Little guidance from self build owners please

[richtvr]

Evening all,

Believe it is time to take the leap into the Ultima world with the RS.

Believe I have worked out what the car will cost with all the options I want.

Question is did your builds cost what you thought or was there extra costs you didn't know about.

Roughly how many build hours. I am a fully skilled car restorer

Many thanks

Rich

[deadscoob]

I think all but the most disciplined go over budget if the build takes a year or so due to changing desires. If it’s a quick build then if you’re realistic you should be ok.

Build hours is difficult - would you go 100% factory spec or look to make improvements / changes?

Factory car to factory spec if you have every component can easily be built in a couple hundred hours if you’re competent.

[richtvr]

Many thanks, only really looking to build factory spec car. Put package a and b, desired engine then all extras into a spreadsheet and the cost would be just do able. If there were other costs outside this would make it a challenge.

Rich

[mt308]

deadscoob said:

I think all but the most disciplined go over budget if the build takes a year or so due to changing desires. If it’s a quick build then if you’re realistic you should be ok.

Build hours is difficult - would you go 100% factory spec or look to make improvements / changes?

Factory car to factory spec if you have every component can easily be built in a couple hundred hours if you’re competent.

Probably an indication of my level of competence! But I think it took me 450 hours or so to do factory spec. OK I used a hand riveter and it's an LS7 which maybe added a few hours. I think the build manual has been improved since which may help a bit.

[deadscoob]

I meant to type a “few hundred” ...

[Steve_D]

If you are good at car restoration then it should be an easy enough job but will take you longer than most as you will be trying to get it as neat and pretty as possible. Some years back we bought a failed build project which when we got it looked completely the opposite. In conversation with the seller he explained he had found it very difficult trimming the aluminium panels with his petrol 9" angle grinder.

And yes you will go over budget. But don't be fooled into looking at something like the factory oil cooler kit and thinking it is expensive and you could do it cheaper if you bought all the bits yourself. At a pinch you may but that kit will come with every part you need down to the last cable tie and pop rivet.

You will enjoy the build.

Steve

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Interesting question; So as said here if you stuck straight to the factory build you could develop and adhere to a known budget. But remember as an example will you utilize the black rubber hoses that come with the kit or move up to braided cloth or steel? That's an easy $1000 if you really go for it . Ceramic coat the headers that,s $500. Change the plastic A.C. vents for some nice Vintage Air vents that's $150 . My point, if you really paid attention to how you ordered that car and had a very disciplined nature I would still add 2 to 3000 dollars for what if. It's a very good kit and the factory is superb go for it

[Festa_94]

Hi Richard

Im 40% id say through my build ive the chassis built and near enough ready for the body now which I'll be ordering in the next few months all being well. Like has been said I think £65-£70 is a realistic base build cost. im expecting mine to come in in the region of £80k by the time it hits the road

If you start adding all the nice bits and individual bits that will bump the price up I know I will nearly have £2k in stereo in the car when done(yes I know before anyone says anything but its mine and I will do it my way) £1k in a fuel pump upgrade etc etc its down to your vision you have for the car.

[richtvr]

I have worked out that with the extras I would like and engine spec it would be £80k +vat. This would be a stretch for me didn't want to get into it and work out I needed another £10+k on parts not mentioned.

Received personal email from Richard now so look to get back next week and hopefully be able to run through it all with him

Thanks for the input guys