Time to trade 1991 Vette for ????

[yellow91]

Back in 2002 I bought a 1991 coupe yellow base model wth automatic, it had 130,000 miles on it, I paid $8,500 for it. Since then I have rough idle, tranny went out and $1000s in maintance, tires, and small things to make it run better, now it has 141,000 miles and I need new front brakes (warp rotors and finished brake pads). I was driving home and decided to look for a vehicle at a car dealer ship. I found a 1998 Mustang SVT Cobra, 44,000 miles, flowmasters, chip or beefed up computer, K&N intake, black color w/ black leather, mirror tinted windows, all options, very new looking. I'm thinking of trading!!!!!!

Their asking $19,000

This car is just as quick as mine, it has the all aluminum DOHC 4.6 V8 w/ 5-sp not an automatic

Ford did a good job w/ the DOHC V8, and I'v always known Fiat-ferrari engine designs were world class even better then GM. When we were still perfecting the carberator the Italians were perfecting fuel injection and they were perfecting all aluminum engines we were still iron heavy weights, and they also have good handling cars.

My car has no cruise control, no A/C, after market stereo (but nice)
I just want to get into a car that is ready and has low miles and has four seats ( oh and a manual tranny). I'm tired of spending more time and money at schucks to make the vette look or perform better. I know that a vette looks good on its own but the Stang has every thing I want already even The DOHC V8.

With the modifications done to the Stang It has an estimated 350 HP w/ 340 T. Stock is 305 HP and 300 T. Not to mention it will waste my car on the freeway!!!!

Please don't get mad I still love Corvettes and Chevy but I need something w/ four seats and a muscle car sound and power. The Camaro is cool but its value drops quick (even the regular Stang too) and Camaro is faster then Stang GT but the Cobra will beat the Camaro, hell a new Camaro will beat my Vette!! (I'v seen it)

My point is the Cobra will hold better value in the future.

Plus I'm running on the same motor but strong, but I think I should get rid of it before rebuilt time (since by buget could not afford it).

Please any advice or opinions. Thanks

 

[kingman]

Sell it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi

You have passed the point of no return, and your vette is ready for the happy hunting grounds. If your vette was well maintained
with approx 75,000 miles or less l would probably still tell you to dump it.

A vette is a labor of love, if you can get passed all of it's short comings, which is a long list this thread wouldn't be here.

But to buy a modified Mustang, you would be better off with a better machine. After all is said and done, it's only a Mustang which is geared for gearheads and hitters. It's a nothing car which will drop in value like a rock.

Think!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Alan

p.s. Good luck with whatever you do!

 

[Rogue]

You need to sit down and think about this. Don't make decisions when you're upset. You're liable to make the wrong choices.

First, you're having problems with your current 'Vette because of its mileage. For $19,000, you could get a really nice mid-1990's Corvette with less than 50k miles on it and 300 bhp and it will run for a very long time without any expenses out of your pocket. In fact, you can spend $15k and get a nice mid-90's C4 with low miles.

But, if you gotta have 4 seats, then go for that Mustang Cobra......You do realize the Mustang's backseat is just a good for children under the age of 10 right? Anyone over 5'2" won't fit back there. Also, once you get over 100k miles on that Cobra, it will need the same kinds of expenditures as your '91 Corvette did.

And yes. A Mustang needs to be a Cobra just to run with a C4 'Vette. Good luck to you.

 

[jim coulter]

What do think we're going to say"buy the stang" Hey this is a vette site....but we're also family. Buy what makes you happy. You're the one that will drive it to work every day. We wont disown you, might rag you, but wont disown you. Personally, I love the vettes, but thats just me.

 

[Edmond]

You need to sit down and think about this. Don't make decisions when you're upset. You're liable to make the wrong choices.

First, you're having problems with your current 'Vette because of its mileage. For $19,000, you could get a really nice mid-1990's Corvette with less than 50k miles on it and 300 bhp and it will run for a very long time without any expenses out of your pocket. In fact, you can spend $15k and get a nice mid-90's C4 with low miles.

But, if you gotta have 4 seats, then go for that Mustang Cobra......You do realize the Mustang's backseat is just a good for children under the age of 10 right? Anyone over 5'2" won't fit back there. Also, once you get over 100k miles on that Cobra, it will need the same kinds of expenditures as your '91 Corvette did.

And yes. A Mustang needs to be a Cobra just to run with a C4 'Vette. Good luck to you.

Just what I was thinking. I mean, whatever car you drive, it's going to have problems as it ages. Doesn't matter if it's a Corvette or a Bentley, it'll have problems with age and mileage.

IMHO, the only thing you have to think about are the 4 seats. For $19,000, you can get an LT4 and I guarantee that would leave that Cobra. So the problem would only be that you only have 2 seats. But at least it'll give you the excuse not to taxi people around! :L

 

[6 Shooter]

Shoot . . .

