Why does vette stuff cost so damn much??
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,734
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From: Youngstown Ohio
Yep, its true, we get screwed when it comes to mods relative to other less expensive cars. I have been keeping an eye on STS who has a turbo system in development for the C5. It will be interesting to see how much more it ends up being than the others they offer.
Darion
Darion
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Lakeland, Center of Florida Fl
Well, you have to look at it this way. The R&D of our cars is much higher than your typical car. As well as the production numbers are much lower on our car than your typical everyday civic. If they can sell more units the $$ amount would be less.
More Fbodys than Ybodys so the F is cheaper
More Ybodies than Ferraris so the Ferraris are more.
Check out prices of just a tubi exhaust for a Ferrari and tell me your not glad you own a C5. There carbon fiber intake for a 360 is 1500.
I highly considered other cars before I bought my C5 and this is one of the reasons I choose a C5.
Jon
More Fbodys than Ybodys so the F is cheaper
More Ybodies than Ferraris so the Ferraris are more.
Check out prices of just a tubi exhaust for a Ferrari and tell me your not glad you own a C5. There carbon fiber intake for a 360 is 1500.
I highly considered other cars before I bought my C5 and this is one of the reasons I choose a C5.
Jon
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Jack,
I asked the exact same question almost 8 months ago - and the thread was locked - I guess because one should NEVER ask this impertinent question. Vendors SHOULD be allowed to charge whatever these RICH Corvette owners will stand to pay.
And one should just politely say to the vendors - "No Vaseline please" and bend over.
There are only 3 or 4 vendors/tuners that do NOT shaft us - and I try my best to give them ALL my business.
And everyone makes the same excuses for them - high R&D, small audience, expensive car therefore expensive parts, et al.
Pure nonesense!!
Here's the thread with 27 replies - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=103&arch=1
Stephen
I asked the exact same question almost 8 months ago - and the thread was locked - I guess because one should NEVER ask this impertinent question. Vendors SHOULD be allowed to charge whatever these RICH Corvette owners will stand to pay.
And one should just politely say to the vendors - "No Vaseline please" and bend over.
There are only 3 or 4 vendors/tuners that do NOT shaft us - and I try my best to give them ALL my business.
And everyone makes the same excuses for them - high R&D, small audience, expensive car therefore expensive parts, et al.
Pure nonesense!!
Here's the thread with 27 replies - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=103&arch=1
Stephen
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Also, I'm hoping that the forthcoming Kenne Bell twin screw supercharger (that will make stupid power) will be priced reasonably - but who knows???
Supporting Tuner
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Jeff at Elite Engineering, Gene at Karshop, Andy at A&A Corvettes, Gene at Fred Beans.
That's the 4 - can anyone else add to this sad, short list of honest brokers?
That's the 4 - can anyone else add to this sad, short list of honest brokers?
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
Jack,
I asked the exact same question almost 8 months ago - and the thread was locked - I guess because one should NEVER ask this impertinent question. Vendors SHOULD be allowed to charge whatever these RICH Corvette owners will stand to pay.
And one should just politely say to the vendors - "No Vaseline please" and bend over.
There are only 3 or 4 vendors/tuners that do NOT shaft us - and I try my best to give them ALL my business.
And everyone makes the same excuses for them - high R&D, small audience, expensive car therefore expensive parts, et al.
Pure nonesense!!
Here's the thread with 27 replies - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=103&arch=1
Stephen
I asked the exact same question almost 8 months ago - and the thread was locked - I guess because one should NEVER ask this impertinent question. Vendors SHOULD be allowed to charge whatever these RICH Corvette owners will stand to pay.
And one should just politely say to the vendors - "No Vaseline please" and bend over.
There are only 3 or 4 vendors/tuners that do NOT shaft us - and I try my best to give them ALL my business.
And everyone makes the same excuses for them - high R&D, small audience, expensive car therefore expensive parts, et al.
Pure nonesense!!
Here's the thread with 27 replies - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=103&arch=1
Stephen
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Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Lakeland, Center of Florida Fl
Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
Jeff at Elite Engineering, Gene at Karshop, Andy at A&A Corvettes, Gene at Fred Beans.
That's the 4 - can anyone else add to this sad, short list of honest brokers?
That's the 4 - can anyone else add to this sad, short list of honest brokers?
VE Ken and Sandy are awesome vendors.
ECS Chris and Doug are also great.
MTI David and Jayson have treated me very well..a little slow but great.
Tbryne Tom is a really great guy
LPE Ed has always tried to help me if I had a question.
MDMC Sean is great
I am sure there are others but thats who I delt with thus far.
Jon
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Central Ma
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Down the road, the wife and I intend to buy an RV and do some traveling, so I keep up with RV's too, not just vettes. In this issue of "Trailer Life", they give all sorts of tips on how to mod your diesel truck, including turbochargers...STARTING AT $1,100!!!!
Now how the hell can they sell a turbo for a diesel for $1,100 but they cost five grand for a Corvette? Is the air they're blowing different? Does it cost more to make a fitting for a Corvette exhaust than for a Ford truck? I don't think so. Man! We are getting ripped off for this stuff!
