Thinking out loud

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
06/29/2018 at 14:45 • Filed to: None

The Miata, or at least a Miata... Is likely a forever car. I’m not getting rid of it. That said, I recently went from four vehicles to one, and the urge to diversify a bit has been building.

Pretty much have two options at this point. One is a bike, one is a wagon. I’ve owned a bike before, and I’ve owned a wagon. But they were an order of magnitude less interesting than what I’m looking at now.

On the one hand there is the Monster 821. Maybe not the smartest choice to jump into from a Ninja 300, but it checks the right boxes for me. I think it’s one of the most beautiful bikes out there, seems to be quite capable, sounds fantastic (going off of AMGtech’s 1200 here)... And I think I could be happy with it for a long time. I remember going on dates with my Kawasaki in high school, and I c an honestly say that had a very big part in turning me into a gearhead. Would love to do that again. There’s just something special about a bike. T he Monster is somewhat pricey for a bike, but even expensive bikes are cheap compared to cars. This would be a brand new or VERY gently used purchase, if it happened. I’ve gotten a lot of Sv650 recommendations—before you say anything, I know it’s a great bike and a HELL of a deal—it just doesn’t do anything for me personally. It’s like a Corvette. I know they’re fantastic, incredibly capable cars... But I have zero desire to own one. Completely indifferent towards them. No, if I get a bike, I’m all but sure it will be an 821.

On the other hand... There is the Volvo v70r. I’ve lusted after these from the moment I started looking at cars. Long before I knew the Miata as an enthusiast car, I told myself I’d own a Volvo M3 competitor. Does it ACTUALLY compete with an M3 performance wise? No. But that’s fine. The Miata will eventually be the giant-slayer, the Volvo would serve a different role.

Has to be manual. Has to be in fantastic shape, both mechanically and interior/exterior. Good color combo is also a must. I want stock wheels. I want a crazy Volvo enthusiast who has binders full of work done by Volvo specialists. So basically Bring A Trailer levels of excellence. Luckily that’s less difficult than you’d think, seeing as Swedespeed is chock full of Volvo fanatics who’ve owned many R’s and know how to take care of them. The grey one below is my absolute first choice currently for sale in America (I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every listing on Craigslist, auto trader, cargurus, the forums, etc). Manual, fantastic shape, blue leather and Nardo Grey wrap asking $15k. That’s fairly reasonable and (unfortunately the wagon and manual both add multiple thousands on top of the base price. If it was a rare OEM color... That would be another few thousand on top sigh).

Second pick is currently not for sale anywhere, and it may very well be the rarest VR offered. Sonic blue exterior, atacama interior, manual wagon. Atacama is a natural untreated leather with a beautiful deep orange coloring. If it’s not cared for it will get beat, quickly. With proper leather care... Oh boy. Some of the best quality leather this side of Bentley/Rolls. Sonic blue is simply a gorgeous, vibrant blue. Cars in this color/transmission combo in good shape have generally been selling over $20k, but obviously there isn’t a ton of data. They sell infrequently and get snapped up immediately at asking price.

TThe Volvo would make more sense than the bike. I already have a terrible bad weather vehicle (okay, it’s a monster in snow, but it’s miserable in rainy night-time driving) so having something like the VR would be a nice dose of practically. It would be everything I always wanted my Outback to be. It would also be much safer than the bike. Obviously. Upfront costs will be higher, and maintainance costs will also be higher.

I don’t really have an answer yet, just brainstorming. Eventually I’d like to grab both, then maybe a samurai, or disco II, or land Cruiser, or import something from Japan to round out the garage...

For now I’m just building up my savings and checking listinga daily.

DISCUSSION (25)

Mercedes Streeter > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 14:50

I vote getting the bike. The jump in power shouldn’t be too hard to handle and you’ll have so much fun!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 14:51

Kinja'd!!!

CaptDale - is secretly British > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 14:53

BUY MY APRILIA!!!!! So I can buy a Miata

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 14:55

Volvo? Sure, Bike? Cool!

But have you heard the good news of our L ord and S aviour? A rusty old pickup?

