Thread: Conundrum-How much is too much: the cost of Driving your car.

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There seems to be a continuing discussion over how much a "Rod" (read that as Street, Hot, Rat ,or Classic) should be driven. I was just on Hamb reading a thread on car shows and trophies. "...only real cars are driven.." and "....gold chainers, trophy whores and trailer queens never drive their cars cause their afraid to..", are some of the many comments I've read.

Which bring the thought to mind "What does it really cost to drive our cars"?

Take insurance for instance. I have the Willys insured through Condon and Skelly along with our other two "classics" only because the premiums are 1/3 that of everday insurance. The full coverage premium on the Willys alone is a lot more than for my new Ford pickup through my regular insurance, and that is for restricted use on the Willys. If I did want to drive it to work everyday, (between the price of gas at 4 mpg + the cost of insurance), it really does cost a small fortune. And with restricted use insurance if I'm in an accident they may or may not pay depending on whether I was in the wrong driving situation.

So, as owners of street rods (toys) what choices do we have?
Don't drive them at all?
Don't worry about having full coverage (or any) insurance altogether?
Bite the bullet and spend what it costs and enjoy it?
The hambers would "say nobody twisted your arm to run a blown big block or have a fancy paint job to worry about"?
On the surface it seems to be a very valid argument. After all we chose to spend the kind of money we did on our cars in the first place.

So how much does it really cost to drive your car, whether it be a small block roadster, or a 632CI GTO? And how much do you really drive it?
John

My 48 is pretty easy on me, the mild build allows for almost 15 mpg and the insurance isn't too bad. It costs me more a year to store my car than it does to drive it.

except for the price of gas mine is pretty cheap

People will always find money to pursue their hobbies, regardless of how high those costs go. We may cut down a little, but pretty soon we just suck it in and put out more cash. When I lived in California during the gas crunch, my main concern was how to find gas so we could go boating on the weekend.

I came out of the marine industry, and they are facing some tough times right now. Gas on the water is about $ 4.25 on up a gallon, and it isn't uncommon for a typical boater to drink 50 or 100 gallons of gas (or more in some cases) in a weekend, so people ARE cutting back to some degree. But we recently went out on my Son's boat for a day, and the water is still pretty crowded........people are somehow getting room in their budgets to go out and catch some fish and sun.

To put it into perspective, once you add up the price of the boat initially, insurance, dockage or storage fees, required regular maintenance, upkeep, repairs, fuel, and supplies like food and drink for a day on the water, our car hobby is actually not a bad deal comparatively.

And then there are those people who like to fly recreationally........

Don

I agree with Brickman...it cost me more to store my car for 6 months than it does to insure it for a year!!!!

As far as I'm concerned, I really don't care how much it cost to drive. No; I'm not Big Daddy Warbucks!

Since our cruising season in Rochester, NY usually lasts about 4 months, I drive my car as much as possible. Since many of us here have a daily driver, it shouldn't matter. If you have to worry about how much it cost to drive something that many people dreamed of having, you probably shouldn't have built or bought it in the first place.

Come on, It's all about the enjoyment!

Pat

Except for gas, my two cars have been relatively inexpensive to own and drive. MPG's are in the single digits most of the time, but the SMG (smiles per gallon) are always in the triple digits.

Neither of them cost a fortune to acquire or build, I do mostly local (100 miles or less) events, and insurance costs are very reasonable (half as much as they used to be under a different company). Maintenance and repairs have cost less than a $1000 over the last 10 years for both cars. Biggest expense for the 34 has been rear tires. Replace every 2 to 3 years, 6000 - 8000 max. Wide tread, soft compound, heavy foot = poor wear.

Bob...I like it! That's what I was trying to say "Smiles Per Gallon!"

Pat

"SPG" is high for sure, that says it all. It really doesn't matter because this is the only thing I have for a hobby and don't plan anytime soon to stop enjoying it. Like Patmonaco said, we enjoy cars that alot of people would gladly give up body parts for and it's hard to put a price on that. For me it's a lifetime dream come true.

If you play golf, there's always $$$$$ for that trick new club.

If you fish, there's always $$$$$$$$ for a boat.

If you're into cars there will always be $$$$$ to drive and enjoy them.

AND, you do get those "smiles per gallon"!!

How much is too much?

I don't know.

Originally Posted by brickman

.. Like Patmonaco said, we enjoy cars that alot of people would gladly give up body parts for and it's hard to put a price on that. For me it's a lifetime dream come true.

Well said!!!!!

(It doesn't appear as though most of our HAMB brethren share those same ideals )

My 67 Nova has been sitting with fire and theft insurance, the plate say's 1998.
I have been trying when, and, as I felt well enough to patch on the floors. I didn't know how bad they were until I got ready to sell it and the person interested informed me.

Now about 8 years later I just ordered new floor pans so if anyone has tips on what not to do to keep from messing it up please let me know. I did watch a video on putting pans in a Chevelle so I’m going to try. It’s a 2dr. ht. I would like to drive it to Indy to the Super Chevy Show, and the Goodguys Show, this year. It may get 9 or ten miles to the gal. But grin and bare it for the pleasure of it. Plus {smiles per gallon} like mopar34 has coined the phrase.

Richard

Originally Posted by 41willys

Well said!!!!!

(It doesn't appear as though most of our HAMB brethren share those same ideals )

that would depend on who and what day you ask , and the alignment of the cosmos!

First ,i would not worry about what they say over there!

anything enjoyable costs money, its up to the person to identify how much is enough. What`s affordable for some ,might not be the same for others. If you can afford it ,and it makes you happy, then do it!

The merc was cheap for me. I did not have fancy insurance, so other than gas ,and maintanance, i had no expenses

As of july this year, it has cost me 2,650 dollars a year to drive and own my T. New expenses for 2007 amounted to about 600 dollars for fuel, insurance, a couple tires and a brake update. I do most of my own work so there is very little outside expense involved. I don't get a lot of miles because my ol bum and knees just don't get along all that well with settin flat on the floor but every one of those miles is a hoot. Thing is, I get more enjoyment out of the tinkering with it than anything else. I guess that cost is just a secondary thing to what you enjoy. The more youenjoy it the more it costs and the more it costs ad infintum.

Its a cost that I dont mind paying because it gives me great enjoyment just to hear it start, not to mention the thrill I get lacing into it out on the road. I only hold liability insurance, They think it has a 4 banger instead of the 12-1 compression 460, So I dont get slapped there. Its the 7.50 a gallon 110 race fuel that has me on edge. Along with my expensive drum playing habbit, and my sons skateboarding and 5 guitar habbit, And my wifes stamping, scrapbooking and cooking habbit that keeps us broke. way too many hobbies around here. But we are living while we are alive, instaed of saving for a future of only possibly retireing. I know that sounds crazy but I just accept the fact of working until I leave this world, Oh crap what am I worried about , I bought a winning lottery ticket today, DUH !