LamboClone - The Premier Site for Lamborghini Replica Builders
The Forum => Other Topics => Topic started by: armyman on January 21, 2013, 10:04:52 PM
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??? Ok CARKITINC/Jackie says you can build a Mercy kit for under $12,000.00. Can it be done with out sacrificing all the good stuff like power windows, working batwings ETC.. Well I am going to take the CARKITINC CHALLENGE. A $12,000.00 build, before anyone says it can't be done or ridcules me for it let us test this theory. Ok so here the rules, it will be a G24 built on a 1986 v6 auto fiero, have power windows, working batwing, Corvette Rims, Replica vinyl interior, all lights working normal, and remember my GOAL IS TO GET THIS REPLICA/KIT CAR ON THE ROAD WITH AS LITTLE MONEY AS POSSIBLE, SO SAYING THAT IM NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THE REAL DEAL.. JUST TRYING TO GET IT FINISHED AND ROAD WORTHY FOR $12,000.00... I will post pics and everything I purchase down to the penny on here... ???
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Oh Geeez, here we go again (and we wonder why the OE owners laugh at us ::tongue) You get what you pay for.
If you're lucky, you can get $5500 for it when you're done!
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Believe me I know, I have built a carkitinc replica before, all I'm doing here is trying to prove or dis-prove Jackie's $12,000 theory. I don't think it can be done, but Jackie swear it can. This will be a fast build also, I have all the money up front and already have the fiero stretched with freshly rebuilt v6.
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Can we as a community please get away from the g24....that car has put Lambo kit cars on the map but for all the wrong reasons...
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armyman ....PLEASE get the G28 version more options, meaning ,parts are everywhere for this model ,or get the exterior an a dash board only for the same price as the G24 , try it ,they can only say no !!!
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Ok ok. I will do the g28 build and same rules, $12,000.00 budget. And by the way how it going IKR(Dave). It been awhile.
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of course he swears it he wants you to spend money with him, invest in returns not wreckless investments that will not payoff, just saying, best of luck though...
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Yeah do the g28, even if it costs more than $12000 at least you can do better reselling it than a g24
Which Cki kit have you built prior to this? How much did it cost compared to how much Jackie claims it cost ? Have any pics?
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all good here ,armyman .. trying to make a few things happen , the G28 body is made by several people
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Tusabes yes I have pics of my old builds, I have built the g24 and g28 from carkitinc, and the cost was well over $12,000 heck it was well over $25,000. And Dave I hear ya bro, it's been a heck of a year here, maybe 2013 will be better.
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I bet SR could build it for you for $11K, and it would be indistinguishable from the real thing ;)
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Jackie is like Rob, he'll say anything to sell a kit. Good luck with it though, and LMK if theres anything I can do to help!
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Lol yeah. Thanks MM but lucky Lopez got me once don't think I will fall for a scam again.
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Tusabes yes I have pics of my old builds, I have built the g24 and g28 from carkitinc, and the cost was well over $12,000 heck it was well over $25,000.
Well ask yourself what you'll be able to do differently to shave $13000 off your prior build costs . Cheap rims, no OEM parts etc.
And let's see the pics of your prior builds !!!
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To each his own and if a G24 is what you like, it's your car and your money and I say go for it. I've seen some nicely done G24's so I'm not going to knock them. I personally have a G28 which I liked over the G24 but now that the Watson bodies are out there, they make the G28's look "second fiddle" and people are starting to look down their noses at the G28's. As I've said before, you are building this car for you and you are the person that must be happy with it.
Now with that said, I for one will enjoy reading your build thread and I'm in that camp of members who have serious doubt that $12K will build a decent car... but hey... prove us wrong and even if it comes to $15K, that's still an accomplishment. Unlike the claims we've seen of some new inexperienced member (without tools, a donor or any money) building some awesome front engined Firebird or Camaro based Lambo for $12K, you'll actually have a good chance of completing a car and the big question will be what the final total was and how you did it.
I will warn you up front that anything dealing with sacrificing safety will almost certainly create some negative compliments. I would never build a replica to the "Jackie standard" and telling builders to leave out things like hood latches and or opening panels with "a string" is just wrong for the hobby and even more wrong for those riding inside these things. Also if Jackie is trying to buy some publicity and give you a body and other parts to offset the total cost, this isn't really the "average Joe" building a car for under $12K and that's just playing with "loaded dice" if you ask me. ::counfused
Best of luck and I look forward to reading your build thread.
Chris
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BTW.. Armyman, thanks for waking the site up.. I was beginning to think everyone was getting bored around here. LOL! ::headbang
Don't take anything said here personal and just prove everyone wrong while ending up with your dream ride. ::beers
Chris
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I tried to wake up the site with the Faux Engine Cover thread! I think i woke CCIE up pretty well lol!
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I tried to wake up the site with the Faux Engine Cover thread! I think i woke CCIE up pretty well lol!
Yes you did. ;)
Chris
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lol, I have a CKI kit and am already so far over this. I'm glad that my original plan for getting into this build was, come up with a budget. Then double it. Then allow for extras. Then realize that needs will become wants. Then realize that somethings will have to wait.
Like I said in my bio, and like CKI claims, I'm just getting the car legal and drivable first. But that wasn't for 12k. I really do wish you the best of luck, and will watch the build with interest. If nothing else it will be very entertaining and I look forward to it.
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Here's how the last guys' $12K CKI build came out.
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OK. I'm not doing this for me a personal ride, I'm doing this just to see if it can be done for the $12,000.00, of course I plan on spending more, and I don't know Jackie personally, I have only met him in person once all other dealings with him is over the phone. And no Chris this is not a publicity stunt for Jackie, he isn't giving anything for free. The only free thing I have got so far is the fiero from my Dad in which he paid $600.00 for a 1986 auto v6 fiero with a knocking rod. I stripped it, stretched and rebuilt the motor myself. All will be in the cost even the $600.00 he paid for it. Thanks to all Charles
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Here is the chassis I will be using, 1986 Fiero V6, Auto 11 inch stretch $Rebuilt motor.
Cost: Fiero-$600.00
Stretch-$300.00 all done myself
Engine rebuild kit-$300.00 Ebay
Cost so far $1200.00
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Here is the Fiero before the Stretch....
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As for older pics of my builds here is a Carkitinc G24 I built a while back I think 07 or 08.... I will look for more pics of older builds, but as of now thats all I have.. and yes I cracked the windshield the first time trimming it as you can see in the pics.. lol Thanks Charles
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i think we wanted to see the g28 ::scratch
you built two cars and never took pics of the finished products?
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Yes I know.. Still looking for them... They are the old school paper photo's, not digital so having a hard time finding them...And actually if you count the diablo I built it would be 3 cars :o
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Here is the Diablo... I liked the old style interior pre-1998 at first but later converted it back to the 2001 style..
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So, you're gonna spend $12K (or more) just to prove him right or wrong?
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Well MM.. You make it sound like I'm wasting money, that's not exactly what I'm doing but in a way yes I want to prove or dis-prove Carkitinc/Jackie right or wrong. Saying that I'm not rich, just a simple man taking on a challenge. After I meet or exceed the $12,000.00 challenge who knows I might keep the car for personal use and upgrade the stuff it lacks on, but as of now my plan is to try the carkitinc challenge.
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Come on guys and let's show some member support here. He's building something for himself that's in his price range which I think is way more practical than the many members that try building cars (intentionally or unintentionally) outside of their price ranges. This single thing is probably one of the leading factors of cars not being completed. I applaud anyone that finishes a project regardless of the body style.
Chris
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Chris I couldn't agree with you more, I still might go with the G24 (IDK though maybe g28) to try and make the $12,000 theory, but that's not my budget, I have a little more stuck back so when or if I break the 12 grand I can still finish the car. Thanks Charles.
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I will forever knock on the G24 kit for being a huge waste of a perfectly good fiero. After riding in Mikes car this weekend. Id say get a G28, even if you have no plans on modifying anything else on the car you'll be glad you did.
Hell id even get a Mercy 4 before I bought a G24 kit. At least my car will look funny but will be powerful and won't get bullied by stock Hondas.
Just remember that there are those who now have near OEM paneled cars that are knocking the G28's and of course there are the many real Lambo owners that think we are all a bunch of losers.
