Ok. I figured this would be the best place to lay this out (if I get a response) so maybe the input here will help me make the right decision. Give me all of what you guys want to say.
I was in tech school (USAF) when I had come across a great deal on a 97 cobra approx. 8 months ago with 60K miles. During that time, I was told I would be going to California for my duty station and I figured the buy would work out along with bringing my old favorite (the '70) with me as well and work on both while stationed 3 hours from home.
5 weeks prior to graduation, my orders changed. After 11 months of planning to go to a station nearby home, I am now going to the cold tundra of northern Japan for 2 to 2 and 1/2 years.
So, now I am in a dilemma as to what I should do with both my Cobra and the '70 Grande I had spent 2 years worth of work on restoring.
I had figured the outcome can only be worked in one of four options of which the more likelyhood of happening will probabally be the last two:
#1) I take both cars to a storage facility, pay the upkeep of storage and dig them back out after my tour of duty is over. Upside: I hang onto both cars. Downside: cost of storage (big time) which would run into the thousands and the cobra would depreciate a good degree. The 70 will need work to get back running again to remove deposits, replacement bits possibly....
#2) I keep the cobra and sell the 70. Cobra goes into storage, half the cost for storage. Upside: I have a nice car after my tour and the money from the 70 should cover costs for newer parts and maintenance. Downside: The cobra can't go to Japan so it stays here. Also, the 70 isn't worth a whole lot ($2500?) and I have put a lot of time into personally removing surface rust and sealing the metal along with boosting performance with custom work to the motor which has been rebuilt and runs darn good. The car is solid and shows great promise for an enthusiast looking for a rebuildable project. I'd not like to see it go after all this time hoping to get it back after my tour of duty....
#3) I sell the cobra and keep the 70. 70 goes into storage until I return or dump the $1500 into shipping it overseas with me. Upside: I keep the car I had for a while to finish up on and I make more money selling the cobra in comparison to the 70. Depreciation is almost non-existant. The cobra will need new tires soon and is going to need transmission fluid/oil change, new seals, undercarrige cleanup etc. I can get the money for what it's worth before the next model debuts for the value it's at now then 6 months from now. Downside: The 70 needs work. Lots of it. Having an older, not as reliable car after I return may not be the best option for driving around if I will need to rely on a car for the time until I get a newer vehicle to drive.
#4) I sell both cars (seriously considering). Both cars sell, I hang onto the funds until I return. Upside: No maintenance, no storage costs, no expenses on the cars. I make 13K and use that toward trying to buy a condo or a house once I get back. Downside: So much for having a car I like. I've only had the cobra 8 months and had hoped to have some fun with it, and my 70 is gone even though I put some good work into it. What a loss...
So, I think you now know where im going. Dump some input on me. I just need to sort this one out.
I have 3 and 1/2 weeks left to sort it out. Thanks.
I was in tech school (USAF) when I had come across a great deal on a 97 cobra approx. 8 months ago with 60K miles. During that time, I was told I would be going to California for my duty station and I figured the buy would work out along with bringing my old favorite (the '70) with me as well and work on both while stationed 3 hours from home.
5 weeks prior to graduation, my orders changed. After 11 months of planning to go to a station nearby home, I am now going to the cold tundra of northern Japan for 2 to 2 and 1/2 years.
So, now I am in a dilemma as to what I should do with both my Cobra and the '70 Grande I had spent 2 years worth of work on restoring.I had figured the outcome can only be worked in one of four options of which the more likelyhood of happening will probabally be the last two:
#1) I take both cars to a storage facility, pay the upkeep of storage and dig them back out after my tour of duty is over. Upside: I hang onto both cars. Downside: cost of storage (big time) which would run into the thousands and the cobra would depreciate a good degree. The 70 will need work to get back running again to remove deposits, replacement bits possibly....
#2) I keep the cobra and sell the 70. Cobra goes into storage, half the cost for storage. Upside: I have a nice car after my tour and the money from the 70 should cover costs for newer parts and maintenance. Downside: The cobra can't go to Japan so it stays here. Also, the 70 isn't worth a whole lot ($2500?) and I have put a lot of time into personally removing surface rust and sealing the metal along with boosting performance with custom work to the motor which has been rebuilt and runs darn good. The car is solid and shows great promise for an enthusiast looking for a rebuildable project. I'd not like to see it go after all this time hoping to get it back after my tour of duty....
#3) I sell the cobra and keep the 70. 70 goes into storage until I return or dump the $1500 into shipping it overseas with me. Upside: I keep the car I had for a while to finish up on and I make more money selling the cobra in comparison to the 70. Depreciation is almost non-existant. The cobra will need new tires soon and is going to need transmission fluid/oil change, new seals, undercarrige cleanup etc. I can get the money for what it's worth before the next model debuts for the value it's at now then 6 months from now. Downside: The 70 needs work. Lots of it. Having an older, not as reliable car after I return may not be the best option for driving around if I will need to rely on a car for the time until I get a newer vehicle to drive.
#4) I sell both cars (seriously considering). Both cars sell, I hang onto the funds until I return. Upside: No maintenance, no storage costs, no expenses on the cars. I make 13K and use that toward trying to buy a condo or a house once I get back. Downside: So much for having a car I like. I've only had the cobra 8 months and had hoped to have some fun with it, and my 70 is gone even though I put some good work into it. What a loss...
So, I think you now know where im going. Dump some input on me. I just need to sort this one out.
I have 3 and 1/2 weeks left to sort it out. Thanks.
Sorry, that's all I know about North Japan.
Talk about the sticks. Me-Sowry that im goin there. There is two things that come to mind. Rice patties and snow. Granted, at least it isn't Iraq where people hate to see you every day.
