PLEASE HELP ME FIND MY DREAM CAR

[TUFCAT]

Benfro.....I'm 47 years old (I can't believe it but its true), and like most of us "old-timers" I drove an old Mopar (or two or three) as a kid.

Wanna know how old I was when I bought another "old Mopar" again?  

30 years old.

I was ready in 1997.  A college grad with seven years work experience with a major fortune 500 company. I was married and owned a home.   I felt everything was in order and the opportunity was right, so I went out looking to buy a Charger.  

Trust us.....there's a lot of life ahead.  Don't waste anymore time pretending you're ready to buy an old car.

 

[ws23rt]

Benfro this thread has gone way long about your desire for a cool car.  We all know what you want more than you do. And further we know why.

It would be a shame to lose you as a poster about your quest for what we all are here for.  But you come up with the same thing over and over.  You find an ad for a car and want us to tell you what we think.  If what we think is that important than you are not ready. 

Question?  ----to ask yourself---- why does it matter so much what we think about your choice for a car?

Part of moving forward independently is being decisive.

Again we are hear for you when you get something---anything---

[ws23rt]

The best advice I can give a 16 year old wanting an old car is...

Wait until you're at least 30.

Take your money and buy the nicest, most reliable late model car or truck you can afford.

Something that you can drive reliably everyday, all the way through high school and college.

Something that you can be proud of and depend on now.

An old car will suck up all of your money and all of your free time.

That's time you should spend with friends, family, chasin' chicks and working on your education, and ultimately your career.

Later in life, after you've established yourself with a home of your own and a good solid income...

THAT is the time to think about an old car.

NOT before.


This is the advice I would give myself, if I could go back to '79 and slap the 16 year old me upside the head.  

I would then emphasize my point with a swift kick in my own ass.

These cars can be a lot of fun, but they can also distract you from what you really should be doing.


I'm still paying the price for this.

Every day.

And will be for the rest of my life.

Benfro here it is again incase you just moved forward and forgot to reflect.

[indreams84]

his take on this advice ->                     EAR...... ......EAR 

[TUFCAT]

Ben, you should be thinking more about getting some of this... it could help resolve your case of "charger-itis" 

[Benfro89]

Ben, you should be thinking more about getting some of this... it could help resolve your case of "charger-itis" 

Ha im all good in that field  I understand what all you guys are saying do not get a old car it will haunt you and you should waite till your older it will workout better

[ws23rt]

Ben, you should be thinking more about getting some of this... it could help resolve your case of "charger-itis"  

Ha im all good in that field   I understand what all you guys are saying do not get a old car it will haunt you and you should waite till your older it will workout better

Ok so you are telling us that you read the posts.  

We are trying to give you the benefit of our life experience.  It's much more than the first car we had.

You will chose what you will but (speaking for myself) when you get to our age you may look back on these days (it will come much sooner than you think) and reflect.
Have you even give this perspective a little thought?   Do you believe that you are different than all those that came before you?
If you do than you are just like us.  We were all a step up from those that preceded us. We new that we were the next best thing.  It has been that way for thousands of years and yet we are all still the same.

Another point than needs to be made is that sometimes the image of having something is usually greater than the reality.

[JB400]

If the car checks out ok, then it looks like it'd be a good candidate for what you're wanting to do.  I'd at least schedule a time to go look at it.  You do need to set aside some money for unexpected items, plus tags, insurance, ect.

Sounds good it might actually be a good car for it I was jsut trying to use it as a example a cpuple questions

where is the best place to buy restoration parts online?

what would you guys suggest for the hood and the doors? I know you cant buy repo R/T doors or louver hood 

Get you a catalog from Year One and Classic Industries.  These are the equivalent of a Sears Wish book for car guys.  They'll tell you what parts are available for what years and of course price.  This will help you get an idea of what it actually costs to fix these cars.  When buying parts though, avoid using Year One at all cost.  Their shipping is expensive.

[Homerr]

Here, I'll just blow up this thread.

https://www.vintagewheels.com/search/?query=Dodge+Charger

[moparnation74]

Ben, you should be thinking more about getting some of this... it could help resolve your case of "charger-itis" 

Too funny,  but one misguided missile can certainly take his 15k and more than that for at least 18yrs.

[Ghoste]

And oddly enough, when I was his age I was more interested in fast cars and ironically owning them seemed to help immensely with the other...
(of course everyone back then was more into cars than the youth of today seem to be)

[moparnation74]

And oddly enough, when I was his age I was more interested in fast cars and ironically owning them seemed to help immensely with the other...
(of course everyone back then was more into cars than the youth of today seem to be)

Very true

[EccentricMagpies]

Here, I'll just blow up this thread.

https://www.vintagewheels.com/search/?query=Dodge+Charger

I like the red one. 

Ben?

[TUFCAT]

Too funny,  but one misguided missile can certainly take his 15k and more than that for at least 18yrs.

Very true. 

[F8-4life]

I thought the point of being young is making bad choices lol
Getting a charger young is not so bad, on the flip side it might keep him out of trouble.

