travbjork

Hey y'all,

So I've been looking at various mods and putting a little cash into my car, but... do you ever feel like they're gouging us for being Corvette owners?

I feel like a good example is this -
http://shop.aprperformance.com/index...&product_id=87

It's a CF Spoiler, super simple, small, easy to install. I feel $200-300 would be comfortable, but $800?

For comparison, an entire HUD unit with switches and harness is only $450. (+install of course, but you can judge how much your time is worth.)

With all that said, do you guys have a 1-stop-shop for all your gear? Feel free to share links! I'll pay what I have to, but I feel like the things I Google aren't favoring my results, just hating on my wallet haha

Thanks! (I'm on an allowance haha)

WICKEDFRC

There's always Honda.

Hahahaha.

Sometimes, this is the trade-off. But yes, sometimes I will agree we pay a premium for mods. Amplify that for anything Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini.

travbjork

Haha oh no, no Honda for me. Actually, I don't even own a car right now with more than two seats... My Mom thinks I'm a crazy person. No kids though lol. I owned a 360 for about a year, so I understand that side of the coin.

Anyway, I don't care how much money you have, I look at that spoiler (or any mod really) and think - what's it really worth to me. It's not actually doing anything. I could care less if it's carbon fiber or plastic. In that particular case, it's about aesthetic.

So any advice would be pretty badass!

Dano523

You said a mouthful there, since some of the mods being sold do not add any performance gains, and with some spoilers where someone adds just the zr1 rear spoiler without the front splinter and side skirts, actually a step in the wrong direction since it just made the front end lift even more.

But to back it all up, it called Corvette tax. Hence the car cost more to buy and own, and the vendors figure because of such, can charge more for the product due to the owners that will own the vet in the first place.

So if you want cheap parts, then buy a Honda, since the ricer market is pretty flooded with vendors due to demand, and the vendors selling the ricers parts most of the time, are the ones pricing them the cheapest.

travbjork

Appreciate you chiming in I don't know, most things are fine. The cheap-o kinda fake-o spoiler just got to me tonight.

If y'all think a $600 mark up on a non-functional spoiler is Corvette tax, then I definitely trust you all.

Also, I asked for places you guys shop online, if you don't mind reading/replying to my entire post

Thanks!

RicardoFors68

If you're looking for carbon fiber, i recommend C7 Carbon, they're vendors in here. Look for their package deals. I think you could be better off bundling several items together. There is a definite Vette tax.
Plan your mods according to which direction you want to go, shop the fir sale section diligently and you'll save some coin if you dont mind used. I don't. ..

gsflyer2011

Why do you have to anything? The car is fast enough, looks good already. My 11 GS is the only car i have not moded, and have no plans to do so. My 79 and 89 were heavily moded because they sat too high, had too little tire and anemic engines. Honestly i do not even use the hud in my 11. And prices too, 2K for headers to get 20 horsepower? Not worth it in a car with 435 on tap. Maybe a tune, that is all. However what ever makes you happy is the motto around here.

Todds427

OP, to answer your question...YES, we get hosed all the time for anything corvette! I agree prices are crazy, just one example...headers, for a vette they are $1500 but any other car $500. I always hear that is the price we have to pay to own a corvette!

dryadsdad

You can't be 'gouged' for optional purchases. OTOH, if you think the mods' pricing are vastly enriching the vendors, by all means grow rich yourself by offering identical mods for much less. We'll all abandon them and come buy from you and then money will be no object for you to buy mods for your ride.

It'll be a win-win! Go for it. I'm waiting.

1968swbbigblock

Lots of other choices beyond APR for spoilers.
The spoiler is a functional piece on the Corvette & APR is one of the few that actually builds them to be durable and functional at the high speeds the Corvette is capable of.
Jc Whitney might be a good place to look JK

WW7

To answer your question about who I buy from, I buy from whoever has the best price for the item I want..Almost all the big venders get the items for the same price, if they want me to buy the product, sell it for a lower price then the others..I agree , most aftermarket items are way over priced...I have seen some sell items for the Corvette at a higher price , when the item also fits other cars and they charge a lower price...Greed, the American way......WW

windyC6

Gouging just because its a Corvette ??.......surely you jest !!!!....LOL. But you think this is bad....take a walk into your local Harley dealer and then you won't feel quite so bad.

pyrodav

Lets say you R&D headers for cars and on average it costs you $175k in time, material and tooling. Not to mention other unforeseen costs. Take the number of Mustangs available to mod and the number of Vettes available to mod. To get your return and turn a profit in the same amount of time which do you think is gonna cost more? It is simple supply and demand. BTW there are decent headers out there for under $900

Im not saying there isn't a Corvette tax...but most things are priced fair to market. My buddy has had a GS for 3 yrs. now. I bought mine a couple months ago. I immediately started modding mine and my buddy is pissed because Ive forced him to spend a couple thousand to keep up

Kent1999

It's even worse at Harley -- overpriced *and* there is only ONE design theme choice: everything must be chrome and skullz.

jft69z

The last parts I got for my Harley (years ago), were all made overseas too. Even the coffee cup the dealership gave me that said HD all over it....yep...a 'made in China' sticker on the bottom.

Not So Fast

I like to see what is up on things like that also, so I priced out a comparable set of headers that are available from forum vendors, both stainless steel & made in the USA.
brand X +++ $1720
brand Y +++ $840
Same when comparing a popular air filter
Vendor X $175
Amazon $150
Maybe they don't know that we shop the internet like hair rollered women I do

jbc1995fb

A couple of thoughts. Whether we like it or not carbon fiber pieces are more expensive than fiberglass. If you don't care then look into fiberglass spoilers from C7 Carbon or RPI.

What I've found is by the time I get a fiberglass spoiler and have it prepped and painted I'm close to the carbon fiber price.

As others have said there's a lot of choices in spoilers, do some research.

Never-Enough

The Corvette tax is a load of bs. I typically wait for deals on used parts & do things myself.

For example, rather than waste a **** ton of $ on pre-painted parts, I paint everything myself. A Pillars, interior bits, etc.

Imagine if we were modding an exotic. I don't even wanna think about those mark ups!

KenVette57

I feel your pain BIG TIME.... I'm the same as u. Funds are at a premium and any aftermarket part for a CORVETTE has that "luxury tax". This is the same with any aftermarket part for a brand called Harley Davidson!!!! I feel that pain also. But I've learned to be patient and go for a mod at a time. It may take longer but it will happen. There are sites, PerformanceCorvettes that offer refund for the old piece like for say fuel rails. $50 when you mail them the old ones. I've used them for my cosmetic exterior parts. They used the picture I sent them of my car with the carbon fiber rear spoiler that also shows CF license plate frame. Give them a look. They are a Forum Vendor. Almost forgot, Hydrocarbon mimics real CF for a fraction of the price and IMO looks better, classy

Huskerman

...Yeah that....or take a stroll into your local Peterbilt dealership to see what real mods cost......holy moly you can drop a lot in a short time there....