"Invested 120% of the cost and don't regret it." A Belarusian bought his dream car for $2000 and spent even more on repairs
To buy a car for $2000, invest another $2500 in it, and end up with a car that costs a maximum of $3000 on the market. From a common-sense point of view, it's madness. But for Dmitry from Mogilev, this bright red Citroën became a gift to himself from 2006. Myfin calculated all expenses: from welding the underbody and Bi-LED modules to custom floor mats and original rims that had to be searched for all over the country.
The dream car cost 15,000 dollars, but he only had two in his pocket
In 2006, Dmitry traveled from Mogilev to Minsk to buy his first car at the car market in Malinovka.
Passing by a car dealership, he paused for a moment by the display: a new bright red Citroën Xsara shone behind the glass. Dmitry glanced at the price tag and, smiling, walked on. The car cost 15,000 dollars, but he only had two in his pocket. With them, he bought his "firstborn" — a fifteen-year-old Ford Escort.
Over the next twenty years, Dmitry changed several cars. Work and life rhythm demanded constant mobility, so over time, he arrived at the formula of "main car plus backup." Ten years ago, he settled on two options: a seven-seater Logan MCV for big tasks and a compact Opel Astra on standby.
"By 2024, the mechanical and body resources of the old Opel were exhausted, and I remembered that same red Citroën from my youth," says Dmitry. "The search began. About two dozen offers were found on the market, ranging from 1000 to 3000 dollars. The purchase criteria were strict: only a five-door hatchback, definitely red, and a trim level no lower than the one from the display. A suitable specimen was found in Gomel for 2000 dollars."
The technical condition left much to be desired, but the car was saved by quality paintwork and rare comfort for those years: heated seats, climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, and a full power package.
"The goal wasn't to create a museum exhibit"
Immediately after purchase, the Citroën went for resuscitation. Three months were spent on full maintenance and welding the underbody.
The restoration budget was:
- welding work and servicing 1500 BYN
- new sills 200 BYN
- plastic front fenders 440 BYN
- painting elements — 400 BYN
"The goal wasn't to create a museum exhibit. A reliable workhorse was needed. To ensure the car wouldn't let me down, all fluids, belts, the radiator with hoses, and the clutch, which was slipping during the inspection, were replaced. This added another 1000 BYN to the estimate. From the workshop, I went to the electricians. For 200 BYN, they revived the central locking and cleared engine electronics errors."
Next, a dilemma arose with the optics. The original headlight adjusters were broken. A pair of new original headlights cost a whopping 1500 BYN, so Dima decided to save money and bought a medium-quality replica for 500 BYN. But penny wise, pound foolish — the light turned out to be terrible.
"I had to open the housing at a specialized service, where it turned out that the headlights were assembled with a factory defect. The problem was radically solved by installing Bi-LED modules for 1000 BYN. The final touch was Bosch Aero Twin wipers for 180 BYN."
"The hunt began for the original R15 rims I saw in the car dealership 20 years ago"
When the technical part was closed, it was time for personal preferences.
"In place of the standard ancient speakers and a non-working radio, four new components and a Prology head unit were installed — 300 BYN for acoustics and the device each. The long hunt began for those same original R15 rims I saw in the car dealership 20 years ago. A set was found in Minsk for 300 BYN, and new 'Belshina' tires were fitted on them for another 440 BYN."
To make the multifunction steering wheel even more functional, Dima spent a day independently resoldering resistors in the buttons, making them compatible with the new radio, and routed a microphone for hands-free communication.
The list of improvements was supplemented by roof rack crossbars (300 BYN) and a new eco-leather gear shift cover (50 BYN). Even the ignition key did not go unnoticed, contrary to the advice of mechanics to save money and make a regular duplicate. Dima paid 300 BYN for a modern key with built-in central locking control buttons. Aesthetics and convenience proved more important.
The refinement touched every detail: the glove compartment lock (20 BYN), gas struts for the hood and trunk (150 BYN), heated window relay (20 BYN). The faulty dashboard was replaced (50 BYN), and Dima made the standard floor mats himself, buying velour material from "Vitebsk Carpets" (60 BYN).
"It's a closed gestalt, a chance to shake hands with myself"
The result was unexpected. The Citroën was bought as a backup option but became the main one. The large seven-seater Logan MCV now spends most of its time in the garage, giving way to the hatchback. Two years after the purchase, major investments ceased, and now the car only requires rare attention to minor details.
"If you tally the debits and credits, the math is peculiar. The purchase cost $2000, and all repairs were around 7730 BYN (approximately $2400-$2500 at the average exchange rate for the work period — editor's note). And this is without counting minor details and personal time."
Meanwhile, today such a Citroën Xsara, even in the best condition, would hardly sell for more than $3000. From the perspective of a reseller or a rational driver, the deal is questionable, if not a failure.
But when Dima gets behind the wheel, he doesn't see an old French hatchback with re-welded sills, but that same bright red dream behind the display glass. In 2006, those $15,000 were a fortune and a ticket to another life. Almost 20 years later, he still bought himself those same feelings: the right color, the original rims, and the buttons on the steering wheel.
"It's a closed gestalt, a chance to shake hands with myself, young and not wealthy, and say: 'Look, we finally got it.' And for that, neither an extra thousand dollars nor weekends spent with a soldering iron in hand are a pity. Because in the end, we spend money not on metal, but on the joy it brings."
Poles are buying houses in Belarus — wondering if a European pension will be enough for life, and rejoicing at the ridiculous expenses 9
Comments