Do you sometimes look at the box of Van stuff you ordered from one of the suppliers and think - wow I just spent a load of money and what do I get in return! I just got my delivery in a lovely big box containing my Devon Roof seal bundle, new steering damper, westy slatted window knob and tool for fitting the rubber seal. Just shy of £190! Fek I thought to myself I am really glad that you can still get all this stuff but sometimes you wonder why am I spending such a large amount of money on an old rusty van - that just looks cute ! Its just crazy is'nt it! I paid less than this to buy my Datsun 100a! Then paid more for its car cover and recovery costs to bring it home! I think I am just a total car nut. One day I will just get rid of the lot and start to spend more time on other things like erm LIFE!! Next job is the roof - cant keep putting it off, as its the early Devon concertina - leaky like a sievey typeee, its £500 for a replacement, or £300 for a cutesey retro patterned vinyl printed, or £155 for stripes or £125 for plain white or.... £50 for home made ?? Guess which one I am choosing! (Nope the home made)! Almost wants to make you riot about the prices does'nt it!!
I bet JK and others are glad they don't have High Street outlets otherwise we'd all be out in our hoodies, usernames emblazoned on the back trying to prise the shutters open with our 3 bow roof racks!
Its unbelivable the cost of parts some times Ive just had a package delivered 4 ball joints and a tie rod £93
Its an expensive game. I got a bug for 2K that I thought was sorted - Turns out it wasnt and spent another 3k on parts to get it right and through MOT. I know how much stuff can start adding up. I kept tabs on it all for my records EG Purchased to Restore List Mega Bug - Leads, Points, Door Cards, Dizzy Cap £90 Mega Bug - Regulator, Starter Motor = £90 Just Aircooled - Petrol lead, Air filter, Hoses, = £70 Machine 7 - Badge clips, Bonnet Lock, D bolt = £21 VW heritage - Bolb holder, Dash Bulbs, Interior Light = £39 Just Kamper - Side light Bulb holders = £10 ASM Scrapyard - Battery = £15 VW Heritage - Fuel Clip, Carboretta repair kit = £15 Mega Bug - Big order, Rubbers, Heater Parts, Tinware = £400 Mega Bug - Running board, bumper = £72 Status VW - Glove box liner = £25 DVLA V5C = £27 DVLA Trailering = £90 Fresh Air Unit = £20 Mega Bug - Gear box Cradle £23.50, Front Mounts x 2 £9, Back mount £14, Hose pipes for fresh air £15, Badge £12 = 79.90 Carpet Ebay = £57 Spare Wheel = £5 Fuel Tank = £40 Mega Bug - Wheel x4 £120, Carburetor £60 = £192 Deck lid £60 Number Plate = £23.55 Fire Extinguisher - ebay = £13 Roof Rack - Volkszone = £100 Mega Bug - Front seat fittings, Screw back seat, window winders, Plastic door opener covers, Window winder tray and rubber, Engine lid Spring = £97.35 Status Vw - Post back Glove box as wrong fit = £4 Mega Bug - Running Board £18, Stone Guards £11.95 x 2 = £41.90 Trailer to MOT - George = £35 Kenwood Stereo - Ebay = £83 Kenwood Speakers - Ebay = £34.98 Speaker Wire - Halfords = £6.99 Brushes - Machine 7 = £7.16 Paul - Gear Box Kit - £30 Paul - Battery Charge issues fix = £90 Status VW - 2x Fan Belt, Top Spinny, Front window seal, Windscreen washer Gromits = £60 SOME INFO TAKEN OUT FOR PEOPLE SAKE
I honestly don't wanna think what I have spent since buying my bus, and had nothing major go wrong yet (thats what my little haynes camper money box is for)
OK getting annoyed now (just posted a reply to this and another subject and it went into fresh air!!!) Anyway - I bet you worked hard to find the cheapest parts too! With automation you would think cheaper parts but its not the case is it! (When you factor total costs in)
last year when working out how much we could afford to spend on Alex we budgeted £1000 over getting him through the MOT each year we've spent £3000 this year. : bek
I'm only just at the start of my resto and don't want to even contemplate how much more I've got to spend! Next on my list is a rear full corner and all outriggers and jacking points.
Although it seems expensive, it's probably cheapest in the long run to buy a well restored (documented and photographed) van rather than an OK van and keep on having to drip feed it cash. The other end works too - buy something basically solid to restore and do it properly.
In the last 5 weeks ive spent £1100 and i cant believe how far it HASNT gone, I thought i was looking at £300 -- £400 but then it just carried on ,I dare not tell the wife. But it will be worth every penny ,shes a beauty [ the bus that is] lol
Theres a guy in my office who races Evos, he laughed at how little our Vw parts cost. As a man of a certain age i'm going to waste money on stuff and I love getting parcels through the post of questionable value. £77 for blue seat belts! But don't they look lovely!
Thing is to buy in lots of small quantities ,that way you do not remember .... I have spent nowt on all my buses... 8)