. . . if U put 5-10K$ n your Vette, I bet she'd out run nearly any Mustang !

But it's your money so do what's right 4 U . . .

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

I'v always known Fiat-ferrari engine designs were world class even better then GM.

:argueGive me a break! How much Euro-trash have you owned? If the Euro car builders, especially the Italians, were not government subsidised they would have gone broke 5 years after they defaulted on the repayment of the Marshall Plan. Even the Europeans joke about Alfa,Lancia, etc., and nobody ever buys a second one.:bash

Our F-3 cars are all Toyota, while the Super Nissans are what they say. If the Europeans are so good why do they use Ricer power in the most heavily raced formulas. I know all about the F-1´s but that makes up only a handful of engines used for 17 races and none of these have any future in any mass produced car, while the F-3s and Supers race many more races with a much lower budget and what is learned on the track does end up on the assembly line.

If you gota have 4 seats, you gota have 4 seats. Does the Cobra have 4 seats? That is your call.

:duhI know a Navy guy here at Rota that had to remove the Rt. front seat to get a very pregnant lady out of the back of his Firebird, He came flying up to the garage honking the horn and begging us to help him. The poor woman was in tears and almost in shock. Luckily F-body seats come out really quick when you hit them with an air-ratchet. 8 lb. baby girl borne12 hours later, she is named Monika, but everybody calls her Skarts because she was Extracted at SpeedKarts.

If you really need 4 seats look at a Honda at least that is an honest approach to the backseat problem.

Now for the future of your Vette, after you sell it, it may pass through many owners but one day it will end up in the hands of someone like Ken or Vig or Jeff. 15 years from now the Corvette will still be giving somebody joy while the bones of whatever you trade for will probably have been recycled several times.

 

[Mad-Mic]

if your buying a car so it holds it's value i got a hot news flash for you. once you buy that car you could only sell it for 16k or maybe 17k at most. if you trade it in to a dealer you'd only get 14k at most. and thats if you sold it right away. what about next year and 20k more in miles?

seems to me your trying to make excuses to justify buying a Mustang. you talked about italian engines that for is clearly NOT. and how a 130k milage vette is costing you money. you should of known that when you went ahead and bought your car.

like someone said take the 15k that you want to by the cobra with cause you'd only get maybe 3k for a trade and buy a honda then put 5k in your vette and you'll have the best of both worlds.

no matter what you buy if it's a hot rod you're going to be spending the money no matter what. Fords are notorious for blowing head gaskets. you know how much that costs? over a grand to get fixed. you could buy this Mustang and the clutch could go out the first time you get on it. 600 bucks down the drain and i doubt the dealer would cover a clutch.

sit back and think about it and justify the means to meet the ends.

Good Luck!

 

[c4ever]

Though I agree with the majority and I don't believe if properly maintained a vette is any more costly to own (and I own an 85 and 82 ) I think you should go with what makes you happy. Just don't start with those outlandish road kill stories:L :L :L
All the best with your decision.
Carlo

 

[tonyk72]

19k sounds kinda steep

Have you thought Buick...as in Grand National? Thay way you'd at least stay GM and possibly go much faster if speed and 4 seats is what you desire...

 

[KREX 725]

Earlier posts were right on! I just bought my '95 with about 50K on it for $15K in great condition. I missed out on 3 or 4 with even less miles for about the same price. When I was shopping for mine (six months at least) I couldn't believe how well the vettes hold their value. A friend of a friend just sold an '89 with 120K for $12K (very good condition).

I guess a back seat is a back seat, and a vette just won't please you there, but I think I'd rather pay to have it stretched out at a custom shop and throw some back seats in!!!! After driving the vette now for just a couple of months, I can't imagine getting the same feeling out of a four seater.

As said before, you won't get anybody here rooting for the Mustang purchase. I've never owned anything but Chevy and never plan to.

Overall, I think you'll miss out on something I never expected about vette ownership. I still can't help but turn a head when I see a fellow vette. Even better is that instant "brotherhood" feeling when we exchange a quick wave. Considering how you see a Mustang at every other traffic light, I highly doubt you'll ever get that feeling again.

It's not just a car you're trading in, it's a membership to a legendary club.

 

[MoeJr]

I agree with everyone that a Vette is a labor of love. You couldn't pay me to own a Ford and that DOHC V8 in the Cobra is the most useless motor made. They had to add a Supercharger to it just ti keep up with Vettes and a Z06 will still dust it. A Mustang is like and excuse "everyone has one". I know personally I would never get the feeling I get when I drive mine or anyone elses Vette from a Mustang. I like the Buick Grand National Idea. I had an 87 GN and bone stock ran 13.95 in the quarter. My last pass before I sold it was a 12.34/113mph on street tires. 11.80's on slicks. That was with stock intake,intercooler and throttle body. It is very easy to make a 86-87 GN runs 12's. It's 4 seater and has alot more potential that that DOHC Ford. Just my .02 but I would get another Vette or invest in yours.

