 Throw money at a project or buy a turnkey car? |
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| HeloMech |
 Oct 2 2008, 10:37 PM
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#1
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Go Ahead, Get Pistoph!  Group: Members Posts: 691 Joined: 31-August 05 From: Roy, WA Member No.: 4,718 Region Association: Southern California  |
Ok,
So here's the chicken/egg question... My current car, dressed in primer, is a really solid car. I've got most of the interior worked out. The car has a Ford V6 conversion from the EARLY conversion days. Car needs some minor bodywork and new shocks/struts, seals, windshield, etc. It has 2 or 3 hoods/trunks, complete 4lug front and rear parts as extras, 4-5 lug adapters, extra tail shift trans, etc... It's running and drivable with the ford v6, though needs some gaskets for the valve covers at a minimum. I've been told that I am on the most recent list for an all expense paid trip to Kuwait. A trip over there is a great source of a bulging savings account. So here's the question. Do I store my primer buggy and throw money at it when I get home? Or do I sell it before I leave and then pick up a nice turnkey car when I get back. Guessing when I get home, I could spend about $5k on a car, possibly $6, depending on how much I want the car. So? Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks! |
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| SGB |
Oct 2 2008, 10:57 PM
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#2
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just visiting Group: Members Posts: 4,086 Joined: 8-March 03 From: Huntsville, AL Member No.: 404 Region Association: South East States |
Keep your car and finish it up when you get back. I think you could ensure more reliability with the final product if you see this through. $6K will by a turn-key car, but not 100% newness . I think you end up with more overall new parts and knowledge about strong and weak points than if you just put down money and assumed everything was good -as-new.
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| sww914 |
Oct 2 2008, 10:57 PM
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#3
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,439 Joined: 4-June 06 Member No.: 6,146 Region Association: None |
How much do you love your current car?
You will probably be money ahead to buy a car that's already done. A good paint job is at least $5K or $6K. |
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| LarryR |
Oct 2 2008, 11:05 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 929 Joined: 15-March 07 From: E. Bay Area, N. California Member No.: 7,604 |
+1 on the previous 2 posts This is actually why I bought my latest 914 last weekend. VGC orignial paint roller with 0 rust for 1500. I figured WOW it would cost me at least 5 or 6 to paint my 72 so why not.
I have to learn how to paint cars! I can remember when 1k paint job was show quality (only about 22 or 23 years ago). What happened???? Granted not all painters are created equal but 75% of the end effect is based on prep .... |
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| Todd Enlund |
Oct 2 2008, 11:27 PM
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#5
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Resident Photoshop Guru Group: Members Posts: 3,251 Joined: 24-August 07 From: Laurelhurst (Portland), Oregon Member No.: 8,032 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
What do you want? Will you be happy with someone else's idea of what a 914 should be, or do you have your own vision? You have to decide for yourself what you want, but if it was me, I'd rather build my own vision... even though I'll spend twice as much doing it. I'll have a better car for it, and I'll have fun along the way.
With the focus on paint in the previous posts... I plan on doing it myself. I'll save a ton of $$$, and I 'll be damn proud to say I did it (I hope). I plan on doing everything myself. If I don't know how, I'll learn. My rationalization is that I will still come out far cheaper than a new Boxster, Elise, Miata, S2000, M3... even a friggen' Hyundai. |
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| tronporsche |
Oct 2 2008, 11:52 PM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 281 Joined: 21-August 08 From: California Member No.: 9,447 Region Association: Central California |
I think you should store it until you get back. That way, if you decide you want it and miss it ,you have it. If you get back and decide you didn't miss it, you can still sell it. I wouldn't put any more money into it until I got back , since you are uncertain.
