SCM’s lovely, low-miles original 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 coupe has gone to a new home. On BaT, it sold for $52,763. I thought this was a good value, especially considering the recent decline in the classic British sports car market.
Speaking of… if you ever wanted a Big Healey, now is your chance. I’ve seen some very nice examples sell for half of what they were bringing a year or two ago.
The Jaguar was exceptionally kind to our pocketbook. We put 10,000 miles on it and racked up just $7,000 in maintenance and repair costs.
However, the other cars in our collection are taking away what the Jag gave.
In the last 30 days, here is the baby bundle of invoices I have found wrapped in swaddling blankets in my inbox.
My son Bradley’s Gen-Z daily driver 1998 Volvo V70 wagon got a massive tune-up, cost: $3,500. (Cost of car: $3,000.)
Our 14,000-mile, automatic 1991 Alfa Romeo S4 Spider’s convertible top window split after being stored in the cold outdoors for the first time in its life. That cost $2,000 to repair. (Value of car: $15,000.)
At the same time, the passenger’s side power window failed. This is common, as the factory cable is too thin. When I had the driver’s side cable replaced with an aftermarket fix, I should have had the passenger window done too. Let’s call this $500, all-in.
The newest surprise came from our newest car. I purchased the 2005 Porsche 911 C4S, with 72,000 miles, the week before for $32,550.
On the way to a local Porsche club tour, we picked up a nail. The tire deflated and before we could get off the highway, the sidewall was destroyed. Luckily there was a Les Schwab shop nearby. We bought a pair of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, size 295/30ZR18, for $1,513.94. Yikes!
So the total in Jag repairs over five years was $7,000. And the Alfa, Volvo and Porsche repairs have cost $7,513.94 in the last 30 days. I’m sure there is a lesson to be learned here, but I’m not sure I’m in the right mood right now.
Would you have delayed fixing anything? Put tape on the Alfa window? Leave the passenger window halfway down? Buy a single no-name Chinese-made tire for the 911? Not have given the Volvo the major service it needed?
I guess owning old cars means you are always going to be making a series of choices, not “if” choices but “when.” I dodged a bullet for five years with the Jag, and now the classic car gods are having their way with me.
Will the next 30 days see another $7,000 in repairs? (Did I mention the IMS bearing in the 911 has not yet been serviced?) What are your suggestions about my path forward?
Read my previous blog posts here.
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