Keep the 83 or 96?

[FordInPossession]

As some of you know, I have my Brothers 83 at my house trying to get the transmission working right and installing a heater core. It's pretty clean although it's been re-painted at some point. Less rust than the 96. I need to sell one of them because of the baby on the way next month and I REALLY need the money.... I could get more for the 96 than the 93 but what are your opinions?

[Chuck Norris]

I assume the reason you need to get rid of one car is the added expense a baby will be? One, you have NOOOO idea unless you already have a kid. If not, oh brother.... naw, it's not that bad. Diapers and formula suck, otherwise if the kid is healthy it's all good. Back to the point:

The cars. One is a 1983, one is a 1996. As a responsible adult (again I am assuming LOL) you would want to keep the car with the best record of reliability, the one that costs less overall and is the better runner of the two. You need reliability to get your butt to work and your kiddo to doctor appointments and his/her job in the coalmine. If you like the cars equally, go with reliability and which one requires the least work. In most cases, I'd rather have a 1996 with a kiddo at home over an antique. But thats just my opinion. Well, you asked for it LOL!!!

[85crownHPP]

keep the box of course

[zwack88]

That 96 will most likely be more reliable.

[88MercWagon]

That 96 will most likely be more reliable.

:stupid: Although if the 96 is pretty well worn and the 83 has low miles and is good to go, [after the tranny and heater core fix], it might be a better idea to keep the 83 for the time being.

[gadget73]

83 is EEC III CFI, which can be bitchy and expensive to fix. Its also a foggy realm of mystery nobody knows much about. A 96 is nothing hard to figure out really, big problem there is that stupid plastic intake. Otherwise its a solid driveline. Early AODs are crappy, and the one on the 83 has already shit the bed. Heater cores also suck to install.

[88Vic]

I'd keep the 96 because it probably gets better mileage, more reliable, and is safer, because it has airbags and ABS and other things. That's what i'd do. The next Panther I want to get is a 96+ PI, but yours is too far away and probably too expensive for me. My

[RoyLPita]

My vote is for the '96.

[Dave84]

in my opinion keep the 83,, the ones like the 96 from what i have seen tend to rot out a lot faster, from what i have seen anyway

[Mr. Land Yacht]

if the box was 86-91, I'd say keep it, but in your case, I'd just keep the '96.
I'm not a big fan of aeros, but I have to agree with MissinVicin on this one.
If you were trying to decide which one ot keep as a project car...the Box is no question, cheaper and easier to mod.
but, as a father, you have to make sure that whatever you do from now on is in the best interest of your child.