car/self struggle

[Hunter68]

Ok guys so I'm going through this little struggle in my head and I'm not really sure on what to do and i thought maybe you guys could help shed some light and personal experience on my situation. So I'm thinking if this is really worth it, i mean i love my 68 Camaro but its my daily driver with no heat and a turbo 350 tranny and Ive been thinking lately that if i got a newer car it would already handle a lot better and have all the modern comforts so I wouldn't have to drop money on all that (I don't even know how most of you guys can afford half this stuff).

[Bryce]

My DD driver is a 95 mustang with bolt ons. I love the car. Cheap and reliable but ti handles great, .96Gs on freeway on ramps. AC and 25mpg. starts up easily drives in the cold and rain with no issues. I thought about building myself an old ford pickup and make it as easy of a driver as my 95 and make it handle better than my mustang. I figured doing all the work myself it would cost in the $30k to $40K range. But I only have 7500 invested in my mustang including purchase price.

[gonein67bird]

You afford it a little at a time. Are going to sell the 68? If not get a new car and keep working on the 68 as you can afford it.

[Hunter68]

Id like to build it and stuff but I dont want it to just sit their for ever while i can afford things, welder and then all the parts, all while having another car that is better so its hard to know what to do, just be patient and save money, or just have things now

[srh3trinity]

I would keep the Camaro and find a reasonable, newer daily driver. I have had different cars for daily drivers and have modified some giving up comfort, mileage, reliability, etc. My current plan is to drive a mostly stock, reliable vehicle that I can afford and put my money into my PT project. I am willing to settle for less every day so that my project comes out the way I want it. Then, I will mix in the Firebird into my driving patterns with the old reliable DD.

[Yelcamino]

Whatever you do, don't get rid of the Camaro because odds are you'll never be able to replace it. As mentioned above, buy a decent newer something or other (I suggest a pickup truck for multiple uses) and hold on to the Camaro and improve it as money allows. It's obviously drivable as is so you can slowly increase the heat and eventually have the best of both worlds.

[PT Sportwagon]

I agree with Herb. Keep the camaro and get a 90-early 2K pickup. they are usually reasonably priced and can be used for everything from DD to parts hauler. Then start saving for parts for your Camaro. I do that with my wagon. I have bills and a family that come first and formost. then the toys. I do have too many cars but I like having a back up incase something happens. I still shop and compaire prices for a months until tax time came around then get my one or two more expensive items. Did it for years.

Tim

[MonzaRacer]

I agree, I let go my first car a 1966 Dodge Dart GT, now if Ihad it it would b e able ot be rebuilt PT very easy ,and be different. Lucky me gave away two cars, a 75 V8 Monza and my old yellow one I built,,, lucky me got them back, and I found my blue one and I even have sold another H body many years back I wish I hadnt.
Keep the Camaro, find your self an old cavalier/sunbird,,,even if you have to get a minor crash damaged one or one with blown engine, then hit car-part.com for a reasonably priced one, and install or have it installed,, also make sure it has decent tires, brakes and such. Then while you drive the small car you collect parts and pieces, weight in on price plus serviceability on every modification. Like you may dream about 14 " Baer brakes, but could you get away with 13 in corvette brakes that can be adapted with parts from Kore3. Trans you could up grade with a 700R4 or even look at Megasquirt and its ability to shift a 4L60E from a later car and if you want TPI or even LSx power Megasquirt can do that AND its much cheaper if your into building your own parts that really work, over spending many thousands of dollars.
My point is I can build a fuel injection system, less performance injectors, pretty cheap, use stock type sensors and have a running car. My Monza will have an LT1 intake on my 302sbc.
Now I will be using my th350, decent tranny and till I decide on different path for my car.
All you have to do is keep your plan , make it fit what your project budget is or plan your budget to be grown to fit your dreams.
If the car hasnt got major rust and can be easily modified your way ahead.
Look for a cheap daily driver and get a plan. Heck even older civics and accords can be had fairly reasonable in some areas.

[Jeff70]

Keep the Camaro.

You most surely can get a inexpensive DD for instance I've had a Toyota Corolla for about 10yrs it has 190k on it I've taken excellent care of it I have two folders full of documents and I just sold it for $2500 and I know its good for another 100k mi.
Its harder to replace the Camaro then to buy DD beaters especially if theirs a sentimental attachment to it.

[MrQuick]

take a break and if you need a newish car them 4th gen's are getting cheaper

[Jim Nilsen]

Just keep driving the Camaro. I drove a 67 for 10 years as a dd and just did what I could to make it handle and run better. All the money you will spend on a beater and tax,title and license you can put great tires/wheels and a good front end alignment on the Camaro and handle better than most any beater you will buy. the biggest part of good handling is the tires and alignment and if you do the Guldstand mod it is a free gain if you do it yourself and it can be done in a couple of days taking your time. You will be surprised at the difference in handling and it will probably be more than the law will allow for you to use that way,LOL.

Get a truck if you really need to have another vehicle to drive while you do a bit of work from time to time on the Camaro. It is cheaper to insure a truck and you get a multi vehicle discount on your insurance that will surprise you how little it is do it that way and you will have a parts hauler when you need it.

