Keeper Cars: Where’s Your Point of No Return?

daerius
Oct 13, 2010 at 6:23 am

I’ve had the Tegfire for 10 years, this December. Put so much in to it that I cannot think of selling it any longer. Its an icon in the area and we still talk about it and what possible customization could still happen with this already customized vehicle. Started out as a brand new 2000 Pontiac Sunfire GT and went through several major changes. Started out as an actic white and went to a metallic blue/gray paint, then to the current metallic blue. It has gone through bodykits, until the most recent front end conversion to a 1994 style Acura Integra front end with projector halos. The motor was changed a couple times and has now been swapped for a 3.8L SSEI supercharged motor. And many many more changes interior and exterior… Whats next… who knows… Rear conversion? Tri Exhaust? RWD? RHD? Can’t ever give up this car…

captaincruiser
Sep 15, 2010 at 7:42 pm

I really have regretted every car I’ve sold or traded in for one reason or another. Maybe that’s why I have had my 97 F150 for 11 years now. After 108K, a boatload of customization, one major accident and countless other stories you could say we’re best friends. My wife won’t drive her if given the choice (she would much rather pilot her new Mazda) while others only marvel at her sound (loud due to a “custom” hole in the muffler that’s been there for years and makes conversation on the highway futile.) Lowered, black, loud and mean, you would think when Ozzy said “All aboard” and laughed he may have had my truck in mind. Nope, I’m not selling!

88FijiTSi
Sep 14, 2010 at 6:25 am

My first car, 1988 Chrysler Conquest TSi. Have had it for just over 10 years now and I have never once thought of letting it go.

fordescortclub
Sep 13, 2010 at 8:34 pm

nice car you have ..and the owner also… charlz ford escort club philippines

87Park
Sep 13, 2010 at 6:16 pm

Everyone that has posted, or is going to post about how attached they are to their cars, they need to watch ‘Love the Beast’ asap. Documentary of Eric Banas obsession for his first car he cannot let go. I cant say anymore, but if you havent seen it, get on it. Its a car guru must, as everyone here will be able to relate.

txbatman1
Sep 12, 2010 at 1:58 pm

I knew mine was going to be the day I picked it up. ’06 GTO. I’ve had it now 4 years 1 month and put 58,400 miles on it. Am starting to look for a Pickup replacement for winters, and so I can cut down on the miles put on it. I love this car, and driving it every day is part of the appeal. Probably park it at 80 grand or so, and get a Camaro for everyday driving. But this one is going nowhere. After all, Pontiacs are instant classics thanks to Government Motors.

AndrewnTX
Sep 11, 2010 at 7:16 am

That’s an interesting topic! I have two extremes to a share, the first, my ’88 LX Mustang. I’ve had it since ’89, drove it all through college, first job, first son… purchased almost new at 26k miles on the clock as a stock 5.0L w/ blue interior. Now a 5.8L, Tremec, Vortech supercharged car I can’t imagine selling it. I’ve had a lot of fun in the car (!), as well as modifying it and upgrading it over the years (is it 21 yrs now!!) I don’t think selling it would be worthwhile at all….there are fanatics on Fox bodies but these cars are still going up. The main thing, I just have too much blood sweat and $$ in it!! And I love it!

Back in 07 I got the interest to get a classic Ford. Wanted a Thunderbird but prices were too high and condition in my price range was not a good value.

So, got lucky and found a wonderful Falcon in Arizona. The car was a survivor on original paint body, w/ some nice character. Installed AirRide and some American Salt Flats on it and a nice dual exhaust. Key point was no cutting, all mods reversible and keep in theme w/ a hot rod 60′s car.

Well a friend tipped me off to a ’56 Thunderbird at a good value – I would have to find a buyer for the Falcon. I had kept good track of my Falcon spending and knew given some time I could sell it at a good price. So I took the plunge on the ’56. It was a strange thing to have 3 hot rods, a bit much to keep up with, so I was glad to have interest come pretty fast in the Falcon Sprint from a fellow in Australia, who after some conversations and photos, bought the car and had it shipped over. Since I only had it 3 years, and I had every receipt * I sold it well, I think the reason was as I put money in it, I kept track of comparable cars for sale and sold and knew where my limits where as to spending and recouping money put in. Also garnering feedback from car shows let me know what people thought of the car and I felt it appealed to a good cross section so a sale at a good price was possible.

