This hobby is getting too expensive

[69MyWay]

How do you guys that have to pay labor charges ever afford to get anything done?

I am adding up the cost to simply refresh the suspension on my 90 Vette.

It is staggering!

To replace
1. All U-joints
2. Rear wheel bearings
3. Rear flexible brake lines
4. All rear bushings
5. Rebuild the rear diff
6. turn the rotors
7. New shocks
8. New rear spring
10. Misc items including a 36mm socket for the axle stubs

That is $1,161, and I have yet to add the cost of the clutch, or front suspension rebuild!!!!!!!!!


YIKES!

I need to find a cheaper hobby. The worse part about this is that fact that nobody (other than the lowering kit $30), will be able to visually see any difference in the car!

On the front we have

1. New shocks
2. New ball joints
3. 13" brake conversion (used $250 with flexible lines)
4. lowering wedge
5. new poly bushings
6. new wheel bearings

$988 for the front end..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is like freakin $2,500 plus dollars with all the little odds and ends, as well as an alignment to get the bottom end back on one piece!


That is like 1/4 what the car is worth on a good day.

Somebody slap me.

 

[Rabbit]

Quit complainig, you love every bit of it!
Right? You could always buy a Metro????

 

[69MyWay]

Quit complainig, you love every bit of it!
Right? You could always buy a Metro????

Doh!! I actually have had two three cylinder metros with cold a/c and five speed transmissions. Two of the most trouble free, reliable, dependable, and worry free cars I have ever had!

I may just buy another one as my office location is moving and the 40 plus mpg will come in handy.

(oh yes, I do love it....what a sickness)

 

[96Holly]

HEY!!!!!!!

GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF MAN!!!!! THIS IS YOUR VETTE YOUR TALKING ABOUT!!!!!

Now go out and give her a couple coats of wax for that kind of language....

:J

 

[rrubel]

Well, when we *normal* people need to get this stuff done, we do one thing at a time. Shocks as a birthday present, bushings the following summer, wheel bearings off eBay, u-joints at a discount, and do the simple labor ourselves... None of this "Ok, today I think I'll rebuild everything aft of the driver's seat" nonsense.

[RICHR]

 

[vette-dude]

One must sacrifice and suffer to be worthy!!! When you can walk upon the rice paper without leaving a print you will be ready to leave the temple!! Your penance to achieve your goals are as follows Grasshopper.

Quit smoking 1 pack per day @$4.50 x 365 = $1642.50 per yr.
Quit drinking 1 case per wk @ $18.50 x 52 = $ 962.00 per yr
Video rental 1 movie per wk@ $ 5.50 x 52 = $ 286.00 per yr
Skip lunch 5 lunches per wk@ $32.50 x 52=$ 1,690.00 per yr

or

Win the lottery!!!!!!!!!!

:crazy :crazy :crazy :crazy

 

[69MyWay]

Well, when we *normal* people need to get this stuff done, we do one thing at a time. Shocks as a birthday present, bushings the following summer, wheel bearings off eBay, u-joints at a discount, and do the simple labor ourselves... None of this "Ok, today I think I'll rebuild everything aft of the driver's seat" nonsense.

[RICHR]

AH, I see. I can imagine though the labor charges alone on such a job would be another $1,000

When I started this, I was thinking---eh, maybe a few hundred bucks. Isn't that how all the projects start?

I am really a little ticked off, because at this point, I can't just put it all back, I feel like I am having to replace the bad parts and move forward.

Hmmm, yank the seat, and start my way back, then forward. Sounds like a plan!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[warren s]

Home equity...the Vette is an investment after all. (well thats my story)

 

[Red73BB]

Actually Warren my vette is the only investment over the last 2 years that is increasing for me.
Gary

 

[klb76]

How do you guys that have to pay labor charges ever afford to get anything done?

Isn't that how we all become shade tree mechanics? When I got mine I couldn't pull a spark plug, now I find myself pulling transmissions and rebuilding fenders!

Home equity...the Vette is an investment after all. (well thats my story)

Some of us don't have houses... but that physics book was a worth 175.00, that will get me in the right direction :L

klb

 

[-=Jeff=-]

I don't even WANT to know what I have spent on mine..

On another note.. Chris, which U-joints did you get and from where?

 

[69MyWay]

I don't even WANT to know what I have spent on mine..

On another note.. Chris, which U-joints did you get and from where?

