buggy idea input

HotRodpayton · May 11, 2009

As most of you know I sold my jeep( to start a house mainly). I am out of wheeling for a year or so, but want to take this opportunity to figure out exactly what I want when I come back. Needing some input. I've got time to really do some planning. If I decide to build, I've got time to really search out some deals on the forums and have all the stuff I need when I get a chassis. As for it, probably would be a Jimmy Smith buggy. Would love to have Coleworx or Wide Open to build me one, I just don't think that's gonna be possible. Plus I love the style they Smith buggies have. Or I can save up the cash and buy one built already. Who's got experiences with both?? The next thing is, I don't know if I could go with something without some real horses, used to it now, and don't think I could go down. Even though weight difference would make a 4 or 6 cyl rig go really good. Rear Steer? I think yes. Let me know what you think.

jtreeves1 · May 11, 2009

iv always liked the buggy Wes Kean drive the green one
thats what i would like to build

P · May 11, 2009

Buy a used one you like and has what you want. Let them other ninja's take that loss !

If your not building it yourself you will save a TON of time and MONEY

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wontwork · May 11, 2009

BUY ONE. Do not pay someone to build it for you. I am building my own and I could have almost bought 2 for what I have spent as of now.

P · May 11, 2009

Heavily depends on your situation.... hard to just "go buy one" for alot of folks ( me included... ) So sometimes buildng is the only option. One part at a time sweet daddy... one part at a time ! :****:

wontwork · May 11, 2009

P said:
Heavily depends on your situation.... hard to just "go buy one" for alot of folks ( me included... ) So sometimes buildng is the only option. One part at a time sweet daddy... one part at a time ! :****:

It was outa my budget to buy one also. Hell I been buying parts goin on 4 years. Its all startin to come together now. :driving:

P · May 11, 2009

I feel ya on that... hell I used the Turd as a collection point for parts for years myself !

Cole · May 11, 2009

Man I have done both. I bought one and I just had one built. It is way easier and a HELL of a lot cheaper to buy one that is already built and add to it as you like. With building one from scratch you can make sure you get everything you really want and you know how it has been treated.

If I were to do it over again I would probably buy one already built because it's just easier and cheaper.

Jimmy Smith buggies aren't that expensive.

CHASMAN9 · May 11, 2009

I agree on both points.

1) Cheaper to buy one done and know what your getting from the start. That is my current method :dblthumb:

2) On the other hand, these guys building the new wave of buggies( Wide Open Design, Coleworx, EOR, etc), give them a handful of money and watchout ,cause the **** they are building is going to be crazy. I like the idea of the unknown and One Off build. If you got the time, money and patience, let it happen. :****:

Cole · May 11, 2009

If you build one from scratch add 10k to whatever you think it may cost. :****: Because you will need it at the end. Trust me.

wontwork · May 11, 2009

Cole said:
If you build one from scratch add 10k to whatever you think it may cost. :****: Because you will need it at the end. Trust me.

Ask him how he knows.

You could just do like me and don't do a budget. Just buy what you want when you can and start building when you get all you think you need and the go buy more.

BamaTJ · May 11, 2009

You can get a good value buying a used rig. I paid 25k for mine and have 6k in it but a lot of that was because of KOH. Hell, the retail on my main parts alone add up to 25k. I talked to the original builder of my rig and he said to replicate it today is an easy 50k, so I paid half of that. Sure my rig is old and somewhat outdated, but it still works good

jtreeves1 · May 11, 2009

Matt O. said:
You can get a good value buying a used rig. I paid 25k for mine and have 6k in it but a lot of that was because of KOH. Hell, the retail on my main parts alone add up to 25k. I talked to the original builder of my rig and he said to replicate it today is an easy 50k, so I paid half of that. Sure my rig is old and somewhat outdated, but it still works good

i like your rig i would take it anyday booyang

i don't really notice any out date it looks top notch

blacksheep10 · May 11, 2009

Matt O. said:
You can get a good value buying a used rig. I paid 25k for mine and have 6k in it but a lot of that was because of KOH. Hell, the retail on my main parts alone add up to 25k. I talked to the original builder of my rig and he said to replicate it today is an easy 50k, so I paid half of that. Sure my rig is old and somewhat outdated, but it still works good

only deterrent to this is having to come up with or get a loan for $25 grand. There aren't as many out there now that I've seen like there were 1 year ago in the 25K range.
If you can swing it, buy dont build like Matt and wyatt did. You don't lose 8 months of your life and drain yourself.
If not, **** it, build it.

caglezxj · May 11, 2009

If you have the ability to build it and the resources then build it. You will know your buggy through and through. You will know what parts work and on top of it all you can say you built it. I am building one myself very soon, and it will be one of a kind.

HotRodpayton · May 12, 2009

I bought my last rig. Still put money in it to get it like I wanted. I do have allot of recources that most don't have being in our business though. I want to have a one off rig one day, but if I ran up on exactly what I wanted would consider just buying again. But like ya'll were saying. To get something I would want would be 20k or more, and probably been beat on a while. So I'll just keep messen around with the both ideas till the time is ok to drop the bomb on something to play with again. The dirt bike is fun, but it makes me drool to hear a v8 turned up on something. Just gotta have one.

BamaTJ · May 12, 2009

My rig is nice for sho, just not the same kind of bling and out of the box thinking that is happening out there right now. Lots of the top shops are throwing out crazy ideas these days, but most of that is out of any reasonable budget anyways.

Josh is right, if you build your own you know it inside and out and you cannot put a value on that. If you don't have the time and want to come out cheaper, buy a built rig and make some changes as you go. I have been happy with that approach, and I know the rig pretty damn well now. I sold my jeep and used the funds from it to buy mine.