I have been very blessed in my car deals, patience, long term planning, being reasonable and doing the work myself were part of the reasons. I think I’ll keep this Thunderbird though…

Stormtreader
Sep 11, 2010 at 5:47 am

For me they’re all keepers until it’s too expensive to maintain. Living in NY means I need to pass safety and emissions inspections every year. My 98 corolla with 290k on it ran fine. I just had to put oil in it each month. Unfortunately the oil burning ruined the cat so I had to replace it 3 years in a row to pass inspection before I installed an O2 sim. After that all the suspension needed to be replaced, interior trim was falling apart, muffler needed to be replace, and something was wrong with the transmission. Spent over $500 between 2 mechanics and myself replacing the slave cylinder, clutch, and finally the master cylinder. Worked fine for a while then started acting like it did just for the first transmission died (was on the second one by then). Loved the car, but I was looking at a few thousand to fix it vs a “cash for junkers” program at a local dealership offering $2,500 for it. As much as I loved the car I was sick of fixing it only to have something else go wrong. If I didn’t need to pass the NYS inspection I would have kept it longer. But at least I could trade it for more that the $600 KBB value and get my wife a 4WD Rav4 for the winters.

nine51
Sep 11, 2010 at 4:51 am

I have a 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo that will probably be passed on to my son when I assume room temperature. Had it since 1999 and no plans to ever sell it. Just bought my wife a 2010 Subaru Outback Sport (she thought it was cute) and instead of trading her 2002 Legacy GT wagon, I kept it for my winter car. Still looks and drives too good to sell it w/ 109,000 on the clock. Guess I’m becoming a car hoarder!

1978bluecamino
Sep 10, 2010 at 10:29 pm

I’ve been thru 3 project cars so far…. a 1978 Chevy El Camino, sold that after 4 years of owning. a 1975 Ford F250, sold after 6 months. a 1959 Pontiac Star Chief, gave to my dad after a year… and my current project is a 1965 Chevrolet Bel Air, which i just bought this summer. But my daily driver is a 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle with 155360 miles on it, 45,000 of which are my miles. As much as i love my old classics, My VW will be mine forever. I’ve had it for 3 years now, and i can’t fathom the idea of somebody else partying in it… it just doesn’t work. i’ve had so many great times with that car so.. its mine forever

party on

dodgefan67
Sep 10, 2010 at 8:13 pm

ive never owned a car more than 5 years, my way of thinking used to be “it was easier to buy another car than to get this one fixed” LOL

now however, we are settled, my wife and i have the cars we have been wanting for some time. for me, i just picked up a 10 year old dodge dakota from the only owner it has ever seen and i plan on being its only other owner ever

OldManSmithers
Sep 10, 2010 at 6:36 pm

1972 Chevy Luv purchased in 1979.. my first vehicle … still in my garage today .. my daily drivers i keep em till they start to fall apart then replace them with something else usually last about 8ish years….

WinDaddy
Sep 10, 2010 at 3:55 pm

My PT Cruiser is over 8 years old and nearing 150k miles. The crease down the right side is a reminder to my son that he may never really perfect the art of backing out of a driveway, no matter how many years have passed. Despite having power seat, locks and windows, cruise, and a passive alarm system, the engine management is still rudimentary enough to allow me to momentarily key the engine off at the top of a long hill, coast down to save fuel, then bump the clutch slightly in high gear to re-start it WITHOUT the car thinking someone is trying to break in or set off a bomb (try this in any GM car built recently and see what I mean). The car doesn’t try to out-smart me at every turn by locking me in when I start moving and locking me out every time I park, or telling me a tire is low on air even when it’s not. It politely let’s me know when the brake fluid, coolant or battery voltage is low, when the gas tank is about empty, and when I’m about to get out and leave my key in the ignition or leave the lights on. I’ve customized it enough so that I will NEVER see another PT Cruiser and mistake it for MY car. It still drives better than the day it was new, thanks to some strategic upgrades and religious maintenance. She does everything I ask, and scolds me only when I’ve asked her to do too much. For better or worse, she and I have become fast friends, dependable companions on life’s daily journeys. I can talk to her and she patiently listens, only talking back to let me know when she is in need of something herself.
Through thick and thin, ’till death (hopefully not MINE!) forces us to part. I hope that day doesn’t come for many more years.

