Bought a new car, now what to do with the '95

[Killercanary]

I haven't been active here lately as I have a lot of other things going on and my time is limited. I recently sold my '94 Cobra as the car just didn't perform the way I wanted it too and I was sick of spending money and time on it. Last weekend I drove 3hrs south and picked this up:

It is a 2004 Z16 Le Mans Commemorative Edition Z06. They made 2025 of these and they were the lightest C5 Z06's made due to their carbon fiber hoods. I wasn't sure I liked the blue and the stripes, but after seeing it next to other normal Z06's I absolutely made the right choice. I am leaving this car stock as it performs so well as is I don't see a need to mess with it. I bought this car to be my new autocross car, but it is quickly proving itself to be so much more. This car is almost as fast as my '95, I averaged ~28mpg after driving 28 miles around DC on the beltway and home, it is comfortable, easy to drive, etc. These features have me now wondering where the '95 fits? The Z06 is better at everything except for maybe drag strip numbers, and I honestly think that in full street trim the 2 cars would be within 2 tenths and 2mph of each other. The thing is I don't care if I ever drag race again as it doesn't excite me anymore. I will take the Z06 out just to see what it can do but honestly it feels just as fast as the mustang. It would be nice to cut my vehicles down from 5 to 4 so that I could get them all into the garage. The problem is I know I'll never get what the car is worth. What should I do? If the mustang excelled at something the Z06 doesn't it would be different, but I'm at a loss as to what that is besides 1/4 miles times and that doesn't matter to me much anymore. The other huge factor is that I'm sick of turning wrenches. honestly, I'm over the modifying stage in my life and look at it more as a headache than an enjoyment. Plus, with 2 young children I simply don't have the time even if I did want to wrench in the garage.

 

[1987LXragtop]

Sell it and take the hit or find storage for it and save it til your kids drive.

 

[BlackVert]

that is a beautiful car.

if it were me and i was trying to limit the losses as much as possible, i'd probably pull the motor out of the stang and sell it by itself. then i'd either sell the stang as a roller or drop in a running stock 302 (from a junkyard or somewhere cheap) and sell the car like that.

i'm actually in a sort of similar position, in that i'm not really interested in my stang much anymore and will probably get rid of it eventually. i'm thinking about pulling the 410 and AOD out and selling it as a roller. then i'd either put them in the fairlane or sell them seperately.

unlike you though, i am finally getting my life back (the kids are grown up) and looking forward to having time to do some of these car projects i have been wanting to do.

 

[ProKiller]

First off, don't do anything until you take that vette to an autocross event. you've had the 95 for so long now how can you stand to part with it? what happened to the turbo install? you've put so much time and effort and money into the yellow car and even if you don't take it to the track any more there are still things to be done with it. you will never get out of it what you put into it. Even if you clear out your shed/garage of all mustang related parts (i call first dibs!!!), you still won't break even with the investments you've made over the past 15-20 years.

there will always be a bigger better car out there. yes the 95 is getting tired but are you really willing to sell it to some kid for him to wreck? I've been giving serious thought to trying to sell mine for a 11 5.0 but i don't know if i could make enough off it to make it happen. You're in a better position but still the principle is the same.

The kids are, i think, the biggest factor. do you really want your kids growing up with a vette snob for a dad??

EDIT: next thing you know, you'll be calling me up for chrome cap kits and floor mats...it's a slippery slope.

 

[95riosnake]

I will hear no more of this crazy talk of selling off 94-95's!! We are dwindling away already with Tom having his 95 for sale (albeit to concentrate on a badass pace car build), if you and Ryan sell your cars I'm gonna lose all excitement for Carlisle in years to come

I know how it can be to compare a car that is nothing but work and PITA (my car for instance) to a newer, get in and drive, no wrenching necessary-type car... but I guess I am still enjoying the modding stage with mine. I had a crazy spell a few years back thinking about selling both my DD and my cobra and buying a lightly modded STi, but I knew I would never be as satisfied with the subie. That is a damn fine looking Z though, I have a soft spot for the C5 Z's

 

[Killercanary]

I never thought I'd even mutter the words sale and my '95 in the same sentence, but really why not? If I can not find a reason to keep it why should I? I never thought I'd sell it because it fit a specific nitch in my car hobby, but now I have a car that fits that nitch and then some. I don't know what to do...

 

[RIO5.0]

Nice choice...Been spending this Winter on Ebay watching 99-2000 Vette's my self...had the itch for years to get one.

I'm torn between a Vette or maybe going old school and saying screw it to computer, sensors and all that crazy stuff that makes new stuff such a pain...

I was thinking Black all around...

 

[95BlueStallion]

I bet you would regret the sale at some point. Its paid off, and its a great car that you built yourself and can be proud of. Its been in mags, and had many online admirers (sp?). Hell, Im not ashamed to say its all I really know you for, other than the tidbits you did with the Cobra. That vette looks clean, and I know they are performers, but I would keep the stang for nostalgic value and try your best not to compare them.

 

[BlackVert]

I'm torn between a Vette or maybe going old school and saying screw it to computer, sensors and all that crazy stuff that makes new stuff such a pain...

i'm right there with ya bro.

here's some black old school for ya ...

