Twin40
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 posted on 7/3/13 at 05:23 PM |
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The true cost of a kit build...
Tough day today, i've just sat down and added up the final cost of the Mk Indy build. I knew it was going to be a bit more than normal as
i'd chosen some higher spec parts but it was certainly more than i had ever initially estimated!
I could have bought a race ready CSR for the same budget. Or even a brand new AB performance Sabre! 
Anybody else ever had days like this?! I daren't tell the missus - she'll kill me!!
Off to the pub to recover now....
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Charlie_Zetec
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 05:27 PM |
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Yep, know exactly how you feel!
I had a big tidy up at home the other day, and filed all lingering paperwork away. Worryingly, I have almost managed to fill a lever arch folder with
all receipts for my build thus far, and there's still some more to go. Admittedly this does include odds and sods such as packs of nuts, bolts
and fastners etc., but I know I'm going to get a massive shock if I was to ever sit down and tally everything up exactly.
Just remember the famous words "Yes dear, it only cost £10 from eBay...." 
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!
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emwmarine
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 05:51 PM |
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Noooooo.... you must never do this. This the path to disillusionment and true unhappiness and also the certainty that in knowing this information,
the true boss of the household will somehow find out and then even greater unhappiness.
I do wonder, given the difficulty of passing IVA and the cost of kit builds, I am assuming that fewer numbers of kits are being built than before but
those that are being IVA'd are of higher quality.
, will the resale values gradually start creeping up of well finished ones?
Building a Dax Rush.
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theprisioner
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 06:02 PM |
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There is an alternative, don't add it up (with no intention of doing so) and think of an acceptable number to quote and say "although I
have not fully added it up yet".
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eddie99
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 06:04 PM |
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Always the way, Unfortunately materials and parts are costing so much more these days...
The other day i compared our latest car build to a couple of years ago, and same items are costing nearly twice as much, especially raw
materials.....
Building cars is becoming much more expensive!
http://www.elitemotorsporteng.co.uk/
Twitter: @Elitemotoreng
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elite-Motorsport-Engineering/153409081394323
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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franky
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 06:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Twin40
Tough day today, i've just sat down and added up the final cost of the Mk Indy build. I knew it was going to be a bit more than normal as
i'd chosen some higher spec parts but it was certainly more than i had ever initially estimated!
I could have bought a race ready CSR for the same budget. Or even a brand new AB performance Sabre!
Anybody else ever had days like this?! I daren't tell the missus - she'll kill me!!
Off to the pub to recover now....
How much did you spend!?
Or what did you fit to it to bring an MK near that cost? At least you can sleep happy knowings its worth about 50% of the build cost
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ross05
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 06:09 PM |
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The upgrades,just tell her bargains from ebay..and you needed them.
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scudderfish
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 06:36 PM |
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And did you add up the number of hours spent charged at a reasonable rate as well? 
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perksy
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 06:45 PM |
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Keep all the receipts in a nice folder, But never ever add them all up.......
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TimC
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 07:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Twin40
Or even a brand new AB performance Sabre!
You know what that is? "Ooooof."
Big numbers 'ombre.
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Westy1994
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 07:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Twin40
Tough day today, i've just sat down and added up the final cost of the Mk Indy build.
LOL, never , ever add up the final costings, I made that mistake years ago when adding up how much a competition car had cost to build, as you say I
could have had a dam good road car for what it cost me.
Just enjoy driving it....and burn all the receipts incase 'someone' finds them one day...! LOL.
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T66
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 07:28 PM |
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If asked by the wife - the cost is between £9000 - £10000, the reality is .....
My good friend set me up a spreadsheet about 2 years ago, it immediately went to £9200 when I added a few bits n bobs, . then decided not to bother,
about a year ago I added some more bits to it, and got scared at £12000.
Havent looked since, bit like deadlines, dont care how much it costs now Im in here, and dont care when I finish.
And yes ! - It would of been a thousand times easier to buy a IVA registered car and let someone else take the hit. But most of the guys here dont
build cars for the driving thrill, its for the sake of building them surely ?
Once the little Fiat is done and sold to Poland, it will become an old V twin motorbike. This month alone I have spent £200, and I need to pay for the
4-1 collector next month, cars,boats,aeroplanes,foreign homes, they are all money pits....