My point is that if you are building a car to please everyone else, you'll never finish it because such a car doesn't exist and the Jedi mind trick is that it's impossible to please everyone. Build what you can afford to finish and whatever makes you happy. This is more respected here than those who never start nor finish a project at all. If asked my personal opinion, I like the G28 better than the G24 and I only wish someone built a more accurate (and still fits a stretched Fiero) and complete version of the G28 that included "Watson" quality panels.
If doing it over, I wouldn't buy a G24 or G28 but opt for a custom or OEM frame and invest in the Watson panels and I would be in that same high risk group on never having enough money to finish it.
Thanks,
Chris
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Chris those are great points and I can say that you are 100% correct build the car that you want to build and don't worry about anyones input as I have been told that we are going to the extreme, maybe for some the way we are doing it is to much and maybe what the 12k builder is doing is to little but the only people it should matter to is the one writing the check, I know earlier my post said to invest in something that pays off and really after thinking about it there are more pay offs then just financial, reaching that 3% gang as a completed car probably is more rewarding then anything else considering the hassle it is to even get what you need to finish a car, so the best of luck to all the guys that start and congrats to those who have finished...
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I agree with you both, but I have been doing some thinking, I am not going to reveal what body style I chose, I will update my cost on here but no pics of the build posted until finished.(I will post pics of parts and stuff like that but not of the actual body it self) until fully complete.
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Armyman, you could do like the manufactures do and put some of those covers over fender areas or just cover the front and rear areas but post the pics as it comes along, that will keep the interest, maybe hold a contest as a "know your kit contest" lol, just kidding, best of luck on the 12k, I dang sure wish I would have thought of that.
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Good point jamack, I might just do that. As for the 12k I don't think it can be done, but I am sure going to try. I already have a stretched chassis with working ac and newly rebuilt motor for $1200.00 that leaves me with $10,800 to finish. Well thx and I will see you at the finish line, probably last lol but I will be there.
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Document everything! Every screw you buy, bulb, can of contact cement, etc. Keep track of every penny. It will be interesting to see the total (or running total) as you build.
I understand you are building the car for you, I am just playing with you with my posts lol!
Keep this in mind though, "always think resale". There's nothing wrong with building a G24, but you will in no way get back what you put in it if you decide to sell. The reason is because people who buy these cars already built are not buying them because they are a hand-built car, and definately not because they like to (or can) build. They are buying them for the "bling" value, and the perception of wealth. They want something thats gonna fool the public, and get them attention. The G24 is a terrible rendition of the Murcielago, it only fools the very naive. I still believe its a much more expensive build than the G28, since there are really no parts for them and more has to be fabricated.
Yes, people look down on the G24 because of the G28, and yes people now look down on the G28 because of the A/D kit. The A/D kit is very expensive to build though, and buying a completed car will be close to (if not over) $100K. You see completed G28's selling anywhere between $25K and $60K, which is much for affordable to the average buyer. For this reason I believe the G28 will stay the more popular build for quite some time to come. Its affordable to build, very close in accuracy, and can be sold easily for a profit if built right.
I too would like to see a G28 that has been corrected. I think it would outsell every other kit, even the A/D. When I was at Steve's (Triangle-G) house the other day and saw that G28 roadster just sitting there (as it has been for the last 3 years), I asked him if he would consider letting me have the car to rework the body. He wanted no part of it, he still is always on the lookout for Audi's lawyers.
If I can find an affordable G28 roadster body, I would buy it and change everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) that needed to be to bring the car as close to accurate as possible. I would then pull moulds of the car and put it in production as a LP670SV Roadster.
I offered steve $5K for the car as it sits, but he is still trying to get $10.5K for the body like he use to, plus another $2500 for the Fiero. I told him good luck with that, since that same body is available from CKI for $4K, and the Fiero its on is worth $1K at best.
Oh well, i'll keep looking..... ;)
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Mike, even if you were to rework a G28 and transform it into a LP670SV roadster body like you say, you'd still have to deal with tirekickers, window shoppers, kitcar groupies, time wasters, lol w.e you want to call them. People these days just don't appreciate anything.
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Understood and agreed ;)
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Still debating on the G24 or G28..... I'm in between the two, I want the G24 because the body kit is cheaper, but in the long run I think the G28 would be a much better body... I need to make a decision so I can get the ball rolling. ::help
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I vote G28.
