Help 99octane decide which car to buy ... UPDATE ON PAGE 2! (8/12/2009) I BOUGHT A FORD PRODUCT!...

[99octane]

Ok, I'm at a musclecar / finances / age crossroads.
I just turned 40, so I'm due for a midlife crisis car.
I've done fairly well in my little start-up business of coins and bullion,
so I have some money stashed. Not enough to call myself wealthy or even "set",
because my house could suck up ALL my money if I tried to get it back into decent shape.
Anywho - I am faced with a decision this week. I have three choices.

Choice # 1: 1968 Camaro SS, non matching numbers but above average condition.
Car has a 396 big block, TH400 Automatic, 12 bolt posi.
Suitable for cruise nights and local car shows, nothing national, no mirrors for the undercarrige if you know what I mean.
Overall condition on a scale of 1 to 10 is a 8.5
Bottom line price: $23,000. Car is local to me. (You may have seen me post these photos before).


Choice # 2 is a restored 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. Mopar B5 blue.
It too is non-matching. It actually started life as a GTX with a 440, not just a lowly Plymouth Satellite.
The car is once again a 440, (despite the hood vents reading "383") now done as a Roadrunner.
4 speed manual trans., 8 3/4" sure-grip (posi) rear end. Pistol grip shifter.
Full frame-off restoration in and out less than 3 years ago.
Overall condition on a scale of 1 to 10 is 9 to 9.25.
The car is not local to me and will require shipping.
I trust the seller and have seen many more photos (and videos!) with greater detail than these.
Bottom line price to me is $26,000.


Choice # 3 is keep the damn money.
I've never spent $25 grand on anything in my life, though I've come close on a coin!
I am not independantly wealthy.
In fact, buying one of these two cars will cut my life savings in half.

To get some idea how much money this is, the photo below is $19,000.
FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS short of the Camaro,
and SEVEN THOUSAND dollars less than the Roadrunner.

Not including sales tax (MA is now 6.25%) and insurance, etc etc.
Ugh. My head hurts! I can make up my own mind of course, but I do value
the input of friends and other "car people". Thus, the poll. Help! Greg

[toysalot]

In these times I would say keep your money.
But if the plymouth is an actual frame off resto and it is more than a 9 grade, I would have to say buy the plymouth. Yes, even though I am a chevy guy fromway back!
Also, the 1:1s are just like our little toy cars...

condition...condition...condition...condition is everything!

[Sleepercivic]

I'm not familiar with the values of these cars but if it was me, I'd pick my favorite (you know you have a favorite), low ball (but be fair)and if thatfails low ball the other (its a big buyers market right now)...if they both pass hang on to your $$ :)

Either way I love both cars, but i had to vote for the Camaro (id just change the wheels)

Rich

[patwheels]

Interesting dilemma. Impossible for anyone of us to say what you should do, but I imagine the differing opinions make it interesting and make you think,which is really the point. So, here's mine. If the Camaro is truly an 8.5 car, the low ball or pass. I've seen nicer ones go for $20k or less. Onthe Camaro v. Roadrunner debate in general, I would say it may depend on whether you are drawn to the more or less common element. Camaros are timeless andwill very likely hold their value over time due to the magnitude of their following. The Roadrunner is clearly less common and I think makes a statement aboutthe owner: dare to be a little different (can you say MOPAR v. Chevy)...

The Roadrunner is gorgeous but I can't seem to get past how changed it is (it's a GTX, no a Roadrunner---it's a 440, no a 383...), especially forthe money. It would be one thing if you found it in a barn and restored it yourself and modified it along the way to make it the metamorphized machine it isnow, but I don't see dropping that kind of coin to buy someone else's modified job.

My vote: Don't keep the money on account of the economy, keep the money for now in order to keep looking. There are countless forced sales happeningevery day and good iron is surfacing all around--wait to you find exactly what you are looking for, for the right price.
Just my two cents.
Pat

PS. If you do buy one of them, bring it to the LA Convention so we can all drool on it!