 

[RIO5.0]

I hear you...also been looking at 70 Vette's to... Black mind you...

I had a 70 1/2 Trans Am and sold it back in 88...worse move I ever made...those are crazy money now.

View attachment 193498

 

[1987LXragtop]

I had a 70 1/2 Trans Am and sold it back in 88...worse move I ever made...those are crazy money now.

Sold my 72 GTO to an 18 year old kid in 98 along with a built 400 that i never got around to putting in. Almost cried when he drove away after I realized what I'd done. He drove it as a daily driver an I would see it from time to time from a distance. Tried to get it back a couple times over the years but it never panned out.

 

[Husky44]

It's hard to figure out where you'll be in 10-15 years, but you should really think about how attached you are to the 95. I sold my first Stang, and have been trying to get it back for 20+ years now, so think carefully.

Once you decide you're better off without it, then sell and don't look back. You've got a car that makes you happier. Why keep another one that doesn't do it for you? Your "losses" are the fees you paid for all the fun the car's brought you over the years; in other words, their not "losses" at all. If it's time to say goodbye, then so be it.

 

[Husky44]

i'm right there with ya bro.

here's some black old school for ya ...

It's about freakin' time you posted some pics! VERY NICE!

 

[Venom351R]

It's Paid off Paul, it runs, you don't have to put any money into it unless you choose to. Why not just keep it and enjoy driving it from time to time. More likely then not if you drive the Vette a lot but for a weekend park it and take the stang out for awhile then you will know why you should keep it

 

[1slow95]

So what was the problem with the Cobra? I'm in a similar situation with mine...I built it last year for a turbo install in the future, then I went to a road course and what I want for car has completely changed. I don't care about drag racing anymore, and a turbo 418 isn't the best choice for a road race car. For now I'm leaving the engine alone and focusing on handling. My problem with that is it takes a lot of money to make a Mustang handle good, and a good handling mustang isn't much better than a stock vette...So I'm stuck, do I put more money into the mustang? Or sell it and build something else?

As for your 95, I would probably hold on to it for the summer at least and decide what to do with it next winter. Maybe put it back to stock and sell the engine and other stuff separate, that's what I plan to do with mine if I do decide to sell it.

 

[Zero Signal]

Sell both of the stangs, simplify your life. If I could afford a single fast/fun factory car, I would have already gone that route.

 

[Zero Signal]

Not to mention that fact that the latest technologies are making our cars look silly.

 

[Chythar]

For me, I own a Stang not because it's faster or better than other cars, but because I love the look of the 94-98 Mustangs but I wanted the traditional 5.0 engine. As soon as I sat in the 94 V6 I bought years ago, I knew it was the car for me. It felt comfortable from the first test drive. For those reasons, I can't see ever selling my 'Stangs.

Paul, I would suggest looking at what you want out of your cars. If all you want is go-fast or good handling, you already know there are better cars out there. Is there anything that your Mustang gives you that no other car can? Not just the blood, sweat or tears you put into it, there's no way to ever get that back. Is there something about the look of the car that makes you smile? The particular feel of how the car squats when you hit the gas, or how heads turn when you drive down the street?

Some folks are saying to put it into storage until your kids are grown up. Personally, if I had the option to let my Stangs sit and rot or sell them off, I'd probably sell them. It would break my heart to do either one, but I'd rather let someone else enjoy my Stang rather than watch my baby rot.

Will you regret selling your Stang? Absolutely. You have way too many memories wrapped up in that car to NOT have any regrets. But only you can decide what your priorities are. A personal recommendation? Let the Stang sit for a month or two. Drive the Vette, take it autocrossing, and drive your other cars too. Decide what you like about them and if you want to let any of the others go.

 

[stprorolla49]

Very nice Vette, Paul! The way I see it, the '95 is paid off, doesn't owe you anything, and doesn't mean nearly as much to anyone else as it does to you. While there is absolutely something to be said for hopping in, turning the key, and cruising around, there is also something to be said for firing up the 'vert and hearing the loud ass exhaust, lumpy cam, and seeing people just plain stare at you all the time. I get stared at all the time in the Bullitt which I consider to be pretty subdued...I can't imagine the looks you get in a bright yellow 'vert.

My father has wanted a silver Corvette for his whole life, and last year he finally pulled the trigger on a silver C6. What an incredible car! It rides nicely, it's quiet, and it is FAST! But on the other side of the garage is his old Chevelle which he built from the ground up. Whenever he wants to raise hell, he takes the Chevelle out to make some noise.

It's nice to always have a fast car thats easy to drive and doesn't require anything besides gas and oil changes, but sometimes you just get in that mood to rip around. I guess it's more of a nostalgia thing.

I'd hate to see you sell such a nice car, not to mention I doubt you'd come around anymore. I still haven't see the damn car in person! Good luck with the decision, I'm sure you'll make the right one!

BTW here are said cars in our garage:

 

[69clark]

Yeah Paul, but can't take the vette to the ford nationals, so you have to keep the 95 for that reason alone, lol. Congrats on the vette though. My old man had an modded 03 z06. Great car to drive.