2007 Rodeo Drive Concours: Great Fathers Day gift for Dad

Click to see gallery of high-res images from the Rodeo Drive Concours

By frank.filipponio@weblogsinc.com
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Click to see gallery of high-res images from the Rodeo Drive Concours

The Rodeo Drive Committee again held its annual Father’s Day Concours D’Elegance this past Sunday. A seminal Beverly Hills event, this year’s theme was “Cars of California”. Nearly 100 woodies, convertibles, vintage and classic cars lined the pavement of this swanky Beverly Hills street. Henrik Fisker might not be a California native, but his coachbuilding company is based in Irvine and so it was fitting to honor them with the show’s first ever Rodeo Drive Award for Automotive Excellence. Estimates say 30,000 people were on hand to see the Latigo and Tramanto, as well as several dozen other classic and exotic autos. Always a special show because of its location, the cars are almost secondary to the glitz and glamour of Rodeo Drive. A huge gallery of pics were provided by our friend, Duane Steiner. Click on any image here to see the whole lot, and check out the read link to see some of Duane’s other event coverage at SoCalSpeedZone.com, including videos of a recent charity run that featured about 100 Ferraris on a CHP-led drive to Santa Barbara.

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When rebuilt parts cost hundreds or thousands less than their new equivalents, they're most likely worth using. The same goes when using rebuilt parts involves very little risk to safety or reliability. Based on our conversations with several parts and repair experts, here we list several repairs that will be considerably cheaper -- but likely just as lasting -- with reused parts brought back to top condition. For more information on how much you might be able to save on repairs using rebuilt parts rather than new ones, we recommend looking at the range for repair costs on RepairPal.com, and asking your repair shop the next time you're there. Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
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When rebuilt parts cost hundreds or thousands less than their new equivalents, they’re most likely worth using. The same goes when using rebuilt parts involves very little risk to safety or reliability. Based on our conversations with several parts and repair experts, here we list several repairs that will be considerably cheaper — but likely just as lasting — with reused parts brought back to top condition. For more information on how much you might be able to save on repairs using rebuilt parts rather than new ones, we recommend looking at the range for repair costs on RepairPal.com, and asking your repair shop the next time you’re there.

Typically Called: Rebuilt Potential Savings Per Repair: Thousands Of Dollars A rebuilt or remanufactured engine can still be installed for about $2,000 to $4,000, including the cost of the engine itself, but brand-new engines can cost three or four times that amount, especially for some luxury brands. Good rebuilt engines typically come with a one-year warranty and include ancillaries like new water and oil pumps -- and fresh timing belts, of course -- so if you can keep it affordable you're getting some valuable extras in the deal. Rebuilt engines often outlive the vehicle they're installed in. And if your mechanic decides that your existing engine is salvageable, you might be able to save some money in the process by using rebuilt cylinder heads. Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
Engines

Typically Called: Rebuilt
And if your mechanic decides that your existing engine is salvageable, you might be able to save some money in the process by using rebuilt cylinder heads.

Potential Savings Per Repair: Thousands Of Dollars

A rebuilt or remanufactured engine can still be installed for about $2,000 to $4,000, including the cost of the engine itself, but brand-new engines can cost three or four times that amount, especially for some luxury brands. Good rebuilt engines typically come with a one-year warranty and include ancillaries like new water and oil pumps — and fresh timing belts, of course — so if you can keep it affordable you’re getting some valuable extras in the deal. Rebuilt engines often outlive the vehicle they’re installed in.

Typically Called: Rebuilt Potential Savings Per Repair: Thousands Of Dollars A top-tier rebuilt transmission should last 150,000 miles or more and last just as long as a new one, according to AAA's Nielsen, while costing a fraction. Going with a new transmission costs around $5,000, on average, while substituting a rebuilt one will cost under $2,000. Transmission rebuilds often include new assembly methods -- or even revised parts -- to accommodate for design flaws, so in some cases they'll work better and last longer.Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
Automatic Transmissions

Typically Called: Rebuilt
A top-tier rebuilt transmission should last 150,000 miles or more and last just as long as a new one, according to AAA’s Nielsen, while costing a fraction. Going with a new transmission costs around $5,000, on average, while substituting a rebuilt one will cost under $2,000. Transmission rebuilds often include new assembly methods — or even revised parts — to accommodate for design flaws, so in some cases they’ll work better and last longer.

