Interior Exterior
Q:
http://www.mcmaster.com/
Why pay 90$ for a piece of plastic and some tape?
A:
I have purchased hardware from McMaster Carr, they are local.
However, I don't understand why you posted the link.
A:
I have purchased hardware from McMaster Carr, they are local.
However, I don't understand why you posted the link.
Who needs a cupholder when you can install one of these?
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Excellent.
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It's tomorrow.
OOOPSSS wrong thread.. but it does apply.
Ryan
A:
wasn't crazy about it at first, but looks much better installed
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I have purchased hardware from McMaster Carr, they are local.
However, I don't understand why you posted the link.
He was probably trying to link to an adhesive backed PVC film that they sell there, but on the catalog no matter where you are at it always shows the home page.
For example:
8590K22
PVC Type I Adhesive-Backed Film .0045" Thick, 27" Width X 38" Length
In stock at $2.64 Each
But that's probably not the one he was refering to.
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My front is so chewed up it's beyond help from a stick-on at this point. But someday I'll get the clam repaired, then add protection. If I could see it actually ON AN ELISE (pics), that'd be great.
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He was probably trying to link to an adhesive backed PVC film that they sell there, but on the catalog no matter where you are at it always shows the home page.
For example:
8590K22
PVC Type I Adhesive-Backed Film .0045" Thick, 27" Width X 38" Length
In stock at $2.64 Each
But that's probably not the one he was refering to.
That is correct. There are cheaper ways to skin that cat.
I must say that I am so far disappointed with the selection and cost of most any aftermarket accessories available. I am not sure if the Lise is just perfect out of the box or what. The ony thing I have bought is a car cover. I would not mind getting a little more enthusiastic exhaust but compared to what I spent on my Borla for my Miata the aftermarket exhausts are almost double for the Elise. I can't imagine that the materials cost double. I understand the costs of manufacturing must be spread over a smaller group of people but hopefully someone will start marketing products at more reasonable prices.
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Haven't you ever heard that "less is more?"
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We could use a little less more and more less.
more or less....
...oh, and some pics.
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Has anyone thought of posting a picture of this?
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what I spent on my Borla for my Miata the aftermarket exhausts are almost double for the Elise. I can't imagine that the materials cost double. I understand the costs of manufacturing must be spread over a smaller group of people but hopefully someone will start marketing products at more reasonable prices.
I suspect that a large amount of the costs for parts for the Elise is that since the car costs a lot, the aftermarket believes that the owners will be willing to spend more for aftermarket parts. This results in unreasonable mark ups.
It's been that way for a long time.
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Buck and Tim, I have a different opinion. I think that the people that invest their time in the development of an elegant solution for this car deserve some compensation. Do you think that 2000 pounds of aluminum and plastic is worth 42k? If we used your logic the engineers at Lotus should donate their time as should all of the manufacturers and designers who produced the parts. In addition, your posts would suggest that we should only pay for the cost of raw materials. Have you ever heard the expression "value added?"
Instead of complaining about the price of add ons I suggest that we should be thankful that there is a group of guys thinking about our car and giving us all choices for improvement and personalization of our vehicles. If someone is not providing quality and value that person will probably not last long in the business. More importantly, no one has put a gun to anyone's head in order to force the sale of anything.
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Do you think that 2000 pounds of aluminum and plastic is worth 42k? If we used your logic the engineers at Lotus should donate their time as should all of the manufacturers and designers who produced the parts. In addition, your posts would suggest that we should only pay for the cost of raw materials. Have you ever heard the expression "value added?"
I think that this is a dangerous argument, and not completely accurate. This engine has been around for a number of years, and it is in assorted Toyota products and has been already tapped by the aftermarket. Development costs in many cases are more accuratly described as fitment issues. These are importnat, but it is not as if CEL lights were thrown or motors were blown.
I would love to know the number of Ti exhausts sold compared to the number of quicksilver units. The cost of such a short and simple exhaust system in the Elise does seem exceptionally high. 4,000 dollars is just TOO much money. I would be suprised if ANY have been sold. I wonder how many people would pay 4000 dollars to jenny craig to lose their own extra 10 pounds? My guess is not too many.
In my opinion, there need to be more dyno graphs and less expensive options!! That would be heaven.
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I suspect that a large amount of the costs for parts for the Elise is that since the car costs a lot, the aftermarket believes that the owners will be willing to spend more for aftermarket parts. This results in unreasonable mark ups.
It's been that way for a long time.
