Budgeting Repairs and Maintenance for 89 non-SE

[njcpa]

I am in the midst of purchasing an 89 non-SE with 50k miles. It has just completed it’s C service, including a new clutch, brakes, and many other parts. There were items noted in the service that would need repair in the coming months – ball joints, A/C needs recharging/repairs, and the rear tires will need replacing. I have budgeted $2,000 for these items (I don’t plan on doing any of the work myself).

After reviewing all the information that’s out there, I can’t seem to get a good estimate for running costs. What should I budget for repairs and maintenance assuming 3,000 to 5,000 miles of driving per year?

The Lotus mechanic said $1,000 per year and I’ve read up to $3,000 per year, but that seems quite a wide range. I am hoping that my costs could be low at least the first few seasons considering the PO spent about $8,000 last year. Any year with a C service seems to be the one that will bring the average up the most.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[lotusguy]

Hi,

I have owned my '85 for 8+ years now. I drive 3k-5k mi. annually and even with all the restoration work (see New Love... post)I've done, my costs have averaged about $1,000/year. I think that is pretty much the norm for most owners, although your mileage, driving style, degree of addressing issues and of course the base condition of the car when you got it all have an effect.

'Course the key being that I've done the work, so my expenses have been mostly parts and supplies and very little labor (probably only around $1500-$2000). The rule of thumb being that Parts comprise 1/3 the cost with Labor making up the other 2/3. So if you were to have all the work performed by someone else, plan on it averaging you closer to $3k. But this is an average, some years you will get by for much less, others more. You gotta Pay to Play as they say. Happy Motoring!... Jim'85TE

[cnh1990]

Many say $1000 per 15K miles.
Calvin

[MikeyRide]

cnh1990 said:

Many say $1000 per 15K miles.

Only if you do the work yourself. The original poster indicated he would not.

I say $3k/yr long term for a regular driver is about right in my experience. My car has been much cheaper to own, then this year cam around and I had a C Service done, a wheel bearing went out, and the clutch just started slipping.

njcpa, I see you're in NJ. I guess you'll be bringing it to RS Motorsports then. Not cheap, but I know the work will be done right. Pick car up, drive.

Contrast this to the jackasses at the Toyota dealer who did the timing belt in my dad's MR2 turbo for the previous owner. I found loose engine mount bolts, chips taken out of the main pulley, a boogered nut, and the intake cam was off by one tooth.

>> Edited by MikeyRide on Tuesday 9th March 16:25