Trade my wagon for a sedan? Have you ever had to make up your mind? ;)

Have you ever had such a difficult time trying to decide whether to sell or keep your wagon?

Well, I never thought I would even consider getting shed of my '72 Kingswood Estate (and still may not do it, especially after it taking me 6 years to get the owner to sell it to me, then it setting for another 7 years while I got the car road-worthy). Well I did finally get it on the road (and I am sure many will remember the ordeal with that) and it turns out that the transmission was shot (no 1st gear) and it never was the engine being my low power issue (but the engine still got new lifters, cam, chain, etc). Well I got the tranny rebuilt last summer and had a new water pump put on (that was about $800.00 total), complete new exhaust system (I think that was $350.00) and drove it most every weekend in the summer until about October when the rear main seal started leaking oil after I changed the oil. It slowly got worse and like a fool I even put in the stop leak, but it didn't help. It got to where I really wasn't losing much oil, but I could smell it burning on the exhaust, so the car has been parked since early November. My mechanic looked and confirmed it was a rear main seal leak and he would replace for around $250.00 - $300.00. Other than that, the car is fine mechanically as most of the engine is new, many new parts and now a new tranny. It still needs body work (and new wood-grain) and maybe A-frame bushings and I just don't know if I want to continue on with it. It has some rust in the spare tire area, around the rear cargo area windows and lower doglegs/quarter panels. That is pretty typical for an eastern USA clamshell due to the high humidity and rain here. Unless you have one that was garaged since new, or from out west, it is going to have some rust. The frame and floors are solid, so that is good. The HVAC blower does not work anymore, nor the radio, but all lights do, so no problems there for me to worry about. I think that the blower and radio could be easily taken care of.

Another $1500-2000 or so with the paint/body work, I think this car would be near mint. I just don't know if I want to go on. My heart is now set on something else, like a 1968-1970 Chevy Caprice 4-door hardtop sedan or a 1971-1973 Cadillac Sedan DeVille or Fleetwood Brougham. I am also wanting a 1973-78 Ford Country Squire, but that may be harder to trade for. I had thought about maybe searching the net to see if anyone with one of the cars mentioned above wanted a clamshell like mine, or if I should just keep the wagon since I have been with it this long. lol. I paid $4,000 for my wagon in '07, and have invested around another $1,800 in engine/tranny repairs/complete exhaust system and I know I could never get anywhere near that back out of it and before I would let it go, I would need at least $5,000 out of it (and sell as-is) and still be losing a lot of money and I am sure that may be a dreamer price, lol. I prefer to trade anyway, IF I do decide to move on with something else. These cars are getting harder to find though. Maybe in another 10 years it may be worth it? Or... could I put the $2000 more into it, get it mint and sell for $12K?

I am selling my 2000 Subaru Outback wagon on Monday for $3500 (and start using my '91 Cadillac as my daily driver), so I could put every bit of that in the '72 wagon and get it in mint condition (and not even touch my savings I still have in the bank where I sold the new car I won)... I just need to let go of the money.

With that said, someone talk me out of wanting to sell / trade it!

Who am I kidding, I know when it gets down to it, I may never be able to let it go. LOL. I guess I could keep it, then still buy another one of those cars I want... where to put it though! I am out of driveway space!

This is what I had in mind...

 

On the contrary, I'll try to talk you INTO selling/trading it!

I just went through the same thing this past fall in selling my '73 Custom Cruiser after 5 years of ownership. Ask me six months ago if would ever sell it, and I would have said not a chance. But one gets to thinking about things, just like you are. I decided that I had had all kinds of fun with the wagon and that I was more or less "done" with it. I wanted to do other things and make other use of the garage space. So I decided to sell it.

You only go through life once, and if you want to experience other things, then do it. You want a Caddy or something else, go for it. You can always get another wagon. No decision like this is irrevocable.

A wagon or any car is just a thing. I felt a sense of renewal the day my wagon was loaded on the truck and heading to its new owner. Suddenly, with fresh money in my pocket, I felt like new possibilities were all around me. My wife kept (and still keeps) asking me "so what car are you going to get now?" I tell her I have nothing particular in mind, and I'll know it when I see it. It probably wouldn't be another wagon, but you never know.

