Project Cars--You Get to Vote on "Hold 'em or Fold 'em"

fintail

3 grand, why not? Looks nice, period colors, can't get a lot of car for that money from any era - and that's a lot of car.

tjc78

Oh it certainly is a lot of car! 233 in and 5000lbs. Being a 77 probably has the 460 too.

77 is probably the best year for these barge Lincolns. You get the newer style grille with old style dash.

I have the old car bug bad right now. It needs to stop. The wife doesn't "forbid" it either. I think if I make any moves the S10 needs to go and I need to trade out of the LaCrosse for an SUV for the wife. The SUV would serve as the light hauler the S10 is, plus she really doesn't like the LaCrosse anyway.

The 04 Grand Marquis has been doing fine as a DD and believe this or not doesn't get that much worse FE than the Buick.

fintail

For 3K, there is probably a lot of pleasure there for the money, for people who are into those behemoths. I have to imagine it will sell relatively fast, even at 10mpg and being the size of an aircraft carrier.

Yeah, you'd have too many cars - an old car and a daily driver is more than enough unless you have a lot of parking. I am in that position too, and it is annoying - finding dry parking for both cars. My unit has one garage space, and I don't want either car to sleep outside.

tjc78

Three cars is certainly the limit. That is why when we got the GM (my Grandfather passed away) we sold the 08 Elantra.

Before I end up in a classic I will need to line up storage. My Aunt has a detached garage with virtually nothing in it and my brother's MIL has a two car garage with nothing but junk in it. I'm sure with a small fee per month she would clean up a little and let me park there. Actually I can't figure why she doesn't park her brand new car in there, but that seems common.

Under 5k is the number for sure. Like I've said plenty of times I want a decent looking reliable driver. The good thing is the cars I like are relatively cheap.

michaellno

Actually I can't figure why she doesn't park her brand new car in there, but that seems common.

In our neighborhood, there aren't any basements in the homes so many people use the garage for their excess stuff and the cars are in the driveway.

We've always managed to keep two cars in the garage at all time, with the 3rd car parked on the street in front of the house.

andre1969

My old condo had a 1-car garage, and there were eight units in my courtyard. Of those eight, only one person used the garage for his daily driver...and ironically, that guy couldn't drive worth a damn! He had a Toyota Solara, and I lost track of how many times he scraped it against the door opening. Once or twice, he hit the neighboring cars, as well. He walked with a severe limp, and I'm convinced he had Tourette syndrome.

Anyway, of the other seven...
1 had a pop-up trailer in it
1 had a Chevy Cavalier in it that the guy was storing
4 were used for storage
1 (mine) was used for storage of a non-daily driver. I'd alternate between the Catalina and the DeSoto.

tjc78

I can understand it a little without having a basement, however, this woman just has too much stuff. The house is fairly large (4BR/3BA) with a full basement and partial attic. No reason IMO to have the garage crapped up. There is probably no real dollars in the garage, but yet the new 30K car is outside. Makes no sense to me.

fintail

For me, 2 cars is all I want. I have toyed with the idea of more, but I can't do it. Too much work. Even getting a motorcycle has me thinking of how much I want to own.

For the fintail, I rent a garage space from a guy I know, and have parked it there for about 8 years. But - he wants out of the house, and has it listed now. He contacted me about 10 days ago and claimed he had an interested party, but hasn't talked to me since (I bet the inspection turned up surprises, and his asking price is optimistic). Still, I need to find other parking, and it isn't fun - as I pay a low rate, and am comfortable where I am, and it is a general pain around here finding someone willing to rent out a spot, as, like you mention, a lot of people waste garage space with useless junk. Space they could either protect their car with, or maybe even make a profit from. Every time it snows here, I like seeing newer 50K+ cars that show they aren't garaged. I couldn't do that.

It is nice having cheapish tastes. I almost don't want something too nice anyway - can't enjoy it as much.

xwesx

Too much work.

That's for sure, fin. I collected what I have from a practicality standpoint, but once I have it, I have to maintain it. Then after a decade or so, I get attached to it and then keep it out of a sense of commitment, even though there's really no reason to have it any longer.

Right now, I maintain five (of my six) vehicles in drivable condition. My plow truck is questionably drivable on a road, but I do maintain it for its purpose (plowing!). They suck time and money, both of which seem to be in diminishing supply every year. :sick:

fintail

" Then after a decade or so, I get attached to it and then keep it out of a sense of commitment, even though there's really no reason to have it any longer. "

That's pretty much where I am. Attachment over logic. To break the cycle, maybe I should just lease the daily driver, so I can tell myself it isn't mine for good. But then I might try to buy at the end of the lease.

