Comment # 344. Scroll down to reply.   « Last | Home | Next »

Over the last week I've found myself facing a serious and growing temptation that I could use some talking out of. Actually, perhaps I need some talking into. I'm not sure which.

UP has decided it no longer has a use for the Formula SAE race car several classmates and I built for our senior design project, so it is for sale. Although the car is a lot of fun and keeping it in team hands has strong sentimental appeal, I figured the price would be well out of my range. However, I wanted to get one last look at it and perhaps see if there was anything I could do to fix it up so our work would be well represented to whoever buys it.

When I dropped by, I learned two things. First of all, the school was asking barely a pittance for it. Secondly, a team of last year's seniors had ransacked it for parts for their High Mileage Vehicle project (in a classic case of asking forgiveness rather than permission), including most of our expensive fuel injection system.

The result is that it's not running. From the inventory I took, I'm guessing fixing it there will cost another $2000 or more in addition to a lot of elbow grease (not only did they swipe a lot of expensive parts, they weren't gentle in removing them). The flip side is that after it's running and spiffed up, I think its potential resale value to the right buyer will be comparable to the total cost. In theory I could fix it up, enjoy it for a couple summers, then sell it for minimal net cost.

The biggest remaining question would be how best to enjoy it so that it becomes something more than a money pit. I know it's eligible for some of the race events at PIR. I think there's a nearby karting track large enough for it, and there's currently a lot of vacant warehouses in the Portland area. Or I could just hang it over the fireplace as a trophy.

All I need now is for someone to talk me into it. Or out of it. I don't know.