Ugh... I just dont get it. pricing rant..... sorry in advance. Options

[Scott S]

Sorry – Rant mode.

I went to the dealer today to grab a flywheel washer – a stamped piece of metal with some holes in it – part number 90110216204. It was $75.00 – for a WASHER.

I have been taking the ”all in fun” ribbing regarding the cost of Porsche parts from my pals on the British side of the isle for some time. It didn’t really bother me. As an owner of British cars, I still view most of them as a “just” British cars – I even use the words “too frilly” on occasion. However, as I continue to work on the -6 conversion, I am more and more annoyed with how anything associated with the “P” word is so much more expensive. It is really taking the fun out of the project. I cant figure out why I can get model specific parts for cars built in the mid/late 1940’s for a third of the price of a car from the 1970’s. I just paid 80.00 for four newly cast brass door hinges for a 1953 C-type – what is that, half the price of the stamped steel reproduction windshield trim on a 914? (or 5.00 more than a WASHER for my flywheel?). I don’t get it. It seems the only place where prices are comparable is refinish work (chroming, painting, etc).

It’s a good thing I am doing this conversion for fun, to car I have owned and loved for almost 20 years, because Lord knows, there is absolutely no other sane reason to restore/convert a 914 if you look at it from any sort of ROI. Yeah, Yeah, I know- “but in 30 years they will be the next 356”. To bad I am not into 356’s, I would just buy one of those…. because based on the logic of previous statement, in 30 years a 356 will be worth the same as a Bugatti.

Thank God for guys like Mikey. Not only does he make great stuff, but he also proves that the same products (or even far lesser quality products) being offered elsewhere are overpriced.

I guess I need to remember the old adage - when it comes to Porsche, always buy someone else’s project.

Ugh. Sorry. Rant off. Go Porsche! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)