MoRdAnTlY
Sep 10, 2010 at 2:56 pm

1987 Honda CRX SI since August 2003
1971 Honda SL350-K1 “MotorSport 350″ since Sept 2004
1972 Yamaha LT-2 100 since 2006
1990 Isuzu Impulse XS since 2008
1982 Honda CM450E since May 2010

1994 Honda Civic LX Sedan rolled after 1.5 years in Sept 2009.

robpurifoy
Sep 10, 2010 at 11:59 am

A car is “permanantly” mine the day I buy it and if anyone leans or sits on it God help ‘em. But if it becomes a love-hate relationship and it becomes a break down menace, then it gets dropped like a rock. If it’s a classic, or destined to become one u keep it no matter what.

GREENzzzzz
Sep 10, 2010 at 8:43 am

Unless I’m buying strictly for parts, I usually plan to keep whatever I’m buying for the long haul. I’m not much of a “buyer-reseller”. I don’t tend to buy new vehicles often, and these days will likely never buy brand new again. I stick with the used cars and repair as needed. Only if something interesting comes along would I consider selling/trading what I already have.

green89
Sep 10, 2010 at 8:11 am

my 1987 honda Si is the same # on the 86-87 show car in japan that year, it took me 10 years to find it,+ 5 more to talk the company out of it..
#00003…. dont hate.lol……

fazang
Sep 10, 2010 at 5:56 am

Know whatcha mean…. I inherited a 87′ bronco II in 89′ from the folks, so i could drive to school. Never thought i would sell it, but after 204K and buying a 88′ with a plow i had to let it go…. wasn’t fun, I was attached.
It was so customized it had a personality… So after 20+ years i said goodbye….
-ALF out…

SleeperSX
Sep 10, 2010 at 3:39 am

Well for me its been hard to part with all of my previous cars…

The problem is I love all the cars I had… and will one day buy them back or buy similar ones. At the moment I have a 1992 180SX. This has been my dream car since the first time I played GT2 I saw it and just needed to buy it I bought it early in 2007 and instantly knew I’m gonna keep it for a very long time. Nice thing is I’m only the second owner of the car

I’ve had it for just over 3 years now and not planning to sell any time soon.

dubfun
Sep 9, 2010 at 7:55 pm

I bought a 1989 Plymouth Colt hatchback with the GT appearance package in 1988 (not a true GT, it had the smaller non-turbo engine). I fell in love with this versatile, comfortable, smooth riding, lightweight, high mpg, zippy little vehicle. Although it lacked the zip of the turbo model, it was still light enough and had enough torque down low to surprise many other tape stripe “performance” cars from the 80′s and early 90′s. The owner of a local tire shop laughed at me when I told him what kind of car I had. He didn’t laugh after a whipped his brand new “sporty” Buick Regal (no, not the turbo Regal) stoplight to stoplight several times. Drove it for 15 trouble free years until an undetermined oil leak emptied the crankcase and seized the engine on my way to work (the oil light never came on!). I should have replaced the inexpensive engine but I didn’t and have regretted it ever since. My next car was a Neon that was a dog compared to the Colt. I got wise and bought a 2008 VW GTI in 2007. It’s the car my Colt wanted to be when it grew up. I may keep my new love for quite a while!!

SIKD9
Sep 9, 2010 at 3:44 pm

I get attached to my vehicles. I have had my ’89 Ford since I graduated High School. It has been 14 years now. It has been almost completely gone through over the years. As ADDICTION2BASS mentioned, I too have had some epic rides in my truck, some only she and I know about. Sometimes I talk to it and thank it for keeping us alive. It has never stranded me, we are a pair. I give props to people who are able to keep a vehicle alive.

