (I understand you pay to play and dont buy it if you can't fix it)

3. Bring Her West - The Camaro is in storage in CT right now (its much cheaper to store where she is vs. out here). I love the idea of having this be my weekend cruiser, but I need more reliability/comfort. There are some electrical/mechanical gremlins that would make it not so fun as my only car. So I would need to invest in some upgrades. (Brakes, all new harnesses, potentially an engine/transmission upgrade - obviously this is PT site, so could go to any level)

Storing/Insuring/Upkeeping two cars out here might be a bit much, which is why if I got with option 1 or 2 I would keep the Camaro east for the time being. The question on option 3 would be what type of budget do you think it would take to take a 4 wheel drum/350 small block - Turbo 350, into something more reliabile. Since restoration the car only has 6k miles on it though!

Finally - I am sure many of you are thinking "just buy a honda civic and have the Camaro", and thats practical. But, like I said, I am 24, single, finally debt free from college and want something fun!

Thanks!

Northeast Rod Run · #2 12-03-2010, 07:21 PM

First off "just buy a Civic" would NEVER come out of my mouth

The Camaro seems like a total obvious choice to me. You say that you don't really need a car and that it would primarily only be for weekend fun, so why worry too much about a few "gremlins" if it's a car that's not "needed"?

Financially it looks like the smart choice too. You're not paying for storage back east, your insurance isn't going to kill you like with the other cars, any needed repairs will be reasonable on the pocket and you'll get to enjoy your car. You could probably do all your needed upgrades for the price you said the insurance would cost you, for just one year, on one of the other cars

When I was 24, I had three sports cars and probably 50% of my income just went to insurance, car payments and upkeep but it was all worth it to me, and not once did I think that buying an import was "the right thing to do"

Just my opinion, probably not a good one, but that's what I would do.

CRCRFT78 · #3 12-03-2010, 07:39 PM

Bring the Camaro out west. It seems like you have the budget to enjoy a nicer (luxury) vehicle so why not put that money into the 69 and just enjoy that. Besides, there are plenty of members out here on the west coast you could hook up with. Not to mention events like RTTC or open track days you could beat the 69 on.

JPO1970 · #4 12-04-2010, 12:15 AM

Newer muscle/sports car maybe, 98 or newer F body, 04-06 GTO, Pontiac G8 GT, 04-08 CTS-V. Insurance would be higher then Choice A but lower than Choice B and more practical than Choice C.

**Spiffav8** · #5 12-04-2010, 04:44 AM

Bring her West. Take the money drop in a stock LS2 add some disc brakes and fix the electrical issues. It would be a lot more fun and enjoyable in the end.

Let me know when you get to Vegas.

Fluid Power · #6 12-04-2010, 07:25 AM

Take the money you would spend on a new/newer car and send the Camaro to a reputable shop. Fix the gremlins, make some small upgrades, discs, maybe an LS motor, maybe just drop fuel injection on the existing motor. In the end, it would be much cheaper than a monthly car payment.

Crap, this same situation is what led me to buy my car in the first place! I could walk to work as well. I bailed on the car payment, bought a beater Jeep CJ7 for $1500 bucks (With a hard top for the winter. This is Ohio boys.) and then bought a 69 Camaro convertible for the weekends. The wife and I loved cruising around in that car. Looking at the car now, painted, etc, we laugh about buying a lawn mower in it and tying the trunk down with twine!

This is the perfect chance to have the best of both worlds. A cool car when you need it and a cool car that doesn't have to be driven much. To me, the decision is easy.

Darren

**GregWeld** · #7 12-04-2010, 08:48 AM

Fix the Camaro.... but have it done in a shop in Cali where you can get to so you can enjoy the thrash. There are tons of people right here that can guide you to a decent shop.

Don't go overboard on her... just make it reliable and comfortable. This is not rocket science. Many of us have "old cars" that we can and do drive anywhere any time.

DON'T go for patches -- as in patching up the 50 year old electrical harness. Have 'em rip it all out and put in brand new. It's cheaper and easier and works correctly when you're done spending the $$

Nothing would be sweeter than cruising up to St. Helena - or Infineon Raceway - then over to douse the dust with some vine juice - than doing it in a Camaro.

BTW -- You never once mentioned leasing a NEW Camaro.... and that would be a nice choice once they begin to deliver the drop top versions. But my money would go into a classic.

Jim Nilsen · #8 12-04-2010, 11:37 AM

The Camaro is an investment and anything else will be a depreciating interest all around otherwise you wouldn't own it to begin with.

Drive it everywhere and just let the insurance worry about the other stuff.

You will enjoy driving so much more and the experiences will go beyond what the other cars will ever give you.

Ron in SoCal · #9 12-04-2010, 12:12 PM

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Ron in SoCal · #10 12-04-2010, 12:13 PM

Cureent results:

11 for the Camaro, 1 each for options one and two. Whaddya 'spect? This is Lat-G, afterall!

I voted number 2. You're young, I'm not sure how long you'll be in SF, but a mid 90's low mileage 993 would be a great option for those SF weekends. You could drive it anywhere/anytime and have a ball with it, plus at 24 it wouldn't hurt w the ladies. As time rolls on and you get ahead on $$$, bring the Camaro out here and now you'd have two cool options..

Just my .02.