When life gets in the way

Mikey,
I would sit on this truck if I were you. You won't get any of the money back that you already put into it if you sell it and the money you do get will seem to evaporate. I speak from experience. I sold my custom 88 Toy for 8 thousand. I had about 20 into it. At the time I thought "oh well, that's the cost of having something custom" Of course I had enjoyed the truck for many years but I sold it when I wanted my own apartment. The money went for the deposit, furnature and rent. All gone in three months. The worst part was the truck was paid for. I am sure your Mazda is paid for. Just park it, don't put any more money into it for now. Get your debts paid off and save what you can to move out. Your girlfreind will be in college for three more years. When she graduates you guys can start to live together. You should also consider going to college or getting some kind of higher education (if you haven't already). I have seen freinds of mine graduate college and they get higher paying jobs right out of the gate. It took me 10 years to reach the same level as them. Just my 2 cents...

Hey mikey, I am not going to be upset at all we are going to have to talk as you have spent money's already on some things and I do have your weber carb and header up here that you will have to pick up and there is the nissan to deal with to bro. I understand what you want to do and like I said we will have to talk on what we are going to do with what we have already have done but do what you must bro, If I were in your spot I would do the same thing stop for now and put the truck away and sit on it for a bit or sell it like you said it is up to you bro. The big thing is that you have to make up your mind and get ready to deal with the decision you make. We are all here for you no matter what your decision is.

I suggest you list the pros and the cons of each choice... and then go with the most logical one.

My personal choice would be selling the truck because that seems to be the one choice that would help out with your other situations.

I have faced and made some tough decisions in the last 10 years and some of them have been painful. However, I am now in a position to throw some money at my hobbies (mopeds, Mazdas and Hondas). You can ALWAYS get another truck later on in your life when circumstances allow.

Good luck!!

I am kinda in the same situation as you (other than the debt). Me and the GF (of almost 7 years) want to get out of her parents house and live on our own. Were both 24 and feel like we NEED to get out, and like it's something that people this age should do. But we have to think of it in a realistic way. A.) She's going back to college to do some more school (about 2 years worth) and i'm making good money as it is right now. B.) Renting isn't worth a penny in our situation, it would be like putting more money into your truck.

We want a house so saving money is a priority for the both of us. We wouldn't even consider renting unless she was out of school so we could have combined payments.

I'll type more in a lil bit, just about to eat some dinner now .

Dale

I would keep the truck. I would also read up on and or take classes to try to learn how to do all the stuff you want to do to it yourself. You might even find that a career in something new that you learn looks promising. To me, doing an airbag set up doesnt seem too difficult. Just save for a welder and an air compressor with a bunch of air tools and add materials and it seems like you will be way under the projected $10,000 you mentioned for an air bag set up and paint and what not. Ive learned to paint like a pro by reading a few books and buying a gun set from eastwood. I dont paint like a pro by any means because of lack of experience but after painting my truck and motorcycle a couple times I should have it looking pretty damn good. Anyway, ive spent about $50 in books, $150 for the gun set, $150 in paint and sandpaper and blocks. With another $3-400 in paint, paper, and othe rmaterials for practicing and final product I will still be under what I could have paid a pro to do it. Point is, most of the time doing things yourself is more worth it than having someone else do it for you.Of course, it will take alot more time to get each job done on the truck because you will have to save for the tools and learn how to properly use them but you will in the end have the tools, experience, and pleasure to say "I did that myself". And just out of curiosity, where is the 15gs you have in the truck?

the way i see it man is what is the point in living life if all you are doing is having what you NEED and nothing of what you WANT. what good is that house on your own if all you can afford is to come home go to sleep and wake up in the morning to go to work to pay for the house. im 19 years old and want to get out of my house in the future but i also know i cant do this and build a truck until i get everything straightened out. so my decision is build the truck now and wait a little bit for the house. i mean ive been wanting something custom since the first time i seen a custom truck. was never able to afford it because of school and such. now im out of school with a job and want to build the truck. if i get a place of my own then no truck so its put on hold for another few years and im afraid that something will always come up pushing it farther and farther away until it just doenst happen. the way i look at it is i've been in my house for 19 years. what is one or two more years. this is all just my outlook though. like dev said this is your life. i say you should sit down and literally right down a pros and cons list. and dont forget about your time and happyness when thinking about your future.

hope this helps man




-justin

Dont ya just hate it when life gets in the way. Been reading thru you thread and it wuld seem you have gotten some very good advice. Also, as said elsewhere.... it is just advice. You will have to make your own decisions. And what ever your decision, we will back you 100% - it's just the way we are.

