Yearly repair and maintenance cost

How much do you all spend in maintenance per year to keep your speedsters running well?

Maintenance is really quite low if we're talking oil changes, cleaning supplies and normal service. Maybe less than the "family car" if you are doing the service yourself which I believe most of us do. 2-3 oil changes, some filters, a bulb or two and that's about it for me.

The bucks bucks can be spent on improvements and changes to the car.
The best approach might be to thoroughly understand what you will be doing with your Speedster, buy one that will fill that role and just drive the thing as you received it. Musbjim as a good example of this.
He has a great car, smartly leaves it alone, is a high mileage driver
and spends just for normal maintenance. Smart man!

Others have opted for upgrading engines, all-wheel discs, gas heaters and on and on and that's where the cost of the madness really goes up. But maintenance alone is more than reasonable considering the great return in fun these cars and the S[peedster friends provide.

That's my experience--your mileage may vary.

2-3 oil changes is Jack territory. If you're lucky, you'll log about 3000 miles/year = 1 oil change/per year. Learn how to change your oil, adjust your valves, & lube the front-end, and your cost will only be materials. With that being said, I've spent additional money on upgrades each year :-)

Michael - I have a '95 VS 1835cc w/dual single barrel Kadrons, 1.25 rockers, A-1 Sidewinder exhaust. On this set-up I've logged more than 80,000 miles of relatively trouble-free cruising throughout the Western US.

With that being said, I spend around $225-250/year on routine maintenance (major tune-up, oil change, fuel filters, valve adjustment, new belts, etc). I've spent years doing my own maintenance, don't anymore and pay a local shop to do it. I spend my precious free-time time playing and chillaxing!

Hope to see you at the SOC Pismo Beach gig!

I think Jim is correct. I spent a bit more this year, Brake flush, carb rebuild and replaced a worn tie rod end. Ready for Pismo.

Thanks everyone for your insightful input. I knew you guys would be the ultimate source for information.

Michael:

I spent about $500 the first year having all work done by Kauth & Mayeur here in Peoria. That included significant work on the Dellortos, and front to back, everything checked,major tune up and addition of an overflow system to the fuel tank.

I suspect half that amount this year based on driving habits / mileage. I will need to replace the clutch probably at the end of the season which isn't in that figure.

Bob

Knock on wood, I spent six times more on my Golf last year than I did on the Sloppy Jalopy. With hand-me-down Pirellis from Danny, oil, filters, transmission fluid, a couple minor parts for the rear axles, a shifter bushing, valve cover gaskets, plugs and fuses, I spent a whopping $120 on the little car.

I got towed once. Flatbed was covered by insurance, but I tipped the driver pretty well. That was in January, or I might have just pushed the beast.