I want an opinion from the guys that have rebuilt an R.

I was thinking about purchasing a Type R shell. Your basic shell; no motor, trans, seats. Not a bare bones shell, but a project nonethelss. I have been searching around and have been finding shells in the range of 2.5-4k depending on condition. Here is the question. Do you guys think it was worth it rebuilding the car? I have begun to price the car out to be returned to mildly stock condition and it is coming out to around 12-13k after motor, trans, interior, paint work, etc. thats not even including labor. I mean for 15-16 you can get a really clean, well maintained R. Just want some of your thoughts and opinions. Is it worth it? Would you guys do it again, or just save and buy a clean R? Are my calculations correct in pricing the car out. If it isnt too personal, what did you guys spend? How long did it take the average working man to rebuild his R?

Thanks guys

 

are you looking to buy a clean titled or salvaged? what are your plans with the car once it's running? If your just going to use it as a track car go with a salvaged title

 

To be honest rebuilding to stock seems to be a little pointless. You can find a semi-rough example and bring it back for cheaper. I think the idea behind rebuilding a shell is make to your own specs, like a dedicated track car, for example.

 

To be honest. A type R has been my dream car forever. I have an Audi S4 right now and could probably afford a shell and rebuild it while the S4 is up for sale. I would like to rebuild the car to semi stock specs. Stock motor, jdm front, suspension, and wheels. Nothing too crazy. The type r has always had a place in my heart and honestly just want one.

 

this is what i think (as if it matters):

if you want a near "stock" clean ITR to drive around town, buy a used one.
EDIT: ... like the OP said, you can find quite a few clean titled ITRs for anywhere between 10-15k! there's lots from 10-12k and that'd be the price to bring a rebuild up to near stock form... if not more!

if you want one to tear up on the track, buy a shell and rebuild it on the cheap ...my dream someday

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jomama &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this is what i think (as if it matters):

if you want a near "stock" clean ITR to drive around town, buy a used one.

if you want one to tear up on the track, buy a shell and rebuild it on the cheap ...my dream someday </TD></TR></TABLE>

x2, I would love to get a shell one day and have it like Dave B's, gutted, roll bar, stiff as hell

 

Given the prices of stock parts these days (legit ones, not 1500 motors) I would say if you truely want an ITR, just buy one outright. That is unless you have all the tools, knowledge and ability to rebuild the car yourself.

Or you can go the route I did... purchase a wrecked one. You'll have all the little bits and pieces that are hard to find.

 

<FONT COLOR="royalblue"> I'm currently rebuilding a 98 Shell from the ground up. If money is not an object, then go right ahead. OEM parts add up very quickly, and we're talking about the small things ( Interior, etc ). I think it's worth it, but I do my own labor, so that takes away a lot of the cost. Good Luck. </FONT>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jomama &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> there's lots from 10-12k and that'd be the price to bring a rebuild up to near stock form...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would beg to differ.. I'm not saying it's cheap, but it can be done for under 10k pretty easily if you're careful about when and where you buy parts from.. the cheapest method is what dave described.. find a wrecked one and use it as a donor..

 

well im from jersey and im rebuilding an R and im spending 10k but mine is DD and track..

only thing missing from stock is the seats and wheels.

 

Well i just finish building my itr. I build it because i didn't want anymore car payments and I didn't feel like spending 12k at one shot. I picked it up at a salvage yard for about 5k, was only missing head, suspension, cluster and seats. Some of the parts that was missing i already had. I had to go through a salvage inpection to get the title. It took about a year and a half to get the car on the road(just me being lazy). I spend about 7k altogether and i think it was worth it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by powerfulperformance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well i just finish building my itr. I build it because i didn't want anymore car payments and I didn't feel like spending 12k at one shot. I picked it up at a salvage yard for about 5k, was only missing head, suspension, cluster and seats. Some of the parts that was missing i already had. I had to go through a salvage inpection to get the title. It took about a year and a half to get the car on the road(just me being lazy). I spend about 7k altogether and i think it was worth it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that is awesome... this was the one from FL if i remember correctly...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SpoogenJay &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well im from jersey and im rebuilding an R and im spending 10k but mine is DD and track..

only thing missing from stock is the seats and wheels. </TD></TR></TABLE>

throw in seats and wheels and you're right around 11k

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mstewar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I would beg to differ.. I'm not saying it's cheap, but it can be done for under 10k pretty easily if you're careful about when and where you buy parts from.. the cheapest method is what dave described.. find a wrecked one and use it as a donor..</TD></TR></TABLE>

says the restorererererer who has several Rs at any give time and just swaps parts back and forth like it's nobody's business.

 

Thanks guys for all the help and opinions.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boostede36 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks guys for all the help and opinions. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<FONT COLOR="royalblue"> Any pics of the project?</FONT>