Kit car build cost estimator now live on Madabout

[jgmadkit]

Please take a look and have a go at the new build cost estimator.

www.madabout-kitcars.com

For a more tailored estimate go to the car details page for the car you are interested in then click on the graphical link to bring up the estimator page.

Alternatively simply click on the link in the left hand navigation page which will bring up the estimator but wont show the make or model of car.

Let me know how you get on with it. Please let me know of any glaring errors or ommissions. I think it could prove a very useful tool so would like to get it as accurate as humanly possible considering the variables involved.

If you've already built a car let me know how the estimator fairs compared to your final tally (the true one not the one you told the missus )

Cheers everyone

John

www.madabout-kitcars.com

[eclipsar]

Hi

Just a few points on the Ultima GTR can not see you getting a chevy v8 engine and Porsche g50 gearbox for £1,009.

Also the exhaust system £364, for a standard exhaust from Ultima it is £1,229 plus vat or stainless £1,678 plus vat

Hope this helps

Regards
Chris

[gdr]

The estimator is quite handy and probably applicable to most kits - can't really apply to something like the Ultima which is built from all new and often quite specialised bits. If you want to know how much an Ultima costs, take £35k then add between £8k and £20k depending whether you want it fast or ridiculously fast.

[jgmadkit]

eclipsar said:

Hi Just a few points on the Ultima GTR can not see you getting a chevy v8 engine and Porsche g50 gearbox for £1,009. Also the exhaust system £364, for a standard exhaust from Ultima it is £1,229 plus vat or stainless £1,678 plus vat Hope this helps Regards Chris

It's very difficult to create a 'catch all' calculator so anomolies such as those you have described will become apparent. As for the engine / gearbox cost you can enter you own budget which would just leave your exhaust system to take account of.

Planned future versions of the calculator will enable the user to customise the cost down to the nth degree, but it will depend on the popularity of the estimator as to whether this enhancement will be done.

Cheers, John

www.madabout-kitcars.com

[eclipsar]

O well just trying to help , if these prices stay the same through all the cars then they can not be changed.

GDR thanks for the prices but already know as I am building one, and as my engine and box cost in excess of £12,000 it looked just a bit out.

Regards
Chris

[Mark B]

Apologees as I have had only a quick look see, but I don't see how this works. I put the basic kit price in for Stylus and it came up with £13,000 to build. Where does a grand on elctrics come from?

Would it not be more useful to show an uneducated builder what he needs to budget for, ie don't guestimate costs but put a heading for the items and a box for costs. Maybe have links to suitable suppliers there also, to get quotes from.

Headings could be in a BOM (Bill of Materials) style, ie:
Chassis
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Steering
- Springs/Dampers
- Wheels/Tyres
- Exhaust

Body
- Body Mould
- Hinges/Handles
- Windscreen
- Brightwork

Elctrical
- Lighting
- Wiring Loom
- Dashboard Switch gear

Powertrain
- Engine
- Fueling
- Engine Management
- Gearbox
- Clutch
- Propshaft

I think this would certainly help the inexperienced builder more than what you have.......

Cheers,
Mark B

[jgmadkit]

Mark B said:

Apologees as I have had only a quick look see, but I don't see how this works. I put the basic kit price in for Stylus and it came up with £13,000 to build. Where does a grand on elctrics come from? Would it not be more useful to show an uneducated builder what he needs to budget for, ie don't guestimate costs but put a heading for the items and a box for costs. Maybe have links to suitable suppliers there also, to get quotes from.

If you put your mouse over the [+] next to the electrics section it will show you a list of components and prices which make up the total. Would appreciate your feedback on this list and prices to see if you think it is accurate or a load of crud.

Just listing the items and leaving the user to fill out quantities and prices was/is something I am thinking about in the next version. For now the underlying theme I was getting from people on the site was 'how much does such and such cost to build'. therefore this estimator fills this gap.

It's not an exact science and I have put disclaimers on the results page to this effect but with peoples input it can at least be tweaked to get it as near as dammit.

Do you think it is easy to use or should it have a help section do you think?

thoughts would be appreciated

John

www.madabout-kitcars.com

>> Edited by jgmadkit on Wednesday 5th November 12:07

[jgmadkit]

Mark B said:

Apologees as I have had only a quick look see, but I don't see how this works. I put the basic kit price in for Stylus and it came up with £13,000 to build. Where does a grand on elctrics come from?

Just realised that the average builder feedback cost as shown on madabout for the Stylus is £12,666 so if the calculator came out at £13,000 then I'd say that's not bad.

Cheers, John

www.madabout-kitcars.com