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What car would you squirrel away?

greg1647545532

By greg1647545532
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greg1647545532 Newbie

greg1647545532

Posted
Posted

Every once in a while when I'm surfing CL for shit I'll never buy I come across an old car that's cool just for the sake of being old. Like a 1978 Civic Wagon. In 1978 it was a shitty car, in 1988 it was a shitty used car, and in 1998 it was a joke. But in 2011 if you saw a clean one driving around it would be cool just because you don't see them anymore. It'd be a survivor. Invariably when they pop up they're the legendary little old lady cars with 80k miles and an 8k price tag that the buyer will probably never get.

 

This got me thinking. Collectors cars will always be available in good condition with low miles. 25 years from now if you want a Cobra, you'll be able to buy one from some dumbass who bought one and never drove it because it was some special shade of orange. And if you really want a Cobra in 25 years, that's the way to go, because then you're not the chump who insured, maintained, and stored a car that you never drove.

 

But nobody collects 1978 Civic wagons, and finding one that's in good shape is basically a fluke. If you had bought one in 1988 it would cost you peanuts. You wouldn't have to insure it for anything. And you could basically store it in a barn, starting it up a couple times a year just to keep things moving. And then, 20 years later, you could hose off all the grime, replace some rubber bits, and have a really unique cream puff of a car. It wouldn't be a nice car, but it would still turn heads by the virtue of being old, clean, and still on the road. And the only cost to you is the initial purchase price and the associated time value of that money.

 

So, what car would you squirrel away?

 

Since this is a Greg thread there are rules:

 

1) You must post a link to a specific example of your car. Ebay, autotrader, cars.com, craigslist, whatever. I want proof that this car is readily available and meets the price and mileage requirements given below.

2) Car must be listed at or under $12,000. I don't care how much you think you'll talk 'em down.

3) Mileage must be less than 6,000 per year, up to a max of 80,000.

 

 

Some thoughts -- I'm not talking about collectors cars. Although storing an Integra Type R would seem to make more sense than some run-of-the-mill base model LS, you can always find a low mileage Type R, but nobody buys a base model and then parks it. Also, the LS will be much cheaper to buy initially. I'd also look at cars that aren't selling all that well, to increase the chances of yours being unique in 25 years. And keep in mind that you'll be in your late 40s or early 50s when you're driving this thing. Or late 50s in my case. So it's got to have some redeeming qualities too.

 

More thoughts -- Mechanically simple cars seem like a better bet. Also, despite the fact that all my examples are Hondas, I'm brand agnostic on this. Let's not turn this into a brand loyalty pissing match.

 

Cliffs version: There is no cliffs version. If you couldn't read all this, don't play.

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Doc1647545523 Newbie

Doc1647545523

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Posted

I understand what you're getting at, although I'm not sure it's a very good idea to "squirrel away a car." I think it would be unlikely that you could put a car in storage, start it a few times a year, and think that in 20 years "you could hose off all the grime, replace some rubber bits, and have a really unique cream puff of a car." I believe that you'd either have to be putting more time and money into the car all along, or else face a major refurbishing at the end of storage in order to have a cream puff. Obviously you disagree.

 

I'm encouraged that someone has faith that 20 years from now we'll be able to buy petroleum that resembles the regular unleaded we buy now. I admit I'm a pessimist; I bought a vehicle that runs on kerosene, waste vegetable oil, and biodiesel.

 

But if it's okay, I want to play the game you outlined. :D

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/hbRg2EKGrHqYOKkYEznEZ9ykKBNOo3rrQ1w_4.jpg

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4dr-Sdn-Coll-5-7L-CD-Power-Windows-Power-Door-Locks-/230581370065?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item35afb87cd1

 

1-owner, 30,000 mile car in Florida, and my guess is the original owner has blue hair and sat low/drove slow. When I posted this, the bid was at $5,000.

 

This car was a bit of an anachronism even when it was new. Twenty years from now people will think it's from Mars. Low tech for the year, probably won't have too much problem with parts availability, and I doubt many people are putting these away as their "babies."

 

Cruise around in this in 2031 and you'll turn heads. ;)

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jeffro Newbie

jeffro

Posted
Posted

id do my old 03 GT. i loved that car.

IMAG0018.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i had to.

http://www.theequinest.com/images/squirrel-7.jpg

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o0n8 Newbie

o0n8

Posted
Posted
i'd like a rotary mazda pickup

http://www.rotarytruck.com/

http://www.rotarytruck.com/links-thumbs/a-rotary-005-thumb.jpg

 

I like it

 

How readily available? unmolested mazdaspeed proteges are kinda few and far between and not many were produced in the first place

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220731348919&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

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frenchy chan Newbie

frenchy chan

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Posted
I like it

 

How readily available? unmolested mazdaspeed proteges are kinda few and far between and not many were produced in the first place

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220731348919&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

They come and go. It's kinda hard to find them in good shape.

 

Mazdaspeed proteges are cool, but yeah, not many made and I think they are overpriced for what you get and they've probably been beat to shit

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Mallard Newbie

Mallard

Posted
Posted
They come and go. It's kinda hard to find them in good shape.

 

Mazdaspeed proteges are cool, but yeah, not many made and I think they are overpriced for what you get and they've probably been beat to shit

I still miss a lot of things about my MSP. It's impossible to find one unmodified. Although, I don't think it will ever be a collector's item.

 

For me, the couple I thought of would be:

1. 1990+ Nissan 300ZX TT

2. Merc 190E Cosworth

3. Dodge Steath TT

 

and if the budget was more like $30k, it would be a no-brainer:

2010 Pontiac Solstice Coupe.

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alibies Newbie

alibies

Posted
Posted (edited)

Omni GLHS

http://www.relentlessracing.com/images/customer_don_omni.jpg

http://tinyurl.com/omniglhs

 

323GTX (as posted by rotarded)

http://thegarageblog.com/garage/wp-content/uploads/0707_z+1988_mazda_323_gtx+side.jpg

http://tinyurl.com/323gtxs

 

190e cosworth

http://www.datazap.net/sites/Svensk_exports_images/MiscPhotos/190e_evo2-C.jpg

http://tinyurl.com/190ecos

 

Nissan Pulsar GTI-R

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/kendonkm/babygozilla023.jpg

http://tinyurl.com/gti-arg

Edited by alibies
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