[r-mm]

I agree with the electronics comment and will add that a lot of frustration comes from pouring money into a car that is simultaneously bleeding it out of depreciation as well or will never have an upside. Hence the fact that my parents sell their bought-new Audi wagons at precisely 100k miles when things are starting to go south. I sometimes try to convince them to hold on - once they gave me the car and said "you hold on" and I spent a grand in a few months.

On the flip side, I spent $4k on a DIY motor rebuild not long after I bought my Carrera G50, but I swear the car appreciated more than that since I've bought it and the future looks bright. Plus these are cars worth keeping on the road. Not so sure how many people would argue that for a late model euro luxury vehicle.

That said, I agree that engine rebuilds are absurd. I economized in every possible way, comparison shopped like it was my job, did everything myself and spent more rebuilding the TOP END of the motor not even touching piston rings than I did on a hot-rod, to the crank, nos hi comp pistons and liners, MFI refurb'd, Alfa Romeo 2L build. It's expensive horsepower.