Re: [Amc-list] Adding up the receipts, ouch!

[Joe Fulton <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

For my personal acounting I use Quicken and can designate expenses to a specific automobile.  The amount I spend on an old car or three can surprise me, but I always compare that to a $400 car payment each and every month for years.  Whenever you get a "new/different" vehicle you have to spend money on it no matter how it was maintained in the past.  I learned that long ago when I bought my first airplane.  Richard Bach said in a magazine article long ago that you spend about one third of the value of the plane in repairs the first year.

It can be true for cars too.  That is if it's a driver when you buy it and not a restoration project.  The sky (or your bank account) is the limit on a restoration project.  If you like that little Rambler, and I think you do, just keep it running and driving safely and drive it.   

My $0.02 while taking a break from finishing my 195.6 today.

Joe Fulton 


--- On Sun, 10/12/08, Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Amc-list] Adding up the receipts, ouch!
> To: "AMC/Rambler owners, drivers and fans." <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Sunday, October 12, 2008, 11:45 AM
> Okay, so my wife left her job. Was feeling devalued. I can
> understand
> not being able to work in a situation like that. Our group
> will have
> to start commuting in. I knew that a few weeks ago - just
> not sure
> when.
> 
> So, I loaded a personal finance app (KMyMoney) on my laptop
> (running
> Kubuntu Linux). That doesn't matter at all. What
> matters is that I
> pulled down all transactions my bank, credit union and
> credit card
> places had records for. Some went back 2 and a half months.
> Some went
> back to June (yay credit union!).
> 
> I categorized most of my transactions, and know some places
> we can cut
> back in to cover some of the loss and added expenses. But
> just adding
> up Napa, Autozone, Blaser's, Galvin's and Gouza
> Machine Shop - I spent
> over 2K on the Rambler since June. Probably closer to 3K
> since
> December. Over $500 in August, and $350 in September
> (between parts
> and tools).
> 
> Those little expenses sure do add up quickly! And forget
> about the big
> ones. So, dollars figured out - I need to decide about
> replacing the
> windshield and back glass gaskets, the windlace, the rubber
> around the
> doors, hood and trunk, figure an estimate on front-end work
> and
> mig-welding a replacement patch in the trunk, figure out
> how to take
> care of the sagging headliner and sunvisors and messed up
> armrests.
> And the clutch and transmission. And figure if the oil
> under the car
> is from the access plates or from the main seal. urgh.
> Access plates I
> can fix (I already used Right Stuff, maybe not enough?).
> Main seal
> would be a different matter.
> 
> I know there is a bunch that needs doing. I'm thinking
> of just keeping
> it, driving it and saving for repairs as I can afford them.
> After all,
> it runs. The other stuff is pretty stuff. Clutch needs work
> - but does
> work okay as long as I stay out of stop and go traffic.
> Transmission
> synchros are going, but I'm doing okay trying to match
> revs with speed
> by ear. Car leaks when it rains, but I can use goo in a
> tube or
> replace the rubber, or keep the car in the garage.
> 
> Anyway - if you decide to track your expenses in a personal
> finance
> package, you might be surprised. I just keep telling myself
> that the
> American is cooler than a used generic-mobile, and it will
> cost as
> much to get it in good running condition.
> _______________________________________________
> Amc-list mailing list
> Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list
_______________________________________________
Amc-list mailing list
Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list