Slot car pricing?

[Jesla]

Exactly.....for some of us, for various reasons are not able to paint and detail, and after 3-4
liveries of the same car(sometimes with great liberties I would add) I'm done and want more
running mates.

The legends F1s are the best series Scaley have had in a long time yet they trickle out every
few years. And at this time in the hobby it's codger money that's up for grabs. So the sweet
spot for us is basicly anything between '60 and '95. NASCARs from '71- '95, Indycars, Pre-'95
F-1s, TA's, Lemans and others(insert your personal favorite here) that are left untouched. To
me not a good move with the current state of the market.

As has been said before LMM and more so Racer's are much more durable and capable car than
a person might believe with limited contact or use.

[Fast Co.]

[cantstopnow]

The race cars I really like in full scale I can't buy so I must build them. The Saturday Night Short Track racers Me and my Dad watched in my youth. Also Me and my Wife Doni spent many a Saturday watching together. The track we went to is the track I want to model for my next track build. John W.

[Dangermouse]

I am reading a book on Jim Hall at the moment - he said he collected 11 cents per Cox Chapparal sold - which amounted to $45-50 000 per year over 2 years. That was 400 000 cars per year - just the Chapparal and just by Cox. That is a lot of slot cars - today I wonder if they would even make 400 000 cars per year across all manufacturers and different cars.....maybe??
But what we do have that they lacked is more variety of cars - more precision and I think better mechanics (no expert on 60s slot cars though so don't shoot me down)

As I posted in another thread I looked at a chaps race box - he had 1/24 and 1/32 Plafit chassis cars in it. I have a few of these cars and they run very nicely - really smooth race cars - think a step above NSR - when I first got into the hobby I wouldn't have even considered paying the $$ for one of these cars cost to build let alone the 12 cars in his box. Now I look at my collection and realise that my 30 or so JGTC cars probably cost the same as the his race box. Would I trade them - probably not I collected them for a reason but I have realised that as shiny as they are I don't need to own all the NSX or Lexus cars one or two is fine....(yes I am a member of SCCA)

What I have realised is you spend what you feel comfortable spending and don't worry about what other people feel comfortable with. Your comfort level may change as you learn more about the hobby or it may not. But no point paying $150 or $200 for a car if you aren't comfortable doing that...remember it is free to look and admire other people's race boxes :)

I have also decided for me the performance of the car out of the box is important. Most cars need some tuning... but I have decided I won't pay high dollars for cars that don't run well out of the box. In fact I am reluctant to spend any dollars on them at all if they don't run well out of the box. I just wouldn't feel comfortable paying $80 for a car which you put on the track and in whines and wobbles and clunks its way around. If that same car was $40 or so - then I probably wouldn't be as worried. But then Carrera can make a smooth running car and sell it for around $50 - so why can't others?? or why do they charge more than that - e.g. Scaley cars are now range from $55 -$85 in Australia depending on car / series etc..

What do I base my $$ benchmark on - about the cost of slot.it (~$65) or NSR (~$100) cars. Whilst these companies don't make all the cars I want before I spend $80 on a car I want to know it runs as close to these cars or at least won't disappoint me by being noisy and clunky and have out of true wheels etc. I guess if they can make a car run that nicely and sell it for those $$ then why can't the other folk as well.

David

[HomeRacingWorld]

I am pretty much opposite. This is my hobby. Part of the fun for me is tuning. I enjoy it.

And I fully accept responsibility for my actions. Meaning that if I decide to route a track from wood and keep it non-magnet, then I just created an environment most of these cars are not designed for. Therefore I am not really that critical on how they "perform".

It's like asking me to perform well at a salad bar. It's not pretty. I growl, bounce around, and generally reveal I am not built for this. :) And it is going to take a LOT of work to get me to behave. Lot's of bacon, cheese, diced ham, and ranch dressing for starters. Where is the diced pepperoni? How about those croutons that are soaked in garlic butter? Better stock up on those.

Most of the advanced enthusiasts I know, realize the model they just bought will need some work. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. All of it varied based on the taste of the individual in question. It is all personal preference.

You refuse to buy them? By all means do so. But there are many of us that will anyway. We are hopelessly addicted and we just admire your willpower to say no. :)

[jcis4me]

Yes
As a matter of fact I just spent nearly 200 on a Pioneer test shot clear Camaro, from inaslots on evilbay.




Marty