[trackbird]

This is going to be a bit strange (and probably too long). I sold my 2002 Z28 street/autocross car last year and bought a truck and a track car (2007 C3500 and 1992 Z28). At the time, I joked that if I bought that car, I'd wind up divorced. Well, I'm now divorced, but I have a car and a truck (and some other cars).

My local SCCA registration people pretty well irritated me at the last event to the point that I don't think I'm likely to run with them too much this year (if at all). And my current budget (and collective pile of cars) is not looking like much HPDE or wheel to wheel time is in my future. All of this means that I have a pretty fast, fairly sorted Camaro that I drive less than 100 miles a year (and now maybe not at all since it's not insured for street use right now) and I'm starting to miss driving a car that I enjoy. And, if I'm not autocrossing it, and not tracking it, I don't guess I really need to own it.

So, I'm starting to consider cleaning out my stable and finding a street car to drive again. Racerdad916 and I recently completed the work on the 2002 Taurus I have so it can be sold. That should let me buy my way out of the Mazdaspeed 6. I could sell the Camaro, use a bit of that cash to sell off my truck, pay off a few bills with some of the rest and go buy "something" fun to drive on a more regular basis (Corvette maybe? another 4th gen F-body?).

So, if I were to go car shopping, what should I go look at? I really want a 1991 C4 (updated body, 6 speed, non-lt1 car). I have had thoughts of a C5 Z06 (though I'm not a fan of what it takes to change a clutch in one of those). Or, I keep reading about Patreds f-body for sale (and others). Or, maybe I'll change directions, find a used truck and a kart? Or, I'm just off my rocker....

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Crazy Canuck]

actually... same weather as Kevin's place... we don't live in igloos.
buffalo, chicago gets colder weather than here. fwiw... I drove my motorcycle 9 months/yr... crotch-rocket as some would say.

[DRD T-bone]

Kevin,
Grundy classic auto insurance is something like $300 per year as long as the car is registered a collector. The only constraint for that here in Arizona is that the car is more than 15 years old. Ah the 1992 Camaro RS, 1 of 300,000 but what a rare gem to collect!

[trackbird]

Sydney,

I'm not sure I'm comfortable enough to instruct, but I probably have the credentials for it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Kevin,
Grundy classic auto insurance is something like $300 per year as long as the car is registered a collector. The only constraint for that here in Arizona is that the car is more than 15 years old. Ah the 1992 Camaro RS, 1 of 300,000 but what a rare gem to collect!

Yea, my car is actually a 5.7 liter Z28 (and was when it left the factory), so it is a bit more rare, but it's one of 5,197 1992 Z28's (1,254 of which were convertibles, leaving 3,943 1992 Z28 coupes).

From here:

http://www.thirdgen.org/1992-chevy-camaro

They built 60,994 RS's out of 70,007 total cars produced in 1992.

[Lordvader]

Never say you are going dragracing, thats like driving back your tricycle after driving RR or AX (Just kidding). My problem with DR or AX is exactly that, you spend very little time at the wheel, compared to RR.

I would get an economical, functional, mainteinance free dayly transpo and continue racing, NASA or whatever .

Those famous words from Steve McQueens Lemans movie: "Racing is life, the rest is jut waiting".

Ive driven a Solstice, its ok, except for the lack of power and reduced grip compared to an F-body.

I prefeer the F than the Y, except for the C6, which has a perfect handling. F-bodies I find easier to drive, cheaper to modify.

IMHO.

[trackbird]

Well, I have a daily driver, but at 12 mpg and premium fuel, the truck is not cheap to operate (and I drive a lot). So, I'm considering dumping my truck and the mazdaspeed 6 or, keeping the mazdaspeed 6 as a driver (though I want it gone). If I sell both, I might buy a base Cobalt to wander around in. GM has $500 off, $2000 cash back and I get the employee discount. The thing lists for $14,800 and I'd probably get about $3,200 off. And, at 36 mpg, who cares? I wonder how uninspiring it is to drive... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

If I can sell it all, I might. If not, I can hang onto the Camaro, it can sit until I can find something to do with it when the racing budget gets back to full strength. I hate to sell it, I'll lose my butt on it, but I'd love to just have a Corvette to drive to work and such and enjoy. If nothing sells, it's not going to matter much in the end.

I did post the car (as many saw), and I posted it at a price it's probably worth, but not what anyone will actually pay for it. If someone does, great. If not, no big loss. I'm not giving it away since I don't "have" to sell it. I just can't decide if I'll miss it or not. But if someone shows up with a stack of cash, I'll probably take it.

[mitchntx]

think outside the box.
sell house, move, go where ppl are great... Mtl is hugely competitive and fun.

Ohhh, Canada, where it is warm enough to drive the car like 4 months out of the year. What a paradise!!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

Why don't you come to Texas where you can track/AX 12 months out of the year. There is no off season and there are plenty of friend people.

(IMG:http://yougotowned.net/you_got_owned_yel.gif)

[1qwikbird]

This is funny, because I am thinking the exact opposite. I have my 99 Firechicken and its a great DD (20+mpg driving like a human), fun at the autox, would be a blast at track days (I haven't gone yet, but previous owner did many). It's even fun to make the occasion blast down the 1/4 mile (mid 11's @120), but I find it very difficult to drive the car responsibly on the street, meaning its only a matter of time before the tickets come and being in NJ, I can't afford that.

So I have been toying with the idea of gutting the car and making a track car out of it, but its too complete, too nice and reasonably low miles (69K), so it would kinda be a shame. Then the idea came to me, to sell it, buy something a little more "used" which I would have less trouble making a track car out of, but I would have to do the upgrade process all over. So I feel your pain, but from the other side of the equation.

I think the situation will resolve itself, depending on what sells and what doesn't. If the track car sells, no need for the tow vehicle. Dump the mazda no matter what. The taurus might be the keeper, no payment?, reasonable economy and I don't think you can mod that thing, so it can't become a toy. When funds stablize, get the car you really want, whatever that may be.

You'll figure it out.......good luck

Chris

[Crazy Canuck]

Well, I have a daily driver, but at 12 mpg and premium fuel, the truck is not cheap to operate (and I drive a lot). So, I'm considering dumping my truck and the mazdaspeed 6 or, keeping the mazdaspeed 6 as a driver (though I want it gone). If I sell both, I might buy a base Cobalt to wander around in. GM has $500 off, $2000 cash back and I get the employee discount. The thing lists for $14,800 and I'd probably get about $3,200 off. And, at 36 mpg, who cares? I wonder how uninspiring it is to drive... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

If I can sell it all, I might. If not, I can hang onto the Camaro, it can sit until I can find something to do with it when the racing budget gets back to full strength. I hate to sell it, I'll lose my butt on it, but I'd love to just have a Corvette to drive to work and such and enjoy. If nothing sells, it's not going to matter much in the end.

I did post the car (as many saw), and I posted it at a price it's probably worth, but not what anyone will actually pay for it. If someone does, great. If not, no big loss. I'm not giving it away since I don't "have" to sell it. I just can't decide if I'll miss it or not. But if someone shows up with a stack of cash, I'll probably take it.

for a beater, i'd consider the Saturn Astra for the same price of the Base Cobalt.
http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicles/astr...sf_hp_astramhp1
Better styling, imho... and seems like more fun to drive, practical around town kind of vehicle.

[v7guy]

It's a pickle you're in that's for sure. I'm not sure there is a good answer either.
If your attached to the camaro keep it around. It's not doing any harm. I feel your pain about the truck though.

[trackbird]

They list the cobalt at better mileage, and I think that thing is a bit funky looking. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) But Saturns are cheap to insure...