Buying a project
Posted by xXHunkerXx@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Is there any reason not to just buy the cheapest highest milage car when looking for a project? I enjoy the tearing down and refreshing of everything so if im going to rebuild the whole car anyway why not just find the cheapest example?
iguessicanmake1@reddit
A project is usually something you want to rebuild, build it a certain style or try to make cool. You seem like you just want a beater up. Technically that’s a project, but unless it’s something you really want, why would you waste the time/money on a beater. Project cars are usually money pits, you don’t get the money out of them that you put into them, especially if it’s not a sought after car/truck.
xXHunkerXx@reddit (OP)
Im sorry i should have been clearer in the post. I meant the cheapest example of the car im looking for, not just the cheapest car i can find lol. I have an r56 6 speed MINI that i completely rebuilt including the engine with forged internals. I just meant for instance if i want an E30 and my plan is to completely rebuild it including frame work and engine build does the milage or condition even matter? I see people buy project cars for $15,000 and rebuild it when there is a $6,000 example out there but has 250,000 miles. If its being build why does milage matter?
Noopy9@reddit
Mileage doesn’t really matter but rust does. A cheap e30 is usually going to be rusty and most people don’t want to deal with cutting and welding sheetmetal.
xXHunkerXx@reddit (OP)
Thats a good point
Content-Parking-660@reddit
On the other hand, flux core welders are super cheap now. Welding is a super fun and useful skill. Buy a yeswelder and watch bondo billy and you will have fun. But get the least rust and body damage for the best price.
quartz-crisis@reddit
It isn’t just rust. There is going to be a sweet spot of price where a car will have plenty of stuff that is still in good shape and doesn’t need to be repaired or replaced. Do you really want to install a new dash board? New power steering rack? New taillight lenses? New… idk, evap system? And on and on….
You’re not literally going to replace everything on the car that would be insane.
TheGreatDuv@reddit
If you're splashing out on a nut and bolt restoration including interior then it won't really matter. Everything's either getting replaced,refreshed or cleaned up so it's not an issue.
Main two considerations should be engine at least runs alright unless it's getting swapped. Don't want it getting sent off to the machine shop to find the block is kaput.
And the other is chassis/bodywork. There's spending money on a respray/getting the paint alright. But that goes up massively if there's lots of dents/imperfections that either you or they have to clean up.
Linkin into that the chassis part of it. Realllyyy get in and around the chassis looking for rust. Friend bought an E39 M5 for £7k quite a few years ago. They're worth around £20k+ now. Turns out after stripping the car down for restoration it basically had no floor on top of the other rust items that needed doing. Frame got put on a rotisserie and sent to the welders. The car is intended to be a nut and bolt resto to OEM+ standard. But getting the frame right has cost around £10k so far.
If he bought that last year or so it would have been vastly cheaper to buy a decent example and work on it Vs a cheap one. It just so happened that he got one when they were cheap so is fine going through the effort and money to restore that one
iguessicanmake1@reddit
Ya that’s a way different question, I didn’t even get close with my answer. If you’re going to rebuild everything and go through it all, the milage isnt going to really matter that much at the end. I’m not really in that scene though.
everyoneisatitman@reddit
Before jumping in make sure parts are available. There is a massive difference in parts availability between a 1990 Miata and a 1990 mitsubishi starion. You could remake every part but your time is always worth something. Also the more intricate a part you need the more tools you need. Rust is never worth it. I have learned the hard way that it is better to spend 2-4x the amount for a rust free car.
HelloYouSuck@reddit
I prefer the cheapest low mileage car
tulipdaydreams@reddit
If you're willing to put the money into it, go for it! Doing something similar right now, but my grandpa already had the parts and it's an old family car. Only 7,000 miles.
VoodooLabs@reddit
If the chassis is good yea fuck it. Have some fun.
totaltomination@reddit
You definitely won't save any money this way, you'll have to replace so many more things from neglect in a shitheap than you will a loved example. If you're looking for a disposable project (race car, drift missile, moonshine runner) get the shitheap and delete everything that doesn't work along with everything that does and still needs replacing, rinse/repeat with as many shells as you like.
PoochiTobi@reddit
Sure done it a few time
Or every time
rudbri93@reddit
Define 'everything'. You willing to pull the suspension and rebuild from the ground up? How about behind the dashboard? Willing to do metal work? The main reason people dont is because the cheap ones tend to take the most time to get back on the street, and time can kill your enthusiasm, and your budget.
xXHunkerXx@reddit (OP)
Ive rebuilt an R56 MINI including front and rear subframes, suspension, full forged engine build and performance mods. Never done body work but would mind learning. Im a mechanic so wiring is not an issue either i just wasnt sure if there were obvious down sides to buying the cheapest E30 i can find for instance if im willing to do all that work
rudbri93@reddit
Then yea, try n find one without rust and dont buy an early 318 because there was some stupid one year shit that can be hard to find. Rollers are still pretty cheap and parts are all over r3v and marketplace.
xXHunkerXx@reddit (OP)
Awesome thank you
rudbri93@reddit
No problem, ive had 4 e30s so i been around em a bit.
xXHunkerXx@reddit (OP)
I was gunna ask how you liked em and then i realized you said 4 so you probably like em a fair bit 😂
rudbri93@reddit
Im a huge fan, i hate the current pricing, but they are a lot of fun. My current e30 is the nicest and has been through a few different drive train combos and is a non-winter daily driver.
xXHunkerXx@reddit (OP)
Sounds like a great time. Looking foreword to eventually getting mine
dikkiesmalls@reddit
Its just sooooooo much more work to start with a car in poor condition. Less time for the fun stuff if you have to fix every single little thing.
xXHunkerXx@reddit (OP)
Thats totally fair
hoytmobley@reddit
If you actually have the skills, the time, the space, and the patience to take a car that far down and bring it back, then no, buy the cheapest clean shell you can find. I’d still avoid a major rust/collision repair, but if you’re replacing everything that would be worn out for normal use, might as well get the cheapest shell.
mahdicktoobig@reddit
Whenever I was first starting out (I’m not skilled or anything lol) I just bought the cheapest thing with 4wd I could find in decent shape and went from there. Was a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee for $2k because everything worked/ no dash lights.
That thing taught me MOST of what I know lol. Go for it.