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cxhb
cxhb Reader
4/21/10 10:20 p.m.

Being a college student, having two cars has been a luxury. I own my 2000 civic and its the fun car, its registered and can be driven everyday if need be. I used to drive it everyday but the firm suspension/seat combo hurts my back. This combined with it sitting way too low, being without power steering, as well as A/C make it kind of a chore to live with everyday.

So last summer I decided to take advantage of an opportunity to buy my dads old company car. It is an 05 Grand Prix and it has served me well. It is VERY comofortable, hasnt given me any problems and at the time I could afford both and insurance. Could be a little better on gas but hey, cant have it all now can we?

Not anymore. My money has steadily declined, Im getting less hours at work and something has got to go. I have great credit and im NOT about to screw that up.

Take the red pill) Sell the Grand Prix. I bought it for less than its worth, and may ALREADY have two prospective buyers. This would leave me with some money to save for a better (cheaper) DD. I would just drive the civic and save until I have enough money for a decent civic/integra/E30/Miata/whattheberkelyever to daily drive.

Take the blue pill) Sell the civic. I could use the scratch to pay off or at least pay most of what I owe on the Grand Prix. The problem with this is, I then wouldnt have anything to have fun with. And that sucks, because the season is just getting started. But i suppose you gotta do what you gotta do...

I have been kinda bored with it... Kinda ready to go back to RWD. But nonetheless every time i drive it, I smile big, and thats what its all about. The gf of three years left me so I dont really get excited about much else except for driving but i suppose thats another topic for the "off topic" section lol

So fellow enthusiasts... What would a GRMer do?

Kia_racer
Kia_racer Reader
4/21/10 10:24 p.m.

Take the RED pill.

/thread

oldsaw
oldsaw Dork
4/21/10 10:24 p.m.

There's always a guaranteed answer to questions like this: Sell both and buy a Miata.

I approve this answer and I don't even own a Miata - yet.

splitime
splitime Reader
4/21/10 10:31 p.m.

Remove the theft prone civic... and take the boring road until you are stable enough and ready to do the fun car again. Sacrifice now to enjoy more later.

cxhb
cxhb Reader
4/21/10 10:39 p.m.
splitime wrote: Remove the theft prone civic... and take the boring road until you are stable enough and ready to do the fun car again. Sacrifice now to enjoy more later.

I've really been playing with this idea. It seems more "responsible"... But im kinda on the fence. And integra/civic theft seems to be pretty low around here. That is unless you have high dollar JDM tyte yo! stuff on it... of which I do not. Just things that are effective/functional and dont break the bank.

oldtin
oldtin Reader
4/21/10 10:39 p.m.

The enabler in me says lose the appliance. They'll come and find you later (wife/kids/dogs...). There's no real need for you to be all that practical now.

cxhb
cxhb Reader
4/21/10 10:41 p.m.

In reply to oldsaw:

HAHA I knew someone would throw that out there... Im 6'3" 225lbs... I BARELY fit in them but its always crossed my mind. If I take the blue pill, either a miata or E30 is in the future.

cxhb
cxhb Reader
4/21/10 10:52 p.m.

Another thought I've had about it. I always felt wierd about driving the civic daily when its also my autocross/fun car. I tended to not drive as hard when it was my only car.

Dont get me wrong I take meticulous care of the cars I own. But there is something reassuring about knowing if you destroy the fun car, you have with something that will be there to get you to work/school/booty-calls.

Once I had two cars, I beat that car like it owed me money.

If I go back to the civic-only stage, that will kind of put a dent in the fun-o-meter because the paranoia-meter will be half pegged. Anyone else ever felt that way?

Lugnut
Lugnut HalfDork
4/21/10 10:53 p.m.

Or sell the Grand Prix and pick up a softer (or stock) suspension for the Civic. Replace the AC, bank the rest of the money from the Pontiac and ride it out in a less uncomfortable Civic.

cxhb
cxhb Reader
4/21/10 10:57 p.m.
Lugnut wrote: Or sell the Grand Prix and pick up a softer (or stock) suspension for the Civic. Replace the AC, bank the rest of the money from the Pontiac and ride it out in a less uncomfortable Civic.

Thats an interesting idea... I HAVE been looking into going with a GC setup, already got some Konis. That way I can raise it up, choose some decent linear rate springs. Hmm..

I actually have the A/C stuff. Its even on it. I think it needs recharged or I have a leak. Either way it just doesnt blow cold worth a E36M3

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/22/10 1:04 a.m.

Another vote for selling the Grand Prix if it's worth anything and especially if the Civic is better on gas.

DrBoost
DrBoost Dork
4/22/10 5:42 a.m.

LIke someone said, loose the boring car. After you get married and have kids you will be forced to drive a minivan and have our soul sucked out daily

ZOO
ZOO GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/22/10 6:34 a.m.
DrBoost wrote: LIke someone said, loose the boring car. After you get married and have kids you will be forced to drive a minivan and have our soul sucked out daily

Wrong!

