Tough question time folks 

"Shift24" (the-nope) 06/20/2016 at 15:25 • Filed to: Serious Cereal time

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When you do you know when to move on from a vehicle?

Alright background: I have be looking for a tow vehicle for track day (more like dirt day) and maybe down the road to tow a camper. Reason being is I have been racing my Accord for a year now and its about time to stop driving it to the events and trailer it. Mainly because there is always a chance something goes wrong and Im not going to be able to fix it in a field.

So right now I am looking to replace my 96 k1500 with a GMT 400 or 800 Suburban 4x4. Now the k1500 brand new would tow it but due to 20 years of Ohio salt the frame isnt safe enough to pull it. And of course I had plans to fix it and it has sentimental value but its going to cost a small fortune (which i don’t have) to repair the truck the way I want to.

I have been told numerous times to get rid of it but how do you say goodbye to a old friend?

A S2k Spoon hardtop for your time

TheHondaBro > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:32

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Usually when your car starts acting like a bitch. Then it’s easier to pull the trigger.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:34

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Sell it or pass it onto someone you know? Perhaps a younger cousin or kid of a friend who could use a vehicle? Big truck = safety, and some mechanical issues = a good learning experience for a new driver. That way you don’t have to completely say goodbye, as you might still see it around from time to time.

Shift24 > TheHondaBro 06/20/2016 at 15:36

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True but it doesnt look like a bitch lol. And to be honest there isnt much wrong (other than the A/C, fuck that noise) and actually has low miles for its age.

E90M3 > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:37

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I had my first car for 9.5 years, kept it even when I got my M3, there was a decent amount of sentimental value. I was driving back to Corpus Christi from San Antonio and at 79 mph, the engine just turned off. I eventually got it restarted and drove the rest of the way home. Two weeks later I traded it in on a 128i, it was time.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:39

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Buick Roadmaster Wagon. Seriously. It’s all the car and truck you’ll ever need.

d15b > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:42

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Keep it and let it enjoy it’s retirement doing groceries, Home Depot runs and junkyard runs.

Berang > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:43

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Any time after it rolls off a cliff.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:44

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‘99 Suburban owner here. Keep the old truck. Mine has had 17 years and 263,000 miles of Canadian winters and is holding up fine. These are great work trucks, the likes of which aren’t made anymore. Maintain your truck and keep it for another eon. It might outlast you

Nothing > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:44

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I’ve never had an old friend. My vehicles tend to stay with me no longer than 18 months or so. I’m trying desperately to kick that trend with my current set of the Taco and Cougar. Of course, I’ve only had each of them about a year, give or take a month or two.

Shift24 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/20/2016 at 15:46

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Very true and for me it was a great truck to learn on. Very simple stuff GM has been using since forever. I have been thinking of putting out near the High School near my parents and selling it to a kid looking for his first truck. So I might see it every once and awhile in the parking lot. Though selling it to a friend or family might be a good idea. It needs some body work (99% rust removal) and some general maintenance down the road but it still runs like a champ.

Shift24 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/20/2016 at 15:49

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Funny story, buddy had a 65 Buick sport wagon with a tow package but he sold it to a guy in Kentucky. would have been a cool ride. A Roadmater would be nice but isnt the tow package what you need to tow 7k? and arent they rare to have the package?

Shift24 > Nothing 06/20/2016 at 15:55

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Buddy whos a tech is the same way. He sees what comes through his shop and changes his car every year. Though the Cougar you might want to hold on too. Those are getting rarer and rarer. And the Taco just because resale value of those things are sky high.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:55

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All that the towing package comes with is a a self leveling suspension, LSD, and AT cooler. Still body-on-frame SBC V8 Turbo-Hydramatic goodness. Self leveling’s whatever, LSD isn’t needed, and AT cooler’s an easy install.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 15:58

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Rip the band-aid off. I recently had to do this. Do it quickly, don’t prolong it otherwise you won’t get rid of it. List it for a solid price, high enough not to be a potential flip but low enough to move it relatively quickly.

This will hurt, but as much as we want to humanize our cars, they aren’t. They are hunks of steel, glass, plastic, and rubber. You have to detach. Think of all the things wrong with it and focus on what you will be getting next. That should help.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 16:00

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I got rid of my first car when it actively prevented me from doing things (in this case from driving because it was badly broken.)

