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Thinning the heard

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There are currently 6 cars sitting on my .5 acre lot in the village. the immobile Porsche 944 and immobile VW Bus are filling the garage. the VW type 3 and BMW 318is are hanging out in the yard, and out dailies fill both spots in the driveway. Now, 6 cars in my opinion is a good start. but not on half an acre. Not to mention I've never had a budget to restore and maintain one classic, let alone 4. So I gotta make things more reasonable.
My passion lies in the camper Bus, and it's in good shape, so it stays.
The Porsche was always supposed to be a flip. I got it cheap with a melted electrical harness. The harness is fixed. I need a new headlight switch, and a clutch slave cylinder to make it drivable, then a good cleanup and it's off to craigslist.
Next is the VW type 3. It's a rot box. I paid too much for it to help out a friend (I'm ok with that) it is barely on the road, and really has no resale value. It's one redeeming quality is it's weird and really cool. It'll probably stay just because I'd take a bath selling it now. Of course if someone offered me a good deal, down the road it goes.
Last on the list is the BMW. We've owned this car for 9 years. Have put maybe 30K on it, and it's ready for some love. It's still in good shape, but it's due for a tune-up, tires, and a few other things. It's big bonus is that it's a '91 318is. That specific model, on that specific year is highly sought after right now. Chances are we can get a comfortable sum out of it. I'm torn on this one. I like the car. It has served as a backup daily more than once. It's fun to drive, but I've never considered it a vintage/classic. The E 30s are becoming that, but It never has held that appeal for me. I guess that's why I could part with it. It never "Tripped my trigger" so to speak. I like it, but I'm not in love with it.
Quirky, old ,weird..... I've never been all about performance. Time to shed the unnecessary and finish what I really want. I'm just writing it down to get my head around it. It's all for sale. whaddya think?:welcoming:
 
My two cents: if you need the space, and don't care about a "thing" - might as well get rid of it.

I'm dense: what are "out dailies"?

Tom
 
I've done a bunch of thinking about "stuff" over the years. Our stuff tends to own us as much as we own it. I find that with limited resources, I can get more enjoyment out of going deeper into fewer things -- so I'm a one car, one bike guy now and will do my best to keep it that way. With this in mind, that one car and one bike need to stir the soul, otherwise they get moved on. Selling my MGB last fall was a difficult choice -- I really liked that car, it needed nothing, and was fun to drive. Problem was I never really loved it, so when faced with the opportunity to pick up Penny (the RHD Bugeye) out went the MGB.

So were I in your shoes, I'd take a long look at that list of cars. You mention that the camper bus is really your passion. Okay, that means the other 3 are just distractions. My advice is to sell the BMW, Porsche, and the Type 3. With just the bus as your "passion" vehicle you can devote ALL your resources to it and really get it to where you want it to be.

As for the selling price of the Type 3, look up the "sunk cost fallacy" -- that purchase price is already gone, so don't worry about it. At this point, even giving the car away is probably a good move, as it frees up time, space, and future spending that you could direct to the bus.
 
Its a tough thing to do but sometimes needs to be done, I did the same a few years back.
 
"In demand" 318? Never heard of one (not saying, just saying). The only in-demand 4cyl E30 I know of is the M3. Move the VW too, the E30 will help fill the whole the VW created. That's how wholesalers look at things but the trick is you gotta move them all at once and the space becomes the juice.

FWIW there was a nice 325 is here that went for $3500. I would have bought it but I needed to move something else first.
 
My two cents: if you need the space, and don't care about a "thing" - might as well get rid of it.

I'm dense: what are "out dailies"?

Tom

Daily drivers, aka DD's. It's when he keeps his danglies in the drive you gotta worry. :jester:
 
Ben, Give me a call sometime,& I'll tell you about the 8+ vehicles around here,& how neurotic they can make you. I'm still trying to deal with the possible sale of our TR6.We've had it since '95.I'd like to get a good price for it,but want to be honest with the possible buyer.I'mthinking of trying to lose the sale,buy pointing out the flaws,versus painting a nicepicture of it,selling it. - Doug
 
I have no problems letting go of the extras around here. There's too much. I'm sinking. I guess I like the Type 3 enough that I want to keep it around a bit. It's a fun little car. But I wouldn't cry if someone wanted to buy it.

Yup "out dailies" is referring to my Daily drivers. my Dailies. I don't know where the "out" came from...
As for the 318, I felt the same. no one wants the 4-banger E30, or so I thought, but it seems that specifically the 1991 318is (The "is" is important) is somewhat of a cult car. just a notch under the M3 in desirability It all has to do with the engine. The 91 is the only E30 with the M42 (I think that's right) engine that they put in the later E36 cars. It's often labeled "the poor man's M3" I'm still not a big BMW guy, so I don't get the desire for it. It is a snappy little car with the revs up over 3K. Either way, it seems a good market to sell as there are people searching for them, and mine is in pretty good original shape.
 
:lol: All the BMW guys I know all say don't get the 4 banger. Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt you one bit but the biggest complaint I heard about the M3 is that it is a buzzy little car that will beat your teeth out. I here ya on the IS part, but for me it would have to be behind a three, a two and a five.

If you ever got slung around Road Atlanta in one you would totally get it. :friendly_wink:
 
My brother has a 2013 BMW 320 (2.0 turbo). Nice car!

As far as any "thinning", I'm failing miserably. :friendly_wink:

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Jeez Nial - there's at least 500 square feet of empty space in that yard ...

:jester:
 
I wouldn't mention no test drives till after they show up and completely drop any mention of you buying as a project. It makes it sound like a quick flip. This reads better:

" It has been in storage about 5 years, it starts and runs good, brakes and clutch work. It is drivable, but it will require a going through before daily use. I'd keep it but I have too many other projects going and I need the space."
 
Thanks Billy, Edit complete...
 
You plan on driving folks in it? Kinda hard to sell a question mark.
 
Can't drive it legally. no plates. I'd have to insure and register it to do that. It's probably put me back $300 and then I'd have to wait a month or more for the title co come back from the DMV.
 
Dude, put plates from anything on it and drive them down the street. Y'aint gotta get all legal beagle for a quick spin. Besides, if THEY are driving it, THEY get the ticket. Let 'em drive it with the understanding it comes with some risk from LEOs. I'd most certainly go with them too.
 
Y'aint gotta get all legal beagle for a quick spin.

:laugh: Famous last words... This ain't the south my friend. Up here you'd get whacked with miss-use of plates AFTER you've been tazed and treated like a bigger terrorist than Osama BinDeadGuy.
 
Dude, put plates from anything on it and drive them down the street. Y'aint gotta get all legal beagle for a quick spin. Besides, if THEY are driving it, THEY get the ticket. Let 'em drive it with the understanding it comes with some risk from LEOs. I'd most certainly go with them too.

It's all fun and games until somebody puts an eye out. Let's say the test pilot runs over a heart surgeon crossing the street, crushing his hand. Sure the driver gets sued, but so do you. And guess who doesn't have any insurance? And even if you get lucky, and you get pulled over before your driver runs over the surgeon, guess who, in many jurisdictions, gets a ticket for allowing an unregistered vehicle to be driven ... the owner.
 
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