I also don't like to think what would happen once the cars are sold - my maintenance isn't perfect, but I fear someone would neglect them, especially the old car.

xwesx

Bingo. I'm sure that my van would end up in a crusher before too long were I to sell it. There's just too much of my life wrapped up in that sheet metal to say goodbye. I do keep it roadworthy (albeit not pleasing on the eyes like your fintail), though. If I didn't, it would definitely be better to let it go.

The F250 is only kept because it is immensely useful as a plow. It's so far gone, though, due to rust, that once it retires from that service, it's a goner. The interior is mint, though, so it's not a total loss. All older pickups have a following, so I'm sure the interior could find a good home with very little effort.

I think the C20 was the best vehicular purchase I've ever made. I paid $500 for it, have put maybe $2,000 into it over the last fifteen years (including tires when I first got it back on the road), and could sell it tomorrow for $5K. I guess if I factor in the depreciation of the dollar, I'm at least breaking even. Another $10K into it and I could have it as it came from the factory.

Since I have the space, I have no reasonable justification to offload them even if they do get maybe a thousand miles (combined) per year. :blush:

fintail

If I was to sell the fintail, I would like it to go to someone with more money than sense, who would restore it - or someone who has experience caring for a car and doesn't want it as something cool and cheapish for their teenaged daughter (the car isn't particularly valuable, which opens some bad scenarios). Keeping it garaged would be important - I don't think it would have a long life out in the damp. I would be picky about the buyer. When I sold my W126 many years ago, it went to an older man who had owned one before - I felt good about that.

I justify keeping the fintail by my lack of other expensive vices (I am not a big drinker or gambler etc) - and that it gives me enjoyment. I have also had it since I was a teenager, drove it through college etc, so there is a little sentimental attachment. But if I faced a cross country move or something, there's a chance I might just move on. Sometimes I feel silly keeping a second car when I have no friends or co-workers with the same ball and chain.

steine13

>> I also don't like to think what would happen once the cars are sold - my maintenance isn't perfect, but I fear someone would neglect them, especially the old car.

I understand the sentiment, but keep in mind it's OK to neglect a car. It's just a thing. It doesn't have feelings, it won't miss you, and it sure as heck does not have a soul, no matter what "enthusiasts" like to think about their cars.

You know the old saw: "Never love anything that can't love you back."

Cheers -Mathias

andre1969

Sometimes I feel silly keeping a second car when I have no friends or co-workers with the same ball and chain.

Yeah, but some of your friends and co-workers might have balls and chains of a different variety! The ball and chain I divorced back in 1996 cost me more than any one of my cars ever did!

I justify keeping the fintail by my lack of other expensive vices (I am not a big drinker or gambler etc) - and that it gives me enjoyment.

I think this is the most important thing. It gives you enjoyment. And that's hard to put a price on.

au1994

This is very common in my neoghborhood as well and I don't understand it. All are at least 4BR houses, some on a slab some w/basement but I'd bet 60% have not just one but both cars parked outside because the garage is packed.

I asked a neighbor once, who both he and the wife had less than 2 yr old cars with a total value of ~50k, why not clear the garage and park inside.

The answer I got was 'you don't have kids, you don't understand'.

michaellno

I asked a neighbor once, who both he and the wife had less than 2 yr old cars with a total value of ~50k, why not clear the garage and park inside.

The answer I got was 'you don't have kids, you don't understand'.

Seems like most families are just a box or two away from appearing on an episode of "Hoarders".

When we moved into our house (1600sf, 3bd, 2.5ba, slab), the kids were 14 and 12. We made everything fit and were still able to park our cars (Expedition, New Beetle) in the garage.

Having a place to keep our cars out of the weather was one of the reasons we bought the house.

On our block, I know of only a couple of houses where the garage holds two cars - Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Miata in one, Nissan Xterra and Chevy S10 in the other.

qbrozen

I'd like to know what his kids drive that take up his garage.

I have 2 boys. The bikes/trikes/scooters hang from hooks on the walls out of the way, and the battery operated jeep sits out on the back patio under a cover. It helps tremendously that I have a very large shed out back, but that has nothing to do with the kids. That holds the lawn furniture, lawn tools, and tractor.

fintail

You mean cars aren't people too?

