To the original poster...


THIS IS A HOBBY....


Hobbies vary by wallet.... one guy is a bowler - the other belongs to a country club - and someone else will always have more or better no matter how much you have to spend. That should never be the point.

Building a car is 4 or 5 times the cost of buying a car DONE.... regardless of the level of that. If you really can't afford the cost of a one off custom -- just go shopping and find an appropriate car you LOVE and can afford....then as time goes on you can modify it or change it.

Just keep it a hobby... 'cause that's all it is regardless of what you can or can't afford.

It doesn't matter, build or buy what you can afford and don't worry about what everybody else is doing. Then proceed to enjoy what you have.

Don't assume these high end builds are the best option. Many are built and never finished. If they are finished, they are so damn nice the owner can't bare to use it as a car was intended.

I've built a high end car on this site and actually used it. Give me a decent brawler that does everything exceptionally well. By everything, I mean can be parked in the rain, functions like a factory car, reasonably reliable, safe, and I can walk away from the fire and sleep well. I've had the blind passion for the hobby and now see it from my own perspective. In most cases, it's the low to mid level builds that are out having the most fun. Unless your passion is building them and you are at the point in your life where you can burn the benjamins without sacrificing your future That's fine too if it floats your boat.

Yep. Good stuff.

I would love to have a "High End Build" type car, but I've noticed that most of those end up being nice cars to just look at and aren't very useful at the end of the day. They are too nice to drive or take to the track/autocross---even drive long distances for fear of road rash and paint chips, etc. There are exceptions of course.

I am in a similar situation as the original poster--two small kidos and a wife--with the entire family in sports and lots of activities ($$$$$). A couple things I would suggest if you do get a car, get your wife's ok, and then buy a car already done like Greg mentioned previously. If you don't want to front the cost for a completed car, then the other option is to buy one that is close to stock, whatever that looks like--maybe some bolt-ons, but that has good driver quality paint, and then begin improving the car piece by piece--but as much and as often as you can, leave the car drivable so that it can be used (driven). Lot's of folks on here can tell you about their respective stories and the great dreams of building a car in their garage--which spirals out of control with scope creep--sometimes they are lost to a bad shop, discouragement sets in and then they eventually lose interest in the car altogether---and the family isn't always a fan of having the garage in disarray along with a non functioning car for years and years. Keep it drivable, plan for your upgrades smartly on a budget--and keep building it, piece by piece over time and pay cash for improvements made. I would call this the everyday guy/girls approach at building one of these.

Personally, I purchased my car mostly stock for 23k---took a loan for about 15k of it at the time---paid it off in 3 years. This seemed acceptable to me. Since that time, I've pieced together most of the parts to make it the driver I would like it to be. The biggest transformation is coming this next year (new front sub frame, new Ls3, rewire car, etc, etc). I was patient and found lots of deals on most every part, saving a lot, yet have not had the car down for more than a couple of months at any one time. No additional debt incurred. I still drive mine every week and enjoy that part the most.

I don't think most of the guys you will run into will have paid cash for one of these cars---unless they've had it for 20 years already. Some sort of a loan is acceptable in my opinion, as long as you have the means to pay it back over a period no longer than 3 to 5 years. If you really use the car and enjoy it, the payback on the car can't be measured.

It can be done, but you have to be willing to go slow, set a real budget and exercise discipline along with patience.

Doug

No, most have filed bankruptcy in the past. It takes you years to get good credit after bankruptcy. I don't ask my friends about their personal finances, because that is only their business. If they confided in me about a financial problem, then I offer them advice.

Most that filed bankruptcy in the past have learned their lesson, and more careful with their money. All are just saving up for their parts to buy at later time.

Every once in awhile you hit a few nails. Lots of good points in there.

I am kinda surprised to hear you got a partial loan on yours. Did not know that. Of course, I also think you had a higher chance of success with that strategy being a financial professional yourself. You have/had the discipline that others might not be able to maintain.

I actually know very few (you're the first I can think of actually) guys who have gotten any kind of loan for their hot rod. Interesting.

Doug, buddy, you are the perfect example. You get the family involved, use it every week, and compete on a reasonable level. Oh ya, you have fun! When you upgrade, you do it wisely. Not losing site of the aforementioned.

Just be glad we are leaving your green bruiser out of the discussion. haha

[QUOTE=Flash68;570781]Every once in awhile you hit a few nails. Lots of good points in there.
[QUOTE]

That wisdom only cost me around the same as the tuition at a decent 4 year college. :lmao: No regrets.