Growing Up or One Foot In The Grave? Options

[turbohcar]

Lately, the question has been posed to me that if I could only have one vehicle, what would it be?

After thinking much about this it's hard to say. There are tons of vehicles out there that I'd love to own, just none that I can say for sure. I've sold the daily driver and now it's time to get ready for winter. My original plan was to put the Camaro in the storage unit for winter time. I'm not soo sure of that now. I've been talking with the girlfriend alot lately and I'm thinking of going down to one vehicle for practicality reasons. It's too darn expensive to have two vehicles anymore. Yes, it's true. I'm seriously considering selling the Camaro I just bought this summer. It's been great and I can honestly say, I want to come back soon but it's just not plausible right now. I'm trying to live the Hugh Heffner lifestyle on a $20k yr salary and go to school and it's just not working out. I can't afford two cars anymore and I'm tired of living week to week barely making it by. I absolutely LOVE the car, it's just not the right time in my life for it. Face it, I live in Illinois.... it snows like sh!t here in the winter. Camaros suck in the winter (and the rain for that matter) so it has to be put into storage and I have to find a beater. I'm tired of the junk beaters. I want to drive something nice and not worry about it breaking down. I'm tired of borrowing other people's cars for long trips because I'm afraid mine won't make it. It truely disgusts me to think about selling it but, I have to face facts.

I don't like the idea of not having a toy but who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? I'm thinking a low miles 98 or newer Grand Prix GTP maybe. The infamous Supercharged 3.8L from GM. Positive intake pressure may be mine once again! It's a slow, grandma 4-door car on the outside with plenty of luxuries on the inside but, under the hood lurks a 240hp V6 with a roots type blower on it. It may not be much for some of you extremists but it kind a tickles my fancy. 18mpg in the city (same as the Camaro everywhere) and 28mpg highway.

SLP also makes smaller pulleys and exhaust for this bad boy so there are some aftermarket manufacturers out there that are supporting the platform.

Ideas? Comments? Any other cars you would like to suggest pleeease speak up. I've got a range of about $7500 that I want to stay within and stay away from taking out a loan. That would defeat the purpose so, it's a definite no. Thanks!

[turbohcar]

I'm not much into the looks of the Regals, but yes they are the same potent platform. It's not so much about trying to be the best or have a fast car, it's more about being reliable, well kept, and flaw free. The supercharger I think is more for entertainment purposes than anything. That and I've never had a supercharged vehicle, they can be had in the price range I'm looking free of defects, and very durable.

I've had a friend suggest that I keep the money from my other daily driver and pour it into the Camaro and drive it through the winter. I can't say that I want to put that kind of money into a 12 year old car that needs this much work to be free of defects when I can pool the money and buy something equally entertaining and much more car for my dollar.

Any other cars you guys would suggest?