Hello - I'm a New Enthusiast!

[Guest Lil_Red_Nan]

Hi, I just signed-up and have been reading other posts. My father was the original owner of a 1989 Reatta coupe, red w/saddle interior. The car was purchased in Bakersfield, CA and always garaged. When I inherited the car it had 78K miles. I moved the car to Colorado, then to Texas. It now has approx. 81K. Since owning this car I wanted to restore it as much as possible. I have invested over $8K and absolutely LOVE this car, plus the sentimental factor since my father has now passed away. Now that we moved to Texas, I would have to rent a garage to keep the car. My husband feels I should sell it, but I am not sure I want to. I've re-upholstered the front seats & console with original leather, replaced the A/C condenser, motor mounts, radiator, head-light motor, serpintine belt, harmonic balancer, fuel pump, and had all major services performed. I replaced the cassette deck with an Alpine Navigation system. The car runs great and is a joy to drive. Paint is original and in good condition. My husband is concerned that due to the age of the car (1989) it will constantly be needed repairs. I can't imagine much more it could need. If I do sell the car does anyone have an idea of the value? Would I be able to recoup my $8K+ due to all the work I have done to it? Or - would I be better off keeping it until it reaches "antique" status? Anyone interested?

[Guest BREH]

Welcome aboard. KEEP THE CAR. You can't replace your fathers car, you have replaced a lot of expensieve parts already. If you have not flushed the brake system yet, please do so. BUT KEEP THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shoreice]

Hi, KEEP THE CAR. Buy a good cover for it, Barney Eaton sells really nice ones that actually fit. Other people also sell covers and about anything else you can think of for your reatta.There are lots of new owners on this board, you are not alone. Tell the husband to sell one of his cars instead of your baby. Kenny

[padgett]

Look at it this way. Keep the car and put $300/month into savings. Every time you hit $3k take $500-$1000 out and go off for a weekend, even an engine or transmission replacement with a GM remanufactured unit would be hard to exceed $2.5k and a major a/c or TEVES (ABS) repair would be hard to exceed $1k. Key is to find a good local mechanic who is not afraid of the oddball stuff (and a 15 yeqr old nerd to fix the electrics).

Drivetrain is just ordinary Buick and electronics is all modular. Spares are available from several on this list. With the forum to help, it is really a lot easier to maintain than an Allante.

Many here have reached 150k or 200k miles with few problems and as long as you keep up with the maintenance it should last you quite a few more years.

Besides someday it and the Riviera will be recognized as the first fly-by-wire American cars.

[Barney Eaton]

What part of Texas........we are having a Regional Buick meet in Fredericksburg on October 28

[Guest Kitskaboodle]

Welcome aboard Lil Red Nan....

I think you should keep the car as well since A) it has been maintained well and it has relatively low miles. You have so much into it money-wise and you'll never get reimbursed for

that so you might as well enjoy the car. Besides, you said you LOVE that car!

By the way, your story and my story have some eerie similarities. I just joined this forum also, I just bought my Reatta 2 weeks ago....from a guy in Bakersfield but the car is originally from Texas. In fact, my car still has Texas plates on it! (I wont go into that here though) Lastly, I too have a red coupe with tan interior but mine is a 90.

Kit

[matthewlawe]

"...replaced the cassette deck with an Alpine Navigation system."

Would you post a picture? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Keep it. If you "LOVE" 'em, keep 'em(husbands,wives,animals,homes,

boats,cars...not necessarily in this order) <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

White/Blue'89

[Guest Lil_Red_Nan]

We live in Rockport, TX, and are traveling in Colorado at the moment. I will keep Fredricksberg in mind for Oct. 28th. Thanks for the info.

[Guest Lil_Red_Nan]

Yeah, I went to "Car Toys" (in Colorado Springs, CO) and they had one navigation system that worked in the allowed space. It works great and looks like a custom fit. I've attached a photo. Had to buy a CD/DVD player in the trunk to work the system, so I also have music options. Seems like the cost was around $1,500.00. The tech struggled with the wiring some, but they remember the car well and if you want to do this, your tech could consult with mine to save himself some time.

Let me know if you need more info. Good Luck.

[Guest F14CRAZY]

That's a pretty clean looking setup. Better than mine

[Guest Durahansolo]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's a pretty clean looking setup. Better than mine </div></div>

lol mine too, i just put an XM Satellite system on top of my tape player, i wanted to get one big enough to fit into the whole slot but my brother ended up buying me a small one so i ended up mounting it right on top of the tape player since i dont use it.

[Guest Lil_Red_Nan]

THANKS EVERYONE. I AM GOING TO KEEP THE CAR!

[Vincent Vega]

woo hoo. You won't regret it. We'll keep it on the road for you.

[lugnuts]

Nan--- Good answer!!! You have something very special there. It would be a real shame to let it slip away. Happy Motoring!

[matthewlawe]

Thank you for the picture. Nice clean installation. I like it.

Also, thanks for the heads up on the wiring and CD/DVD

player. Much appreciated? and continue to enjoy driving

? Dad?s car.

Armed with this information, I will start looking. And,

coincidently, I will be in Colorado Springs in the summer

of 2007.

Regards,

White/Blue ?89

[0ddi0]

Nice. I'm in the planning stages of my new stereo. So far all I know is, it's gonna be LOUD!!!

P.S. Matthewlawe, send me a message when you plan on comin, maybe we can meet up. I'm in Denver.

[manikmekanik]

Welcome to the online "World of Reattae"!!!

I also own a couple Texas Reattae, both convertibles!

I bought "Black Beauty" from another collector in IL, it was originally owned by a Dallas mayor. Was awarded Gold at BCA Midwest Regional in 2005, then won Silver at the BCA Nationals this summer in Rochester, MN. 30,000 miles so far.

Drove down to Dallas to get the red/tan 90 drop-top last summer, came home topless the whole way. Entered it in the BCA Midwest regional in 2005, and was awarded Bronze. This one has 83,000 miles, and is for sale, (my bride wants a white/maroon one, like her first '88 coupe), #2 condition car, price $9999.99!

Be sure to join the BCA and the Reatta division, and attend/enter some events!

[Machiner 55]

Nobody else said it so I will.

Keep the car, sell the Husband. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />