Budget Review - a sobering event

After much discussion with Tricia about the cost of the car I thought it was time to check overall spend against the original budget which was £18,000.  Tricia has maintained all along that I would spend at least £20,000 and I have constantly denied that it was even close.

So here's the damage:

(the kit & options bought from Westfield during a 15% discount)

Sport FW Special Edition	£13,217.54
Chassis build stands	£48.50
Westfield Front & Rear Calipers - upgrade	£303.82
205 T1R tyres - upgrade	£65.09
Heater Kit	£217.01
4 Point Harness	£56.41
12V Socket	£10.62
Wide Track Wishbones - upgrade	£173.61
Sport Turbo Seats - upgrade	£260.41
RAC Rollover Bar - upgrade	£96.23
Throttle Body - upgrade	£1,190.00	*
Carbon Effect Headlight - upgrade	£83.33
Hood Trim	£26.27
Side Screens	£253.01
Tools	£950.00	*
Cockpit Cover	£54.95
Copper Grease	£6.47
Rivnuts	£12.50
Stainless Allen Bolts	£13.90
Tool Oil	£8.20
Hi Level Rear Brake Light	£36.00
Alloy Steering Rack Clamp	£28.20
Heat Shrink tubing	£4.09
LED Indicator Repeaters	£12.00
Convoluted Tubing	£20.96
Rear Diffuser	£110.00
Cable Ties	£7.00
Sikaflex	£11.00
Fibre Glass Repair	£8.00
Plastic Bolts	£5.90
Thread Lock	£3.00
Torque stripe	£6.00
Carbon Fibre Stone Guards	£168.00
1/2 Hood	£306.00
Alpha D steering wheel & Q/Release	£325.00
Misc consumables	£50.00
IVA	£450.00
IVA Fuel	£60.00
Private Registration	£405.00   *
Registration	£275.00   *
build insurance	£218.95
Petrol (3 Mar 12)	£45.00
Van Hire (9 May 12)	£88.00
Van diesel	£60.00
MOT & Alignment	£130.00
1st Years insurance	£167.00	*
Grand Total	£20,047.96

So, on the face of it Tricia is claiming victory however, I believe all the *d items shouldn't count as the TB upgrade was an addition due to an unexpected bonus payment, I needed 2/3rds of the tools, she has a private number plate on her car, road fund licence and insurance shouldn't count hence I claim that the final figure is £20,047.96 minus £2,673.50 therefore £17,374.46 and therefore I'm under budget.  The final compromise is that the TBs and 2/3rds of the tools still count but, I can exclude the rest, hence the final cost against budget is £18,877.96, there is probably >£100 that I've failed to record! and therefore.......................... we we're both right and wrong by roughly the same margin.

However, so far it's been worth every penny with 700 miles of fun so far plus a trip to France/Belgium planned for the summer and, to put it into context, it's less than the depreciation so far on Tricia's tin top!

Finally, Myles decided to change the background on the blog. He thinks its Mount Everest and that the rain drops make the Westfield look better! :) (or perhaps more realistic!!!!!)