Running costs of your cars??
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm rather new to the PH forums, so I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a spanish guy who posts frequently in the Locostbuilders forum. I used to live in the UK and now I have a road legal bike engined locost in Spain. Pics of myself and the car can be seen here:
http://usuarios.tiscali.es/alez/polvo
I'm considerng moving on from the mental but extremely cheap to run locost "screamer" to the mental and a lot more expensive to run Tuscan mk1 "roarer". This would be my only car so I'd use it for anything a car is good for plus maybe 1-2 track days a year at most. I don't need to drive daily for work. I need to asess if I can afford to have this car in an enjoyable way. My budget will be £16k maximum and I'm hoping that's good enough for a basic early Tuscan (not S) without any upgrades (stock clutch and everything), in good condition throughout including a sound engine and about 20-30k miles (thoughts? Am I being optimistic or pesimistic?).
I was wondering if any of you guys maybe has a logbook or a speadsheet with all the expenses your car has been generating over its years and mileage, including servicing, repairs, maintenance. Anything like that would be extremely useful.
I wish I could buy from heart, but I have to be realistic about the speed six (rebuilds, clutch reliability and all that business) and the fact that TVR doesn't exist in Spain so services and repairs are going to be more expensive than in the UK.
I would be grateful for any comments and thoughts as well of course.
Thank you very much.
Alex
I'm rather new to the PH forums, so I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a spanish guy who posts frequently in the Locostbuilders forum. I used to live in the UK and now I have a road legal bike engined locost in Spain. Pics of myself and the car can be seen here:
http://usuarios.tiscali.es/alez/polvo
I'm considerng moving on from the mental but extremely cheap to run locost "screamer" to the mental and a lot more expensive to run Tuscan mk1 "roarer". This would be my only car so I'd use it for anything a car is good for plus maybe 1-2 track days a year at most. I don't need to drive daily for work. I need to asess if I can afford to have this car in an enjoyable way. My budget will be £16k maximum and I'm hoping that's good enough for a basic early Tuscan (not S) without any upgrades (stock clutch and everything), in good condition throughout including a sound engine and about 20-30k miles (thoughts? Am I being optimistic or pesimistic?).
I was wondering if any of you guys maybe has a logbook or a speadsheet with all the expenses your car has been generating over its years and mileage, including servicing, repairs, maintenance. Anything like that would be extremely useful.
I wish I could buy from heart, but I have to be realistic about the speed six (rebuilds, clutch reliability and all that business) and the fact that TVR doesn't exist in Spain so services and repairs are going to be more expensive than in the UK.
I would be grateful for any comments and thoughts as well of course.
Thank you very much.
Alex
Edited by Alez on Friday 16th February 19:15
yahooooooo said:
Rule number 1
Buy one that has had a rebuild
Buy one that has had a rebuild
Or as an alternative, buy it and get it rebuilt first thing, using either stock or upgraded parts? I would assume I have a reasonable margin, budget-wise? I'm after a very basic early Tuscan so maybe £16k is good enough for car + rebuild?
Thanks.
That's extremely useful information indeed, much appreciated Bob. I've been reading all of it and it's looking like I just could have it, cost-wise, if I lived in the UK.
Too bad news is it's made me realize that such things like a rebuild, often mentioned in the forums as nothing special, are actually important enough when some garage or another will need to take my speed six apart and do tricky stuff in there.
As I said, TVR doesn't exist in Spain. I would need to have my engine repaired by an specialist garage such as the ones used by owners of Porsche, Ferrari, M3, M3 CSL, Impreza or Evo cars (which can all be seen down here if still a bit rarely). It would be a personal finance disaster if my car was badly rebuilt. Will they have the know how and skills?
-I would say so for Ferrari, those engines are so tight and delicate, but then again I can't afford Ferrari-level services, so that's not a possibility at all.
-M3 and CSL? Looks like a good option to me potentially, what do you think? Would yu take the risk of having your engine rebuilt by a M3 specialist if need be? I don't know how different those engines are from one another, but I can imagine the speed six technology being far more delicate (more Ferrari-level delicate tolerances?) given the weight of the two engines and power levels obtained, and let's face it, the reliability of the two engines (again the speed six more Ferrari-level).
-Porsche? Maybe not so much in common really?
-Impreza, Evo? I know nothing about these or their engines, no clue.
-Take the car to the UK for rebuilds? Always a possibility indeed!, but can I afford that?
Thoughts? Many thanks indeed guys, damm I just can't take the car off my mind.
Alex
Too bad news is it's made me realize that such things like a rebuild, often mentioned in the forums as nothing special, are actually important enough when some garage or another will need to take my speed six apart and do tricky stuff in there.
As I said, TVR doesn't exist in Spain. I would need to have my engine repaired by an specialist garage such as the ones used by owners of Porsche, Ferrari, M3, M3 CSL, Impreza or Evo cars (which can all be seen down here if still a bit rarely). It would be a personal finance disaster if my car was badly rebuilt. Will they have the know how and skills?
-I would say so for Ferrari, those engines are so tight and delicate, but then again I can't afford Ferrari-level services, so that's not a possibility at all.
-M3 and CSL? Looks like a good option to me potentially, what do you think? Would yu take the risk of having your engine rebuilt by a M3 specialist if need be? I don't know how different those engines are from one another, but I can imagine the speed six technology being far more delicate (more Ferrari-level delicate tolerances?) given the weight of the two engines and power levels obtained, and let's face it, the reliability of the two engines (again the speed six more Ferrari-level).
