Noob in Trouble
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Noob in Trouble
So here's my story.
Military. Very responsible. Save like a demon. No cell phone bill, no internet, no television. No movie night out, no drinking with friends.
Bought a house. Paid it off. Built up savings. Am almost done with a four year degree.
I think to myself 'Hmmm, maybe it is time I enjoy all this hard earned money? Maybe I should do something I have wanted to since I was a child. BUY A JAGUAR.'
Well, needless to say, I'm not the sort of person who buys a new car. God posted in San Antonio, where the father of a friend had put a 1989 XJS in storage eight years before, he sold to me for 1850. Probably more than I could have gotten something like it for, but you all know the feeling. I saw this car, when I had finally reached the point of being willing to spend on myself, and absolutely fell in love. These things are SO beautiful... My knees got wobbly, I got half a hard-on, and I really didn't care so much about the extra money I'd be wasting.
It needs ALOT of work, obviously; it's been in storage for ages, was put in there with a quarter tank of gas (dumbass), and needs the rubber completely revamped. Also, the last several months he switched it out in his storage for another car and yarded it. So it's not rusted, but the paint is a little shot, and someone tried to heave a brick through the window. Great. All told? Probably around 4k USD.
And I was willing to do this, mainly because I knew someone who had a good friend who had ALOT of experience with older Jaguars. He was willing to do this work for me, over a longer period of time, for alot less money. Fine with me.
Then the most wonderful thing you can imagine happened; he went to prison, and I got informed that I'm getting deployed.
Great, huh? So now I have nowhere to put this, unless I want to put it in storage for ANOTHER two-plus years. (I firmly plan on staying deployed as long as possible, I've wanted it a long time and although it came untimely in terms of my lady love the Jaguar, that's the only reason I have to not stay deployed.)
So what the **** am I going to do? I don't want to have wasted 2k USD.
I really don't want to let this car go, but I'm not entirely sure I have a choice. I'd even be willing to sell it for less than I bought it for... I'm dithering on the fence between cutting my losses, and throwing it all at this car I may not get the chance to drive.
Military. Very responsible. Save like a demon. No cell phone bill, no internet, no television. No movie night out, no drinking with friends.
Bought a house. Paid it off. Built up savings. Am almost done with a four year degree.
I think to myself 'Hmmm, maybe it is time I enjoy all this hard earned money? Maybe I should do something I have wanted to since I was a child. BUY A JAGUAR.'
Well, needless to say, I'm not the sort of person who buys a new car. God posted in San Antonio, where the father of a friend had put a 1989 XJS in storage eight years before, he sold to me for 1850. Probably more than I could have gotten something like it for, but you all know the feeling. I saw this car, when I had finally reached the point of being willing to spend on myself, and absolutely fell in love. These things are SO beautiful... My knees got wobbly, I got half a hard-on, and I really didn't care so much about the extra money I'd be wasting.
It needs ALOT of work, obviously; it's been in storage for ages, was put in there with a quarter tank of gas (dumbass), and needs the rubber completely revamped. Also, the last several months he switched it out in his storage for another car and yarded it. So it's not rusted, but the paint is a little shot, and someone tried to heave a brick through the window. Great. All told? Probably around 4k USD.
And I was willing to do this, mainly because I knew someone who had a good friend who had ALOT of experience with older Jaguars. He was willing to do this work for me, over a longer period of time, for alot less money. Fine with me.
Then the most wonderful thing you can imagine happened; he went to prison, and I got informed that I'm getting deployed.
Great, huh? So now I have nowhere to put this, unless I want to put it in storage for ANOTHER two-plus years. (I firmly plan on staying deployed as long as possible, I've wanted it a long time and although it came untimely in terms of my lady love the Jaguar, that's the only reason I have to not stay deployed.)
So what the **** am I going to do? I don't want to have wasted 2k USD.
I really don't want to let this car go, but I'm not entirely sure I have a choice. I'd even be willing to sell it for less than I bought it for... I'm dithering on the fence between cutting my losses, and throwing it all at this car I may not get the chance to drive.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Brittany France
Welcome, personally I would try to get out of the car now. Why, because at the moment you have not spent any money on it, so even if you do have to sell it for a small loss, this would likely be covered by the storage expenses over the 'next two years plus'.
Also it would appear that you will not be starting the restoration until the car is at least 23 years old. You say that the car has recently spent a few months outside in a yard, from your and it's location it looks like you have a good climate, but moisture will still have got in 'it's not rusted, but the paint is a little shot', so unless you are going to store it in a professionally climate controlled environment over the next 2-3 years it will rust.
I don't have any idea how it works in the US Military, but at the end of this deployment, does the possibility of another tour exist, because you sound as though, this is really what you want to be doing and so it could be even longer before your resto' begins.
Mind you, could be that the bloke who was going to restore it will have been released by then, and may be looking for a decent job.
All the very best with your deployment.
Also it would appear that you will not be starting the restoration until the car is at least 23 years old. You say that the car has recently spent a few months outside in a yard, from your and it's location it looks like you have a good climate, but moisture will still have got in 'it's not rusted, but the paint is a little shot', so unless you are going to store it in a professionally climate controlled environment over the next 2-3 years it will rust.
