Re: [MBZ] Holy rolling restorations batman

2014-08-21 Thread Hendrik and Fay via Mercedes
No same principle applies, say you buy a $500 rust bucket that needs 
major mechanical work as well. Itemise all the costs and the figure will 
be way high, depending on how much you can do.
Plus a neglected car is more likely to break down and leave you by the 
side of the road, compared to one that has been maintained.
Would you think that you could get a 500 beater up to the standard of 
that green 123 for 7k?
Perhaps if you have access to a fully equipped workshop and spray booth 
and know how to handle all the tools like a pro.
How much is a quality paint job these days? Sure anyone that is handy 
with their hands can do a course to learn the art and that is a challenge.
Or you can spend the 7.9k on the car and go fishing with it, while some 
other slob starts a rolling restoration and then gets tired of it, half 
way through.

How many of these was gonna fix er up ads do we see in a year?
If working on cars is your hobby, then yeah a 'good value' car that is 
not perfect but is not worn out is the go, do the essential to get it to 
a standard of reliability and then tinker away at it, plus if you buy at 
the bottom of the depreciation cycle you should not lose too much money 
on it.


Hendrik
whose cars are not quite rolling restorations

On 21/08/14 04:53, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote:

There is an exception to that rule.  If you to plan on a restoration, it
pays to purchase a *running car* as cheaply as possible so you can take
your time in making the most cost effective improvements at a leisurely
pace..  This explains my 18 year enjoyment and simultaneous restoration of
a 1970 280SE 3.5 coupe that had lots of issues, but I could at least drive
it safely while fixing and restoring things.





On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 12:44 PM, OK Don via Mercedes mercedes@okiebenz.com


wrote:
My experience as well. How much will you have to pay for any MB with 68k
miles accumulated at the standard rate of 12k/yr. (a 2008 model)? It looks
like a bargain from that perspective.


On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 4:37 AM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes 
mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote:


Hendrik makes a very valid point, and one that pretty much applies to any
used car purchased. That is, spend the money up front for the very best
example you can find. You'll be better off than buying a fixer-upper or

one

that needs work, as it will most likely end up costing you more.

BTDT myself.

Dan


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Re: [MBZ] Holy rolling restorations batman

2014-08-21 Thread Dan Penoff via Mercedes
The only possible way this could even remotely work is if you are capable of 
doing ALL the work on the car. The minute you farm something out you're behind.

I've gone this route once, buying a Klebmobile thinking it would be relatively 
simple to buy cheap and save money doing the DIY thing and the numbers just 
don't work out.

This is even more relevant when you factor in the cost of your time.

I still believe that the cheapest way to get the nicest and best example of a 
car is to buy the best one you can afford.

Dan

 On Aug 21, 2014, at 5:08 AM, Hendrik and Fay via Mercedes 
 mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote:
 
 No same principle applies, say you buy a $500 rust bucket that needs major 
 mechanical work as well. Itemise all the costs and the figure will be way 
 high, depending on how much you can do.
 Plus a neglected car is more likely to break down and leave you by the side 
 of the road, compared to one that has been maintained.
 Would you think that you could get a 500 beater up to the standard of that 
 green 123 for 7k?
 Perhaps if you have access to a fully equipped workshop and spray booth and 
 know how to handle all the tools like a pro.
 How much is a quality paint job these days? Sure anyone that is handy with 
 their hands can do a course to learn the art and that is a challenge.
 Or you can spend the 7.9k on the car and go fishing with it, while some other 
 slob starts a rolling restoration and then gets tired of it, half way through.
 How many of these was gonna fix er up ads do we see in a year?
 If working on cars is your hobby, then yeah a 'good value' car that is not 
 perfect but is not worn out is the go, do the essential to get it to a 
 standard of reliability and then tinker away at it, plus if you buy at the 
 bottom of the depreciation cycle you should not lose too much money on it.
 
 Hendrik
 whose cars are not quite rolling restorations
 
 On 21/08/14 04:53, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote:
 There is an exception to that rule.  If you to plan on a restoration, it
 pays to purchase a *running car* as cheaply as possible so you can take
 your time in making the most cost effective improvements at a leisurely
 pace..  This explains my 18 year enjoyment and simultaneous restoration of
 a 1970 280SE 3.5 coupe that had lots of issues, but I could at least drive
 it safely while fixing and restoring things.
 
