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Registered
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Orrville, Ohio, USA
Posts: 72
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What would you do??
Here's the deal. My wife is interested in a new Toyota Matrix. We've got a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara, a 1998 Honda Civic EX and the beloved 78 SC Targa. We owe some on the Suzuki, a little on the Targa and the Civic is free and clear. The Civic has 80K miles and the Targa has only 75K miles. The Civic needs some (overdue) maintenance, including new brakes and exhaust. The Targa is just fine.
The dilemma is that my wife wants to trade the Suzuki and the Civic (my daily driver) for the Matrix. That would leave the Targa as my daily driver. While it's in great shape, it's still a 25-year-old car. The second option is to sell the Targa (gasp), use the cash from the sale for a downpayment, keep the Civic and trade the Suzuki. However, I'll have to pony up for the repairs/maintenance on the Honda. The last option is scrap the whole Matrix idea and stick with what we have. What would you do?? johnjr 78 SC Targa |
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09-15-2003, 12:16 PM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,500
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Scrap the Matrix idea until you at least get either the Suzuki or the Targa paid off.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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09-15-2003, 12:19 PM
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Blockchain Tech Inventor
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: US fn A!
Posts: 1,560
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Use the Targa as a daily driver whether you buy the Matrix or not.....
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A Mean Green Lifted 1972 C10 Long live the king! |
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09-15-2003, 12:21 PM
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Binge User
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Pay off the Suzuki, fix the Honda, save some money till you can buy a WRX wagon.
 Don't even have the targa on the bargining table.
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Paul |
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09-15-2003, 12:22 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TX
Posts: 112
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I would say take a moment and firgure out what's best for your financial stability. Getting rid of the SC is probably the last thing you want to do, but if it will help out financially in the short term, why not sell it and save up for another one when the time is right.
I am kinda in the same position. Financial picture is changing rapidly, have to change with it. Although I am postponing the inevitable, I have been looking at the 2003 Jetta Wolfsburg as my everyday and only car. Needless to say the SC may be moving out soon, as the need for more space and some what predictable maintenance takes over. Has anybody had any experience with the jetta? I know I will probably get flamed for thinking this, but everyone here has always been very helpful, I think I can take the punishment. |
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09-15-2003, 12:27 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 2,459
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Wife leaves, targa stays
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2007 Mazda 3 hatch 1972 Porsche 914 roller with plenty of holes to fix 
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09-15-2003, 12:29 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Naples,FL
Posts: 3,469
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Lite the Civic and the Suzuki on fire. Collect the insurance and buy the Matrix + a beater car ie. ford ranger. With the extra money weld a coupe roof on the Targa.
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09-15-2003, 12:34 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 4,403
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Quote:
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09-15-2003, 12:35 PM
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Unconstitutional Patriot
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: volunteer state
Posts: 5,620
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Ya gotta balance your needs and wants somehow. Only you know the answer....
jürgen |
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09-15-2003, 12:40 PM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,335
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Use the targa as the daily driver. I do, and I love it!!
25 miles one way. By the time I get home most of the stress of the day has faded away.
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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09-15-2003, 12:49 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: West Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 1,421
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In 5 years the SC will be worth more than it is now and the other two will be pushing up dasies or worthless or both.....
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Dennis H. 72 911E 2.7 RS stuff 72 911T with a 2.7(Sold 5-13-2011) 2012 Kona Blue Metallic Mustang GT Convertible 6spd 67 Mustang coupe future SVRA group 6 car 63 Falcon hardtop 302/4spd |
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09-15-2003, 12:50 PM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Nor. Cal.
Posts: 447
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Doesn't sound like it is the appropriate time to buy the Matrix. Cheapest cars you can have are the ones you already own. Put off the Matrix purchase for a year, pay down the cars you have over that time, and then buy a 1 year old Matrix with 6-10k miles on it in a year.
RC76: We have a 2002 Jetta 1.8 turbo, and have had no issues with it whatsoever (although it gets few miles put on it per year). Has had a couple of recalls, but that is all. Why a 2003? Take a look at what the low mileage 2002's are going for: Someone else has already taken the depreciation hit for you. Good Luck, Tom
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Ain't life grand? Last edited by TMH; 09-15-2003 at 01:04 PM.. |
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09-15-2003, 12:56 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 5,733
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The civic will last forever if you take care of it. Keep the Targa and the civic. If you need another car, upgrade from the Suzuki.
Gotta love the Targa! |
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09-15-2003, 01:03 PM
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depends on your life situation (kids, need to haul stuff, etc). I don't like debt, and we haven't bought a new car since '96 (and may not again for some time). We are sticking with three cars for the time being (wife's A8, my SC, 4-runner for hauling stuff around, all paid off). She has her car, I have mine, and we have a beater (4-runner is a 4-cylinder stripped version with 126K miles on it now).
If she absolutely has to have the Matrix (but why?!?), get rid of the Honda and the Suzuki. Pay off the SC and finance the Matrix. Drive the SC everyday. Its good for your soul. |
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09-15-2003, 01:08 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Orrville, Ohio, USA
Posts: 72
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Thanks for all the replies. Frankly, by trading the Suzuki and the Civic, we'll save a bunch on insurance. The payment on the Matrix would be around the same (a little less) than the current Suzuki payment, so we would not be taking on more in the way of monthly payments. Finally, if I don't have to buy four new tires on the Suzuki, which it needs, or pay a thousand or so on the Civic repair, I figure I'll be able to put the savings into upgrades on the Targa. Does that sound like a plan or what?
johnjr 78 SC Targa |
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09-15-2003, 01:22 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: chula vista ca usa
Posts: 5,705
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Trade them all in for a PAIR of Mini Cooper S models! Then get an early 911 for vintage racing.
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09-15-2003, 01:39 PM
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still got two car payments though. Sell the Civic privately (you'll get more money for it), and trade the Suzuki (since you don't have clear title). Pay down/off the SC.
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09-15-2003, 01:49 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 521
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JR,
I notice you live in Ohio, my only comment would be if you do keep the SC you probably do not want to drive that car in the snow--1) you may kill yourself 2) you surely do not want that car getting eaten up by road salt and being run through commerical car washes etc. Just a thought, I could not imagine only being able to drive my 911 in the winter we get here! I would be home half the time!
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944 TURBO!!!! 1982 911 SC Targa (loved but sold!) 2005 Cobalt SS (0-60 in 6.1!!) 2003 BMW 325i ex got in divorce 1969 912 Coupe (sold) PCA Member |
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09-15-2003, 01:56 PM
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Schatzi
Schatzi
1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0
