When is it time?

[Pilgrim]

I hate to do it, but I've listed my 1983 280ZX Turbo in the classifieds. I bought that car in Texas in 1990, and I've taken great care of it ever since.

When is it time to turn loose of a car you've owned for 20 years? It's tough.

I have that ZX and a 1958 Fiat Spyder roadster...and I don't need two 2-seat sports cars. The Fiat was my 1968 high school graduation present, and it has been in storage since 1973. I keep wanting to finish it - but it seems like every weekend, I have to do something to the ZX or one of our other cars.

Here's a Fiat promo photo of my Spyder:

Now both daughters have moved out, but the ZX still takes most of my available time. The Fiat has been taking up my side of the garage for 12 years, waiting for me to put in the 10 to 20 hours that would finish it....and I'm halfway done.

And to tell the truth, I'm tired of keeping up with the ZX. It runs great and it's fun to drive, I know every detail of it, but the vacuum hoses need replaced - and the washer pump isn't working - and there's a slow current drain I've been trying to find. None of these matter a lot or are that hard to fix, but I'm tired of having a ZX that's 98% perfect but still needs tweaks. :disappoin

So although I hate to do it and it hurts, I'm selling the ZX so that I can get that Fiat back on the road after nearly 40 years. It's not a road car (top speed is about 75), but it's a fun in-town car.

What about you? Are you close to calling "time out" on one of your treasured cars?

Edited August 21, 2010 by Pilgrim

[motorman7]

That fiat is a very nice looking car. I don't blame you.

I am planning on selling my silver Z and getting a 1600 roadster. It's the car I went through high school and college with. Really looking forward to having one again.

[sblake01]

What about you? Are you close to calling "time out" on one of your treasured cars?

I did that with three of mine last year.

[Pilgrim]

Interesting. I'm sitting here hurting because of this decision, but I know I need to do it. I've been driving Datsun L6 Z-cars since 1974.

[sblake01]

Until last year, I had owned a Datsun of one type or another since 1970. The hurt gets easier to deal with but it never really goes away.

[Pilgrim]

We recently bought a 2007 Nissan Murano and it's a really fun crossover, but it doesn't scratch the sports car itch very well.

[sblake01]

I have a 2005 Pontiac GTO. Lots of fun to drive but a sports car it's not.

[Darrel]

you need to drive it more. A couple weeks ago we had a group of about 19 cars take 9 mtn passes in one day and ended up in ft collins. But we didn't have a 280zx. We had 10 s30's, one z32, a couple of 350z, 370 etc.

[psdenno]

I still own my first car - bought it in 1967 and can't let go. I've had the Z since '71, the Avanti since '75, and the 914-6 since '92. My wife, the psychologist, says I'm auto-retentive. A few cars have come and gone over the years, but they were just transportation. I feel your pain.

Dennis

[Inf]

What happened to your Fiat after only having it for 5 years to necessitate being put in storage ever since?

[doradox]

I had a 62 1200 spyder when I was 17. It was a really fun car but as you alluded to not too fast. It's one I often wish I still had.

Steve

[Z train]

You'll be fixing that Fiat a lot more than the Z.