$$$ Maintenance 1987 PT38

[csprenger]

For those wondering what it takes to maintain one 1987 PT38 in good working order and running down the road.

I've recorded our BB expenses from the day it was purchased, about 9-1/2 years ago, one $$$ column on a spread sheet. Yesterday I split the $$$ to two columns, Maintenance and Improvements. Maintenance comes to $64.553.99, Improvements $25,355.17. Average yearly maintenance = $6,795.

Maintenance includes $12,500 for body/paint. Most of that could be in the Improvement column.

Attached is a PDF showing yearly maintenance and improvements.

[ernie ekberg]

I've written down what I have done on this 97. To keep my sanity, I left the invoices in the black box and have not done any total. if she needs it, she gets it.

[davidbrady]

Good stuff Curt, thanks!

I don't know if you recall but some time ago I did a study on cost of ownership. I looked at a 22 year range of birds from the '80's thru 2002. For needed repairs and maintenance including tires and batteries there was little difference between the models: FC, PT, etc. The average monthly expenditure was $375 and the 90% confidence interval was from $300 to $460 per month.

[Arcticdude]

With Curt's numbers, looks like your average and range just went up!

[davidbrady]

But he includes $12500 of paintwork under maintenance. In my study I'd call paintwork an upgrade. Subtracting $12500 from $64554 gives us $52044 and dividing this by 114 months gives us $456 per month which falls nicely into my range, but of course given my sample size Curt's number would most likely apply some upward pressure, however small... Even so, there are bound to be outliers.

[Arcticdude]

So Curt's an outlier? You know how those California folks are!

[davidbrady]

(05-18-2014 00:27)Arcticdude Wrote:  So Curt's an outlier? You know how those California folks are!

Actually, not Curt, and not even Curt's data; I haven't seen any statistical outliers yet, but I do understand that Curt happily lives in California... lucky man!

[csprenger]

(05-18-2014 09:22)davidbrady Wrote:  

(05-18-2014 00:27)Arcticdude Wrote:  So Curt's an outlier? You know how those California folks are!

Actually, not Curt, and not even Curt's data; I haven't seen any statistical outliers yet, but I do understand that Curt happily lives in California... lucky man!

I might redo my SS to more columns (categories). Life is good in California.

[Arcticdude]

I could easily see listing a paint job as maintenance, too. Without a decent one, the bird skin deteriorates and so it becomes worth less. Could go either way for sure.

[davidbrady]

Nahhh, paint is an optional upgrade. That galvanized steel doesn't need it, and the c-channel frame, ridewell suspension, and the rest of the undercarriage doesn't need it either. Take a look under any FC and you won't see any paint!