The last time I ask for opinions, sorry but I need to:

[Pakrat]

I realize I have wasted more than my share of the boards time this month with my accident so this will be the last topic I start on it I promise, but now I have some tough decisions to make and I am having a hard time making them objectivly so I'd like to see what you guys think. Basically the property part of the settlement is a done deal now, I ain't getting any more without a fight, and after fighting I'd probably net less out of the deal with expenses (totally sucks I know but that's the world we live in I guess), so I'll have to make up what I can thru pain and suffering later which could take years to settle, who knows. So here is what I need to decide now, what to do with the car.

Options are as follows:

1) Take 12k + and the car and fix it for a few grand out of pocket just to be where I was before. (sure it would have new paint and some mods which I would have spent a few grand on anyway but it'll be a frankenstein now and I'll eventually still need to fix the power steering, do some interior refinishing, little things it needs, etc and it will still only be a base line 302 3spd with no options.)

2) Take the 15k + and move on. (Maybe spend another 5k or so and get a GT 351 with 4spd or something better than you have now in any case.)

Obviously there are miscilaneous options in between as well, I could try to fix it as half assed and cheap as possible and try to turn it around for more than the 15k then move on. The car would live on but some new owner may be unhappy one day.

My heart and head are just in total contradiction here. The bright side says to look at this as an opportunity to make it what I want now and the down side says, it is never going to be what it was no matter what and it won't be better in any respect without some serious investment so cut your loses.

Im not interseted in buying a rolling a chasis and making one from tw either, if I am going to go thru all the work of building a car I might as well just save mine, that is why I boiled it down to these two options, stay or move on I just can't seem to resolve the conflict myself. I am deathly afraid of keeping the car then finding out it's not worth fixing or will cost way more than expected and now be out even more money on the deal. I also find it hard to believe that I could sell it as is for the 3k or more I'd be paying for it if I change my mind later. It seems I can't win no matter what so I'd like to know what you would do?

 

[65fastback2+2]

id take the 12 grand and your car, honestly, if you know how to do the work (like i think you do) then you can repair it for under 12 grand from my observation of the pictures.

From looking at the pictures...

Frame straightening
New right door
New right rear 1/4
New trunk lid
New rear tail panel
Lil subframe repair
Paint

I think you can do that for about 6-7 grand if you do most of the work yourself.

 

[bnickel]

well pak, i may not be the best person to ask about this since i get really sentimental about my cars, but i would keep the car and fix it. as far as the value of the car after it's done with all the mods you want to do to it, it might be worth a lot more than you think, restomods are the hot item right now, so keep that in mind. i say buy your parts car, and use anything you can off it on yours and ebay the rest, do everything you can afford to do to yours that you have been wanting to do, just make sure the repairs are done right. keep the car and enjoy it, remember this car was never really an investment for you anyway it was always about personal enjoyment, if you get the car back together and decide you aren't enjoying it anymore then i'm pretty sure you can sell for at least what you have in it now and then you can move one. i never give up on a project regardless, but that's just me. for me it's more about the quality time i get to enjoy with the car, myself and friends and family than the dollar investment. remember, some things you just can't put a price on for everything else there's visa . everything happens for a reason and i think this is just the reason you needed to start to doing the stuff you really wanted to do without having to worry about hurting the value of the car. i'm also kind of wierd about my cars i treat them kind of like people each and every car has a personality and i remember you saying something about pulling the plug on a loved one, i don't think this one's ready to have the plug pulled just yet, it does need some serious surgery and lot's of rehab but it will be worth it in the end. besides all that i'm afraid if you do decide to let the car go, you'll end up regretting for a very long time. ask yourself this, can you let the car and KNOW you won't regret it for years to come? if you KNOW you won't regret it then it just might be time to move on, if you even THINK you MIGHT regret it, it's not the right time to "pull the plug", sometimes you need to listen to your heart and ignore what your head says. have you asked your wife what she thinks?

