RV Guy
Well-known member
I have an ’86 coupe that I bought four years ago. It only had 55,000 on it then and now it hads 70,000. It runs great and I just started driving it to work every day. I figured if I have it I should enjoy it all the time instead of just on the weekends or occasional evening runs. So now I'll be putting 10 - 12,000 miles on it a year. It runs great, uses a little oil, a quart every 1000 miles or so. The interior is in really good shape. I put a new carpet kit in it about two years ago and the rest is still very nice.
The body is in really good shape, no signs of any prior damage but it needs paint. I figured about $4,000 to $5,000 would fix that as I am not after a show car. I just want it to look like it did when it was new. I got two quotes today. The low was $3,500 and the high was $6,000. It also needs tires, brakes, and weather striping.. I have been considering a new exhaust system and replacing the shocks. So if I do all of this I’ll be putting around $7,000 in it.
My concern is what else then happens. It appears to have been well taken care of but I really don’t know about the maintenance it got for those first 55,000 or how hard it was pushed. I know this can vary a lot but what can I expect from engine life?
So my dilemma is do I put $7,000 or so in it or do I take that money add in what an engine rebuild would run and trade up to a newer one? After waiting 30 years or so for my first Vette I won't be without one. I also start wondering about things like the digital dash and suspension components. My other problem is I really like this one.
I would really appreciate some advice from anyone that has worked through such a decision. Thanks.
The body is in really good shape, no signs of any prior damage but it needs paint. I figured about $4,000 to $5,000 would fix that as I am not after a show car. I just want it to look like it did when it was new. I got two quotes today. The low was $3,500 and the high was $6,000. It also needs tires, brakes, and weather striping.. I have been considering a new exhaust system and replacing the shocks. So if I do all of this I’ll be putting around $7,000 in it.
My concern is what else then happens. It appears to have been well taken care of but I really don’t know about the maintenance it got for those first 55,000 or how hard it was pushed. I know this can vary a lot but what can I expect from engine life?
So my dilemma is do I put $7,000 or so in it or do I take that money add in what an engine rebuild would run and trade up to a newer one? After waiting 30 years or so for my first Vette I won't be without one. I also start wondering about things like the digital dash and suspension components. My other problem is I really like this one.
I would really appreciate some advice from anyone that has worked through such a decision. Thanks.