Dictys

I purchased a 1990 S4 in 2010 for US$4k, it was driveable but had, no AC, a whinning steering pump, other issues I have only since learnt about on here and bad paint. An after and before picture attached.

Roll on two years and learning so much the car is now becoming a reliable daily drive, 90% of things now work and all the previous dodgy fixes retified. All the work has been done 50/50 between myself and garage mechanics.

Costs to date excluding purchase price US$18,124.19 !!!

I think it is time to delete that damn spreadsheet and go for a drive!

depami

Shame on you for even creating a spread sheet.

Ninespub

BTDT

Jadz928

That's not too far off considering you used a mechanic half the time.

I'd have figured 3X purchase price all inas a total DIY job.

bogdann

Did a spreadsheet on mine and it was a shock when I got the final number, the problem is I am still buying parts.
My wife was telling a lady in Italy about my obsession with the car and her comment was "Better an affair with a car than another women, you can always stab the tyres"

DanielD

Throw away all receipts, you'll feel better.

SQLGuy

How much of that was paint?

david_alford

$22k is still pretty good, no?

What other motor could be had for that price comparable to a 928? (this question is not rhetorical)

SteveG

I have a list. I hardly look at it except to add "records." It's a reference tool and may or may not influence a buyer if there ever is one. If it pains one to know the bottom line, they should consider another hobby. That also might mean they aren't valuing the smiles/mile factor. But that is subjective.

dr bob

I keep the same list that Jim does. It's a running log of maintenance activities, fuel costs, and parts costs. It does not include time spent, tool costs, noisy incidentals costs for support fluids and the like. It's backed up with receipts for the parts costs in a file sleeve. Any non-standard repairs or fixes are carefully documented too, like the AC relay fix that I turned into an instruction more than a dozen years ago now. The effect on a future owner is a crapshoot. On one hand, it offers a look at what has been done on the car so he/she can compare the car fairly with others. On the other hand, it offers a look at what it takes to keep the car in reliable condition so that he/she can fairly compare the costs with others.

My car came with a thick stack of dealer receipts at 22k. The car was serviced more than religiously. A few months into ownership, as AC problems came up, that same stack of dealer receipts documented a pattern of AC recharges that was staggering. So tracking everything is good, since it helps uncover problems. I'm not saying I wouldn't have bought the car because of the chronic AC needs, but other deeper problems it could have had would be available in the documentation.


I've only purchased one new car in my life, and it caused a serious void in my Saturday mornings for the first couple years. No need to go open the hood and inspect everything, no running list of service stuff to take care of. Had to find other things to do, and it was tough for a while. I finally brought one of the Lotus cars to the house to share the garage, and fill the void in my weekly routine. Then replaced that with the 928. The void has been filled.

brutus

How many years was that ? " car came with a thick stack of dealer receipts at 22k. The car was serviced more than religiously."

Dean_Fuller

Buying and fixing old cars is always a money loosing thing. Ours are no different, especially if you pay someone else to do the work. You MIGHT be much cheaper if you do ALL the work yourself as long as you accept the idea your time is free.

Still cheaper than buying a new new car and its depreciation rate.

DanielD

Buying a 928 is an emotional decision, not a financial one.
Keeping great records of maintenance and associated spend may influence a buyer in the future.
However, there is no rewarding yourself by reviewing how much money you have spent on your toy.
It will, most always, ruin your day.

PHIL928

I can't see any difference in the pictures apart from the clear lenses haha, you can only appreciate the true value of the money spent on it in person, or while your car has been sneakily taken for a drive while at the mechanic's :P
Your seats are back in BTW :P

Adamant1971

That's why I have never totaled it up, and never will. Just fix, pay, drive and have fun. You only live once!