Opinions needed, clearing house, simplifying

Seems I go through this cycle where I purge the fleet then I over complicate it again. Well I'm on the verge of a purge cycle again and trying to decide what to do.

Let's evaluate the fleet:

2010 Kia Soul - wife's car, not up for negotiation

1973 VW Thing - wife's car, my project, I'd be happy to sell it, she'd kill me

1958 Wartburg - I'll probably die with this car, it has a price but not an easy one to swallow

1991 Yugo - Current "big" project, I'm involved in this with others so its not very negotiable right now

So that's the "do not touch" list....mostly...money talks and all.

Then there's everything else:

1991 Miata - love this thing, ratty enough that I dont worry about it but well sorted and solid driver, backup DD

2001 BMW 325iT - Current DD, reliable, solid, well maintained. Nothing wrong with it but getting long enough in the tooth that I feel the need to have a backup DD (miata) just in case. Never failed me but sometimes a maintenance job will extend longer than expected and I need to get to work.

1953 Studebaker 2R16 - 20,000 mile survivor, solid, rot free, easy resto project. Originally bought with the idea of a business with the wife but further evaluation has made me realize its not really the business I'd want to be in (ie. more work than fun, I have that already in my current job which pays better)

I had thought I was really done with new cars, but with a 140 mile round trip commute and enough projects to keep me busy there's something to be said for something under warranty which I don't have to mess with. I've enjoyed being payment free for a year though. My though is to sell the Stude, the BMW and the Miata which would give me at least 50% down on some of the new cars I'd be interested in. My goal is to be able to buy something with no more than a 3 year note. I won't get into what cars are on my short list, that's not the issue. I just waiver back and forth with getting another new car for the commute because with my commute its a no win on return, I'll put 100k on it in under 3 years. But with the other projects (we haven't even discussed non-car projects) I dont want to have to wrench on my DD or backup DD anymore.

It's not really a money issue, I can afford the note, I'm just a cheap bastard who hates payments :)

Thoughts?

JThw8 wrote: But with the other projects (we haven't even discussed non-car projects) I dont want to have to wrench on my DD or backup DD anymore.

That would be enough for me to say "sell them", especially if you can find something modern-ish that you like.

JThw8 wrote: It's not really a money issue, I can afford the note, I'm just a cheap bastard who hates payments :)

Welcome to the club, same reason I've got a few old piles instead of a nice car or two.

Find something squishier for a DD? Older caddy of some sort? Seems your tastes run the gamut enough that a road cruiser wouldn't be out of place. Perhaps a nice Town Car? Panther platform and all, dirt cheap.

Yeah, I doubt you want to hear it, but I agree with your proposed plan. Sell the Stude for a good price to somebody who will truly, deeply appreciate it and let it get the restoration it deserves. Sell the BMW to somebody here. Sell the Miata at the minimum reasonable price to somebody young and deserving - that young guy at the autocross who tries hard and shows promise, but has a terrible car (or whatever).

With a 140-mile round trip, buy an almost-new appliance that will be pleasant to drive and give decent fuel economy, but that you will not mind using up and throwing away. I'm thinking of a 24-to-30 month Lexus or Infiniti lease return with 30k or 40k on the clock. It will still have warranty left and for about a kilobuck, they will probably certify it for you - some manufacturers that means something worthwhile towards extending the warranty, some it doesn't; you'll have to see.

Sorry, forgot you didn't want replacement advice. Oh, well, take it or leave it.

I want a Thing. I can't help myself.

mndsm wrote: Find something squishier for a DD? Older caddy of some sort? Seems your tastes run the gamut enough that a road cruiser wouldn't be out of place. Perhaps a nice Town Car? Panther platform and all, dirt cheap.

Squishy is not an issue, the BMW is a dream for the commute, but I also made the commute for 3 years in a Smart car. It's not a matter of dislike for any of the cars I have, just a matter of wanting to simplify and not have the DD fall into the weekend wrenching schedule. And fuel economy is at least somewhat of a factor with 700 miles a week, so a big old cruiser, while I do love 'em, is out. The BMW returns 27mpg which is about my minimum.