As you can guess, my truck was not built the way it is in just 1 winter. Something most may not know is that I actuall bought it brand new in 1990 and have endured around 140,000 mi behind the wheel. Things take time, as stated by BJ and the others. If your family is willing and able to store your ride for a year or two then I would probably go that route. Get your family affairs and financial situation in order and work on your truck when you can. Obviously your truck is in pretty good working order - take it out once and a while to remind yourself how much fun it really is. If you sell it, then later on in life buy another, you will probably end up back where you started - beat up old truck needing lots of work.

I wish you the best - with the truck and life.

I know I have basically no reputation here, no real leverage in conversation, but you've got this all out in the open right now.

I've had the parents' debt issue before, and I agree with NYTRDR - family first, ESPECIALLY when it comes to debt. You have to give respect to get respect, right? I paid my family back with every spare penny I had after they helped me out - and I worked off the rest of it at the family business. My brother bought Dad's old truck from him, and took years longer than he should have to pay it back. You can guess who is more likely to get another loan/help (in my family, though, he's got the great career and I'm still poor. haha). Also - my parents haven't given me a hard time about finances since I proved (to them at least) my responsibility.

You will miss your truck every day of your life if you sell it after putting this much into it. You ever see a vehicle you used to own (and didn't hate) driving around? Could you stand to see some douche driving your truck someday? I couldn't, and my truck is kind of a pile of shit. It's going to the scrapyard in pieces before I'll sell it.

They are giving me a hard time about the free ride I gave my ex-girlfriend for the past three years plus, now that they found out. Just throwing that out there, because I'm giving myself just as bad a time about it. I've had three relationships where I've been the provider - one irresponsible debt-laden self-absorbed.. yeah.. - one who was just between jobs, not her fault, but I'm a good mark - one who thinks the feminine movement is bullshit and women shouldn't work so long as they run a household. Tell you what. If I have to vacuum, you have to pay rent. From now on. lmao.

Relationship advice is the hardest kind to take objectively. Do what you feel is right, but always think about what you're doing in a relationship!

The caddy. Man, when I was looking for a daily driver I ended up spending 4 grand. the car broke down anyway and I don't have the money to spend on fixing it because I still owe on the damn thing, plus insurance on a newer car compared to an older one. I could've put 1200 bucks into a crappy old (perfectly running) toyota, 1200 bucks into fixing it up, and still be at half what I've paid on my car.

Personally in your situation, with my history, I would sell the caddy, find a cheap, reliable daily driver, with good gas mileage being hugely important, pay my parents back, use the gas mileage to visit the girlfriend every chance I got.
As for the truck - take your time, you have so much invested already. just keep it tuned up!

/rant

I was in a similar situation as you. I decided to put the truck on the back burner, and instead finish my bachelors & get a good job. Now I'm at the end of my decision, and I can finally start working on my truck again. I don't regret it at all. It has been frustrating at times not being able to work on it, and it's amazing how people will treat you different and spread rumors that your parting it out, or quiting , but yea your future is more important than a truck.

Well guys,I've made a very tough decision,and I have decided to put the truck up for sale. Not saying that it will sell,because it probably won't,but anything is for sale for the right price.

As the truck is up for sale,pretty much anything bolt on is up for grabs,so I'm willing to part it,as long as I have the replacement part,or the buyer gives me the replacement part of the part I sell them.

If the truck doesn't sell by the time the snow begins to fly,it will go into storage and sit till the spring.

We will see what happens. I had one offer on the truck a couple months ago when it was not for sale and I refused it. But hey,priorities change.

Thanks guys for all your advice. You guys are like family to me; Those who I learn from and listen to.