So, I used ED Shipyard to fit both of them out in the same way - once for trading, once for exploration.
The fits are similar in using all D rated gear except for an A rated FSD, to maximize jump range.
Note: I know there can be various reasons to go better than D on some of the other components, but I wanted a standardized setup to make as direct a comparison as possible.
For both trading or exploration, the final cost difference for ship and all gear was a mere 4 million credits.
I must admit, I had expected a more substantial savings from the Diamondback, given its much lower price at 1,740,931 CR vs the ASP at 6,135,658 (prices without the E rated default modules)
Given that the ASP can haul 116 tons and the Diamondback only 48 tons (which also means the ASP can install more useful exploration modules, like field maintenance modules etc).
I have to say in either case, I'd spend the extra 4 million on the ASP, unless you want the diamondback for Combat, for which it could be quite a decent ship with one large and two medium hard points.
For a combat fitted Diamondback Explorer, the cost savings compared to a combat fitted ASP would indeed be quite a bit larger. While it couldn't compete with a Vulture head to head, you sure could move from war zone to war zone a lot better!
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Other thoughts:
My initial interest in Evaluating the ~2 million Diamondback Explorer was to see if it would work as an improved alternative to the Zorgon Hauler, which I still use a lot as runabout, to pick up ships and do minor reputation missions.
The Hauler costs 52,000 CR and set up for max range, cargo and fuel scoop its total cost is between 230,000 and 250,000. A laugh for what it can do, until you realize you parked 40 of them all over the place, which adds up to 10 million smeared all over the map. No matter, I enjoy having one every place I go repeatedly.
So taking the Zorgon Hauler from 52,000 base cost to ~250,000 fitted perfectly for my purposes, equals 5 times the base cost.
A Cobra fitted in the same way goes from 380,000 to ~2 million, which also roughly equals 5 times the base cost
A Lakon T6 fitted like this goes from ~1 million to ~3 million - 3 times the base cost for a lot of cargo and good jump range.
The Diamondback Explorer goes from base cost of 1.9 million to ~8 million - roughly 4 times base cost.
The ASP goes from a base cost of 6.7 million to ~13 million - slightly less than 2 times the base cost!
Before you jump to conclusions: This last paragraph only talks about the weight saving D rated cargo setup with smallest allowed shields and A rated FSD.
If you intended to upgrade things beyond D rating or even do a full combat fitting, you'll have to start your evaluation from scratch, the info here won't help with that.
For the purpose considered here, the ASP is a pretty good bargain, in comparison to the Diamondback Explorer, if you prefer a higher end ship than the T6, which is a very good deal.
I'm not listing the Diamondback Scout here, cause for this particular purpose, its basically no better than the Zorgon Hauler, but at 9.9 times the price. It does have good hard points, if you wanted to fight with it, but again, that's not what I'm looking at here.
So, I'm not panning any of the ships mentioned, I'm only comparing for 2 very specific purposes and cost effectiveness.
The fits are similar in using all D rated gear except for an A rated FSD, to maximize jump range.
Note: I know there can be various reasons to go better than D on some of the other components, but I wanted a standardized setup to make as direct a comparison as possible.
For both trading or exploration, the final cost difference for ship and all gear was a mere 4 million credits.
I must admit, I had expected a more substantial savings from the Diamondback, given its much lower price at 1,740,931 CR vs the ASP at 6,135,658 (prices without the E rated default modules)
Given that the ASP can haul 116 tons and the Diamondback only 48 tons (which also means the ASP can install more useful exploration modules, like field maintenance modules etc).
I have to say in either case, I'd spend the extra 4 million on the ASP, unless you want the diamondback for Combat, for which it could be quite a decent ship with one large and two medium hard points.
For a combat fitted Diamondback Explorer, the cost savings compared to a combat fitted ASP would indeed be quite a bit larger. While it couldn't compete with a Vulture head to head, you sure could move from war zone to war zone a lot better!
.
Other thoughts:
My initial interest in Evaluating the ~2 million Diamondback Explorer was to see if it would work as an improved alternative to the Zorgon Hauler, which I still use a lot as runabout, to pick up ships and do minor reputation missions.
The Hauler costs 52,000 CR and set up for max range, cargo and fuel scoop its total cost is between 230,000 and 250,000. A laugh for what it can do, until you realize you parked 40 of them all over the place, which adds up to 10 million smeared all over the map. No matter, I enjoy having one every place I go repeatedly.
So taking the Zorgon Hauler from 52,000 base cost to ~250,000 fitted perfectly for my purposes, equals 5 times the base cost.
A Cobra fitted in the same way goes from 380,000 to ~2 million, which also roughly equals 5 times the base cost
A Lakon T6 fitted like this goes from ~1 million to ~3 million - 3 times the base cost for a lot of cargo and good jump range.
The Diamondback Explorer goes from base cost of 1.9 million to ~8 million - roughly 4 times base cost.
The ASP goes from a base cost of 6.7 million to ~13 million - slightly less than 2 times the base cost!
Before you jump to conclusions: This last paragraph only talks about the weight saving D rated cargo setup with smallest allowed shields and A rated FSD.
If you intended to upgrade things beyond D rating or even do a full combat fitting, you'll have to start your evaluation from scratch, the info here won't help with that.
For the purpose considered here, the ASP is a pretty good bargain, in comparison to the Diamondback Explorer, if you prefer a higher end ship than the T6, which is a very good deal.
I'm not listing the Diamondback Scout here, cause for this particular purpose, its basically no better than the Zorgon Hauler, but at 9.9 times the price. It does have good hard points, if you wanted to fight with it, but again, that's not what I'm looking at here.
So, I'm not panning any of the ships mentioned, I'm only comparing for 2 very specific purposes and cost effectiveness.
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