Duke wrote: Yeah, I doubt you want to hear it, but I agree with your proposed plan. Sell the Stude for a good price to somebody who will truly, deeply appreciate it and let it get the restoration it deserves. Sell the BMW to somebody here. Sell the Miata at the minimum reasonable price to somebody young and deserving - that young guy at the autocross who tries hard and shows promise, but has a terrible car (or whatever). With a 140-mile round trip, buy an almost-new appliance that will be pleasant to drive and give decent fuel economy, but that you will not mind using up and throwing away. I'm thinking of a 24-to-30 month Lexus or Infiniti lease return with 30k or 40k on the clock. It will still have warranty left and for about a kilobuck, they will probably certify it for you - some manufacturers that means something worthwhile towards extending the warranty, some it doesn't; you'll have to see. Oh, sorry, you didn't want replacement advice. Oh, well, take it or leave it.

Im not saying I dont want to hear something :) I'm willing to hear it all. The miata has a buyer already if I decide to sell, I put the Stude on the market tonite but it will take the right buyer. Kinda kills me because if I'd ignore everything else I could have it fully done in about 6-8 months, its so clean, but I just dont have the time to dedicate to it right now and it needs a better home. Dunno if the BMW would appeal to anyone here but if someone is looking for a clean 2 owner 325iT with an autotragic do feel free to contact me. The car is a dream and has been trouble free, but I do like to keep up with it and I do my own wrenching which is just getting tedious with the other projects. Right now it needs nothing, but I do have everything to do a trans flush because, well, just because. But I lack the motivation to do it.

Not opposed to replacement advice just saying I have no trouble picking out new cars :)

Your plan sounds good. Go for it.

Woody wrote: I want a Thing. I can't help myself.

This is our 3rd go round. When wifey and I were engaged and living together I had one that was a rat that I was building from the ground up into a street beast, at the same time I was able to trade my 53 Willys for a decent driver Thing so the plan suddenly became his and hers, mine a lowered street cruiser, her's relatively stock but both matching. Then 3 months before the wedding she got laid off and I sold off the toys to pay for the wedding. She wanted another ever since and she is not a car person so if she wanted a toy I felt the need to get it. Found this 73 2 years ago, nice driver, not perfect but nice enough. She wants it repainted orange but until I get the time she had me decorate it with the hibiscus.

I like your plan. For me, a new DD and one play car is perfect.

One to play with and wrench, and one that has a warranty and gets me where I need to go everytime, without worry.

I'll pile on, you didn't want car advice, but the new 328 would be a fantastic car and returns 33mpg on the highway I believe.

Sporty, luxurious and good mpg.

I totally understand and the plan.sounds reasonable, but I suppose I can add one thing to consider - at 140 miles a day any car is going to need higher than average maintenance. This plan may work for a couple of years, but are you ok with going through this again a few years from now?

This is sort of what keeps me in my TDi, 294k and counting... The "devil you know" and all...

z31maniac wrote: I like your plan. For me, a new DD and one play car is perfect. One to play with and wrench, and one that has a warranty and gets me where I need to go everytime, without worry. I'll pile on, you didn't want car advice, but the new 328 would be a fantastic car and returns 33mpg on the highway I believe. Sporty, luxurious and good mpg.

New 328 is beyond my cheap ass flavor. I hope to have 7-10k down and finance no more than another 10k so I'm shopping in the 20k range when I do. Like I said I put a crapload of miles on a car so I cant see buying something too nice. That's always been my back and forth, new, cheap appliance, or older semi-lux car, I keep rotating.

This would leave me with 1 DD and 3 projects although the Wartburg is in a deep sleep until the Yugo is done and the Thing just gets as much as it needs to stay on the road right now.