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| So.Cal.914 |
Oct 3 2008, 12:51 AM
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#7
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"...And it has a front trunk too." Group: Members Posts: 6,588 Joined: 15-February 04 From: Low Desert, CA./ Hills of N.J. Member No.: 1,658 Region Association: None |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
QUOTE(tronporsche @ Oct 2 2008, 10:52 PM)  I think you should store it until you get back. That way, if you decide you want it and miss it ,you have it. If you get back and decide you didn't miss it, you can still sell it. I wouldn't put any more money into it until I got back , since you are uncertain. |
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| Hammy |
Oct 3 2008, 04:08 AM
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#8
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mr. Wonderful Group: Members Posts: 1,826 Joined: 20-October 04 From: Columbia, California Member No.: 2,978 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(So.Cal.914 @ Oct 2 2008, 11:51 PM) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) QUOTE(tronporsche @ Oct 2 2008, 10:52 PM) I think you should store it until you get back. That way, if you decide you want it and miss it ,you have it. If you get back and decide you didn't miss it, you can still sell it. I wouldn't put any more money into it until I got back , since you are uncertain. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Sell it if ya want something new (to you) to drive around. Keep it if you enjoy a project at hand... Then again, selling your current 914 and getting another will still leave you with a project at hand (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
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| southernmost914 |
Oct 3 2008, 05:12 AM
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#9
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KEY WEST/HAVANA Tunnel Authority Group: Members Posts: 338 Joined: 16-October 07 From: Key West/ St. Augie, Fl USA Member No.: 8,234 Region Association: South East States 
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Teener prices are on the rise. 5k-6k may only get you another project in the future. If your present car is solid body wise , keep it. Make up your mind while you are away.
Steve |
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| Spoke |
Oct 3 2008, 07:58 AM
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#10
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 6,978 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None
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QUOTE(southernmost914 @ Oct 3 2008, 07:12 AM) Teener prices are on the rise. 5k-6k may only get you another project in the future. If your present car is solid body wise , keep it. Make up your mind while you are away. Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Unless you need the cash or you really want to get rid of your current 914, keep your car and let it appreciate in value in your garage. It will undoubtedly be worth more when you return. Depends too if you like to work on your car or you just want to drive it. Good luck on your journey and thank you for defending us. |
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| r_towle |
Oct 3 2008, 08:20 AM
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#11
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Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,574 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States
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QUOTE(HeloMech @ Oct 3 2008, 12:37 AM) Ok, So here's the chicken/egg question... My current car, dressed in primer, is a really solid car. I've got most of the interior worked out. The car has a Ford V6 conversion from the EARLY conversion days. Car needs some minor bodywork and new shocks/struts, seals, windshield, etc. It has 2 or 3 hoods/trunks, complete 4lug front and rear parts as extras, 4-5 lug adapters, extra tail shift trans, etc... It's running and drivable with the ford v6, though needs some gaskets for the valve covers at a minimum. I've been told that I am on the most recent list for an all expense paid trip to Kuwait. A trip over there is a great source of a bulging savings account. So here's the question. Do I store my primer buggy and throw money at it when I get home? Or do I sell it before I leave and then pick up a nice turnkey car when I get back. Guessing when I get home, I could spend about $5k on a car, possibly $6, depending on how much I want the car. So? Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks! I would say it really depends upon what you need for money on your project car, what it would cost to store it. Say you get 1-3k for the project, you save 100 per month in storage...another 1200 for a year... Now you have 2-4k in cash plus what you save while in Kuwait (good luck and thank you for serving BTW) You still need to invest another 1-2k to get the project done, plus paint... You could come home and buy a car that day and drive it the next...might be a nice way to go IMHO... Rich |
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| HeloMech |
Oct 3 2008, 10:52 AM
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#12
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Go Ahead, Get Pistoph! Group: Members Posts: 691 Joined: 31-August 05 From: Roy, WA Member No.: 4,718 Region Association: Southern California |
Yeah, I'm torn about this one. I like having a project, to some extent. Though I'm horrible at bodywork and paint and those are the two things that will make the biggest difference on this car. I have a 2.0L for it (Thanks Joe) that I can finish building when I get home. In a perfect world, I'd store this one AND buy a nice DD when I get back. Storing it won't cost me anything. I'll just park is sideways in the garage so we can still get the other two cars inside for winter.
