1055 wrote:
... How do you measure time monetarily? Say your time is worth $100/ hour, the average labor rate for a shop around here. You're now talking 30-40k in "labor" time. along with parts. I have mine budgeted to 2k, with a 1k contingency before It's drivable. I'm also massively frugal, and patient, and have a bunch of parts left over from previous cars, and managed to get a complete donor for $200. So in my example, 33,000 - 43,000 including "labor" and parts...
"How do you measure time monetarily?" Who does that? I'd be surprised if any home car builder figures his hobby time is worth anything at all since it's not a business. The reality is that a Locost builder has some money set aside for a car and has two ways to achieve it. He can either buy the metal and and start welding, which takes many hours but also spreads out the expenses, or he can buy a kit and get a lot less for his money. What his time is worth never enters the equation. Perhaps you're a businessman who must decide how your time is best spent, welding in the shop, or making $100/hr at the office - but this isn't typical for the majority of buiders. They do it because they can't afford a kit and/or simply enjoy building things - the financial worth of their time doesn't enter into it.
_________________
Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!,
http://midlana.com/stuff/book/Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from
https://www.lulu.com/