Should I trade in or keep my 99 Trans Am
#1
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Should I trade in or keep my 99 Trans Am
So today my master and slave cylinders went out in my transmission and the repair bill is going to be 1400 dollars per the repair shop I took it to. I don't have the resources to do the repair myself nor do I have the time with my busy schedule.
I'm at an impass here as I've been holding onto the T/A under the pre-tense that it might be worth something some day. The car is at 83000 miles right now and I feel I'm at the point where I need to either bite the bullet and repair the car and keep it or just let it go and pick up a newer car.
So my question is... is the car worth holding onto? It's in decent shape otherwise. The only real problem is I wouldn't be able to garage it once I bought the new car and the new car would set me back a bit as I'm probably going to buy a Challanger (sorry but I can't pass up the lifetime warranty).
Just looking for some wise words and advice. I've not been on these forums in ages...
Thanks!
I'm at an impass here as I've been holding onto the T/A under the pre-tense that it might be worth something some day. The car is at 83000 miles right now and I feel I'm at the point where I need to either bite the bullet and repair the car and keep it or just let it go and pick up a newer car.
So my question is... is the car worth holding onto? It's in decent shape otherwise. The only real problem is I wouldn't be able to garage it once I bought the new car and the new car would set me back a bit as I'm probably going to buy a Challanger (sorry but I can't pass up the lifetime warranty).
Just looking for some wise words and advice. I've not been on these forums in ages...
Thanks!
#4
Damn :O Slave cylinder went out in my BMW and it cost under $300 to replace, including labor.
No hate on the Challengers, cause I like the Hemi, but they're so damn big...Only challenger I would ever own is a '70 R/T.
I say keep it, or shop around for another Trans Am.
No hate on the Challengers, cause I like the Hemi, but they're so damn big...Only challenger I would ever own is a '70 R/T.
I say keep it, or shop around for another Trans Am.
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#8
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Trust me, im exactly where you are at now....a few months ago. But think about this. Is your car paid off? You say its in decent shape. I do think, if you fix the problems your having now, it will put your confidence back into keeping you car. Think of this - Do you want car payments? Do you want a car that practically is every where? Or, do you want to own a car thats pretty damn easy on the eyes and hardly seen on the road? My own father talked me OUT of trading my `02 WS6 in. Not because i would have car payments again, but he said...its just a damn good looking car!! That sold me on keeping my car. I say keep it. If you can swing it, buy a truck or something and keep your miles low on your car....thats my plan.
#9
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If the only reason you would consider keeping the car is because it "might be worth something some day", then I would sell it and get something that you like more.
IMO, holding onto a car for potential future value is a bad reason. Most cars don't become extremely valuable, they just get old. You should only keep it if YOU like it enough, regardless of what the market says it's worth. Only in very rare cases will a person make a net profit on a car that they've kept around for 30-40 years or more. In the vast majority of cases, cars are a poor investment and should not be counted on to appreciate - especially when kept in service as a driver.
IMO, holding onto a car for potential future value is a bad reason. Most cars don't become extremely valuable, they just get old. You should only keep it if YOU like it enough, regardless of what the market says it's worth. Only in very rare cases will a person make a net profit on a car that they've kept around for 30-40 years or more. In the vast majority of cases, cars are a poor investment and should not be counted on to appreciate - especially when kept in service as a driver.
#14
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If you like your car, fix it.
Future worth?? An F-body with 80,000+ miles is not worth anything special and won't be for a long time, maybe never, as there are dozens of very low mileage cars available on the market every single week. People are not lining up to buy them. In 10 years you will probably still find some very low mileage F-bodies around which will still make yours worth very little in comparison. If you like your car, keep it, but don't do it for the wrong reason.
Future worth?? An F-body with 80,000+ miles is not worth anything special and won't be for a long time, maybe never, as there are dozens of very low mileage cars available on the market every single week. People are not lining up to buy them. In 10 years you will probably still find some very low mileage F-bodies around which will still make yours worth very little in comparison. If you like your car, keep it, but don't do it for the wrong reason.
#15
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That repair estimate sounds high especially if this is the car in your signature with the ls2 flywheel and ls7 clutch. Find another shop to repair it since you don't have the desire or resources to do it yourself and then place the car for sale with a solid price. If it sells for a reasonable price then let it go - if not, hang on to it a while and enjoy. Whatever you do don't trade it in broken! You won't get near the value out it no matter what the dealer tells you.
#17
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That is too easy of a repair to do so you should just keep the car man. With those miles the so called collectibility has gone out the window, not to say your car isnt worth anything its just not going to bring a ton of money.
I will only ever sell my car if it means living in it if I didnt lol.
I will only ever sell my car if it means living in it if I didnt lol.
#18
Your name is Trans Am Man. A true Trans Am Man would fix the bitch. So fix it. You say you would get a Challenger. The V8 Challengers I've seen ain't cheap. Maybe you're talking about a V6 Challenger? Now is that gonna be more fun to drive than your Trans Am? I would say no.
Last edited by homerz28; 09-12-2012 at 06:36 PM.