Shift24 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 06/20/2016 at 16:01

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Very true the GMT 400s were built like Rocks. But this one was a plow and salt spreader truck in NE Ohio and the salt has just eaten it up. I mean we have already repaired the frame once 3 years ago and the tail gate rusted off. Im just worried what might happen if I try towing with it.

Shift24 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 06/20/2016 at 16:04

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Which is a very valid reason.

Die-Trying > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 16:05

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you could always round up a donor frame from the south, and swap the driveline/body into it. you would probably have more time, than money into it.

Nothing > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 16:10

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Agreed on both counts. I really have purchased the Taco with the intent of it being my son’s vehicle when he’s 16. He has 9 and half years to go. I’m taking a picture of him in the driver’s seat each year as motivation. The Cougar is on a 10 year plan, too, although with as little budget I’m getting towards that, it might end up being a 20 year plan.

Shift24 > Future next gen S2000 owner 06/20/2016 at 16:10

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Thats one of my faults is I humanize it and its tough to get over that hurdle. And thats what i am thinking of doing. I was going to fix the hole in the exhaust and try to move on.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 16:15

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At what point is your safety worth less to you than the vehicle is?

Future next gen S2000 owner > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 16:20

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Don’t beat yourself up to much. I sold my car in February to get a truck. I just emailed the buyer to tell them that if they ever decide to part ways with it, let me know.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 16:21

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If this one rusts out, just buy another GMT 400. Great trucks. Shitty fuel pumps haha

Shift24 > Die-Trying 06/20/2016 at 16:23

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I have seen some of the swaps but with no access to a lift it would be difficult as heck to swap frames. Even so it might be worth it to do somemore more digging

Shift24 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 06/20/2016 at 16:33

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Surprisingly haven’t had an issue with it, probably 1 in a million though lol. And that’s what I’m looking into tonight. It’s a 99 Suburban 4x4 with a ton of recent maintenance done (fuel pump, A/C, brakes, shocks, tires, pitman arm, also very common, and so on) and less miles than I have on my current truck. He is selling it because he bought an excursion...

Die-Trying > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 16:34

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a lift makes it a snap......... without one, its just more.... time consuming?? about all you’d need would be an engine hoist, and some 50 gallon barrels some 2x12s, and an open field.

about the only spots youd want to rush is the getting some kind of frame back underneath so nothing gets dropped in a high wind.

yeah, its slightly more involved, but what i mean, is that if you WANT to do it, you can FIND a way to make it happen.

Shift24 > Future next gen S2000 owner 06/20/2016 at 16:48

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I honestly never thought of that. I normally sell cars for everyone else and don’t care what happens to their cars. I’ll definitely have to do that when i go to sell it, you never know might be one day I’ll see it again.

Shift24 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/20/2016 at 16:49

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Very good point. Didnt think of it that way but makes total sense.

Shift24 > Die-Trying 06/20/2016 at 17:00

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Yep goes back to if there is a will there is away. Would be interesting to find a roll over or something and do the swap. Welp off to google lol.

Die-Trying > Berang 06/20/2016 at 17:02

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already have a donor cab........just in caase......

Ssfancyfresh > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 17:03

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It’s tough. I’ve had different cars that are associated with memories from different stages of my life. Saying goodbye meant more than getting a new car. It was a transitional period.

I have an engineering background. Each time I would ask myself, “Does this vehicle meet the functional requirements?” It’s easier to move on when the answer is no. It’s no longer an emotional decision.

Viggen > Shift24 06/20/2016 at 18:37

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When you no longer turn around to look at it or you no longer smile when driving it.

JDMatt > Shift24 06/21/2016 at 03:33

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When you buy something else, and you promise yourself that you’ll keep your old car as a backup car. Then reality sets in. The car hasn’t moved in over a month and the battery is dead. When a car stops being transportation and becomes a waste of space, it’s time to move on.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Shift24 06/21/2016 at 04:53

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I still drive my old 505 that I bought when I was in high school, I’ve been working for 3 years now, have bought plenty of other cars in the meantime, but my daily driver is still the old Pug. It runs and drives quite well, but there are a lot of small issues to fix, and it needs bodywork and a full repaint, sometines I think I should just replace it, but I know I would hate myself afterwards.