Colors...

[RM1SepEx]

So we have been told that we will be able to choose from Red, White and Blue gel coating

We have seen tons of photos of the red gel coat on the 818S, it looks great!

Can we see some examples of the White and Blue gel coats? I need to look at powder coating my stock 16 inch 05 WRX wheels and some color evaluation needs to take place.

I prefer blue of the mentioned colors but need to get some idea of the actual hue.. :)

Bright red calipers showing thru ??? wheels with a blue body?

Dan

[metalmaker12]

When was blue or white mentioned, I have only heard of red. I hope we get more choices

[Zodiac]

Dave mentioned it in the last update thread. Red, white, and blue but not sure about the blue/white R style I think just all blue.

[AZPete]

Dan, my interpretation of Dave's comments were that they may make the 818 in red, white or blue but where did you hear that we will get to choose one of those colors?

[Silvertop]

Dave mentioned it in the last update thread. Red, white, and blue but not sure about the blue/white R style I think just all blue.

They are not likely to offer two-tone gelcoat jobs, although it is at least conceivable that one could order different body parts in different colors -- for example, ordering the hood and rear deck in white, and the rest of the car in blue. However, to imitate the prototype 818R color scheme as it exists (which on the prototype is actually ALL paint) one would need to order the car in a single color and then paint those portions of the hood and rear deck in the contrasting color of choice to achieve the desired effect.

That, at least, is what I currently plan to do. Order it in blue, then white out most of the hood and the center portion of the rear deck, then clearcoat the whole works -- maybe with a special effects metallic or pearlescent middle clear coat in between.

And it will still be way cheaper and less time consuming than a full prep and paint job on a Roadster, Coupe, or GTM because there will need to be virtually no prep work beyond a mild scuffing of the base gelcoat.

[Silvertop]

Dan, my interpretation of Dave's comments were that they may make the 818 in red, white or blue but where did you hear that we will get to choose one of those colors?

Actually, that we will be able to CHOOSE one of the three colors has not been confirmed anywhere. We are currently interpreting on our own that his statement in the recent update means each of those colors will be available, and that we will be able to choose. But I'd LOVE to see Dave or someone at FFR confirm that for sure........

[RM1SepEx]

I'd love confirmation too... I'm reading between the lines :-)

From day one the project was to be with panels so no paint is required. When you do no paint, you do multiple colors. Dave Id'ed red, white and blue in the email as available gel coat colors. The red looks awesome in the photos...

I just want to know/see what the blue is as it may affect what color I PC some parts...

MetalMaker12 I tried to PM you but your inbox is full!

[Mechie3]

Blue...with gold wheels. :D

[longislandwrx]

White for me please.

[bnr32jason]

I'm leaning towards the following colors now that I've got my wheel selection finalized (bronze wheels):

Black car, carbon vinyl on frunk and hood
Blue car, carbon vinyl or white frunk and hood
White car, all white with some tasteful stickers (race livery style)

I've got a little less than a year to my delivery date, so I'll have to wait and see what is offered by then.

[RM1SepEx]

I have just over 2 months to the est date... August 10th

I'd be happy with the red, I may prefer the blue, white is out, I don't like that you can't keep it clean, just like black and I'm building a driver not a show car

I'm starting with the stock WRX wheels and want to PC them a contrasting color I think gold would work well with both blue and red. A std oven can't do a 16 inch wheel so I have some creative modifications to do to the oven. I want to do some leather seat upholstery with contrasting color so again body color is important.

Is the Factory 5 logo avail for upholstery?

Just want to be able to hit the project running vs waiting on parts

[Triathletedave]

Blue...with gold wheels. :D

X2 for me. Classic colors!

[Dave Smith]

The colors have not been finalized, although White seems to be the likely choice for production release. I've ordered five cars in white to start as I saw the parts and they were without flaw. Let me post some pictures in a bit. I've seen the panels in white and red, but not blue. The white and red ones are rady for release but we'll likely want to start with one color. SO much work is going into so many related items, like handling (scratches bad), transport, mold making, we are continuing our work on Thermoform panels and It'll be easier for me to summarize in the next email blast. The production tools are in welding and in production now (almost 3 weeks early), and I am happy with the progress. i cannot tell you right now which way for sure we'll go but it looks like white to start.

