New Member- about to pull the trigger- is this a fair deal?

[Lawineer]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Seems a little pricey for a used BDR, sorry, but as long as you are happy with the transaction, that is all that matters, after all, it's your money, not ours. Without the financial aspect in play, a word of advice, it is not as civilized as your previous automotive experiences, take the learning curve S-L-O-W-L-Y and remember, as soon as you turn the key, it will try to kill you. Keep repeating that in the back of your head for the first thousand miles of learning curve and you'll be fine. Most of all, don't let anyone wipe the smile off your face, and enjoy the ride.

Bill S.

Thanks- how pricey do you think it is, keeping in mind the Coyote engine? I still have time to backout if it's awful. If it's a few grand- it's hard to find exactly what I want (color scheme I like, engine I want, etc). I dont want to be $10k-15k overpaying though.

I've never driven a car this light and powerful, "naked" but I have a ton of seat time in my Corvette in "race" mode (basically zero TC, ABS), my BRZ and Miata at the race track, both of which are full blown track cars (BRZ is actually a full blow race car- not even track). They have zero nannies. It's not even the power that concerns me; it's the street. On the track I'm always driving with undivided attention, 100% focus and expecting a slip. On the street, sh!t just happens. I've been driving at 40% throttle, "aggressively" getting ready to merge on to a highway from the service road when the back end kicked out in the vette for absolutely zero reason. Without SC, I'd have crashed, violently. Another time someone cut in front of me while I was doing about 45-50 in a 30 zone. Hit the brakes it was bumpy as hell. Car pulled left/right all over. Unless you had lightning quick reflexes and 4 brake pedals and 4 feet, nothing but 4 wheel independent ABS and SC was going to save you.

It's why I laugh at people who pound their chest and turn off their nannies on the street.

Believe me, it took me a year to buy this car solely because of the fear of death. That and I was worried my fear of the car would keep me from enjoying it.


edit: Are there any ABS or TC/SC upgrades? I'd consider them. Also, what is the widest wheel/tire I can get in there? Safety/grip aside, I love the look of wider tires.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Lawineer

Thanks- how pricey do you think it is, keeping in mind the Coyote engine? I still have time to backout if it's awful. If it's a few grand- it's hard to find exactly what I want (color scheme I like, engine I want, etc).

If the car is the one that appeals to you, then it's not overpriced... for you. To get a new custom made turnkey car made to your personal specifications at KMS/ERA/SPF/CSX it's going to cost you six figures. If two weeks (and two years) later you decide it was a mistake, you will sell it for less than you paid. That's just the way chips fall. So, my advice is if you like it buy it. If you don't, then sell it. And if the chance of dropping ten or twenty grand gives you a heart attack, then just look at it like you're spending a couple of weeks in the Caribbean with the family. When you fly back home the money will be gone and after a while you'll barely even remember the trip.

[Lawineer]

Originally Posted by patrickt

If the car is the one that appeals to you, then it's not overpriced... for you. To get a new custom made turnkey car made to your personal specifications at KMS/ERA/SPF/CSX it's going to cost you six figures. If two weeks (and two years) later you decide it was a mistake, you will sell it for less than you paid. That's just the way chips fall. So, my advice is if you like it buy it. If you don't, then sell it. And if the chance of dropping ten or twenty grand gives you a heart attack, then just look at it like you're spending a couple of weeks in the Caribbean with the family. When you fly back home the money will be gone and after a while you'll barely even remember the trip.

This isn't my 401k money, but I also just want to know how I did with FMV. My plan is to keep this car 3 years and sell it to get a C8ZR1. I'm going to enjoy it, but one reason I am getting it is that it will (hopefully) hold value better than buying a late model $70k car.

Also: I'm single with no kids so $20k vacation better be something else!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Lawineer

This isn't my 401k money, but I also just want to know how I did with FMV. My plan is to keep this car 3 years and sell it to get a C8ZR1. I'm going to enjoy it, but one reason I am getting it is that it will (hopefully) hold value better than buying a late model $70k car.

Also: I'm single with no kids so $20k vacation better be something else!

You should assume that you will always lose money buying and selling these cars. Now, if you're of a certain ilk, it will be the greatest toy you have ever owned and, if you're lucky, you'll make a nickel or two if you do sell her. But you should assume you won't. For me, my ERA has been more fun than you could possibly imagine, and I've had her now for fifteen years. I wouldn't even dream of selling her.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Lawineer

edit: Are there any ABS or TC/SC upgrades? I'd consider them. Also, what is the widest wheel/tire I can get in there? Safety/grip aside, I love the look of wider tires.

People have done them, but they are very pricey - way more than is logical for the vehicle. For sure a new ECU (unless the one there has those pieces latent). Then there is the issue of finding a place to put all the bits that make such a system work.

As I say to people that take a Cobra and try to modernize it: You're describing a Corvette. Just get one (but you already have one.) Drive a Cobra for the thrill that, as it said to me every time I got in it, "I'm going to kill you" and when you get home and park it thank goodness you won that day.

Tire sizes are driven by wheel choices and have been discussed here at length. I suggest you use the SEARCH function.