Two kids -- and I've never had a car bigger than a Camry (okay, that may have been soul-sucking, but it was a V6/5spd and I did lap it, autox it, and drag it).. You don't HAVE to drive boring cars when you have kids, but you do have to make compromises. A small car, a roof rack, and a storage box from Yakima solve almost all issues.

Growing up, the biggest car we had as a family was a four door Rabbit. Of course, we could only pack underwear when we travelled, but hey, we were driving around in a Rabbit.

Sell the Grand Prix. Enjoy the Civic.

Raze
Raze HalfDork
4/22/10 6:44 a.m.

Have you ever taken a girl on a date in a harsh riding civic w/o A/C? Responsible sucks near term but pays big dividens later on. A fun car is always fun now, but not so much fun when you move on and want other things in life. Prioritize, then make a decision, oh and I agree with some previous posts about selling both and getting a Miata.

Don't listen to people saying marriage + kids = no fun mini-van, find a woman who won't hamstring you, and stick to your guns, and you'll get at least one thing you want...

fornetti14
fornetti14 GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/22/10 6:55 a.m.

Sell both.

Seriously, there are good deals on all sorts of cars/drive lines on CL every day for people that have cash. Just take your time and unload the Poncho first.

4cylndrfury
4cylndrfury SuperDork
4/22/10 7:03 a.m.

Step A: sell Pontiac
Step 2: put sale monies down on used Cobalt/Focus/Tiburon/Miata Step D: Have 2 fun cars, that are good on gas, and are reliable

My guess is the insurance discount for having multiple cars, plus increased fuel economy will definitely help pay for the monthly payment on the new used car. Are you way upside down on the Pontiac, or will the sale cash pay off what you owe? Id definitely sell it yourself if you have a buyer lined up. If you have anything left after the loan payoff, that might make it easier to get a good rate on the new used 2nd car.

I also like the double duty idea with the Konis, but I totally get the paranoia meter thing with flogging your only vehicle.

DILYSI Dave
DILYSI Dave SuperDork
4/22/10 7:08 a.m.
  1. Pull the good parts off of the 2000 Civic.
  2. Sell Stock 2000 Civic.
  3. Buy 89 Civic Si.
  4. Install fun parts on 89 Civic Si.

You will have a better fun car that doesn't need anything but liability insurance, and the proceeds from selling the 2000 Civic should put a pretty good dent into the payments on the Grand Prix.

JFX001
JFX001 Dork
4/22/10 7:13 a.m.

I'd say sell the Civic, pay off the GP, get through school and buy something uber-cool as a graduation present.

*Disclaimer...the above statement is from an early 40's married father of two...and should not be construed as being the "right path", merely older guy-been there advice.

Paul_VR6
Paul_VR6 Reader
4/22/10 7:24 a.m.

My vote:

Sell the GP and make the Civic just practical enough to get by*

  • Disclaimer... the above statement is from an early 30's married father of two who daily drives his 'race' car when his practical appliance car(s) are broken and should not be construed as being the "right path", merely experienced oldish guy-been there advice.
maroon92
maroon92 SuperDork
4/22/10 7:30 a.m.

keep the car you LOVE. if you don't LOVE the grand prix, offload it.

tuna55
tuna55 HalfDork
4/22/10 7:37 a.m.

Don't have any debt. Sell the car you don't own yet. Don't flog your DD until you can afford to replace it with another DD or another flogging machine without going into debt.

4cylndrfury wrote: Step A: sell Pontiac Step 2: put sale monies down on used Cobalt/Focus/Tiburon/Miata Step D: Have 2 fun cars, that are good on gas, and are reliable My guess is the insurance discount for having multiple cars, plus increased fuel economy will definitely help pay for the monthly payment on the new used car. Are you way upside down on the Pontiac, or will the sale cash pay off what you owe? Id definitely sell it yourself if you have a buyer lined up. If you have anything left after the loan payoff, that might make it easier to get a good rate on the new used 2nd car. I also like the double duty idea with the Konis, but I totally get the paranoia meter thing with flogging your only vehicle.

Do you think that buying another car will pay for itself from the insurance discounts? Uhmm... I hope not.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
4/22/10 7:38 a.m.

On your deathbed you will not crave a drive in either one.

Choose the cheapest route for now and strive to get something that makes you get up early to flog it before other responsibilities steal the day away... something you look over your shoulder at it every time you try to walk away.

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
4/22/10 7:55 a.m.

Sell both and buy a Miata. I'm a little shorter than you but make up for it in extra poundage and I drive ours every day I can pry it from my girlfriend's fingers. I can guarantee that a Miata will help with your "other" problem as well...

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
4/22/10 8:01 a.m.
Kia_racer wrote: Take the RED pill. /thread

+1

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
4/22/10 8:47 a.m.

Red pill.

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