 

[yellow91]

I understand everyone, and thank you for your input, but I don't have $15,000 cash but will buy on a loan. The DOHC is a better engine (no lifters, no push rods, no rocker arms) just a direct drive Camshaft pushing the valve stem. AND 7,000 RPMs. Not to mention less wear surfaces, and one awesome looking engine.

The ZR1 would be cool to have and is faster, still too expensive and just want to try another car, I'm only 20 years old, so I have a long time to try each car SO far the corvette is great and it's an honor to drive a piece of American history. Trust me in Bellingham WA Mustang GTs, Camaro Z28, and corvettes are rarely seen. In fact i'm the only one with a yellow corvette in town.

I understand I see mustang all over seattle and the freeway, but the Cobra sets itself aside.

 

[ejrempel]

I wouldn't buy a buick for a daily driver, but a GN sure sounds like a better way to go. I think they have just about depreciated all they are likely to, so you'd be looking at maintainance only. Very cool cars. How much do you think you'd get for your Vette, real dollars, not phoney baloney trade-in prices? By the way, every time I fix something on my '86, something else goes wrong, no lie. So then I learn to fix it.

 

[tyrel]

My car has no cruise control, no A/C

Those two items have been standard on Corvettes for years. Do you mean they are inoperable?

 

[kingman]

Go For It!!!!!

I think that you already made up your mind to sell your 91. So any car that will make you feel cool, buy it.

I was without a vette for 22yrs and missed having one but what l didn't miss was all of the rattles and poor fit and finish and today owning a 96 is no diffferent.

Thank the stars that l have two other cars that do not rattle or have to worry about anything but changing the oil!

Hope the new C6 is different or l will step up to the Porsche.

Alan

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Hope the new C6 is different or l will step up to the Porsche.

I do not visit any of the Euro car forms anymore and my partner has more money than god so he just bites the bullet and buys a new set of Porsche, Audi, Mercedes toys every year. He loves them, says that they are great and gets 50% of what he paid for them. When his GT2 was bumped on the back the engine fell out. 2 months at the factory for a refit caused by a 5MPH collision!

Oh well, since I do not go to those forums I will miss the moaning when your $1000 repair bills become $5000 bills. Check out the cost of a tune-up on the P996.

Live from Lemans, via PCAnywhere and Vodafone. Corvette 13th.%14th. if the Froggy timming system is working. Great Party here.

 

[CKA_Racing]

You can buy a stock 96 Vette LT4 that will blow the doors off that Cobra in every way shape and form. It will cost you less than $19,000. You can get an extended warranty if the mileage is low enough.
My corvette clubs hangs with a local mustang club so i've had the luck of being able to compare them at the 1/4 and autocrossing.
Trust me when I tell ya you are better off with a vette when it comes to performance.
But seems like you really just want to try a different car. Good luck with it.

 

[yellow91]

Never mind!!!!

I drove to the car lot on saturday and they sold the car that morning. (damn it)

(at a different car lot) I found a 2000 Camaro Z-28 6-sp all options, red color/ black leather interior, and the LS-1 engine $17,400 w/ 32,000 miles.
and the SLP exhaust, chrome wheels, the sports apearance package, and the hurst short throw shifter. The tires are originals but still look new and have lots of tread left (75-80% tread left) must of been driven easy.

Looks and smells brand new.

What does everyone think?

At least I'm going with a CHEVY. and it would be cool to get a taste of the Corvette type LS-1 V8 320 HP/ 340 TQ. I took it for a drive today and it is quicker and would out accelarate my 1991 vette. And the back seat has more room then the Mustang.

 

[WhalePirot]

Whatever blows UR skirt up.

I sat in a late model Rustang. It only took 3 minutes for me to decide that I'd never own one. But then, I'm not you.

Not sure what Spanish's bag is, but I've had as good or better service out of the used BMWs I buy as any other car. The new Acura Legend sucked BIG TIME by comparison and geez, do they get expensive when they age!!

My wife's 735iL has a peacefulness to the ride that I cannot describe, while having handling ability that would shame many Rice O Runners. My cost spreadsheet shows a cost of ownership of about $320/month as it approaches 212000 miles. hat's a lot of ride for the cost of an econobox.

My 740i will water your eyes with it's cornering ability. A nice one can be had for low to mid teens and seats five. It is closest to what a 5 seat Corvette would be and is truly fun to drive or sedate as hell; my choice. I love the surround sound and know/enjoy/use the hidden engineering niceties that, 1) channel washer fluid back and off the rear deck, keeping my car clean, 2) the door seal done so that my clothing stays clean even if the car isn't, #) etc., etc. The 735 will unlock the doors, blow the horn and flash the lights, calling attention (help) in case of crash.

Hell, for my driver, I'd buy another and another before any Ford or Mopar. I let others take the depreciation hit and chuckle all the way to the bank while riding in comfort, safety and with an occasional wild hair.

Mike