I Almost Put Marco up for Sale

[Frizlefrak]

Yes. Almost. But I didn't. As Paul Harvey would say....here's the ressssst of the story.

I'm lusting after a new truck. Specifically, I want a Crew Cab Ram 2500 with Cummins diesel. For those of you who've priced new trucks lately, you know that will set me back in the neighborhood of $46K. You guys all know me better than anyone, and you know we are debt free and I don't use credit....I pay cash for everything. That means I have to save my coins for this new truck I'm currently obsessed with.

So what does this have to do with Marco?

A couple things.

1. Money. I could probably get $7500 for Marco. That would put me that much closer to buying the truck. I have about $26K in a special savings account set aside so far for the truck.

2. Parking. In my 2 car garage, I have my Mach 1 and either my Fiero or Marco. Either??? Well, I rent a store room about a mile from my house and store one car. I swap out which one I keep at home and drive every couple of weeks. They're all too nice to leave baking in the sun (Shut Up Sweetsie ). My F250 currently sits outside....which is why the paint is faded. The new one would have to sleep indoors.....you do the math. Something has to go.

3. Security. El Paso has next to zero violent crime....but it has a LOT of car theft. A new truck of this caliber will likely relocate itself to Mexico within three months of me bringing it home. I can't watch it all the time. It MUST be garaged.

So what to do? I love them all like they were my kids. The Fiero is a "survivor" low mile GT.....they don't grow on trees. Tough to find a Fiero in this condition, and one that is spot on reliable like this one. The old F250 would get sold...no biggie there. It's a nice old truck and I will do OK on it. Rust free 1970 Mach 1's are getting tough to find unless you feel like shelling out $30K. I'd almost talked myself into putting Marco up for sale....after all, C4's are abundant...and if I ever want another one, there are plenty to chose from. Right? And that would free up a space to keep the truck indoors.

Except, I can't.

I took Marco for a ride up to the mountains this past weekend (Pete knows the route). I got home, and it's dusk....and I'm looking at the car and realizing just how sharp this thing looks. I remembered immediately exactly why I wanted this car....fell in love with it all over again. DAMN this is a fun car.

I CAN keep them all. It will take me another 4-5 months to save the $7500 or so I'd get from Marco. One will have to go outside....under a cover. Not ideal, but that's the choice.

Wifey suggested we have a metal awning built over one lane of the driveway to keep it out of the sun. That could happen.

At any rate, Marco isn't going anywhere, at least for now. We may live out the remainder of our days together.

But for a few days, the thought of selling was running through my head. Glad I snapped out of it. I can't believe I've had him for 3 years already. It went by quick.

[DukeAllen]

That's for wanting to abandon us C4 owners to the n00bs and trolls.

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Life is full of choices and some are tough ones.

Selling my 84 heap has crossed my mind a few times but just like you explained, after a drive on some enjoyable asphalt (from west seattle to Snoqualmie pass and back for me), it hits me as I'm putting her to bed. I LOVE this thing!
I need it to remind me of the simple joy of driving I had all those years ago.

Sounds like the Mach I would finish the cost of that truck and you'd still keep your Marco and Fiero. Can you put a cover aside the house for the new Ram? Hook it to the trailer and remove the battery or install a fuel pump cutoff switch?

My Broth in law has a bright red '99 Club Cab Ram with the Cummins.
You won't find a better diesel torquer than the Cummins in my opinion.

[WW7]

I think your wife has the best idea...Buy one of the metel carports to put one or more of your vehicles under, you can even get sides to put on them to make them fully inclosed or get one of the metel garages like shown in the link below.. What's wrong with your current truck? I didn't think you had that many miles on it, or is this just because you "WANT" a new truck??......WW

You can get a 12'X21' fully inclosed steel garage with lockable sliding front door for $2,400 and that includes delivery and setup in Texas..

Portable Metal Carports: Steel Carports for Sale Free Delivery in 27 States
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[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by WW7

I think your wife has the best idea...Buy one of the metel carports to put one or more of your vehicles under, you can even get sides to put on them to make them fully inclosed or get one of the metel garages like shown in the link below.. What's wrong with your current truck? I didn't think you had that many miles on it, or is this just because you "WANT" a new truck??......WW

You can get a 12'X21' fully inclosed steel garage with lockable sliding front door for $2,400 and that includes delivery and setup in Texas..

Portable Metal Carports: Steel Carports for Sale Free Delivery in 27 States
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Wayne....not a damn thing wrong with my old truck, we're taking it and the trailer up to Timberon in a couple of weeks..... just lusting for a diesel. They pull so much better in the mountains, which is where I do most of my towing. The old truck just clicked over 50K miles and still runs like a top...but I made the mistake of driving a new Ram 1500 Crew Cab home from work last month.....WOW! I was hooked. I haven't driven the Cummins yet, but I already know it's a stump puller.

We'd also like a crew cab this time. And we haven't bought a brand new vehicle since 1996....getting the itch. Maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis....and I already have a Corvette

Theft is a major problem with our proximity to the border. These aren't punks stealing old jalopies....these are organized theft rings with $250,000 flatbed towtrucks with fake markings on them. Doesn't matter if you disable the vehicle....they just tow it away. If I was to catch one of them, they'd need to hire a new driver....and I'd keep their tow truck to boot (sell it in Mexico ) .....but I can't watch it all the time. So the new truck has to sleep indoors.

