Ford racing arcade cabinet costs $19,000!

by Blake Snow { Dec 13th 2006 at 4:55PM }

For the rich and famous only, Amazon is selling a Ford branded double cabinet arcade racer for a whopping $19,000! Forget that you have to be Rocky IV rich to afford one, this PC-based arcade box features 25 cars, 12 tracks, force-feedback, automatic updates, and "authentic racing seats" for your virtual pleasure.

But here's a thought: Buy a real, used Mustang for that amount and have at it with unlimited tracks, true-feedback, really authentic seats, but no automatic updates. The world is your oyster!

[via Uncrate]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Yaktastic @ Dec 13th 2006 5:05PM

I wonder if this cabinet also follows the FORD acronym:
Fix Or Repair Daily

if so, than anyone who purchases it gets the sport the other definition:

Fucked Over Royal, Dude

(this is of course coming from a lofe long ford owner, I'm still driving my hand me down '92 crown vic with 200K+ miles on it --- of course, it didn't want to start on saturday, but it does that from time to time :)

randomshagz @ Dec 13th 2006 5:03PM

I win for me! FOR ME!

rjg @ Dec 13th 2006 5:08PM

Yeah, except to get a truly track worthy car, it's not going to run you 19k. Plus, track time is pricey, as are brakes and tires, which are the least you are going to wear out from heavy track use.

But I agree, that's why I own a 350z... just don't think it's only going to cost you x, because it's a never ending expense, but well worth it.

Efrum @ Dec 13th 2006 5:19PM

gas?

Peacefuloutrage @ Dec 13th 2006 5:44PM

Um, buy:
2 xbox 360 premium systems $800
2 force feedback wheels $300
2 19" monitors $600
2 recaro racing seats $3000
--------
total $4700

With the rest of the money, you could build a custom cabinet for less than $1000 and pocket the rest, and if you get tired of the game, you could easily change it, or use the racing seats in your car.

Evan @ Dec 13th 2006 5:24PM

I agree, put that money towards buying, borrowing, or upgrading a real car and take it to the track. After driving a Porsche on a track during a trackday, racing video games just don't cut it anymore. The sense of motion plays an important part of driving a real car - both for excitement and for control (we feel when the car is oversteering and understeering). That's something a video game just cannot emulate.

randomshagz @ Dec 14th 2006 12:22AM

Found On Road Dead.

samfish @ Dec 13th 2006 5:31PM

"I wonder if this cabinet also follows the FORD acronym:
Fix Or Repair Daily

if so, than anyone who purchases it gets the sport the other definition:

Fucked Over Royal, Dude"

NO NO NO!
It's Fucker Only Rolls Downhill!
EVERYONE knows THAT! :p

rjg @ Dec 13th 2006 5:34PM

@5 - so true.

Also, when you are on a track with a real car, it's extremely violent inside the car, on par with a really aggressive rollercoster... impossible to ever emulate that in a video game...

It's funny to bring up Gran Turismo at the track to real racers... they just chuckle and roll their eyes.

Q @ Dec 13th 2006 5:55PM

19 grand is not whopping thats average Initial D 3 cabs were likr how 20 grand an this was 3 years ago, hwo much do you think the ITG machines go for? rich and famous to own one of these pffft that is funny.

ackmondual @ Dec 13th 2006 6:00PM

@ #4 gas?

Altho i to would rather have a REAL vehicle, to drive and not to race, let's not forget maintenance, auto insurance, and state fees.

Scott E @ Dec 13th 2006 6:01PM

"Yeah, except to get a truly track worthy car, it's not going to run you 19k. Plus, track time is pricey, as are brakes and tires, which are the least you are going to wear out from heavy track use."

Or buy a track-only sportbike for $5k and discover why 2 wheels are better than 4.....

Vexorg @ Dec 13th 2006 6:15PM

For that matter, even a go-kart that doesn't exceed 25-30 MPH (like what you'd find at the local kart track) is going to give you a better sense of speed than you're going to typically get out of a video game, no matter how fancy your setup is. For that matter, a go-kart at 30MPH is going to seem a lot faster to you than a car at 60 would, because you're generally riding only a couple of inches off the ground on narrow tracks with a lot of sharp turns, with a lot rougher ride. It's not the cheapest thing to do (last time me, my dad and brothers went out karting it cost us $50 a person for 4 races) but even at the lower speeds it blows video games out of the water.

Actual reality: You should try it sometime.

epobirs @ Dec 13th 2006 6:24PM

This may come as a shock but $19K isn't especially expensive for a deluxe two-player sitdown rig like that. Sega's Daytona USA ran $17,500 for the comparable machine back in 1994. Factor in inflation and the price of the new machine is a fair bit less.

THe difference here is that if you have an LBE venue the artcade machine can earn back its cost and then some without concern for when users crash the car. Try to do the same thing with a real car and you'll be screwed when the first idiot totals it.

killr0y @ Dec 13th 2006 6:28PM

Actually, you can get a used '95 5.0 Mustang GT for about $5k. For another $10k, you can drop in a roots blower, cobra heads & intake, coil-over suspension, new exhaust, wheels, and a rollbar. When you're done embarassing the Porches down in Sebring, you too can laugh at Gran Turismo (and this $19k joke of an arcade system)

Yeef @ Dec 13th 2006 7:15PM

What a waste of money. I'd much rather have a tank.

http://www.amazon.com/JL421-Badonkadonk-Land-Cruiser-Tank/dp/B00067F1CE/sr=8-1/qid=1166054415/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6643025-6864860?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous

nea @ Dec 14th 2006 4:06AM

14: mustangs suck. all american cars suck. id take the porsche

the only cabinet like that worth owning is the mario kart one, which im sure had 4 seats. now that would never ever get boring

Judge @ Dec 13th 2006 8:10PM

Big deal.

A two-player Time Crisis 3 cabinet used to cost $23,000.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Dec 13th 2006 9:13PM

There is only one arcade racing game worth owning: Hard Drivin'. You can get one in good shape for $600. :)

Paul @ Dec 13th 2006 9:13PM

Im a vendor and you would be surprised how expensive these games are. I looked into getting the new Mario Kart arcade game. It costs a mere $23,000. Ouch!

Royale @ Dec 14th 2006 10:17AM

Rocky IV rich... lol.

BIGmog @ Dec 15th 2006 3:11AM

First On Race Day

Flash Gamer @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:02PM

I think I will stick to online flash games. My isp (Comcast) charges $40 per month for cable internet. This works out to $.05 per hour. At this rate I could play for 39 years on $19k.

I guess I could also factor in refreshments and power expenses but it would probably cost at least as much to maintain the arcade so I will call this equal.