Newcomer / Intro Imperial Clipper or Lagon Type 7?

[Stixz Awesome]

I just started out trading in this game and enjoying it immensly and my question is what the titles says.
I have no idea of the prerequisites of each ship or their potential, but I need a ship between the type 6
and 9 but I have no idea which one to take. The clipper is the sexiest piece of ship-rump I've ever seen,
but the ship is to be used for making cash, nothing else.

I also have no experience of good large ship trading routes so that's also gonna be an issue. But that'll
sort itself out eventually, question is though, which ship is objectively better?

 

[Jesters09]

I went for the T7, took everything off that I could (including the shields) and filled it with cargo pods. 232 total.
Fitted the best drive, power plant and distributer.
It has a better range than the clipper and a much better profile too, but it is a dog to fly.
The clipper is much nicer to fly with great view from the pit, but it is so wide.
It also has poor jump range.
If you strip the clipper including the shield, you can carry more cargo than the T7, but it is far riskier.

I find I could still fit my T7 through the letter box even when there was a T9 in there, but you stand no chance in a clipper.

 

[Stixz Awesome]

Thanks for the quick reply and hearty information content, Jester!

Do you feel that jump distance is crucial to large ship trading, or is it something you can get around somehow?

 

[FlyingBlind]

Type 7 has a miserable jump range and needs to be fitted with the 5 mil jump drive to be taken seriously. Keep that in mind.
Imperial Clipper also has the short jump range, is ~5 mil more expensive and requires baron rank with the empire which is very painful since you need to complete about 70 missions maybe more and they pay barely enough to cover fuel and ammo costs.. But it looks sweet and that is why I'm going for it.

Do you feel that jump distance is crucial to large ship trading, or is it something you can get around somehow?

You need the better drive because the stock one uses a lot of fuel and a trip that should take 2 jumps takes 7 and leaves you running on fumes. I suggest you keep using type 6 until you make about 26-27 mil (you need about 2 mil for rebuy and 1+mil to buy goods depending what you trade).

 

[Jesters09]

Thanks for the quick reply and hearty information content, Jester!

Do you feel that jump distance is crucial to large ship trading, or is it something you can get around somehow?

A lot of the better trade runs have now become 4 jumps for an average size ship.
Plus, when you fill a 232 cargo hold ship, your jump range is shortened considerably.
Having talked to a fellow pilot in game, he told me D grade on everything but the drive (drive needs to be A grade), gives you the best range. Great for trade and exploration, not for combat. For combat, go for grade A stuff.

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Type 7 has a miserable jump range and needs to be fitted with the 5 mil jump drive to be taken seriously. Keep that in mind.
Imperial Clipper also has the short jump range, is ~5 mil more expensive and requires baron rank with the empire which is very painful since you need to complete about 70 missions maybe more and they pay barely enough to cover fuel and ammo costs.. But it looks sweet and that is why I'm going for it.

You need the better drive because the stock one uses a lot of fuel and a trip that should take 2 jumps takes 7 and leaves you running on fumes. I suggest you keep using type 6 until you make about 26-27 mil (you need about 2 mil for rebuy and 1+mil to buy goods depending what you trade).

The rebuy on my T7 was about a million, but Flying Blind is right, you do need around 27million.

 

[Stixz Awesome]

Type 7 has a miserable jump range and needs to be fitted with the 5 mil jump drive to be taken seriously. Keep that in mind.
Imperial Clipper also has the short jump range, is ~5 mil more expensive and requires baron rank with the empire which is very painful since you need to complete about 70 missions maybe more and they pay barely enough to cover fuel and ammo costs.. But it looks sweet and that is why I'm going for it.

You need the better drive because the stock one uses a lot of fuel and a trip that should take 2 jumps takes 7 and leaves you running on fumes. I suggest you keep using type 6 until you make about 26-27 mil (you need about 2 mil for rebuy and 1+mil to buy goods depending what you trade).

I heard rumours that the Type 7 costs more than it says it does (to be useful), but that was a bit more than I thought...
Nevertheless, getting new ships are supposed to be an challange!

The reason I asked about the jump distance relevance is because right now I'm trading between two systems with my Type 6
and making roughly 1 344 000cr per hour with a fuel cost of little less than 400 for the whole trip. Since Type 7 uses large
landing pads, I won't be able to use the same route with such a ship. I guess my question now is if the large stations are farther
apart and thus requires you do have good jump capabilities?

tl;dr - Are long jumps required for high income trading with large ships?

