El Classico,
Golden Gate Depot's forthcoming release of 12 and 1 and 8-1-2 sleepers lists for $170 per car complete.
If you could purchase a Walthers kit for $25, add $40 or so for good trucks (GGD's 3 axle P/S ones are $50), decals at $5-10, lights @ $15, interior @ $30 +/-, paint, etc. Basically a GGD completely finished car costs the same as a complete Walthers kit.
I have built a number of Walthers cars and know I am slow compared to other builders, but I can figure at least 25-35 hours to completely finish a car to basically the same level of amenities as a GGD car.
A well known O scale passenger car builder charges about $600-650 for a completed O scale passenger car including ones built from Walthers kits. Are they "better" than GGD cars? In some respects definitely - at 4 times the price.
Personally, I much preferred JC Models kits over Walthers for their finer rivet detail but JC was rather limited in offerings compared to Walthers although they did offer a number of PRR, NYC, and N&W kits in addition to 12 and 1 cars.
