MKIII vs Corvette

[Intouch]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

25k for bits 'n pieces? The numbers don't match up...by a longshot.
Either way, you're talking apples to oranges. With any Cobra, it's a hand built car vs. a production supercar. If you wanna play with snakes, you gotta pay the zookeeper.

oh, i am more than happy to pay the zookeper and issue free tickets as well. that's why i took the plunge.

i had mentioned economies of scale.......my question was more in the direction if we are getting what we paid for......is it a quality component chassis....or assembled bits and pieces ?

as for numbers not matching up here's my breakdown:

- rolling chassis: 47,746
- drivetrain: 28,308
- installation: 9,500
- bits and pieces:2,000
- shipping 3,500

totals: 91,054

well, just shy of 100k then........

import duty 108k........totals just shy of 200k.......

[BDR561]

$9500 for installation!!! Ouch... That is more than some people pay for their entire drivetrain. How many hours were spent on installation?

[Don]

Having both:

* Cobra: The WOW factor

* Z06: Serves a multitude of desires with a high degree of comfort and performance, also considering a very poorly designed cup holder.

Each with it's own personality serving two entirely different purposes. Considered both to be for recreation and enjoyment, not as investments nor was residual value a consideration.

[madmaxx]

New 2008 Supeformance without FI =$60K, New 2008 Corvette = $60K

3 years from now 2008 spf = $50K, worst case
3 years from now 2008 Corvette = $35K best case

5 years spf = $48K
5 years corvette = $25K and hope you donot have to take to dealer for repair.

[RodKnock]

New 2008 Corvette Z06 is about $60,000. A new base 2008 Corvette is about $40,000.

Yes, many installations can be very expensive depending on what the labor rates are and what's the shop's scope of work. Just to install, fit and coat the sidepipes is an arm and a leg.

[BDR561]

Isn't the coating costs, etc included in the parts and bit's and pieces? I did my last BDR install with the help of a couple of friends over the course of 3 days and approx. 40 hours total.

I'm assuming a reputable and experienced shop could do it in a lot less. I still think $9500 is excessive. If memory serves me correctly, when I purchased my first Cobra (BDR198) intallation was 3K and included a few bits and pieces...

I have more $$ into my Cobra that I do in either my C5 vert or 996 coupe. The C5 will depreciate quicker than either but makes a GREAT daily driver and returns 25mpg on regular gas. All three bring something different to the table and satisfy my different moods on different days.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by BDR561

I'm assuming a reputable and experienced shop could do it in a lot less. I still think $9500 is excessive. If memory serves me correctly, when I purchased my first Cobra (BDR198) intallation was 3K and included a few bits and pieces...

An experienced installer (i.e. someone who works with an SPF dealer and has done a high number of installs) would probably charge under $4k with some goodies installed.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Installation of eng, trans, and exhaust should take two people no more than eight hours. Add two hours for unforseen circumstances. If they do Cobras regularly, this estimate should be halved.
Export to where?

[Intouch]

1 Installation parts (see allatched list) 2423.63

1 Shop materials, oil, coolant, brake fluid, gas, sealers, wire coverings, connectors, electrical connectors, etc.
271.31

1 Installation, PDI, testing & alignment 4910.00
1 Special requested parts 80.88
1 Additional Labor (see attached list) 270.00
1 Additional fuel for testing 97.50

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Intouch

1 Installation parts (see allatched list) 2423.63

1 Shop materials, oil, coolant, brake fluid, gas, sealers, wire coverings, connectors, electrical connectors, etc.
271.31

1 Installation, PDI, testing & alignment 4910.00
1 Special requested parts 80.88
1 Additional Labor (see attached list) 270.00
1 Additional fuel for testing 97.50

Intouch - That's not totally unreasonable when you subtract the cost of parts (install kit). You also replaced some (or all of the guages) with Kirkham gauges, right?

Madmaxx - Who quoted the $2K install job? The two installers that SPF and other owners recommended were charging a minimum of $3,500 less parts.

[Intouch]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Intouch - That's not totally unreasonable when you subtract the cost of parts (install kit). You also replaced some (or all of the guages) with Kirkham gauges, right?

Madmaxx - Who quoted the $2K install job? The two installers that SPF and other owners recommended were charging a minimum of $3,500 less parts.

i initially wanted the kirkham gauges but they were backordered so i went with smiths electronic gauges.

i find the install cost+parts reasonable as well......

[brettco]

I don't think this guy worries about $9500.00. Let it go.

[Intouch]

Originally Posted by brettco

I don't think this guy worries about $9500.00. Let it go.

just cause i enjoy cars and toys and am willing to dish out on the best available certainly does not mean that i do not know the value of hard earned money.......

in fact, i (this guy) does very much so.....

otherwise, i would not have brought up the value question in the first place.

[madmaxx]

Standard installation for Roush engine and trans on new spf is right around $2K.

[Got the Bug]

Intouch - What are the driving/road conditions like in the region of Egypt that you are located in?

From the US State Department Website: ()

Driving in Egypt, a country with one of the world’s highest rates of road fatalities per mile driven, is a challenge....Traffic rules appear to be routinely ignored by impatient drivers...Drivers should be prepared for unlit vehicles at night; few, if any, road markings; vehicles traveling at high rates of speed"

[Intouch]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Intouch - What are the driving/road conditions like in the region of Egypt that you are located in?

From the US State Department Website: ()

Driving in Egypt, a country with one of the world’s highest rates of road fatalities per mile driven, is a challenge....Traffic rules appear to be routinely ignored by impatient drivers...Drivers should be prepared for unlit vehicles at night; few, if any, road markings; vehicles traveling at high rates of speed"

yup, that very much sums it up......but then again we get stretches of this.......

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Intouch

yup, that very much sums it up......but then again we get stretches of this.......

Nice...looks like a giant drag strip!

Do you have to worry about police patrolling those areas?

[Intouch]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Nice...looks like a giant drag strip!

Do you have to worry about police patrolling those areas?

yeah, we get our fair share of radar guns.......but it's easy, we cruise a few miles up and if the coast is clear we come flying back down.........:3DSMILE

[madmaxx]

Unless I am misunderstanding the question, Dynamic/Performance Engineering charge
$2K to install. That includes Roush engine to tremac TKO600 and stock ignition. The alignment price was included with the price of the roller, I guess. Dynamic has their own equipment with two alignment racks, impressive shop and PE is about 400 feet from them. Needless to say the $2K did not include the cost of transmission, bell housing etc. Give Shane Miller a call at Dynamic, or better yet wait until the first snowfall then call him, worked well for me.

[PANAVIA]

On a trip recently I rented a Hertz ZHZ Corvette (think 3000Lb Bumblebee) and was suitably impressed, but it had just no "soul".

I couldnt wait to get home and continue to work on my SPF.

that sums it up for me. Am I going to win races--maybe yes, maybe no.

am I going to have Fun--in my SPF ..yup,

Home Baked Performance goodness..