After 8 years and close to 120k miles, I am considering a new car (currently looking at the 2011 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 Limited). I brought my Z brand new back in March of 2003 and loved every second of it. My garage only fits two and wifey got the other spot so I am at a point of thinking if I should keep the Z. It kills me to have my Z parked outside and no, I will not park my new car outside either. Has anyone experience this where you cannot let go of your pride and joy, yet, desire for something more advanced and new (as well as more practical)? What did you do and how did you cope with the separation? I also hate to think my Z will end up with some kid's hands and not treat it with love and respect. Am I the only one going through this?

 

Keep it as a play toy, i would have to bet its paid off.

 

+1 just keep it.

 

Keep it. wont be worth much on trade it. So no point. Your original owner. Keep it.

 

It is a hard decision. I also want something new, being in the same situation as the OP.
OP, in your case, sounds like you want a "new car". Sell your Z privately, and buy the 4runner...it just makes sense.

 

If you have the money, keep the car. I bet you paid it off by now huh? You can always get a carport or car cover.

If you dont need it anymore, then sell it privately. Good luck with your descision.

 

Keep Z!

 

Please keep it..ESPECIALLY if it's paid off.

 

I had the same issue, sort of. I had a 2003 Daytona Blue Touring 6MT, bought new from a stealership. My wife and I bought a house in the country and the Z was not practical due to 4-5 months of snow. I sold the Z privately and bought a 2006 F-150. A week after I got rid of the Z (it was paid off) I was looking every night for another Z online. I ended up buying the exact same car that I had gotten rid of but a 2005. My wife said she did not care if we both lost our jobs the last thing we would get rid of was the Z. Have had the 2005 ever since and if I get rid of the Z it will be for a GTR or Porsche. Keep it and save yourself the hassle of buying another one

 

put too much into it, not worth selling it. paid off so ill just enjoy it for awhile.

 

KEEP!

 

I am experiencing a tender moment.

 

i'd be disappointed as well to find out that my Z ended up with a 17 yr old kid

 

Yup. Own the Z free and clear. We live in a town house so parking it outside is a minor problem plus I hate to have it parked outside since I garaged it since day one. Selling it and parting out will get me back plus/minus $10k which is a pretty sizable down payment and not struggle with higher monthly payments. If selling it privately, I would have more control over who takes over. Then again, you can't trust just anybody these days.

 

Being that it's paid off, just keep it. If you're like any other Z owner and like to mod then you're gonna be sorry when it's gone.

 

+1, keep it.

 

the one thing about the Z ive found is that for some reasons it remans very fun to drive.
It never gets old.. which is VERY odd.

Look at what you paid for your car in 2003, and if you financed, do the math and look at what you paid out of pocket for the car.. at an average interest rate, ( and if you made all regular scheduled payments, if you took a 60 mo loan, you probably paid almost fifty thousand dollars out of pocket for the car.

Whats it worth now?

Probably a retail of 9999.99.

( im doing this all so you can win the argument w your wife over why this makes sense to keep your car too btw haha)

So theres no point of getting rid of the car when your loss will be so great, and on a car that still runs fantastic, ( and is practical in the maitenance sense).. and is still fun. Its different if it was a piecer. But they are awesome dependable cars.


Now on the other hand, whats the opportunity cost of taking that 9999.99 price for it?
If you ARE going to buy the new car and its not up for discussion, then you must look at what that 1ok will really do for your next few years on a car loan.
You spent 46k on your last car.... look at what youd finance on the new one with and without the large trade in bump from the Z...

You'll likely see that if you plan on paying the 4 runner off slowly by financing, the end resut is going to be insanely expensive, or just a touch more insaley expensive after 60 months.

But the dealer will now have your Z, and you will have paid a very very large sum of money over ten years to end up with only one car out of the deal..


And THAT is why i feel ok to dump cash into mine.. opportunity cost of selling is far les than the benefit of keeping.

 

mines paid off...keepin' it...def won't get what i think it's worth

 

yep. mine will be the family race car/project car perpetually in shambles for a very long time, i forsee.
If i was back in Alaska, id say it will end up a car that sits in the yard at some point.. its the way it goes..

 

I just went through the same situation. My problem was that I never had time to take the Z out and when I did have time, my two young kids made it impractical. I had my 04 for 6 years and it had 18000 miles on it. Came to the point where it was just taking up space. I had some fun with it. Autocrossed some, did a few track days etc. I couldn't believe that the book value was only 13K. I ended up selling it to a dealer for $13500. Exactly half what I paid for it in 2005. It hurt though, I just liked seeing it parked in the garage.