I don't disagree but the costs these "companies / experts" charge are horrendous, I don't resent people for working hard and making a good living, but I do object to being abused.
I was quoted 40 hours work to remove and refit the gearbox on the Guara. You remove the exhaust back box and rear bumper and it is there infront of you, you would be looking at £4000 plus vat to remove and replace a gearbox. ! I was quoted £2,000 to fit a gearbox into a 550 I borrowed a transmission jack and a couple of nights work in the garage. Yes they have overheads and have invested considerable amounts of money in tools etc but they don't need to claw that money back on every job they do.
There is an article in the months Classic Car on Porsche 356's, with an expert stating a full bare metal respray starts at £30,000 upto £100,000 for a full body restoration - it is a small car no way can it cost that much. or do they just charge a percentage of the final value of the car ?
Look at what people have been charged to change starter motors, I can have mine out of the Ghibli and on the bench in 45 mins, and I have only done it twice, and with Halfords quality tools.
Clearly this car will take a lot to get it up to A1 condition, the Dog of an SL I bought there will cost me £3,000 to have looking nice and that will be 50% of it s final value - hopefully..... The roof now works at last......
I will now go and sit in a dark room and calm down..
Del