Several Oppo’s are already members of the church of rusty trucks. Please feel free to join with these convenient options:

https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/cta?query=truck&max_price=10000&max_auto_year=1991

1991 is my cutoff year. No real reason why

AestheticsInMotion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/29/2018 at 14:55

I see these for sale occasionally but they never have the wagon section???

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/29/2018 at 14:55

Aww yeah. Now we’re talkin.

fintail > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 14:56

Unless you’re parking it in your living room, bikes are easily stolen, always keep that in mind, if not expectations.

AestheticsInMotion > fintail
06/29/2018 at 14:58

It would literally be parked in my living room.

“get out of my head!”

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 14:58

OOOH Buy this. I know it isn’t a bike or volvo, but goddamn. It’s so nice.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/1978-dodge-powerwagon/6621284032.html

fintail > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 14:58

In that case, why not both?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 15:00

The last complete one I saw in person was around 1997! The NX as a coupe was not very rare but the hatch addition seems to be a rare option.

AestheticsInMotion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/29/2018 at 15:01

Ohhhh that’s right having a pickup again would be sooooo helpful. I don’t really want an old, project though. I just want something that can handle everything I throw at it and keep working forever. My Rangers were both a bit... Difficult at times. Nothing major ever broke, but I feel like every week another small thing broke and it started getting annoying constantly sourcing parts.

Honestly I'd probably look for a 2000's Tacoma...

AestheticsInMotion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/29/2018 at 15:03

Forget everything I just said that power wagon is magnificent. I don’t really follow the older truck market but that price seems good?

Pictures for those who are too lazy to click links

Kinja'd!!!

AestheticsInMotion > fintail
06/29/2018 at 15:05

Funds. I imagine insurance for either will be at least double the Miata. I still have to deal with the whole "under 25 insurance hike" for another year.

AestheticsInMotion > CaptDale - is secretly British
06/29/2018 at 15:06

Can I finance it with zero down and $5 monthly payments? 0% interest?

fintail > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 15:06

You’re an American, right? It’s a national pastime called loans and debt :)

The insurance is a thing, hmm. Maybe one this year, one next year. OR save for both. then next year.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 15:10

Yeah, with the work that was done and the lack of obvious rust holes, I’d declare it a NP.

benjrblant > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 15:14

The Miata of two wheels is a Grom.

BobintheMtns > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 15:53

GET THE DUCATI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CaptDale - is secretly British > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 16:19

Hmm, that is a long payment schedule. I don’t think the Miata owner nor I want to wait 1100 months

gettingoldercarguy > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 16:28

Volvo all day! That thing looks amazing.

Pickup_man > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/29/2018 at 16:50

+1 for rusty old pickup.

Stephenson Valve Gear > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 18:52

I had a 696 Monster for a few years...

Kinja'd!!!

I loved it. I love the way it would rev to 9k like it was nothing. I loved the sound it made through the Leo Vince’ slip-ons. I loved the color of the paint. I loved the way the entire bike looked. I loved the out-of-body experience that it gave me from a standstill to the rev limiter in 1st gear.

What I didn’t love was that I live 200 miles away from the nearest Ducati dealer. At least once a year, that meant I had to make a 400 mile round trip to drop the bike off for annual maintenance, then another 400 mile round trip to pick it up. I don’t mind doing valve adjustments on a normal head, but the desmo is a breed all its own, and I felt it was best to have someone that was trained & had a lot of practice to do it. Also, it does have a sportier riding position than anything I had before, and my back and wrists tended to protest after a while in the saddle. Finally, no luggage (and no viable options for such) meant that a backpack was necessary to carry even the smallest of objects.

I sold it to help offset the cost of the new Mustang... but from time to time I do wish I still had it. And if they ever open up a Ducati dealer in the nearest city, I may buy another one...

AestheticsInMotion > Stephenson Valve Gear
06/29/2018 at 21:54

You've got me craving the monster. There's a dealership 2 miles away, and it's still in the suburbs no less. I can take backroads and not deal with city traffic. Sounds like you should definitely get another at some point

Stephenson Valve Gear > AestheticsInMotion
06/29/2018 at 23:04

Kinja'd!!!

Heh... maybe I should get another Ducati... maybe I shouldn’t... : D