Woody, you seem to be a bright enough chap, and obviously from your writing style, hardly an adolescent either in mind or body. You certainly must realize that where issues of ego and arrogance are involved, reason and pragmatism quickly go out the window. If you still seek real information on this subject, go elsewhere. And when you decide on a product this offer stands. You sign my dash, and I'll sign yours. Atta you.

The recent assaults on EVERYTHING that is not SPF is NOT going unnoticed.
It was one thing to target Shelby owners (there are a few) but it is high risk to go down the path SPF against the rest.
It will backfire.
If I was to make a list of posts in the last two months of SPF owners with an attitude, vs.everyone else with an attitude, we would have a clear runaway winner.
Can't we tame this crap a notch?

TURK
Name Shelby attached to my car means a lot to me! Enough to buy it. When you declare, it doesn't mean anything to you that is fine too. Except we didn't start the thread.

An alternative thread started by me, something like, I can't see how people can drive a Cobra that doesn't have Shelby name attached to it, may draw similar attention. Deservedly so. I can see why.
Can YOU?

I dated a girl librarian once..

I looked at a SPF years ago. There nice. Then saw a turnkey ERA.

The ERA was clearly a cut above.

My Shelby is as nice as my turnkey ERA was in fit and finish. Plus its a Cobra not just a replica of one. Thats got nothing to do with being a "snob" its just stating a fact. Can't help if it "some" don't like that fact.

The Shelby name may not have value to some (like some of the owners of SPF replicas that started this thread and usually those that don't have a Shelby). Thats fine people are entitled to their opinons. However, I'm fairly confident that years from now most people will still know what a Shelby Cobra was/is. I'm not so sure the same will be true for SPF replicas.

Seems like the SPF crowd is getting a little nervous about that CAV CSX.
:LOL:

BTW: I am aware of whats being said on the SPF cite. Giving pleanty of rope right now.

Casaleenie
 

Have you seen any deer lately?

Tom S.

We must have too much time on our hands.

Bill :3DSMILE:

Evan

"They're"; not 'There". Geesh, doesn't your secretary proofread your stuff?:LOL:

Jamo: Thanks for pointing that out. Thats what happens when you rush.

:JEKYLHYDE :)

Chics LI,

I can't believe Evan took this long to get into the fray..I gotta find a hobby.... Possibly deer watching....**)

[quote]Originally posted by REAL 1




Thats fine people are entitled to their opinons.


HUH????

You're getting too excited Evan....Slow down... Smell the replicas.:)

Pleanty?

They have put an edit key on this forum for dopes like me but I'm going to let you use it also...:MECOOL:

Evan,

I liked your ERA better than your CSX4000 car.............Just a personal preference and observation..............


Bill S.

Help me out here.

I've been attending this site for almost 6 months now. This is the first I have heard about a SPF 'rebellion'.

If no one wants to state it publicly on the forum, could someone drop me an e-mail privately and fill me in on this?

Thanks,

Rich W.

Countrycake@aol.com

(and no, the e-mail address is not a clue to my sexual preference, but for my wife's bakery.)

Bill: Well thats great. I'm glad you liked it that much. You should've bought it and replaced the FFR then.

Funny too, since I like my CSX waaay better than the ERA in every respect. I guess thats why I sold the ERA and bought the Shelby. No comparison between the two.

Your "stated preference" doesn't surprise me.

:rolleyes:

blah blah blah blah blah smae old pssiing mtcah blah blah blah.......:CRY:

One thing that does not come up in these discussions enough is the quality of the dealer network. SPF has established a dealer network with many satisfied clients. If an established client of a SPF dealer looks to buy a new Cobra, they should look to the SPF dealer whom they have spent time and money building up a relationship with.

If SAI is to successful in their new venture they will need to build a dealer network as good or better than the dealer network of SPF. SAI has been a smaller player dealing in higher end products in the past. The "mass market" can and will be a new experience.

SPF Owners - be proud but don't be arrogant.

HIQ, my view is the dealer network can be a good thing (localized support, more likely to facilitate an impulse buy, be able to touch and feel product), it can also be a not so good thing (manufacturer has to give up some margin to pay the "reseller", they cannot totally control the behavior of these resellers, you could have subpar resellers). On the other hand, you can do a direct model which is working well for many of the replica manufacturers (Kirkham, Unique are two that I know of personally). Once you have product out on the streets, your customers in essence are roaming "salespeople" if they are happy and expose their car to potential other replica buyers.