It really doesn't cost much to fix the heater in a 68, so just fix it if that is a reason of concern to get another dd.You can probably find the parts for almost nothing with all the guy's here going to vintage air. Just post up a parts wanted thread and see what you get.

[JEFFTATE]

I have a 1999 S10 4cyl truck that I drive most days ( if the weather is bad , or the other cars are down for repairs ) .
If I were you , I'd buy a cheap late model daily driver and do inexpensive mods to the Camaro ( Like Jim said )

[BuddyP]

You can do some mild upgrades for resonable $$. I hear you on the "I don't even know how most of you guys can afford half this stuff" comment... I've been working on mine for over 8 years now and am maybe 2/3 the way done at best. It's quit depressing to see car after car get complete after only a couple years while I sit with my hands tied unable to do anything to mine.

Yours can be a fun project though. Do projects in stages as your driving it. Save up for a nice front suspension setup and make that a weekend project, then save for rear (simple drop leafs and shock or such), make that a weekend project and so forth. The car will get better and better and you'll have fun seeing the change each time you drive after an upgrade.

[BCHALK22]

I was in your boat with a '69 Camaro daily driver through high school and into college. I worked 2 jobs and had to drive the camaro as my commuter car. Eventually i had so much going on that I was worried if the ride broke down big time then i was out a car. I sold the Camaro on EBAY and made about $2500 profit after it was all said and done. I got a newer Acura CL. I sold the CL and got a Silverado and a motorcycle. I never thought i would get another Camaro since money is tight but i bought another 69 Camaro in September. My point is the new cars came and went and now I am back at the starting line again. Keep the Camaro man. I am buying parts each month as i save. Get a bucket Acura integra or (fill in the blank) and take your time with the Camaro. If you have owned a muscle car in your life then odds are you are gonna miss it eventually and regret selling it. You dont wanna be that guy that stops guys in their '68 Camaro and telling them stories about how you used to have one. Keep the ride man.

[andrewb70]

Whatever you do, don't get rid of the Camaro because odds are you'll never be able to replace it. As mentioned above, buy a decent newer something or other (I suggest a pickup truck for multiple uses) and hold on to the Camaro and improve it as money allows. It's obviously drivable as is so you can slowly increase the heat and eventually have the best of both worlds.

I purchased my GTO when I was 15. Over the period of owning it it has sat for periods of 2-3, even 4 years, where I didn't do anything to it. I then had the means and opportunity to restore it. Even after having finished it in 2002 it sat for a few years until in 2008 I dropped an LS engine in it. The point is that it is OK to take your time and do what you can, when you can.

I can also second the idea of a pickup as a daily driver. I have a 1999 Mazda B2500 (basically a Ford Ranger) and it is reliable, economical, and very handy.

Andrew

[rfalker1]

keep the camaro... I would get a confortable beater before giving it up. I am currently looking for a four dour focus or something to hall me and my little girl around on a daily basis

[MikeDVC]

I was faced with the same decision about 20 years ago; I kept the camaro and purchased a no thrills Ford Ranger Pickup as a daily driver for about $3k, and kept the camaro. While the Ranger is long gone (drove for a few years and traded it in for $3k), I still have the camaro. As others mentioned, just work on it as you are able; but if you sale it, replacing will be very difficult.

[John Wright]

Id like to build it and stuff but I dont want it to just sit their for ever while i can afford things, welder and then all the parts, all while having another car that is better so its hard to know what to do, just be patient and save money, or just have things now

Be Careful if loading up the credit card with car goodies is what you mean by the last statement. Trust me on this...saving, no matter how long it takes, is better than becoming a slave to a credit card company. Be patient, save your money, pay cash for everything...if you use a card, only spend what you can pay off in a month. Currently, my car is tarped and covered waiting on me to get caught up again. I just come in here and enjoy watching other cars get the royal treatment and it don't cost me a dime....LOL(unless you count the times that I've changed directions on my build when something new and exciting comes along)

[Hunter68]

hm ok thanks for all your guys inputs, just gets boring and I take it for granted because I drive it everyday and havent put any up grades on her for a while.

[rustomatic]

I've probably sold more cars in your position ('60's Mustangs, Broncos, Firebirds, blah, blah, blah) than most people will own in a lifetime; to date, I've probably had over 40 cars, plus a bunch of motorcycles. Up until my late 20s, I mostly refused to own a car made after 1968. Once you get the urge to modernize, you're basically set on what you'll do. Step away for a bit, and decide what you want; sometimes, that's just a Honda or something, and that's what will really help you to decide what you like about the old Camaro. Unfortunately, like the "one who got away" in the dating game, you will not figure this out when you're looking at "her" on a daily basis...

Long story short, I recently went without an old car for nearly a decade (between eight and nine years). I'd been pining for one for a few years, but life was just a bit more interesting--I even hung out in Knoxville a time or two, and laughed when somebody told me they went skiing near there. Anyway, try this: Rent a new car for a couple of days, and pretend it's yours. While you're not freezing, and you're enjoying good gas mileage and a quiet muffler, ask yourself what you miss. If you don't miss anything, hello eBay!