Most Outrageously Priced Aftermarket Item?

[randywebb]

I can't decide if it is the SA Grill set or Sewfine Panels...
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[syncromike]

[randywebb]

Sewfine charges nearly twice what a supplier of a similar item (better quality) charges for Porsche door panels. The Pooschey supplier uses modern foam board (used for new cars and is not going to collapse when it gets water on it) and takes care of all the wraps around the holes.
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[dobryan]

[randywebb]

appbiz - his name is Bob, but I don't think he does any VW stuff

seems like Sewfine has a monopoly

maybe the SA Grill importer/manf. does too?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[syncrodoka]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=403725

[randywebb]

a wonderful topic, but differs from this as a fine, fine product can be hideously over-priced
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[Zero419]

fiamma awning
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1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[insyncro]

Anything from waterboxer.com

Save your money.

Way too much hand planking goin' on.

[tiicosyncro]

I only buy things when they go on sale, that goes for everything for our family. So unless it has ..% off I think it's all overpriced

Not saying all these things are overpriced, just out of budget currently

x2 Fiamma awning
RMW wbxhaust {great quality and workmanship no doubt, $$$$$ I dont think I could ever justify this purchase}
RMW rear bumper
Burley bits and pieces
Stainless coolant pipes
LT truck mirrors {overpriced}
Delrin bits and pieces {overpriced}

I did buy some interior bits from sewfine when they had a sale and was happy with the price and quality. Now that they moved back to denver they should have a welcome back sale as i do need a few more things from them.

[insyncro]

Vendor pricing that does not fit "Your" budget does not constitute "Overpriced"

If this thread turns into a bitch session over what one can't afford...
It will be locked or deleted.
Use the whine thread.

Anyone feeling that R&D, proper materials and craftsmanship should be offered at close to manufacturing cost, obviously is not running a business in the USA.

There are numerous threading showing what cost effective, imported low quality and cobbled together parts will produce....more work and a much larger chance of product failure in very few miles.

Not ranting, just saying.

Enjoy the ride.

Edit: Oh yah and change your fuel lines...not with parts from True Value either

[dhaavers]

[tschroeder0]

The most overpriced item is probably the van itself.

I am a DIY'er to my core and its really hard for me to shell out my cash for things I feel I can do just as good myself. BUT, it has taken me a long time to learn that if I am going to spend money, I am going to spend it on well made products that fit exactly the need I have in the best possible way. Craftsmanship is important as is quality material, and that costs money.

A good example is the RMW coolant tank. Its my nature to think its too much money, and then I see the junk stock type coolant tanks being made today, with my current 6 month old one showing stress, and, I think what a great product that I will never have to replace, made by local guys who actually care about these cool vans....expense is relative to what you are trying to achieve, and I want rock solid reliability when Im alone out there having an adventure.

[joseph928]

Gary Lee, high price but great quality . Over $1,300 for a rear rack but I got one anyway! And when I have $1,600 burning a hole in my pocket ,RMW exhaust! You have to feed your habit! PS Sewfine, just did my gray 87 with Sewfine love there stuff. Cost high, but with all the money I put in these things a little more won't hurt! If you can't afford the cost get out of the game! These are not the most economical form of transportation out there, but we love them.
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1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug.

[t3 kopf]

Why pay so much for panels when you can make wood ones with a jigsaw for 50$ in supplies? soundproofing panels for aircraft are cheaper than some prices ive seen people selling aftermarket vw panels for.
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'90 Carat w/ '95 phase 1 EJ22 OBD2 conversion

[kamzcab86]

[jacklndn]

Actually, the most expensive add-ons are componentized:

Spouse and kids.

Without those add-ons, a van is quite affordable for most...

<dons flame-proof suit>
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1986 Westy GL 4 spd

[j_dirge]

Time vs Money.

While a person might be able to fab their own version of most anything the aftermarket provides.. Do you have the time to do it? The ability? The expertise? If so.. by all means.. Do it.
Facts are that bringing some of this stuff to production in such limits runs.. is really quite expensive. Much of the welded stuff is one-at-a time production. Repro stuff like panels are short run and/or custom. Without volume you can't get unit cost down.

10 yrs ago, I'd have NEVER spent the kind of money I have on my Vanagon project. But now that I have? Its just not that big a deal.
I am almost 100% certain that I don't have the time to make what I have bought.. and I lack the skills to do some of it as well.
Sometimes I just spend on a whim.. and in turn support a small business.

Life is not all about the art of the deal.

Besides.. if you think Vanagon stuff is expensive? Try another hobby.. like flying, or sailing.. and get back to me on those costs.

I don't understand these types of threads... They are bound to devolve into complaining and a "Can you top this?" war of wills.
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-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

[ragnarhairybreeks]

j_dirge summed it up well, I'll add my bit.

Vanagon accessory market is pretty small, hard for a supplier to make a big run of product to create a low price. You don't want to be sitting on a whack of product, selling half a dozen a week.

Take this as an example, the little gizmo to keep the back hatch propped open for ventilation but having the latch still locked.

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/vanagon-heckklappen-aufsteller-rear-hatch-propped-open-gizmo/

How much would that sell for if you made it by hand as I did? Material cost (1/8" stainless), cutting it out, bending, finishing, labour, profit - it would be the most overpriced accessory around.

yeah, do a run of 100 and have it waterjet/laser cut, machine bent, tumbled and the unit cost comes down. But how many of these, arguably frivolous, widgets could you sell?

I know, you can use a $5 turnbuckle to so the same thing, but the argument still is valid.

alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[SCM]