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Post by justchris on Jul 20, 2011 22:34:18 GMT
 Hi everyone. Talking with Pete and Paul tonight about the cost of batteries which led onto the cost of other things in our hobby. Well, I agree that research and development is a very costly business; I tend to think we are pricing out youngsters and families (e.g. £100 lipo). This is turning this great hobby into possibly a rich-only pastime. I know you can spend as little or as much as you want but it does seem the middle of the field prices have gone up quite a bit. What do others think?
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Post by Reuben on Jul 20, 2011 23:01:26 GMT
Yes its CRAZY! I remember when a good Demon lipo was £50-60, 2 years ago and those 40C's were as good as any batteries now for stock / pro-stock racing... £100 is taking the P if you ask me, and its FAR beyond the amount I would be willing to spend. I did get new lipo's this year, mainly because I wanted some fresh cells with a larger capacity for Mod and my other ones were just under 2 years old. but they definitely were not £100 each Unfortunatly I think the people that will suffer here is the model shops. Importers must be getting these cheap and putting big profits on their "Trade" price, leaving the retail shops very little margin for profit or even a break even at some points. Especially when you can buy similar or the same Cells from other countries (at their retail price) at 2/3ds the cost. but someone telling you that you dont need them, doesnt make the slightest difference. If someone told me I didnt need a new chassis next year, I would agree with them... but at the same time when everyone else upgrades to the "New and improved", I would feel I would need to to keep up........ its a strange human urge. So yes, Prices are rediculous and brands that sell at that price will not sell many, especially if model shops are offering cheaper / perfectly fitting alternatives. We just ourselves need to be responsible when talking to newer members or interested people, and not over-exagerate the need or power improvement we get from new most expensive toys . |
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Post by yellowshark on Jul 21, 2011 0:36:15 GMT
but someone telling you that you dont need them, doesnt make the slightest difference. If someone told me I didnt need a new chassis next year, I would agree with them... but at the same time when everyone else upgrades to the "New and improved", I would feel I would need to to keep up........ its a strange human urge. I certainly do not need one of these £100 lipos and picked up a lower spec today off ebay for £60 all in (nothing cheaper from a known name) which is still higher spec than my current lipos. Give me 5000 40c any day. Struggling to keep up with all these new XRAY 011s at the club we do though clearly need a new chassis; roll on the 012 ;D |
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Neil
At the Thermometer
SHMCC Committee Member
Posts: 146
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Post by Neil on Jul 21, 2011 16:38:16 GMT
Is it the chassis or could it be combined fact that some drivers are improving even with kit almost standard.we decided to go for a really good up to date chassis and average speedo and batterys it works ok for us.
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Post by issac on Jul 21, 2011 19:36:27 GMT
ok my thoughts
1st cars - if say xray didn't produce a new car every year then could it survive on just spare parts alone prob not so it tries to get more money out of our pocket. is a new car faster than a old one, yes but is it down to new design or just the fact its not worn and slack in its joints. a car design 3-4 years newer than an old one would have a marked difference but 1 year apart at our sort of level i doubt we could tell the difference.
2nd batterys - a new battery will give more power than an old used battery becouse there is less resistance in it but if you are struggling to get round with say a 13.5 and a old battery then giving more power with a new battery isn't the answer. the new expensive batterys are that price becouse of the brca aproved list and those who do those series have to have them to try to keep up. for club racing the cheaper non approved ones are just as good. do we realy use all the power available from the battery anyway as some of the new batterys have a peak output of over 500 amps
3rd there is some cases where you dont have to have the most expensive kit on the market take the latest hobbywing speedo just as fast and punchy as any other speedo on the market for £60.
as rubens said its human nature for us to have new shiny things also we are racers we want to win, if its new, shiny, and the opposition has it out comes the wallet.
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Post by Reuben on Jul 21, 2011 22:00:46 GMT
using a debit/credit card also makes it easier - electronic money doesnt have a weight, so your wallet feels just as full when you walk out  |
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Post by justchris on Jul 21, 2011 22:14:02 GMT
using a debit/credit card also makes it easier - electronic money doesnt have a weight, so your wallet feels just as full when you walk out How true |
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Post by yellowshark on Jul 21, 2011 22:48:00 GMT
Is it the chassis or could it be combined fact that some drivers are improving even with kit almost standard.we decided to go for a really good up to date chassis and average speedo and batterys it works ok for us. Oh yup for sure, its all about drivers improving. Tongue in cheek really - it was easy to win when we were the only XRAY drivers (except of course for Gray). Now everyone is driving XRAYs winning aint so easy ;D |
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Post by martinchallis on Jul 21, 2011 23:18:49 GMT
Practise practise practise, and when that fails a new set of boots never goes a miss... Cost and motorsport are like peas and carrots I'm afraid  |
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Hi everyone. Talking with Pete and Paul tonight about the cost of batteries which led onto the cost of other things in our hobby. Well, I agree that research and development is a very costly business; I tend to think we are pricing out youngsters and families (e.g. £100 lipo). This is turning this great hobby into possibly a rich-only pastime. 