 

[Pakrat]

Yes, my wife thinks that this whole debocle has taken control of our lives now for long enough. The choice is mine though, she just want's me happy but does not think I should spend alot or any out of pocket since we have decided to give starting a family a shot now.

 

[Ozsum2]

Take the cash and start fresh. It's just a car. There are always better rides out there. You may find you will like the change.

 

[66 BLAKE 96]

Sorry you get to deal with pressure from the wife on top of it all. I understand that angle, but like you said, all she wants is for you to be happy.

I would base the decision on a couple factors.

Is there any way you would enjoy the process of fixing it and making it yours? I've learned that the headache and busy work involved in making my car entirely mine is part of the charm. When it's done (some day) it'll be all me and fit like a glove. That, to me, is worth more and more fun than buying another car that someone else has already done. Plus, no matter how perfect the car, I'm sure I'd end up customizing it anyway.

If the process is less improtant than the final product, and you can get something you'd be just as happy with for <20K, I'd do that. No reason to drag out the PITA process. Give someone else the chance to rescue that car.

Either way, as far as I'm concerned, ditching the hobby alltogether is not an option. This is purely selfish on my part, because you are one internet buddy I can't lose, and I'm not apologetic about that.

 

[WORTH]

DO you have good pix of the damage Pak? and is the car at home now?

 

[302 coupe]

take the 15k and start with another car. Your vert was definately a sweet ride, but as much as I hate to say, old stangs just don't ever seem to be quite right after a wreck like that. You should be able to get another 69 that should be pretty nice for 15K, plus it might already have some of the options you're were wanting to put on the vert. Or you could go with a nice fairlane, galaxie, torino, etc.

 

[steel1212]

I would have to say, its just a car. I know there is blood sweat and tears in this one but I think you would be better off finding another one for 15k with the options you want or one a little cheaper and adding the options.

my .02

 

[Pakrat]

DO you have good pix of the damage Pak? and is the car at home now?

I only have the day after pics that I have shown everyone and some close up pics of the same areas, nothing say underneath or detailed pull aparts of areas, no. Yes the car is at my home now, I took temporary repossesion of it last week.

Well thanks for the replies, pretty mixed I guess meaning it's pretty much still up to me I guess. I talked to my body guy and he said that I shouldn't let the insurance guys have it no matter what. Worse case scenario if I don't feel like redoing it still, then he'll give me the 3k for it and fix and resell himself, that or put it on ebay and try to get 5k for it instead. So I guess I have nothing to lose by keeping it for now and it will buy me some more time to think about what I really want.

Thanks guys, this place may have its up and downs at times but it's so nice to have a place to clear your head and get honest feedback from. This would be a completely unbarable experience without all of you.

 

[dmoody]

I say fix it up. If you enjoy having a convertible, then I don't think you'll find another one for 15k. Have you gotten any quotes on restoring the car? Seems like to me 12k would be enough to put the car back like it was.

d

 

[1320stang]

I say take the $15k and build the '67 Shelby 'vert clone you've always wanted (me too), insure it for much more, let me know where you live and when you get it done, I'll come, drive it home to OK and then you can use the insurance money to buy the original and everyone will drive off into the sunset happy. The End.

 

[pabear89]

Pak, Such a Delima that your in I feel for you.

First if you keep it and sell it to the Body Guy,
Can you bear to see it later?
Second, if you deside to keep it will the desire to complete it stay with you?
The reminders of what it once was does Haunt it.
Can you keep the Vision of what it will be?
Then keep it a start over.

If not then take the offer and Part ways,
Start Fresh Building what you want to have.

My 2cts from being there before and selling a half done project.

PB

 

[Ozsum2]

Ask yourself what would SD say. That might help if you valued his opinion.

 

[bnickel]

hey oz, if this was SD's prized vert what do you think he would do? i'd bet my bottom dollar he'd keep it and get it fixed. provided his back and eyesightwere up to doing as much as work as he could on it. pak is still young enough and good enough shape (despite the injuries) to do it.