Stop counting, if its a small box in the post its a tenner, if its a big box its £100 - thats all the wife needs to know, mine now doesnt ask (or
care)
I am at a guess hovering around £13000 ish, and my garage still looks like the scrapheap challenge.....enjoy the frustration of building lol
Oh - And the £190 I spent on the loom last month.....
[Edited on 7/3/13 by T66]
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plentywahalla
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 07:40 PM |
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We had a couple of customers once who shared a boat. When discussing costs in front of the wives the agreement was we would always knock a nought off
the end. That way if one of the respective wives still hit the panic button, they realised that it really was a bit too expensive.
Try it ... It worked for them.
Rules are for the guidance of wise men ... and the obedience of fools. (anon)
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T66
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 07:50 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by plentywahalla
We had a couple of customers once who shared a boat. When discussing costs in front of the wives the agreement was we would always knock a nought off
the end. That way if one of the respective wives still hit the panic button, they realised that it really was a bit too expensive.
Try it ... It worked for them.
Guys at work are briefed never to mention what Ive spent, or my secret sock contents.....
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TimC
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 08:29 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by T66
Guys at work are briefed never to mention what Ive spent, or my secret sock contents.....
Why bring that into the thread? 
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Confused but excited.
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 08:49 PM |
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Just add up the hours of fun you have had + all you have learned = priceless.
I am only building a £250 Locost, except that after getting the petrol-head bug again, I have spent more than that on books.
By the time this is (if ever) finished it would have probably been cheaper to buy a Cateringvan, but no where near as much fun.
Tell them about the bent treacle edges!
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snapper
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 08:58 PM |
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I started a spread sheet on an old PDA when I started
It gave up the ghost at £5K so I stopped counting as well
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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Sloan85
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:03 PM |
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I was told I could be on the road for £8-9k. My spreadsheet is showing I'm up to £10.6k and estimate a final cost of £12.5k.
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iank
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:09 PM |
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Remember not to include the 20% of the cost that seems to go on P&P!! 
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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RK
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:16 PM |
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The cost of a kit car, in strictly monetary terms, is patently stupidly expensive. But how much time did you NOT go to the pub during your build? This
is the true cost, and must be addressed when the Chief Financial Officer poses difficult questions.
I wouldn't mind so much if my car ever worked, but it never works properly and never will because I don't know what I'm doing. I am
way over $35,000 Canadian pesos. It is truly the most expensive mistake I've ever made by a long ways.
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T66
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by TimC
quote:
Originally posted by T66
Guys at work are briefed never to mention what Ive spent, or my secret sock contents.....
Why bring that into the thread?
I never mentioned chod socks, Sir you have a filthy mind !
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40inches
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:29 PM |
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Oh! S**t! I didn't think I had done bad, I only spent about £20 a week on average. Then I worked it out
I hate threads like this. I think I would still prefer MY own built MK to a Cateringvan, no really, honest!
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RK
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:36 PM |
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Actually, the build is the fun part. Driving has not been as much fun as I had hoped.
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Mr C
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:41 PM |
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Much the same experience, the cost doesn't bear thinking about. I'm awaiting the IVA so not quite there yet, but have killed a battery and
damged two tyres, lost a centre cap, need spigots, before even turning a wheel on the road. Total cost this week so far, £350. I'm not even
going to mention the new engine I'm building for a little more power.
When people ask I just say £--ish. I could have bought a Noble etc etc..but as mentioned at least I've got something to show for my money rather
than just a beer gut. Whilst I try not to have regrets, though in hindsight I would have done things differently.
Girl walks into a bar and asks for a double entendre, so the barman gave her one
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HappyFather
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| posted on 7/3/13 at 09:55 PM |
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I have a spreadsheet where I register all my spendings, big and small. The running tally is always accurate with the contents of my bank, wallet and
investments account. Thus, when I bought the kit, I made a special sheet for it to sum up those specific costs.
I bought all my kit in a box, at once, to spare me some grief getting parts and save on shipping. Right of the bat, I exceeded my budget on the main
box.
Then it has been tools I didn't have (dremmel, torque wrench that I never used, protective equipment...), consumables (drill bits, oils,
greases, ...), insurance...
I know how much it is, the wife knows how much it is (it's my money, she doesn't care), with the IVA and import it will still be a bit
more...
But I don't care! I'm having loads of fun building it. I've learnt a lot about mechanics, my main goal. My kid loves the idea, the
wife (petrolhead) is more eager than me for it to be on a track...
Sometimes, the best things in life aren't arriving somewhere, they are the ride getting there.
Be happy!
HappyFather
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