Vision Too Big For Bank Account???? - Lateral-g Forums

96z28ss · #1 01-08-2010, 09:42 AM

This board is such a bad influence. My project changed a bit thats for sure.
It will take me longer to finish, but Im not going to give up, I'm driving this damn car.

ccracin · #2 01-08-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96z28ss

This board is such a bad influence. My project changed a bit thats for sure.
It will take me longer to finish, but Im not going to give up, I'm driving this damn car.

I agree and disagree. This site has definitely cost us more money, but I don't think the project would be as nice as it is going to be with out this site. I think you just have to be diligent in managing your budget. Some may even have to develop a budget to start with. I've talked to several people that just strt building with no idea where they are going!

XLexusTech · #3 01-08-2010, 09:59 AM

Perhaps its because the price of finished projects is down driving folks to cut bait and look to pick up a nice car cheap

**XcYZ** · #4 01-08-2010, 09:59 AM

I also think a big part of it is time. It takes a long time to finish a huge project and I think a lot of people get burnt out on spending money over a period of years and never getting to enjoy it.

I've seen the exact same thing in the restoration side of the hobby, too.

J2SpeedandCustom · #5 01-08-2010, 10:16 AM

Scott hit the nail on the head. The majority of projects get to that stage where the owner starts to justify the amount of money spent and the amount needed to be spent. Then you look at what you "could" buy with that money, and the doubt starts to creep in.

I tell all of our customer this, "How many times are you going to build (insert car make/model here)? Everyone always says "once". I say, "So then take your time enjoy the process and do what you want within your means." If it takes 10 yrs, then it takes 10 yrs. In the end you will have the car of your dreams and all those memories to look back on.

Some of the projects I see end up costing "double" when a clear plan isn't followed. I call that "scope creep". And this site is great at doing that. I see stuff on here all the time, that makes me drool! In my mind this is the NUMBER 1 thing to a successful project - staying on plan.

COYBILT · #6 01-08-2010, 03:23 PM

I am the second paragraph, My car was a mistake. I never meant to go all out crazy on it.

LSX69 · #7 01-08-2010, 10:47 AM

I think a lot of guys jump into the project before truly adding everything up. I know I really wanted to put an ls in my car and thought ill just save up 5k and buy a good used one with a trans on ebay. Well after that I realized by the time I change the fuel tank, fittings/lines, mounts, tuning, accessories, etc.. im in near another 5k. And once you buy one part you feel obligated to buy the other stuff to accomidate it. I know im not the only one who has done this. After doing this three or four times you are way over budget and possibly in debt with a long way to go. I guess that is why they say hindsight is 20-20.

**Stuart Adams** · #8 01-08-2010, 10:07 AM

The situation is multifactorial. First it takes twice as long to build. Within that time things come up and life can change, especially if its 2-4 years as most are. With those normal life changes over a 2-4 year period, money situations possibly change, creating whole new set of reality. Secondly, the project ALWAYS costs 2-3X more than you think. No matter what level of build it is. You combine a triple expense with a double time period and given the chances of life changes, cars get sold early, projects get put on the back burner, etc.

Love the PT cars. None better for me.

Teetoe_Jones · #9 01-08-2010, 10:18 AM

For me it's a bit of both. I learned some hard lessons along the way, lost lots of cash, and ended up having to re-do everything at least twice. I guess for me I was running into uncharted territory; I was planning 50/50 in 1998, and started building it in 99 at the age of 22. No one had ever tried a transaxle back then, and full frame cars were almost unheard of.

Now I find that I should have kept that green car as a running, driving, enjoyable vehicle. Now I'm way over 6 figures in the damn thing, and it's almost back to square one. Body kit prototyping? Trash. First full frame? Trash. All the metal work we did? Rusted. Running/driving again? At this pace, another decade.

Now I'm selling one, or both of my 68 Camaros. Which ever sells first will determine what I do with the cash made. If the black car sells first, then I keep 50/50 and give Rodger all my cash and start walking to work. If 50/50 sells, then the black car gets a new F&R suspension, vinyl wrap and LSX/T56 upgrade.

This is the most expensive hobby to be in at the moment.

Tyler

awesometool · #10 01-08-2010, 10:59 AM

I think most of it comes down to cash. If I was half way thru my build now it would be up for sale. Times are not what they were before it’s going be a couple of years until that changes. I could not walk past a half done project “pile of cash” in the garage when the wife is trying to scrap every penny for bills and food shopping. My work is really slow and if it stays that way I will sell it completed for a loss and be ok with it. The first things to go are the toys in bad times.