I have been struggling with this question lately also, especially the last two weekends when I was putting used u-pull transmissions into two different 25+ YO cars to bring the fleet back up to 4 operational vehicles. Currently the fleet is this;
1977 240D 413K mi. My daily driver, probably less than $2000 invested to keep it and it's predecessor '79 240d running since 1995 or so. 1998 Volvo S70 GLT, 180K mi. SWMBO daily driver, total investment of $1900 also, was bought with blown head gasket for $300, Now has blown timing belt (and bent valves) don't know why belt, WP and tensioners are only 20k mi old. 1985 190E 145K miles, Kid 2 daily driver, just bought this year with bad transmission, about $1100 invested, runs and drives, haven't even checked tune yet. 1986 Chevrolet C20 Pickup, 165K miles Kid 3 daily driver, probably $700 invested. 1983 Volvo 245 Turbo - Somewhere around 300K miles, standby car, don't know how much invested, probably less than $2000 just did clutch and u-pull OD transmission for net cost of $165 over the weekend. 1989 Chev G20 conversion van 165K miles, has been down for paint and parts replacement for 3 years, was SWMBOs daily before it got rear ended. Probably somewhere around $6000 invested. Other vehicles that will not be roadworthy in the near future are omitted. I have never bought a new car, or one that is less than 3 years old. Most of my former daily drivers go straight to scrap. I don't count consumables in the total investment, (fluids, tires, licensing, taxes etc.) only "hard parts" I live in the pacific NW so rust from below is not an issue (only rust from above) I have only taken a car to a shop for someone else to work on 3 times in the last 15 years. Jim Cathey inspires me. I have been asking myself if it is worth it, dollar wise, yes timewise.... I spend alot of time maintaining this fleet but there is no way I could afford to have two kids driving any other way. I don't trust newer cars, I bought the S70 with reservations and it served well for two years, and now I have to pull the damn head again. When to call it a lost cause? If I had a 240D that needed an engine it would probably get crushed, just too expensive. but I will spend $1000 on front end parts on a 123, they can come off and go on the next one. Rust or body work will cause me to scrap them too, don't have the equipment for that. And then there is when everyone in the family refuses to drive something.... SWMBO has done this but the kids haven't figured out that this is an option. David Liddell Lynnwood, Wa. Cheap, and proud of it. > -----Original Message----- > From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com > [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] > On Behalf Of Randy Bennell > Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 8:58 AM > To: Mercedes Discussion List > Subject: [MBZ] A lost cause? > > I know that many of you are essentially bottom feeders when it comes > to > vehicles, and I mean no disrespect when I say that as I tend to fall > into that category to a great extent myself. > > The question for you is essentially, when do you call it a lost cause? > > There has to be a time when a vehicle ceased to be worth putting money > into it. How do you decide at what point that happens? > > I know that some of you firmly believe that a 123 wagon is the state > of > the art in the auto world etc but beyond that sort of blind devotion, > what makes you continue or not continue with a vehicle? > > My younger son works as a mechanic in a shop that caters to people > with > more money than brains when it comes to "classic" vehicles and maybe > that causes me to think more about some of this. > > I have my 76 115 300D and know that whatever I put into it has to be > for my enjoyment as I will never "make money" on it. > The same goes for my 02 F150 Supercrew. I really like it and so far it > has not cost me a whole lot but it is about 10 years old and has over > 150K miles on it so cost must mount over time. > > I have been thinking about another car but am really reluctant to > spend > big dollars on something new or even "newer" so I have this mental > dilemma. Am I crazy to get involved in something that will no doubt > cause me some grief??? > > Having re-read what I typed above, I womder if I am getting my point > accross? > > I guess what I am hoping for is a bit of an ongoing thread with > opinions > by many of you setting forth your own philosophies on this sort of > thing. > > Randy > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > ------------------------------ _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