-Porsche? Maybe not so much in common really?
-Impreza, Evo? I know nothing about these or their engines, no clue.
-Take the car to the UK for rebuilds? Always a possibility indeed!, but can I afford that?
Thoughts? Many thanks indeed guys, damm I just can't take the car off my mind.
Alex
www.pistonheads.com/sales/128431.htm
Something along these lines! Reasonable price and just rebuilt and upgraded, sounds good?
Cheers,
Alex
Something along these lines! Reasonable price and just rebuilt and upgraded, sounds good?
Cheers,
Alex
Hi Alez
She won't be as reliable as a 1960s Mercedes, but nor will a 2007 Merc!
You say you don't need a daily drive so she should be reliable enough, provided you have a sense of humour for the occasional niggle. Money is a bigger issue - engine, clutch, or gearbox on any group 20 car will be very expensive to fix or repair, whatever the purchase price. They are worth it though, and my T350 has been quite cheap (so far) if I ignore depreciation.
The biggest risks seem to be the early cars, especially the 4L cars. If you can find a recent or rebuilt 3.6 within your budget, I'd say "Go for it". Never cheap, but a lot of smiles for your money
She won't be as reliable as a 1960s Mercedes, but nor will a 2007 Merc!
You say you don't need a daily drive so she should be reliable enough, provided you have a sense of humour for the occasional niggle. Money is a bigger issue - engine, clutch, or gearbox on any group 20 car will be very expensive to fix or repair, whatever the purchase price. They are worth it though, and my T350 has been quite cheap (so far) if I ignore depreciation.
The biggest risks seem to be the early cars, especially the 4L cars. If you can find a recent or rebuilt 3.6 within your budget, I'd say "Go for it". Never cheap, but a lot of smiles for your money
Cheers, Grumbledoak
I guess the more I think about it, the more it's becoming a matter of who on earth is going to fix the thing here is Spain when it has to be taken apart for rebuild.. more than where to get the money needed for it, which is also another good one anyway..
Advice taken on early 4 litre vs 3.6 and later cars, many thanks. I reckon my budget is good enough for a 3.6 early model with a rebuilt engine and in a very good condition throughout.
Cheers,
Alex
I guess the more I think about it, the more it's becoming a matter of who on earth is going to fix the thing here is Spain when it has to be taken apart for rebuild.. more than where to get the money needed for it, which is also another good one anyway..
Advice taken on early 4 litre vs 3.6 and later cars, many thanks. I reckon my budget is good enough for a 3.6 early model with a rebuilt engine and in a very good condition throughout.
Cheers,
Alex
Edited by Alez on Saturday 17th February 17:41
Alez said:
who on earth is going to fix the thing
Meh! Some on here have taken T-cars to Australia, and you cannot get much further from Blackpool than that. I might well follow them this year, with the car.
Never cheap, but in this class nothing is cheap. If you really want a Tuscan, go get one. Eyes open for sure, but follow your heart.
alez said:
...As I said, TVR doesn't exist in Spain. I would need to have my engine repaired by an specialist garage such as the ones used by owners of Porsche, Ferrari, M3, M3 CSL, Impreza or Evo cars (which can all be seen down here if still a bit rarely). It would be a personal finance disaster if my car was badly rebuilt. Will they have the know how and skills?
...
...
Alex,
I currently have an M3 SMG convertabe as a loaner whilst my Tuscan is repaired and to be honest I can't wait to have the Tuscan back. The dancing donkey, porker and unimpreza do not have the same road presence or IMO the soundtrack of the Tiv. The servicing may be cheaper than the F & P cars, not sure on the others, but its not the same kick in the back/noise from the exhaust that you get from the Tuscan (or from one of the V8 Tivs for that matter). For me its the looks and noise that keep me with the car (until I can afford a Gallardo). If you have the dream and can afford £2/mile (E3/mile) then go for it - there is nothing that can touch the Tuscan experience for the money. (Although I will not part with my Chimaera because it has that V8 rumble).
Bob
Edited by Bob the Planner on Sunday 18th February 21:27
Hey Basil,
Extremely useful information in your profile as well, thanks a lot.
Hi Bob,
I very much believe what you guys say about the Tuscan experience and agree that no other touches it in many respects. It's because of that I want one. Thanks for sharing all that, I'm rather jealous
OK, I need to face it, I can't afford this dream car. And I appreciate so much the unbiased information in your profiles, because I would have bought it anytime and that would have been bad from a personal point of view, I just don't have the money to maintain one of these.
Sh**!!
(What do you think about the T350? Any better reliability? I think it would be worth it for me to open a similar thread on their forum and compare profile figures..)
Thanks again,
Alex
Extremely useful information in your profile as well, thanks a lot.
Hi Bob,
I very much believe what you guys say about the Tuscan experience and agree that no other touches it in many respects. It's because of that I want one. Thanks for sharing all that, I'm rather jealous
OK, I need to face it, I can't afford this dream car. And I appreciate so much the unbiased information in your profiles, because I would have bought it anytime and that would have been bad from a personal point of view, I just don't have the money to maintain one of these.
Sh**!!
(What do you think about the T350? Any better reliability? I think it would be worth it for me to open a similar thread on their forum and compare profile figures..)
Thanks again,
Alex
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