Coupe GT or 4000Q for a teenager? Bucksnort view

[MHLIGGINS@aol.com]

	Just went through the same process for my daughter who is just about to turn
15.  I think the 4KQ may be a little better in an accident than the Coupe.
That was one factor I considered.  My son had a 1983 4000S totaled out from
under him last May.  From what I saw the Coupe would have allowed more damage
in this particular accident.  As it was my father-in-law was pinned in the car
for a couple hours until they cut both passenger-side doors away from the car.
He got off with just cuts and bruises, I expect it would have been worse in
the Coupe (again, in THIS accident).
	In this area the Coupes are almost impossible to find, the 4KQs are not as
rare, but not all that common either.  BUT there are lots of 4KSs around here
if we need body parts.  I'm a scrounger, so I like to stay ahead on spare
parts.  I typically keep one parts car for each of our daily drivers -- just
because.  So while I can find parts cars for the 4KQ, I have not seen any for
the Coupe.
	You might also consider that with the Coupe there is not much room inside,
which means less temptation to be the chauffeur for all the classmates.
Doesn't mean he won't be the chauffeur, just that it's less tempting with a
very small back seat.

	I wound up buying a 1984 4KQ from John Mallick, a q-lister in New York.  The
car had been very well maintained.  It needs some attention, which my daughter
and I will give it this fall, but it is a very solid car and drives better
than some of the newer ones I've been in lately.  (Especially the rental
P.O.S. that I drove from MD to pick up the 4KQ!  The front end was trying to
fall out and it only had 15K miles on it.)
	Two weeks ago I was in Berea, KY and saw a beautiful Coupe GT.  White.  Very
white.  The longer I looked at it, the more I thought about the decision.  I
guess for me it comes down to the fact that *I* would love to have a Coupe GT.
	For our family, I made the better decision.  Based on some of what you've
said in your post, you will probably be happier going the other direction.

	That's it from Bucksnort.
	Later.
	--ml