Building VS Purchase - HELP

[Jason Rowe]

Hello All!! Merry Christmas from Landstuhl Army Base, Germany!! I had a question for all you members out there. I will be moving back to the states in 2012 and have been saving my pennies for this purchase. My car knowledge is average, but my father-in-law's is massive. My question is this: I think I am more concerned about the finished product instead of the journey to get there. That being said, is it more cost effective to just purchase a car someone is selling? Are there great savings to building one yourself?

I read all the posts and stories on the forums and they are awesome. I am just looking for some guidance on building versus purchasing.

Thank you for all the posts that I am sure will come, and hope you all in the states have a great holiday!

Jason

[ClemsonS197]

In this economy, it is cheaper to buy one already built most of the time.

However, many enjoy the build and creating a car exactly how you want it.

Personally, I enjoy the challenge of the build and modifying to the car so it is exactly what I want. But if you don't really care about the build, then you'll be ahead in time and money by buying someone else's choices.

[Jason Rowe]

That is kind of what I was thinking. After checking prices and such, I couldn't find a whole lot of savings in building the car. But since I have never tried anything of this magnitude, I figured I would inquire what other owners think.

[tcoon]

That is a great question and the answer mostly depends on what your goals are. I purchased my challenge car already completed and that got me racing in a month. I found the build quality to be excellent and have subsequently rebuilt the entire car over the course of the three years I have raced it. The value for the dollar buying a finished car can't be beat, and it gives you a way to learn about these great cars in a more gradual way.

I have since built a hot rod kit and am starting this season a Daytona coupe. The thrill of building the car yourself from the ground up and seeing it "born" can't be beat, but the process is definitely a lot more expensive than buying a completed car, as there are lots of small hidden expenses that really add up, particularly if you get off track and make lots of changes to the kit ("didn't you use ANYTHING that came in the kit?").

I guess the final choice depends on how much you want to personalize the car, and how much you are willing to rebuild. The cars are very easy to customize later on, and you have the ultimate thrill of driving a great car right away. My experience has been that most cars are pretty well built and the drive trains are very reliable, so you're pretty safe buying a car already completed.

-T

[bil1024]

If you enjoy building and have alot of paitience why not build it! If you want to get on the road ASAP, buy one, there is alot of good deals out there, heck I will be selling my MK4 in a few months to build a coupe. If you want to go that direction let me know, I can paint it any color you want! Take care and thanks for serving, I did 9 yrs in the Army, never regretted it

[willy]

For most of us it is more about the build so if that is not important to you than it cheaper to buy than build

[skullandbones]

Jason,
I don't think this is something you really want to do based on your post. Personally, if I was more concerned with the quality of the build and the price, I would just "pull the trigger" and buy one that is well built. Take a mechanic with you and inspect it or study the "build history". If the seller doesn't want to share every little detail, then buyer beware and run!

If you really want a great experience: build one of these cars. It grows on you. But you wouldn't want to get bogged down in the build if that's really not what you want (and I wouldn't want to depend on someone else for too much support. That's just me). Good luck whichever way you go. Getting an FFR is the right decision. I'm sure of that! WEK.

[3kcarbon]

There really isn't any way you can build one for less than you can buy one already built. That just doesn't sound correct but is pretty much a fact. If you look around and not get in a huge rush you can probably find a nice one close to what you want. You can always change things to suit as long as you find a solid car. If you have the time and the place and ability building may be worth the extra time and money. If you don't want to build one it will be a bad move and you probably will not be happy either with the growing expense or time involved. I wanted to build mine and did so in a single car garage over a year and a half or so. Many a cold night in a unheated garage and quite a few hot and sweaty ones along the way. The so called dream has probably become a nightmare for some guys and you won't find them here. They probably sold out or got it done and sold it. Try to find one built by a guy that didn't just slam some worn out stuff in and call it done. Reworking all that would be about as bad as building new.

[gtcobra]

I think it depends on the type of build you do. If you go complete kit with all new parts, crate motor, trans, rear end etc. it is definitely cheaper buying one already done. On the other hand, if you go the base kit with donor parts I think you can build one the way you want for the same cost or cheaper, and get exactly what you want. You will have to shop around for a reasonable donor. I found a 2003 Mach 1 for a donor (23k miles) for less than $5k and by rhe time I sold off the parts I did not need I ended up with about $1500. in my entire running gear. It is definitely possible to build one cheaper than buying one. I would not sell mine for what I have invested, but I did shop around for bodywork etc. good luck. HTH

[AJ Roadster NJ]

For me it was all about the build, the project. A journey of self-discovery. If the goal is to just have one and drive it, then buy one built. The used market for these cars is, um, stinky.

One word of caution though -- do your research and understand what you're buying. Two cars, each with the same basic components, can (and will) have VERY different quality and craftsmanship. Examine the car VERY closely before buying.

AJ

[Mesa Mike]

I go to and watch some of the auctions on TV. Many of the cars sell for thousands of dollars below what it cost the builder to build. I think if you go to a builder with a good name you would be OK getting a turn key. I have been helping a friend build his cobra for 2 years. Many times he said, "I should have purchased a car already complete". I met a guy with a $60,000 NAF that was trying to sell it for $30,000. Watch the "cars for sale" on this and other forums. Nothing wrong with getting behind the wheel right away and enjoying the driving experience. By the way, my build took me 6 months.

[KC Wildcat]

To me it breaks down like this:]

If you want a car - a cobra, maybe have a few parameters and are time limited - buy one already done.

If you want to create something. If you have a dream or exact vision of a cobra, something uniquely you - then build is the only way ( you could have it built to your specs, but now you are paying for labor in addition to the parts.

If you really like your FIL a lot, then it could be a neat bonding experience...if not, well....there are always a number of cars for sale at any given time.

[jimgood]

How soon do you want to be driving an FFR Roadster? The build process is something that can take a back seat to other things in life. The project can sit for weeks or months with no progress because of other priorities. Be realistic about what's most important to you.

[riptide motorsport]

In your case, just returning from serving..reward yourself and buy one,,,theres plenty of tinckering to do with a finished car to make it your own and suit your tastes.......STeven

[CraigS]

Get your father in law to go w/ you to look over possible buys.Try hard not to buy the first one especially if you get to test drive it.Promise yourself that you will come home w/o a car the first few times and this should get you a great deal. Before hand try to decide on some minimum requirements.What engine size/hp? What rear suspension? Classic car or modern look? Read this forum every day til you get home and that will help w/ the requirements. Best of luck and thanks for what you are doing for all of us!!