What should I do with this car?

This is my first car, got it when I was 15. 10 years later I am wondering if I should keep holding on to it. I've done a lot of things to it, and at it's peak it was supercharged at 14 psi with H/C/I and all the goodies. It currently has a nitrous kit installed but I never got the chance to try it. I've gone through the entire car and upgraded everything from the interior to the transmission to...basically everything.

I would never get anywhere near what I have in it, and I would hate to sell it and then regret it. Everyone says "if only I kept that one car" and I don't want to be that person. Sure, its only a 94 GT but still neat.

My taste in cars has changed quite a bit. I would much prefer something older and different, but I already have this and it could be a good platform for AutoX.

The car has been sitting in my grandma's garage since August of 2008, and I've gone through 1 tank of gas. I've been averaging 26 miles a year since then. Once every 6 months or so I run it around the block a few times. It needs a battery, a/c charge and a tune but otherwise complete.

It doesn't cost me a penny to keep right now so I think I will hold on to it. The issue is my grandma might be moving soon and then I'm going to need to find a home for it. What would you guys do?

It now sits on real 18x9 and 18x10 Saleen wheels, not the fakes in this picture.

Ba-doioioing! I'd drive the wheels off of it, daily.

That would make a killer AX/DE car...

Call TeamZ, drop it off with about $125k, 6mo later return, and go run 6's on "stock" suspension.

If you are driving it 26 miles per year, then you are not enjoying the car. If you sold it and bought a ratty Miata that killed at the Autocross, you would probably be out in it every weekend. Sell it while used car prices are still in the stratosphere and get something that you WANT to drive.

My first car was a '68 Camaro. I've missed it since the day I sold it 35 years ago. Keep it.

You only have your first car once (usually). Modify it to autocross and enjoy...

You've already owned the car for 10 years and wrung it out pretty good, so no harm in moving on. You actually already have.

That said, I would keep it, but use it more.

pinchvalve wrote: If you are driving it 26 miles per year, then you are not enjoying the car. If you sold it and bought a ratty Miata that killed at the Autocross, you would probably be out in it every weekend. Sell it while used car prices are still in the stratosphere and get something that you WANT to drive.

Part of the reason I drive it so little is it's across the state from me and doesn't have insurance. Ideally I would be moving to a bigger place soon where I could keep it in Tampa. Then I would probably drive it more.

I've only done AutoX once, but I wouldn't mind going more. This car is more setup for the drag strip right now but I would definitely change that. I would also switch the bumpers/side skirts to OEM cobra parts....kind of out grew the Saleen look. I do have way too many hobbies so who knows if getting into AutoX is a good idea.

That being said, if I sold it I would not buy another car. The issue is I don't really have the space/time to enjoy it. So its either, have $X,XXX more money in the bank or keep it in hopes of using it occasionally once I have more free time/money and a spot to keep it.

I've autocrossed a number of Mustangs and none of them, including a late-model GT500, made me want to give up my Miata.

It's true that you only have your first car once, but it seems silly to hold on to something for that reason alone.

Pending milage/etc, you'd just have to ask yourself, is getting rid of it worth the $4-9000 I could get for it....

My vote is to keep it, the sn95 chassis is decent for autox, just takes the right mods.

Enyar wrote: Part of the reason I drive it so little is it's across the state from me and doesn't have insurance. Ideally I would be moving to a bigger place soon where I could keep it in Tampa. Then I would probably drive it more. ... That being said, if I sold it I would not buy another car. The issue is I don't really have the space/time to enjoy it. So its either, have $X,XXX more money in the bank or keep it in hopes of using it occasionally once I have more free time/money and a spot to keep it.

I would keep it.

Your long term plan ends up with a spot to keep it and then enjoy it. Where it's at now is not hurting you, and unless you desperately need the $4-$9K or whatever it's worth, you're not out anything with it currently out of sight / out of mind.

As noted above, it's a well developed chassis, with new opportunities for track days and auto-x, should you decide to do so down the road.

It's your first car, you can't get what's into it out of it, and you wouldn't be using the money towards anything substantial next (other than sitting on more $$...).

my first car was a wreck of an 86 non GT stang. 2.3, auto, N/A, rust, frame damage, electrical issues, you name it, it was screwed. and i regret selling it 3-4 times a week.

keep it.

-J0N

most of the time when you hear someone say "i wish I would have never sold it" they are talking about a classic that has gone thru the roof in price. you have what looks to be a very nice car. will the price go thru the roof like past classics i dont think so. i would sell it put the money in the bank and when something comes along you like grab it.

