I wanted to let my hair grow, get a tattoo and a new motorcycle. Turned into grow the hair get the tattoo, get my knees and eyes fixed.
Mid-life crisis question...
- Thread starter Ron M.
- Start date
Get the Vette. You'll resent the Caddy every time you drive it on a road that curves. And you should have plenty of those where you live.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
63? Son, mid life has left the station...
Heck, I had my mid-life crisis at 67, bought an MG.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Can I say F150?
I'm a big boy, 72YO 5'11'' at 250# and as of now I can still get in and out of a Vette decently. Note that is the drives side as I rarely ever get in on passenger side. Sometimes riding in a friends car I do, and that involves a little more thought. Due to a bad left knee I did after 6 stick transmissions get a auto in my 15!
I normally have a convertible (Vert) and of course if the top is down its much easier. Even with the roof up I have it figured out what has to move, when it has to move and I can get in and out of the drivers side, as I like to say with dignity. ( I have seen some people sort of claw their way out of a Vette and its not a nice scene)
For you Vette people my method of egress and dismounting the car is. Pull both feet up pivot so that you can lower your feet one by one to the ground. As you are now sitting sideways on the seat put your left elbow on the side of the car and using that as leverage rise up and out. Its easy to do, and no one will notice. (you will not hurt the paint) Getting back in put your right leg in sit down and then bring your left in.
I have been doing this since 1998.
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Imshootin
Member
I agree with this. I'll be 65 in a couple months.
Bought a C5, 1997, red convertible 3 years ago when I was 62. No crisis. Always wanted a Vette. Always wanted a convertible. Never had either. Scratched 2 off my bucket list in one fell swoop. Had only 22,000 miles on it when I bought it. Great ride. Great fun and enjoyment.
The C5 was a redesign from the chassis up. A whole new car. I had to replace the run flats on it because of the age. They were original tires over 15 years old. Didn't trust them and they had gotten harder with age and rode hard. Other than tires, fluid changes and a fresh battery, it's been great.
Go for it. You aren't getting any younger and the clock seems to run faster with every passing year.
I've owned Corvettes continuously for 53 years including most of the models. As has been pointed out by several previous posters, move up to the C-5 if financially possible. They were a huge improvement in many ways over the model you are talking about and there are nice ones available at reasonable prices. They are a lot easier to get in and out of than the c-4's and earlier cars. Corvettes can be tricky to buy used. Take someone who knows the cars with you if you don't know the cars. Avoid wrecks, high miles cars, poorly maintained cars, modified cars, cars with ten previous owners and "weird sellers." Coupes are more practical and less expensive but are less fun IF you like the top down. Converts are more expensive, easier to damage or break into and possibly expensive if the top needs replacing. There is a lot of good information in some of the above posts from some people who apparently know the cars pretty well. Read and consider it.
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Bozz10mm
US Veteran
Rather have an old Corvette than an old Cadillac. Alas, I have neither.
Now that I can afford to buy a Vette, at 76 I'm to crippled up to get in & out of one.
A Caddy CTS-Vis a great option if you're in the same condition as I am.
I concur
, the best of both
jmr986
Member
I got to admit I do love the sportier new caddie's. But, if it's sport you want then it's the 'Vette. I'm 66 and still own my 2001 Porsche Boxster, that I bought new. You learn how to get in. Back to the seat, then just sit down. Then swing both legs in at the same time. Tore my quad tendon a few months back. Forced me to learn to get in that way. No torque on the knee. My first car was a Nova SS 350, so I'm going with the vette. When the time comes to replace the Boxster, I'm thinking Corvette. Have fun.
El Biblioitecario
Member
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I got sporty-type machines out of my system a half century ago with a 1968 Camaro. I thought it was the Bee's Knees--until I had to wrestle a footlocker into the rear seat.
More recently I seriously considered a 1940 Buick--until I drove it. I can't say it drove like a tank because I have never driven a tank, but I have driven an M113 APC, and the Buick took considerably more effort.
More recently I seriously considered a 1940 Buick--until I drove it. I can't say it drove like a tank because I have never driven a tank, but I have driven an M113 APC, and the Buick took considerably more effort.
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Abbynormal
Member
Don't mess with GM hotrods made after 1990. It's only ego
money, not true performance that can be bought cheaper!
money, not true performance that can be bought cheaper!
Vette...I had a few myself..58 62 63SW 65 66. All that being said. If you are able to mount and dismount definitely do the vette. A little story. One of my customers in his 50s had 2 beautiful cars. A Silver Cloud Rolls...it was gorgeous. He also had a 64 XKE Coupe...a real magnet. I told him one day if he ever got rid of the Jag...I'd like to get first dibs. Told me he might dump the Rolls but the Jag even though a PITA he would keep it forever. 3 months later he passed from a massive heart attack. He was a truly nice guy and I was saddened to hear of his passing. 2 weeks after his death his wife(who I didn't know) came to my work place and made me the great offer to purchase the car for an unbelievable price...just because I had impressed him with my passion for his car. I of course bought it and kept in touch with her until she passed about 15 yrs later. That was a great car...but he was also right...it was a major PITA to keep going. It wasn't a vette....but in some ways it was better.
italiansport
Member
This is my 6th Corvette and it's a 1989 Model C4. Much maligned by some but I believe this is ill founded. I've owned this Corvette for over 20 years(purchased from original owner) and it has a little over 60,000 miles on it. While certainly not in the same class with the current models it has provided me with good economical and reliable service over they years. I suspect they will begin rapidly accelerating in price once everyone discovers that many have been scrapped since repairs can be expensive. The supply of road capable examples is diminishing and I see a LOT of Corvettes here but I don't see a lot of C4s any more. It came equipped with the factory removable hardtop which was only on the car long enough to drive it home from the original owners place. Anyway this one is in original condition(paint,interior,drive train) and I intend to keep it this way.
Jim
Jim
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I hang out on a couple Vette forums and for some reason that generation garners no respect by many.
Not me, a Vette is a Vette, enjoy.We (wife &I) spent two weeks in 2004 with Dave McCline (the head engineer of that car) and talked extensively with him. Its a decent car and with the ZR1 option can stay with most any other Vette out there. We were a hundred Vette people on a Alaska land & sea cruise sponsored by the NCM and I met Dave and a few more notable people + about 90 other serious Vette nuts!
OP enjoy your car!
If you are in reasonably good health and want a fun car, you can't go wrong with a Corvette. Getting in/out of a C4 has been described as like getting in or out of a bathtub. If that is not a problem, a well maintained, original C4 with good tires is a performance bargain right now. And, while I don't care for green cars, I do like the Polo green Vette. Even though I have a C6 convertible now, I am shopping for a nice C4 coupe because I always liked that body style. I'm 61 and not ready for a Caddy, yet!
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