[Redline Whiteline]

the road runner is too much money for a clone, you will loose on that car in the long run. can't help ya on the camaro's value. i'll call ya afterwork today

[red spectra]

Ever since I bought my Galaxie 500 in April '08,I have had more fun with spending money fixing it then I ever had spending money before in my life. Whybother making money if your not gonna enjoy it. Besides,I have received a far greater return with the memories I now have with many more waiting for me tocollect. Soon we will all be old and start to hear the Reapers footsteps gaining on us,what good will stacks of paper be then. Go with what you like. Me,I sayRoadrunner,but only if the price is reduced,thats to much for that car.

[hotbirdsplanes]

It killed me to do it, but I had to vote to keep your money in this economy (at least until things get better). No doubt because of how profoundly I have beenaffected. But that's not what I want to say, because I do agree that we only live once and part of the goal is to be happy.

If I put that aside, I think viewing such a purchase as an investment adds an element that takes all the fun out of it. They're both beautiful. Andthere's plenty more out there in this buyer's market. But between the two, I'd go for the Roadrunner IF they knocked a few grand off the price.

[NITROJOHNNY]

Gregg,

Be patient & search, cash is king, both are nice but na's.
If & when you buy, get something worth the dollars spent.
Have the numbers match & the words automatic & muscle are a tough mix.

John

[PeepingScott]

Wait for the right "divorce" car to pop up at the right price!
I knew a guy that was looking for a particular Vette, and it took almost 5 years for it to materialize. He told me way back then be patient and it willhappen...

I like the Camaro though!!

[99octane]

Thank you all very much for all the input so far.
At the time I type this reply, it's interesting to me how the poll shows
such a balanced division between the 4 options.
It reflects how divided I am about this too.
And the arguments both pro and con expressed to this point echo the very thoughts
I've had as well.

Some more pricing info for you:
The Camaro's original asking price was $27,500.
I've already done all the negotiations I will be successful at with both sellers.
$23k is the lowest the seller will go on the Camaro.
It's an extremely nice car and I think well worth the money.
Cars only slightly better or with the far more common small block engine
are fetching $25k in comparable condition, and I like the color scheme and hood on this
particular one better anyway. (LOVE black musclecars).
Interior, some grease on the engine / rust on the headers, and undercarrige are the only
things making me grade this car an 8.5. It presents as a 9 or better to the eye.
The external body is nearly flawless.

The Roadrunner:
Original asking price was $31,900.
It's from Bay City Motors, a company the sells specifically classic cars.
You can view the page on the car here:
http://www.thebaycitymotorcompany.com/sites/inventory/Cars/C0000177/default.htm
This car, like the others they sell, are on consignment from the owner,
who in this case is also the restorer.
Be sure to click on the small video in the upper left of the 4 small videos.
Turn up your speakers. Heh.

Too much money for a clone? Why? (Seriously, I'm asking, not arguing)
I see matching numbers Roadrunners selling for $50k in similar condition.
And this car ALWAYS had a 440, it was a GTX by the vin number.
HEMI's sell for $75k and more. 383's sell for about $35k.
I think $25k for this car and another $1000 to ship it in an enclosed trailer is reasonable.
Mark, I know you're the man when it comes to real musclecars and have far more
experience than I with Mopar's, so please - set me straight!

And for the argument that boils down to "you only live once",
you have no idea how heavily that's weighing in this decision...
My health SUCKS, I've been feeling dizzy and weak with pressure headaches for over 2 years ,
and I don't know where it's going to level off or IF it is.
My mother died young at 64, so there's that,
and I have no children to worry about. But I DO have a wife and a delapidated house to worry about.
Responsibility vs. fun, ya know? I hate that choice.

I want a musclecar.
I've been looking for 3 months now.
"Divorce cars" and "fire sale" cars are catch as catch can.
After looking at all the different cars that *might* show up,
all the available muscle cars out there, it came down to a first gen Camaro
or a B body Plymouth/Dodge. That's a Roadrunner or SuperBee.
Anything less (Satellite or Coronet) I'd have cloned myself into the better version anyway.
And I can't work on cars like I used to with my health, so I'm looking at a car that's turn key and go.

That's my criteria.
What will I have left after buying one of these? About $25k.
Please don't say buy them both...already thought of that.

Greg



I've already done all the negotiating on that car that will do any good.
It's time for me to $h!t or get off the pot... on both cars