Bit the bullet and put the Stude and Bimmer on CL tonite, we'll see what happens. I already have a buyer for the Miata who is willing to wait until I make up my mind/sell the other cars so that's a nice position to be in, I'll have the miata as a DD while the others sell and then a ready to go buyer when I go to get the new car.

Ian F wrote: I totally understand and the plan.sounds reasonable, but I suppose I can add one thing to consider - at 140 miles a day any car is going to need higher than average maintenance. This plan may work for a couple of years, but are you ok with going through this again a few years from now? This is sort of what keeps me in my TDi, 294k and counting... The "devil you know" and all...

My general thought with anything I buy for a DD is it has a limited life expectancy with me. I have automotive ADD so I rarely keep a car more than 2 year, 3 at the most. So yeah I plan to go through it again and I learned from the last time I bought new that it was a trouble free 3 years but it was also a big depreciation hit with 100k on the clock. That's the price I pay to play. Job is too good to leave it but I dont wanna live near it ;)

FWIW the longest I've owned any DD is 3 years and the longest I've owned any car is 5...so turnover is not so much an issue with me.

I have a 110 mile daily commute and I can completely vouch for the "new cars are a double edged sword" argument.
I LOVE not having to do anything to this car. I've put rear pads on the car, scuffed up the fronts, and turned front and rear discs. I replaced the rad at like 40k because a screw went through it.
I'm at 76k right now, 2010 kia bought first week of january 2010.
Other than the above, the only money I've put into the car is in maintenance:
Oil Changes, Flushes, and I'm about to put another set of tires on it.
Now the bad:
I have to pay $333 a month on this thing. It's kind of a buzzkill, and at the income I'm at, it's making relocating a major pita.

That said, if I had the same commute, or an even longer one like yours, I would buy a brand new car again for sure. I'm happy with it, and I feel confident that the money I would have put into an older, less comfortable, less reliable, crappier, less loaded car would equal or outweigh the money I've put into this including payments.

So, it seems to me that no matter what you do, you need a reliable, semi-comfy DD that will be easy on gas, sorta fun, but hold value so you don't take it too hard in the shorts when that ADD kicks in and you roll it down the road. I know you said you can afford the note- but it sucks to watch your bottom line fall out from under you. Strangely, at least IMO, I happen to own two options that may fit the bill.... I like the plan though, dumping a pair of semi-reliable DD cars is not the same as owning one that will be bulletproof, relatively speaking. I'm sort of at that crux with my ms3. I've had the car for 5 years (a new record) and done damn near everything under the sun to it. It still serves as a DD, but it's far from the nice, plain, fast stocker I bought it as. the suspension is quite stiff, and as a result, it's loud. Exhaust is nice and open, and it makes all the right turbo noises. I think when it's time to retire it from DD (i'll never dump it) i'll be looking for something similar, and pretend i'm totally not going to tear it apart when I get it.

That being said, I somehow keep getting visions of an ISwhatever from Lexus. IS300 is still a great car and a good buy, and you won't lose much, if anything... not to mention you will get a DAMN sweet one for the price range you're into. Plus it's a 2jz, and they're retarded strong. Should have no problems with one for a long while.

Can't say I blame, I was thinking the Stude would be worth more, hence my skewed idea of what your 50% down number was.

I'd rather by the slightly used luxury car for that type of commute. Something quite on the inside with a good stereo.

This may be sacrilege to you and this forum, but what about selling the Miata and keeping the BMW as a DD and paying someone else to do the wrenching?

It's gotta be cheaper than paying a note on a new car, you can probably get a loaner for overnight jobs, and it doesn't have to eat into your schedule for work on the other cars. The car becomes "reliable" in some sense, and when you lose interest in a few weeks/months/years, you can sell it without the penalties of having bought something new.

(I will now duck to avoid the rotten vegetables that I'm sure are headed my way)

z31maniac wrote: Can't say I blame, I was thinking the Stude would be worth more, hence my skewed idea of what your 50% down number was. I'd rather by the slightly used luxury car for that type of commute. Something quite on the inside with a good stereo.

