CHAT Opinions Badly Needed!

[fporretto]

I face a terrible temptation. It has roots fifty years deep, and it has blossomed into a full and terrible end state. I need to know, rather quickly and badly:

Can a 65-year-old married, retired engineer buy a red Corvette convertible without making a fool of himself?

Thank you for your support.

 

[Pinecone]

Life is short. DO IT!

 

[WalknTrot]

Oh hell yes.

 

[FreeSpace]

Of course.

 

[Ben Sunday]

IF you can afford both the vehicle and the insurance (the latter will be horrendous) and have a decent storage available, WHY NOT?

You only live once.

 

[LeafyForest]

Go for it.!!!

 

[Vegas321]

Absolutely!

 

[poppy]

Absolutely, go for it. I'd probably avoid riding around with the top down with a pretty young blonds girl as a front seat passenger.

 

[Redcat]

I would.

 

[IRoberge]

Do you need a co-pilot???

 

[NC Susan]

YES. ASAP

I'm on my 3rd Japanese "corvette " = Miata

So I will race You

 

[straightstreet]

Lol, yes! and have fun!

 

[Hfcomms]

Probably the only regret that you'll have is if you don't do it. Having that car will probably take 10 years off your age at least for awhile!

 

[Blacknarwhal]

This is one of those times when the YOLO--you only live once--doctrine makes sense. If you can afford it, go with it.

 

[BH]

Flip a 2-headed coin (suggestion: call heads)

 

[Sacajawea]

Hmmmm. What does the wife think?

My hubby was looking at the Nissan "go carts", as I call them... and would dearly have loved a corvette (but not in red; cop magnet is what he called that color). I talked him into a mustang GT convertible instead. More comfy for us older folks; even his mom could get in/out of that car. AND it had a real trunk for picnic coolers, luggage for overnight trips or golf clubs if you're into that kind of thing.

 

[ted]

If you want it and can I say do it! As for the fool part...At our age we know better than to worry about what someone else thinks.


P.S. At my grand daughters school when I pick her up there is an older woman who drives a 700hp Camaro.

 

[celtic-cat]

Absolutely!

I have a Honda Si 6-speed with a V-tech. It's awesome! I especially love the looks on people's faces when I roar up into a handicapped space, pull out my hang tag, and get outta my sports car. It's priceless!

 

[Tundra Gypsy]

DO It! I attend the 'Back to the 50s' car show in Sandpoint, Idaho, and the Bonners Ferry Classic Car Show every year, and you should see all the beautiful classic cars AND the classic guys that own them! You are not that old dude! Life is short; go for it! You will be the envy of your friends, and those who still love and appreciate those cars.

 

[Marthanoir]

absolutely ridiculous idea, I can't believe your even thinking about it, let alone need to ask the board, Red , Red, you want the metallic grey or the blue, red is for poncy Italian sports cars

I thought over 65's were the only ones who could afford sports cars

 

[bev]

What does the wife think?

Often it takes 65+ years to be able to afford such a toy.

 

[PghPanther]

I'm of an opinion that it may not be a good thing to buy it............

Here is why.

You've placed this car on a pedestal of desire most of your life.........and what I've found is that when we finally have the means to obtain something like that we often find out that it doesn't live up to your expectation which can be a real bummer.

But here is the real problem...............a car in which you treasure and have pride in has the potential to end up owning you........rather than you owning it.

Everyone I know that has a prestigious car worries like hell where they park it from door dents.....and just plain jealous people keying the paint job.........hell they take it out for a drive and worry about a garbage/construction truck dropping something out it that bounces on the road and hits their car and dings it.....

Then the insurance costs...............the maintenance and service upkeep and parts.

Most cars like this are toys that are kept in garage and then brought out on a sunny day for just a drive around the local neighborhood and then locked up again for fear of getting that first dent or scratch in it....

So if you purchase something like this are you owning it............or will it own you?

That is the real question you must ask yourself.......

 

[Dennis Olson]

No. But then, why care? Life's too short to worry what other people think.

 

[FaithfulSkeptic]

Can a 65-year-old married, retired engineer buy a red Corvette convertible without making a fool of himself?.

Of course. It's about what you want ... not what other people think. If it's something you've always wanted and you now have the money and time to enjoy it, do it.

 

[SSTemplar]

As long as you don't put your family into debt they can't pay.

 

[coloradohermit]

You will look like a fool, but one of the few benefits of aging is that we no longer care if we look foolish.

 

[Firebird]

You bet your bottom dollar you can! Life is short, enjoy it

 

[Breeta]

What does age have to do with it? I'm 43 and from my viewpoint I say absolutely. Do it! YOLO! (You only live once).

 

[Buick Electra]

If you don't care what people think, go for it. There was a line my 6-figure dad and his friends lived by.....

Older guy, Corvette = small penis/erectile dysfunction. Don't advertise.

 

[marsh]

Just don't trade the wife in for a sportier model in the co-pilot seat and you will be fine.

 

[Ken Todd]

Just this last weekend, I saw an old dude in a 70's convertible corvette, red. Old school awesome!

 

[Russell Crowley]

I think you should and get a young blonde to be your passenger or even driver especially if she's your grand daughter.

Years ago our ships captain (USN) would arrive every morning back to the ship in one driven by a cute gal. The disappointment around the ship was horrendous when everyone found out that she was his daughter and a student at college there in Long Beach.

Russell

 

[David Nettleton]

I face a terrible temptation. It has roots fifty years deep, and it has blossomed into a full and terrible end state. I need to know, rather quickly and badly:

Can a 65-year-old married, retired engineer buy a red Corvette convertible without making a fool of himself?

Thank you for your support.

This 65 year old did. Avoid a C4 era Vette.

 

[Normallguy]

Yup. It can be done.

Jeff

 

[rockcreek]

I have a friend in her 70's that bought a small sports car when she was in her 60s. It is gray and she looks so good in it. I cannot picture her in any other car. She asked her DD the same question. Her DD said get it why not.

 

[Dozdoats]

Certainly.

Then drive it sedately and make everybody mad

 

[Terriannie]

NOOOOOO!!!!

BIL was 60 when he bought his, special order.

He looked so COOL!!!! UNTIL, THE GETTING IN AND OUT OF IT AND HIS BACK, REMINDED HIM HE WASN'T YOUNG. HE WAS, 60!!!!

(After that he only took it out when he and SIL went out to eat but then that didn't work out too well, because he was usually STUFFED afterwards, so, both back AND stomach acted up.)

(The Vet lasted only 9 months and then he sold it.)

 

[Maryh]

Oh yes! Go for it! I always wanted a MG Classic about a 56. If it came to me, I'd drive it all over! Son-in-law in Hi. just bought a beautiful blue dune buggy and I am so looking forward for a ride with the Beach Boys playing!

 

[knowzone]

"Can a 65-year-old married, retired engineer buy a red Corvette convertible without making a fool of himself?"

Yes, unless he acts as a foolish 15 year old, puts his foot down on the pedal through the floor board, does 120mph+ on a curvy, hilly 2 lane road ending up in someones living room through their roof and second floor, not leaving enough remains for a ziploc. I know. I went to the funeral.

(been waitin 50 years to tell that story)

kz

 

[Tristan]

I'm reminded of the story when Larry Niven (Science Fiction Writer extraodinaire) met with the author of "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche", he explained to the quiche-phobe: "Real men eat any damn thing they want to."

Enjoy the fruits of your labours.