So we have to get rid of one of our 2 old cars, as one will be replaced by a new one (Details / pics of the new car for wifey will come in a few days in a separate thread)
Here are the 2 candidates from which we must choose one to be our 'beater' / spare car: (and the other one has to go)
1) 97 Tbird - my current 'beater' - our spare car - 167 k miles.
I wanted this to be my 'project car' sometime ago. Was my first 'real' car and I am rather attached. Gas guzzler. RWD.
Engine has an oil leak but don't know the origin. Has 'cult' popularity - American made.
Needs front suspension work - prob. shocks and springs.
Paint is peeling in large patches on all horizontal surfaces - hood/roof/trunk
Has a tiny crack on rear bumper from a rear-ending which was never repaired - no structural damage.
Rather loaded at the time- sport pkg-somewhat rare-moon roof, auto climate control, auto light etc.
Still starts and drives well, not like a new car, but it drives well.
Has bubbling tint in the back window, antenna won't go down all the way, weather strips in the back are coming off.
I have realized that I don't/won't have the time to put into the Tbird as I once planned, to make it a show/project car...
When I think of everything it needs to make it a 'nice' and 'fresh' mechanically and cosmetically, I think it might take more than $6-7k ..
Also, even if i did fix it up nice, it will still have to be parked outside, as we only have a 2-car garage.
2) 2003 Elantra (wife's current DD) - 205k miles.
About 65-70 % (rough guess) of those are hwy miles.
-will be replaced in a few days with a new car.
Like me wife is attached to the car too - no wonder, as it has been dead reliable in its 205k miles - only 1 repair.
Although it has about 35k miles more than the tbird, the car itself is newer...(the dash does have a crack or two which I think i can repair - perhaps not).
Clear coat coming off in small patches on hood and trunk. Less damage than Tbird.
Compared to Tbird, I know exactly what it needs to make it a decent spare/3rd car/beater: a new wheel, CV joints/boots and reattach the rear view mirror properly - that's it. (With the Tbird, I am not sure - I know I can find out, but have a feeling it might be just more than shocks, due to the oil leak somewhere)
Elantra is more suited for the job as it gets about 28-30 MPG average (even without cruise control) - that, IMO is the biggest thing going against keeping the Tbird instead.
As this car has no potential as a show/project car, I don't have to re-paint it, and it can stay outside at any time...and even if i did make this car a bit nicer (looking) it won't cost anywhere near what doing that to Tbird will cost.
..How many miles can we still get out of it? No one knows, but I know a few Elantra owners from the same year/model that have gotten over 300k miles...(from forums, not personally)
----------------------------------------------------
So, there you have it - Tell us what you think, and who gets your vote to stay/go.
If you need any other details I have not mentioned, pls ask.
Here are the 2 candidates from which we must choose one to be our 'beater' / spare car: (and the other one has to go)
1) 97 Tbird - my current 'beater' - our spare car - 167 k miles.
I wanted this to be my 'project car' sometime ago. Was my first 'real' car and I am rather attached. Gas guzzler. RWD.
Engine has an oil leak but don't know the origin. Has 'cult' popularity - American made.
Needs front suspension work - prob. shocks and springs.
Paint is peeling in large patches on all horizontal surfaces - hood/roof/trunk
Has a tiny crack on rear bumper from a rear-ending which was never repaired - no structural damage.
Rather loaded at the time- sport pkg-somewhat rare-moon roof, auto climate control, auto light etc.
Still starts and drives well, not like a new car, but it drives well.
Has bubbling tint in the back window, antenna won't go down all the way, weather strips in the back are coming off.
I have realized that I don't/won't have the time to put into the Tbird as I once planned, to make it a show/project car...
When I think of everything it needs to make it a 'nice' and 'fresh' mechanically and cosmetically, I think it might take more than $6-7k ..
Also, even if i did fix it up nice, it will still have to be parked outside, as we only have a 2-car garage.
2) 2003 Elantra (wife's current DD) - 205k miles.
About 65-70 % (rough guess) of those are hwy miles.
-will be replaced in a few days with a new car.
Like me wife is attached to the car too - no wonder, as it has been dead reliable in its 205k miles - only 1 repair.
Although it has about 35k miles more than the tbird, the car itself is newer...(the dash does have a crack or two which I think i can repair - perhaps not).
Clear coat coming off in small patches on hood and trunk. Less damage than Tbird.
Compared to Tbird, I know exactly what it needs to make it a decent spare/3rd car/beater: a new wheel, CV joints/boots and reattach the rear view mirror properly - that's it. (With the Tbird, I am not sure - I know I can find out, but have a feeling it might be just more than shocks, due to the oil leak somewhere)
Elantra is more suited for the job as it gets about 28-30 MPG average (even without cruise control) - that, IMO is the biggest thing going against keeping the Tbird instead.
As this car has no potential as a show/project car, I don't have to re-paint it, and it can stay outside at any time...and even if i did make this car a bit nicer (looking) it won't cost anywhere near what doing that to Tbird will cost.
..How many miles can we still get out of it? No one knows, but I know a few Elantra owners from the same year/model that have gotten over 300k miles...(from forums, not personally)
----------------------------------------------------
So, there you have it - Tell us what you think, and who gets your vote to stay/go.
If you need any other details I have not mentioned, pls ask.
