TCG I need your opinions

[Lead Pipe]

I think the whole "old car" with a "new motor" crammed into it fad has gotten stale. Nothing about it is really unique anymore. And unless you're really sinking a to of money into the interior, its not going to be a comfortable as a newer car....so you're basically spending what could be a ton of money to make an old turd a new car.

It's stale because it's the only way to go with an older cruiser. Unless you have a rare numbers matching car or a desirable power train combo, there is zero reason to not upgrade to a newer power train. That's you think it's stale. The wow factory is gone I admit that. It's still really cool.

No a 3rd gen will never be as comfortable as a ZL1. It still would be half the price. Also I'm not daily driving the car. It all depends what experience you want when you drive the car though. That's my dilemma. Do I want the older, nostalgic feel or do I basically want a daily driver will more power.

 

[Lead Pipe]

aaaaaaaaaand I'm looking at Novas.

Thanks.

[MENTION=3559]School Boy[/MENTION] will be fucking your emotions up then....

 

[Intel]

And here I am restoring a 1971 economy car I am after the older less comforts fun to drive on the weekend car. The 300zx is a plush gt cruiser.

I guess the big question is are you going to regret not taking your first favorite car to where you want it with the GTA vs a new Camaro?

I can agree with wanting something more modern. My 300zx has no airbags and the Datsun barely had seatbelts. I figure if I want a performance 4 door I will end up in a BMW or something else that has a real back seat.

 

[Chester Copperpot]

[MENTION=3559]School Boy[/MENTION] will be fucking your emotions up then....

Seriously?

No wonder I can't find a decently fucking priced Nova around here.

 

[DEEZUZ]

I think the whole "old car" with a "new motor" crammed into it fad has gotten stale. Nothing about it is really unique anymore. And unless you're really sinking a to of money into the interior, its not going to be a comfortable as a newer car....so you're basically spending what could be a ton of money to make an old turd a new car.

If you're building a cruiser, you'll want something that is comfortable....seems to be, especially with a third gen, thats gonna require new seats, a modern dash that isnt from 1925, maybe sound deadening? Lots of other stuff.

Hmm... Kinda. But as stock as my car is it's fun surprising people.

Comfort... Only thing I have that's bad is my knee being kinked for hours on end cause no cruise. I basically just need to make brackets to have seats go back further.

 

[Chester Copperpot]

I think the whole "retromod" style is "fading" is much like the rest of the enthusiast industry.

If it isn't a 7.9 street car...

If it isn't a 1200hp Hellcat powered 1970 Charger with carbon fiber everything...

If it isn't...

The bar to being "cool" is set so exponentially fucking high these days, all the normal builds are passed off as trash.

If it isn't a Nelson Racing 1700hp powered 1970 split bumper with ZL1 interior and ZL1 drivetrain behind the motor, it's pathetic and you should kill yourself and light your build on fire for wasting everyone's time.

 

[Lead Pipe]

Seriously?

No wonder I can't find a decently fucking priced Nova around here.

Neither could he. He's shipping one from I think Oregon.

 

[DEEZUZ]

[MENTION=3061]Lead Pipe[/MENTION]

I'm sure you've driven rattle box swapped cars but your free to take mine around

 

[Lead Pipe]

[MENTION=3061]Lead Pipe[/MENTION]

I'm sure you've driven rattle box swapped cars but your free to take mine around

Thanks! I am all to familiar with rattle traps but yours is much more sexy. I would like a ride for sure.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Buncha wives bossing you clowns around



Do what you want and that sounds like a third gen build.

 

[Bru]

No airbag rule with a baby doesnt make sense since they're in a car seat. Laura (Brian's wife) is saying the same about Liam going in one of the Grand Prix's or the 3000GT. To me its no different then her elantra since he's a year and a half and in a car seat.

You don't get it. It's not for the kid, it's for me and making sure there's a father around for the kid.

 

[RICH17]

You don't get it. It's not for the kid, it's for me and making sure there's a father around for the kid.

thats understandable in your situation

 

[wolfe]

Had a similar dilemma when I got my 4th gen. I really wanted a 3rd gen and to swap it. Decided not to because I wanted to enjoy driving it, not working on it. Then had to replace the entire driveline in my 4th gen and though, well fuck I could be into a 3rd gen for way cheaper with all I've been through. I do enjoy my 4th gen, but man is the new stuff nice. Rides nicer, is quieter, more comfortable, etc. I would say build what you truly want. Only problem is deciding on that. If I were picking between a 3rd gen and a new ZL1, I would take the new one for performance/comfort but the 3rd gen for price.

 

[Spivitz]

ZL1

 

[cap42]

I think the whole "old car" with a "new motor" crammed into it fad has gotten stale. Nothing about it is really unique anymore. And unless you're really sinking a to of money into the interior, its not going to be a comfortable as a newer car....so you're basically spending what could be a ton of money to make an old turd a new car.

If you're building a cruiser, you'll want something that is comfortable....seems to be, especially with a third gen, thats gonna require new seats, a modern dash that isnt from 1925, maybe sound deadening? Lots of other stuff.

