Two Hundred Twenty One Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars.

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi) 06/26/2014 at 16:03 • Filed to: None

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Ten years of driving...

Since getting my licence ten years (and 3 months almost to the day for those whom need to be exact) ago and purchasing my first car, I have spent roughly $221,000 on vehicles not including normal maintenance, fuel, and insurance (it also does not account for money coming back to me from selling vehicles, but...).

The list looks something like this (and it's in chronological order for you obsessive compulsive types) :

1991 Honda Accord - $3,500 initial purchase

- Roughly $2,000 in audio equipment and ebay coil overs and lights (yes I was a ricer, shutupaboutit)

1992 Mitsubihi 3000GT VR-4 - $7,500 initial purchase price

- $4,000 engine rebuild #1

- $6,000 engine rebuild #2 with better parts

- $8,000 engine rebuild #3 with more better parts

1999 Saab 9 3 - $5,500 initial price

- $0 in mods (all mods were made using spare parts from the other things in the garage!)

2005 Ford Mustang GT - $27,000 initial purchase price

- $17,000 worth of engine, transmission, suspension and tires

2007 Triumph Daytona 675 - $6,500 initial purchase price

- $5000 repairing it from "accidents"...

1996 F150 - $3,500 initial purchase price

- $3,000 on body work and suspension

2007 F350 - $22,500 initial purchase price

- $1,500 on tires

1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX - $3,500 initial purchase price

- $2,000 on repairs upgrades (and it's still broken)

1979 Yamaha XS750 - $350 initial purchase price

- $150 on parts for rebuild (still in progress)

2011 Audi S4 - $48,000 initial purchase price

1980 Yamaha XS650 - $4,500 initial purchase price

- $1,500 on upgrades

2014 Jeep Wrangler - $36,000 initial purchase price

- $3,000 on wheels, tires, suspension

Total = $221,500

(picture for good measure)

So Oppo, Where do you sit on the 'Spend-O-Meter'?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:05

0

I'm somewhere right around the $30k mark. 3 Vehicles.

PatBateman > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:06

1

You've had 12 vehicles in 10 years?!?!

Bruno Martini > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:09

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17k in the mustang? Your were making over 1000hp to the ground then? For about 6k in parts the 3v will murder just about any tranny you throw behind it. So a viper spec 6 speed manual and a real 9inch rear as well?

deekster_caddy > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:11

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Wow, great list. Obviously the longer you've been driving, the bigger that list is going to be... I'll have to start working on mine. Good news is that my first several cars were $400 or less... but I have no idea if I have an accurate measure of repairs and such. I'll see what I can come up with. Maybe I'll try to average it out to a 'per-year' list.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:12

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$0

Hand me down car. Mom and dad paid to fix the brakes.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:13

2

Holy shit.

WhiskeyGolf > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:14

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Are you counting your out of pocket cash or the vehicle's financed value?

Mine is far smaller, as I didn't get my own car until 2010. The value of my two Golfs is about $44,000 but I've probably made $15,000 in payments (first was leased, and I've just started financing on the second).

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:15

2

You spent almost $25,000 on a Mitsubishi 3000? I don't think we can friends anymore.

Milky > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:17

3

Damn …. my list is not nearly as impressive.

1992 Jeep Cherokee - $88 (thats a pretty good story)

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee - $5,000

1992 Lexus SC400 - $1,500

2004 Chrysler Crossfire - $9,000

Coming up on the 9 year mark and I've only spent $15,588.

Stupidru > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:17

1

Let's see...

Grand total for the LGT was $25090.66 for 1099 days of ownership which leaves me at $24.87 per day to own and operate my car as an enthusiast.

Somehow or another our Forester XT runs us $31.02 to own and operate, and that's my wife's car which is unmodified except for snow tires and wheels

Stupidru > Milky 06/26/2014 at 16:18

1

$88? Go on...

BeaterGT > Stupidru 06/26/2014 at 16:18

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Bought the LGT brand new?

Stupidru > BeaterGT 06/26/2014 at 16:20

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No, used. I got a smoking deal on it though since my parents are really good friends with the dealership's owner, so I got $3000 lower than the salesman was willing to go

Stupidru > Stupidru 06/26/2014 at 16:22

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Keep in mind that the $25090.66 is simply the cost to own and operate. I bought it for $16500 and sold it for $10500, but those figures have been added and subtracted from the first number

EL_ULY > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:23

1

i got my license 10 years and 29 days ago.

-1986 535i $0.00plus at least 2 grand in parts

-1990 525i $2500 plus around $2500 in shit

-1992 325i $800 plus $3000 in shit

-1995 M3 $1900 plus $3000 in shit

-1999 A6 Avant Quattro $5000 plus $1800 in shit

-2000 E320 $5000 plus $1000 in shit

-2002 E320 $0.00 (because other got totaled)

-2009 Silverado V8 4x4 Z71 $9500 (because took over payments) plus $1000 in shit.