DaveEstey wrote: I've autocrossed a number of Mustangs and none of them, including a late-model GT500, made me want to give up my Miata. It's true that you only have your first car once, but it seems silly to hold on to something for that reason alone.

I think, at least to some, that it is a good reason to hold on to it. When I was your age I didn't car about it nearly as much as I do now. But that's just me and everyone is different. I guess my only point is that IMO there's nothing wrong with holding on to something for sentimental reasons if you can swing it. I keep a '77 Chevy truck for that very reason. It's nothing special, but I can almost guarantee you that I'll have it when I die.

My first car was a 1975 Mercury Monarch. I don't regret selling it at all. Of all the cars I've owned, I regret selling three, my swapped G60 powered GTI, my '93 Corrado SLC (despite its wicked attempts at bankrupting me) and my 1st 944 Turbo.

I really wish I'd held onto that 944 turbo...

Nice SN95!

Here is mine:

1995 GT with a... Saleen bodykit and uhhh.... Saleen wheels and I'm in...... Tampa. Separated at birth? LOL

But yours has some go fast goodies. Unfortunately, I bought the car like this and spent all my money fixing all the half-assed modifications the PO did and not spending it on performance parts like I was planning to.

I understand where you are coming from though. Mine lives in the garage and gets driven maybe once a month. I really want to sell it because I could use the money and I could park my DD Jeep in the garage. But I'm hesitant to sell it because I know as soon as I hand the keys over, I will regret it.

I wouldn't sell it.... you never get a second chance at memories like that, plus it sounds like it should be pretty stinkin' fast.

In reply to stanger_missle:

WOAH! Whereabouts are you? I hear you on the limited space. If mine was in Tampa it would have to fight for garage space between my Jetta, my boat and my sailboat. Add in my roommate's cars and my girlfriend's car and you have a real clustershmuck.

This may need a new thread but does anyone know how I could insure this car on the cheap? That would make it much more likely to drive and surely there has to be a special policy that covers vehicles that move 26 miles a year.

Haggerty or any of the other big insurers should have a limited use/show and display insurance available.

You will hear all kinds of advise about keeping or selling a first car. Do what makes you happiest. If you are emotionally done with it, then sell it. If you still like the car and wish you could drive it more, keep it.

My first car was a '66 Karmann Ghia. I rebuilt just about every part of the car. I loved it and had hour and hours of fun with it. I learned many skills in the course my time of ownership. I kept it from age 17 until I was 32. At that point I was in California and the car was stored in Michigan at my mothers place. I sold it to a friend of my mother who was interested in it. I was done with it and didn't regret selling it. About 5 years later I was contacted by the guy I sold it to because he was looking to sell it. He offered it to me first. I appreciated the consideration, but I didn't miss it and told him to go ahead and sell to someone else. I am still fine with that decision. It was the right car for me in the time I owned it. I have happy memories of it. I don't miss owning it now.

If you are at that point, then sell it. If not, keep it.

Sell what you're driving now and keep this one.

Enyar wrote: In reply to stanger_missle: WOAH! Whereabouts are you? I hear you on the limited space. If mine was in Tampa it would have to fight for garage space between my Jetta, my boat and my sailboat. Add in my roommate's cars and my girlfriend's car and you have a real clustershmuck.

I'm in South Tampa down by MacDill AFB. I actually dug the title out today which is the first step in getting rid of her. I finally sat down and did an honest to goodness budget, and well, I'm pretty much screwed for a bit. I need to sell my 1991 Cherokee as well. Do you need/want any SN95/5.0 goodies? Divorce sucks

How many miles and what would you be asking? I have a friend who is a Mustanghead and his current '95 is getting pretty long in the tooth.

I'd argue to keep it because it's cool and it seems pretty obvious you'll regret selling it. As many Mustangs as there are out there, none are exactly like yours, so you won't really be able to buy it again if you truly have to have it back.

Then again, I'd argue that you're not really enjoying it now, and aside from the fact that much like the baseball card collection in the attic you haven't looked at in a decade, that means it's doing you no good, sitting around is DEATH for cars.

But I come down on the side of keeping it because it sounds like you're going to be in a position to have it close by and use it more often in the future.

The alternative is to sell it to a friend on the absolute condition that you get rights of first refusal if he wants to sell it. And you get to drive it occasionally.