Now how the hell can they sell a turbo for a diesel for $1,100 but they cost five grand for a Corvette? Is the air they're blowing different? Does it cost more to make a fitting for a Corvette exhaust than for a Ford truck? I don't think so. Man! We are getting ripped off for this stuff!
Ask any rv/boat/snowmobile owner etc...........
Supporting Tuner
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Let's keep something in mind here Stephen, most of our forum vendors that sell this equipment, A&A, Corvette Garage, etc., really don't have much choice. They buy the parts from the manufacturers and then sell and/or install them. You can tell simply from looking around for a Magnacharger that the price is fixed by the manufacturer. It's $5995 EVERYWHERE. Not a nickle off one way or the other. That means that the tuners who support this forum aren't the ones making a killing on these outrageous prices; it's the manufacturers.
As I said in my other thread - I think everyone misunderstood me somewhat.
I fully understand why some items have to be priced as they are - it's the items that we all pick up in Home Depot or at our local plumbing supply store for $1.50 that are repriced for Vette owner consumption at $20 or $89.95 that really gall me.
A perfect example is the TB bypass "kit".... and that is now worth $20???
Or the Lambo doors kit - circa $2000 for 2 hinges and 2 weak shocks....
The list is endless - I can name many, many more...
I wasn't trying to start a flame way or come across as stupid - just making an observation that irritates me, and it seems I am not the only one.
Stephen
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Unfortunately, it is just a sad fact of life when owning a Corvette - things cost more. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Orlando FL
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
What we need here is some innovation. What about those superchargers they use on the 3800 six cylinders? It's all in how much airflow and pressure they put out and I'll bet those things all all over the place used and rebuilt. Now how tough could it be to make a few mounting brackets?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Ghent
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Try www.homemadeturbo.com, it's mainly for ricers, but I'm sure they could figure something out. Maybe tell them that you are putting an ls1 in a civic or eclipse... Please don't ban me. This may be a solution!!! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Machine Silver Z06 The Golden State......... Bay Area
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Let's keep something in mind here Stephen, most of our forum vendors that sell this equipment, A&A, Corvette Garage, etc., really don't have much choice. They buy the parts from the manufacturers and then sell and/or install them. You can tell simply from looking around for a Magnacharger that the price is fixed by the manufacturer. It's $5995 EVERYWHERE. Not a nickle off one way or the other. That means that the tuners who support this forum aren't the ones making a killing on these outrageous prices; it's the manufacturers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
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Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
Jack,
As I said in my other thread - I think everyone misunderstood me somewhat.
I fully understand why some items have to be priced as they are - it's the items that we all pick up in Home Depot or at our local plumbing supply store for $1.50 that are repriced for Vette owner consumption at $20 or $89.95 that really gall me.
A perfect example is the TB bypass "kit".... and that is now worth $20???
Or the Lambo doors kit - circa $2000 for 2 hinges and 2 weak shocks....
The list is endless - I can name many, many more...
I wasn't trying to start a flame way or come across as stupid - just making an observation that irritates me, and it seems I am not the only one.
Stephen
As I said in my other thread - I think everyone misunderstood me somewhat.
I fully understand why some items have to be priced as they are - it's the items that we all pick up in Home Depot or at our local plumbing supply store for $1.50 that are repriced for Vette owner consumption at $20 or $89.95 that really gall me.
A perfect example is the TB bypass "kit".... and that is now worth $20???
Or the Lambo doors kit - circa $2000 for 2 hinges and 2 weak shocks....
The list is endless - I can name many, many more...
I wasn't trying to start a flame way or come across as stupid - just making an observation that irritates me, and it seems I am not the only one.
Stephen
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
I wasn't trying to start a flame way or come across as stupid - just making an observation that irritates me, and it seems I am not the only one.
Stephen
Stephen
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
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From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by Target Chaser
Good point! The manufacturers have their part in this. I recently shopped around for the best price on a Borla catback and found a wide range of prices from various vendors. Turns out Borla mandates (as well as many other manufactures) what's the lowest price that can be advertised by a resaler. If they find out that a lower price is being advertised they contact the resaler and make them change it. I've caught one vendor here on the forum that starts a GP and offers a price match and if he finds out another vendor is offering it cheaper he sicks the manufacturer on them. Helluva way to do business! Buyer tip: When you call around ask the vendor if they can sell it cheaper than advertised! You'll be surprised that they will sell it cheaper than advertised, they just can't advertise it for that price.
And I think this practice really hurts the vendors and the manufacturers. Since I got my vette, I'd kill for a Magnacharger (except I hate having to put a different hood on my car), but I don't have the $7k (polished version) plus the extra needed for installation, tuning, electronics and transmission work that'll bring it to around $10K. I've resigned myself to having to wait quite awhile before I can afford one.
Well now I find that the LS7 427 crate engine will be available in August. I suspect that I'll be able to buy that engine cheaper than a Magnacharger (which REALLY makes their price outrageous if you think about it). So when I spend that kind of money, I'll be going for the crate. Magnacharger loses a sale, the vendor I'd buy it from loses a sale and I end up having to wait longer than I'd like to get my mod. Who wins in that situation?