You control the sales message, more price flexibility if needed, customer can see assembly line if they visit. Airfare is fairly cheap nowadays. I want this to be non-brand specific, but there are certain cities that even incent airline travel so people can gamble ;) . Each has it's merits depending on how much scale the manufacturer needs and the size of market they want to serve. There are probably REAL Go to Market experts here, and certainly many people in the auto retail business, but I do not view the lack of a dealer network neccessarily as a disadvantage, especially IF you could create a product that is so competitively positioned, it is a no brainer for a buyer to choose over the competition.

Forgot to mention FFR what started and may still be a mostly direct model (I need to check on that). Do not know who has more cars on the streets, FFR or SPF, but I bet it's close. Just to show that they are likely two of the highest volume selling brands, but two different distribution methods. This is not to say that a mostly direct manufacturer might not have some grassroot people who become kitbuilders, etc and almost act as local dealers.

Straight from FFR's site:

"Dealers? No way. We sell our products direct so that the buyer deals with the people who designed and built the product. Also, the profit margins were never structured to absorb a layer of distribution. You get a better price because we sell factory direct. To be fair, there is a huge cottage industry of the best people in the world who build and provide services for customers of ours. This runs the full gamut from small shops and manufacturers, to guys who run small parts and service companies out of their homes. Problem is that we have no real control (nor do we want any) over the world of aftermarket guys. "

Damn Rick, you've got a way with words.....
Couldn't have said it better myself....:MECOOL:

Toy Collector,
I agree with you that a dealer network can be nothing but an expensive middle man, but I do believe that a good, honest and knowledgeable dealer is worth their weight in gold. With all the good things I have heard about Dynamic Motorsports in OH, IF I lived within a few miles of them that would weigh heavily on my decision. Here in Colorado, the nearest dealer is Dynamic in OH and that would make them useless for the most part for after sale service.

I guess my comment was directed more at the SPF vs SAI debate that has been raging here at CC. With both SPF and SAi using a dealer network and competing for the same clients with simular cars I believe the value of a strong dealer network is not being taken into consideration by most. I am not stating that SAI does not have a good one, just stating the fact that they need to make sure theirs is as good or better than the SPF dealer network to be successful.

Enjoy #249!

"Pissing match"

Exactly Rick.
I bought my Contemporary knowing one thing,Its a replica,no matter how much money I sink into it making it better and more correct it is always going to be a "Contemporary" it will never be a "Shelby" Therfore it will never have the market Value that a "Shelby"(csx3XXX or csx4XXX). Yes,you are paying for the name I don't get why people question that . It happens every day, when I go to the store and grab a jar of Peter Pan peanut butter instead of the genaric brand next to it am I really getting peanut butter that is $2 better than the other? No, probably not but it's Peter Pan.;) A camaro has 99% of the Corvettes performance is that extra 1% worth $20,000? apparently so because it is a "corvette". what makes a "Ferrari" $100,000 better than a 'vette? Enzos name.
Is Evans car better than mine? actually right now it is but in a couple of years I'll debate that, but it will always hold its value better, Period. Do I give a Damn? No! Does the fact that he also realizes it and it made a differance to him make him a snob? No!

The name does not have anything to do with whose car is better
but it sure as hell has something to do with the value.Not right,Not wrong, just fact.

everyone have a good one,
Dan

p.s. I personally think that Kirkhams are the best Cobras but I can not afford one of those either. Oh well...

And now for something completely different...........
 

{in your best whiny school yard voice, everyone join in}

"mines better than yours is, mines better than yours is, mines better than yours is"

COME ON! EVERYONE!

"mines better than yours is, mines better than yours is, mines better than yours is"

And now, the spankings!

Off to bed with you! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

For your punishment, you must finish "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"

FINE!!!!!!!!!
"mines better than yours is, mines better than yours is, mines better than yours is"

Question: Is it shorter to school to walk or carry your lunch?

{forest, forest gump}

"And that's all I got to say about that"

Rick:JEKYLHYDE :JEKYLHYDE ;)