TerriblePurpose: Sometimes it sure seems like they stack the RNG against you. But if you saw big haulers there before, you'll eventually see them again. Your best bet is probably a Gek system though. If you're looking for an S class, then choose a wealthy system, as that gives you double the chance of a ship appearing as an S class (2% in a wealthy system, as opposed to 1% in a medium economy system. There's no chance in a poor system).

The way it works is there are 21 different ships in any given system. All of them have 7 Shuttles. Then there are 3 of each of the others: 3 Haulers, 3 Explorers, and 3 Fighters, and 1 Exotic. Each race has 4 extras of a specific type. Geks have 4 extra Haulers, Vy'keen have 4 extra Fighters , and Korvax have 4 extra Explorers.So, Gek systems will have 7 models of Haulers.

The ship designs are set, so they won't change once you see what they are. But their slot count is random, as is their class. So, if you're really determined to get a 48+8, then wait to see if the big haulers spawn (if you saw them already, then you know they're there). Then you can reload at a trading post (this is probably the best place to wait) and wait for them to show up as whatever slot count and class you want. That's a damned tedious process, as you've seen though.

Note: Anecdotal, but I've tried this in about 10 different systems, and it seems consistent. If you find a system with only 1 planet and go to a trading post, within about 20 minutes to a half hour, you'll see every model of ship available in that system land there, with the exception of the Exotics. They can be real stubborn bastards, and may nit spawn for a couple hours.

XenonS: New in NEXT now is that most NPC starships in the system will show-up consistently in space station, trade posts, etc.
If after awhile you don't see ships interesting for you, then change system. Wealthy systems are more likely to have big-slotted valuable ships, also exotic ships with very good Hyperdrive capability. BTW: same for freigthers.

I rarely consider buying a new big-slotted ship, I will save money by picking up crashed ships and trade them in for undammaged ones with all slots intact. If I find a big-slotted crashed ship I will consider keeping it and repair its slots, it's more advantageous than buying the same at full price.

Instgtr: BTW - please to tell what "RNG" stands for? (I'll probably slap my forehead and say, "You DUMMY!") - but WTH!!!

dashiichi: Random Number Generator.

I'm waiting for a squiddy to spawn (just for the giggles, I think my fighter will continue to be my normal ride) and was collecting some numbers on what's showing up in the station.

Very roughly, 1/3 of the ships landing were "native" to that system (fighters, in this Vy'keen station), 1/3 were shuttles, and the remainder were split between haulers and explorers.

Pretty much every size/class of shuttles were represented. However, for the major types just the lowest tranche was seen for the "off" types (i.e., haulers and explorers). Only with the native type did I observe all levels and classes (except for the ever elusive S class).

So, if you're looking for a particular type of ship, be sure that you're in the right kind of system.

birdbathscuba: I got a 48/8 S-class, Lord of the Void. This is how.

The same Gek, forgot his name, always showed up with this model. Same name.. ship and npc. Geks have best haulers and opulent have best chance of getting A and S. Find Gek controled opulent world, with 4+ many planets. Go immedietly to remotest spaceports, on remotest planet. Circle it, and shoot down everything, but your desired model with phase beam, from behind. Park on ground, jump up and camp on spaceport rooftop, drop a beacon and signal scanner. Do some scanning, find other landing bases, starports and habitats. Do same thing. Wait for respawns, blast NPCs down, not flying your model.

dashiichi: Why in the world would you want to do that? Shooting unalerted neutral shipping from behind isn't even good target practice. Not to mention the cost in reputation.

If you're in the market for an S-48 hauler, just land in the space station in an (Advanced | Affluent | Booming | Flourishing | High Supply | Opulent | Prosperous | Wealthy) Gek system, grab a bowl of popcorn, and wait. One is guaranteed to land there sooner or later.

dashiichi: What surprised me was the distrubition within types. Even though it was a wealthy Gek system, all of the haulers were of the lowest tranche. The "best" hauler was a single 31-slot S-class. On the other hand, all of the fighters were of the highest tranche with, for example, five 37-slot and three 38-slot A-class. Weird.

TerriblePurpose: Yeah, seems to be the case. I was warping to Korvax systems one after another looking for a good Explorer. Finally, gave up after someone said to try looking in a Vy'keen or Gek system. And Lo! Found a tier 3 Explorer almost right away.

birdbathscuba: The yt guides are way wrong.

TerriblePurpose: Not sure what YT has to do with it (I don't watch YT guides), but if that's what they say, then yeah, they're wrong.