Here's a statistic that's kind of sobering. The wife wanted to know exactly how much I've spent on the car in the last 8 years, so I told her She went pale. So I went through my records, and removed all the items representing repairs and maintenance (tires, gear oil, inspections, supplies, etc.) Anyway, the final number for modifications & supporting labor charges is $16,000 give or take.

Not a cheap hobby. But not crazy either. And not done, but getting close.

 

$2000 a year isn't bad at all. I know a lot of people that easily spend that golfing, doing guys weekends in Vegas and other hobbies like cameras and computers. And while the cost is low, the amount of time my video game playing buddies devote to the latest games isn't 'free' when you have a wife and kids.

That being said, you should have long ago invested in tools and DIY'd a bunch of stuff. You'd have saved thousands

 

What's really held me back from a lot of DIY projects, other than feet of clay, is my driveway and garage setup. It just isn't supportive to doing much beyond oil changes and wheel swaps, which I do, but is nothing to write home about. Also, I turn 56 next week, so there's that too.

And I agree... computers, cameras, gaming, cocaine, gambling, prostitutes, potitical donations, etc. All equally or much more expensive.

 

If it helps your cause at all you can tell your wife that I spent nearly $20,000 in 4 years on my car and that does not include any labor. Makes spending $40k on a used ATS-V or M3 seem like a bargain since I know the performance of those cars will be in another world. (At least, that is how I am justifying the future expense.)

Happy Birthday! And remember, if you ever get addicted to cocaine you can always claim that you are not addicted, you just like the smell.

 

Age is just a number and happy early birthday.

Who cares if it costs so much? Enjoy your life man, and don't leave any money in your will when the time comes. Better be happy and make the most of your life.

 

Yep, another year older today. Thanks guys. Definitely feeling my age. Not necessarily upset or sad about it, just nostalgic for when I was young and invincible and everything was new.

 

Crap! I feel that way at 40 and was hoping that feeling would dissipate. Haha! Happy Birthday!

 

Happy Birthday, John! Look at it this way... at least your now a year closer to retirement than you were before.

 

Happy birthday. Another year wiser

 

Invisible calipers

 

slotted!!!!!

 

Happy birthday John!!

I'm like a month late...

 

Hey Roger. Thanks.

I was thinking to myself how it would look, and realized if I stacked some books under the roter... Stupid, I know. but it makes for an interesting picture.

I'm really, really looking forward to getting them on the car.

 

Are those wheels directional? in other words, the way the spokes are designed, they will either slant into or against the direction of rotation of the wheel depending on what side of the car they're installed on. Are there left and right wheels, or are all four the same? Hope that makes sense.

 

Yes, they're directional, with a left/right side bias. And since they're staggered, that means 4 different wheels on the same car. The new rotors are directional too, and with the different front/rear discs, that means 4 different rotors. It's complicated, LOL.