Total in ten years. $39,000 not counting registration, inspection, and fuel.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:30

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I probably spent less than $6k all told rebuilding and painting my Land Rover (got it for free, but you get what you pay for), and waaay too many hours of work. My start #'s not typical because who has Land Rover parts sitting on a shelf for just such an occasion other than my dad? Other expenses since - well under $1k.

Benz - owes me nothing: inherited it, total expenses to date maybe $1200 (timing chain, oil changes, brake jobs, tires, A/C parts, suspension parts). Need to spend some more on the suspension here soon.

Ranchero: $800 car + $800 trans + $500 engine + $240 Jag suspension + ~$300 other parts so far.

VW Rabbit pickup: technically belonged to my dad, but we got more out of sale than we spent by quite a lot, not sure but maybe $600+. Spent some $600 in brake jobs, A/C parts, radiator, ball joints, and other assorted things over some years, plus whatever that set of tires went for...

Totals: <$13k, I'm sure of it.

BeaterGT > Stupidru 06/26/2014 at 16:30

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Oh wow, what year do you have? I didn't realize they even cost that much. I got mine for 13k.

Stupidru > BeaterGT 06/26/2014 at 16:33

1

I had an 06 which I bought in 2011. At the local dealership they have a 2006 LGT, unlimited, 5-spd with 86k for $13k

Milky > Stupidru 06/26/2014 at 16:33

9

Shortly after my 16th birthday a Chrysler dealer had a promo on used cars. Essentially 'We'll drop the price on all the cars at 9am so come sit on one at 7am and maybe you'll get lucky and get one for just $88!' . Aka we want foot traffic, because we have a lot of shit.

I got lucky, they only sold 3 for $88 (one of those being a minivan worth at least 1ok). It had 189k miles, leaked oil like a offshore BP drill and was rusty. But it got me to work and school for a year before I blew the engine off roading it.

You have no idea how fearless a 16 year old with a 88 dollar car is. That thing went places no other stock vehicle has gone.

Stupidru > Milky 06/26/2014 at 16:34

2

or should have gone!

Textured Soy Protein > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:35

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1992 Acura Integra GSR - $6500 in 2001

1999 Mazda Miata 10th Anniversary Edition - $11000 in 2004

2006 Mazdaspeed 6 - $21000 in 2008

2013 BMW 135is - $44000 in 2013 (except I'm leasing it so not really)

1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee - $4200 in 2013

Total - $86,700 plus some tires, brake pads and other crap

Coty > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:36

1

Uh.....

$1500 1988 Mercedes 300SE

$3000 worth of repairs

$500 1973 Volkswagen Fastback

Probably ~$2000 worth of mods, can't remember them all.

$1000 1967 VW Beetle

$200 engine
$250 beam/drop spindles
$50 cooler to ride on the roof rack
$50 wheels
$135 tires

$2500 1968 Chrysler Town & Country

$11,135

BeaterGT > Stupidru 06/26/2014 at 16:36

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Yep that's pretty much what I got except it is an 2005 with 72k miles (when I bought it)

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:37

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Rough Math:

driving for 20 years...

4 Motorcycles, 8 cars, various upgrades and repairs: ~$79,500.

CAR_IS_MI > PatBateman 06/26/2014 at 16:40

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13 actually but one of the motorcycles I had I got for free from a neighbor who was moving.

William Byrd > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:40

1

I'll ballpark:

88 Nissan Pulsar NX $6K

93 Mustang LX $14K

96 Camaro $19K

99 Civic EX $16K

01 Prelude $24K

99 Accord $12K

02 Jetta $24K

86 944 Turbo $6K

03 Mustang GT $26K

05 Honda Odyssey $30K

05 Saab 9-2X $22K

07 Focus ST $19K

04 350Z 16K

01 MX-5 $6K

07 G35S sedan $30K

10 Mustang GT $31K

11 Mustang GT $33K

09 Range Rover Sport $40K

09 Lexus IS250 $28K

12 MX-5 $21K

12 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited $27K

07 Suburban LTZ $26K

03 Mustang GT Vert $9K

14 Focus ST $26K

14 Fusion SE $29K

$540,000

Naturally I didn't REALLY pay anywhere near that, that's just the estimated pricing. I'm sure I fudged a year or a price though. Been driving for 22 years.

PatBateman > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:42

2

The good news: you got some money from trade-ins/sales of said vehicles, so you probably recouped a good chunk of that money.

T5Killer > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:42

0

1995 Mustang Cobra $16,000 (I bought it in '98 and got ripped off)

1986 Volvo 240 DL $200

1989 Volvo 740 wagon $1,000

1988 Hyundai Excel $80 (great story on how that is KBB for that car in 2004)

1996 Subaru Legacy L $600

$17880 total for 17 years of driving.

CAR_IS_MI > Bruno Martini 06/26/2014 at 16:42

1

Actually most of it went into trying to make the suspension better. had about 8-9k in suspension parts, the rest was spread out between transmission parts, engine parts, brakes, wheels, tires, and electronics to control those bits. It was just under 500 N/A.