[Oppenheimer]

...to imitate the prototype 818R color scheme as it exists (which on the prototype is actually ALL paint) one would need to order the car in a single color and then paint those portions of the hood and rear deck in the contrasting color of choice to achieve the desired effect.

This might be a good application for vinyl wrap. Buy the blue FFR, get some white vinyl wrap, trim the vinyl to replicate the stripe. Silvertop it sounds like this wouldn't work for you, since you are going more exotic on the stripe (metallic, pearl, etc). But for others this might be a good route, and keeps it no paint (plus its removable in case you want to change it up later).

I bet once FFR gets the thermoformed panels into production, we will see more color choices offered (even more than red, white & blue).

[GUNS]

Thanks for the update Dave. I'm suppose to receive my kit and I'm not a fan of white. Any way I can order the body later when more options are available? I figure it will take me a while to get to that point anyway.

[Mechie3]

I'd honestly prefer white over red if I can' t get blue.

[Silvertop]

This might be a good application for vinyl wrap. Buy the blue FFR, get some white vinyl wrap, trim the vinyl to replicate the stripe. Silvertop it sounds like this wouldn't work for you, since you are going more exotic on the stripe (metallic, pearl, etc). But for others this might be a good route, and keeps it no paint (plus its removable in case you want to change it up later).

I bet once FFR gets the thermoformed panels into production, we will see more color choices offered (even more than red, white & blue).

I hadn't thought of the vinyl wrap in that context. It is something worth considering. Whether or not I follow through on using an exotic clearcoat remains to be seen. I'll need to have a talk with my paint shop of choice before I decide on that.

And of course, Dave's just-released post above, which clarified that only white may be available right at launch (and which probably showed up while you were creating yours), could be a game changer on my color scheme plans. I like white -- it was my first choice for a Xabier-based 818 -- but I'd really rather have a blue one. Of course, my car isn't due for production until October. With luck, there will be multiple colors available by then. Could be I'll have a hard choice to make. Really, an OK problem to have............:)

[wleehendrick]

I've never really been a fan of solid white cars, but it would be a good base for a classic racing color scheme (http://wot.motortrend.com/right-stripes-porsche-918-spyder-painted-in-full-color-martini-racing-scheme-240413.html#axzz2SoZC02SC):

17581

I'm looking forward to the photos.

P.S.

Henry Ford became an automotive icon in the early 20th century by offering a Model T in "any color that he wants so long as it is black"

Dave Smith can become an automotive icon in the early 21st century by offering an 818 in "any color that he wants so long as it is white"

;)

[clintavo]

I was hoping for white, so this is good news to me. Remaining incognito is important when terrorizing local back roads.

[RM1SepEx]

I'll keep my fingers crossed that Blue or Red will be available for me by my date... White just doesn't work for me, would cause me to paint or dip or wrap...

[Mechie3]

That Martini Porsche 918 is awesome.

[Dave Smith]

Guys,

Here are the first set of production panels. There is a lot of work ongoing and I really had not intended to commit yet to a color. The more important factor is that the mold surfaces were CNC formed and the resulting parts have really exceptional fit/tight tolerances. We have a modest ramp up plan so we still have some time on colors. More information soon, but I did order five initial sets in white. The red panels shown are also just as nice. I have not seen the gel coat royal blue.

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01668.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01666.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01671.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01672.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01674.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01677.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01660.jpg

[Dave Smith]

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01657.jpg

The 818S has been disassembled and the well used 818R is slated for Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Challenge.

[PhyrraM]

The panels look really good Dave. Thanks for the photos.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I've been planning to paint it all along so gelcoat color is a non-issue for me.

Jeff

[Mechie3]

They look great. You guys sure do like to build 818S' and disassemble them. :lol:

[clintavo]

Awesome! Easier to see some of the curves you mentioned, Dave.

[ScottKoschwitz]

[QUOTE=The 818S has been disassembled and the well used 818R is slated for Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Challenge.[/QUOTE]

I plan to.attend the Open House again this year. Will a complete 818S be on display, or only the 818R?

P.S.: Let's hope we have better weather than in 2011.

