since mechanical design is what i went to school for, and spent a number of years in professionally, yes, i guess i do have some "inside info" on engineering costs and such - i know what it would cost to make that bar here, and have contemplated doing that very thing since the vanity cover clearance issue sprung up
that's the whole reason behind the time i've spent on the carbon fiber design - it has nothing to do with the carbon fiber look (which i can't stand) - i know i can get them made for that, (probably even less) and the company making them would still turn a profit - machined aluminum can be much cheaper if you have access to automation (almost everybody does nowadays) - automation is how we are going to be able to offer the roll bar so cheaply - the main hoop and the plates will all be computer automated -
the strut tower brace will also be automated
on the assumption that testing proves effective, the high flow cat stainless exhaust system whenever i get to it (which will likely sell for about $700 complete) will also be partially automated
the wheel analogy is completely applicable - good choice - when choosing a wheel, a customer has things to consider like performance, appearance, and structural integrity - the BBS is a strong and light wheel for sure, but will you see the gains in a street car? not likely unless you go larger - then it comes down to appearance - same thing with the dynatech - additional strength is a non-issue, and it is really about appearance
for the strut tower brace, this may be enough for some people - that's great - my own choice was based entirely on function, based on the fact that the two were not priced comparably - there was no performance gain to be had, and the appearance didn't bother me - for me, as well as many others, it was a simple choice - i'm glad that they offer the bar, and i'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it - even more would though if it was priced more competitively - there is no denying that the high price has chased many customers to the KLA
the handling benefits of a strut tower brace are significant - i'd like to see everybody running one - i really don't care who makes it - that's why i am looking into making one that will suit both form and function, and will insist that it be priced with a minimal profit margin - i'm not telling the company they shouldn't make money, but i'm insisting that they don't over charge for something - we are looking at staying well below keystone - i doubt we can get it below the KLA price though, and so, it will again come down to appearance versus cost for many people
i applaud the efforts of everybody out there trying to come up with products for these cars - i have no problem with somebody trying to make a buck, but there is no real profit to be had because the market volume is so low, so this really turns out to be a labor of love - if you make a few bucks along the way, great, but why not try to please as many people as possible since nobody is going to get rich off this stuff?
i guess it's really just a philosophical difference - i've made the choice to be a bit more philanthropic about my projects, rather than capitalistic - that's my choice - it works for me - i'm not suggesting that it works for everybody
i've only pointed out the obvious, which has been stated by countless others - more people would buy the dynatech brace if it was priced lower - but that's their choice
by the way - the main reason the 968 didn't sell well in the first place was its price
