Thinking of Cashing in... selling off all my rides...

[vancamp]

I have been before and am looking at now being in the same position your in and to this day I still regret selling my road runner but you do what you have to, if you do decide to move houses are cheap here in BFE arkansas. neighbor down the road has been trying to sell a two bedroom,1 bath, brick built with enclosed carport and two acres for $55 grand and no takers. 

[C_stripes]

I found a house in Nampa ID about 20 minuets from Boise for $109,000. 4 bedroom 2 bath on .70 acres. Firebird raceway is about 30 minutes away. I wouldn't mind living up there. It gets a little windy, but very little snow. Frisco is not cheap. But I am sure you already know that.

[Finn]

Get the heck out of cali. It is only going to get worse for muscle car owners there.

Them be fightin' words boy.

(jk )

Brock: Had a thought; could you pull the engines or something of the like to be able to register your cars as non-ops (assuming you have room to keep them that way)? That might help lower the amount of cash you need to bring in and allow you to keep them.
Good luck with any decision you make man

[tan top]

sorry to hear that about your Family & stuff over the last few years ..you just gota keep that awesome Charger  dude  ....
good luck in what you ever decide to do 

[PocketThunder]

Maybe the Gate will take you back?

http://tbe.taleo.net/NA3/ats/careers/searchResults.jsp;jsessionid=83BB5015046D431D87C335EB17C298EE.NA3_primary_jvm?org=TRD&cws=1

[Todd Wilson]

I'll give you 500$ for that gas guzzling pig of a motorhome you have!   



Todd

[Ponch ®]

Man, hopefully you don't have to sell any of your rides. But if you do, maybe they'll stay "in the family". Will you take payments on Skunkenstein? 

[TUFCAT]

I'd like to have the Gold Roadrunner survivor!!!   

[Brock Samson]

 Watch it there tuff guy, She hits back...   

[TUFCAT]

I know it hurts to even think about parting with your pride and joy(s)    ....but hell, I' might even be willing to pay for it. 

Honestly, I only wish you the best. You've been a great member here, and speaking for all of us, .....nobody likes to hear this stuff happening.  Good luck. 

[Old Moparz]

The money part always hits you in the head first. I've spent a lot less the last couple of years on everything in general, but mostly because I buried myself in projects & feel overwhelmed. I've been trying to simplify things & my cars have been neglected because of all the daily things in life that come first. They sit in the garage collecting dust because other things are a higher priority, like the house, family, etc.

I have my '71 Barracuda for sale, but the timing with the bad economy leaves very little interest in it from buyers that don't exist. Fortunately I'm not in a position where I have to have a fire sale, so maybe when things pick up I will sell it. Selling your Road Runner might ease the situation for you, but like others said, it'll be short term. Going back to work will keep your mind occupied. Sometimes too much down time leaves you too much time to think, which in turn might allow you to dwell on the negatives.

As far as where to live, I know I'd never be able to retire in NY where I am, so later on I'll need to consider a move to where taxes & property is generally cheaper. CA can't be any better, but you also have to stay where you like living. I left a very congested part of Northern NJ to be in an area that was more rural & like it a lot. I don't know how I'd feel moving away, but I guess I'll find out years from now. A friend moved to VA from this area & loves it. He has no regrets, but his situation was very different with no ties to family & moved with his Dad who has since passed away.

I suppose it's different for everyone, & you'll know better than anyone offering advice. Maybe selling just the Road Runner & working at home will be enough to make you happy.

Good luck with it.

[b5blue]

Hey cheer up!There are lots of great deals on homes here in Fl. and tax is low!I'll bet you could keep your Charger and find a nice place here with the profits from the other cars!There are tons of options,I'm building my Charger as a "D D" cause that's the only way I can keep it!Sit down and make a list of what you need:food-shelter-clothing kinda thing, then cut overhead knowing you were smart to invest in some mighty MOPAR and may cash in on some, Think of all the stock market crap that's been going on.....you can't drive stock!(My bro is pretty wiped out about now)Don't let all the hype get you down, cars are just "things" you and yours are what's important.Hang in there man I like the idea of starting your own company!   

[gordo1968charger]

i don t even know you and i want to send you some money!
i ve been taxi driving for nearly 3 years now as well as my regular bodyshop job,the part time taxi job PAYS FAR MORE than the car bodyshop,i ve thought about selling up myself a few times, BUT its like driving your charger slow,its just too hard to do,when i m skint(which is all the time)i just do another shift AND KEEP THE CHARGER IN THE GARAGE WHERE IT BELONGS NOT IN SOMEONE ELSES!!

[chargerboy69]

Strat,

I do know what you are going through as far as contemplating selling your cars. I recently sold off both my 69 Chargers, and to be honest I do not miss them all that much. Did I have to sell them, no I did not. But with the poor economy I wanted to make sure my family came first and we had cash on hand and all of our bills paid off. Until people are in your situation some people will not understand. And as far as it being a soft market it is true. But there will be a buyer for your car. It might take a little longer to sell, but it will sell. Heck, I got full asking price for both my cars, so it can be done.

As a side note, Indiana is great state to live in. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

Tim

[Brock Samson]

          First up I'd really like to thank you all for your heartfelt concern and suggestions...
Selling the Charger is a last resort and I don't think that's really the issue,..
It's just that I've done the math and without a quantum leap in income over my pre retirement level I can't justify maintaining four vehicles. Insurance, registration and normal maintenance costs are prohibitive - never mind the cost of bringing the Road Runner back with the motor rebuilt disc brakes a decent paint job and the other myrid details these "restorations" require.
  Now, the latest news on automobile gas prices is good as they say the depressed economy will damp down prices far under what we suffered this past summer, here in my neck of Calif. they were bumping above $4.70 Per. U.S. Gal. for Regular. the Runner and the Chinook both take Premium gas while the R/T with it's hardend valve seats and the 300 M will accept Regular gas. in any case those premium prices were enough to derail any plans i had for extended trips in the R/V and even the short 100-200 mile trips I made were a brow wiping affair.
Few folks under the age of 50 will appreciate the cost and importance of health care which has now become my priority and the $511.oo Per Mo. which is minus dental and vision would be handled readily for some time with income the R.R. might bring.
If you'd like to give money to someone, all kidding aside, find a school teacher somewhere, anywhere as they are the most deserving.
Thanks friends and have a fantastic new Year.
Dave aka Brock aka Strat.

[General_01]

I sold my General Lee replica earlier this year because it just gets to be costly to keep cars running that you hardly drive. I am hoping my wife comes to that realization with her Vette. She only drives it back and forth to work about twice a week in the summer. She does not take it to any events. We have a couple of Vette clubs in town that hold shows and she has never gone to one with or without the car. It doesn't matter to me if she doesn't sell it, but it is just taking up space in the garage during the summer. I will have to take it in for a tuneup this summer and I think I will buy a smaller carb to put on it. I wasn't thinking and bought a 770 carb for the stock 350. Way to big. Maybe after that she will drive it more.

I wrote all this to let you know that your situation is not unique. My wife and I both have full-time jobs, and we are in our early 40's and get health coverage through her work. So our situation seems to be a little better than yours and I still felt the same thing. Good luck downsizing the fleet and living with a little less stress in your life. It feels good.

[Steve P.]

Hey Strat,  I just got a new computer and I am playing catch up here. I know what the gut says and what the mind is saying too. I made a major move back in 94'. I left much family and big money work. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.. 

We moved from upstate NY to the Clearwater, Florida area.  Most people here are from somewhere else. There is much to love about this area. One is no state taxes. Another is no sniff tests. This being an area in which many people move in and out of quite a lot, might just be the ticket for your moving company.  When we moved here there was a very small moving company called"TWO MEN AND A TRUCK". Now they still go by the same name, BUT they are huge.. Trucks all over the place all the time.. They are well known around here. 

Another thing to think about is the cost of housing. I just saw a 2858SF home on .57 acres in Spring Hill, Florida for $122K. It was built in 2005 so it would be all up to code and hurricane standards..  Of course you have to be ready for the occasional hurricane, but this area is not prone to them. (Not that you can bet on that).

This is the time of year when all the hot rods and muscle cars are cruising all over while most of the rest of the country is shoveling out to find their winter bomb. I love it. 

The fact is, it doesn't matter where in this country you go or anywhere for that matter, there is a give and take. The average wage here sucks. BUT,,,,, if you are in the right niche you can make a killing and live pretty cheep.  Our taxes are not very bad and as long as you don't live inside of or very close to a larger city your car insurance isn't bad either. (I pay way too much). I should live in Spring Hill myself..

The other major thing is that you are use to plenty of sunshine and ocean breezes. We have all that too. One thing you might miss is the occasional Earth quake or mud slide, but don't worry, we have hurricanes and sinkholes.  I am dealing with a sinkhole right now.. Glad I paid the insurance bill..

Good luck with whatever you decide...

Anyway

[snooter]

Things have changed to such a large degree in my life the last three years...
...those who followed my saga know of the loss of my family (father, sister mother in the past few years), the "Downsizing" of my job, and a few other major life changing events.
I'm looking/thinking seriously of selling off all my vehicles and starting a new home business or maybe even moving from San Francisco to a less Taxed location. This town has really gotten way too expensive for an average Joe.
So Jan. is the date I've set to begin this endeavor and though I may change my vehicle and location I will allways have a soft spot in my head for the Charger.
(Smart comments from snooter aside) I can't see going through another year of paying Insurance, Taxes and Reg. on four vehicles and watching gas bump $5.oo per Gal. as I expect it will by summer.
Any thoughts?..



ive regreted for years selling of my baseball cards in 1971 for 5bux....mom made me sell em.....man i had a sweet baseball card collection in 71...and the mini skirts and cute high skol girlies are still vivid in my mind back to those hot 71 summer nights....hippies were interesting too....mom use to feed em and such.....good luck with future endeavours but at least keep 1 car for yourself

[NHCharger]

         
Few folks under the age of 50 will appreciate the cost and importance of health care which has now become my priority and the $511.oo Per Mo. which is minus dental and vision would be handled readily for some time with income the R.R. might bring.
 

Dave, I hear ya on the health care. You can always take Cody's suggestion and move to Canada for the free health care

[Neal_J]

Yea, that's the ticket:  cruise up to the great white north so you and Cody can room together!!   I'd bet he would let you have the bottom bunk, half his Hot Pocket, and at least 10 full minutes of computer time per day.

I smell a reality show....or a homicide.  Awesome!

Neal

[Brock Samson]

  One thought I've been playing around with in my head, is selling off my rides and getting a new Chally. that would replace prety much everything but the R/V.
But That's pretty much rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic if ya' know what I mean..
And Neal, I have seriously concidered Moving to Cody's neck of the woods for about the last 8 years, that was, intill I found out he lives there... 

[69bronzeT5]

 
And Neal, I have seriously concidered Moving to Cody's neck of the woods for about the last 8 years, that was, intill I found out he lives there... 

Thanks Dave

[Brock Samson]

 Hey Man we could start a band!.. 

[69bronzeT5]

Hey Man we could start a band!.. 

Already in a band 

[gordo1968charger]

  One thought I've been playing around with in my head, is selling off my rides and getting a new Chally. that would replace prety much everything but the R/V.
But That's pretty much rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic if ya' know what I mean..
And Neal, I have seriously concidered Moving to Cody's neck of the woods for about the last 8 years, that was, intill I found out he lives there... 

one reason i wanted to send you some money is i think your funny as f$$K!!
i ve read some of your posts and they always give me a chuckle
happy new year