I went with the "Brute Force" brand, made in the USA, and sold through Autozone. It has no grease fitting. Many will argue that the hole and zerk fitting will weaken a U-joint and cause balance problems.

They were like $13 each. They had a cheaper brand made in China.

 

[Edmond]

One must sacrifice and suffer to be worthy!!! When you can walk upon the rice paper without leaving a print you will be ready to leave the temple!! Your penance to achieve your goals are as follows Grasshopper.

Quit smoking 1 pack per day @$4.50 x 365 = $1642.50 per yr.
Quit drinking 1 case per wk @ $18.50 x 52 = $ 962.00 per yr
Video rental 1 movie per wk@ $ 5.50 x 52 = $ 286.00 per yr
Skip lunch 5 lunches per wk@ $32.50 x 52=$ 1,690.00 per yr

or

Win the lottery!!!!!!!!!!

:crazy :crazy :crazy :crazy

Wow! You could skip all of those and save up some serious money for mods! That's putting things into perspective. That's $4,500 right there!

The hobby is getting quite expensive and if you can't do the work yourself, you'd best multiply the cost of materials by 2-2.5. But we're lucky enough that our cars can be worked on by ourselves, unlike some of the imports where you have to go back to the dealer.

 

[JonM]

Quit drinking 1 case per wk @ $18.50 x 52 = $ 962.00 per yr
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your kidding ...right? The others I can tolerate

 

[Ken]

I don't even WANT to know what I have spent on mine.

I quit tracking expenses a long time ago--when I started this engine project to be exact, and my figures were staggering at that time! It's absolutely insane to some people what we spend on our cars, but I just wish I had more money to spend on it.

_ken

 

[resto75]

Lets see I think I"LL start smoking and increase drinking by about 3 fold. Then in a week or so I can quit them both and save all that money. Sounds like a plan !!

My wife didn't buy the "IT"s a investment" story. I tryed it but she didn't exactly fall for it. Now she makes fun of that story. I just can't win.

 

[vigman]

Not for love or money

So I thought I got a deal on my 88... WRONG! ( 25K invested and still climbing).. and I realize this was FOOLISH to stick that much green into a 15 year old car... but I own it and I WILL take care of it... and I do understand I will never get my money out of it.

EXCEPT IN THE USAGE OF THE CAR & THE SHEER FUN OF DRIVING BABY EVERYDAY!

You want to talk EXPENSIVE hobbies... try a salt water aquarium... or owning & operating a helicopter ( this is not my hobby... but a buddies @ work).

If you want a good return on your dollar...buy a Ford focus or other P.O.S. car or better yet...lease it!

Cars are a POOR return on your dollar ( Ask Chris when he was selling his 90)

Get real... it's a hobby.. and Vettes have LESS depreciation.. but that doesn't make it a "T"Bill or a bond.

Use the following math.

Jump into the time machine and pony up 5-6 grand for a 1967 Vette with ALL the bells & whistles.

Jump back into the time machine with your car, set coordinates for today!

You now have a $60.000.00 car.

Good return....right?

But for the rest of us... you have had to store, repair, fuel,& register it.. then do a full ground up restoration! Paint, labor, documents, time etc.etc!

THEN SELL IT!

Not a good return.

We do it for the love of the hobby! ANY other reason is fooling yourself.

Vig!

 

[Justin_cv87]

well, being a kid living at home, gettin free food and no rent, i can spend 100% of all income on my vette and 9 bucks an hour is quite alot when u got no tax or anything

 

[Rabbit]

"Corvette...Pure American Muscle."
05/30/2001
By: Vette Guy.
Owned: Less than 1 year

9.2 Overall Rating

10 Styling
9 Performance
9 Interior
9 Quality
9 Recommendation




Pros:
I like just about everything about this car. It is powerful, fun to drive and performs well both on highway and especially on winding roads. Corners beautifully and is very stable. Styling suits my tastes. I like the C4 look far more than the C5's: it is more narrow, has better visuals and a sleeker rear end. Love the Vette heritage and history.

Cons:
There are no cons to a Vette. What other single car model has been around since 1953?

Overall Review:
A Vette is a Vette. You either love them or really love them!!!:BOW :BOW :BOW

 

[MoeJr]

The Vette hobby is one of those great sicknesses. I love my car and I will do anything to make it better. I wouldn't trade this hobby for anything. I get lotsa flack on how much I spend on my car but I don't care. I will do what it takes to make her right.