When I say neglect, I more mean destroy the effort put into the car by simply keeping it together and roadworthy. The right/wrong person could undo that pretty quickly. It's a shame to see something that survived for 50 years being ruined by an idiot.

The car might not have a soul, but it has a temper sometimes :shades:

fintail

An old friend of mine had 2 old cars, once. Then he got hitched - and has none. But he has 2 mortgages and 2 kids to make up for it. I think I prefer the car :shades:

Pleasure is often worth more than the price paid, especially if the price is relatively low.

About the full garages, many people overestimate the value of their flea market at best quality clutter.

au1994

I think laziness comes into play. Looking into his garage I saw nothing that a weekend afternoon and $100 in shelves/hooks/hangers/crates from Home Depot wouldn't cure.

andre1969

About the full garages, many people overestimate the value of their flea market at best quality clutter.

I know the value of some of the stuff in my garage is questionable...including my '79 5th Ave! :P

There's an old tv set out there from, I'd guess, the 1950's or maybe even the late 40's. My roommate's parents gave it to him, and I let him keep it out there. I have no idea if it works, but I guess it's probably worth something. There's also an old sewing machine, in the stand, that's God-only-knows how old. And an old typewriter that I think was my Grandmother's, back in the 40's. Couple of old vanity/dressing tables from, I'd guess, the 1930's or 40's.

I also have the original 2-bbl intake manifold from my '67 Catalina. It had already been rebuilt and converted to a 4-bbl before I bought it, but the intake, as well as other various parts, were in the trunk in a box. Couple of 4-bbl intake manifolds that would fit a Mopar smallblock. There's a chair out there that somebody gave me awhile back, that will probably never be used. I don't need it for the house, so I just threw it out in the garage, figuring one day it would "become useful".

My mother gave me her old circa 1969 dining room table and chairs when I bought my condo in 1994. But she kept the china cabinet, saying I could have it "one day". Well, when I had to move out of the condo after the divorce, the table and chairs went into storage at my grandmother's, and was left there when I was able to move back to the condo. I now have the table in my kitchen, although it's a bit too big for it. The chairs are balanced up in the rafters (well trusses, actually) of the garage, as they're kind of bulky, so I just use some smaller kitchen table chairs.

I think I get a lot of packrat mentality from my grandparents, who remember the Depression vividly enough that they rarely throw things away that "could" become useful one day.

Only thing is, often that "one day" never comes. Last year, I had this beat-up early 70's Lazy Boy recliner in my bedroom that was pretty beat-up. But it was comfortable. Well, it had a habit of gathering clothes, and the cats had been using it as a scratching post. Finally decided to throw it out last spring. I almost felt bad at first, throwing away something that had been in the family and survived nearly 40 years. But, once it was gone, I felt good. And my bedroom seemed a bit bigger. And I don't miss it one bit. Even typing about it now, and bringing the memory of it back up, I can still say I'm glad I got rid of it!

One reason I've held off on adding onto the house, garage, storage shed, etc is that it seems like no matter how much storage space I have, build more and it will somehow get filled up!

My old condo was 1254 square feet, plus a ~200 square foot garage. I went from that to a ~1500 square foot house, with a 12x16 workshop, and then had a 24x40 garage built, and yet managed to get it all filled up!

fintail

So you might have a few hundred dollars worth of stuff stored away. Better than those who have similar stuff and spend $200/month on a storage unit, anyway. At least it takes many years of garage rent to approach the value of my old car :shades: - spare parts for it are kept in the trunk.

A little over 7 ago, I moved from a ~1200 sq ft condo (got out just before the market peaked, not the worst move) to an apartment half that size, and got rid of 80% of my stuff before the move. It was a liberating feeling. My collector/packrat mother has piles of furniture and clutter acquired over the decades - I have made it known I don't want much of any of it when the time comes. One good thing about living in a small place, it limits the accumulation.

andre1969

One good thing about living in a small place, it limits the accumulation.

Yeah, that's definitely true. I have a friend who lives in a condo in Washington DC, and every time he buys something new, he always tries to get rid of something old...even if it's still in good shape.

