consolidation time???

[CHICO2003]

When I got my new (on the road sales) job a few months back I decided my beautiful orange MSP didn't deserve the kind of punishment the job entailed. Since they give me a fairly lucrative car allowance, getting a beater was the way to go.

I figured I'd garage the Speed... take her out on weekends... and slowly build her into a show car. Well, that dream is sort've fading away... I guess this job is taking a lot out of me and my priorities in life have changed. Bottom line, I want to cut my overall costs down a little and actually enjoy driving the car I'm in most of the day while I'm working. The Speed is not going to become that car for it would quickly jump the shark in the "wow, that thing looks brand new" department.

My solutions appears to be a simple one. Though a "better" overall car, the sheer fact that they come in more "maintainable" colors combined with the fact that they seem to be everywhere makes it the kind of car that might fit my needs a bit more. I'm talking about the WRX.

I don't want to have to worry about where I'm parking my car and whose going to mess with it (solely because of the color mind you) while I'm with a client. I can go on and on but this thread wasn't supposed to be about why I'm strongly thinking about making this move...

What do you guys think I'll get for a trade-in on my MSP? Kelly Blue Book doesn't seem to recognize the fact that our cars even exist! I realize that, since it's still relatively new, and the market seems to be predominantly geared towards the SRT's and WRX's.... that I'll most likely be hard pressed to break even ($15,500) but I at least want to be close!

Currently I've got 14k miles on it... tinted windows... boost and A/F gauge...turbo timer... Injen CAI... I think that's it. oh, I "upgraded" head units to a kick ass clarion that matches the reddish/orange lighting in the car. My tires are also 1k miles new.

The more I think about this the more it FVCKING SUCKS!!! But what good is a car I never drive? If I had a more typical type of job where I drive my ass to an office and park my fanny for 8 hours it would be fine. Those days are long gone and, soon, so might the Speed.

If anyone sees a reason to talk me out of this, by all means... i just don't think it makes any sense at this point.

 

[BinaryRotary]

Ughhhh, don't sell the 'Speed. Dear God, please, not another one sold to some 16 yo kid.

 

[CHICO2003]

LOL so your advice is to simply keep it in my garage and MAYBE drive it once a week (if I'm lucky) while I pay $350/month (payment + insurance) I mean... I might as well buy a horse if I'm gonna piss my money away like that!!!

Seriously... I know it sucks. Either I find some office job or... See, even if I was making crazy money I'd probably still look into this option. Even if I'm able to cut my overall costs down by $50/month... that money can go into an IRA or something.

 

[Ryoga28]

Don't sell your speed...You'll just have the same problems with the wrx. There are a lot of bastards that just don't have any respect for other's property. Just drive it and be prepare for some damages.

 

[CHICO2003]

I'm just not sure I could do that! I saw a black MSP the other day at the gym... it had scratches, dings, and all the usual stuff you see on a used car. Mine doesnt' ahvea ny of that! In fact, there literarlly are NO blemishes inside or out. It's in the EXACT condition it was in brand new. Why? Simple. I baby the hell out of it. Would I if I had got the black one instead? Not nearly as much... there's just something about the color...

you said I'll have the same problem with the WRX. I thought about this as well. Naturally I wouldn't go out of my way to put it in harm's way. But I wouldn't exactly feel as if I'm driving around a ferrari either.

I don't know... this thread has gotten way off the topic. (my fault really) what do you guys think I'll get for a trade in???

 

[surfinflorida]

I don't know... this thread has gotten way off the topic. (my fault really) what do you guys think I'll get for a trade in???

I bought mine one month ago FROM a dealer with 3200 miles on it. I got it for $13500. Some guy had traded it in for a Pontiac Grnad Prix (If you can imagine that). I asked the dealer who much they gave for it after we finished dealing and they said they will make just under $1000 on the deal. That puts the trade amount they gave at $12500 or LESS because they spend money prepping it changing oil, brakes, etc.
I would try to sell it on your own. You can put a nationwide "runs until it sells" ad on autotrader for about 45 bucks. You have waited this long to make this decision, why not list it and just wait to sell it? Also, Ebay is always an option. I have had very good luck with car sales on Ebay.

 

[CHICO2003]

Good idea! Definitely don't have to rush it at this point.... Sounds like you got quite a deal on your car so congrats!

 

[FSDET]

what color is urs i say keep the speed and get a better car in 5 years...
that what im gonna do and keep the speed forever if i dont total it

 

[unwound]

you are one of less than 900 people in the world that own a spicy orange msp. keep it and buy a beater.

 

[luckezero]

I concur with the others; ebay really does draw a large and diverse crowd. at least that way you'll have a baseline for what "the market will bear" and can base your trade-in on that. If you really want to know what trade will be, why don't you just go to your subbie dealer and have them strike up a deal: one with a trade and one without. Tell 'em you'll either be back with the trade or simply with a check from your bank for the new-to-you car.

If I could put in 2 cents, I'd suggest you'd look into previously loved (maybe even preowned) cars. As much as you've babied your 'Speed, I'm sure somebody else has their WRX or [insert car here]. If you are going to be working a ton, driving a lot, expect dings and scratches, and don't want to stir up things at the office ... let me tell ya, it's SO much easier to start out with a slightly used car. I bought my Mazda certified MP3 back in April and, I tell ya, it makes life so much easier. However, if i ever catch the *&^*## that dings my door ... LOL. And FWIW, my car had barely anything cosmetic or mechanical wrong with it .... still today. So it is possible to have a daily driver that stays mint; you've just got to plan ahead

As far as a suggestion, I think you'd be pimp with a E36 3-series (lots of choices in the $teens) or something else that's a drivers car but respectable adult car... or however you want to say it. Just be sure to make buddy with a good mechanic so the dealer doesn't rip you

 

[surfinflorida]

If I could put in 2 cents, I'd suggest you'd look into previously loved (maybe even preowned) cars. As much as you've babied your 'Speed, I'm sure somebody else has their WRX or [insert car here]. If you are going to be working a ton, driving a lot, expect dings and scratches, and don't want to stir up things at the office ... let me tell ya, it's SO much easier to start out with a slightly used car. I bought my Mazda certified MP3 back in April and, I tell ya, it makes life so much easier.

This is SO true. I got a geat deal on my Speed and it was perfect and had such low miles it was like a new car. The difference is that the first owner took the depreciation hit for me. If you do end up with an STI there are already tons for sale used. Most for 25-28K. Beats being the one who buys it new and sells it cheap like you are going to end up doing with your MSP!

 

[mspdfreak]

No kidding. These cars aren't even two years old, and you're already wanting to sell them? Why don't you just take a few grand and flush it down the crapper?!

 

[sickspeed94]

Ughhhh, don't sell the 'Speed. Dear God, please, not another one sold to some 16 yo kid.

i'd like to take serious offense to that, being that i'm 17, make my own car payments, and AM NOT a ricer. (weakest), i consider myself an enthusiats. although i may not know everything about my car, i'm sure there is someone here that is more responsible, and more knowledgable than you or anyone on this message board... please don't make openly ignorant statements like that, and don't stereotype


case in point, my friend's dad is about 40 something and drives an automatic vette with ghost flame chemelion stripes/ flames, 20 inch chromes and more neons than an SRT4 convention parked next to an all girls school. and should i mention the horribly tall eiffel tower (uhh.. wing?) on the back?

deeply appologize for the thread jack and really sorry for offending anyone, just had to defent my right as a responsible young man.