Sell the Z?

[280Z Turbo]

I'm thinking I want to get this thing out my dad's workshop. It's been fun, but I never drive it anymore. It's not really waterproof and I don't trust the reliability of it, so it stays close to my parents' house. It needs a lot of work to get it to where I feel like I could drive it like a normal car. I'm thinking at least $5000.

It's also a 2+2, which adds 12" of wheelbase to an already weak and floppy 1970's Japanese chassis. This adds considerable weight and hurts handling. The backseat was removed because it was in such bad condition. I would never use the back seat anyway. I'm thinking it was a bad choice for a track toy.

The values are going up. I figure I can get at least 3k for it as is. I paid $1100 in 2003, so that's not too bad. I got an offer for $3800 last time I put it up. What do you guys think?

[Cookie Monster]

Do you have any emotional attachment to it?

[280Z Turbo]

Do you have any emotional attachment to it?

Unfortunately, yes.

[Cookie Monster]

Then I don't know. It's not like it's any easier to find these cars anymore. Sure it may not be ideal for racing, but since you have another car and bike, you could just fix it up slowly till you have something really cool.

If you really need the money and you hate the car, then I'd sell it, but otherwise I'd keep it and try to fix it up slowly.

[sportyaccordy]

Once the dream is over, there is no coming back. IMO its time to move on. Unfortunately, used cars have become so expensive you will prob have to put up 2-3x what you get for it for something equally enjoyable w/o the issues/hassle.

[Payman]

Get rid of it. What you think is emotional attachment might actually be depression that it was never what you hoped it would be.

[280Z Turbo]

Get rid of it. What you think is emotional attachment might actually be depression that it was never what you hoped it would be.

Possibly, it's kind of like driving a pickup that's really low to the ground. The steering is heavy, and the car is slow to respond. It's easy to drive at the track because it's so understeery.

[Raza]

You had a good run and you'll always have the memories.  I was strongly emotionally attached to two of my cars and I moved on from them to better things each time. 

[TBR]

Sell it, buy something you'll enjoy driving. Might be tough, but you'll get over it faster than you think.

[GoCougs]

Sell it immediately - you'll not miss it, and just as with girls, the next one is always better.

[280Z Turbo]

For sale. For the third time. For good this time. It's pretty unanimous here. You guys are right. I was just dragging my feet.

[Laconian]

Buy an awesome car with enginerd dollars.

[MexicoCityM3]

Sell it. It is not giving you pleasure anymore from what you say here. Emotional attachment to cars - get over it. Believe me, I know, just went over exactly the same - I feel better now and actually proud of "letting go".

[SVT666]

If it's a PITA to own, you must sell it.  You think you might work on it, but you never will.  Good decision.

[Raza]

For sale. For the third time. For good this time. It's pretty unanimous here. You guys are right. I was just dragging my feet.

It is not what we carry with us, but what we let go that defines who we are.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It is not what we carry with us, but what we let go that defines who we are.

Raza, I think it's time to let the Z4 go...

[Lebowski]

Cars are meant to be driven ... if you're not driving it often, then sell it.

[sportyaccordy]

Raza, I think it's time to let the Z4 go...

To me, for $350....

Letting something go for way less than what "society" ( ) says its worth = the ultimate character building exercise

[SVT32V]

Time is the thing, if you were not making the time to work on it already, you never will.

In a few years you will regret getting rid of it, but that will be through the mistaken rose-colored glasses of nostalgia, and even as you regret it you will realize deep down the project will never have gotten done.

[cawimmer430]

If you're going to sell it, get a Maserati Biturbo and fix her up. Style, baby, style. 

[280Z Turbo]

Time is the thing, if you were not making the time to work on it already, you never will.

In a few years you will regret getting rid of it, but that will be through the mistaken rose-colored glasses of nostalgia, and even as you regret it you will realize deep down the project will never have gotten done.

I've got plenty of time, tools, and know-how. What I don't have is a garage nearby. That is unlikely to change within the next 5 years.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Miata.

[SVT32V]

I've got plenty of time, tools, and know-how. What I don't have is a garage nearby. That is unlikely to change within the next 5 years.

Uh, that is the problem, no garage, yeah that can also be a deal killer. Working outside in the open is limiting in what you can get done and when you can get it done.

Although as a poor student I was forced to do some pretty big jobs in parking lots and in the street.

[280Z Turbo]

I'm pretty sure that's against my lease.

I can do short jobs at my parent's house, but a full restoration takes more time than I have over the weekends.

[SVT32V]

Yeah, that's the thing if the garage was right outside you could just go out and get some work done. Its a whole new ballgame to have to drive to the parent's house.

[Onslaught]

The fact that you're even asking this already tells me you need to sell. You never dump money into a car unless you love it like a part of the family. Because dumping money into a car is a huge waste of money. The only reason you'd do it is out of illogical love for a car.

[AutobahnSHO]

True car fans. Makes me all teary. 

Sorry to hear- make sure you take lots of pictures and realize they don't last forever.

[850CSi]

You never dump money into a car unless you love it like a part of the family.

That's the way I feel about my car.

[Onslaught]

That's the way I feel about my car.

That's how my MX-5 is for me. The amount of money I'm going to dump into it really is dumb.
But hey, I can't take it with me.

[L. ed foote]

There will always be project cars out there.