We're about the same size, so when he decides to get rid of his old dress shirts, he'll let me go through them and pick out anything I want, before donating the rest of him. Now me, I'll usually wear a shirt until it gets a rip in it, which is usually at the elbows. And even then, I'll often just cut the sleeves off and use it like a vest...obviously I'm no longer wearing it to work by then! :P But, the stuff he gets rid of, usually looks brand-new! But, it's just that he has limited space, so if he buys a new shirt, he almost HAS to get rid of the old one.

I'm sure eventually I'll downsize, but I'm not looking forward to it!

Oh, and how's this for bad: A few years back, a friend of mine was thinking about selling his '78 Mark V Diamond Jubilee, as he had bought a nicer one and didn't need the "old" one anymore. I had actually considered buying it, just so I'd have something to take to the Ford show in Carlisle! Fortunately I didn't, as it ultimately threw a rod. And, while it was pretty nice when he bought it, it seemed to deteriorate FAST sitting outside.

And now, for the Ford show, Lemko puts his Grand Marquis in, so we have that covered!

michaellno

My wife is the anti pack rat. We did some home improvement over the holidays - painting, new kitchen backsplash - and so we 'redecorated' the family room.

Bought a new (smaller) TV - the old one went to a friend of our daughters. Moved some furniture around, and ended up with an extra chair and ottoman - again, daughters friend took the old stuff. A Target sourced storage unit went to the curb. Books were packed away.

Every new purchase of furniture results in the old stuff being given away. Our kids - and their friends - are happy to take it off our hands.

fintail

When you are thinking of buying a car just to have something to take to a show, you know you have a problem

I take stuff to Goodwill every couple years, usually does the trick.

andre1969

I was real proud of myself a couple weeks ago. We got a new tv for the living room, so the old one replaced the one in my bedroom. In the past, I would have probably just held onto the one from the bedroom, "just in case", but my roommate said he knew someone who wanted a tv, and was willing to buy a used one. So, we let her have it for $100. She thought the price was too low, but we explained to her that it was over 4 years old, and not a very high quality model by today's standards (Dynex 42" 1080 LCD). Don't remember if it was a 1080p or 1080i. It was about $850 when new (with a 5 year extended warranty), but nowadays, I imagine a comparable tv would be about $300 at best?

Anyway, I didn't want to charge *too* much, because I'd feel guilty if it died on her!

So, that was one minor victory in the war on clutter. However, it was canceled out by something I just did during lunch. I replaced an old shelving/storage unit in the house with something that was a bit more compact, and useable, on Monday. We dragged the old unit out onto the deck, and at first I figured I'd put it down in the garage, but then I figure it's old, a bit ratty, so why not just bust it up either chuck it or burn it? Well, I had decided to get rid of it. But then today, during lunch, I noticed it looked like it was going to rain, so I'm ashamed to say, I got the hand truck and hauled it down to the garage. :blush: Oh well. Baby steps, I guess...

andre1969

I take stuff to Goodwill every couple years, usually does the trick.

Yeah, I do that, too, although lately I've been ramping it up to once per year. In 2011, everything fit fine in the Buick. In 2012, I had the Ram pretty fully loaded.

When you are thinking of buying a car just to have something to take to a show, you know you have a problem

So, what your'e saying is that I should go check out that green Lincoln? BTW, my friend with the Mark V just sent a message back saying, simply, "looks really nice". So I guess he's learned a little restraint, as well. However, at this point I think what he really wants is a Mercury Colony Park wagon, fully loaded, in that light jade green, so while this Lincoln was the right color, it's still not what he really wants. Plus, he doesn't have the place to store a lot of stuff, either. He rents a space in somebody's garage for his Mark V. His townhouse has a 1 car garage, but it's barely big enough to fit his 2002 5-series.

fintail

That green Lincoln was probably a good deal if it is as nice as it looks.

Does he want a 70s model Colony Park? Survival rate on those has to be much lower than Lincolns - he will be looking for awhile if he is picky about color. And indeed, modern garages don't fit things like that - I can't imagine it in the underground garage in my building, where the spots seem to be of variable size and some are only fit for subcompacts.

andre1969

Yeah, it's a '70's model he's fixating on. Don't know if he has a specific year, but probably whatever years they used that light jade green color. He doesn't really care about the choked down engines of the later years...he's more concerned about the luxury trappings.

When he was a kid his parents had a Country Squire in that color, so that's probably where the fond memories come from.

tjc78

Probably will be searching awhile for that CP!

I emailed the seller of that Lincoln asking for some details. I just realized that ad was from early December. If it was as nice as it looked, I doubt he would still have it.