Better to buy or build

[buzzinhalfdozen]

This from personal experience, it's hard to beat the satisfaction of building and setting up your own car. However as far as efficient.... you're better off buying a roller or turn key car. The down side to this is unless you're buying a "name brand" car you're never really sure what you're getting. By doing some research and asking the right questions I'm sure you could score a nice car.Joe

[mannymen]

The issue is that most don't have 40-60K in hand at once, but can over 6-8 years.

[Bob Pagano]

That may be true Manny but 6 -8 years ? the car will be obsolete and with infalation 60T will be 120 thousand. May not even be any racing in 8 years if things dont start turning around, nhra has priced a bunch of people out for now as per some of the posts I have been reading.

[danny waters sr]

Buy , Buy , Buy ....Still building (and racing ) after 4 years.

[Ed Carpenter]

Buy one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last time I looked on racing junk there was 10 or so on there,

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by deuces wild

Buy one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last time I looked on racing junk there was 10 or so on there,

Step #1 Figure out what you want to race, and how fast your class will be, a slower class will be much cheaper and you will not need a comp license and physical, and chasis cert etc...Spend the time with the rule book, scouring the classification guide, finding the "sweet" combo, Class racing like sales is a numbers game.....

Step #2 Figure out if you want the thrill and satisfaction of building it yourself, but knowing that you will not A. see the track any time soon, and B. will be spending significant time and money testing, retesting and making your wooden wheel go from square to round, but you will not be able to do it all yourself unless you are a freaking genius with all things automotive in today's world and in which case, you are likely too busy building other peoples cars to race...

Step#2.1 Strongly consider getting in touch with some experts in your chosen arena and even offer them Quan in return for their expertise and knowledge......ie Billy Nees with odball combos, etc. Leave no stone unturned.

Step #3 If you want to race this season, you will need to buy, next year you likely can build depending upon your answers to #1 and #2. Roller with a motor and trans maybe this year, if you have an in with a engine builder or can do yourself. Trannies may be more problematic......backorders are a reality....

Step #4 Pull out that wallet, dig deep, spend what you can justify, and enjoy the ride whatever path you desire......

Eric

[Ron Zenzen 5402]

Watch it go down the track, pay for it, and load it up in your trailer. The only way !!

[Wade Mahaffey]

If you don't have the experience, time, equitment, dedication, skills, imagination, perseverance, then you better just buy one! For me, the ultimate satisfaction is winning in something I built myself. That is really cool!

Wade Mahaffey

[Greg Hill]

Buying is cheaper but you may not get the car or the quality that you want. I have built 3 stock eliminator cars over the years and I don't think I would of been happy with a lot of the stuff I see at the race track.