I know, I know, near sacrelidge.
It has been my daily driver for about three years now and I do about 500-600 miles a week. It's still running very strong, but the enviorment for buying a new car is just getting too good.
My Volvo has a VPD stage II motor dyno'd at 143 hp, (according to JP, I don't have the print out), The motor was done about 2 years ago.
I put in 164 brakes, not just the vented rotors, but a new MC, rebuilt booster, braided SS lines upfront, new discs and calipers, (fronts just got new remanned a few months ago).
The suspension has poly bushings, ipd sway bars, sport springs, KYB's,
The car stops well, handles well, and goes well. But I'd like to get better mileage, less maintenance and am worried about future issues, ( I can't not have my car like when it was laid up to replace the frozen front caliper a few months ago, wiper motor went last Fall, heater core blew also last winter, all have been fixed).
The brakes and suspension have about 90,000 miles near as I can figure, with a new ball joint, calipers and stuff here and there. The motor has about 55,000- 65,000 or so. Oh yeah, I've replaced the instrument cluster a few times.
I've had the rust in the sills and the rear shock mounts replaced so those are solid. There are a few small bubbles around the front light area and a couple others, but very small and little.
I for the life of me ahve never been able to post photos here, but I do have some on the vintage racing league site "www.myvrl.com" under my name, (Chris Ungaro on the member tag.
SOOOooo, my question is what does the boards collective wisdom think it's worth???

That's a really nice car! Does it have a 5-speed? How many MPG's are you getting?

Really a nice looking car...

Sounds to me like your are rather fond of it... if that's the case, I'd say you'd be crazy to sell it.. You'd never get out of it what it cost to build it up.

Furthermore, your new car will not only cost more, but will likely depreciate by approximately the value of your 142 as soon as you drive it off the lot.

Of course, this is all stuff you know... you just need a little nudge :-)


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-Matt I ♥ my ♂

Really????

Andrew

what are those carbs? Looks like they bolt up to a SU manifold...

--
-Matt I ♥ my ♂

I wasn't able to view your car on the site cited.
I am already a "member" of enough sites that I don't plan to sign up.
Where is this car?
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George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

I viewed your car on the site you mentioned. Wow! What a beautiful car! keep me posted. Julio

The car in in Dutchess County, New York. I didn't realize you had to join the site to view it, sorry. I have 4 good snows on steel rims, and some extra parts to go w/ the car.
I'm still debating do I keep it, do I let it go. It stops, handles and goes as good as any new car I'd be looking at, (Rabbit/Jetta, Mazda 3, Saturn/Opel Astra)has more room and is more unique. But new will go a long time w/ very little maintenance, will get 30 or better and make the wife happier.

I would think carefully about justifying a new vehicle based on the monetary savings of gas. I worked the numbers on that at one point when I thought about selling my 245 that got 23 mpg. The added costs of the new car and insurance and registration far outweigh the gas savings, even if you got a Prius, and even if gas was $5 a gallon. I think my break even point was 17 years, or something crazy.

Now if you want to go greener with a new efficient car, that's a completely different story. But on the money side, spending more to burn less doesn't pan out.

"I'm still debating do I keep it, do I let it go. It stops, handles and goes as good as any new car I'd be looking at, (Rabbit/Jetta, Mazda 3, Saturn/Opel Astra)has more room and is more unique."


I think you just answered your own question...


Just my 2 cents.

Sounds like you need to re-train her!

In all seriousness, look at the costs (with you wife) of a new car. Not only do you have the initial costs you also have the fact that you are not going to be able to work on it as well, parts prices are going to be higher, etc

Andrew

Hi, First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their response and especally those who posted the pics for me.
Second to answer It does have the M41 and I get about 20 mpg.
I think you all convinced me what I already knew.
A).It handles, stops, goes as good and probably better than what I could afford to replace it with.
B).Even though some stuff might need attention, I can work on it as I do almost all the work myself.
C). After figuring car payments and increased insurance, this still works out cheaper.
D). Is more unique and fun.

It was just that the deals on a new car w/ no maintenance, that I can run for 10 years with little problem, everything works,has A/C just turn the key and go, no valves to adjust every Spring/Fall, carbs to tune, runs smooth, is enticing.
Chris

Glad to hear you came to your senses, I have a feeling you would have kicked yourself for years to come if you actually sold it.

OOoonnn the other hand.... If I sell it than I can maybe next year get put more restoration budget into my Maserati, ...oorrr in a year or two get a Fiat 124 spider to start toying with.

The secret to having old cars is to have at least two of them......so when one breaks you have another to drive.

As per previous posts concerning replaceing old cars with new....it costs so much more money in the long run. I have not bought a new car in over 17 years. I love to brag that my 88 Suburban has a much smaller carbon footprint than a Prius. Same with my 71 142E. Use your skills at keeping the old girl on the road to save you money.

I also have an old car with many modifications, worth much more than I could sell her for. Off the top of my head, if you were tempted to sell, I would venture $3500. Probably at a $2500 dollar lost to you.

A VERY NICE CAR.......get another used car for backup. Please do not sell it.

Joel
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Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102

Thank you for the input. I have decided not to sell it and get new.
I'd love to get another used car as a back up, (Fiat, Alfa, Miata or even a Lotus elan..the later one with the Isuzu motor). I htink that is a great idea, one wil always be running. However I have a 1980 Maserati, my wife has a 2006 Impreza and the three use up all the garage space.
btw my last car was a 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage, I bought new in 1996 as a left over and got real cheap. I then drove it 10 years and 328,000 miles before it died. In the last few years of it's life I bought the 142 and refurbished it, (brakes, suspension, M41, motor, etc.)to use as my daily driver, and have been using ever since. It's still going very strong and nothing available out there (that I can afford excites me very much.
I must have been thinking crazy thoughts, Thanks for setting me straight.
The 142 lives!