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01-15-2011, 02:57 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 216
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Van's cost estimator
For those of you that have completed RV's from start to finish, how accurate is Van's build cost etimator compared to what you actually spent building?
(Leaving sales tax out)
__________________
Mike
RV-6 emp, done-sold,
RV7A QB. Passed pre-cover and sold!
Disclaimer: Everything I say can be presumed to be wrong. Don't try this at home.
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01-15-2011, 03:18 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Townsend, Montana
Posts: 3,179
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When I started building in Dec.'06, the cost estimation said $something like $60-85000 for a QB-7 equipped like I was planning. I thought that was high, due to I'm pretty frugal and shop around getting some great deals. BUT when everything was finished and added up I near the upper end of that estimate.....sssh don't tell my wife.
Today when I plugged in those parameters in, it comes out $69-91K.
I am guessing you have to be very savvy to get to the low end estimation.
__________________
Retired Dam guy. Life is good.
Brian, N155BKsold but bought back.
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01-15-2011, 03:33 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 297
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"low end"
My "low end" RV9A came in right about what Van's cost estimator said.
About $46k.
There are so many different ways to build these planes that the final costs can be all over the map.
But it is possible to economize if you want or have to.
I paid for my project as I went so going first class would mean a longer duration build time.
As it turned out, I got my project flying in 47 months and I'm happy as can be with it.
If I had to have a new engine, cs prop, fancy glass panel....well I'd be looking at 2014 maybe
Dave
-9A flying
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01-15-2011, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Newport, TN
Posts: 7,496
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It was close on my frugal RV7... when I factored in the $changes$ over the ~10 years it took to build it.
Last edited by Brantel : 01-15-2011 at 04:47 PM.
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01-15-2011, 04:25 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
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Mine slightly exceeded the estimator ( about 5 % ). 
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01-15-2011, 06:26 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 216
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Rising values
Quote:
Originally Posted by hydroguy2
When I started building in Dec.'06, the cost estimation said $something like $60-85000 for a QB-7 equipped like I was planning. I thought that was high, due to I'm pretty frugal and shop around getting some great deals. BUT when everything was finished and added up I near the upper end of that estimate.....sssh don't tell my wife.
Today when I plugged in those parameters in, it comes out $69-91K.
I am guessing you have to be very savvy to get to the low end estimation.
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Presuming the Van's estimator is accurate, (which it seems to be from the replies) the above numbers are quite interesting. In 4 years the low end estimation went up $9,000 and the high end went up $6,000 for an average increase in value of $7500. This says a great deal about your RV "investment" in a down economy. Factory built aircraft as you all know haven't done as well.
__________________
Mike
RV-6 emp, done-sold,
RV7A QB. Passed pre-cover and sold!
Disclaimer: Everything I say can be presumed to be wrong. Don't try this at home.
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01-15-2011, 06:41 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Delta, CO/Atlin, BC
Posts: 2,391
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Mike,
I think Van is generally on target IF you go frugally. The basic airframe is pretty fixed. Where costs can get higher are 1) new engine vs. rebuilt; 2) avionics (if I recall correctly, Van only puts in $1k or maybe $2k when in reality most builders spend $10k up to much more); and 3) any custom frills that aren't really necessary, but are nice to have. Oh, and paint can get expensive as well unless you paint it yourself.
cheers,
greg
__________________
Greg Arehart
RV-9B (Big tires) Tipup @AJZ or CYSQ
N 7965A
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01-15-2011, 06:55 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 408
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CPSONE
Presuming the Van's estimator is accurate, (which it seems to be from the replies) the above numbers are quite interesting. In 4 years the low end estimation went up $9,000 and the high end went up $6,000 for an average increase in value of $7500. This says a great deal about your RV "investment" in a down economy. Factory built aircraft as you all know haven't done as well.
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Alas, I think Van is estimating the cost to build, not what you could sell it for. Though there is undoubtably a connection (more so with Vans than other home builts) the two are not directly linked. I'm pretty sure flying versions have gone down in market value the last couple of years.
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JV
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
RV7 QB - Airframe largely complete, sans canopy and glass... unfortunately sold
RV6 - O-360-A1A, Hartzell CS, dual G3X VFR... purchased
Dues paid 2015
"Being defeated is only a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent."
-- Marilyn vos Savant
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01-15-2011, 06:59 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 1,658
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I'm getting close to having all the $$ behind me with still some work ahead. I think it will undershoot my RV-10 by ~40%.
But you won't find many -10's that fit within Van's parameters since most have nice IFR panels and a few more luxury items that they didn't account for.
You can pretty much spend how ever much you want, but on the low-end build you're probably going to land somewhere between the average and high-end numbers on Van's calculator.
Last edited by Phil : 01-15-2011 at 07:03 PM.
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01-15-2011, 08:36 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Portland, ND
Posts: 424
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I think it is real accurate, you would really have to be on your game to hit the low end.
__________________
RV-8 108LF
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