How much are you willing to sacrafice to feed your addiction?

Ever since I started shopping for a new (project/fun) car, I have gone off of the deep end.

Sold my mint Neon ACR (thanks, GRM classifieds!) and have been borrowing a friend's Kia minivan for the past few months while I put together the motor in my 'other' (DD) Neon. Last week, I sold my first car, another Neon, and put that money in the bank.

Now, I feel as though I am bout to jump off of the deep end. My DD Neon is about to get it's fresh SOHC (.020 over, DOHC Pistons for compression bump, updated 01+ timing setup) and I couldn't be more excited to be back driving something with the hallowed "row your own" option.

But then something happened, I got offered a decent amount of money for the Neon. As-is, I would break even, without turning another wrench or buying a new clutch. For the same price, I can pick up this peach of a 99 Buick Century from an Estate. Old-lady owned, 60k miles. Needs A/C.

Am I willing to buck everything I enjoy about a car in order to pick up my Z06 in the spring? How much farther down the rabbit hole will I go? How far would you go to purchase the car you want?

I'd sacrifice my dignity and some other less than savory things in order to get a Noble M400.

Its just a neon.

if a Z06, or any vette for that matter, was the light at the end of the tunnel, i'd off a neon in a heartbeat and rock the buick. then keep the buick forever for winter too.

honestly, having to drive a winter non fun DD makes you appreciate your toys that much more.

So wait the question at hand is a SOHC Neon vs creampuff beater with a heater and a Z06?...

Um... I would be willing to drive the Buick for a bit to buy a Corvette but I also don't care for Neons.

Swank Force One wrote: I'd sacrifice my dignity and some other less than savory things in order to get a Noble M400.

M400 eh? Haven't seen one of those around in ages. Auto Europe in Birmingham, MI used to have one I'd gawk at from time to time.

nocones wrote: So wait the question at hand is a SOHC Neon vs creampuff beater with a heater and a Z06?...

Don't care. There is no question. It's happening. Just need to sacrifice my dignity for a few months.

I've come a long way from a lifted XJ, the ACR, and a C3 Corvette.

patgizz wrote: if a Z06, or any vette for that matter, was the light at the end of the tunnel, i'd off a neon in a heartbeat and rock the buick. then keep the buick forever for winter too. honestly, having to drive a winter non fun DD makes you appreciate your toys that much more.

Agreed! I drive a Subaru Forester in the winter and my Mazdaspeed6 in the summer.
It took alot of buying/selling/trading to get to my Speed6, but it has been well worth it for me. If you want the Z06 in the spring, I'd be all over this Buick.

A z06 isn't my goal, I'm pretty happy with what I have. BUT- I've considered doing some fairly scary things for other vehicles I've found in the past. This is peanuts. Do it.

Mazda787b wrote: How far would you go to purchase the car you want?

If could not afford the car I want, I'd spend seven or eight years designing and building a replica of it. (of course, I'd mistakenly tell you I could do it in five) Hypothetically, of course.

Should this be a question??

I drove some cheap, crapcans for awhile to get the CTS-V (except for the selling part).

CTS-V for a cruiser/state jumper and beaters to pile DD miles on.

Rock the Buick. There is a huge difference between driving a competent car you like (neon for you, Mazda2 for me) and driving a car you love. I'd sell all of my other cars to keep the Porsche, I love it that much.
I'm off to take the 911 grocery shopping, the long way.

I don't really get this. Are you trying to get into the Buick because you feel bad about borrowing a minivan? The Neon will be more reliable (it doesn't have an auto trans or lower intake gaskets) and more fun to drive even as a winter beater. What is the point of this buick other than you not having to work on your neon? Or is that it?

I dont see how trading the neon more or less straight up for the buick (minus title change and sales tax and re-registration of course..) gets you any closer to a Z06 unless you're thinking about the ~$150 it takes to buy a clutch (hey, that's about as much as a title transfer + sales tax) and some motor oil and assuming the buick will not cost you ANYTHING. Does the neon need more parts than you're mentioning?

What Vigo said. I'm wondering how trading straight up for a Buick saves you any money over a relatively cherry Neon.

Well since you asked...

The Neon needs clutch, oil pump, timing components, ball joints, tie rods, and biggest of all, time that I don't have to complete it. Said time could be spent doing side jobs and banking more money.

I have the 3.1 tool so the rockers don't need to be removed. Makes a 6 hour job into about a 3 hour job. Not a huge problem. I could break even and leave time for second job/side work/getting project C3 completed by Spring.

I don't feel bad about borrowing a minivan by any means. The van has 190k miles and on it's last leg. I'm obviously not in any way embarrassed to be rolling in a 99 Buick, considering I've been driving a rusty Kia Sedona. I do actually enjoy the larger interior space. Either vehicle would be a stop-gap until the Z06 and another Jeep lands in the garage. At the price, I'd keep it around as a second (well, fourth) vehicle/work beater.

In my eyes, a beat down ride > a dressed up talk.

This thread wasn't meant to be a personal rant by any means, just some conversation on a slow Monday morning.

I lived in Phoenix without A/C for three years to save money for my racing.

David

DOOOOOOO EEEEEEETTTTTTTTT

Ah, I haz better understanding now. Go for it then.

DWNSHFT wrote: I lived in Phoenix without A/C for three years to save money for my racing. David

You my friend, have much larger cajónes than yours truly. The MICHIGAN summer was one of the main reasons I decided to 86 the ACR.

Going on client visits pouring down sweat due to the lack of AC is not the least bit professional according to my colleagues.

Mazda787b wrote:

DWNSHFT wrote: I lived in Phoenix without A/C for three years to save money for my racing. David

You my friend, have much larger cajónes than yours truly. The MICHIGAN summer was one of the main reasons I decided to 86 the ACR. Going on client visits pouring down sweat due to the lack of AC is not the least bit professional according to my colleagues.

I didn't use A/C in my apartment. I used it in the truck if I had to be dressed up.

David