What's it cost?

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Rudy van Daalen Wetters
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

Never tell your wife what you spend on maintaining your
classic cars. They have an exceptional memory for those
type of statistics.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
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Yale
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by Yale »

Well, I definitely don't tell my wife about what any of this costs, that would certainly end up in a divorce...course, though we have a kid and lived together for 30 years we are not married so I guess a significant-other breakup. Fact is at this point I don't mention anything about cars that come and go - to the extent a friend bought me a fake nose and eyebrows so I could drive around lower Manhattan in disguise. As for the cost, I put the repair bills on a credit card and the last one I will be paying off with my tax refund. Generally I do expect $6000 a year on Ferrari maintenance. But as I mentioned in an earlier post it gets to the point that I have been driving a vintage German car more where the mechanic is remorseful if he gives me a bill for near $800. I figure I won't have any more trouble with the car when I sell it. And maybe with all that I have done neither will the next owner have any trouble...I guess I'll keep it till I get to that point. It kinda feels like the war in Afganistan at times, a war of attrition.
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
Posts: 1206
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:53 pm

Re: What's it cost?

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

After a period of living together for seven years, is that not considered
a "common law" marriage? Can you spell "Prenup"? Thirty years is quite
a track record though. Claim your car as a dependant on your tax return,
it's about as expensive as your other dependant, I'll wager.

Making it to Monterey this year? Don't say you can't afford it....

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
mdempsey
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by mdempsey »

My Dad collected guns. My mother had an uncanny nack for spotting a new gun. Out of dozens she would be able to tell one was new. Then began a 'negotiation' of how much the new gun cost. Of course after initial denial by my father that it was actually new. It boiled down to a 'Guns for Shoes' settlement. Of course my father used all of his guns at one point or another. On the otehr hand there were shoes that my mother had that never left the box. I learned alot from witnissing this marital Cold War with mutually assured spending. Never tell.
365 GT 2+2
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by 365 GT 2+2 »

I use the jedi mind trick early and often with the wife: "it's amazing, all I needed was a 6 cent washer from Home Depot and the problem was fixed". Wife: "Wow - 6 cents. That's amazing"

Done.
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

In 1970, my father came home in a nicely restored 1949 Talbot Lago.
My mother was furious and sucessfully negotiated air conditioning for
our home, as we had none. She then went on to law school and became
an attorney. Man, my dad was a brave soul.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
whturner
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by whturner »

Hi Guys:

My wife is pretty tolerant - when I bring home another rifle (not a GUN, as you find out quickly in basic training) she gives me the "hairy eye" and says "Well, they are easier to store than a car"
And Yale - I still claim you are RESTORING your car, not maintaining it. If you sold it your capital gains (if any) should be reduced by the amount you have spent on many of these things, unlike oil changes, spark plugs and other maintenence. Now if you had to rebuild, for example your starter, on some schedule like changing oil, that would be a different matter.

If you are going to MD I will see you shortly

Cheers
Warren
330 GT Series II sn 10069
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Bryan P
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by Bryan P »

Dad managed to spend around $0 per year on the Mondial between about 1968 and 2000. After 2000 is another story . . . . alll that deferred maintenance
1968 365 GT 2+2
s/n 11199
1955 s.II 500 Mondial
s/n 0556(0446)MD
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale
afwrench
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by afwrench »

Work on the cars yourself. Then you can tell her not how much things cost but how much you "saved" . Mike
72,365gtc4,14681,2007 599 GTB
John Vardanian
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by John Vardanian »

afwrench wrote:Work on the cars yourself. Then you can tell her not how much things cost but how much you "saved" . Mike
Why, this is my tactic too. :wink:
PF Coupe
250GT
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by 250GT »

John Vardanian wrote:
afwrench wrote:Work on the cars yourself. Then you can tell her not how much things cost but how much you "saved" . Mike
Why, this is my tactic too. :wink:

Enzo Ferrari's statement:

Women cost more then 50% of men's FREETIME.

Well Enzo had his longtime mistress. not so bad this figure!

ciao
C.
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JAV
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by JAV »

John Vardanian wrote:
afwrench wrote:Work on the cars yourself. Then you can tell her not how much things cost but how much you "saved" . Mike
Why, this is my tactic too. :wink:

Mine as well!
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Yale
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by Yale »

I have been driving around the area lately as sort of a shakedown for the trip down to Md. for The Party. All seems well so maybe Art's thought of what could possibly be left to fail, (knock on wood), could come to pass. I also wanted to add that the total figure this year included a new clutch since the trans was out and a new battery as Bryan said the old starter was in such bad shape that it wore out the one I bought three years ago. I am caravaning down with Michael Greenspan who feels if the car seems all together it is just fooling me....I have a sunnier outlook until....I'm proved wrong.

Best,

Yale
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
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Art S.
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Re: What's it cost?

Post by Art S. »

So Yale, how was the trip to and from MD? Any issues?

Also, your photographer has captured an action shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carspotter/3497167886/

Regards,

Art S.
1965 330 2+2 series 2 7919
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