Addiction2bass
Sep 9, 2010 at 2:27 pm

to me its more memories in a vehicle than anything. if youve done some wild and crazy things in a vehicle i think your more prone to keep it.
for instance i bought my 66impala in 1996 when i first got my liscence. ive done some wild and crazy things in the old girl and even tho i dont drive it but once a year now i just cannt get rid of her. im pretty sure i will either die with that car still OR it will get totaled by insurance and then i will buy it back and try to fix it and keep it depending how bad it is damaged

but even tho ive had my 66impala for like 14years i still go thru second vehicles pretty much every 2-3years lately. ive had my current truck for 2years now and ive been thinking of selling it for a newer truck lately.

Adrian-Hamburg
Sep 9, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Mostly my cars become part of the family quite early. mostly in the first days, sometimes after a few houers.
It´s the moment, when I feel “home” in my car and the car becomes my car !

If I would have got the space, I´d have kept most of my cars.
Most are sold becouse of less space and less money to fix them up again.

I own my Plymouth Volare for six years and hope to keep “her” to be my last car (except the funerel car) She became “my car” a few houres after buying on the trip home on the Autobahn. The same moment she became her name “Valerie”. (short time later a tyre quit and interrupted the ride…)

My dayly driver is my ride for 5 years now, but I would sell it, if somebody would be so stupid to pay a good price. I keep it while it´s a cheap dayly driver. I like the car too, but I would not spend more money for the car, than it´s value, like I did for the Plymouth.

crazedchikn
Sep 9, 2010 at 1:17 pm

it varies from car to car, i agree cknarf.
ive driven the 1989 mazda 323 hatch since i started learning to drive, and owned it 8 years now, and i couldnt wait to get rid of it the day someone offered to buy it off me.
now i have a 1976 corolla, people have offered to buy it for more than i paid, but i cant ever see myself selling it, im in love with it.
i think its the way the car feels, im in love with the corolla, everything is right. the black suede interior, the comfy seats, and the engine+gearbox runs like a dream, its like a brand new car. (minus the power steering) :p
So i think its not when you will never sell a car, its more of what it is to you is the reason you wouldnt sell.

devildog66
Sep 9, 2010 at 12:56 pm

Well I’m those that tends to keeps his vehicles for a very long time. Like I posted my 66 Fury 1 car here unrestored with plans to restore.
I also have a 64 Ford Econoline truck (not posted here). That is to be restored also. As is my 62 Valiant Signet. Too many home projects keep getting in the way.
I have had my 66 since 1976 and the 64 since 1988. The 62 since 2001.
I have had my 54 Plymouth 2dr ht since 1988 also. But I want to sell it. Enough projects already to keep me going for years. I had to let some others go these last few years. just had too many and no time for them all. What I let go was a 66 Mercury 1ton flatdeck. 72 Chrysler Newport 2dr Ht. 76 Mercury wagon. They were here nearly 10 years. I still also have a 63 Merc. Monteray to unload.
It can easy to get caught up on collecting projects. But with limited income it was time to let some go. It is easy to gather them, harder to let go.

80-zcamaro
Sep 9, 2010 at 12:35 pm

I buy a car or truck then I want to keep it but eventually it ends up gone, whether because someone ran a stop sign and destroyed it or there was just too much wrong with it to keep it. I have my 1995 Sunfire GT as a daily driver and I know that there are a million of these cars everywhere, and everything from a 4 door to a 2 door coupe or GT level. I happen to really like mine and for a 15 year old car it is in really good condition.
I try not to become attached to anything because circumstance has always left me dissapointed but we will see. Even my Camaro project car is kind of iffy at the momment, I am going to college and who know’s how long it will be after I graduate before I find a job and where I will be working.

