So how much have you spent since you bought it?

[Mellow7]

Thought I'd start off a depressing thread just to bring us all back down to earth for the New Year.

So, having worked out the figures earlier:

2002 Roadsport 1800 SS bought in 2008 with 1600 miles on the clock from Millwood for £16k. With the bill shortly anticipated for a new uprated clutch, starter motor, Apollo tank and cosmetics, the grand total including DVA mods (x2), wide track suspension, tyres and other worn out parts amounts to over £11,500.

Am I mad? Can anyone beat it?

[k20erham]

Hi, yes how you spend on updates or wish/want lists can be somewhat addictive, especially if you do it yourself and you do not have to factor in labour charges for fitting,I have spent a truly huge amount on my passion!

[mickrick]

OMG! Don´t go there!

ETA I´ve spent about 7.5k on brakes so far, by the time I´ve done the pedal box it´ll be over 10! I don´t even have an engine yet...

All the best for the new year

Edited by mickrick on Wednesday 1st January 12:52

[k20erham]

Hi since buying her 8 years ago for 13K, now have a K20 Honda Rick wood head arrows crank and rods 12.5/1 CR,BTB system, Jenvey TBs with all the associated ancillaries etc 255bhp/180 ft,lb at the hubs,(TDi Lakeside) 24/12/13...3.19 diff, sadev box geartronics padleshift Penske 3 ways Ap brakes big master cylinder 15" minilites stack dash Piaa HID lights well over 20k in parts, utterly amazing drive.

[radical78]

spent a lot less on the caterham than i used to on the radical. alot of so called upgrades dont really make that much difference for what they cost

[Mellow7]

mickrick said:

OMG! Don´t go there!

ETA I´ve spent about 7.5k on brakes so far, by the time I´ve done the pedal box it´ll be over 10! I don´t even have an engine yet...

All the best for the new year

Edited by mickrick on Wednesday 1st January 12:52

Ah but Mickrick we all know you're NEVER going to finish that car When is the 100 year Lotus 7 anniversary coming up???

[k20erham]

I personally hope I never finish mine, it just evolves through choice and desire, every drive is totally absorbing, I enjoy pushing boundaries!!!

[Aeroscreens]

Hmmm, a very timely post as my 7 is 21 years old today, I purchased my '93 x/flow Supersprint in '99 for £13,500 and it looked like this:



by 2004 it changed to this:



and in May 2013 finally morphed into this:



Along the way it's been completely rebuilt (chassis re-powdercoated, re-skinned plus numerous cosmetic enhancements etc) and everything in front of the gearbox has been replaced with the exception of the cycle wing stays and lower steering column. There have been many other 'upgrades' (too numerous to list), so as for costs I really shudder to think about it, but off the top of my head I can easily match the original cost of £13,500 .

So excluding the usual running & replacement costs of tyres, oil etc. I reckon on the costs equating to around £1,000 per year of ownnership over the 67k miles I've done.

Wouldn't change a thing though

[mickrick]

Mellow7 said:

mickrick said:

OMG! Don´t go there!

ETA I´ve spent about 7.5k on brakes so far, by the time I´ve done the pedal box it´ll be over 10! I don´t even have an engine yet...

All the best for the new year

Edited by mickrick on Wednesday 1st January 12:52

Ah but Mickrick we all know you're NEVER going to finish that car When is the 100 year Lotus 7 anniversary coming up???

I´m keeping an open mind. At the end of the day, I enjoy the project, so it doesn´t really matter to me.
After two years the rear brakes are nearly done

[Murph7355]

Never really added it up but I'd be surprised if it wasn't 40k since 1996.

I reckon Teflon might well take the honours on this one...assuming mickrick does never finish his

[Andy Bell]

this topic should be filed under the 'man maths' category and hence anything spent shalt never be talked about again. ever. seriously.

[Toaster]

All yo have to remember is..............and this is the really important bit................just tell the wife its an investment

[Mellow7]

Toaster said:

All yo have to remember is..............and this is the really important bit................just tell the wife its an investment

Tried that story about £7k ago...

[grenpayne]

Mellow7 said:

Toaster said:

All yo have to remember is..............and this is the really important bit................just tell the wife its an investment

Tried that story about £7k ago...

Indeed, after I had the £3.5k engine upgrade/rebuild, that's how I've just sold the dry sump I've just bought "an investment to protect the engine"

[Grubbster]

When I built mine in 2003 I think it was about £20k, I've not kept details of the upgrade costs but I wouldn't be surprised if I'd spent the same again!

Some of the major items -

Powerspeed exhaust
Engine upgrade to 165 bhp (throttle bodies, cams, Emerald)
Apollo tank
Big front brakes
Nitrons
Lots of carbon
Strip down and respray in a new colour
New harnesses
Secondhand Engine (232 bhp)
Dry sump
A couple of expensive jobs done on the engine
Bespoke 5 speed gearbox from SPC
Titan LSD
Various sets of wheels and tyres

And I'm about to fit Raceco exhaust, new seats and a few other odds and sods!

It seems to have become a bit of a bad habit!

[mickrick]

Guys, Guys, don´t you know that as far as the wife is concerned, everything is 50 quid!

[Mellow7]

Oops looks like I've started the post of the year already!

[RobGT81]

Don't make me count. More to the point, don't let the Mrs see this thread!

[daz00004]

Haven't had mine 2 years yet and a lot has changed, not sure I want to add it up, but I would do it all again

[Aeroscreens]

mickrick said:

Guys, Guys, don´t you know that as far as the wife is concerned, everything is 50 quid!

Not as far as I'm concerned when SWMBO paid for the Zetec upgrade from a small inheritance she received