Am currently facing the do or don't I sell my much loved car. Family circumstances mean I will not get used out on the track any time soon, it is also road legal. I would love to have the space back in garage. so I can potter! 1995 Nissan silva s14, extensive mods. Making a very reliable 450hp or 265kw at wheels. Just looking for some opinions on what to do with it. Motorsport will always be in my blood, just seems a shame its sitting while someone else could get enjoyment from it. Do I or don't I list it. comes with lots of spares of course. Its a hard decision!
budgel,
Jul 20, 7:01am
If this is not just a sneaky way to promote an upcoming sale you have my sympathy for your dilemma! I think you should consider whether the money the sale of the car would bring can make a noticeable difference to you and your family's lives. Families will always consume whatever money is available. Unless the money can do something special, I would hang on to it. It probably isnt depreciating any more! Realistically analyse whether you will be able to use it within,say, the next five years.
A friend of mine used to say that there were very few real decisions to be made, because it is unusual for the pros and cons to be equally balanced. If such a situation arose, you might as well toss a coin and then see how you felt about the result!
extrayda,
Jul 20, 7:15am
As Budgel says - will it bring a noticeable difference to anyone. You do say you would like the space back in your garage. A few years back I sold my 'Hobby Car' (V8 HQ Holden), it took me a while to be ready to do so - the money went straight into the mortgage, so did help. I was hardly using the car, so most of the time it was just sitting there. I'm getting to the point of wanting another toy now though. The main problem is that mostly when you sell a hobby car, you will lose money, so to get the same thing back would usually cost you more. Plus as time goes on the older cars seem to go up (so far at least). I can remember Falcon Coupes being about $6,000 !
tulip17,
Jul 20, 7:54am
Think your kw to hp calculation needs some work :) even though it a Nissan sell the tin pots and when circumstances allow by a V8 that puts out 450hp off the shop floor. Trying to get V8 power out of 4 baked bean cans never seems to last - buy something built for the job from the get go !
clark20,
Jul 20, 9:14am
450hp at the motor would be around 265Kw at the wheels
vivac,
Jul 20, 12:46pm
Stupid post is stupid. I have very similar power out of the same car/motor and it is very reliable, has driven to and home from all of the trackdays I have attended over the last 10 years. Also when only putting out 210rwKw was dusting 307 badged commodores at Meremere with ease.
vivac,
Jul 20, 12:52pm
I have been at this point a few times with my S14 too, the usual realisation at the end boils down to a few points. I will want/need a track capable car to replace it. Nothing on the market will give as good bang for my existing buck, ie, you will get 10-12K for it, nothing you can buy for that will be as fast/reliable/fun and you will need to tip more money in. 10-12K off the mortgage would be good, but realistically its probably not much of a dent on a mortgage, you have to live a little.
Ultimately the decision is yours, but I can almost guarantee you will regret it until you buy something else better/faster/more expensive/needing more mods 6 months down the track.
onyx-1,
Jul 20, 1:18pm
Hi guys thankyou for your responses. And yes to clarify 450hp at engine equates to approx. 265rwkw. If I sold I would invest in better heating at home, which would be really nice. since its a tad cold at the moment! But I know ill never get back the money ive poured into, and never expect to. That's the way cars go ;) Another question for those who have sold track cars, or modified cars for that matter. What are the test drivers/ genuine buyers like? My biggest fear is 1 it goes to someone who wraps it round a tree 5 mins later, or 2 just came to have a look and scope the place out etc. I seem to have a part of me that definitely doesn't want to sell. hard decision that's for sure. I keep telling myself you an buy something else latter down the track.
extrayda,
Jul 20, 1:29pm
Mine was a 420HP HQ (383 Chev / manual TH350 / Ford 9"). I expected to get a few dregs / try-hards looking at it, but that didn't happen. A friend of the buyer (buyer was Christchurch) came round and wanted me to take them for a drive, which they were happy / impressed with. Then the out of town guy made a deposit / organised shipping / paid the balance and off it went to Christchurch.
You can't concern yourself with what happens with it if it sells - they may paint it bright pink and drive around with their hats on backwards. They may drive it into a ditch (happened to one of my previous V8's I sold) - once you have sold it, it is theirs. I was pleased that mine went out of Auckland otherwise I think I would have been a bit sad every time I saw it though :-(
If there is a part of you that doesn't want to sell, and you don't have to, then it doesn't sound like you are ready to sell. It took me about two years from when I first thought about selling to actually be ready to do so.
gtrb26,
Jul 20, 1:31pm
Take them for the first test drive, if they like it they can come back with the cash, hold on to money let them do a final test drive, I've sold all my cars like this genuine buyers won't care.
onyx-1,
Jan 22, 9:25pm
Not an easy decision, think it may remain in the shed at this rate! Thankyou again for your replies
Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread.
Have an account? Login here.