I'll figure it all out. The metal carport with the sides would do the trick. I see them all over here.

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by DukeAllen

That's for wanting to abandon us C4 owners to the n00bs and trolls.

BTW Duke....Corvette or Not, troll hunting is in this ol' dog's blood. I couldn't stop if I wanted to....and I damn sure don't want to.

Sell my Corvette? Maybe. Abandon the Posse? Not until I close my eyes for good.

[PLRX]

Gratuitous Marco & Betty Boop photo.

[Frizlefrak]

The Ghost and Marco, Sunspot NM....

[WW7]

Friz, my brother in law use to have a "Choo Choo Custom Van" years ago , it was a really nice van ..The way he keep it from being ripped off was he would use a big azz chain and padlock it to a fire hydrant , then to his van.. It worked , I guess they figured it was to much trouble to steal when the other cars didn't have chains.......WW

[mike100]

It's one thing to sell a vette to get another vette, but I don't know that you wouldn't just get the itch and start looking to replace it.

May as well keep it unless it has become a money pit as of late.

As for the truck...I was looking at the possibility to buy a used one myself, but after shopping the $5000 range, all I found was junk. New- omg!

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by mike100

It's one thing to sell a vette to get another vette, but I don't know that you wouldn't just get the itch and start looking to replace it.

May as well keep it unless it has become a money pit as of late.

Yep....it wouldn't be six months before I'd have the itch again, and the likelihood of finding one this well taken care of again is dwindling by the day. Marco never breaks....I could drive it to California tomorrow with no worries.

Originally Posted by mike100

As for the truck...I was looking at the possibility to buy a used one myself, but after shopping the $5000 range, all I found was junk. New- omg!

We first started looking at used 3/4 ton diesels. The 6.0 Ford / Navistar Powerstrokes from 2003-2008 are junk (google it). The rest, everyone wants $30K for a truck with 100,000 + miles on it. Why not spend 30% more for a new one with a warranty?

I don't think I will have any trouble getting $5K for my old F250. Low miles, big block, looks good, and is spot on reliable. I've shopped similar stuff here, and anything under about $8K is beat to parade rest.

[nutz4c4]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Yep....it wouldn't be six months before I'd have the itch again, and the likelihood of finding one this well taken care of again is dwindling by the day. Marco never breaks....I could drive it to California tomorrow with no worries.




We first started looking at used 3/4 ton diesels. The 6.0 Ford / Navistar Powerstrokes from 2003-2008 are junk (google it). The rest, everyone wants $30K for a truck with 100,000 + miles on it. Why not spend 30% more for a new one with a warranty?

I don't think I will have any trouble getting $5K for my old F250. Low miles, big block, looks good, and is spot on reliable. I've shopped similar stuff here, and anything under about $8K is beat to parade rest.

Run FAR FAR AWAY from the "Sick" Lieter...

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by nutz4c4

Run FAR FAR AWAY from the "Sick" Lieter...

Unless head studs ripped out of the block is your idea of fun.

And don't forget having to remove the cab from the truck to service the injectors.

[nutz4c4]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Unless head studs ripped out of the block is your idea of fun.

And don't forget having to remove the cab from the truck to service the injectors.

Yep...How about breaking the cam and lifter galley out..Been there and done that...Don't forget EGR coolers...Had & in 120,000 miles..WTF

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by nutz4c4

Yep...How about breaking the cam and lifter galley out..Been there and done that...Don't forget EGR coolers...Had & in 120,000 miles..WTF

That engine was the final straw between Ford and Navistar. They wound up having to buy a lot of trucks back. The 6.4 was better (marginally). For the first time, Ford is building their own "Powerstroke" diesels in house. So far, the 6.7l "Scorpion" diesel seems OK, but the early ones did have a problem with glow plugs breaking off in the cylinder, with the expected result. Ford replaced the engines no questions asked regardless of mileage. They did NOT want another debacle like the 6.0

The Chevy Duramax / Allison combo is indestructible.....but the truck IMHO is ugly. I can't stand to go out in the garage and see it and think to myself "I paid almost 50 grand for THAT?"

The Ram is the best looking truck, and the Cummins speaks for itself.

[Taurus]

You should sell it to me, I'll hang on to it for a couple years and sell it back when you're ready.

I can see it now, the only Polo 40th Anniversary car.

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Taurus

You should sell it to me, I'll hang on to it for a couple years and sell it back when you're ready.

I can see it now, the only Polo 40th Anniversary car.

42nd

[C4fan]

It's reeeally tough to recover from new car (truck) fever without buying. My wife and I started out just joking about it when we bought the C6. Although it wasn't new, we had gotten hooked after the joking turned serious. I don't have to worry about selling the C4 though with the new engine I have way too much invested so I would take too big of a loss if sold. I too would offer to let you park Marco in my garage. Hell, we're practically neighbors.

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by PLRX

42nd

Nuts, gonna need to design a logo...................

[mike100]

I need a 38th anniversary ZR-1 badge too.