WooHoo, my first brand new toy

[linc400]

Ok, so unlike most here, I've never been a big Camaro or Chevy fan. I like pre-1979 Lincolns, Cadillacs, Imperials, and Packards. Never liked 4 doors, only coupes and convertibles. Currently I have a 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Givenchy Edition that is only driven in summer to car shows and for road trips.

So what am I doing here? Well, since the Givenchy is not a daily driver, I need one of those. I was driving a 1994 Buick Regal coupe with 3.8 liter V6. My mom bought it new in Fall 1993. I bought it from her when my 1988 Town Car daily beater conked out in 2006, and I talked her into buying a new 2006 Monte Carlo SS V8. She didn't like dropping down to a Chevy from a Buick, but we both thought it was the only decent looking car being built then, and she loved the performance.

Fast forward to now. After 18 years and 174,000 miles, the Regal blew the engine 4 weeks ago. They told me it would be about $4500 to replace it. It had been very well maintained, but was starting to show its age and miles cosmetically. So I didn't think it would be worth it to put the money into it.

My friend was sending me car ads for things like 1988-95 4 door LeSabres and Olds 88's for less than $4000 with 130,000+ miles on them, but I just could not see myself driving one of these. And with those miles, who knew how long they would last since they were not owned since new by us. I also looked at 2000-2007 Monte Carlos and Grand Prix, but those still had high miles and a price that required making payments. I could not see myself making payments on used junk that looked worse than my 18 year old Regal. I was using my friend's mom's 1987 Town Car while looking for a car. It was very generous, but I could not keep using it forever. I gave thought to buying it for the summer and trading it in for a new 2013 in the fall (they offered to sell it to me). However, it burned and leaked oil, leaked gas, and leaked power steering fluid to the extent that I was filling it up daily with power steering fluid. I decided buying it would not be a good move, even if just for the summer.

So I thought it might be time for my first ever new car after 28 years of driving rusty used cars. I liked the Camaro since it came out. Also the Challenger and Mustang. Seems like odd choices for someone into antique luxury/personal luxury coupes. But there would be no foreign 4 door bland econobox for me. These were the only cars that had any of the character of the great cars of the past (and 2 doors). The Challenger looked a little chunky to me and didn't seem to have as good a quality reputation as the Camaro and Mustang. Plus no convertible. The Mustang seemed like more of a high school kid's car, and just not as unique as the Camaro. The initial dream was for a Camaro 2SS convertible. But I thought I should be realistic and look at a 1LS coupe which I could actually afford.

I went to the Chevy dealer and drove several Camaros. Did not like the confining feel of the coupe and lousy visability. Drove the SS and loved the acceleration, but didn't like the stiffer ride after being used to Lincolns and Buicks, or the hefty price difference. I was debating between the 2LT coupe and 1LT convert. Long story short (maybe too late ), I pulled the trigger and went for a 2LT convertible.

Next was color selection. I wanted the 2010 aqua blue or any decent bright blue. No dice. I am not a fan of red, orange or yellow. So I was looking at silver or black. They showed me a Carbon Flash 45th anniversary coupe. I didn't even know anything about this edition until I saw it on the lot. I decided that was the best of the bunch and went for that. They located a 2LT 45th convert at a nearby dealership and I picked it up last Monday.

I paid invoice plus got $1000 special offer and $430 GM card offer off of it, plus 1.9% financing. I thought that was a pretty decent deal, but now people are saying they got theirs below invoice, so I don't know. But it is mine now. My first brand new car, woohoo!

The back seat, trunk and sun visors are a joke. But hopefully with XM radio blasting and top down I should be able to forget about that. If we get some decent weather to do that. 80 degrees in Chicago in March, and now that I have a convertible it is 45-55 in mid April, Grrrrr.

[SSGUNNER]

Welcome n congrats.

[Sebastian]

congrats to the good deal and nice car! if you want to have more sun just pass by in my place. Today 38 degress here and sun is shining!

[REDXIIIDave]

Congrats! My brother has a 1976 Lincoln Mark IV Cartier Edition! 28,000 original miles. Nothing like floating down the road in one of those. My dad bought a 1977 Mark V Cartier new. It was awesome (I was 11 at the time).

[black.]

congrats and enjoy the ride.

[1954 Belair-man]

Congrats!

[Camaro68]

Congrats!!

[PatsSS]

Congrats! Anything you want to know about your car, you can find it here.

[Sir Nuke]

linc400, CONGRATS on the ride and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to Camaro5. There is a BIG fridge on the back porch with anything you can think of in it...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. Make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom's, dad's, wive's, husband's, girlfriend's and boyfriend's here don't care....and take it easy.



oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!

[pincoin]

Have fun with your new conv!

[powerslave]

Originally Posted by linc400

...and sun visors are a joke

That's what I thought til I used them. They work. The window is so short since its on basically a 30 degree angle (lol) that the sunvisor is actually wide enough, from my viewing angle anyway.

[fbodyauto]

Congrats on the Camaro, sweet edition might I add! Now you need to upload some pictures!

[Rangore]

Grats and welcome

[heRS]

Congratulations and welcome to C5.