Potential Savings Per Repair: Thousands Of Dollars

Typically Called: Remanufactured Potential Savings Per Repair: Hundreds Of Dollars Control modules for the engine, transmission, and anti-lock braking are relatively straightforward to replace, but these little boxes can approach or exceed a thousand dollars, while installation is usually relatively easy -- for an experienced mechanic who knows how to install these often-delicate components. Replacement modules might even have design improvements, like redesigned connecting pins or better shielding from dust and grime.Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
Control Modules, Sensors, Harnesses, And Relays

Typically Called: Remanufactured
Control modules for the engine, transmission, and anti-lock braking are relatively straightforward to replace, but these little boxes can approach or exceed a thousand dollars, while installation is usually relatively easy — for an experienced mechanic who knows how to install these often-delicate components. Replacement modules might even have design improvements, like redesigned connecting pins or better shielding from dust and grime.

Potential Savings Per Repair: Hundreds Of Dollars

Typically Called: Rebuilt, Remanufactured Potential Savings: More Than $100 Control modules for the engine, transmission, and anti-lock braking are relatively straightforward to replace, but these little boxes can approach or exceed a thousand dollars, while installation is usually relatively easy -- for an experienced mechanic who knows how to install these often-delicate components. Replacement modules might even have design improvements, like redesigned connecting pins or better shielding from dust and grime.Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
Alternators

Typically Called: Rebuilt, Remanufactured
Control modules for the engine, transmission, and anti-lock braking are relatively straightforward to replace, but these little boxes can approach or exceed a thousand dollars, while installation is usually relatively easy — for an experienced mechanic who knows how to install these often-delicate components. Replacement modules might even have design improvements, like redesigned connecting pins or better shielding from dust and grime.

Potential Savings: More Than $100

Typically Called: Rebuilt, Remanufactured Potential Savings: More Than $100 Starters typically require more labor time to install than alternators, so going with a rebuilt one is a little more of a gamble. At the same time, if you have an older model you might not even be able to find a new OEM one. In this case, trust your mechanic's advice, whether it be a rebuilt original or an aftermarket model that offers improvements. Just as with alternators, a suspiciously cheap rebuilt part might leave you stranded.Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
Starters

Typically Called: Rebuilt, Remanufactured
Starters typically require more labor time to install than alternators, so going with a rebuilt one is a little more of a gamble. At the same time, if you have an older model you might not even be able to find a new OEM one. In this case, trust your mechanic’s advice, whether it be a rebuilt original or an aftermarket model that offers improvements. Just as with alternators, a suspiciously cheap rebuilt part might leave you stranded.

Potential Savings: More Than $100

Typically Called: Remanufactured Potential Savings: Over $100 Per Repair Most hydraulic and vacuum components are just fine in rebuilt form (or remanufactured, in this case). After all, it's the soft parts, like gaskets, seals, and diaphragms that are likely to wear out first. Thorough rebuilds replace all of those soft parts with new ones, so you're truly getting a like-new part anyway. Power steering pumps, like starters, are next to impossible to find new for some older cars.Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
Pumps & Boosters

Typically Called: Remanufactured
Most hydraulic and vacuum components are just fine in rebuilt form (or remanufactured, in this case). After all, it’s the soft parts, like gaskets, seals, and diaphragms that are likely to wear out first. Thorough rebuilds replace all of those soft parts with new ones, so you’re truly getting a like-new part anyway. Power steering pumps, like starters, are next to impossible to find new for some older cars.

Potential Savings: Over $100 Per Repair

Typically Called: Remanufactured Potential Savings: Up to $100 Some owners will be able to save money by using a so-called remanufactured radiator. According to AAA's Nielsen, it's an obvious candidate to purchase reconditioned, as your mechanic can inspect and pressure-test it before installation in the vehicle."It's either good or it's not," he said. Also, with core structures that are reused, you can rest assured that you're making the environmentally sensible choice along with the frugal one. Watch out for new replacement radiators that are often sold as 'OEM-equivalent' -- if that's all you can find, you might be better off with a remanufactured original.Research More About MaintenanceAuto Repair and MaintenanceFree Car Maintenance?Maintenance Is The Key
Radiators

Typically Called: Remanufactured
Some owners will be able to save money by using a so-called remanufactured radiator. According to AAA’s Nielsen, it’s an obvious candidate to purchase reconditioned, as your mechanic can inspect and pressure-test it before installation in the vehicle.”It’s either good or it’s not,” he said. Also, with core structures that are reused, you can rest assured that you’re making the environmentally sensible choice along with the frugal one. Watch out for new replacement radiators that are often sold as ‘OEM-equivalent’ — if that’s all you can find, you might be better off with a remanufactured original.

Potential Savings: Up to $100

All photos © 2007 Autoblog.com/Duane Steiner