Thanks for the input. I won't make a decision until I at least get orders in my hand saying that I'm going for sure! lol |
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| TROJANMAN |
Oct 3 2008, 11:02 AM
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#13
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Looks nice in pictures......... Group: Members Posts: 5,271 Joined: 5-March 04 From: Colorado Member No.: 1,753 Region Association: None |
Turn Key.
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| brer |
Oct 3 2008, 11:16 AM
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#14
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,555 Joined: 10-March 05 From: san diego Member No.: 3,736 Region Association: None |
ya know, i think computers4kids has his car for sale on the Ventura Craigslist.
nice car for around 10K |
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| Elliot Cannon |
Oct 3 2008, 11:22 AM
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#15
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914 Guru Group: Retired Members Posts: 8,487 Joined: 29-December 06 From: Paso Robles Ca. (Central coast) Member No.: 7,407 Region Association: None 
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Sell your car. Buy a turn-key car when you get back and throw money at it.
P S Come home safe. |
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| angerosa |
Oct 3 2008, 12:44 PM
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#16
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Member Group: Members Posts: 334 Joined: 21-August 07 From: Reston, VA Member No.: 8,023 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I once bought a nice car, and then had to immediately travel abroad for a just a month. It killed me knowing I had a really cool car across the world that I had to wait to drive. I couldn't wait to get home. That being said....
I'm recently thinking like you are, wondering if I can trade up to springboard myself closer to what I want my finished product to be for less than it would take to buy all the extras to make mine like I want it and I'm finding both paths relatively close in cost. |
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| Todd Enlund |
Oct 3 2008, 01:56 PM
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#17
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Resident Photoshop Guru Group: Members Posts: 3,251 Joined: 24-August 07 From: Laurelhurst (Portland), Oregon Member No.: 8,032 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
QUOTE(angerosa @ Oct 3 2008, 10:44 AM) I'm recently thinking like you are, wondering if I can trade up to springboard myself closer to what I want my finished product to be for less than it would take to buy all the extras to make mine like I want it and I'm finding both paths relatively close in cost. The big difference to me is that if you buy someone else's "completed" car, it's likely that you have no idea what went into it. Did they "fix" it the way that you would, or did they take shortcuts? Not saying that it isn't a reasonable option to buy a nice runner, but you might not get what you thought you were getting if you don't know the history of the car. My car was a project when I got it... looked like a pretty easy fix ("drop in an engine and go!") until I started tearing it apart. Now, I'm glad that I tore it down as far as I did. Burned wiring, cracked suspension console... |
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| dlestep |
Oct 3 2008, 08:16 PM
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#18
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I am smilin'... Group: Members Posts: 890 Joined: 15-January 08 From: Sunrise Florida Member No.: 8,573 Region Association: South East States |
...this is just me...I would let it sit at home...waiting...
(Udauri ? Doha?) I would take with a laptop with me, or purchase one there...keep it touch with us here at 914world...discuss prospects and ideas...create a wish list...Take digital pictures of every inch of your car with you and study them on your off time taking notes and working things into a list...(this will take up some of your time) and by the time you return, you'll know exactly what to do, because you would have built it about 10 times in your mind. For me the research, costing and purchasing has been just as much fun as cleaning, plating, sandblasting, painting, and building from scratch components. I can wait for the body prep and paint, then final assembly. Like a couple of people before me have said, you will "know" every inch of the car and when it motivates down the road, it was every bit your accomplishment. Keep in touch with the website...and return safe and sane. Dave |
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| SGB |
Oct 3 2008, 10:06 PM
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#19
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just visiting Group: Members Posts: 4,086 Joined: 8-March 03 From: Huntsville, AL Member No.: 404 Region Association: South East States |
Yeah- actually my intent way back there was to say that he should keep his current car.
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