2 reasons the Rotax costs more in the US

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

I did some checking around and have found 2 reasons the Rotax is higher. FINALLY

1. The other motors (Not US) do not come with the battery box and charger. Retail is approx. $150

2. The land frieght ranges from $250 to $350 to get it from Calif. to parts East as a complete Kart.

I know, I know "but what if you just want a motor?" I have to assume that the prices are set to insure all retailers get the same retail price.

Flame away!!!

Mike Moya · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 213

I have 18 hours on my Rotax engine as of today. End of day Sunday I will have put 2 more hours on it. That is 2 years of racing on my Yamahas, and it will have just paid for itself, compared to the cost of those Yamaha motor and clutch rebuilds, not to mention the surplus TV, internet time I free up. QUANTITY time! That brings me to the bottom line, it SAVES ME money, bottom line.That was the main reason I went Max over a shifter.Bye.

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

Oscar,
I can assure you that Maxes supplied here (Australia) come with a Battery mount kit and charger etc. (and $150 for a charger and box?? - Dont make me larf , that must be a "Rotax dealer" price!!)

The $500 extra was refering to the Motor package only, not a complete kart, so your shipping cost excuse needs some heavy correction. How much to ship 20 Kg interstate? - $50 ??
And, do Max's cost any less in California ??

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

Hey I tried to cover myself? You want answers I tried.

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

Mike,
Whilst i believe the Max is one of the best things to happen in karting since i have been involved ,-(Monkeeys- first showing !!) I would add that these motors are not perfect and do have a history of failure in some areas :-
Clutch shoe pivot pins breaking
Starters burning out and breaking off ??
Ballance drive gear failure
Battery failure from vibration
Power Valve failure (broken stud)
Whilst warranty SHOULD cover you for some of these items, you will probably have to argue for it !
I would add that i personally have had none of these problems on either of the motors i have had, however, my last motor did need a new piston & Barrel at less than 20 hrs due to a mysterious delamination of the Gnisil plating. Now, check your spares prices, and allow for the fact that only approved shops are allowed to rebuild & reseal these motors then compare to a similar situation on a "conventional" motor - rebore & piston by one of x numbers of shops (or yourself)
You should also be prepared for the inevitable damaged radiator, due to its vunerable (dumb) location and looney competitors.
Not "scaremongering" here, just dont want people to think the Max is "trouble free" karting, it needs carefull checking and maintenance to be reliable.

[ August 15, 2001: Message edited by: Chad Stapleton ]

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

You can never have trouble free when a driver is involved

Dave Stevens

quote:
Originally posted by Oscar Aguilera:
1. The other motors (Not US) do not come with the battery box and charger. Retail is approx. $150

2. The land frieght ranges from $250 to $350 to get it from Calif. to parts East as a complete Kart.

I don't buy that for a minute.......

The quote I got for a Rotax from abroad was identical to the packages offered by three dealers in the US, except for the price.

I don't believe the shipping thing, either. Not all Rotaxes are on CRGs coming from SSC. So non chassis buyers in other parts of the country are subsidizing those that choose the CRG/Rotax packages? And what about that track in IN that is selling the engines for US$1995, one of the least expensive prices in the country?

Could it be perhaps that SSC commited to so many of these to lock the US deal, then found they weren't selling as fast as they thought, and had to "juice" the margins? I don't know, but it sure makes for interesting speculation. I know if I were in that position, I would probably do just that.....

They sure are fun to drive. If I were buying a clutch kart, that's what I'd get.

Dave

Mike Young · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 33

2 reasons it's more expensive in the US... I can tell you in two words-

INCREASED PROFIT

Bombadier will only get my money one way, when an overseas dealer sends them the check to pay for the motor they just shipped me

Guido Duerbaum · Guest

Simple, SSC spends money on getting this class started ( so they charge more to cover the expenses), ea State distributor makes money, the local dealer makes money, just tooo many making money in between.

Did anybody ever thought that the Rotax would be here in the usa in such large numbers, ask yourselve this question 2 years ago.

SSC did it, hey they need to make money.

CR125 Engines cost less in japan also, TM's are less in Italy, cars are less in europe too- but you buy it here- why?

Suport the importer and stop picking on it, now who ever got his engine from europe, where will you get your spare parts? If SSC makes no provit, then it is not worth for them to stock parts for you.

Can remember a time where you buy a Mercedes in Europe for less but your local Mercedes dealer does not work on it neither stocks or sells you parts for it, Banks don't even want to finance it - would you like this to happen with Rotaxes?

Everything is less in Europe as long as the dollar is strong but does that mean that we buy now only overseas? Support your local dealers, you want them to be there for you when you need something- right?

Nick Weil

Guido... Good points...

Are you coming to Ocala this weekend to test or are you just gonna turn it up a notch next weekend? A bunch of people are talking about coming on Sunday this weekend since the cours has changed again.

Nick Weil

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

Guido,
i am sure your view is exactly what Rotax discovered from their market research. IE :- "Americans will happily pay more for the same product than other nations" !
You have ignored the fact that in other, non european, markets where this product is shipped, imported, distributed, and supported, They have been able to retail the Max 25% cheaper. (that sounds better than saying you are paying 33% more !)
If you are happy with that, fine, but it seems like many are not, and are un-comfortable with the concept of being exploited quite so blatently.

Mike Young · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 33

I don't ever see that getting parts for these non-US engines would be a problem. It's not as though there is a special US spec motor, they are the same worldwide and other than the stamp on the outside of the engine everything else is available. I'll gladly give the local dealer all of my $$$ for replacement parts that I need but the idea of giving him $500 more than I really have to is just too painful to take. That $500 would cover quite a bit of karting costs for the karter who does this as a hobby such as myself.

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

Ok so I tried and failed. But people forget that the other reason for buying a US motor is Resale. Buying an overseas motor automatically makes your motor worth $500 less than an equivilantly used US motor. It also makes it worthless to the guy wanting to run the RMC but buy used.

Guido brings up good points and many of you still see differences because this is smaller ticket item.

PS Chad lives in Australia and it cracks me up how he is so into this thread.

Is there a world wide feeling that kart shops shouldn't mark up there product?

HMMMMM maybe Chad is the Aussie Rotax dealer?

Just kidding Chad

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

Oscar you p!ssed me off good and proper in that other topic with your evil misogynistic remarks but you seem to be missing the point in that no one is complaining about markups.

[ August 16, 2001: Message edited by: Mary-Ann Horley ]

Mike Young · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 33

THE COMPANIES THAT SELL THE THING FOR $500 LESS OVERSEAS ARE STILL MAKING PROFIT, THEY ARE NOT NON-FOR-PROFIT AGENCIES. Everytime someone posts that we expect the dealer to make no money I want to scream. The point is NOT about letting them make the money, but why someone from another country can sell for $500 less and still take in a PROFIT. I don't expect my dealer to give me the stuff at cost but I also would not give him $500 more than I have to for anything. It wouldn't matter if I was buying a 100K Mercedes or the Rotax, if I could get if for $500 less that is where I am going to shop. We are not talking about a few dollars here, we are talking about a pile of dollars.