Cheaper to buy than build?

[fordfan66]

A couple people in another thread said you can buy a completed FFR roadster for the same price or lower than you could build one. How does this happen? Do people end up with something they don't want or different than they expected? Or do people just enjoy the experience of the build that much?
I had seen a couple for sale that I thought were really cheap, but I didn't know this was the norm.

Kurt

[Eric Stayrook]

I have seen completed/used Cobras for nearly the same price as the cost of a kit and its related components(and not including your labor).
To me, the process of building gives me a tremendous amount of pride. Pride that I would not have if I would have bought a completed car.
Eric

[A Cobra]

I could have surely bought a Cobra finished but I really thrive on the satisfaction of building the Cobra the way I want. If you are content on buying a Cobra already built that is awesome. The Cobra is a stunning car to ride and drive and more so if you built it your self. Every FFR Cobra built is different and that is what makes it so interesting. I would really like to have my Cobra completed but the wait is going to well worth it. Good luck on your Cobra quest.

[marshall]

I'm an example of someone selling their car when they're done. I'm still in high school and can't afford to keep it, since I'm borrowing the money to build it from my parents. My plan from the beginning has been to sell it, and I'm doing it for the experience and the fact that I love cars and projects like this. Plus a small degree of bragging rights and of course, the chick attraction factor. Anyway, I'm planning on trying to sell the car for exactly how much money I put into it. I've been counting all my receipts. This price will probably be too high (25-26k), so I'll lower it from there.

[fordfan66]

I am definately going to build my own for the reasons already mentioned. It just seems odd that with all the labor that goes into these that they sell so cheap.
Is there just a cieling on how much people will pay for a replica? Is the kit itself too high?(I doubt it) I'm just curious about this, usually labor is a large expense, in this case it seems to be worth nothing if you dedide to sell.

Kurt

[Summers]

Or do people just enjoy the experience of the build that much?

Most people will agree on this, especially if your not in a hurry to finish the build.

[rlogan]

The build is a blast...hell, I keep taking mine apart and adding more stuff.

[FordManDan]

Yes every build is different and pride of building is a huge factor for most.

I really lucked out. I bought my FFR MK II from a guy who built the rolling chasis and then decided to sell because of personal reasons. --The orignal owner spent a lot of time /money on very nice custom mods and goodies for this car. --It is exactly what I wanted and then some.

Now I get to finish the car, and get to choose all of the fun stuff. --Engine, trans, interior, paint, etc.

When its all said and done, I will have spent the same amount as the "Average" cobra guys but will have a car with some awesome options.--Power Cobra R brakes, narrowed rear with 315's, Compromotive wheels, hidden battery, extended foot boxes, etc.

Every situation is different.--Dan

[want2bcobra]

Building was a major part of wanting this car. I do not think that I would want to buy one that was already built because I want to know every details about my car when it is finished and know that I tightened every nut and punched every rivit when I am done.

Nathan

[J.S.W.]

I got my mark II a year ago in october. I am almost done. I willpickup my body Friday from SRP.
I am so pumped. I rebuilt the engine myself last July. It is a stock build. I cannot wait. Four more days. Ya hoo.

[Klayfish]

I don't think there is any one reason you can put your finger on. It's just the way of the market. The cars aren't as rare as they once were. Kits are becoming more plentiful and for less money. That in turn drags down the price of existing cars. A persons' labor doesn't come into play when evaluating the sale of the car. It's mostly the parts.

All the more reason for me to keep my car. I'd lose my shirt if I sold it.

Steve
[img]graemlins/yellow.gif[/img]

[DFRESH]

Kurt,
There are people who build these cars and make money doing it. The diffrence is that they build them all the time and it takes them a fraction of the time to do it when compared to the average garage builder. Most garage builders don't get much $$, if any, for their labor. Most build for the pleasure of it. Also keep in mind that some of these "completed" cars could have been done hastily and not to the standard that you or many others would want. Safety is a big concern with a performance vehicle. I would not trust buying a completed kit car from a garage mechanic (no offense to anyone, I am one also)unless he was a professional builder/mechanic or had a solid track record and many reliable references. Sometimes you get what you pay for. Seems many people build for the enjoyment of it but I will also be building to make sure the quality and safety is what it should be. Bottom line is that you could buy one for the same price, maybe cheaper, than what it would cost to build but remember the ole saying "Buyer Beware".
Just my .02
Take care,
Doug

[AirForceOne]

It's called supply and demand.

[fordfan66]

Well it's too bad that people don't get rewarded for their efforts if they have to sell for some reason. And I guess if a guy is in a position that he must sell something he loves he will probably be happy to just recoup the money invested.

