Do things like fluids and filters count towards the challenge budget? I was thinking that they would be consumables, and have to be changed anyway during the development of the car, but wanted to make sure. 10 quarts of oil, 10 quarts of transmission fluid, filters, etc add up quickly. Secondly, iirc last time I was at the challenge, safety harnesses were also exempt. Is that the case? I don't want to take anything for granted and turn into "that guy" in October. I really have a lot of respect for all the participants and want to make sure I honor the integrity of the event. Thanks in advance.
IDK the answer to this question, but it is a good one. (did the car come with 10 quarts of oil in the original purchase cost? or was the sump empty?) Can you sell off any extra oil that came with the car? Same thing could extend to factory replacement parts.
For example, I buy a car in April for $2015. I start DDing the thing during the summer. Mid August, the radiator blows. When I bought the car, it included a working radiator... but by October, that will not be the case anymore. Can I replace my radiator with a similar OEM equivalent to get the car back on the road? Or does the budget take that hit?
I think there might be a dedicated thread for challenge questions though.
SVreX
MegaDork
4/28/15 4:51 p.m.
I do not count fluids, but I leave a little in the budget for "misc".
Yes, you can return the car to the condition you bought it in without a budget hit.
Thank you SVreX. That is in line with what I was thinking.
SVreX wrote:
Yes, you can return the car to the condition you bought it in without a budget hit.
I don't think I want to end back where I started with a blown motor..... 
evildky
SuperDork
4/29/15 11:52 a.m.
I'm with Paul, thats the way I always did it.
SVreX wrote:
I do not count fluids, but I leave a little in the budget for "misc".
Yes, you can return the car to the condition you bought it in without a budget hit.
Nice, the above quote saved me about $200 on my budget. lol
