Running costs
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:23 pm
Bit of a random post (but hey, you'd expect nothing less!)
Imagine you've just bought your 480 (or perhaps are looking at buying one). What have you got in store in terms of running costs?
Some assumptions:
1) Everything is knackered. And unless you've got history or documented evidence to prove otherwise, it will be knackered.
2) You're going to be doing the work yourself.
3) You may be able to save a few pounds on the parts, I've shopped for simplicity, not eeked out every possible bargain.
And so, onwards!
Lets start with a nice service - we want to make sure our beastie runs factory fresh right?
So, thats a big full service. Timing belts, drivebelts, the whole shooting match. I've left of transmission oil change just because, but that's about £168 worth of parts in her majesty's sterling.
So, we can go fast now, but can we stop?
Brake fluid and hoses not included, but probably should be. Handbrake cables will be shot... so, bye bye another £95.
So, we're starting and stopping, but can we get around a corner?
There goes another £310 but we've got quite a nice handling car now! does seem to be lacking in grip....
The cheapest "decent" branded tyres I could find, were these:
and so, assuming your fitting and balancing them yourself (we all own a tyre machine and balancer right?), we can wave goodbye to £177
So, in summary, there's roughly £750 to spend on getting a car mechanically right.
That's before any bodywork, lights, any joyous electrical work or the common "they all do that sir" problems.
This is what feeds into my "buying" decisions, and what drives me insane when people think their shed of a 480 is worth £1k, when excellent ones are struggling to sell for £2k.
Imagine you've just bought your 480 (or perhaps are looking at buying one). What have you got in store in terms of running costs?
Some assumptions:
1) Everything is knackered. And unless you've got history or documented evidence to prove otherwise, it will be knackered.
2) You're going to be doing the work yourself.
3) You may be able to save a few pounds on the parts, I've shopped for simplicity, not eeked out every possible bargain.
And so, onwards!
Lets start with a nice service - we want to make sure our beastie runs factory fresh right?
So, thats a big full service. Timing belts, drivebelts, the whole shooting match. I've left of transmission oil change just because, but that's about £168 worth of parts in her majesty's sterling.
So, we can go fast now, but can we stop?
Brake fluid and hoses not included, but probably should be. Handbrake cables will be shot... so, bye bye another £95.
So, we're starting and stopping, but can we get around a corner?
There goes another £310 but we've got quite a nice handling car now! does seem to be lacking in grip....
The cheapest "decent" branded tyres I could find, were these:
and so, assuming your fitting and balancing them yourself (we all own a tyre machine and balancer right?), we can wave goodbye to £177
So, in summary, there's roughly £750 to spend on getting a car mechanically right.
That's before any bodywork, lights, any joyous electrical work or the common "they all do that sir" problems.
This is what feeds into my "buying" decisions, and what drives me insane when people think their shed of a 480 is worth £1k, when excellent ones are struggling to sell for £2k.