It sounds like your Kingswood is turning into something you rather dread seeing, instead of look forward to seeing, every morning. You've fallen out of love with it. That happens.

I've owned four collector cars in my time, and at some point with each one I was convinced I would keep it forever. At the moment I still have only one of them.

 

Tough choice, it's hard to let cars go you are fond of but if it needs more work after 7 years then it's maybe time to let her go.
What Jaunty said, you get up in the morning thinking the car still needs this and that....I know I do!
You could use that money to make her top notch and fix her, park her for another 7 years or sell more cars so you have some serious cash in your pocket.
I had the same dream about a 96 Impala years ago, bought her and thought I would never sell her.
But 5 years later when I had all things done I wanted to, I was already looking for the next car...

 

I'll try, those Cadillacs are fugly.
On the plus side of selling the wagon now, the demand seems to be pretty good.

 

I like the Sedan Deville out of the three choices. I had one but after sitting for years I decided to part it out. IF you do get a Sedan Deville and it needs interior work let me know. I have a mint condition complete interior in brown vinyl if you can use it. Also I would add a 71/72 Buick Electra to your list. I know you had one years ago and may not want another one but I like the style better than the Sedan Deville.

 

I agree 100%. These are wise words!

You will still appreciate wagons even after yours is gone. There is nothing wrong with buying another car... I like the first one pictured.

 

Only you can really decide. You can make yourself love or hate your wagon today. Tomorrow you may have different thoughts.
Personally the only vehicle on your list that would interest me is the 1973-78 Ford Country Squire. Even then buying one will be a gamble; a money pit, or a great wagon. At least you know what you have now.

 

Thanks for the replies... all good info there. I thought at least one person would say keep it, lol! My '73 Pontiac Grand Ville is one I know I will never sell. I have a big attachment to that car and being a big old 4-door, I couldn't get enough out of it to justify selling it.

Well we will see... maybe I will go ahead and get the rear oil seal replaced in the wagon and drive it one more summer to the cruise-ins then decide what to do. I do not want to put more into it and get it mint, because to be honest I do not have a garage to keep it in and never will unless I win the lottery so I can buy more land and materials to build it.

If I do get something else, it will be one of the cars mentioned, or maybe a 59-60 4dr GM sedan.

*Marty, thanks for the info. I will keep that in mind if I do get a 71-73 Caddy. I am going to try to find one with either green or blue brocade cloth interior. The Fleetwoods either have leather or brocade cloth/leather combination.

I wouldn't mind having another 71-73 Electra sedan. I really miss my '72. I wish I had it back. I have not been able to locate it. Someone in Rock Hill South Carolina bought it back in 2002, shortly after I saw you at the cruise-in that time. It was fun driving it down and parking next to my grandfathers '55 Buick. I miss that car as well. My grandpa traded it for a '55 Cadillac Series 62 sedan. When he passed away in August of 2011, he left it to my uncle. The car just sets in his garage.

Well thanks again for the replies... it is something to think about. I guess when the time is right, I will sell or trade the wagon... you may see it on ebay or Craigslist one day... time will tell. lol. Then again maybe I will buy one of those cars I mentioned and keep the wagon too.

 

Though I am a wagon guy, It does sound to me like you're not quite enjoying the Kingswood and that you think someone else could take better care of it than you currently can.

 

Like Fannie, I also agree with Jaunty. If the thought of your car and doing more to it makes you cringe, it's likely time to move on.

The purpose of this type of car ownership is truly to bring you joy. (since You don't need it for daily transportation.) Sure there are bound to be trials and tribulations, but in the end, if it doesn't make you happy what is the point?

And like has been said, when you find the right car you will know it.

 

Sort of like finding the right woman!

 

Nah, they find us. We're too busy with the package.

 

Send me a message if you want to talk about my 69 Caprice. I probably wouldn't want to go the trade route though.

I thought I may have found a 72 Kingswood Estate locally, but may have just been a little too slow.

 

After reading your comments, I recommend that you I'd fix the rear main seal and then look for acceptable trades.

The quoted repair price is cheap (in my opinion) and if you aren't really excited about the Kingswood any more, you might as well trade (or sell) it to someone else who will enjoy it.