2 reasons the Rotax costs more in the US

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

The $3095 for the Rotax Max is the current price, it is not a cheap price. This is what anyone can buy a motor from a dealer for.

That is the "real story"

Ray

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

The latest engine number from a dealer was 772877, that was Thursday 08/16/01. Cost $3095.

Dave Stevens

quote:
Originally posted by Bill Wright:
I can claim to be able to buy stuff cheap, that doesn't mean I actually can.

Perhaps 'cause you aren't doing your homework? I'm not going to tell you where I got my overseas quotes, because I don't want them "punished". I found the info on these forums, and with a little legwork, you can too.

As per advertised prices, Andy Cox Racing in England offers the package on the site for 1100 British Pounds, or about US$606 dollars less expensive than in the US. The Austrailian price, is a little more than that, though still more than US$500 less than here in the states.

It's a fact, Rotax is more in the US than other parts of the world. Some of us are just interested in the why......

Dave

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

quote:
Originally posted by Mary-Ann Horley:
Oscar, a misogynist is someone who hates women, and if you post quotes saying rape victims should lay back and enjoy it and imply you agree with that statement then you can't complain about that description being applied to you.

Don't know about Eyries because there aren't many about, but my friend paid £2900 ($4400?) for a Firefox/Max complete outfit. What's your price? (inc taxes)

I would never hate women or any one woman. And I do not think low of women. I also did not say that is was woman. A man can be raped too. (I'm sure someone in prison can attest to that as we type. I only made a statment of something inevitable even if it is a bad thing. I'm am sure you know what inevitable is with all your fancy words.
Oh ya and what was with the bread crumbs bit in the other post?

We have Eyries right now and fitted with a rotax it is somewhere around $4700 + tax @ .0825% = $5088 We haven't put any on Golds yet.

How about a price on a roller only Mary-Ann?

[ August 17, 2001: Message edited by: Oscar Aguilera ]

Guido Duerbaum · Guest

So the rotax cost less in other countries and as I can see it is about $ 500.-. Go buy one, it will be apx. a min. of $ 250.- in shipping plus all the other nonsens you have to deal with. Then you open your box and something is missing, what then?
Ok, now you got one, you are at a local track and need some parts. Don't you want your local kart shop to be there when you need something?

Look who is always posting these negative quotes, shop owners that did not get to be a distributor and now they want to talk bad about it.

All you smart money savers out there who always think they have it all figured out, do you use a sprocket on your kart in the rear? The 219 sprocket costs in europe $ 5.50 and the 428 sprocket $ 21.-, stop picking on one the rotax motor all the stuff you have on your kart is less overseas, karting is much bigger there then in the USA that's why it is less. Most karing parts are made in Italy in large numbers, ever been there? Labor is less, cost of living is less and they make them in thousands- maby you figur it out now.

Mike Goebel

quote:
Originally posted by Ray Kristie:
The $3095 for the Rotax Max is the current price, it is not a cheap price. This is what anyone can buy a motor from a dealer for.

That is the "real story"

Ray

I got a quote from Pitts performance and JM racing for the motor package, radiator. I think it was $2100-$2200. Both places are in CA.

Mike G.

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

I have not been to the USA for 4 years, however when I was there, just about everything was cheaper than in Australia.
The prices of karting parts may be a different situation but I would have thought that with the USA having approximately 110,000 registered drivers, and Australia approximately 10,000 registered drivers, your prices would be cheaper.
You should all come over here and race, especially when you will get AUD$1.90 for every US$1.00.

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

Stephen, it is an unfortunate fact of life that people from around the world think that just because you live in the USA, you have an endless supply of money.
I must admit that before I visited the US for the first time many years ago, I had the same impression.
I think it is the fact that the USA tell everyone they do everything bigger and better than anywhere else in the world, and it is usually right, but the average person in the US, has the same financial problems as the rest of the developed world.
Most people who visit the USA, see only the tourist side of America they don't see or mix with the average person.
Just on a lighter note to this, it does make me laugh when I hear the saying "bigger than Texas" and the size of some of the cattle ranches there, there are single sheep stations in Australia,that are bigger than the whole of Texas.
Just out of curiosity, what does it cost to fly from LAX to MELBOURNE AUS return? going the other way, MELBOURNE AUS to LAX return is about US$750.00

RAY

Stephen Buckley · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 861

Ray,

Here's a good one for you. The largest cattle ranch in America is the Parker Ranch on the big island of Hawaii. Cattle can't wander off too far.

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

Stephen, I have only been to one cattle ranch in the US, I cannot remember where it was or what the name of it was. The only thing that I remember is that if you could eat this huge slab of beef in one sitting, you won US$10,000. To my knowledge, no-one had managed to do it.

Ray

Dave Stevens

quote:
Originally posted by GUIDO DUERBAUM:
So the rotax cost less in other countries and as I can see it is about $ 500.-. Go buy one, it will be apx. a min. of $ 250.- in shipping plus all the other nonsens you have to deal with. Then you open your box and something is missing, what then?

[snip]

Look who is always posting these negative quotes, shop owners that did not get to be a distributor and now they want to talk bad about it.

For just over US$1600, I was able to get a quote for an FR125, delivered, all inclusive, customs, etc. In the US, I got quotes from US$1995, plus shipping (about US$2095) to a pickup price of US$2150, all inclusive.

As for the dealer comment, I'm not a dealer, I have no plans to become a dealer.

I'm just an jaded, fat, middle aged guy that wants to drive karts. FWIW, I just spent a lot more on a shifter, than a Rotax. Around here, the fields are inconsistent. Me, I'd rather place 25th out of 30, than 3rd in a field of 6.

Dave

Stephen Buckley · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 861

As anyone knows who has travelled outside and beyond the borders of the USA, people think that Americans, in general, can afford to buy more. This, however, is a very powerful stereotype. What many don't seem to realize is that most Americans live payday to payday (the ones with a job, that is) or LESS. Has anyone looked at the increasing number of pawn/credit/post-date check-type of places? Apartments and tenements are pre-rented months in advance of actual start of contruction. Personally, I know of racers who literally take the food out of their family's mouths or clothing off their back or charge their credit cards to the max to be able to purchase some engine part. Yes, there are many racers who are fortunate to have disposable income to support their hobby. Anyway, just food for thought and probably a stupid subject to start here.

Stephen Buckley · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 861

Not defending SSC's business practices (I know nothing about them)... however.....

As any business owner knows, the cost of doing business in this country can sometimes chew heavily into theirr profit margin. Think about all the associated costs to a thriving business. Cost of basic inventory which includes shipping charges, the place to store the inventory, a place to show it, initial inventory to show and look at (the stuff that is generally not for sale), wages and benefits, business taxes, advertising and promotions, sponsorships, donations, environmental costs, etc, etc. I'm not sure how US business costs relate to that of other countries. Maybe if we all knew, we could "rationalize" the extra $500. Food for thought.....?

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

The $3095.00 is AUD (US$1620.00)

Ray