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Originally Posted by EXH1X5
Me neither ...BUT ...Steve, YOUR cost examples for an old HUMMER (dubbed the H1 by GM) ?on-the-cheap? could be mis-leading to the average green-as-grass buyer. The rule-of-thumb that seems to fit MOST old & out out of warranty, AMG HUMMERs is;
First year of ownership = Purchase price + $10,000 (maintenance, upgrading, personalizing, etc., etc.)
Second year of ownership = First year costs + $5,000. (additional maint. , accessories, etc.)
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And I don't necessarily agree with that statement. I'll agree with the principle you're mentioning, but not the costs. And doing it how you call it "on the cheap" isn't the issue - it's using common sense.
I'll take mine as an example. It was barely maintained within the minimum specifications and I did have to do some work with it for the first year that I owned it.
I've had my truck for 4 years. Since then, I've had 15 services (45000 miles / 3000 miles per service interval). Average cost per service - 60 bucks. That's 900 dollars.
Parts that I had to replace in the past 4 years. Includes labor for those times I contracted stuff out:
New A/C Compressor and components - 300 (includes R134A and the A/C tools)
New Stereo - 300
CTIS lines - 400
Idler/Pitman - 400
Batteries - 300
Tires - 1200
Ball Joints - 300
Halfshafts broken (4) - 320
Belt - 40
Thermostats - 60
New Radiator Hose - free (broke while on a Dealer Hummer Happening)
Vacuum Pump - 100
Head Gasket - 150 (Rush shipping costs added in)
2 Piece Rim gaskets - 50
Injector Pump - 1000 (I contracted this one out)
PMD/FSD's (excluding spares) - 500
Power Steering Cartridges - 150
Total so far for parts: $5570 across 4 years for parts and labor.
Accessories/Upgrades added:
New Upgraded Military Luverne Brushguard - 600
New Rear Locker - 800 (including spare diff to rebuild while not taking the truck down)
Spare Tire Carrier and Fuel Can Carrier - 800
HID Headlamps - 200
Predator Steering Stabilizer/Used - free
New LED Warning strobes and used Siren - 300
Used MileMarker Winch and Milemarker Bumper - 400
PIAA lighting - 200
Hella Area lighting (including back up lights) - 100
Jump Seat - 100
Predator Test Pipe/Used - 100
Slantback shell - 400
M101A2 Trailer - 400 (heck, it's an accessory!)
Thule Rack parts - 200
Back Up Camera - 100
Military light kits - 100
Paint - 200 (includes paint/primer/sanding stuff for various stuff)
Total for accessories over 4 years - $5000
Spare Parts bought over 4 years that *aren't* being used right now:
3 Complete Halfshaft Kits - 600 bucks
2 PMD/FSD's with heat sinks - 300
Pitman/Idler combination - 250
Spare Ball Joints - Upper/Lower sets (2) - 160
CTIS Pump - 100
CTIS Manifold with spare solenoids - 50
Spare 2.73 diff - 200
Spare Transfer Case - 700
Spare 2.73 Ring/Pinion - free, was the original that came with the truck
Spare Torsen 1 Diff - free, was the original that came with the truck and removed to put the locker in.
Spare Doghouse - $50
Spare water pump - 60
Spare radiator box/fan shroud - $80
Spare shocks (6) - 400
Spare tie rods and rod ends (3) - $300
Spare injector pumps (3) - 800
Total spare parts - $3750
So - over 4 years (including spare parts that most people wouldn't necessarily carry/keep), I'm at a total of $14320. Parts/Labor/Upgrades alone is only $10570 - across 4 years....
Now, admittedly there is a huge cost savings for doing the majority of the work yourself or during wrenching parties.
I do admit that the secret for my cost savings is - I know what I want, I know what I'm willing to pay for it, and I shop around. And - unless my truck is "down", if I don't need it immediately - I can wait to get it until I find it at the price range I'm willing to pay. In other words - no impulse buying.
As for the parts - Common sense says that since the vehicle (for most of it's drivetrain) uses commonly available parts, there's no reason for paying pricing above what the general market (not the Hummer market) will bear.
- Steve