 

[Ozsum2]

hey oz, if this was SD's prized vert what do you think he would do? i'd bet my bottom dollar he'd keep it and get it fixed. provided his back and eyesightwere up to doing as much as work as he could on it. pak is still young enough and good enough shape (despite the injuries) to do it.

SD always preached the value of fixing something. He warned not to get trapped in the "Buy low-rust bucket" and fix it up. Rather buy the best you can afford and you will be money ahead in the end. I really beleive he would have walked away, sadly, but still walked. I see this as a money pit fix up. If personal reasons are present, then money shouldn't be an issue. Fix it no matter what the cost. But Pak keeps talking money, so that has to weigh in.

 

[65Mustang2+2]

I think you should take your time and look for another car, just keep looking and I'm sure something will come up that catches your eye! Winter is coming and that’s the best time to start looking for cars, people tend to give in when it’s getting cold out! Hell, I’d look for maybe a 1969 Cougar Xr7 Convertible, for $15,000 you should be able to find a real mint one, it’s just a thought. I know of a un-restored 1968 Cougar XR7 with 12,000 original miles on it for $17,000 all I’m saying is just ask around and people always know of cars for sale, and you’ll find that car you’re looking for, just take your time. Good Luck, and if you’re looking for a certain year I’ll ask around for you, I just need to know what you’re looking for, what year, make and model?

 

[bnickel]

SD always preached the value of fixing something. He warned not to get trapped in the "Buy low-rust bucket" and fix it up. Rather buy the best you can afford and you will be money ahead in the end. I really beleive he would have walked away, sadly, but still walked. I see this as a money pit fix up. If personal reasons are present, then money shouldn't be an issue. Fix it no matter what the cost. But Pak keeps talking money, so that has to weigh in.

he is also talking about personal reasons too, and i think he's trying to decide which is more important too him


ok pak let's make this easy, you are probably going to have some regret either way you do it so let's look at it this way

1: you take the money and don't fix the car

2: you take the money, fix the car and ahve to spend some of your own money but also personalize the car the way you want it

which are you going to regret most in the long run?

spending your own money as well as the insurance money to put the car back the way you want it

or

taking the money and the loss of the car

keep in mind your wife sounds like she is going to support you in either decision.

personally, i honstly think you will regret not fixing the car the most in the long run, especially if you do start a family, think how disappointed you'll be that you won't be able to drop your kids off at school in your kick ass convertible

 

[Ozsum2]

he is also talking about personal reasons too, and i think he's trying to decide which is more important too him


ok pak let's make this easy, you are probably going to have some regret either way you do it so let's look at it this way

1: you take the money and don't fix the car

2: you take the money, fix the car and ahve to spend some of your own money but also personalize the car the way you want it

which are you going to regret most in the long run?

spending your own money as well as the insurance money to put the car back the way you want it

or

taking the money and the loss of the car

keep in mind your wife sounds like she is going to support you in either decision.

personally, i honstly think you will regret not fixing the car the most in the long run, especially if you do start a family, think how disappointed you'll be that you won't be able to drop your kids off at school in your kick ass convertible

I don't think you made it any easier for Pak. It is nothing that needs to be rushed into I don't believe. Maybe he is getting some heat from an outside source to make the desicion. Anyway, if you have enough money and just can't shake the ole gal, fix it. You may regret not fixing it back at some point. It may be a constant headache and just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

 

[MadDogSkip]

I'd take the $$, part out the other car or buy a similar year and use those parts and call it the downside of oning a classic car. If you fix your old car, it may never turn out in a pleasing result thereby becoming a burdon. Put her out of her misry and let her become an organ doner. Get some beer, call some friends, cry abit and be the wiser.

Sorry for your loss buy you need to put a pony out of her misery when she is mortally wounded (for your sake and for hers).

With Empathy,

-Dog out.