I agreed also, that's why I am still stock.

 

I always use to use the rule of 3 for my R34!, telephone calls went something like this :

"Hi Shineyparts, can i help you"

"I'd like a price on some DBA discs please?"

"There about £100 each sir", "whats the vehicle"

"Its a UK spec R34 GTR V-Spec"

"Arrrr! there a little more expensive, there £300 each"

and so on and so on, i've got use to it now, maybe its a Nissan thing?

Either way you guys still pay a lot less than we do, the 350 i've just ordered would work out at $52k against the $35-$36K you would pay, then to fill the tank would be around $120, so taking the price difference and the rule of 3 into account, i'll be skint by the end of the month lol

Andy

 

my boss but an upgraded suspension on his jag...$12,500

 

totally agree wit you bro.

 

if you guys stop buying the mods at it's current price, it will drop to half in less than a year...

supply and demand... actual cost of production is less than 20 percent of retail price... even at half price, they still make a decent profit...

exhaust is just a bunch of pipes cut and welded to specs... 100 dollars for the metal, 200 dollars for the welder... the rest is profit...


as long as you're willing to pay for overpriced items, they will sell it to you for that much...

same story with the M3, it's just people who buy it, are willing to spend more...

 

s2000 mods are more the same price as the mods for you z, if not more expensive. and for the most part, you'll see less gains.

 

ok i'd like to take some 2 cents into this thread.
yes certain parts are more expensive other parts are the same price.
I do agree some parts are more expensive.. other parts aren't

Now with most parts imported from japan it will be slightly more expensive. Due to shipping and customs and such.

Now volk is not the only one that is raising prices.. Ame as well as Work also plan on raising pricing. Now the main reason is due to more of the replica companies (READ OBX/MEGAN RACING/D2/ETC....) Are buying up the raw materials causing pricing to go up on those materials and that in turn ends up costing end consumer more money,..

 

ok out of genuine curiosity and i guess i am alone in this but what on gods green earth justifies paying over 20 grand for an exhaust system?!?!?! It cannot seriously be becuase it is sthe same "special" material used inside jet engines. NOt much special about that material, at least the planes i work on....

 

I think everyone has some valid points. I remember when I started modifying my 240SX SE Coupe way back in 91 when no one was working Nissans. Finding parts was impossible and the cost was more than the comparable Honda parts. However, now they are almost equal. The main factors are competition and economy of scales. Producing 1000 units allows a lower selling point than 100 and then you have to price it to meet your neighbors pricing on top of it.

Secondly, you have to look at the cars we are comparing the Z to. Factory FI cars are always a lot easier to add power to for relatively little as opposed to tuning a NA vehicle. My Subaru was easy to add power to, for 2K I was up approximately 80hp and at 4K I was up 160-180 with very little issues at all. However, when you look at an S2000, the parts are equally expensive and yield similiar results. Why? Because both our vehicles and the S2000 are so well tuned and just about maxed out from the factory versus a Mustang or other big block motor that uses displacement as a cure for lack of technology or tuning.

I think in times prices may come down, but we will always see minimal gains at fairly large costs unless you decided to go FI. And again, look at the Comptech system for the S2000 or Gruppe M supercharger for BMW and you will see we are actually doing pretty well in terms of pricing.

 

Sorry, importing a product from Japan doesn't add to the price much... it only justifies the importer's markup... if it's made in the USA, the labor is more expensive which negates the customs and shipping cost.... walmart imports from China, how come they sell stuff cheap? as a ballpark it costs less than 200 dollars to move one cubic meter from asia to west coast usa, that cost goes down further if you import by the trailer... figure at least 2 mufflers per cubic meter, your cost is less than 100 dollars... (more expensive to ship UPS CA to NY)

these things are cheaper in Japan, however since people are willing to pay a lot of money over here, importers can make a huge profit and get away with it...

and the excuse of raw materials becoming scarce is not really true... actual cost of raw materials is less than 10 percent of the product's retail value... and if you're talking about steel, aluminum, and any other metal... it's as abundant now than it was last year... the only item that has a genuine shortage is carbon fiber, and even that's not too expensive...

and in reply to somebody else's post... no aircraft grade metals are not necessarily better, they are made stronger because they have to be so thin and light as possible... if you don't have to be as light, you can make it as strong for much less.... it makes a difference only in serious race tracks, a few pounds exta weight won't make your car go much faster...

 

30k car = expensive mods?

 

^What he said. EVO's and STI's power comes cheap because of the turbo. Cars like the Camaro, Firebird, Mustang, etc. are big-*** engines that need to breathe more and can be made fast for cheap because of American made parts.

 

Have you seen Porsche aftermarket parts? A front bumper cost $2k-$4K, I can't imagine what a whole body kit would cost? I don't think Z prices are that ridiculous, but if they made it cheaper, you would be driving Zs that look like each other. Thank god, I haven't seen an Altezza light on a Z yet, except in pictures and on eBay.

 

I have on 04 ZR chrome silver. I put stainless steel grill on and graphics on the side with pinstripping, Nismo cold air, 3D chrome Euro tail lights, changed all badging to FairladyZ, put LED side markers, side turn signals, cross drilled and slotted rotors, stainless steel brake lines, master cylinder brake brace, lowered car 1/2" So far have spent less than $3000.00 and car looks great and turns heads. I next plan to get new 19" wheels for around $1200.00 this is not bad I didn't think the exhaust system needed to be replaced but will as the prices come down some more and should still be under $5000.00 total. The older the car gets the better it gets and I'm willing to wait for the prices to come down some more.

 

you wanna see expensive mods, try doing anything to a E46 M3. the mod price on a M3 is the reason i am getting a 350Z.

 

Which is exactly why I decided to get the 350z over the Evo. Not anyone can go out and modify this car without putting out some cash.

On another note, my dad just bought his m3 for 94,000. That is with every e46 m3 Dinan Mod available, not including the intercooler which is coming out later in the year.

 

Would you like to race heads-up?

 

I think that the Z is a great car without doing anything to it. I think that minor customization is just fine, like getting wheels or an aftermarket stereo system. In my opinion, going all out in aftermarket mods is a complete waste of money if you're not going to race your car at the track. Buying a turbo because it sounds good, or so that you can race someone at a red light (which is dumb by the way) is not the right reason. Street racing is illegal! Save your money folks. That's my 2c.

 

^What about those who enjoy the sport of legal racing such as auto-crossing or road-racing? I think thats money well justified and spent.

 

Try Modding an M5. I spent more than the Cost of a Z for less than 50 HP.

Porsche were worse. Try $40K for replacing PCCB rotors.

Yes replacing the rotors are $40K.

The entire PCCB setup is only $20K. Porsche just say its normal for parts to be twice as dear. Give me a break.

The Z mods are CHEAP. Very CHEAP.

MJ