Well I have the Stude listed at 6k, but we'll see where that goes. Its worth every cent but as with any car the market is what it will bear. The bimmer is about a 5k car and the Miata will sell at 2k so if I got asking on everything I'd have over 50% of my 20k(ish) budget. Ive never spent more than 20k on a car and it pains me to think about it but I'd also not like to compromise if I'm going to buy new and I'd like to buy a car I really like, optioned the way I want and not just settle for something cheaper. There are quite a few cars I could swing in my comfort zone without selling off the fleet but a) that still leaves me with too many projects and b) Id rather buy something I can love instead of just an appliance.

peter wrote: This may be sacrilege to you and this forum, but what about selling the Miata and keeping the BMW as a DD and paying someone else to do the wrenching? It's gotta be cheaper than paying a note on a new car, you can probably get a loaner for overnight jobs, and it doesn't have to eat into your schedule for work on the other cars. The car becomes "reliable" in some sense, and when you lose interest in a few weeks/months/years, you can sell it without the penalties of having bought something new. (I will now duck to avoid the rotten vegetables that I'm sure are headed my way)

That's a reasonable concept as well, but most places wont give me a loaner that's why I keep a 2nd DD, and its more of a mental struggle, if the car isnt under warranty then I just hate to pay someone to do something I can. I still do it on occasion, but overall I will continue to fall into the "I can just handle it myself" trap.

It's really not that any of them have been unreliable, its the potential I guess. Its more a matter of thinning the fleet and getting rid of 3 cars I wrench on for one that I wont have to. Really its all just automotive ADD excuses and justification ;)

I can understand the thought process. Of both the auto add and the need to have a dead reliable dd.

My commute is only about half yours but I get real paronoid about not having a backup for my 32yo dd even though it has not given me any trouble.

I would love to have a reliable dd and be able to pull my car off the road to finish the bodywork and paint. Then redo the suspension. Just bought the wife a new car last year so I'm going to have to suck it up for a little while longer.

Ok. I know you mentioned you can tote the note and you want to be able to pick options but, consider a 10k used car that you can pay cash for and will be reliable as a dd and hardly need anything. Toyota corolla! 04-06 xrs's for under 10k around 100k miles and theyll do 300k plus miles stock. or a stock 03-04 le, or s and drop on that supercharger and koni yellows still under 10 grand. Fun to drive and reliable. I confess I have an 01 corolla with 190k miles on it and no payments for 5 years now. Ive got better things to do with my money.

I envy your ability to liquidate.

I am trying to figure out how to acquire another bike while sitting atop a pauper's fortune worth of E36 M3 I don't need.

The things you own end up owning you.

At 100kmi in 3-years you're going to be wrenching on your DD regardless(unless you pay someone else to), and having been in a very similar situation myself for a number of years, unless you have a very flexible and understanding employer, you need a backup DD just to ensure you have a way to get to work.

Even if you're willing to drive your new car to a quarter-million miles, I'd be concerned with the position you'll be in 4 or 5 years from now - will you be in a position to replace it with something decent without a 5-year loan?

I did a similar thing when I wrecked my E39 last fall; I sold all my projects and toys (except the cushman) and put it into a new mazda5. Not the coolest car but it fits all of my criteria. I hate payments for a car I drive so I've been tinkering with the idea of selling IT and buying something cheap again. It's a vicious cycle.

chandlerGTi wrote: I hate payments for a car I drive so I've been tinkering with the idea of selling IT and buying something cheap again. It's a vicious cycle.

Payments are NOT the Devil Incarnate. Are you going to keep the car a couple years past the last coupon in the book? Then don't worry that much about the extra grand in interest that's spread out over a few years. I enjoy not having a payment, definitely, but there is not much weeping and gnashing of teeth when the time comes to buy another car that needs to be presentable and always working.

+1 for going with your plan. The only easily replaceable not-too-special car that I would consider an easy target for sale is the BMW (well and the Kia but that's not an option), so sell what you feel like.