Buying a used race car vs building own

Dave Ribeiro · 12-08-2009, 09:55 AM

There is no-way you can build one as cheap as you can buy one...
Also most cars you buy have been down the track and have most basic problems sorted out..... Don't make the same mistake most people make, buy one running and all built and go racing... There are enough things to worry about .... Good Luck with your project...

buzzinhalfdozen · 12-08-2009, 10:07 AM

Hands down buying a used car is the most cost effective, buying a "good" car requires a little work and investigation. Unless you have the required time and skills to do most of the build yourself. The initial cost of a good used car may seem high at first but you need to realize the price of parts and labor involved. As suggested you should not get "hung up" on one particular car, look and ask around, just because a car is not a "brand name" doesn't mean it's no good, however I'm sure there are some home built cars that are questionable. Take your time if you can and you will find a nice car worth the price.Joe

Harry 6674 · 12-08-2009, 10:54 AM

If you buy an existing race car we are not increasing our car counts,just changing drivers. It may(not always) cost more to build your own but it will be yours. If you have the skills it will save a bunch of cash.

west coast · 12-08-2009, 11:15 AM

Buying a car is not always cheaper. I am into my car way under 10,000 bucks and ran .63 under the index at Vegas this year and still have some improvements I can make with more money the motor has a144000 miles on it. It took less than a year to build. But I enjoy building racecars. If you want the fastest car on the block sure it is cheaper to buy a used one and go racing right away which is a big plus. It all depends on what you like to do build and race or buy and race or spend alot of money on a top of the line car and be really fast but most of all have fun with it.

GEORGE PETERSON · 12-08-2009, 05:28 PM

It might cost more, but there is nothing like having a quick and fast race car and the satisfaction of knowing you built it yourself. Otherwise you'd better get used to people refering to your car as "whats his names old race car".

G Peterson
D/S 4448

Mike Taylor 3601 · 12-08-2009, 07:50 PM

I agree with Joe,Jeff and George and now my 2 cents, I wonder how many times people buy a car,then by the time they get it the way they want it,did they save anything?
Mike Taylor 3601

Tim H · 12-08-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Taylor 3601

I agree with Joe,Jeff and George and now my 2 cents, I wonder how many times people buy a car,then by the time they get it the way they want it,did they save anything?
Mike Taylor 3601

Wow, how very true in my case !

Philip Saran · 12-08-2009, 10:48 PM

I'll throw in my $0.02.
When I bought my Duster 2 years ago I paid more for it than any other project
car I had ever had, even my stock eliminator Duster back in the 80's, I think I
got blinded by the yellow paint, shiny wheels and the BB under the hood.

Of course it had no safety equipment, it had been a street/strip car, so now I
have about $10K in it and all the safety stuff and it is just about ready to race.

Would I have been better off buying a truely "turn-key" proven race car....yes,
would it have been as much fun/aggrivation....no. Did I have enough cash to buy
a turn key proven race car at the time.....no, story of my life.

Wade Mahaffey · 12-08-2009, 11:30 AM

The more you do yourself, the more pride and sense of accomplishment you feel! Just like they did back in the early days. Build what you can, and you'll never be racing over your head. Educate and challenge yourself to new heights. You keep trying and do your best, and that my friend is a Winner ! Wade

Rich Biebel · 12-08-2009, 02:12 PM

I like buying a well built used roller.....BUT you have to be carefull as your likely to be replacing a number of items once you take a close look or race it......

I have had to replace or rebuild a lot of the stuff on cars I bought....It's still cheaper than building if you find the right deal.

I bought most of my cars as rollers and I don't regret it at all.....I took them all apart anyway and built my own engines before I assembled and raced them.......

I did build a new dragster in 1998 and that was a lot of work. I did all the finish work on a basic frame and body.......and a friend painted it. A dragster is very easy compared to any door car no matter what class or categorie...

12-08-2009, 09:55 AM	#1
Dave Ribeiro VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsburg, Va.---USA Posts: 1,827 Likes: 1,612 Liked 56 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own There is no-way you can build one as cheap as you can buy one... Also most cars you buy have been down the track and have most basic problems sorted out..... Don't make the same mistake most people make, buy one running and all built and go racing... There are enough things to worry about .... Good Luck with your project... __________________ Dave Ribeiro 1033 STK

12-08-2009, 10:07 AM	#2
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own Hands down buying a used car is the most cost effective, buying a "good" car requires a little work and investigation. Unless you have the required time and skills to do most of the build yourself. The initial cost of a good used car may seem high at first but you need to realize the price of parts and labor involved. As suggested you should not get "hung up" on one particular car, look and ask around, just because a car is not a "brand name" doesn't mean it's no good, however I'm sure there are some home built cars that are questionable. Take your time if you can and you will find a nice car worth the price.Joe __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

12-08-2009, 10:54 AM	#3
Harry 6674 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 589 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own If you buy an existing race car we are not increasing our car counts,just changing drivers. It may(not always) cost more to build your own but it will be yours. If you have the skills it will save a bunch of cash.

12-08-2009, 11:15 AM	#4
west coast Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rainy Washington Posts: 609 Likes: 12 Liked 223 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own Buying a car is not always cheaper. I am into my car way under 10,000 bucks and ran .63 under the index at Vegas this year and still have some improvements I can make with more money the motor has a144000 miles on it. It took less than a year to build. But I enjoy building racecars. If you want the fastest car on the block sure it is cheaper to buy a used one and go racing right away which is a big plus. It all depends on what you like to do build and race or buy and race or spend alot of money on a top of the line car and be really fast but most of all have fun with it.

12-08-2009, 05:28 PM	#5
GEORGE PETERSON Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 43 Likes: 31 Liked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own It might cost more, but there is nothing like having a quick and fast race car and the satisfaction of knowing you built it yourself. Otherwise you'd better get used to people refering to your car as "whats his names old race car". G Peterson D/S 4448

12-08-2009, 07:50 PM	#6
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,372 Likes: 355 Liked 308 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own I agree with Joe,Jeff and George and now my 2 cents, I wonder how many times people buy a car,then by the time they get it the way they want it,did they save anything? Mike Taylor 3601

12-08-2009, 10:48 PM	#8
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 165 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own I'll throw in my $0.02. When I bought my Duster 2 years ago I paid more for it than any other project car I had ever had, even my stock eliminator Duster back in the 80's, I think I got blinded by the yellow paint, shiny wheels and the BB under the hood. Of course it had no safety equipment, it had been a street/strip car, so now I have about $10K in it and all the safety stuff and it is just about ready to race. Would I have been better off buying a truely "turn-key" proven race car....yes, would it have been as much fun/aggrivation....no. Did I have enough cash to buy a turn key proven race car at the time.....no, story of my life. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

12-08-2009, 11:30 AM	#9
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own The more you do yourself, the more pride and sense of accomplishment you feel! Just like they did back in the early days. Build what you can, and you'll never be racing over your head. Educate and challenge yourself to new heights. You keep trying and do your best, and that my friend is a Winner ! Wade

12-08-2009, 02:12 PM	#10
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Buying a used race car vs building own I like buying a well built used roller.....BUT you have to be carefull as your likely to be replacing a number of items once you take a close look or race it...... I have had to replace or rebuild a lot of the stuff on cars I bought....It's still cheaper than building if you find the right deal. I bought most of my cars as rollers and I don't regret it at all.....I took them all apart anyway and built my own engines before I assembled and raced them....... I did build a new dragster in 1998 and that was a lot of work. I did all the finish work on a basic frame and body.......and a friend painted it. A dragster is very easy compared to any door car no matter what class or categorie... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R