[Dave Smith]

A big part of this year's Open House will be the shipping of the first 818S kit. We will definitely have BOTH 818R (trusty blue race car) and an all-new 818S Production car that we are building right now and using this month to get the assembly manual completed. We will also likely have a few more kits in the production process for people to see. I'll be sending out a production update email to those on the 818 sales order email list and the guys are updating the Options and order forms... We had a production meeting this morning and reviewed the first 15-20 customer orders and dates and I think we be on time for all of them. Jason will begin contacting people about their exact ship dates and reviewing orders in a few days. I wish I could point to some major challenge or delay, but we are looking good. :)

[RM1SepEx]

how far into your delivery schedule does 20 kits go? August?

Can't wait to check stuff out at the open house!

[Silvertop]

The panels (the red AND the white) look wonderful. I could see myself owning an 818 in either of those colors -- though I'm pretty sure I still want a blue one.

I respect FFR's caution in desiring to launch initially only in one color. It makes it a little easier to get it right the first time. I also know that Dave Smith doesn't like to make promises he can't keep. So it'll probably be just one color, at least at the very beginning. However, it occurs to me that since they clearly already have at least two sets of working molds (one for red, one for white), no matter which color they launch with, the availability of the second color won't be very far behind. And, I'm betting that work on a set of molds for blue panels won't be too long in the waiting either.

Of course, it is likely that FFR is developing multiple sets of molds for each color in order to meet production needs, and it may simply be easier to address one color at a time. It is also possible that the work toward a successful thermoplastics program is closer to fruition than we know, and FFR is hoping to sidestep creating a whole bunch of molds for fiberglass panels that will become obsolete before they really even get used.

One way or another, I'm speculating that we won't have to wait very long to get some choices. Hopefully, those very early buyers who can't live with a white car (or a red one if that is the initial color) will be permitted to hold their place in line until the color of their dreams becomes available. Just my .02

[Dave Smith]

The panels (the red AND the white) look wonderful. I could see myself owning an 818 in either of those colors -- though I'm pretty sure I still want a blue one.

I respect FFR's caution in desiring to launch initially only in one color. It makes it a little easier to get it right the first time. I also know that Dave Smith doesn't like to make promises he can't keep. So it'll probably be just one color, at least at the very beginning. However, it occurs to me that since they clearly already have at least two sets of working molds (one for red, one for white), no matter which color they launch with, the availability of the second color won't be very far behind. And, I'm betting that work on a set of molds for blue panels won't be too long in the waiting either.

Of course, it is likely that FFR is developing multiple sets of molds for each color in order to meet production needs, and it may simply be easier to address one color at a time. It is also possible that the work toward a successful thermoplastics program is closer to fruition than we know, and FFR is hoping to sidestep creating a whole bunch of molds for fiberglass panels that will become obsolete before they really even get used.

One way or another, I'm speculating that we won't have to wait very long to get some choices. Hopefully, those very early buyers who can't live with a white car (or a red one if that is the initial color) will be permitted to hold their place in line until the color of their dreams becomes available. Just my .02


The complexity of molds, colors, and the end-goal of a new molding process that will keep FFR ahead of our competition are justa few of the variables we are trying to balance. We did decide to build the 818S street car for the Open House without any paint, using just the body panels as rec'vd in the kit since the design goal of not having to paint the car is SO INTEGRAL to being able to build the car at the target price of sub $15,000. I'll likely paint the car after that, since we have a killer sponsorship from Carls and Sherwin Williams, but I think a white with black innterior and carbon accents might be cool. The windshield surround is already going to be in flat black and the guys found some great rims that will go well with a bright white. It'll also be difficult to not put a bunch of decals on the car, and simply focus on showing the finish as it leaves the factory.

Dave

[longislandwrx]

That WHITE looks amazing ;)

but agreed, I will be happy with whatever. I imagine replacing the body can't be too hard (judging by how many times FFR does it in a week)
I'll probably end up driving around in the frame anyway, as if my neighbors didn't think I was crazy already.





how far into your delivery schedule does 20 kits go? August?

Can't wait to check stuff out at the open house!

oh man I hope so.

[metalmaker12]

Dave, I love you if I can get white, that's the color I have wanted from day one, and it in my opinion looks killer!!!!!!!!!!! Heres my take
17587 175881758917590

So white for me

See you at the open house.

[wallace18]

WoW! Those panels look great. I hope we get a choice of color. I think the red/white and blue is great for an american company. Are they done in house like the other kits?

