The Cost of Owning a W body (updated for 2008)

[ns87]

Rather than doing my school work on Excel, I put my maintenance and repair records in it for fun. It turned into an in depth project, and tabulating the costs really shows the difference between doing work yourself, and having a repair shop do the work.

 

The first two years were terrible in costs, and I almost wish my parents sold the car rather than fix it   If I can continue to drive the car somewhat problems free, I think the costs will balance themselves out.

 

Last but not least, I must say I love my parents. They paid the majority of the bills in 2004 and 2005.

 

http://www.geocities.com/fenny76114/car.xls

 

I printed screen shots for those without Excel

 

[ns87]

For those without Excel

 

2004

2005

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

[ns87]

And last but not least. My system isn't perfect. As you can see, I used more gas for 2005 after July, but I had no repairs. Oh well.

[Euro]

Damn. I remember having my Lumina I had to dump a bunch of money into it in the first 6 months or so. Luckily my GP has had most every bill come out to $100

[93CutlassSupreme]

These cars are expensive to keep running, that's for sure.

 

 

I have at least 7 or 8 grand in my w-body. I highly doubt I could get $1200 for it either.

[Euro]

I remember I calculated the bills for the Lumina right before I sold it and it totalled around $5,000. In repairs and "mods."

[19Cutlass94]

Ive got more than $10,000 EASY. and it doesnt help that I keep buying shit. Once I put my new motor in thats another $2,000+

[GOT2B GM]

well all 3 of mine combined I have to have about $20k in them.

 

 

 

 

Ouch.

 

But they treat me well......

[89GP_SE]

Wow I never had to put that much money into a car. Mind you I do 99% of the labour myself, save money that way.

[J]

agreed

[GOT2B GM]

Wow I never had to put that much money into a car. Mind you I do 99% of the labour myself, save money that way.

 

I do all my own labour also, except for transmissions, and bodywork, both of which are big $$$$.

[ns87]

I've learned to do it myself now. My family isn't very mechanically inclined Lessons learned definitely!

[Addicted To Boost]

WOW you have a lot of money into your Cutty

Props for putting the work into it

 

I probably have approximately $5000 into my TGP (including original purchase cost)

and I have approx. $1,000 into my SE, including original purchase cost.

 

Worth every penny.

[xxREGALIZExx]

yep but these cars treat you well.as the saying goes give alot get even more!!!

[toms92gpse]

I probably have about 10k in mine or close to it counting the cost of buying the car.

[kuntzie]

well all 3 of mine combined I have to have about $20k in them.

 

 

 

 

Ouch.

 

But they treat me well......

 

i like how people say wow about that....i have over 30k into my w's hahaha

[AWeb80]

I dunno what I have....probably $7-8k in mods....That's if you add it up in retail terms...but I've made most of mine as one-off pieces...so it is hard to document when stuff was made for basically free, minus my own time.

 

 

the only things I've had to replace, Headgasket, brake rotors and pads, window switch, and random engine sensors that go out w/ use.

[mfewtrail]

My '93 has about $2K into it in oil changes alone(my rent's used to have the oil changed @ places that were like $25.99-29.99 over the years). My oil changes since I've owned it have averaged around $12-13 each. I have maintenance records for the entire lifetime of the car...I'll eventually add everything up. It's not very expensive to keep on the road at all. I've been doing all my work myself for several years now, so it's super cheap to maintain.

[EviLette]

Ive got more than $10,000 EASY. and it doesnt help that I keep buying shit. Once I put my new motor in thats another $2,000+

 

I feel you, but I refuse to make a spreadsheet detailing everything. At some point I'll start. But at over 190k its somewhat pointless, imho. At least to be that detailed. The car was purchased for 2,000 three and a half years ago, and about the only things that haven't been replaced are the cooling system and the power steering system.

 

Brand new a/c system, stereo, alarm/remote/keyless, front end, suspension, motor/tranny (#3 for the car) 4 fuel pumps, 3 alternators... and now I have a tie rod bad that was one of the first parts I replaced on the car. >.<

 

Also, little, irritating things... window motors for driver and passenger, 2 antenna masts (hence the reason I never let people drive my car now...)

 

....

 

DOOR HANDLES

 

I feel you.

[CNBZ34]

A quick tally just before I sold my Z34, including cost of the car, approx 7k +/- . That's 2 years and 62k miles. I only got $2800.

[Rdrckt_92]

I dont have nearly as much in my W as some of you but I still dont want to find out just how much..I bought the car for $1,500 almost three years ago, and probably have 3 or 4 times that in maitenance...

[AWeb80]

my hondr has been pretty cheap run over the past 4.5 yrs.

 

tires

oil changes

water pump

plugs

wires

02

Timing belt and tens.

drives side halfshaft

battery

....i paid 1400 for it..and I could easily get that out of it.

 

Now on my GP, I know I've spent more to insure it than what I've spend on repairs in the last 4.5 yrs

[theghoul]

Add me to the 10k plus club.

 

Which includes my cost and a $3200 jasper motor replacement.

 

But, I love the car.

 

To put it into perspective, this is my daily driver, and its going into the garage when the weather gets better so I can drive my vert.

 

[AWeb80]

good choice!!!!!!!!

[Euro]

Damn one helluva DD