Another "do I trade up" thread...

[Dexman1349]

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, please move accordingly.

TL;DR = Getting frustrated trying to mod my 2010 SS, should I trade it for a ZL1

Full Story
I'm still dealing with issues in the suspension (that now seem to have found their way into the rear drive line) has me seriously debating the next step with Bee. After multiple conversations with friends in the local Camaro Club, and discussing things with my wife, I am thinking of trading in Bee. Some of the cars I've considered are the ZL1, a BMW M3, a Ford Raptor, and even possibly an Aston Martin.

Don't get me wrong I love Bee, but I fear that in my attempt to "make it mine" I overstepped my abilities and have created a money pit. If this wasn't my daily driver I would be in a completely different situation, but the fact remains that I depend on my car to get to work and I can't continue taking the car apart so often trying to chase issues.

With that being said, I've started looking at the pros and cons of keeping Bee.
Pros:

• Less than two years left of payments
• Once Bee is paid off I can get a 2nd car for commuting purposes
• Pride of doing a lot of work myself
• Just put new tires on
• Just put a bunch of money into upgrading the stereo
• The styling (stripes, front end, etc) is just about where I want it.
• License plates are cheap now that it's older

Cons:

• Suspension is still "off" - don't know what the problem is, but I fear it will lead to a lot of money
• It needs new brakes soon
• Just passed 54k miles
• Car is starting to show it's age (dings, chips, scratches).
• There is a lot more money yet to put into it to get the engine/performance where I ultimately want it and not everything I will try will work which will lead me to spend more money.
• Like I said above, this is my daily driver and I can't really continue chasing suspension gremlins.

I have over $11k invested in the car so far and I forecast another ~$20k to get it where I want it. I still want to install a supercharger, cam (and associated internals), big-brake upgrade, 3.91 gears, clutch, drive shaft, axles. In the end, I hope to have a very trackable car that can/will beat cars like the Z28. However, if I trade it for a new ZL1 I would regain the factory warranty, get several of the planned upgrades out of the way (and a few others that were previously cost prohibitive like magnetic ride control and Recaro seats)

Some of the big considerations in my decision:

• Bee is approaching that point where maintenance starts to become a factor (coolant, transmission, brakes, shocks/struts, etc).
• Wife wants me to trade it (mostly because she's tired of me talking about the latest round of issues I'm working through) - Happy wife = happy life
• De-modding the car will be a pain in the ass, but could possibly transfer some of the parts to a ZL1 if I go that route or just sell them off.
• Anything I trade it for won't be Bee. It's is my car. I have logged all but ~200 miles with it. I love the car and I keep feeling like I am only one thing away from getting it fixed and able to drive how I want it.

To look at the financial side of things.
To keep Bee:
$15k left in payments.
+$20K left in upgrades
+$5k trial & error costs
=$40k for the car I want.

If I went with a ZL1, it would have to have Recaro seats so I'm looking for at least a 2014 or newer (which unfortunately means those stupid tail lights).

$55k (best case scenario, assuming I find one without all the extras)
-$8k trade in
+$6600 interest from financing
+$1200 new tires (I need all-seasons to drive it year round)
-$3800 de-modding Bee (pure estimate of ~$5,000 of "recoverable" parts x 75%)
=$51k for a car close to what I want (plus who knows how much in mods to finish it).

The other thought I had was to just stick things out with Bee until the 2016's are revealed. At this point, I just don't know what to do. Thoughts and opinions appreciated, but please elaborate as to why you would go one way or the other.

[2010SLVRBULIT]

I'd wait for the '16 model...then again, I'm not looking to get anything else anytime soon. Unless it's the C7 Z06

[Zig Zag]

You should keep what you have, you wouldn't want to be seen in a car with "those stupid tail lights".

[NYYFan325]

Supercharge and mod your car further... not worth the extra $$ for the trade especially if you don't fully like the car...

[mrvenicess]

Get a ZL1. You will be starting with a much stouter platform if you feel the need to mod it. Suspension, brakes, drivetrain are all upgraded. My Z is my only car and is daily driven plus it goes to the drag strip almost every week. 38,000 miles so far. I'm over 650 whp too.

[Tmick5jr]

I didn't read it all but get a m4. Not a m3. And pull out all your mods and sell them to help out with the down payment on an m4

[oustaz]

Originally Posted by Dexman1349

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, please move accordingly.

If I went with a ZL1, it would have to have Recaro seats so I'm looking for at least a 2014 or newer (which unfortunately means those stupid tail lights).

Hahaha get a 2013 zl1 if you can't wait for the 6th gen

[Dexman1349]

Originally Posted by oustaz

Hahaha get a 2013 zl1 if you can't wait for the 6th gen

But the '13s don't have the Recaros.

[Manbearpig]

Wait for the 16? It's literally around the corner.

Or get an Aston Martin. You can't go wrong with that.

[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by Dexman1349

But the '13s don't have the Recaros.

That's a plus, IMO.

You need to quit monkeying with your car if you don't know how to do certain things. Take it to a good shop and them fix it - bite the bullet. Then keep it 'til it's paid off and trade it in for whatever you want. The 16s will be out by then. Not sure a ZL1 would suit your DD requirements.

[TommyTheCat]

Don't trade in for a 13-15 and regret it later if the 6th gen is better

Of course with the exhaust muffler not being dual I think I'll be disappointed in it

[Demon War Horse]

I would fix what issues you have now, keep the car and when it is paid off in two years, you can re-evaluate. You may like the '16 better.

[Dexman1349]

Originally Posted by PalmerGA

That's a plus, IMO.

You need to quit monkeying with your car if you don't know how to do certain things. Take it to a good shop and them fix it - bite the bullet. Then keep it 'til it's paid off and trade it in for whatever you want. The 16s will be out by then. Not sure a ZL1 would suit your DD requirements.

Took it to a shop last week. They fixed it and it only took a week before things were rattling again. At this point I genuinely believe something is bent/broken that will continue to cause things to fail until I replace the whole cradle assembly...

[benji276289]

I'd get the new Z and see if they'll swap out the tail lights with your current car.