CAR_IS_MI > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 06/26/2014 at 16:56

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Yes. Yes I did. And I would do it again and again. I loved that freaking crap box.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 16:58

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Well, I can't fault you for dedication. What did it take for you to finally give up on it? (I have a friend that has one rotting in his driveway)

CAR_IS_MI > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 06/26/2014 at 17:03

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Those three engine builds were all done within 8 months time... After the third build I had a boost controller fail 412 miles into my 500 mile, low boost break in (was running 10 psi till 500mi then plan was to bump up the fuel and run 32 psi), turbos spiked to 45psi on low fuel settings and blew the seals out. Block was already honed 30 over and the crank was up 20. There was no room left to fix what broke, never mind my broken pocket, so I went out and spent the rest of my money on the Mustang.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 17:11

1

1985 Chevrolet Chevette $500.00 car + $300.00 for second motor = $800.00

Scrapped in the end -$0.00

1999 Ford Crown vic p71 $3000.00 + $150.00 for new alternator = $3150.00

Sold to my brother -$1500.00

1993 Honda Civic SI Coupe $6000.00 + 800.00 in misc repairs = $6800.00

sold for parts after I blew the motor: -$1500.00

1991 Toyota Soarer Twin Turbo $10000.00 + 500.00 misc repairs = $10500.00

Sold: -$7500.00

1990 Nissan Fairlady Z Twin Turbo $10000.00

Sold -$8500.00

2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Megacab $32000.00 + 2000.00 in misc mods = $34000.00

Traded in -$18000.00

2009 Dodge Caliber SXT(don't ask!) $18000.00

Traded in 6 months later -$14000.00

2009 Chrysler 300 Touring $28000.00 + $1500.00 in misc mods = $29500.00

Traded in -$20000.00

2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 $63000.00 + 2500.00 mods + 700.00 in fines = $66200.00

Traded in -$29000.00

2013 Ford Fusion SE 1.6l ecoboost $32000.00 + $300.00 mods = $32300.00

Financed value for 10 cars in 13 years = $211250.00

-$100000.00 for sold or traded in value = $111250.00

-$28000.00 that I still owe on the Fusion = $83250.00

Grand out of pocket total excluding gas & insurance = 83250.00 or $17.59/day over the last 13 years.

BarryDanger > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 17:37

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1947 Chevy 3100 - $5000

2006 Subaru Outback Sport - $12,000

+$4000 in parts

1984 Volvo 244 Turbo - $1100

+$1200 suspension, turbo, wheels/tires

1996 Jeep Cherokee - $2200

1993 Nissan 240sx - $2100

+$400 new hood, wheels, tires

1968 Datsun 510 - traded the jeep and the 240sx for it $????

+$1500 in new parts

2009 Mazda CX-7 - $16,000

+$600 in repairs

2006 Pontiac GTO - $15,000

+$100 in repars

+$1100 in new parts

Grand Total: $66,300

Thanks... Thanks a lot.

BarryDanger > BarryDanger 06/26/2014 at 17:40

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That 8 in 8 years - $22.70/day

webmonkees > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 18:45

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I'd say the VW has had about twice its initial cost put into it over 10 years and 150k miles, so that's about 2 cents a mile.

Jayhawk Jake > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 19:19

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Is this the amount you've actually paid, or what it's worth?

For instance, I've had two cars. My 2011 Kia Forte Koup was purchased at $25k or so, and my Sonic was purchased at $20k. But since I financed both I've only spent about $12000 including modifications. I didn't own a car until 3 years ago, but I've been driving for 9.

CAR_IS_MI > Jayhawk Jake 06/26/2014 at 19:21

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sales prices. Not including monies received for trade ins, or to be paid via financing.

RotaryLover > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 19:32

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Shit...I don't even wanna know. If I did, I would cry when I would see that I could had bought a Ferrari or something...

Jayhawk Jake > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 19:47

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So how much do you really think you've spent, pure straight cash out of the bank account?

CAR_IS_MI > Jayhawk Jake 06/26/2014 at 19:50

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tough to say but probably between 100 - 150 k

Manuél Ferrari > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 20:06

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If only you could magically go back in time and spend all of it on the Ford GT instead.

I have no idea how much I've spent over 19 years. Would take a lot of memory and math to figure out how much I bought and sold everything for and how much I spent on upgrades. Hmm...

CAR_IS_MI > Manuél Ferrari 06/26/2014 at 20:54

1

If only.

JGrabowMSt > CAR_IS_MI 06/26/2014 at 23:57

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So far, if I'm just counting cars I own myself..

2005 Dodge Magnum RT.....I'd estimate total expenses between mods and general work/repairs I'm having done now to cost me shy of $8k so far.

Deputy Kovacs > PatBateman 06/27/2014 at 00:09

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I feel really awful trying to count how many cars I've had in the last ten years...

Bruno Martini > CAR_IS_MI 06/27/2014 at 13:26

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I spent about 3k in those parts on my old one. I had koni shocks, steda springs, roush lca's, steda uca. Fays2 watts link. I added gt500 brakes with ss lines for 1k in parts & wider wheels and tires. Handled like a go cart, and was ok in the street and made me happy.