Kurt

[BobTheBuilder]

GM and Ford sell theirs for more than it cost but they build millions on a production line and buy parts in bulk--to put it mildly. In a free market place prices seek their own level. This is a small cottage industry (even with FFR's phenomenal sales records)and as stated earlier, it takes a long time to build just one. It would take you a lot of money and a long time to buy the parts and build just one Chevrolet. T o buy or build is a personal decision but seldom based on $. I was going to build and on the spur of the moment found a nice build for what the parts would cost me (not that unusual). I can always take it apart and change what I want to.

[Misu]

The build is worth the experience and that is really a part of the Factory Five culture. Most FFR owners have built their own, although there are a few that were bought from other builders.

Allan [img]graemlins/black.gif[/img]

[Mercury]

The nationwide average price for an AC Cobra replica is hovering around $32,000. That's FFR, Super Performance, Shell Valley and Shelby. Replicas with manual transmissions fetch more. Try having a dealer that specializes in exotics and hot rods sell it for you. It may take some time, but you can certainly sell these cars for more than you put into them...that is, unless you go hog wild with the build.

[Dior55]

Simply put, a replica or kit car is NOT an investment grade purchase. If you want a car with investment grade potential, you really have to bone up on the collector auto market, get lots of $$ together, and hope that you figure out the right trend (i.e., hope that ten years from now you bought the next "muscle car" == which are currently fetching huge $$ but 10 years ago you couldn't give away!). Replicas will never, IMHO, get to that status. You may get lucky and hear about one catching big bucks at a Barrett-Jackson, but that would be a very unique build with all kinds of goodies to attract bidders. An "average" Cobra build (and I am saying the replica market has made Cobras "average" -- sorry to say) just is not going to draw big $$. If you were checking out car shows even 4 years ago, you would be lucky to even see one Cobra replica, with people pouring over it and dozens of questions flying around. Nowadays, there is hardly a show that doesn't have 4 - 5 replicas present, with many grades of quality as well.

[BillKnight]

I bought my car built, because I wanted to drive a Cobra.From there I went through each part of the car improving, changing, learning and driving it. There is a benefit to this. I didn't have to go to Motor Vehicle and emissions testing.
I drive the car and see or feel the changes I want to make.
I'm sure if I built the car, I would have been out of control with the build budget and it would probably still be in the build stage.
I'm not putting down build , because I would like to have done it. I picked up a paper one day, saw a Cobra for sale and bought it and drove it for the last 2 years. At the time, I didn't have the time to build it because of work. Being in New England forces the car off the road for at least 6 months. This is when I catch up on my build experiences.( Budget is still out of control)

[bharding]

I bought mine built from Jeff Fick as I didn't have time to build one and wanted to drive one to see if I liked it well enough to build my own. I've done multiple body off restorations so it doesn't scare me build one it came down to time. I'm enjoying and like 2603 so much I'll likely wait awhile to considering building my own.

Bruce Harding
FFR 2603

[289FIA_Cobra]

Initially, all I wanted was to buy it and drive it; spent a lot of time looking a turnkey-minus or House of Cobra's and other ads.

I'm glad it took 5 years to decide to build one. I am thoroughly enjoying the experience after almost 1 year... and I haven't even ordered the kit yet!!!! I'm building the motor first; I'm not like others here; I'm purposely taking 5 years to build it. I know that once I'm done, there will be a few things still but I realized though my other project car ( 98' Passat 1.8T ) and through other cars in my past, that it seems to get old after a few years of driving something; this way, I add about 5 years to the experience, not to mention, I can brag on the fact I built this myself. IMO, of all my projects, this has become THE UTLIMATE project car for me. For guy's like Sergio or Wayne, whom are on build #2, it's just plain fun. I think I understand them very well now.

[Scott]

Well, I guess I'll add my .02. I still hope to build a FFR. The thing is, I really like to drive. I've got too much on my plate right now to put the kind of time into a build that it would require for me to do a quality job. In my situation, I felt like I could buy someone elses build, hire a professional builder, or wait for years before I could enjoy driving the car. If you do buy a car like this you have to accept someone elses spec. I did that and am having a professional builder do modifications to make it closer to what I want. Even if I built it myself it would go to a professional builder for a complete checkout before I drove it hard. Professional builders are expensive, especially compared to doing it yourself. Buying a completed build can save you significant $ but you need to have enough experience to know what's good and what isn't or be prepared to fix what you don't like. IMHO Scott

[blue frog]

The build itself can become the greatest learning experience about the car. It may take more time but when completed you can proudly say "Hell ya it's fast and I should know, I built it". That's what I finding out, oh and the budget thing, yes that does get out of hand.

[CHOOPS]

But you dont get to build it.
I am having so much fun building my roadster I have decided to sell my other mustang and build a coupe when I am done.
Steve