 

[FlyingBlind]

I am sure there are short distance trade routes in the galaxy that are profitable, but finding them may prove a challenge. So in general no, you don't need the better drive if you find two systems ~7LY apart. But in the interest of saving time the drive has to be fitted because *most* trade routes are around 20LY or at least these are easiest to find with BPC. You may say 'meh, 20LY that is still only 3 jumps' but keep in mind you can't jump in a straight line only between systems, so it may turn out the route is actually 35LY and takes you around quite many systems.

 

[Stixz Awesome]

I guess I'm just trying to find a reason to buy the type 7 as soon as possible lol since right now
it would take me roughly 21 hours of pure grind to get 27mil. But I'll be smart and listen to the
very reasonable advice you guys have given me and wait until I have that amount.

Do you guys have any info on jump ranged when the ships are full/empty of cargo?

 

[FlyingBlind]

I made the mistake of purchasing type 7 a little bit too early and couldn't fit the jump drive right away had to make a couple of trade runs first and my profits per minute dropped considerably, don't rush it. I don't know where you can find ship specs unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any database except the actual in game once you have the ship.

 

[Stixz Awesome]

I made the mistake of purchasing type 7 a little bit too early and couldn't fit the jump drive right away had to make a couple of trade runs first and my profits per minute dropped considerably, don't rush it. I don't know where you can find ship specs unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any database except the actual in game once you have the ship.

This is the only database of information I've come across so far, but it's pretty void of more in depth information: This is the only thing I've come across so far, but it only has a limit amount of usefulness.

How far can your Type 7 jump with its cargo full?

 

[FlyingBlind]

I don't have it anymore switched back to cobra once made enough money for Imperial Clipper but it was around 15LY? Can't really remember maybe someone currently using type 7 will clarify.

 

[Stixz Awesome]

Okay, thank you for your time =)

 

[Duckfather]

I've used both the Type 7 and the Clipper, both with all class D modules apart from a class A FSD (and not removing shields)
.
Type 7
Pro's :-
Carries more cargo (with shields)
Easier to get through the docking port
Slightly better jump range
You don't need any Federation rank to buy it
Costs 5 mill less than the Clipper
.
Con's
Flies like a pig
Not that good at defending itself
Fuel costs are significantly more
.
.
Clipper
Pro's :-
Damn fast and manoeuvrable for this size of ship
Can look after itself against most things with the correct loadout
Fuel costs are significantly less
Fun to fly and just looks sexy
.
Con's
Less cargo space (with shields)
Can be tough to get through the slot if something else is in the way
Slightly worse jump range
You need Empire rank of Baron to buy it
Costs 5 mill more than the Type 7
.
.
Really, it's down to personal preference, but I much prefer the Clipper, as she gets admiring looks everywhere I go and I can take her into battle without being certain to die when I get bored of trading for a bit . Jump range isn't really a problem, as it manages heat very well and you can do multi jump trips very quickly without waiting for heat to dissipate. I love it

 

[Exard3k]

This is the only database of information I've come across so far, but it's pretty void of more in depth information: This is the only thing I've come across so far, but it only has a limit amount of usefulness.

How far can your Type 7 jump with its cargo full?

My Type7 can jump up to 16,61ly. Thats with A5 FSD, D4 Shields and C5 Thrusters. I didn't upgrade the Thrusters to B-Rating because of weight.

 

[Darian]

Clipper hands down if you can afford... more cargo, faster (i hardly use afterburner, in my 7 i always pulsed 3 times to get timely out of or in station, now i have hardly time to ask for docking)
Plus you have the weapons to spank the pirates... and with some shifty pimping a hint more range than the 7
The badthing is now i do not have much time for the chat anymore...

 

[Stixz Awesome]

I'm biased towards the Clipper, there's no denying that... And there's a lot of great information here. Being a min-max trader,
I really appreciate the info regarding fuel cost, Duckfather and that's probs what's going to win me over in this "battle". That
and the superior manouverability, hull strength and sheer beauty. It gonna take an eon to grind towards, but it's gonna take even
longer to upgrade from a Clipper to a Type 9, so might as well get the one that you can enjoy flying until that time comes!

I have just one more question (for now). How much does it cost to upgrade to maximum cargo hold and a Class A FSD?


Now I just need to find me a good spot to grind Empire reputation and put on a Stormtrooper costume! No wait... wrong universe...