That could be in some cases Tim, but I also suspect that it's more of a matter of the very limited (as in small) market. As someone who runs a manufacturing company, when you make stuff in batches of tens or hundreds instead of thousands or tens of thousands, the unit cost is going to be high. There's not much ability to gain any economies of scale. And on top of that certain fixed costs, such as R&D, remain the same. Therefore, the design must be tailored to suit low-production methods and tooling is kept to a minimum.
In the NSX world, owners complained about the same thing.
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but I also suspect that it's more of a matter of the very limited (as in small) market.
Not disagreeing with the cost of small scale. I've been a Lotus owner for 30 years, and have always seen that parts for the Lotus are more than the cost for other cars. Some of that is to be expected. And I've always supported the various vendors that do support us and our cars. I will even tend to buy parts from a "Lotus vendor", when I know the actual source for the part and can purchase it from the other source for less - up to a point. I know that I can get some common items cheaper from the common vendor, but then my parts source for the unique Lotus only parts may go out of business - so I'm happy to allow my Lotus vendors an extra 10 or even 20 percent profit. But when they start asking for an extra 200 percent I start looking elsewhere.
I know that the people selling stuff have to make a profit and get some return on the costs of developing the product, but sometimes it seems a bit excessive. Not to pick on anything in particular, but as an example, the "shower cap". The cockpit cover for the Elise costs over twice the price of the cover for the Miata. Similar design, probably less material in the Elise's cover. It's a bit hard to justify the cost difference to me - it's not that difficult for the manufacturer to make a new pattern for each car (note that car cover prices are about the same for both cars).
Yes, some of the "excessive" cost of things are to recoup the costs of developing special parts and no economies of scale. Some of it is simply excessive profits. Some of it, I'm willing to buy and support the vendor. Some of it, I won't.
A:
I also refuse to pay a premium for service. The 1,000 mile check up is a complete ripoff and I dislike having to pay just to get my warrenty to become valid. There is no reason to pay $300 for an oil change. This is pure excessive profit.
I paid dearly for this car, but I paid more for my Infiniti and guess what? Oil change is $40.
An oil change is an oil change. Same as any Toyota.
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I also refuse to pay a premium for service. The 1,000 mile check up is a complete ripoff and I dislike having to pay just to get my warrenty to become valid. There is no reason to pay $300 for an oil change. This is pure excessive profit.
I paid dearly for this car, but I paid more for my Infiniti and guess what? Oil change is $40.
An oil change is an oil change. Same as any Toyota.
The 1,000 mile check up is not just an oil change.
The 1000 miles service include:
- Cover seats, footwells, steering wheel and rear body
- Renew engine oil and filter
- Inspect engine & transmission for oil leaks
- Print 'Lotus Scan' Engine History Report and return to Lotus
- Check coolant level
- Inspect parking brake adjustment
- Check brake fluid level
- Check torque of rear toe link inboard fixing
- Inspect tyre condition & set pressures
- Check battery & terminals for security & condition
- Inspect operation of all lights.
- Inspect adjustment of hinges and latches
- Inspect wiper operation & top up windscreen washer reservoir
The 7500 miles service includes that minus the ECU dump, plus:
- Inspect air cleaner element
- Inspect auxiliary drive belt condition
- Inspect water radioator & oil cooler hoses & pipework for damage or leaks. Clean radiator &oil cooler finning
- Inspect brake pad thickness & disc condition
- Inspect brake hoses, pipes & hydraulic units
- Check security and condition of from & rear syspension inc. Free articulation of rear toe link ball joints.
- Inspect dampers for leaks and prformance
- Inspedt front and rear wheel bearings for play
- Inspect condition of drive shaft gaiters
- Inspect Steering ball joints and gaiters
- Inspect free play at steering wheel
- Inspect operation & condition of seat belts
- Lift footwell mats, clean & dry floor
Recommended Service Times
After Sales Service: 1.9 hr
Regular Service: 2.8 hr
Op. 2a: 0.6 hr (Renew engine oil and filter, 4,000 miles/6 months)
Op.5: 0.7 hr (Renew transmission oil 45,000 miles/6 years)
Op.7: 0.6 hr (Renew air cleaner element, 30,000 miles)
Op.8: 0.5 hr (Renew spark plugs, 30,000 miles/6 years)
Op.14: 0.6 hr (Renew coolant, 4 years)
Op.16a: 0.3 hr (Inspect brake pad thickness & disc condition, 4,000 miles)
Op.19: 0.6 hr (Renew brake/clutch fluid, 1 year)
Op.34: 0.1 hr (Renew alarm transmitter batteries (check with customer) 1 year)
7,500 miles service intervals will be 2.8 hours of labor it seems.
A:
I will get you some underbody pics shortly of the kit installed.
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How are those pics coming along?