[Mechie3]

That WHITE looks amazing ;)

but agreed, I will be happy with whatever. I imagine replacing the body can't be too hard (judging by how many times FFR does it in a week)
I'll probably end up driving around in the frame anyway, as if my neighbors didn't think I was crazy already.



I've taken the fmod around teh neighborhood with no body panels on. Can't wait to do the same with the 818. :cool:

[bnr32jason]

Yeah the white looks great! White with some carbon accents on gunmetal or bronze wheels would look excellent!

[jbackslash]

To stay under 15k I'll probably be plasti-dipping the car blaze orange

[metalmaker12]

Carbon parts, check
Gunmetal wheels, check
Dark interior, check

So Dave, weres my kit ;)

[JeromeS13]

Please keep white as an option, at least through February!!! :D

[Twinspool]

White is clean, classic, and makes livery replicas easier.

Great choice. Any vinyl wraps will pop nicely on a white background.

[gwader]

Hellll yes! So are these glass panels or the thermoform?

[Wayne Presley]

Hellll yes! So are these glass panels or the thermoform?

Those are polished gelcoat fiberglass

[Dave Smith]

I rarely get to correct Wayne (I respect his technical skills tremendously although he cheats when go-karting...) Anyway, Wayne is only half right. The white panels I posted pictures of are right out of the molds with NO PREP. The red panels had been polished. We will have the kits and completed cars on display at the summer Open House on June 15 and you'll be able to see panels "as shipped".

[Mechie3]

Nobody likes a cheater Wayne!! :p


(but we'll forgive you if you can find some more contraband photos to post :D)

[Wayne Presley]

I rarely get to correct Wayne (I respect his technical skills tremendously although he cheats when go-karting...)

Cheat as is in take the shifter kart course the night before and then pretend to it's your first time in the kart? And still lose? I'm sure Sally has a mirror if you need to see the guilty person :D

[bstuke]

White please..

[Erik W. Treves]

Dave, White,Blue or white... no matter...I am ready to start...very excited to be up there for the open house...so I was going to trailer the cobra up there...but then I guess I won't have room for my kit :o ... Wayne and I have been scheming hard for the last week...going outside the box ...a little......this thing is going to be wicked! Lots of work to do now though...I have to go back and undo some of the things I did to the motor and elsewhere...hee hee...

[Kalstar]

White for me too.

[GUNS]

Hoping for another option, white's not my thing. Dave, is it possible to have 2 colors available at release? I'd much prefer red (or black ;)).

[bnr32jason]

Now that I know white is an option I've got all kinds of ideas running through my head.

Right now I'm thinking white car, red Corbeau racing seats, red carpet, black dash with some minor red accents. Exterior would have a carbon vinyl racing stripe, maybe 6" wide running down the middle of the car with red pinstripes on each side. Then do some kind of carbon and red vinyl on the sides as well. Still have to plan it all out, but I think it will look good. :)

I might even attempt to plastidip the wheels in red, but I dunno.

[RM1SepEx]

Hoping for another option, white's not my thing. Dave, is it possible to have 2 colors available at release? I'd much prefer red (or black ;)).

or royal blue :D

[AZPete]

hoping for another option, white's not my thing. Dave, is it possible to have 2 colors available at release? I'd much prefer red (or black ;)).

x2 red
Here in the desert white is for rental cars, no-option cars and the blue-hair Caddies.

[JeromeS13]

x2 red
Here in the desert white is for rental cars, no-option cars and the blue-hair Caddies.

And the coolest (temperature wise) when it's 118 degrees outside. ;-)

[Zodiac]

well if I can't get the FFR orange than I'll be plenty happy with the white. Get black accenting going and what not

[Evan78]

I'll cast my vote for blue. White is not bad, but tends to yellow with age, at least with mass produced cars that are painted. A white car that's a few years old looks horrible to me when its parked next to a new one. I know not all whites are the same, just like any other color, but I prefer the way non-white colors age.

[Highway Star]

I was planning on the blue as well. The R livery really looks good. Red would be ok. But white just reminds me of...
17611

[Darkpiggy's dad]

I don't really care what the base color is, I'm clown flaming mine.

[FFR-ADV]

Guys,

Here are the first set of production panels. There is a lot of work ongoing and I really had not intended to commit yet to a color. The more important factor is that the mold surfaces were CNC formed and the resulting parts have really exceptional fit/tight tolerances. We have a modest ramp up plan so we still have some time on colors. More information soon, but I did order five initial sets in white. The red panels shown are also just as nice. I have not seen the gel coat royal blue.

