astraboy

As my namesake goes, I am the proud owner of a MkII Astra GTE.
I have had this car since 1997. I bought it standard for around 2000 quid.
In that time I have done everything to it.
Compomotive alloys, Yokohama tyres, Spax suspension, OMP Strut Brace, Powerflex bushes, Greenstuff brakes, Fibresports front end, K&N filter, Nos Nitrous injection system, Full Infinity sound system, Conolly leather interior.
Total cost of mods alone, (not including fitting) near on 3000 quid.
Then a few years back I realise the car is starting to look tatty, So a full rebuind is in order. Full rust treatment inlcuding a new front wing, new sills and arches both sides, Full respray in Vauxhall red, New engine from an astra GTE with only 60 K on the clock, new Autowatch immobiliser.
Total cost of rebuild another 2000 quid.
On top of that is the no expense spared maintainance of the car. New fuel hoses, Water pump, alternator, radiator, points, plugs, brake lines, brake hoses, fuel hoses the list goes on.
I have been trying to sell the car. For a few months now. The amount of times I have heard "I was really looking for the 16 valve version" is unbelieveable, but I quickly realise that I have a not very desirable car.
Today I accepted an offer for 350 quid for it.
Thats right, a car which is perfect in every detail is going for 350 quid.
A car that owes me (at least) 9000 quid is going for 350.
Modifying cars is great.
astraboy.

midget1500

surely it wasn't worth selling then dude?

Jap2Scrap

I'd have given you £400...


Seriously, I doubt anybody's ever made money modifying their own cars mate. It's done for the love

BOB.T

My Fiesta just went for 270....

RLE

iTrader: (2)

I'd have scrapped the bugger before letting it go for that money mate.

Hate to think someones enjoying the fruits of your labour for the equivalent of a few nights on the beer.

Gutted for you. Sounded a real minter as well.

turboman786

If you aint sold it, drop me a line...I 'll pay a fair bit more than that for it!

Greeny01

But surely you could strip it down and sell the parts for a sh!tload more than that, even on e-bay.

Iain

astraboy

hehe, I was wondering when someone would say that!
for what its worth, YHPM.
astraboy.

viperkick

should have just kept the thing used it as a spare car for work and letting the kids eat chips and stuff in the back

New To Scoob

Unfortunately the modified car market is really slumped, I had the same a few years ago with a 309GTi. 1990 H plate bought it standard then went pretty much mad on it
Full Respray including pearl blue flip laquer, stretched rear arches, de-locked and some custom one-off panel work done £1250
17" Wheels + tryes £1000
Turbo Technics engine conversion £2500, then uprated clutch £400
Brakes fully rebuilt, new lines, braided hoses overhauled rear calipers new discs and wilwood 285mm discs and 4 pot calipers on the front.
Koni suspension.
Full COBRA interior plus matching re-trim on rear seats and door cards.
Hi-Fi, Phoenix Gold Amps, Alpine 7939 head unit etc etc etc.

Sold for £3500 IIRC
Then some ****** burnt it out after it was sold

John.

VWscooby

After spending £3000 on a stage 3 1840 lump on twin 40s for my XR3i as well as all the brake/suspension upgrades on top of that, I finally mananged to sell it yesterday for £500 after 7 months of trying.

The bloke I sold it to will be breaking it and probably making a lot more than that. I don't begrudge him that (he's a mate) but it is a bit gutting that you put that much into a car and no-one appriciates it.

Ah well, at least the engine has a new and rather interesting home!!

I will miss it though, perhaps not as much as my bank manager but hey!!!

pete1977

I ve spent £15,000 in the last year on mine,but dont regret a thing as i would have just spent it on the **** anywayPMSL.

wall

This thread brought me out of lurking .....

Fear not, you experienced something quite normal. My second car, age 19 (back in 1991), was a 1985 Alfa Sprint Green Clover, purchased perfect in black after months of searching for Euro 7000 (dealer). Then on went compomotives, special tires, engine rebuild, custom intake and exhaust systems, recaro buckets, air con, alarm, front disks and pads, s-wheel, various interior accessories, etc etc for a total of at least another 7000. So, a really unique, classy yet very racer like italian coupe that set me back 14000 Euros.
Well 2-3 years later my rally craze started and I could afford (new jobs in the meantime) a brand new Mitsu Evo3 ... except no dealer would take my Alfa as trade-in for more than 3500 (less than half the purchase value WITHOUT any mods)! Advertised it private for months and then finally, desperate for the Evo3, sold it to a dealer for a hard-negotiated 3800.

Still didn't learn, spent another unrecouped fortune on the Evo3, then on the Sti5 2 years later, then ...

Luan Pra bang

Astraboy I saw your car on here for 800 I think and thaught about buying it but don't need it. If I had known the car was down to 400 I would have got for my girlfriend (and myself from time to time.) If its not to late I will still give you 400 but looking at the post date it must be long gone by now.

astraboy

fraid so
still, thanks for replying,
astraboy.

Guinness

iTrader: (1)

You should get yourself a nice mk2 escort.holding good money at the mo.............

ChrisB

Did you ever fix it up properly?

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

******* hell mate You didn't let it go with the NOS for that money too did you? What a bummer that your mate who said he'd buy it for x amount after you'd had it all done up didn't honour his word

Cars are an excellent way of losing money, I though I lost loads on my Integrale but it wasn't quite as much as you've lost.