$50 best bad idea I've had

Swaybar!!

Unfortunately the powder coat got dinged up pretty good in shipping. The ends broke out of the box and got beat up, and some flat metal pieces that are part of the subframe brace hardware I ordered were loose in the box and chipped up the inside edges pretty good. I touched it up with some paint (you can see some on the right of the picture) and it looks OK, but I'm kind of disappointed. I don't like being "that guy", but I will probably email the vender and complain a bit.

The new bar is quite a bit thicker than the stock unit, and the car definitely feels more "eager" in corners. Before it would turn alright, but it didn't feel like it was happy doing it. I took it on a long drive on my favorite twisty road and am very happy with the change. The steering rack brace I got should make it feel even better.

I sent the following email to Genuine Saab about my sway bar:

I received my order today and am very happy with the quality of the parts, but am a bit disappointed that the powder coating on the swaybar took some damage in shipping. The ends broke out the side of the cardboard and the corners got chipped up, and the flat bars that are part of the subframe hardware kit were loose in the box and chipped up the bar as they moved around in shipping. The packaging did not show any signs of overly rough handling. I have attached a few pictures of the damage.

With a bit of extra care in packaging, ie wrapping the ends of the bar with another layer of cardboard and taping down the hardware, there would not have been an issue.

I mounted the bar and am quite happy with how it performs. I am not looking to return it, but believe it would be fair to receive a small credit in light of the damage caused by the poor packaging.

Thank you,

Bgkast

No response at all, very disappointing. They have some other nice speed parts I was looking at, but I'm not sure I want to keep doing business with them.

In other news I have $52.94 of new CV boots on the way. I pulled the used spare axles apart last night and they looked to be in good shape.

Budget update time! Old totals:

Real budget: $637.33

Challenge budget: $397.71

New items: Speakers: $32.77

Sway Bar/Steering Rack Brace: 306.73 (subtraced off the $30 subframe brace hardware that won't be going on the car for awhile)

Axles: Traded for spare Coil Pack, FMV $50

Axle Boots: $52.94

New Real Total: $1029.77

New Challenge Total: $807.38

Wow, we are ending up pretty close in terms of dollars and done-ness with our hatches.

I feel better now.

I'm at

Challenge:

$784.86

"real" (including tools and drinks and such) budget

$883.67

I still have to get new tires and do an intake tube from scraps

In reply to tuna55:

$50 cars get expensive fast.

This should get me up to date on all deferred maintenance needs. I could have saved a good chunk of change by skipping the steering rack brace and sway bar. Neither were "needed" but both improve handling and make the car more fun, and the rack brace fixes a known issue of the sheet metal cracking where the steering rack mounts.

bgkast wrote: In reply to tuna55: $50 cars get expensive fast.

It's sort of neat that $50 and $600 cars cost around the same.

I wonder if we're discovering a DD price floor.

It's pretty amusing when adding speakers costs 60% of what you paid for the car.

In reply to wae:

The key cost more than the whole car.

When did you e-mail them about the sway bar? Here's hoping they're just backed up and respond soon.

In reply to Esoteric Nixon:

I sent it over the weekend.

Sounds like there's going to be some serious action in the Sub-$1000 class at the Challenge. I may have to start looking for a $50/$1000 entry.

When I bought my thunderturd for 100 bucks I had to spend nearly 900 bucks in parts to get it where I felt it was safe...

to this day I wish I'd GRM challenged it.

Hmm....

I'll probably be a spectator/gpb this year. Finances and time aren't right to do a challenge car for the sub 1k class.

we'll have to talk closer to it.

VWguyBruce wrote: Sounds like there's going to be some serious action in the Sub-$1000 class at the Challenge. I may have to start looking for a $50/$1000 entry.

Bear in mind that the Saab and the Accord still have to actually get to the Challenge. Costs are tough!

I needed to get another key for the car to save me from going through the security issue again if the key was ever lost.

Seeing how expensive this build has got I decided to do the sensible thing and spend money and in the interest of lowering the budget, and get my key at the same time. I just bought this for $107

I only need the one on the far left with the yellow tag. I should be able to sell the others and double my money.

Anybody need a key fob?

Are the keys on the VW one's already cut or are they blanks?

I believe they are all cut, but you can replace the cut blade with a new blank

Bummer, since I got rid of my GTI, the only key I'd be able to use is the 9-3/9-5 one to replace the one my wife is sure to lose. Any chance there's one for a 2012 Odyssey not pictured?

I always just end up rooting through the "keys" bin at the local Pick N Pull. Keyfobs are extra though

My pick n pull leaves the keys in the cars for people to loose/hide/throw into the weeds

I'm down for a couple of Audi or VW fobs. Let me know whatcha want for em!

Anyone know if the Merc fobs car be reprogrammed? If so I would be down for one.

I would be interested in a price for 1 or 2 VW fobs.

Would need shipping to North Bay, ON, Canada - USPS please.

Fobs will be here early next week. I want to test them before I sell any. I will get back to everyone soon. GRM price will be $10 each

In other news:

Mine, all mine!

Also note nothing listed under brands

Is it wrong to send this picture to the jackhole at the state licensing department?

Just figure out where his office is and do a smokey burnout.