noonrock
Sep 9, 2010 at 12:29 pm

Interesting question. I have become emotionally attached to every car I ever owned. Just like humans, some of them are less memorable than others, but, as I think back, they were all a part of my personal space; 40 Ford coupe, 49 Mercury, 55 Bel Air, 54 Buick special, 56 Buick century, 57 Chrysler 300C, 63 Dodge 440, 53 Studebaker chamption starlight, 54 Ford glass top, 58 Dodge D-100, 64 Chev 1500, 68 Jeep Commando, 69 Ford Galaxy with the 429 2V, 72 Ford LTD, 68 VW dunebuggy, even a little Mercury Bobcat ranchwagon complete with faux wood veneer with 2.8 V6, 71, 73, and 74 Ford F100s. Still have the 74, 4×4, 390++, 75 MGB, 83 Olds Tornado diesel (gag), 63 Dodge Mirada, two Dodge dynasties 90 and 91, 89 Buick Park Ave, 89 Plymouth Sundance, 99 Dodge stratus, and presently a 2001 Chrysler Concorde lxi and a 2000 Ford Excursion V10. I’ve loved every one of them and I wish I had kept every one of them. Aw, but memories.

LN7_NUT
Sep 9, 2010 at 12:17 pm

It really depends on the car for me, I owned a few for years before I wanted to actually keep them, and I have had some great ones that I was happy to sell or trade even after having them for years.
Not too long ago I got a near perfect 1982 Mercury LN7 and before it was even mine I knew I would not part with it, I have a ratty old 52 Dodge truck I plow the snow in my yard with in winter that I refuse to let go (I learned to drive on it) my Bus, 31 Pontiac, 79 Lincoln, Taunus, and Rat Rod Tow Truck are all on the never for sale list, and I have others that come and go all the time, in the last 2 years I sold my 60 Buick LeSabre, 57 International, 55 GMC panel truck, Pacer, 78 New Yorker, 66 Mercury truck, 59 Ford truck, 59 Mercury Truck, and I still have a 37 Dodge for sale and a few others like that, some are basically meaningless while others are really important to me, and what it is usually does’nt enter into it, it’s only what it is to me!

the-beast
Sep 9, 2010 at 10:18 am

I brought my 1997 Mercury Cougar in 1999 and I think it is not going anywhere, still riding great and looking good, though I need to put some new sneakers on it, but it’s mine, and I love it.

chillywilly263
Sep 9, 2010 at 7:03 am

I’ve had a really bad habit of buying/selling cars about once a year. I’ve had my Celica since I was 14 or 15. I had first seen the car a year or two before then and said to myself I want that car. It must’ve been fate, as I was out on my bike one night and passed the owner’s house, and the Celica was parked out front with a for sale sign in the window for the bargain price of $800. I told my parents about it, and bought it a couple days later for $650. At 23, I still have it. I’ve been tempted to get rid of it a few times, but spend a couple minutes behind the wheel and can’t bring myself to do it. It also seems that any time I run into people I went to highschool with, one of the first questions I get asked is if I still have my Celica..

My Corona, I’ve had since 2006, and don’t plan on giving it up any time soon. Same with my Saturn SC2. I got it in April of 2009 and plan on driving it until it won’t go anymore.

Iasis
Sep 8, 2010 at 9:44 pm

I only have to spend a few months with my cars to know I will have them forever or otherwise worst comes to worst and the vehicle gets totaled. I have had my Mustang for about a year and 6 months now and I am just could not be happier with it. I plan to run the V6 in it until it just can’t run anymore and whenever that happens I am going to drop a brand new V8 into it and change it to a manual. That will probably be a good 10 to 15 years down the road minimum. I just don’t see myself ever getting rid of it at this point.

ajzhotrodz
Sep 8, 2010 at 4:13 pm

i know the feeling

chevyman327nova
Sep 7, 2010 at 8:51 pm

hey thats a rare ride ya got i would hold on to it. as for me im hangin on to my nova because its rare and pretty much the only one like it around where i live and ive had it over a decade even before i could drive so its kinda sentimental same goes for my 64 c10 which i dont have on here

cknarf
Sep 7, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Idefix, that’s exactly how I feel about cars. Like my camry i mentioned earlier. The front windows dont roll up, the back is caved in, trunk doesn’t latch, the radio works when you beat the shit out of it, and my favorite part: It’s punch-start! I have to open the hood, and punch the starter multiple times in order to start it. I jus gutted the interior today… It’s going to be an ute!

