Why are aftermarket components so expensive?

[KANE]

Any thoughts?

Does it feel like a 10-20% mark-up? Kinda like jewelry?

Lets talk exhaust- I think $700 is cheap for what is out there... but $1,300 is insane! That is like a good chunk of a Magnacharger. Or a set of wheels. We're talikng TAILPIPES folks- what is up? I am really thinking of fabbing my own loud-mouth (like) system.

I have been with Vettes for 13 years and I have seen the trends with parts and prices. It seems as though when the C5 debuted, the prices were significantly higher than the C4 parts. New engine, drive train layout, etc- but TAIL PIPES really!

It is tied to the cost of the vehicle right? The more expensive the car- the more the parts should be. Since a Corvette debuts at twice the price of a Honda, then the parts cost index should reflect the same. Grrrrrrrrr.

How about those compact cars? Ruddy fart-can tail pipes are a dime a dozen. BBK parts are cheap for those things. Everything is cheap for an Accord. How about a little love for the C5s? Maybe the C6 will force a shift in prices to the new "It" Vette.

Guess I need to just wait for the close-out sales.:L

 

[Villain]

Any thoughts?

Does it feel like a 10-20% mark-up? Kinda like jewelry?

Lets talk exhaust- I think $700 is cheap for what is out there... but $1,300 is insane! That is like a good chunk of a Magnacharger. Or a set of wheels. We're talikng TAILPIPES folks- what is up? I am really thinking of fabbing my own loud-mouth (like) system.

I have been with Vettes for 13 years and I have seen the trends with parts and prices. It seems as though when the C5 debuted, the prices were significantly higher than the C4 parts. New engine, drive train layout, etc- but TAIL PIPES really!

It is tied to the cost of the vehicle right? The more expensive the car- the more the parts should be. Since a Corvette debuts at twice the price of a Honda, then the parts cost index should reflect the same. Grrrrrrrrr.

How about those compact cars? Ruddy fart-can tail pipes are a dime a dozen. BBK parts are cheap for those things. Everything is cheap for an Accord. How about a little love for the C5s? Maybe the C6 will force a shift in prices to the new "It" Vette.

Guess I need to just wait for the close-out sales.:L

I feel your pain and so do alot of the other people here. That's why we make so much of our own stuff and do so much of our own work on these cars. I'm sure some do it simply for the love of the car but others are looking to save a buck and not be taken by the man just because we have a performance car.

 

[Edmond]

Once they hear it's for a Corvette, the $$$ signs go off in their heads!:L

I think they figure that Corvette owners can afford to pay more so they charge more. When people end up paying what they ask, why wouldn't they keep charging what they charge?

I agree, some of the prices for items are absolutely ridiculous. Good thing is that those items are well made enough to where you can save some money by buying used. There are guys who buy an expensive exhaust system just to have the wife say she doesn't like it, the resonance was too bad, etc...

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

Corvettes -- ~30-35,000 made per year.

Honda Accord -- ~100-120,000 per year or more. Can't find numbers.

Figure only about 10 percent or so of each buy an aftermarket exhaust for their car. The production costs are ammortized over the total amount of items built. You can see for the numbers that the Honda parts can be cheaper since far more are built.

That is why the parts are higher that for cars with lower production numbers.

 

[DRTH VTR]

Corvettes -- ~30-35,000 made per year.

Honda Accord -- ~100-120,000 per year or more. Can't find numbers.

I bet the Accord numbers are closer to 1,000,000.

 

[Gorgon]

Corvettes -- ~30-35,000 made per year.

Honda Accord -- ~100-120,000 per year or more. Can't find numbers.

According to this Honda sells ~400,000 Accords annually while they sell ~1.5 million total units annually. I believe these numbers included Acura as well.

If you look at a lower numbered car such as the NSX, you pay a premium there as well. Check these $1600 fart cans.

As to Vette parts, when rear tended in my C5 I had my B&B Tri Flos replaced with new units. These units are $800 where replacement stock mufflers were $1200. What are you looking to spend $1300 on? The only thing Eckler's had at that price was full exhaust kits.

Leon

 

[wx briefer]

Corvettes -- ~30-35,000 made per year.

Honda Accord -- ~100-120,000 per year or more. Can't find numbers.

Figure only about 10 percent or so of each buy an aftermarket exhaust for their car. The production costs are ammortized over the total amount of items built. You can see for the numbers that the Honda parts can be cheaper since far more are built.

That is why the parts are higher that for cars with lower production numbers.

The original point made compares C4 to C5 prices. The C4 aftermarket is cheaper on prices. Are you suggesting there just aren't as many C5's running around? Sounds just a little flimsy. I tend to agree with the 'target market' and what the traffic will bear in the C5 ownership group.

 

[napacruzerC5]

Its called Corvette tax

 

[Dons97]

...because they know we'll pay.

 

[Andy]

Markups on parts are excessive to the point these after market companies like Corvette central, Ecklers, Mid America etc. , in my opinion will see a decline in numbers. As corvette owners become aware of whats taking place, more and more will shift to smaller companies like Eastwood, JEGS etc..looking for the same or similar items. If i can buy the part somewhere else I do it. Also, Since I am a C3 owner, try finding chrome accessories at a reasonable price. For years now, i have been scouring EBAY for parts...I'll buy the part, then send it away to get chromed. Granted instead of a 1 week turnaround, its 4-5 weeks since the chrome companies are always backlogged, but i continually save at least 50% over the cost of the product. try it, it works!!!

Better yet, save your money..go to Carlisle and buy all the goodies you need at a MAJOR savings!!!

Andy

 

[Eric]

It is a bit much. An entire exhaust system for my old 71 (all but the manifolds) cost me about a third what I'm going to pay for a couple of rather short pipes and two mufflers from Corsa.:eek A lot harder to justify $1000 than a few hundred.

 

[mqqn]

Hi DarkShark78 -

I assume you are talking exhausts - cat backs....

The aftermarket only has about 35000 potential customers per year for corvette exhausts - and say only 1/2 of them want an exhaust, and then those folks have all the choices...plus a cat back system will last almost forever (no repeat business to speak of...)

I'm not saying they are not too expensive, but I can see a few reasons....

For our 99 coupe , I removed the stock exhaust, and cut the mufflers off of it, saving the tubes that run from the bolt-on flange over the top of the half-shafts.

I bought two Hedman twin-outlet resonator tips and had a short extension pipe welded on to connect the over the axle pipe with the tips.

I had the muffler shop weld on hangers in the stock locations to this new setup, and I installed it using oem style mounting hardware.

The total for all the parts and welding was just under $150.00.

It sounds and performs great - a little louder than some like - but when most ride in the car, they are amazed as how "civilized" it sounds inside as oppposed to standing behind the car.

Sorry to be so wordy (my claim to fame... ) - but I wanted to share an inexpensive way to get great sound without having to shell out 6 or 7 hundred dollars.

Here is a link to a small mpg of our coupe to get an idea of the sound -

http://www.iammoon.com/CKS/99_coupe_strait_pipes_042005.MPG

I let my son-in-law and daughter take the car around the lake, so I shot this just for fun.

Here is a picture of the pipes when we were finished -

best regards -

mqqn

 

[jrose7004]

You can find a lot of great used stuff for pretty cheap in the C5 parts section!