 On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 12:44 PM, OK Don via Mercedes mercedes@okiebenz.com
 
 wrote:
 My experience as well. How much will you have to pay for any MB with 68k
 miles accumulated at the standard rate of 12k/yr. (a 2008 model)? It looks
 like a bargain from that perspective.
 
 
 On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 4:37 AM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes 
 mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote:
 
 Hendrik makes a very valid point, and one that pretty much applies to any
 used car purchased. That is, spend the money up front for the very best
 example you can find. You'll be better off than buying a fixer-upper or
 one
 that needs work, as it will most likely end up costing you more.
 
 BTDT myself.
 
 Dan
 
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 individuals are responsible for the content of the post.  The list owner has 
 no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.

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Re: [MBZ] Holy rolling restorations batman

2014-08-21 Thread Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes
This only works when the car is good enough to be a daily driver.  The
improvements, usually done on weekends, are a form of free therapy and
self-improvement in mechanical skills.  Eventually, after the cheap car's
cost has been amortized, you can take it to the body shop to make it pretty.


On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 7:35 AM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes 
mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote:

 The only possible way this could even remotely work is if you are capable
 of doing ALL the work on the car. The minute you farm something out you're
 behind.

 I've gone this route once, buying a Klebmobile thinking it would be
 relatively simple to buy cheap and save money doing the DIY thing and the
 numbers just don't work out.

 This is even more relevant when you factor in the cost of your time.

 I still believe that the cheapest way to get the nicest and best example
 of a car is to buy the best one you can afford.

 Dan

  On Aug 21, 2014, at 5:08 AM, Hendrik and Fay via Mercedes 
 mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote:
 
  No same principle applies, say you buy a $500 rust bucket that needs
 major mechanical work as well. Itemise all the costs and the figure will be
 way high, depending on how much you can do.
  Plus a neglected car is more likely to break down and leave you by the
 side of the road, compared to one that has been maintained.
  Would you think that you could get a 500 beater up to the standard of
 that green 123 for 7k?
  Perhaps if you have access to a fully equipped workshop and spray booth
 and know how to handle all the tools like a pro.
  How much is a quality paint job these days? Sure anyone that is handy
 with their hands can do a course to learn the art and that is a challenge.
  Or you can spend the 7.9k on the car and go fishing with it, while some
 other slob starts a rolling restoration and then gets tired of it, half way
 through.
  How many of these was gonna fix er up ads do we see in a year?
  If working on cars is your hobby, then yeah a 'good value' car that is
 not perfect but is not worn out is the go, do the essential to get it to a
 standard of reliability and then tinker away at it, plus if you buy at the
 bottom of the depreciation cycle you should not lose too much money on it.
 
  Hendrik
  whose cars are not quite rolling restorations
 
  On 21/08/14 04:53, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote:
  There is an exception to that rule.  If you to plan on a restoration, it
  pays to purchase a *running car* as cheaply as possible so you can take
  your time in making the most cost effective improvements at a leisurely
  pace..  This explains my 18 year enjoyment and simultaneous restoration
 of
  a 1970 280SE 3.5 coupe that had lots of issues, but I could at least
 drive
  it safely while fixing and restoring things.
 
  On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 12:44 PM, OK Don via Mercedes 
 mercedes@okiebenz.com
 
  wrote:
  My experience as well. How much will you have to pay for any MB with 68k
  miles accumulated at the standard rate of 12k/yr. (a 2008 model)? It
 looks
  like a bargain from that perspective.
 
 
  On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 4:37 AM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes 
  mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote:
 
  Hendrik makes a very valid point, and one that pretty much applies to
 any
  used car purchased. That is, spend the money up front for the very best
  example you can find. You'll be better off than buying a fixer-upper or
  one
  that needs work, as it will most likely end up costing you more.
 
  BTDT myself.
 
  Dan
 
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  To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
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  All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those
 individuals are responsible for the content of the post.  The list owner
 has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.

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