GTwildfire
Sep 7, 2010 at 5:43 pm

I’ve never owned a car for 10 years. The longest I’ve owned a car is 4 years, and I still own it… my Grand Prix GT. Life is a series of cars, I love ‘em but usually move on before the relationship sours. Of course that’s bullshit, I buy cars and usually am compelled to do what prior owner(s) should have done, pamper it to its reasonable potential then sell it to repeat this ridiculous process. I at least break even, sometimes better.
-
Only one car I regret selling, and it was the one I made the most money on… the white Firebird convertible.

1lowscort
Sep 7, 2010 at 4:28 pm

I knew my black EXP was a keeper before I ever saw it in person the first time. My red EXP…well, I have thought about trying to get rid of it, but I probably couldn’t get more than a third out of it what I have into it. Also, it has so many quirks I would feel like I was handing a 3 year old a loaded pistol. My Lynx was free and has given me 15000 miles of trouble free service, gets 35 MPGs and still runs very well. I will keep that car until it rusts out around me and there is nothing left to drive, and then I will part it out to myself to fix up another one. I am not terribly attached to any of my other cars.

Idefix
Sep 7, 2010 at 11:26 am

I for one, just fell in love with this car. We’ve gone through too many memorable times (good and bad) and adventures for me to ever be able to put a price on it’s head gaskets lol. It becomes a sort of pet, kinda like a really obedient/loyal pet dog. It really helps if the car has issues/quirks, gives it a personality as any human can relate to something imperfect as oppose to technology. Also helps if you tinker with it, it puts a bit of you in it…probably why many high executives go from car to car without any regret, they don’t care about it enough and in most instances (not all) don’t bother to learn how it works It’s got to have soul

bulldog_1995
Sep 7, 2010 at 10:43 am

with me it all varies based on how much i like the car. My 66 and 67 econolines i will never get rid of but my 92 sentra and 91 astro i plan on keeping till they are no longer reliable then i will either scrap them or sell them ive had my sentra far a little over a year and a half now and has 230000 mi on it my astro has almost 300000 miles on it both still run great all have been paid for before i brought them home

Bick66
Sep 7, 2010 at 8:40 am

I’m really bad about this. I fall in love with a car and then a few years later I’m ready for something new. I’ve been changing the way I think about this recently because of a few cars I wish I still had. I’d like to think that I’ll have my Impala forever as it’s been in the family for close to 30 years now. My Corvette is an amazing car and I’d like to think I’ll keep it forever but it’s so hard to tell with newer cars. You never know how they will age and wear over time or what the new models yet to come will do to the value and desire attached to a vehicle. I think it’s great that you still have all of your cars other than the one parts car.

Steve Little
Sep 7, 2010 at 8:35 am

Well of course if I have something with payments then I don’t want to try getting rid of it with a loan still attached so at least for the time of a loan. But after it’s paid for it more of depends on what it is. I might get rid of it as soon as it’s paid for or decide to keep it until it’s just not worth keeping anymore. My first truck (and vehicle) I had I got at 17, paid for it straight up but only kept it for a little more than a year and a half. Then I got the truck I have now which I got in Feb of ’04 and I’ve had it ever since so pretty much 6 1/2 years on the truck I have now (was already 6 years old when I got it since it’s a 98 model). I do plan on getting a 2-4 year old Chevy Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab when I’m able to. After that’s paid for I might see about getting a classic muscle car (most likely a 67-69 Camaro) and keep the Silverado 2500 for as long as I can.

cknarf
Sep 7, 2010 at 8:32 am

It varies from car to car. I’ve ‘had’ the firebird since 3rd grade, after waiting seven years to drive it, It’s not going anywhere.

Now my Camry…. That little beater actually started out as a loaner. after all the shit I put it through the first year of loanership, and after it was wrecked, my grandpa just said “I don’t want that shitbox.” and signed the title over to me. He’s still trying to persuade me to junk it… It’s here to stay. It’s gonna be a truck someday!