Hi Boons,
Uhmm... let's get some facts first;
An NIB sealed box Kyosho Ultima SELLING price is about $600 to $800. I've seen them on ebay for $1400, but do they actually sell them... no? They are just waitng there for the big fat white shark to pass by.
A new built, unused model might be going for $200-$300, maybe.
A good used condition one goes for $80-$120
A beaten one goes for $40-$60 bucks.
So; NIB $600-$800, NBU $200-$300, Good runner $80-$120 and beaten one for $40-$60.
Now is just a matter of personal prefference and how you are going to feel at the moment and on the long run.
Ask yourself; Are you he kind of guy who likes a box for display with parts inside that can not be touched? Do you preffer a built model for display? Do you want to run it? Are you willing to slash the price for the NIB to less than half for building it up?
I say dont even bother opening the box. I personally dont get NIB models, not saying that I would not buy them, but since I am not rich I stay with the built ones. And If I was lucky enough to have the NIB's I would definetaly have the built ones also, like some members here (lucky bastards LOL).
I love Optima's and I would like to run them again, but for me their time has past long time ago and unfortunately there are no vintage classes here either. So they just sit on their stands, all shiny and with all their pride, like works of art of another era. And I do enjoy just looking at them like an expensive work of art and remembering the good ol' days.
So.. Race them?! Naaa!!!! If I want to race them I preffer getting my AE B44, or other, that I can beat to death with and dont worry about what will break or not. It will be faster, handles better, less maintainance and lasts longer, and most important; dont have to pay $30 for a plastic hub or other. If it was a vintage race, then thats another story and an interesting one for sure, but if I wanted to run an Optima I would just arrange my B44 to look like one.
I say ask yourself what you really want. If it is to race just get a beater from ebay for $50 bucks and sell that one for $700. My two cents
