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| | There are thousands of unfinished kit cars on the market today simply because the novice builder didn't realize the amount of work required to "assemble" the kit. Slick advertising sucks many a novice into the "kit car" trap, and provides a poor entry into street rodding. | | There are thousands of unfinished kit cars on the market today simply because the novice builder didn't realize the amount of work required to "assemble" the kit. Slick advertising sucks many a novice into the "kit car" trap, and provides a poor entry into street rodding. |
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| − | ===Before buying a kit car===
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| − | Before buying any kit car, research the company's history, BBB complaints, legal problems, product qu
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| − | ality issues and anything else that might be important. Slick advertising can make any company look good, but there is no substitute for an educated consumer.
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| − | Another important issue to consider is the design of the kit. Is the body designed to be a faithful representation of the original or is it something less? Will parts made for the original fit the kit? If not, how can you obtain replacement parts in case of an accident? Are you forced to buy trim parts, replacement parts, and specialty parts from only one source (the kit manufacturer) if and when they are needed? If so, perhaps the purchase should be reconsidered. Most fiberglass and steel bodies available are good quality and are designed to use parts made for the original car which can be purchased from a variety of sources and some are pretty much proprietary designs that are so far off from the original that very few parts made for the original can be used. Does the frame use a readily available suspension, steering and brake system? If not where can you obtain replacement parts when the need arises?
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| − | Finally, before anyone lays down his hard earned money for a "kit car" he should ask other street rod owners their opinions. Not just other owners of the kit he is considering buying, but other street rod enthusiasts. Some kits are much better than others and the word gets around so don't hesitate to ask for opinions on a particular product from those who have been in the hobby a while.
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| − | Curt Scott of KitCar.com publishes a [http://www.kitcar.com/cgscbook.html Kit Car Buyer's Guide] that is generally thought to be considerably less economically biased than the mainstream kit car magazines.
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| − | In addition, KitCar.com publishes a [http://www.kitcar.com/consumeralert/ Consumer Alert page], and an article entitled [http://www.KitCar.com/editorials-kitcar/predatorsANDeditors/home.html Predators and Editors], which discusses the fallacy of trusting popular kit car magazines.
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