[F8-4life]

Some project cars

https://mendocino.craigslist.org/cto/4674530353.html

https://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/4674636430.html

[ws23rt]

Ben, you should be thinking more about getting some of this... it could help resolve your case of "charger-itis"  

Too funny,  but one misguided missile can certainly take his 15k and more than that for at least 18yrs.

I Agree  The most expensive mistake a young male can make is to lose control of the swimmers.  In way too many cases the propeller of the swimmers is pushed underground and thereby be deprived of opportunities to make a great live.

I know this from personal experience.  The up side (in my case) is I have two great and successful kids and two grandsons.

The down side is I had to live through them growing up away from me while paying for their growing up years.  I was ripped off by a man hater that wanted a family for her chosen life style. I was the donor of the swimmer and many thousands of dollars.

OOps I digress with something that is a bit off topic.

[6spd68]

My point here is to read what Daytona R/T SE said.

, but then again, I'd not have fun stories from my youth...  If you want to take the plunge, and buy a car like this at a young age; just be ready for the work/cost/aggravation of doing so.  There's lots of fun to be had, but it comes at a very hefty price for someone younger with less disposable income.

Just don't be surprised when you've dumped all your cash on a car, then have to sit on the side of the road waiting for a tow whilst all these newer/normal cars drive by your broken down hulk.  Or spent your last dime, and the damn thing still doesn't run right.

If you're really only 16, with 16K, you may even be better off buying something new, and certified, and just wait till later to get a mopar...  Hell, for 16K these days; you can buy/build one hell of a fox body, or any 80's GM car for that matter...   

[Benfro89]

My point here is to read what Daytona R/T SE said.

, but then again, I'd not have fun stories from my youth...  If you want to take the plunge, and buy a car like this at a young age; just be ready for the work/cost/aggravation of doing so.  There's lots of fun to be had, but it comes at a very hefty price for someone younger with less disposable income.

Just don't be surprised when you've dumped all your cash on a car, then have to sit on the side of the road waiting for a tow whilst all these newer/normal cars drive by your broken down hulk.  Or spent your last dime, and the damn thing still doesn't run right.

If you're really only 16, with 16K, you may even be better off buying something new, and certified, and just wait till later to get a mopar...  Hell, for 16K these days; you can buy/build one hell of a fox body, or any 80's GM car for that matter...   

Well in all honesty I have thought about it a lot in the last couple of days and I don't think I'm ready for a charger I looked at some of the parts catalogs and some online stores and if something bad ever happened to the charger it would be scrap the parts are more than I could have ever imagined I found a turn signal light bezel that was $100 and the switch just the switch for the R/T vacuum air scoop is $150 and these are both remanufactured parts 

So I'm gonna get myself a new muscle car 

[Homerr]

My point here is to read what Daytona R/T SE said.

, but then again, I'd not have fun stories from my youth...  If you want to take the plunge, and buy a car like this at a young age; just be ready for the work/cost/aggravation of doing so.  There's lots of fun to be had, but it comes at a very hefty price for someone younger with less disposable income.

Just don't be surprised when you've dumped all your cash on a car, then have to sit on the side of the road waiting for a tow whilst all these newer/normal cars drive by your broken down hulk.  Or spent your last dime, and the damn thing still doesn't run right.

If you're really only 16, with 16K, you may even be better off buying something new, and certified, and just wait till later to get a mopar...  Hell, for 16K these days; you can buy/build one hell of a fox body, or any 80's GM car for that matter...   

Well in all honesty I have thought about it a lot in the last couple of days and I don't think I'm ready for a charger I looked at some of the parts catalogs and some online stores and if something bad ever happened to the charger it would be scrap the parts are more than I could have ever imagined I found a turn signal light bezel that was $100 and the switch just the switch for the R/T vacuum air scoop is $150 and these are both remanufactured parts 

So I'm gonna get myself a new muscle car 

Ok - quick!  Lock this thread!

[SovereignZuul]

Ben, if you've got the space for two cars I recommend that.  No reason you can't find a gently used daily driver economy car and a nice A-Body that runs and drives to build, work on, and especially learn on.  For $16k I could without a doubt find both of those cars.

Years from now when you've exhausted any repairs and restoration of a inexpensive A-Body you can sell it and shop for a Charger if you're still in the mood down the line.

A modern car won't retain value, while that old A-Body you buy now will only gain value.  

[indreams84]

I knew this kid/dude/whatever was BSing back in page 5 or so....hopefully his new Prius will be everything he hoped for 

[AKcharger]

Take it from Me, I own a 1st and 2nd Gen...Chargers are stupid!! 

[bigdsul]

Just keep looking and saving up. Eventually you will find your car. Pick up an extra part time job so you can save more. I've been working 2 jobs one a part time gig since the beginning of the year so I can buy the car I want. Find something that you can do yourself.

[Benfro89]

Well guys you got to see this this is a great car for someone the owner is asking 18000

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/4681343212.html

YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME