Thinking about selling

[y3chargerrt]

Guys I have been starting to think about selling the R/T. Things in life are starting to get in the way. Daughter, her college my grandson etc.I have been driving the Charger less and less over the past few years. It didn't move until this past saturday. I have had it since 99. The first test drive I took in it the odometer turned 89,000 miles. It may turn 99,000 this year if I attend Carlisle. Let me know you thoughts about selling...Ron

[doctor4766]

Mate the feeling you get when you crank her over and take her for a spin has gotta override whatever else is going on in life.
I say keep the Charger.
You'll only regret it later otherwise.

[HPP]

Well, a few questions to ask yourself;
Do you need the money?
Does it cost you anything to park it?
Can you make the effort to start it up a few times a year?
If you sell it and 10 years later want it back, what would it cost to aquire a similar car?
Do you need the space it occupies?
Is there the possibility of damage if not used?
Would its value drop/increase without usage?


My life is hugely busy to the point that I almost can't work on my cars during the summer. However, since mine aren't regisiterd and the build isn't complete, it costs me nothing to sit on them, work on them over the winter, and at least know that they are a refuge I can go to for a small piece of sanity. It also would cost me tens of thousands of dollars to replace them if I waited a decade to buy replacements.

[PocketThunder]

Well Ron, if you are going to sell it, then contact member bakerhillpins first if you are looking for a buyer.  
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=898

But i would keep it, once the daughter is out of college and the grandson is growing up then you can drive the Charger more often.  If you need to sell the Charger to help pay for your daughters college then thats your choice but i would let her pay for it herself.  

Paul

[y3chargerrt]

The main reason I'm considering selling is to  buy a house and the extra money down will help.I'm almost 48 and want to get a 15 year mortage if possible. I spend $150.00 a month for storage so thats something but not a big deal.I have  probably been putting 700 ish miles on it the last few years. I'm not letting it sit. year  . I haven't been enjoying the cruising as much as I use to. The car is running 100% and has never left me stranded.

[tan top]

Mate the feeling you get when you crank her over and take her for a spin has gotta override whatever else is going on in life.
I say keep the Charger.
You'll only regret it later otherwise.

 keep it if you can , other wise with the way prices are going ! even if they a little lower recently  ,  still crazy   & who knows where the prices are going next  ,  one thing forsure  they wont drop to early 80s prices again ,  if you was looking to get another one in a few years time  , look how much you have to pay for rotted out hulks on now  Ebay etc etc   its mental  

good luck what ever you decide  

[resq302]

Ron,

I agree with the others.  Don't sell it.  I too have considered selling my charger since I don't really drive it as much as I used to and it seems to be spending more and more time inside my garage.  The only reason why I am not selling it is because with the economy being so crappy right now, you won't get close to what the car is worth.  Johntpr is trying to sell his pristine F6 daytona and has had no luck.  Hold out and just ride the tide until there is a better time if you should still decide to sell it.

[twodko]

Hey Ron,

I can certainly appreciate your train of thought especially when it comes to buying a home. The more cash you can put down on a house the lower your payments will be. That's something to consider......I sure would at 48. That's my sensible side. On my Charger side, these cars are investments not ubiquitous Chevy or Fords. Spending $150 a month for storage is a bit of a burden when you're trying to acquire a home IMO. Do you have other options there? We don't drive ours a great deal either, just cars show, the occassional run with local mopar folks and a Sunday drive or two. Churn this over carefully because, like the other members have said, buying another one down the line maybe well out of reach. The value of oue Chargers will only increase. Good luck.

Tom

[Chatt69chgr]

Make sure the house you buy has enough room to store you charger.  You will then have $150/month to pay additional on the note.  And still have the charger.

[Richard Cranium]

I sold my 68 Hemi Charger (that I had owned for 14 years) & my 69 1/2 6bbl Road Runner in the early 90's to get enough money to be in the house I am in today. I missed those cars for a while, but do not regret my decision at all. You can always get another car.

[myaerocars]

I totally understand how you feel.  I struggle at least twice a year with selling the cars or not.  Several health issues  and financial concerns cloud my vision.

 + one to what the other have said.

I have sold a few cars over the years.. some i regret and others not so much.

In the end, I remind myself that they are just cars.  

Godspeed with your decision.

[tan top]

sorry for the hijack

I sold my 68 Hemi Charger (that I had owned for 14 years) & my 69 1/2 6bbl Road Runner in the early 90's to get enough money to be in the house I am in today. I missed those cars for a while, but do not regret my decision at all. You can always get another car.

you got any pictures  RC  ,  would love to see them some time 

[Old Moparz]

I sold my 68 Hemi Charger (that I had owned for 14 years) & my 69 1/2 6bbl Road Runner in the early 90's to get enough money to be in the house I am in today. I missed those cars for a while, but do not regret my decision at all. You can always get another car.

I almost hate to say it, but this nut is giving good advice.   

The economy has always run in cycles & a house with the low interest rates right now is probably one of the better choices to invest in. Besides, if you're renting a place currently, that's all going into someone else's pocket. If you can swing it in a few years, maybe you'll have enough saved, or some equity in the house to go buy another Charger. No matter how difficult it is to find a car sometimes, there are ALWAYS cars for sale.

[Chargen69]

I'd only tell you one thing.  Have you had one before and sold it?  if so, then you know the feeling your gonna get.  If you haven't had one before and sold it, then I'll tell you what could happen.  If you get what you want out of it, you'll feel pretty good about your decision to sell.  You can tell youself that you made the right choice.  Then a week will go by, two, then a month, 6 months, about a year into having sold it, when you see one (in person or online) those thoughts will start creeping into your head... (cant believe i had one and let it go)  (wonder what they cost now)  (where will I find one that I would like just as much as the one I had)  on so on.  Then you'll take a peep at the internet sales places... even Ebag.  The desire will consume you so much that when you do find one, you'll pay more than its worth, and drive 8-10 hours away to tow it home.


just saying it could happen, not that I went through that   

[Lennard]

[y3chargerrt]

Lots of good things to think about guys. I have had 2 other Mopars that have come and went. A Q5 69 Charger R/T S/E that I bought in 1980 and sold it in 1985. I bought a 70 Challenger R/T 383 auto fc7 white vinyl top white interior and white bumblebee stripe in 1988. I sold that one after I bought my first house mainly because of my then wife now ex wife. I know the economy stinks now for selling my Charger. I also know this would be a great time to buy a house since I don't have to sell a house to get another. With paying for my daughters college tutition 100% up to this point and money spent on the Charger my savings is no where near where it needs to be for a down payment. I do have a 401K that I may have to borrow from also to get my payment on a 15 year note affordable. Lots of things are running through my head now..Keep the ideas flying! Thanks

[JRGBoss]

Just forgeddddabout it. Keep it and you will be glad you did in the long run. They dont make them any more and they will always retain value. It sucks to be in a position that you will later regret. Look at all options and be as logical as you can but when you come right down to it it is a big emotional decision.

I have at times thought of selling my 1970 Boss 302 that I have owned since 1976 and always decided against it. I paid $2,200 for it and now who knows what it is worth. I have been to many car shows and always run into some guy that says I used to own one of those and I wish I had not gotten rid of it. Best wishes.

[Richard Cranium]

you got any pictures  RC  ,  would love to see them some time 

I'll scan some & get them up here later.

I almost hate to say it, but this nut is giving good advice.   

Hey, I resemble that! 

[Darkman]

IMO Sell it. Use the money to get your house while the going is good.

I have sold cars that I regret (one in particular with sentimental value), but then look at the situation I am in now, it would not have been possible if I didn't sell the cars.

If you are becoming less interested or excited driving the car, then your enthusiasm is going. Don't put yourself in a position where you keep the car, don't drive it and miss out on other opportunities. This will only make you resent the car. These cars need to be enjoyed and driven - sell it and let someone else drive and enjoy it while you are sitting in your new house drinking an ice cold beer!

The only thing that isn't in your favour is the current market isn't great for these cars (as a seller).

[NHCharger]

Now's the time to buy a house. Prices have tanked and are still dropping in many areas. You can really beat the banks up right now on bank owned property. To even start this thread means you have lost the Mopar spark. If you aren't in your own house by the time you are 50 chances are you'll be renting the rest of your life.

I say sell it, buy a house and with in a few years when you get the itch buy another Charger, doesn't have to be an R/T. With gas at $4/gallon I enjoy driving my 318 Charger just as much as my BB Charger.

[F8-4life]

If you can get over selling a Q5 RT/SE you can sell this and move on.

[y3chargerrt]

Well the Q5 R/t S/E was pretty beat when I sold it so that didn't huyrt too much. Its not that I have totally lost my Mopar spark but I do not go to shows or cruise in like I use to. I have ran through a few real estate sites and the prices are way down. When I see some decent house under 200K in my area I have to jump.

[Nacho-RT74]

do you REALLY NEED to sell it ? or you FEEL that you must sell it ?

thats the main question

[y3chargerrt]

I could probably still make it happen without selling the Charger. If I can find something reasonably priced with a garage that the charger can fit in then I'm leaning towards keeping it. I will know more once I start talking to the a realtor.

[morepower]

If you dont need the money to pay for a health bill for yourself or a loved one I would not sell. I think about this sometimes with mine too. But I'd hate myself for the rest of my life because I know i'd never be able to have another one. That's why I dont stress about it sitting for as long as it has. Because im only 27 and I have a lifetime to get her going and enjoy her. Thats my 2 cents.

[RallyeMike]

You already know the answer - you said it yourself: You arent enjoying it as much and its not getting driven much. If you get the itch you can always pick up something later. It's not like the car is a family heirloom or something. Last year I sold a Charger I had personally restored and owned since 1987 for the same reasons.  I don't regret it at all.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Family first Ron...toys second!

Good luck in what ever you decide

[resq302]

Ron,

I was in the same situation as you three years ago this coming month.  My wife and I were in the market for a house and we had money set aside but not really enough to make a dent in the payments so after a long and regretful process my charger was up for sale.  It felt like I had to bury one of my kids.  Luckily, I have a very understanding and loving family who helped me through it by my mom giving me some money and my grandmother giving me an "advancement" on my inheritance as she called it.  Both of them knew all of the hard work I put into my charger and also did not want to see me sell it as they knew I would have been an emotional wreck afterwards.

I know what you mean about not driving it as much as you used to as I was in the same boat too once I had my first daughter.  Money got tight and car shows were on a restricted basis due to finances.  However, if you ever have a stressful day, you know that you could always go home and take the charger out and pound the pavement to relieve a little stress.  I know it does for me.  The only downfall is that it just means that the tires will need to be replaced at a faster rate if I don't learn to relax another way.   

[Dino]

If you can get what you want without selling the Charger then sure, keep it.  But $150/month for a really big paperweight adds up fast and that's money you will need.  I disagree with statements like 'if I sell now I'll never find another'.  There are plenty Chargers out there, prices have fluctuated for years, it is not a fact that 10 years from now they will be either all gone or worth a million bucks.  That's the same line I heard ten years ago and look where we are now.

You clearly now your priorities and I do hope you can find a way to have your cake and eat it, but the Charger should really be the lower priority here.  I sold mine a year ago and am now looking for another one, a better one.  I don't regret selling it, you do what yo have to do.

[y3chargerrt]

My soon to be 3 year old grandson is making it harder to sell. He loves "Pa's racecar". He was playing with his hot wheels yesterday. He was picking up each one and saying this is not a Mopar and throwing it aside. When he found a mopar he says this is a Mopar and parks it in line. The funny thing is hes always right. He has one green 69 Charger and it tells me this is yoru racecar Pa.
    I took him to his first car show last september. We won a trophy and I carried him up to get it and the woman handed it to him. Everytime he sees it he says "Thats the trophy I won". So the spark may return when hes a bit older and goes to more shows. I will start doing the budgeting this up comming week to see what I can swing. I have more then eonough in my 401K to borrow for the down payment if I have to. I can always sell the Charger later if things get to tight.
    If I do keep the Charger my new place has to have a garage big enough to hold it. The fact that my Charger is stored 12 plus miles away makes it tough to run out and work on it for a bit after work. If it was parked in the garage at home that alone may help the spark to return.

[stripedelete]

1. It's a great time to buy.  I just stole one from Freddie Mac.  I cleared my throat and they came down $30K.  So start kickin' the bushes.

2.  Family first!  That's why you should only have pay for 1/2 or 2/3 of your daughters education.   Take it from the "poster child" for under achievers, paying for the whole thing is not doing her any favors. 

3. If you decide to sell, you won't find a better home for your car than Bakerhillpins.

4. Good luck.  It's a tough call......

[SRT-68]

Make the house happen first, and as others have said you can get another Charger.  Being able to pay off the house in 15 years is a great goal. Get a house with a garage and build a Charger with your grandson. The moments spent building a car with him are worth way more than a carshow. Right now project cars are going for $3-5k. My 4 year old loves cars and is real good with his hands from the building of my car.

[y3chargerrt]

I am leaning towards selling. Finding a house with a large enough of a garage in my price range is limiting my options some. Who is this Bakerhillpins?? I assume he my Charger would be going to a good home if I sell to him? Ron

[Neal_J]

Sell it.

There's no shame in admitting you've moving on to another phase in life. 

It's a chunk of metal not a member of the family.

If you decide you want one again someday, there's always gonna be another chunk of metal  for sale.

Neal

[NHCharger]

I am leaning towards selling. Finding a house with a large enough of a garage in my price range is limiting my options some. Who is this Bakerhillpins?? I assume he my Charger would be going to a good home if I sell to him? Ron

Ron, I sent you his cell #

[Sendero]

My input ( I am 48 with 2 kids in college)

I don't know your specific situation but in general I would not sell..why?

1.The housing market has not reached the bottom yet ( foreclosure rates are still sky high accounting for 28% of all home sales. Banks are holding a huge inventory of homes in technical default but not reflected in the market..yet. When these homes go into the market...another price adjustment down will occur. ( Mortgage underwater)

2. The economy is in contraction again so buying now is a bad time to take out a loan. ( if you had lots of money in hand  - now would be be a decent time to buy but if you don't have that free cash laying around...reconsider.

3. Selling a "hidden" asset in a deflationary period is poor timing.

4. Buying a house on a 15 year mortgage is usually a good idea... especially with high interest rates. Not the case today ( historic lows/cheap money)

5. Buying a house at 48 might not be a good idea especially if you don't have a down saved already.  Down-sizing at your age may be better option. If you can't afford even selling your larger home for a smaller home ( with a small profit from the outcome) ....reconsider.

....unless the house has a great big garage!

6. Borrowing from a 401k is typically viewed as a bad choice ( though using yourself as your own bank has it own advantages) . If number 2 on my list leads to loss of employment, you will lose the amount borrowed from your plan immediately and then have to pay taxes on that amount to the IRS as  " additional income" . OUCH ! And then go into default on the mortgage. Double Ouch!

7. Its a Charger and you will kick your self if 1-6 comes to pass and you lose your Charger too (future value lose - fun loss)

On the surface of your situation, I see alot of financial risk and not a hell of a lot of reward for it.

Just my 2 cents...Good luck !

[chargermike]

thats a beautiful charger. i would keep it if you can. even if you can replace it. it would not be the same. i had a aar cuda and sold it and have wanted another ever since. but cant afford one now. just to much. sometime there not just cars there family. good luck with your new house.

[TUFCAT]

I am leaning towards selling. Finding a house with a large enough of a garage in my price range is limiting my options some. Who is this Bakerhillpins?? I assume he my Charger would be going to a good home if I sell to him? Ron

Bakerhillpins is a really great guy.  I met him and his boys at Carlisle last year and I've talked to him several times since. He's been looking for a Charger for about 16 months now. He's dealt with his share of fluffed-up cars, unscrupulous sellers, and deals that have fell through. He deserves a good car.

I can't think of a better endorsement than if I sold my Coronet to Bryan, I'd sleep well knowing it went to a good home.

[Kern Dog]

I'm in a similar spot here.
The recession has affected the construction industry to the point where I have only averaged 6 months of work in each of the last 4 years. I have been able to stay afloat due to a few factors, the main one being married to a well paid spouse. Still, it appears that to stay ahead and have a small amount of reserve cash, I'll be selling my Duster. I love this car. Its not as nice as the Charger, but I really enjoy the car.
I bought it for $300 as a 1974 Plymouth "Gold Duster". It was a slant sick, 904, 7.25 sled with disc brakes. Its been welded, massaged, converted and cloned to appear like a 71 Duster 340 with B5 blue paint (Original color!) Hood blackout with Twin snorkel scoop and "340" callouts. I rebuilt a 360 mill from a 79 Cordoba and converted the car to an 833 4 speed. I slipped in a Coronet 8 3/4 axle with 3.55 gears and a SG diff. Its been my only 4 speed Mopar out of 30 that I have owned over the years.
For me, I know that re-creating this type of car in ten years won't be nearly as difficult as finding a Charger or Road Runner. Although I hate to see this car go, there were many of these cars built. Your case is different though. I could not imagine what it would take for me to sell my Charger. I have no kids and my nephews are too young to know what it is. I have nobody to "will" it to, so I may die with it.

[Supercharged Riot]

dont worry about it  man.  I was thinking about selling my car too.
Actually, the car meant a lot more to me than I thought.

You'll def miss it if you sell it.
These cars are like hot girls.....hard to get and expensive.  and easy to lose.

I havent seen any chargers for relatively low prices anymore. and they are rare as hell.

I vote that you keep the car. good luck with life challenges man. 

[y3chargerrt]

I will talk to a real estate agent probably today. The economy isn't as bad here as in alot of the country. I live right in between Washington Dc and Baltimore. The unemployment rate never got about 8% due to the large number of federal employees here. I don't think if I buy now with the low prices and low interest rates that I will end up under water.
    I have worked on electron microscopes for the same company for 25 1/2 years. Its a international company so I feel pretty safe with my job situation (knock on wood!). We have held our own through the downturn. If I can swing both a new house and the Charger I will but I dont want to be a slave to my mortgage payment. I'll keep your guys posted. Ron