0k, here's the story. I have 2 cars. My 05 IBM M6 GTO daily driver and a fairly clean 1968 Corvette 327 4sp coupe. Both are very nice cars. But I'm thinking of getting rid of the Corvette and keeping the GTO as my toy and buying a semi-beater as a daily driver. I'm really torn with this decision.
Basically, I want to keep the GTO as clean as possible, because I do think they will appreciate fairly rapidly once the 06 production halts. Obviously it's going to take a while, but I don't think it's going to be 20 years before they turn around. Just my opinion. So, I'd like to keep the GTO nice. As it stands now, I can't exactly afford to buy a 3rd car, besides not really having the room for another car. Wife has hers and I have my 2. And no, this isn't an idea being pushed by her. She understands it's a tough decision and will support me either way.
But the thing is, I've owned the Corvette for almost 6 years now, and I'm kind of over it. What it boils down to is that I'm a performance freak. When I had the Bonneville as a DD, the Vette was my toy and it was fast. Now, the GTO will out perform the Vette in every single aspect, except the "coolness" factor. Don't get me wrong, I think the GTO is cool, it's just not a Corvette and won't get the stares that a vintage Vette will. But it will blow the Vette's doors off in every single aspect of driving. My biggest problems with the Corvette is that it's cramped (I'm 6' 4", and the steering wheel sits between my knees), it corners like a truck (even though I spent a lot of money putting in poly bushings, and stiff springs & shocks) and is just plain hot as hell. The only thing between the footwell and the 500º exhaust is about 1/4" of fiberglass. So, when I first got the car, I was so in love with it, that I didn't mind the discomfort and lack of performance, because it was a Vette.
So, my biggest reasons for not getting rid of the car is obviously depreciation. The Corvette will just plain hold it's value better than the GTO will. Hands down. It's already worth thousands more than I paid for it 6 years ago. Also, I've put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the car (well more blood and sweat than tears). I've rebuilt the engine(bored it, cammed it, turned the crank, practically all new internals), rebuilt the front and rear suspension (everything including tie rod ends, springs, bushings, ball joints, etc), redid the interior (new seats, carpet, stereo, etc), among just tons of other things. There's hardly a bolt on that car I haven't touched at some point in it's life. So, I know it inside and out. I've made it mine. It's not stock, and I rebuilt things the way I wanted.
And I'm sure I don't have to go into the arguments for the GTO. Everyone here knows what they are. Basic benefit here is that the Vette is paid for, so selling it is 100% money in my pocket. And quite a bit, at that... So, I could mod the hell out of the GTO, plus pay cash for a beater. I'm not really looking at the GTO as an investment, it's a car that I really enjoy and want to keep for a while. I'm just torn about what to do.
Sorry to be so long winded... I could keep going, but I won't bore anymore. So, what would you guys (or gals) do? I don't mean to sound like I'm whining, because I'm not. It's a decision I'm seriously considering, otherwise the GTO gets beat to hell as a daily driver....
Thanks for your input....
Bill.
Basically, I want to keep the GTO as clean as possible, because I do think they will appreciate fairly rapidly once the 06 production halts. Obviously it's going to take a while, but I don't think it's going to be 20 years before they turn around. Just my opinion. So, I'd like to keep the GTO nice. As it stands now, I can't exactly afford to buy a 3rd car, besides not really having the room for another car. Wife has hers and I have my 2. And no, this isn't an idea being pushed by her. She understands it's a tough decision and will support me either way.
But the thing is, I've owned the Corvette for almost 6 years now, and I'm kind of over it. What it boils down to is that I'm a performance freak. When I had the Bonneville as a DD, the Vette was my toy and it was fast. Now, the GTO will out perform the Vette in every single aspect, except the "coolness" factor. Don't get me wrong, I think the GTO is cool, it's just not a Corvette and won't get the stares that a vintage Vette will. But it will blow the Vette's doors off in every single aspect of driving. My biggest problems with the Corvette is that it's cramped (I'm 6' 4", and the steering wheel sits between my knees), it corners like a truck (even though I spent a lot of money putting in poly bushings, and stiff springs & shocks) and is just plain hot as hell. The only thing between the footwell and the 500º exhaust is about 1/4" of fiberglass. So, when I first got the car, I was so in love with it, that I didn't mind the discomfort and lack of performance, because it was a Vette.
So, my biggest reasons for not getting rid of the car is obviously depreciation. The Corvette will just plain hold it's value better than the GTO will. Hands down. It's already worth thousands more than I paid for it 6 years ago. Also, I've put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the car (well more blood and sweat than tears). I've rebuilt the engine(bored it, cammed it, turned the crank, practically all new internals), rebuilt the front and rear suspension (everything including tie rod ends, springs, bushings, ball joints, etc), redid the interior (new seats, carpet, stereo, etc), among just tons of other things. There's hardly a bolt on that car I haven't touched at some point in it's life. So, I know it inside and out. I've made it mine. It's not stock, and I rebuilt things the way I wanted.
And I'm sure I don't have to go into the arguments for the GTO. Everyone here knows what they are. Basic benefit here is that the Vette is paid for, so selling it is 100% money in my pocket. And quite a bit, at that... So, I could mod the hell out of the GTO, plus pay cash for a beater. I'm not really looking at the GTO as an investment, it's a car that I really enjoy and want to keep for a while. I'm just torn about what to do.
Sorry to be so long winded... I could keep going, but I won't bore anymore. So, what would you guys (or gals) do? I don't mean to sound like I'm whining, because I'm not. It's a decision I'm seriously considering, otherwise the GTO gets beat to hell as a daily driver....
Thanks for your input....
Bill.
nce I heard of the news of no more Gto, I decided to keep it as a weekend car. I bought a truck as a daily driver. I think you should do what feels right.:cheers