Thanks for shitting on my parade mook!

aaaaaaaaaand I'm looking at Novas.

Thanks.

No wonder I can't find a decently fucking priced Nova around here.

Another Novabro!

I think the whole "retromod" style is "fading" is much like the rest of the enthusiast industry.

If it isn't a 7.9 street car...

If it isn't a 1200hp Hellcat powered 1970 Charger with carbon fiber everything...

If it isn't...

The bar to being "cool" is set so exponentially fucking high these days, all the normal builds are passed off as trash.

If it isn't a Nelson Racing 1700hp powered 1970 split bumper with ZL1 interior and ZL1 drivetrain behind the motor, it's pathetic and you should kill yourself and light your build on fire for wasting everyone's time.

Problem with "restomod's" is that today's cars are so god damn advanced from even 15 years ago that it isn't about just swapping in a drivetrain and suspension anymore. Plus it's the whole been there done that as Mook was pointing out.

To the OP, figure out what makes you happy and just do it. For some having that new car that hasn't fallen apart yet is the ticket. While others is about making the car your own.

 

[Mook]

I have pretty shitty opinions

 

[1MEANGT]

Do whatever makes YOU happy. You will regret everything else.

 

[Jeffs FRC]

I'd sell the TA and pick up a ZL1. Then I'd pull out the pos boat anchor under the hood and swap in a boosted Coyote with wizardtec cam timing.

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

is there really nothing between a 3rd gen and a $65k+ sticker 2017 ZL1 that would satisfy you? Lol. Talk about a big gap

The compromise here is to buy something newer, sooner, that doesn't cost $50k+ used. How about finding a good deal on one of the 2012-13 ZL1's and driving it until you can afford to trade it on a newer one?

There are a lot of nice cars out there that do not depreciate much, you won't regret buying them. IMO the older ZL1 camaros are one of them. It's all about buying smart

Financially, you'll lose the most money swapping the powertrain in a 25 year old heap. you won't get a penny of that project back

 

[EmersonHart13]

I just have a bunch of life insurance to cover me in case the GTO folds up like a Cavalier.

Honestly Heather will probably be better off. I'm an asshole

 

[Yaj Yak]

By drive ability you mean reliability or creature comforts?

both i feel like

plenty of stories of guys having great success but i feel like it's more typical to have gremlins forever plague swaps like that.

 

[Yaj Yak]

Seriously?

No wonder I can't find a decently fucking priced Nova around here.

search for malibu's then at least too...

is there really nothing between a 3rd gen and a $65k+ sticker 2017 ZL1 that would satisfy you? Lol. Talk about a big gap

The compromise here is to buy something newer, sooner, that doesn't cost $50k+ used. How about finding a good deal on one of the 2012-13 ZL1's and driving it until you can afford to trade it on a newer one?

There are a lot of nice cars out there that do not depreciate much, you won't regret buying them. IMO the older ZL1 camaros are one of them. It's all about buying smart

Financially, you'll lose the most money swapping the powertrain in a 25 year old heap. you won't get a penny of that project back

i personally don't feel like the ZL1 camaro isn't immune to depreciation.

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

i personally don't feel like the ZL1 camaro isn't immune to depreciation.

It's just an example....a nice, newer, quick car to drive until he can buy the 2017+ that he wants. It'll cost less in investment/depreciation loss than a 3rd gen project that's for sure

 

[Lead Pipe]

It's just an example....a nice, newer, quick car to drive until he can buy the 2017+ that he wants. It'll cost less in investment/depreciation loss than a 3rd gen project that's for sure

It's narrowed down to those two options. My next car is what I plan to keep for a long while because of the timeline my wife I have for kids. If I get a cheaper car like a 5th gen ZL1, sure I may be saving $100/month but I'm sure I'd be stuck with it for more than a couple years. With small kids, car swapping will be harder. I think it's realistic to expect a 6th gen ZL1 to be in the 40's by the time I'm ready to buy. If I get 10k for my 4th gen and save another 5-10K in a couple years it is very doable with dropping 1 or both of our current payments. Hellcat is also an option, Vette is out and 5th gen is out.

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

It's narrowed down to those two options. My next car is what I plan to keep for a long while because of the timeline my wife I have for kids. If I get a cheaper car like a 5th gen ZL1, sure I may be saving $100/month but I'm sure I'd be stuck with it for more than a couple years. With small kids, car swapping will be harder. I think it's realistic to expect a 6th gen ZL1 to be in the 40's by the time I'm ready to buy. If I get 10k for my 4th gen and save another 5-10K in a couple years it is very doable with dropping 1 or both of our current payments. Hellcat is also an option, Vette is out and 5th gen is out.

Got it

In that case my opinion is that you wait and get the ZL1. You'll be without a car for a couple years, but if you had a 3rd gen project you'd probably lose at least a summer making it how you want it anyways.

Make the ZL1 your goal because they are amazing cars, and try to work on ways to make it happen sooner.