Adk46

I have been trying to create a document containing a complete narrative of my experience with my car. I've quickly fallen behind, but I have the grand ambition for something very complete for myself and for the next owner (and to show potential new owners).

Photos, invoices, scanned documents, mileage logs, notable trips, tall tales, mysteries, inventory of accumulated spares - everything. I've done just enough to tell me that I don't have the right organization for it yet. I've got to do one for the Bugeye, too.

This would be more attractive than the usual folder stuffed with loose paper, although that will exist as well. Imagine an eBay seller sending you a PDF....

I suspect some of you do something obsessive also, or even more. Got any ideas to share?

Rob Edwards

Our very own Bronto has put together a nice online maintenance manager application, here:

http://www.wrenchreminder.com/index....le=Maintenance

And the thread discussing it:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-progress.html

Adamant1971

I have digitized all records, books etc. over 250 pages, sub categorized by parts, service, MTO paperwork, my blog from the OC, pictures of everything I have done etc.

Including scans of each page of my log book of fuel right back to day 1.

I also have all original brochures for MY 87.

I agree that it's a pain to up keep, but I generally update on my blog, then a couple times per year in my master inDesign file.

Soon I will need a larger binder.

kmascotto

for me its old school...scrap book

davek9

Yep, I just label and start another a Manila Folder, and never ever go through em, just keep adding to them

Dave

dr bob

I have the mandatory folder with copies of everything purchased for the car. Fortunately (or not?) the car has had only two visits to dealerships in my stewardship period-- TB/WP at purchase, and a follow-up tensioning from that. Also a receipt for a poor alignment. Otherwise, I keep a logbook of everything that's happened to the car, down to when it gets cleaned and sealed. In the few cases where modifications have been needed like the AC control head relay fix, you've seen the level of documentation added to the file. Plus lots of pictures.

Plus I have the original owner's files for the car, including his original written offer for the car, copies of his deposit and delivery checks, and all the dealer service records for the first 20k of the car's life in his stewardship. Window sticker, photos of all ID stickers, etc.

There's enough info and notes to build a narrative if needed, I think. Should we all be building that narrative now? I'm not sure that it's needed, but I do think that owners of potentially collectible cars should have this in the backs of their minds as they move along. Perhaps the incentives to do this earlier would include the provenance of the car affecting an insurance recovery should something bad happen.

-----

FWIW, I do this for every car in the fleet, not just the 928 or other collectibles. When one of the DD's in the family was totalled by a "holiday" driver when parked on the street in front of the house, the full history with documentation bolstered the value claims for replacement to his insurance carrier. As they proposed low-ball Autotrader examples to estimate value, we were able to propose dealer-offered cars, with a fully documented maintenance history similar to ours. The settlement discussions took place over the course of five months before they started to come around. They ultimately paid for the equivalent of the five months of rental replacement, for a car of similar pedigree. That plus costs was almost half of the final settlement value. So, keep all your records and history, with an eye to needing it someday. Even if it's just for the DD that shares the garage.

notaguru

My '83 came with records from production until 38k miles, and then there is a 28k vacuum. The PO died, and there is no hope of discovering maintenance during that period from the family. However, the state indicates that it passed smog every two years, and its condition suggests that it was always garaged and cared for.

I wonder if there is any hope of filling in that gap in its history...

ltoolio

I've been tracking mine in a Google Spreadsheet with what was done, dates, mileage and a hyperlink to the receipt(s) from Roger, Carl, 928Intl, 928 Specialists.

Figure I can pretty it up at some point in the future, but for now down-and-dirty is working A-OK for me.

voskian

I keep an excel spreadsheet of all expenses, maintenance, and upgrades done on the car. When I sold my 89 S4, I sent the spreadsheet (18 years of expenses) to the buyer along with current pictures and deal was done. Helps to quickly see what was done, when, and what parts/vendor were used. I also keep the perverbeial folder of all receipts, etc.

Rob Edwards

+1 on the spreadsheet- I have a 'raw data' sheet where every single 928-related action gets listed, then the data get copied to the particular sheet for a given car, or engine project, or the parts stash, etc. The raw data sheet is 10 years old, about 4600 rows tall now.

Bertrand Daoust

I do the same as Bob.
Excel spreadsheet of all expenses, maintenance, and upgrades done on the car since I have it (2005).

I also keep all the receipts together year by year with my 928 brochures and others things related to the car in a suitcase.

kmascotto

Yup, just keep adding to the paper and never total the number...its just to easy to add this stuff up on a excel spread sheet... and that's bad!

Rob Edwards

Yeah, just made the mistake of tallying column F.

dr bob

Just the visible part of Rob's sheet, presumed for the GT, is a pretty good reminder of "how things used to be". Look at that 7500 mile service cost of $53, and that's at the dealer in tony Newport Beach!

Notice also the uneven tire wear and the alignment at the same time. Even when new, the settings caused uneven wear. Or the PO used thecar like it was intended, always a possibility.

Rob--

Has it really been over ten years since we met under your car, changing motor mounts and pan gasket with the car on stands in the sloped driveway?

And it looks like your AC leaked from the factory exactly the same as mine did from new. At least on yours they actually replaced a part. I just have dealer receipts for the dozens of "check AC system. Found nothing. Evacuate and recharge." for $225 each event. And I actually thought that having a big pile of dealer receipts with the car was a positive thing. I was mistaken.

Adk46

Oh, a spreadsheet would be too clinical for me. I have no intention of adding up expenses! Or labor. It will read more like a novel. Not War and Peace, maybe Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. In fact, I think I'll dedicate it to Robert Pirsig, with the quote “ 'Is it hard?' Not if you have the right attitudes. Its having the right attitudes thats hard.” He wasn't crazy about cars, of course.