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01668.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01666.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01671.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01672.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01674.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01677.jpg

https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG-20130501-01660.jpg

WOW!!! Those look great! Finish is spectacular! I can hardly wait to see the panels in Blue (my personal favorite)!

How is the full 11 degree composite diffuser coming?

Thanks so much for sharing Dave

Cheers!

[Mechie3]

I was planning on the blue as well. The R livery really looks good. Red would be ok. But white just reminds me of...
17611

White reminds me of:
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201301/2013-porsche-918-spyder-1_600x0w.jpg

or this:

http://i44.tinypic.com/25ztt9w.jpg

[metalmaker12]

White is hot!!!!

[bnr32jason]

My last 4 or 5 cars have been white. I love it!

[07FIREBLADE]

Diggin that lotus.... already have plans for my 818 in whiye with CF accents and some black here n there

[Dave Smith]

The month of May is slated for the carbon options (like the rear diffuser, front splitter, side skirts, carbon hood-maybe). I know we have a trip to the wind tunnel on the board to optimize the rear diffuser, balance the front/rear downforce. The track/performance testing got us pretty close, but we do need to go to the tunnel to make sure the cars aero parts are balanced right. Plus we are going to take the car all David-vs.-Goliath to the GRM Ultimate Track Challenge in July so we want to keep the R&D race effort going.

I was pretty hard on the guys last week and I'm probably not the most popular guy at work right now, but this car has to be perfect and I have a simple clear vision and don't want anything but perfection. The truth is that the guys are doing exceptional work and more than ANY time in the history of the company, we have a GREAT team, everyone is working well together and it seems that we've got such expertise and depth in so many areas. Having Colby back in tool-making is a miracle as there is no-one better than him and he's training the younger welders and doing such exceptional work. Same with Nate and the molding/shaping crew. Engineering is rocking with Dan, Jim, Jesper, and Frankie... all doing their best work. The production crew in Chassis Assembly and Packaging are hitting it hard and the tech guys are getting plugged into the car and we should be at full throttle shortly.

I gotta get some family stuff done. Hope you guys all treat your wives, girls, mothers like the queens that they are tomorrow. We can go back to being slackers on Monday, but tomorrow its all for Mom!

Wayne, give my best to Hayden. I hope you could read thru my text that I was kidding you. You are a great driver, a racers-racer, and I hold you in high regard. I look forward to our next kart race (maybe SEMA 13) and a shot at payback brother!

[bnr32jason]

I assume the carbon options like diffuser and splitters will be available for the S as well as the R?

[Silvertop]

I was planning on the blue as well. The R livery really looks good. Red would be ok. But white just reminds me of...
17611

I dunno -- what's wrong with that? Is that the new coupe version??????:D

[Xusia]

I was planning on the blue as well. The R livery really looks good. Red would be ok. But white just reminds me of...
17611

I'd rock that paint job!

[shinn497]

I know we have a trip to the wind tunnel on the board to optimize the rear diffuser, balance the front/rear downforce. The track/performance testing got us pretty close, but we do need to go to the tunnel to make sure the cars aero parts are balanced right.


So much this

[flytosail]

That red works for me.

[Silvertop]

.............. The white panels I posted pictures of are right out of the molds with NO PREP. The red panels had been polished. We will have the kits and completed cars on display at the summer Open House on June 15 and you'll be able to see panels "as shipped".

I REALLY wish I could be there for the Open House -- but I have multiple scheduling conflicts already which make it impossible. Are you guys going to do any sort of live web-cam of the event? Or at the very least, make a simple video for post-event viewing on the forum?

[metalmaker12]

I will video tape it bud

[Silvertop]

I will video tape it bud

Glad to hear that! :)

[Mechie3]

Went to the track today. This was my favorite car. I'd be tempted to forgo a blue car if it was available and get white just so I could make accents on in this vinyl.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/mechie3/IMG_20130512_172618_911.jpg (http://s139.photobucket.com/user/mechie3/media/IMG_20130512_172618_911.jpg.html)

[Samiam1017]

Indy cars just keep getting uglier.

[thestigwins]

Indy cars just keep getting uglier.

I disagree, I think that thing looks awesome!

[Mechie3]

I like it better than the last version too.

[Highway Star]

Went to the track today. This was my favorite car. I'd be tempted to forgo a blue car if it was available and get white just so I could make accents on in this vinyl.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/mechie3/IMG_20130512_172618_911.jpg (http://s139.photobucket.com/user/mechie3/media/IMG_20130512_172618_911.jpg.html)
I could see that working.

BTW: What's the deal with the nose on that car?

[Mechie3]

I could see that working.

BTW: What's the deal with the nose on that car?

Magic nose!

The nose is held on by 4 pins that go into two vertical turrets that lock them in place (like the 1/4 turn fasteners on assemble yourself furniture). When going from the pits to the garage or vice versa they put the bottom pins in the top holes so that if they go over bumps or anything they don't destroy the wing. You can see the strap that hooks onto either side of the air intake on the upper roll bar. The guy in the car is just a crewman, not the driver.


I'd probably keep the stripe simple like this:

http://www.gtspirit.com/uploads/images/f430race01.jpg

The blue is magnificent in person (IMO). Light reflects off it and lights up objects next to it. A full car in that color would be obnoxious and a total "OMG look at me! Look at me!". Not what I want.

Maybe I'd do something like this with the checkered flag. Not sure on the wheels though. I've had colored wheels (red/AX, Copper/DD) and I have mixed thoughts. It could certainly pull it off, but I'm not sure I want quite that much attention.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/White_and_blue_Porsche_997_GT3_RS_3point8_tracking shot.jpg

[longislandwrx]

17648

this one too... white, black trim, red bits, this is the look I'm trying to achieve

[Mechie3]

This morning I thought perhaps instead of blue wheels Blue calipers would help pull everything together on a white car with blue stripes. That would leave me open for a smoky silver color or some other non black non colored wheel option.

[longislandwrx]

better have some big *** calipers. the project mu blue has always got me hot an bothered.

[Mechie3]

Just the 06 WRX 4 pots. I've considered bigger brakes just to fill the wheels and look fun since this won't be a competitive car for me, just a fun DD, but it's too much money for no benefit.

[bnr32jason]

Just the 06 WRX 4 pots. I've considered bigger brakes just to fill the wheels and look fun since this won't be a competitive car for me, just a fun DD, but it's too much money for no benefit.

Well, there may be some benefit if you are willing to spend the extra money for some loss of unsprung weight. Wilwood 4-pot brakes have a 10mm bigger rotor and weigh 10.5lbs less per side for the front brakes. You should be able to sell your Subaru 4-pots to help fund the upgrade. But that's up to you if losing 20lbs off your front hubs for $1200 is worth it.

[Mechie3]

Plus losing my 2pc dba 5000 rotors.

[bnr32jason]

Well if you already have lightweight rotors, than the weight savings will be significantly less. You could still save weight with the calipers, but not as much.

[Wayne Presley]

Well if you already have lightweight rotors, than the weight savings will be significantly less. You could still save weight with the calipers, but not as much.
those 4 pot iron Sube calipers are HEAVY

[cobrajj]

How about this white. Won Best in Show at the 2013 1st Annual Shelby Tribute Car Show, Gardena, Ca this past Saturday.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/jjcobra_01/IMG_7538_zpsa02a4a54.jpg (http://s612.photobucket.com/user/jjcobra_01/media/IMG_7538_zpsa02a4a54.jpg.html)
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/jjcobra_01/IMG_7507_zps64ac611d.jpg (http://s612.photobucket.com/user/jjcobra_01/media/IMG_7507_zps64ac611d.jpg.html)

[bnr32jason]

those 4 pot iron Sube calipers are HEAVY

Yeah in the weight reduction thread I posted a combined weight for rotors and calipers and the weight savings from the Wilwood setup would be 21lbs total for the fronts. That's a huge difference especially given the location. But I don't recall the weight of individual calipers for the OEM stuff, but I know the Wilwood 4pots are 4lbs each.

[NISMO_RB25]

I would have driven the car if it was dirt brown, but I have been hoping for white. Come on September so I can start building this amazing car. Great work FF team!

