I think I've noticed Buick anything is either more expensive or more difficult to find as opposed to other stuff.
Ive been looking for other alternatives, to get parts for this car, and other projects i have, but these buick parts are 7time, or more what these supra guys, and other import guys pay. They can get a New trubo for $200, intercoller kit $200, wastes gates $50. I think we are getting screwd. Anyway anyone one have a the same, or diffrent thought. Im getting a new boost controller from there dealer for pennys what you pay for one at a Buick dealer!
Those who have to think about those issues impacting their lives dont have the $ for luxury items like our cars. Same thing goes for TV, cable, mobile phones, Ipods, MP3's and whatever other non necessities are pulling the individual down. There nice to have but not necessities. So either work a little harder to support your hobby or sell you cars. Plenty of guys like me will scoop them up.+1 I agree. I hear a lot of people emulate the same thing. Mustangs are a hell of a lot cheaper to buy parts for and fix, (especially the 87-93 year foxbodys). I'm going back to Ford Mustangs, because parts/labor are so much cheaper- I'll keep one of my Turbobuicks, and just drive it very nicely and not break it or keep upgrading it for stupid reasons! Track Days are just about over with the economy and all the other prices of Everything else going up these days!
Turbobuicks are nice, but some of the prices are overflated just like Oil is! It's the speculators (us) who keep the demand up, and it is an expensive toy to fix, tune, paint, upgrade, etc, etc. If it aint broke don't keep fixing it!
I am not bashing our cars. I love these cars. But it's definitely starting to weigh down on me, especially with the economy in the tank the way it is and all. It's all perception. How much does a person really love their car? I know there's a lot of fanatical guys on here who are frickin nuts about their Turbobuicks, and that speaks for itself. But it's time for honest people who are struggling to take care of families, relationships, and other things in life, to come clean and admit, that Turbobuicks are nice but expensive, and to try not to break their cars, because when they have to sit and get rebuilt, or blow a head gasket, or driveability problems occur, it just plain sucks laying out money these days that's not so easy to come by....
To all those diehards who disagree, I say whatever! To the honest middleclass guys who drive their TurboBuicks every once in a while (when it's nice and sunny out, or the weather isn't all $hitty-) it's an EXPENSIVE Hobby! So don't go Crazy with your Mods, and Don't BREAK YOUR CAR! Or else you'll be $$$orrry!!!!!
+1 I agree. I hear a lot of people emulate the same thing. Mustangs are a hell of a lot cheaper to buy parts for and fix, (especially the 87-93 year foxbodys). I'm going back to Ford Mustangs, because parts/labor are so much cheaper- I'll keep one of my Turbobuicks, and just drive it very nicely and not break it or keep upgrading it for stupid reasons! Track Days are just about over with the economy and all the other prices of Everything else going up these days!
Turbobuicks are nice, but some of the prices are overflated just like Oil is! It's the speculators (us) who keep the demand up, and it is an expensive toy to fix, tune, paint, upgrade, etc, etc. If it aint broke don't keep fixing it!
I am not bashing our cars. I love these cars. But it's definitely starting to weigh down on me, especially with the economy in the tank the way it is and all. It's all perception. How much does a person really love their car? I know there's a lot of fanatical guys on here who are frickin nuts about their Turbobuicks, and that speaks for itself. But it's time for honest people who are struggling to take care of families, relationships, and other things in life, to come clean and admit, that Turbobuicks are nice but expensive, and to try not to break their cars, because when they have to sit and get rebuilt, or blow a head gasket, or driveability problems occur, it just plain sucks laying out money these days that's not so easy to come by....
To all those diehards who disagree, I say whatever! To the honest middleclass guys who drive their TurboBuicks every once in a while (when it's nice and sunny out, or the weather isn't all $hitty-) it's an EXPENSIVE Hobby! So don't go Crazy with your Mods, and Don't BREAK YOUR CAR! Or else you'll be $$$orrry!!!!!
I just spent 1/2 hour responding to your post Herb and just accidently deleted it, maybe that is someone telling me to let it go..... I can't. I will again try to respond to your post.. I don't believe you came here by boat, but it sure looks like you want to purchase parts that came off the boat... I will tell you now that we sell the best available, designed and built parts money can buy because like you, I want the best. Our markup is lucky to be 10-15% on most parts that I sell over $20 dollars, including your turbo, ICer and wastegate. Out of that profit margin I pay for shipping to me, I have to also pay for the overhead it costs to run a full blown shop with payroll, taxes, benefits like I am sure you receive from your place of employment, holiday,sick and vacation pay. Shop insurance and workmans comp to the tune of $15,000 a year. I am not complaining just stating the FACTS FOR WHAT IT TAKES to run a business in America today. That does not include working out of your house or backyard.... I am only speaking for my company. As for all the money I make, I also had to purchase a trailer, not just for my racecar I have used over the years for R$D, but for transporting parts to the Buick shows so I can sell them to guys like you at an even further discounted rate with an even higher overhead, due to the fact fuel and traveling expenses have to be included in the cost of doing business. Lets not forget the cost and or loss of business as I close my still having to pay for overhead shop while attending Buick shows. I can go on further in that area but I hope you get my point..... Lets talk about the quality of parts we sell vs the $200 ICers, turbos and wastegates.... Do you know how well those parts are designed or where they come from or who designed and built them..... let me tell you what I have experienced with some of these parts. As an example, we service and sell parts to many of the local import guys or poor kids that purchase much of those parts.... from ebay, from a guy they do not know with a business they do on the side without a phone number to reach them or a tech line you can call and actually get tech support from when needed. I had several of those boys come in this spring with $200 turbos that have now purchased new $1000 turbos from me because they failed. We did several installs of ICer kits and wastegate because nothing fit and or pipes were blowing off or cheap hoses were blowing up because wastegates did not work properly, probably because the spring used in the wastegates were so stiff we could not compress them in a 5" vise. Good thing I had some quality springs from our $400 wastegates around to replace them with.. not to mention had the welders and other related equipment in the shop to mod the poorly fitting other $200 kits and parts.. Herb, are you the same guy I am getting the turbo repaired for, that you or your mechanic destroyed the compressor wheel on due to a loose object bouncing around in the MAF inlet pipe. You know, the one I am trying to get warrranteed ....? It's a tight economy for all of us, I understand trying to find our best deals is what many of us, including myself are looking for. But for Gods sake, making me or others look like the villian...... just is not right. I could continue on here, but I have been writing this response since about 6am and it is now 7:30am and I must go to work, open the shop up so that I can begin another day of 10 hours of free tech support for my custmers and some that are not....
I am glad I was not the only one who felt like I was being accused of doing something wrong.
Mike
Most Buick aftermarket stuff is overpriced,ill-fitting,poor quality crap...my .02
Most Buick aftermarket stuff is overpriced,ill-fitting,poor quality crap...my .02
Cost be damned, we have the best community with the best vendors (don't believe me, go to an event and watch these guys) and something no other car community has............................Turbo Buicks!!!!!
Most Buick aftermarket stuff is overpriced,ill-fitting,poor quality crap...my .02