Stadium Lite Frame Price

[greasemnky]

I have to ask, is anyone BUYING this stuff anymore? Seems like the used buggies are going for pennies on the dollar with the current economic slow down and soaring gas prices. And if the Dems get into office, the EPA will regain power etc. Seems like a lot of guys are bringing back the Draks and Briggs cars, but I haven't seen many people buying them, except for way out west.

[plkracer]

It seems like it is getting a little better, but only time will tell. I think currently people are finding out that you can build them for cheap because parts are becoming more available. I better get a couple good rides in before those darned dems shut me down.

[greasemnky]

And your out west. We do business with a lot of guys out west, trust me, the midwest/east coast is in much worse shape. I just wonder how many of these new midwest buggies will actually be a viable business. No question their great buggies. Just costs so much to jig them up, produce them etc etc. Plus it seems for the weekend warrior, used is better. OR they have the skill to build them. Your looking for an off road guy, with 15-20K, who has no build ability. Tiny market for such a high priced item.

[Bugpac]

Only on the ubuild it forum were on, there is a lot of guys with the green...That dont wanna mess with it, rather just get there wallet out....I am on an atv board, were guys are buying 3-4-5 8-9k fourwheelers....

[greasemnky]

Huge jump from a 8K 4wheeler, to a toy that costs more than the truck towing it! Sort of my point. I could get 2 quads, and an enclosed trailer for the price of a drak. Out west, I can totally see it. But here in the midwest, thats a lot for a trail machine. For example, after seeing the proto buggies, fantastic machines. But if someone is looking for a trail ride, they could buy a pilot for 1/2 and have just as much fun. The trails limit the speeds you can pull. Heck, your ride is a perfect example, if you didn't get the deal you did on yours, would you have dropped full price on a drak and given up the prowler? At that price, your competing against all purpose utv's that have replacement parts readily available.

Heck, michigan lost 100,000 people LAST year. This years not shapping up to be much better. You don't even want to know whats coming in the mtg markets. I'm going to go cry now..............and look at pictures of n. carolina. lol

[K-fab]

Originally Posted by mhall\";p=\&quot

K-fab,
* * if someone built a good lite frame. i was wondering what a price would be to buy a complete frame. thanks,Mike

Good frame - what is a good frame? *(I know, sort of a rhetorical question)

Is it a proven design that works? *
Is it something that works that is being copied? *
What do you consider a frame? *Just the main chassis or a rolling chassis?
Is it a race oriented chassis or a play oriented chassis?
What material?

Figure out your tube amount for basic material cost, build one and then realize that the second one will take about 2/3rds the amount of time the first one takes, the third will take 1/2 the time. *Keep track of your time and multiply by a minimum of $65/hr once you decide just how long it will take to build a frame in a manufacturing way. *Tut can probably give you some guidance here.

Redline is getting 15K for a complete turn-key car.
Honda Pilots (which are almost 20 years old) are going for anywhere from 5K to 15K depending on mods and how clean they are.
Draks are 18k? 20K? *(I don't have any clue about a Drak)
C-Moore cars are about 20K, I believe.

[ProtoDie]

Proven design, and lots of field testing to me determines a quality design or frame.
Find the weak points yourself, so your customer never will

Everything is cool on paper,,,,or CAD but the product has to prove itself.

We keep making performance improvements to ours & I want to build a Generation 3 design of our cars to incorporate some of these small improvements.
Not anything to do with failures,,,,,just keep learning & seeing better ways to build and increase performance.

We can build a basic rollcage & engine cradle for $5000

Rolling chassis with A Arms , hubs and all machined components, but very few purchased items for $9000

Complete car for $17,000

But,,,,,,,,,,this is all at a highly reduced shop rate,,,,,more like $25-30 an hour ,,,not $65

Our normal shop rate is $50 an hr and it is other work that supports the equipment & overhead to build buggy parts & cars.

Hope this helps

[Gene]

Let's see: Proto for 17 or Redline for 15?

PROTO PROTO PROTO!

[El Toro]

Originally Posted by Bugpac\";p=\&quot

Amazingly enuff, them jigs for that ebay car are for sale on this board....If someone doesnt hurry up and buy them, I might just end up being the new owner... *Then ill just take my drakart box and photocopy it.... *American way now days, isnt it?

Bug are you talking about the stadium lite on ebay? I havent seen the jigs for sale. hmmm.....

[greasemnky]

Steves got some jigs for sale in the for sale section. Not for the whole car, I think its arms and the basic frame