Reaching the no turning back point

[71chmark]

Well I've just about reached the point where I have just about as much into my car as I could probably sell it for which I think is around 12-13 thousand.  Just figured out why my dash looked so good.  It had one of those cheap plastic caps over it.  Had it for almost three years and never noticed until the sun warped it, Ha Ha.  No big deal as repo dash pads are readily available.  The car still needs alot.  Bumpers, valence, trunk lid, paint job just to name a few of the many things.  I can afford to put money into this car but I need to decide if I want to go past that point of diminishing returns.  I like the driving part but the working on part not so much.  Who am I kidding?

[mopardave]

Well that depends on if your looking at turning the car for a profit or fixing the car for you and keeping it with NO intentions to sell. Look at all of the A body guys pooring thousands into there cars and will never see the return when/if they go to sell. E-bodies will always bring more money. All depends on the presentation and that potential buyer.

[FJ5_440]

If you buy a new Minivan and drive it around the block, it will instantly be worth much less than you have in it.  All cars are a very very poor investment.  Do yourself a favor and consider your car about the same way you consider your lunch.  Ya gotta drive and ya gotta eat.  If you like caviar and can swing the cost of it, have a great lunch.

[422STROKER]

Maybe you would be better off having the work done?  Or maybe buying something "finished", just a thought.  But, if you do the work you know what you have as well.  You buy something and who knows whats going on.LOL

Tom

Enjoy it, I agree with the driving part, I do enjoy working on it as well.  Winter=working, Summer=driving.

[Bullitt-]

I lookat the fishing guys....they spend countless thousands on a boat that depreciates,& every outing is a major expense...so this is my hobby, yea I try to be smart about it but what is spent to support the hobby is just part of it, my car won't be for sale as long as I have my health. The next hobby car you buy would probably need no less.

[BoughtItNew]

I have 4 times the original investent in mine.  I consider it entertainment expense.

[CrazyPete]

i could never ever break even on what i got in the gran coupe and im in the process of doing a build on it again

[Moparal]

Since I dont have a good idea on how much my car is really worth, I dont wory about reselling or being upside down. I don't save reciepts, I can guesstimate what I have in it, but it really isnt that much.  Not when you do it a little at a time that is. 


Wade has a nice car, he is in no hurry to drive it, but does quality stuff to his car everytime he applies himself. He bargain shops, collects the parts for a certain area and then gets after it. He will be done in 2010   but it will be nice.

[72Chall77Doba]

I probably did the dumbest thing of anyone in here.
I spent 30K on my 72 chally's total resto.
I bought the car for 14, put about 5K into it with power windows, power disc brakes, a classic air system, go wing and a few other things. I also spent about 2200 on ebay for a complete nos 3 piece set of the wide chrome hood molding that was an option in the spring of 71.

So I'm into it for a little over 50K, and what do I have-
A car that looks like it just rolled off the line.
A car that I love to drive but am afraid to drive sometimes out of fear of rock chips, other drivers, etc.
A car that I can sit in my garage and look at for hours not beliving I own such a beauty.
A car that put me in credit card debt and is ruining me with interest charges.
A car that gets me more thumbs up and smiles and chats at red lights than you can imagine.
A car that I will not get back my investment on.
And I will not get my investment back
BECAUSE I WILL NEVER EVER EVER PART WITH HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And that's my plusses and minus's and how I view it.

[71ChallengerSE]

I also spent about 2200 on ebay for a complete nos 3 piece set of the wide chrome hood molding that was an option in the spring of 71.

 

I spent $3800 on the car and got the chrome for free!!!

seriously I didn't even know it was an M28 car until I got it.

[torredcuda]

Many of us are way beyond the break even point but we are not trying to make money as we do it as a hobby and love the cars.I stopped adding up after $15,000 but guessing I have easily over $20 into a far from finished driver quaility `72 Barracuda.If you don`t enjoy working on the car you`ll have to pay someone else which would drive up the cost even more so I guess you need to decide if spending money you won`t ever get back is worth the enjoyment you get from driving it,if it`s not then it`s time to get out.

[BadJoey]

I'm guessing I'll be in for about 17 when all is done . The car has been rolled ,blasted and painted top to bottom . Everything has been rebuilt . My guess when all done it will be worth about 30 or 35 leaving a plus of about 15 unless you count my time . I guess my point is 15 G or 100 G the car is a part of me and not for sale . What the car is worth only matters if you are selling . It has giving countless conversations and something to be excited about for years . Every time a new part comes in the mail it is a little like Christmas .

[BoughtItNew]

A bunch of us were talking smack at the Turning Back Time show in Sycamore last month and we did determine that I would in fact take $2,000,000.00 for mine even though I've always said it isn't for sale-ever.

Any takers?

[craigsmytcudas]

its all about money . i see two types of owners, one loves his car and spends accordingly and if ever sold the price will reflect it ,the second builds on scared money always looking at the return these cars always look like used car lot make overs and wiil reflect it at sale usually auction cars .a good car will have buyers with out ever a word mentioned . i have no idea what i have in my cars or care . my drivers have always been used cars repos or salvage title cars cheep ,this is were my mad money comes from a 700.00 car payment  each month that  i can spend on my projects .c

[mcgheejt]

I already have $20K invested in my convertible and it is still in a thousand pieces.  I suppose I should expect another $30K before it is all said in done.  So much for my kids college fund.  So is the investment worth it?  Since I expect to have the car for 20+ years (God Willing), I think so.  Buy em', build em', get buried in em'.