with my car i tend to buy 2nd hand aftermarket parts so it limits the damage to re-sale value. i've probably spent 5k but i'd be doubtful i'd get >3k for it as it stands. i priced up all the parts and its about 4k's worth.

i now know i'm in the situation where if i put another few k into it i won't see any money back and its value won't rise much/at all.

the problem i now have though is i have nothing to aspire to in the short term (Escort Cosworth is the long term dream), i wouldn't find anything insurable that will touch mine for similar money.

my plan now (and has been with alot of the parts) is to buy 2nd hand parts that are easy to fit, therfore easy to remove when i sell. eg. a 2nd hand strut brace is worth £40 when you buy it and worth £40 6 months later if i decide to sell the car i can take it back off.

Rich, one thing i don't think you are considering is depreciation of newer cars. spending 2k in a year on an old RST can be seen as wasted money if instead you bought yourself a nice new shiney scooby, but you'd have wasted the same 2k on that in depreciation. i think we can all agree that its more fun loosing 2k by buying bits that it just dissaperaing over time.