[quote author=Codders link=topic=44503.msg514288#msg514288 date=1429634544]
[quote author=seanie link=topic=44503.msg514286#msg514286 date=1429632695]
performance cars are money pits even when they dont go wrong
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Here.
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Ah now lads... they don't need to be money pits if you don't want them to be (unless they blow up on you of course or you go mad on them).
1) My v3 STI got all the servicing, including timingbelt etc... Had it for a year and put 15k miles on her and then sold it so that all said and done she cost me €200 (two hundred) including all parts / maintenance, all tax and depreciation. Moto is buy cheap, take care of it, sell well... and you'll be fine.
2) My Blob WRX SL was my daily for two years. Put 45k miles on her and apart from normal consumables and a timing-belt the only "extra" money I spent on her was a set of KYB Ultra SR shocks and uprated WL droplinks (about €600 all together over two years). Yes, depreciation was about €2k per year, but what newish higher spec car that does that kind of mileage doesn't see that level of depreciation? Servicing on a WRX isn't cost prohibitive with 10k miles between services and not too hard on juice either at 32Mpg. You could argue that a WRX is not a performance car, but compared to most run of the mill stuff and TDIs out there it is pretty decent even as stock.
3) Had two Volvo V70 T5's --- yes they look a bit like a shapely brick, yes they are FWD... and yes there is 250-265bhp out of the box and with a chip / remap sees a very reliable 300bhp. Very reliable, comfortable and hold their value reasonably well. Had both of them for about 18 months each and lost €2000 on one and €500 on the other not counting normal and reasonable servicing costs.
4) Had an UR Quattro for a year about 20 years ago (should never ever have sold her - she's the one that got away). Put 25k miles on her. Sold it when the clutch went in her as didn't have the funds to do that and was moving country at the time. Even with the clutch gone got my money back for her so lost nothing other than the cost of a couple of services and a set of tyres and brakes.
5) Had a MINI JCW for 2 years with 225Bhp. Lost about €2500 per year in depreciation, but that's not bad for a car that was less than two years old when I bought her (previous owner who bought her new dropped 25k on her in less than two years though
However... they CAN be money pits if you Want them to be -- my Hawk already has over €4500 spent on upgrades and when she's back on the road I have big plans for more power, suspension etc. How much will it all cost by the time I am done? Don't know... don't want to know...
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Sorry for the digression... back to the OP's question:
- if the car is not crashed
- if the car is not rotten with tin-worm
- if the interior is reasonably clean
- if the engine is sound and not knocking, smoking etc
... then the money is very reasonable for a Type R.
Personally don't think that a different spoiler or front bumper / lights is a bad thing at all and makes no difference to the price. Even the colour isn't important at this stage anymore... the Type R's are now getting scarce enough and it is all about how good the chassis is (crashed / rust issues yes/no). If the chassis is good then the rest is immaterial - especially at reasonable money. Hard to fix a chassis, easy to rebuild or replace an engine and at the money quoted you could do a rebuild or replace an engine and still be at (top end of) market value for a mint one. It did show a bit of rust in one of the pics near the rear light. Check the car over for rust, if too much just walk away as not worth it short of being given the car for free... if that pic is the only bit or other few surface bits than negotiate 2k down, so €4000-4500, to allow for a respray.