This’ll be long winded since it incorporates an introduction on my part to this forum.
Story begins with a Ducati* I once had and was passionate about. I cherried it out over ~three year period. Spent an obscene about of time working on it. Personal labor offset much of ownership expense. Art to behold. Music to listen to.. and poetry to ride. (gorgeous countryside can be found in SW Wisconsin) There was the money and crazy time spent to bring it to the well-maintained showroom condition it came to be in.
Then one day, proverbial left-turning, absent-minded woman totaled my mistress. ‘Book’ value was far shy of ‘replacement’ value. (~ 250-ish of this particular model in the states, fresh: paint, chain, sprockets, clutch, tires, sorted out rocker arm ailment, bla bla bla..) Thus; frustrating settlement resulted. (aside from a numbness and occasional light ‘tingling’ in my left thigh, I came through unscathed and ~ $7K in pocket) (‘replacing’ that bike would have costs approaching roughly $10K)
My ’88 Integra was/is getting WAY up there in miles and has gone from nice ride to reliable hoop ride. It was time to start thinkin new [four-wheeled] vehicle. At first, was seeking a clean 944.. fun, but at 32, climbing in and out of a Porsche cockpit didn’t feel quite right. A clean/well maintained 318is was found however, and quickly snatched up.
As of this post, it has, indeed, been a fun project. Great aftermarket support. Great tech articles available. Numerable enthusiasts. I am completely guilty of making regrettable eBay purchases before following through on research. (like the Tokico’s I’d sooner toss in garbage before selling them to some other poor bloke, let alone installing them on my car) But there have been some nice eBay scores too. (like the 4.10 LSD / e30 318is in my possession came with open dif.. or the slightly used Supersprint exhaust (which was a total bargain))
~ 95% of ‘upgrade’ parts have been accumulated. ~ 60% of work is done. ~ $1200 needed yet for odds and ends bushings, mounts, tires, etc. before completion. I’m inclined to do a nice write-up with details.. but certainly not at this time. Fairly standard refurbish job with upgrade embellishments throughout theme.
I’m not rich. I work hard. I study hard. I party hard. Job market in Madison has ‘gone to pot’ since.. well, the latest presidential administration. Madison is a college town swamped with grads and it’s economy has further gone to pot amplified by scholastic funds being diverted to military funds. After next spring semester is completed, I’m moving to Chicago. That’s all there is to it.
If I’m gonna spend ~ $10K on a car, it had better have a ‘cool factor’, be [for the most part] reliable, and fun to drive. This fully justified taking on the 318 as a good project car.
OK. Here’s the nutshell of my post: rolling around in a car worth more than it’s book value kinda spooks me. (not wanting to repeat Ducati tragedy)
What are your thoughts on that matter?
*Duc pics:
Story begins with a Ducati* I once had and was passionate about. I cherried it out over ~three year period. Spent an obscene about of time working on it. Personal labor offset much of ownership expense. Art to behold. Music to listen to.. and poetry to ride. (gorgeous countryside can be found in SW Wisconsin) There was the money and crazy time spent to bring it to the well-maintained showroom condition it came to be in.
Then one day, proverbial left-turning, absent-minded woman totaled my mistress. ‘Book’ value was far shy of ‘replacement’ value. (~ 250-ish of this particular model in the states, fresh: paint, chain, sprockets, clutch, tires, sorted out rocker arm ailment, bla bla bla..) Thus; frustrating settlement resulted. (aside from a numbness and occasional light ‘tingling’ in my left thigh, I came through unscathed and ~ $7K in pocket) (‘replacing’ that bike would have costs approaching roughly $10K)
My ’88 Integra was/is getting WAY up there in miles and has gone from nice ride to reliable hoop ride. It was time to start thinkin new [four-wheeled] vehicle. At first, was seeking a clean 944.. fun, but at 32, climbing in and out of a Porsche cockpit didn’t feel quite right. A clean/well maintained 318is was found however, and quickly snatched up.
As of this post, it has, indeed, been a fun project. Great aftermarket support. Great tech articles available. Numerable enthusiasts. I am completely guilty of making regrettable eBay purchases before following through on research. (like the Tokico’s I’d sooner toss in garbage before selling them to some other poor bloke, let alone installing them on my car) But there have been some nice eBay scores too. (like the 4.10 LSD / e30 318is in my possession came with open dif.. or the slightly used Supersprint exhaust (which was a total bargain))
~ 95% of ‘upgrade’ parts have been accumulated. ~ 60% of work is done. ~ $1200 needed yet for odds and ends bushings, mounts, tires, etc. before completion. I’m inclined to do a nice write-up with details.. but certainly not at this time. Fairly standard refurbish job with upgrade embellishments throughout theme.
I’m not rich. I work hard. I study hard. I party hard. Job market in Madison has ‘gone to pot’ since.. well, the latest presidential administration. Madison is a college town swamped with grads and it’s economy has further gone to pot amplified by scholastic funds being diverted to military funds. After next spring semester is completed, I’m moving to Chicago. That’s all there is to it.
If I’m gonna spend ~ $10K on a car, it had better have a ‘cool factor’, be [for the most part] reliable, and fun to drive. This fully justified taking on the 318 as a good project car.
OK. Here’s the nutshell of my post: rolling around in a car worth more than it’s book value kinda spooks me. (not wanting to repeat Ducati tragedy)
What are your thoughts on that matter?
*Duc pics:
Comment