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I vote AD/My kit Armyman. Both the G24 & G28 are fraught with problems.
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Jayso I would if I could, but I'm trying to do this with as little money as possible... I seen your video on youtube, your kit is prob the best I have seen, but just out of my price range I'm trying to meet..
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I understand.
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Ok so here is the body kit i bought.
$600.00 fiero
$300.00 to stretch
$300.00 to rebuild engine.
$2995.00 for body/interior kit includes taillight housings, headlight lens, seat headrest, headlight rings, P1 headlight bulb, P6 headlight bulb.
$350.00 body work to include bondo, fiberglass resign, fiberglass matte and tools for all.
total so far=$4,545.00
SORRY FOR THE BAD PICS.. Will be buiding a cage frame and mounting body soon.
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What do you suppose you'll be at after wheels, upholstery, windshield, windows (functional?), tail lights, grills, ornaments, how do your headlight rings look? Mine were warped badly :\
Probably many other things I haven't mentioned.
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Lets just support him as he builds it and provides progress updates.
Way to go man!!! Can't wait to see more details , the build threads have been kinda dead here lately . It will be awesome watching this one
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Did you pick the body up from CKI/Car dealer/tanning/limo service/cash loan business? If not, you missed out. Very interesting place.
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Did you pick the body up from CKI/Car dealer/tanning/limo service/cash loan business? If not, you missed out. Very interesting place.
I hear that it's an interesting place of business and you can get a coney dog, back massage, fortune telling and pick up parts for your Toro lawn mower while you are there. ::counfused
In all seriousness, the best deals with CarKit seem to be done in person and this ensures that you get all your parts and the best quality of parts that they produce. Must be something about facing the customer in person that changes how they do business.
Chris
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lol that place is a hoarding mess!
Dealing with them in person for me wasn't the greatest, they had me pay at the office then they told me I had to drive 30 minutes to another location farther yet away from home which turned out to be a way longer drive through a lot of back dirt roads. I think this prevents them from having to see you in person when you pick up the kit, after all. I did get what I payed for though.
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Go for it!!
(I can't wait)
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lol that place is a hoarding mess!
Dealing with them in person for me wasn't the greatest, they had me pay at the office then they told me I had to drive 30 minutes to another location farther yet away from home which turned out to be a way longer drive through a lot of back dirt roads. I think this prevents them from having to see you in person when you pick up the kit, after all. I did get what I payed for though.
Yeah, that was a fun trip. The "fiberglass factory" lol. The guy that actually makes the body kits is really nice though. He spent about an hour loading and supporting the kit on my trailer.
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Yeah same here, they all seemed friendly to me
Just a lot of $ on gas, these trucks don't get good mileage the way it is without hauling the trailer..
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Did you pick the body up from CKI/Car dealer/tanning/limo service/cash loan business? If not, you missed out. Very interesting place.
Did you go to the Mcdonalds there in town? Very scary. I was waiting for someone to break out the banjos and some guy to tell me i had a pretty mouth. But everyone was quite nice though.
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Forgot to mention that door hinges, four dodge stealth hinges and four L.E.D. Tail lights that looks like they belong on a semi also came with the kit and my parents live in Alabama so my dad picked the kit up for me.
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OK... So I got the car to the stage only needing paint, interior upholstered and rims, I had $10,000 in it. so I don't think I would have made the $12,000 challenge. But I sold the car to a guy in Texas for $20,000. So I got my money plus some, going to wait til after Christmas and start a new build then, no budget this time and yes it will be a G28, I'm done with the G24's.
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OK... So I got the car to the stage only needing paint, interior upholstered and rims, I had $10,000 in it. so I don't think I would have made the $12,000 challenge. But I sold the car to a guy in Texas for $20,000. So I got my money plus some, going to wait til after Christmas and start a new build then, no budget this time and yes it will be a G28, I'm done with the G24's.
Nice! ::thumbup
Chris
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That's awesome profit lol good work :)
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yeah. not bad profit at all, but all the hard stuff was done and now I gotta start all over. I hope CKI is still selling bodies when I'm ready to start again because I don't want a rob body, and I don't know where else to get one.