Why does vararam cost $350?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 0
From: Fountain Inn SC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,259
Likes: 16
From: Monroe Township New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
St. Jude donor in memory of jpee '14
Ok since everybody has made some very good points it is time for the "Off the wall cheapie option". Not that I am calling anybody cheap but there is always a DIY option 
If you want to go the cheapie way ........ take the stock setup and turn the two air boxes around so the filter faces the fan shroud. Then mark and cut holes in the fan shroud so the filter can get cold air. You can utilize straight pieces of plastic to seal off the open area around the stock air boxes. This should protect the filters from sucking water from the top of the fan shroud.
Call me crazy
but since our cars are bottom breathers the aforementioned set up should work just like the Honker and best of all it is CHEAP a real CHEAPO option no Corvette tax .......... it only cost you time and the cost of some flat plastic & silicone
If you want to go the cheapie way ........ take the stock setup and turn the two air boxes around so the filter faces the fan shroud. Then mark and cut holes in the fan shroud so the filter can get cold air. You can utilize straight pieces of plastic to seal off the open area around the stock air boxes. This should protect the filters from sucking water from the top of the fan shroud.
Call me crazy
but since our cars are bottom breathers the aforementioned set up should work just like the Honker and best of all it is CHEAP a real CHEAPO option no Corvette tax .......... it only cost you time and the cost of some flat plastic & silicone
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 3
From: FNDA Beach Florida
The same
All the Vette products are far more expensive than other cars for who knows what 
reason. All we can do is pay. Maybe it's qty of the Vettes out there and how many parts sold, but either way it's
reason. All we can do is pay. Maybe it's qty of the Vettes out there and how many parts sold, but either way it's
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 842
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
OK, I was in the truck accessorie business for over 10 years, sold out last year, and we were selling air filter systems for diesels in the $250 plus range for years.
There are a lot more diesel trucks out there getting modded than Corvetts. Most corvette owners never do any mods. My brother and the crowd he runs with, he has 04 vert, would never dream of touching their cars. Scares the hell of of them to even think about it. I picked up my 07 Thursday and getting the mods done in the next few weeks (around $5000)
I have owned over 30 vetts in the last 30 years, now have 3, and parts that are exclusive to vetts cost more because the cost of R&D, manufacturing etc has to be covered by a lot fewer sales. If they could sell 100,000 of these they would prolly cost $99.99, but only selling a couple thousand?? Give me a break.
You want honda prices and your driving a CORVETTE.
There are a lot more diesel trucks out there getting modded than Corvetts. Most corvette owners never do any mods. My brother and the crowd he runs with, he has 04 vert, would never dream of touching their cars. Scares the hell of of them to even think about it. I picked up my 07 Thursday and getting the mods done in the next few weeks (around $5000)
I have owned over 30 vetts in the last 30 years, now have 3, and parts that are exclusive to vetts cost more because the cost of R&D, manufacturing etc has to be covered by a lot fewer sales. If they could sell 100,000 of these they would prolly cost $99.99, but only selling a couple thousand?? Give me a break.
You want honda prices and your driving a CORVETTE.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
This is a can of worms but....
Im wondering why exactly vararam costs $350? It appears to me that the pricing on this unit is way off. At that price R&D would have been paid off shortly after its release and left room for a large price intake.. can anybody argue that the build quality is anywhere near the Ligenfelter or Callaway intakes? I understand the vararam is trying to be the best bang for your buck.. but if that is the case, $250 max..as the LPE is selling for 349 shipped direct from the retailer now.
The corvette tax is outta control, and unfortunately when we keep giving in to ridiculous overpriced items nothing changes.
Im wondering why exactly vararam costs $350? It appears to me that the pricing on this unit is way off. At that price R&D would have been paid off shortly after its release and left room for a large price intake.. can anybody argue that the build quality is anywhere near the Ligenfelter or Callaway intakes? I understand the vararam is trying to be the best bang for your buck.. but if that is the case, $250 max..as the LPE is selling for 349 shipped direct from the retailer now.
The corvette tax is outta control, and unfortunately when we keep giving in to ridiculous overpriced items nothing changes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 1
From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
Originally Posted by TEXASRANGER
You want honda prices and your driving a CORVETTE.
yes!while the overal material quality may be ok.. just look at it vs the LPE intake.. one looks like it is an OEM piece from a european car, the other looks like some plasticky ebay intake... If people would post some pictures it would be very helpful.. and where are these intakes that are 500-600? Those intakes that were expensive are not that expensive anymore, yet the vararam costs the same? the R&D is a bunch of bull..whats more profitable, make the price as competitive as possible so that every corvette owner buys one.. or scare buyers with poor value. They already lost me as customer because I got the much better looking (same function) ligenfelter intake for the same price as the vararam. If It was $100 less I would have purchase the vararam. Basic economics FTW!
Again.. im talking about current pricing, not 2006 pricing
Again.. im talking about current pricing, not 2006 pricing
http://www.westcoastcorvette.com/ps-...ke-system.aspx
http://www.westcoastcorvette.com/ps-...ct-chrome.aspx
Mods, if I'm breaking any rules by posting these links, please delete them.
Hey no one would want prices to come down more than me. However the reality of the situation is that as long as there is a demand for a product, those manufacturing the product can dicate it's worth. What are you going to do, ask all C6 owners to boycott the purchasing of the intake in hopes that the seller will lower the price? There are a lot of things in this world that cost way more than they may be worth. The great thing about America is that we have the freedom and choice to decide what we want to spend our money on. Make your choice based on your own needs and financial capabilities. The rest of us will do so as well.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 906
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From: SF Bay CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 906
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From: SF Bay CA
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
I've never spent more than $30 for an air cleaner housing, and that was for a fancy chrome plated Mr Gasket model that I bought when I was young and foolish. I certainly wouldn't pay that much just for some ugly plastic pipe. Home Depot has plenty of that for lots less than $30.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Littleton CO
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
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But its going to give you another 140-150 horsepower.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 3
From: Penn Valley California
Both Vararam and Breathless claim 35-40hp with their ram air intakes.And at $10k for a supercharger system it's $65-$100 per hp gained.I would dare say that many C6 owners would probably be happy with the hp gains from exhaust and intake only.Things appear to get really spendy after that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 126
St. Jude Donor '07
Try buying a few parts for BMW, Mercedes or Porsche (replacement or aftermarket). I find the prices for Corvette parts quite reasonable (sway bars, shocks, etc.). $250 would be nice for the Vararam, but check out the prices for aftermarket pieces for the above mentioned cars and you will think $350 is a steal.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
I know this is supposed to be a slam on vararam. But actually you are correct, this is a factor all products take into consideration.
Anything, and I mean anything that will effect the bottom line has to be taken into consideration when you set a price for a product.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
I think you all need to go out and price true RAM air intakes. $350 seems like a good price unless you are taking an intake system for a Honda. For instance the Banks Ram air intake cost about $450.