BlueL36

I make a distinction between "fixing" and "fussing." Even when something isn't in need of repair, I just enjoy fiddling around with things to improve the fit, make sure nuts, bolts, and screws are tight, cleaning hard-to-reach areas, things like that. Like Red73 said, there's some therapeutic value in fussing with the 'Vette. And some people have told me I need all the therapy I can get :crazy:

TedH

I'd say 4 hours working for every 1 hour driving (my preference actually). I bought it not just for something to drive but also to refresh my mechanical hobby that I gave up about 20 years ago after graduating high school (shoe string budget then). Now that I have the funds and inclination, I really enjoy getting all of the tools out, putting the car up on stands/blocks and tearing into it. Also good reason to drink a few cold ones and rock/work to good tunes in the garage. I'm one of the few guys in my neighborhood that actually USES his garage for something other than the family car or family storage.

vethead

Before I started to restore it, I would drive it daily, and only had to work on it when it was in need of an oil change, or needed a wash. Never gave me problems, even though I drove it hard. I will daily drive it once I am done rebuilding it, and hopefully she will be just as reliable. :cheers:

Jester69Stingray

So far about 1:3. Once I fix my tranny problems there wont be much that I haven't fixed so I should be able to drive it for a while without problems. :rolleyes:

dladd74roadster

My car has 200k miles on it and has had very little down time in the past 15 years. I have made several significant upgrades to it over the years (FI, brakes, suspension). Once the body comes off, it will obviously be in the other extreme for a while.

dl

MilesM

Mine is on the road now and I am having fun (lots of HP and A/C) but last night I was checking my oil and sealing a gap above the radiator and some firewall holes and I noticed the power terminal rubber cap on the back of the alternator was off (probably from the last timing job) so I go to slide it back on and the whole wire comes off in my hand!

AV76

Drive my vette??? Havn't had it put together and running long enough his year to drive it!!!! :D

joeveto

How about this: What's your cost per mile? I've spent around $7000 on my car (purchase price, paint, upkeep, etc.). I've driven it 5000 miles. So the cost right now, is 1.40 per mile. This does not include fuel, which was another $375. So that raises it to 1.47 per mile.

As far as hours, I don't even want to think about it. But here's a shot:

5000 miles, at an average speed of 35 mph, if I'm lucky, equals 142 hours of driving time. Just the same, I've spent days and days and days working on my car. And if I wasn't working on it, I was waiting for something so I could work on it, like I am now. So let's say, conservatively, 300 hours. So I'm at a 2:1 ratio.

I look at it this way: I bought my car to learn how to work on it. But I also bought it to drive it. So I find myself in a catch 22. When I'm driving it, I'm thinking of what I want to do next. When I'm working on it, I'm thinking about driving it. :boxing

mrvette

Joe, that's about right, 1:1 ratio....for me anyway, but thing is that includes the mods also....if I never modded the car it would be 25:1, but what's the fun in that????

GENE :D :D :D :D :cool:

Noel Carboni

In one sense, WAYYYYYYYYYY too many. Probably 3 hours fixing for every hour driving, but hey, that's what the hobby's about!

My dollar per mile figure is pretty low, though. :D

While it's offline after a while I fantasize about buying a new one. That evaporates when I get it running.

-Noel

shotgun_000

I have had my car for about 9 months. Drive it daily, about 160 miles per week. I have spent maybe 5 hours total, most of which is just regular maintenance. I do have a slight p.s. leak, but I am holding off for now until my budget improves. Once I get the money for my crate engine and 200R4, that ratio will drastically change.

joeveto has a good idea, cost per mile. My cost is $1.29 a mile, which includes all costs.



[Modified by shotgun_000, 3:00 PM 5/11/2002]

Lasse

I my case 2:1.



[Modified by Lasse, 9:04 PM 5/11/2002]