On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 10:16:10 -0500, Paul Dow
wrote:

Sorry if this has been asked a hundred times before, but I'm new to this
group and didn't see it in existing messages.

I was wondering if most or all kit plane prices are fixed, or can they
be negociated like when purchasing a car?

As far as I can see, there are often special Show Prices for many of
them where either a discount is offered, or there are additional options
included in the base price.

Probably not on the kit price as most come from the manufacturer and
they may even have a waiting list.

OTOH as Kyle said, you might want to look into the secondary market.
It seems to me, that some where I read that well over half the kits
are never finished. That means there are a *lot* of kits out there
from *almost* finished to still in the crate. There are also estates.

I purchased my G-III from an estate. It was the complete kit with
every option available at the time it was purchased and even a few
updates. The only work done was the inventory. They opened up the
box, (very big box), did the inventory and closed it back up. It
wasn't cheap, but still it was way less than the new kit price.

One of the members from the Saginaw EAA chapter has purchased several
RVs in various stages of completion and then finished them. He was
getting so he could build one pretty fast. :-))

I think he's moved to Florida or Texas now.

Some times the manufacturers will point you to some good bargains. It
is after all to their benefit to get the most of their kits flying
they can in addition to selling them.

Another source would be a builder's group mailing list/reflector. You
should be able to find one for virtually any of the more popular kits.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Thanks,
Paul