I don't have any idea how it works in the US Military, but at the end of this deployment, does the possibility of another tour exist, because you sound as though, this is really what you want to be doing and so it could be even longer before your resto' begins.
Mind you, could be that the bloke who was going to restore it will have been released by then, and may be looking for a decent job.
All the very best with your deployment.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 654
Likes: 4
From: Albuquerque, NM
I'd have to agree with Translator. Better to give it up now, and look for another in the future, than come home a couple of years from now and find a smelly, rat-infested, rust bucket that you won't EVER be able to do anything with. While I can DEFINITELY empathize on your "love at first Jag" feeling, the timing is off, sadly.
Good luck overseas!!
Good luck overseas!!
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Posts: n/a
Unfortunately, you all gave very solid, sound advice. I have to be honest, I was kind of hoping to find someone to tell me I should do the exact opposite of what I would naturally be inclined to; make the financially wise move, dump the car, at whatever deficit it took, and cut my losses. Figured there might be some astronomical chance that someone could pop up with 'Well, I know a guy who knows a guy who can help with that...'
Obviously no such thing is forthcoming.
I guess the next question is, does anyone know someone who wants an 89 XJS for rediculously cheap? My other alternative if I can't sell it in time is to simply leave it.
h20boy: 'tough choice, there's reasons for and against letting it go, i can see your dilemma. Any chance you have family or a friend that can garage it for you? New house not a double garage?'
No family, just got posted here so really no reliable friends. The house I have bought is a small, crappy fixer-upper, and not the sort of thing that has a garage attached to it. I will have a hard enough time trying to rent it out for any decent amount without a dead (and eventually rusting) piece of future junk parked out in front of it.
Obviously no such thing is forthcoming.
I guess the next question is, does anyone know someone who wants an 89 XJS for rediculously cheap? My other alternative if I can't sell it in time is to simply leave it.
h20boy: 'tough choice, there's reasons for and against letting it go, i can see your dilemma. Any chance you have family or a friend that can garage it for you? New house not a double garage?'
No family, just got posted here so really no reliable friends. The house I have bought is a small, crappy fixer-upper, and not the sort of thing that has a garage attached to it. I will have a hard enough time trying to rent it out for any decent amount without a dead (and eventually rusting) piece of future junk parked out in front of it.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,704
Likes: 1,236
From: Brittany France
Post up your story in the XJS Forum and also in the For Sale section. You will get more hits from people into your car model, than here, which is basically just the welcome section of the Forum.
Do not forget to include location, someone just might be able to help you.
Good luck,
Do not forget to include location, someone just might be able to help you.
Good luck,
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Veteran member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,390
Likes: 195
From: Akron, Ohio USA
OK, sorry for not posting sooner. I'm going to be the one that tries to talk you out of selling it... But after asking one question. Did you get it because you are a car guy and really wanted an XJS, or did you get it because you want to be seen driving a Jaaagggg. If it is choice number two this project combined with the "waiting" period will just end up frustrating you. If your answer is the first statement, keep it and avoid the regret. I say this because I have a list of cars at my young age of 43 that I wish I had never gotten rid of. The list does not include cars that I needed to sell in order to get my next daily driver. These are cars that needed some work but were paid for and the drivers that replaced them were already purchased. Here is the list: 1978 Chevy Caprice coupe (the rare one with the fastback rear window), 1978 Chevy Camaro (sport coupe, copper color, with a V8), 1977 Chevy Monte Carlo (real rare red with tan custom interior with reclining seats), and lastly a 1981 Monte Carlo (plain jane coupe but super super mint). The 81 really breaks my heart because I sold it to a guy that worked at the towing shop next to where I worked and I saw it there two months later, totaled! So, if it is the car you've always wanted, find a place to keep it, then fix it up when you get back. The XJS was a fairly popular car but like all Jaguars they were produced in fairly limited numbers. It's not like looking for say a Mustang. Now that you have it, if you really wanted it, hold on to it and don't end up with automotive regrets.
Also, welcome to the forums and thank you so much for your service to our country!
Also, welcome to the forums and thank you so much for your service to our country!
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
New poster here, IMHO, ebay it or such, unload before you leave, from a $$ standpoint, think what the 2 years of storage unit costs will be? probably about what you had in the car to begin with.
While overseas two years, save some of your pennies (even the money you'd have used to pay fo rthe storage, come back and buy a similar car that doesn't need a whale of a lot of work. YOu could probably get a very nice car already to drive and not go thru the nightmare of a restoration.
Hubby of a woman I worked with always wanted an xjs, got a cherry original owner car fully documented for reasonable money not to long ago,.
Unless handy and have time always buy the best car you can buy, better pay more upfront than down the road.
Chris
While overseas two years, save some of your pennies (even the money you'd have used to pay fo rthe storage, come back and buy a similar car that doesn't need a whale of a lot of work. YOu could probably get a very nice car already to drive and not go thru the nightmare of a restoration.
Hubby of a woman I worked with always wanted an xjs, got a cherry original owner car fully documented for reasonable money not to long ago,.
Unless handy and have time always buy the best car you can buy, better pay more upfront than down the road.
Chris
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