I don't post much but I thoroughly enjoy reading this board on a daily basis. I am active duty Air Force and just got served assignment papers....bummer since we were hoping to finish and retire in the house we are in now. Anyway, we have to move to Japan for 3 years and I am faced with the decision to sell or store the Buick. I have a 1965 GS(thin pillar coupe) that is all original except a fender that was replaced ages ago(before I owned it). It's not pretty but it is solid and runs great. I have owned it for a little over 4 years now and really enjoy driving it and tinkering with it. So, should I put it in storage for 3 years or sell it? I really want to keep it but would like to hear from anyone that has had to store their vehicles for several years. Thanks, Josh
If its not a financial related situation, store it, chances are you will regret it, and wont be able to find another when that time comes, I know from experience buying things back that you've already owned sucks cause you always pay mire and its never as nice seems like
If you store it properly, it'll be waiting for you when you get back. And it'll gain more value than $$$ in the bank. For free storage, take it to a body shop for paint. They may be getting to it when you return.
If you can swing the :dollar: with no burden, then I would keep it. I had a similar situation years ago and I ended up selling my 70 skylark. At that time I thought it was a good idea, figured I would always get another one. 20 years later after wife, house, kids etc. I finally did. I can add that decision to my list of regrets. Wish I would have kept that car. Tony
DISCLAIMER: I have a college degree in accounting (and finance), and think like an accountant. Can't help it, that is just the way I am wired. I think a lot if depends on your cost of storage, whether you have someone to check on it during the years, and how much you like the car. I bought a 67 GS out of storage a few year back. Guy had moved from WA to OH for work, kept the car, always planning on either bringing it out to OH or moving back to WA. 6 1/2 years in a Shurgard storage unit with some other stuff. $150 per month. Over $10k in storage fees, and I bought the car for half of that. From an investment perspective, paying to store a $10k or less car for an extended period typically does not work out. Sit down and figure out how much you have to pay to store and insure it per year. Then look at that as a percentage of the price of the car. Will the car appreciate that much? Likely appreciation is probably 5% or less per year on that car. The storage and insurance costs will not add to the value to the car. Now, if you love the car and wouldn't want to live w/o it, store and don't worry about the cost, and enjoy the car when you get back! OR, if you can store with a friend/relative for nothing and they will look after it and keep it dry and the rodents away, that is great too!
Ya treed me there! I'd even offer to buy it. Keep it for 3 years. Sell it back to you for the same price, on your return, plus any necessary repair costs to keep it running well. And I take care of vehicles.
Emotionally I agree with Hugger. He is absolutely right, but unfortunately so is Chris. The keep or sell conundrum is totally dependent on the storage situation.
Maybe someone near you would store it for free. I'm in Nv. and it would have to sit outside if you can get it here. By the way thanks for your service. Bob H.
I had to store my first Turbo regal for a year when I deployed to the USS Lasalle (just happened to transfer the day before Suddam Hussein invaded Kuwait aka Desert Shield & Desert Storm). It never has been quite right since then...But it is a bunch of electronics, and I didn't empty the tank;Didn't put in fuel stabilizer; etc, etc; Had to park it and go go go...Other cars were left with a caregiver for other deployments without any problems. Leave it with somebody that can and will take some modest care or it.
Thanks for all the great replies, some excellent advice in here. It's funny you mention the body shop route...I was talking to my wife about that. Drop it off with a down payment and then maybe get it done about a year after I get back LOL. Great advice. Whether I store the car or not I will have a storage unit for some other things...it would just be smaller. The military has some minor compensation for storage so that helps in the financial decision making. Thanks for the support....haven't you bought enough 64-65 Buicks lately? I know silly question, you can never have enough 64-65 A-bodies. And for everyone that said thanks for serving....I feel proud and privileged to do it. Pic of car
If you store it, be sure to remove the fuel tank and get every drop of fuel out of it. Also run every drop of fuel out of the lines and carburetor. You can count on the brake wheel cylinders and master cylinder leaking when you get back, but not much you can do about that unless you completely flush the system and fill with some light weight oil while it sits. Also be sure to take the battery out of it and put it on some jack stands or blocks to the tires don't go flat. Change the antifreeze before you go, and it will last 3 years.
The Air Force wont move it over there for you? I infer you have 17 years service, and a family. ... just an option. Even if you don't /can't get it street legal in Japan, you could keep it running.
I'll second this. I'd like to strangle the guy who tried that with my car before I bought it... I thought I had everything flushed out and cleaned up, then I find out that the master cylinder is shot. The cylinder will provide enough pressure to stop the car at low speeds, but the car won't stop once it hits about 20 mph... that is the worst way to find out you have no brakes. :laugh: But, that's been fixed now, and I digress. NO OIL.