[metalmaker12]

Yeah so the car is still only 818kg, and the 4 pots stop good and hold up well, even some rally teams use them. If we want good brakes that are lightweight and can handle the track 24/7 these are the best Subaru front and rear brake deal at 7k period.17665

The next option are front Project MU17669 and than Alcon's front 6pots 17666 for like 4k-5k for front only, so lets add like another 3-4k, 7-9k

then the brembo front only 6pots 17667. Offcoarse these are not to bad either for 3 k lol, 17668, etc etc

there are countless others, 17670

but these are all great brakes and have been proven in the subaru, and many other race scenes. Will they stop great, yea, are they all light, pretty much, are they worth it on a street 818, no, the 4 pots of Brembo stock Sti's are good enough in my opinion. to save 20 pounds and spend like 10k, I will turn up the boost one psi and trim my fuel etc, the car pulled a 1.5g!!!! guess the brakes held it down. Now if I were rich enough to race, well I would go out and buy the lightest best stopping brakes out there for sure, but I thought this was a 15k build?

[Wayne Presley]

Yeah so the car is still only 818kg, and the 4 pots stop good and hold up well, even some rally teams use them. If we want good brakes that are lightweight and can handle the track 24/7 these are the best Subaru front and rear brake deal at 7k period.17665

The next option are front Project MU17669 and than Alcon's front 6pots 17666 for like 4k-5k for front only, so lets add like another 3-4k, 7-9k

then the brembo front only 6pots 17667. Offcoarse these are not to bad either for 3 k lol, 17668, etc etc

there are countless others, 17670

but these are all great brakes and have been proven in the subaru, and many other race scenes. Will they stop great, yea, are they all light, pretty much, are they worth it on a street 818, no, the 4 pots of Brembo stock Sti's are good enough in my opinion. to save 20 pounds and spend like 10k, I will turn up the boost one psi and trim my fuel etc, the car pulled a 1.5g!!!! guess the brakes held it down. Now if I were rich enough to race, well I would go out and buy the lightest best stopping brakes out there for sure, but I thought this was a 15k build?

What, no carbon rotors????? :D

[metalmaker12]

lol, I figured I get you to comment back, lol, yea well I was trying to stay under 30k for the brakes wayne, Maybe if I hit the lottery I will build a mean 4 car 818 track team and spend like 150k on each one

theses would be the brakes at that point 17671

[Wayne Presley]

I'd just do some dynalites with carbon rotors, plenty of brake power and really light

[Mechie3]

I have some spare two pot dynalites of my F500. Not sure they're up for the task of the 818, but they sure are super light!

[riptide motorsport]

To stay under $15,000......................I hope that still means complete price.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Yeah so the car is still only 818kg, and the 4 pots stop good and hold up well, even some rally teams use them. If we want good brakes that are lightweight and can handle the track 24/7 these are the best Subaru front and rear brake deal at 7k period.17665

The next option are front Project MU17669 and than Alcon's front 6pots 17666 for like 4k-5k for front only, so lets add like another 3-4k, 7-9k

then the brembo front only 6pots 17667. Offcoarse these are not to bad either for 3 k lol, 17668, etc etc

there are countless others, 17670

but these are all great brakes and have been proven in the subaru, and many other race scenes. Will they stop great, yea, are they all light, pretty much, are they worth it on a street 818, no, the 4 pots of Brembo stock Sti's are good enough in my opinion. to save 20 pounds and spend like 10k, I will turn up the boost one psi and trim my fuel etc, the car pulled a 1.5g!!!! guess the brakes held it down. Now if I were rich enough to race, well I would go out and buy the lightest best stopping brakes out there for sure, but I thought this was a 15k build?

What brakes would you guys suggest for me. I only need to do one high speed controlled stop in case my KERS system fails. Low cost, low rotational inertia, low unsprung weight, Low cost again.
Bob

[Wayne Presley]

I have some spare two pot dynalites of my F500. Not sure they're up for the task of the 818, but they sure are super light!

I was thinking these front and rear

17672

[Silvertop]

What brakes would you guys suggest for me. I only need to do one high speed controlled stop in case my KERS system fails. Low cost, low rotational inertia, low unsprung weight, Low cost again.
Bob

Flintstone/Rubble Organic Friction Brakes. May be out of production. Failing that, you could always use whatever came on your donor.:D

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Flintstone/Rubble Organic Friction Brakes. May be out of production. Failing that, you could always use whatever came on your donor.:D

:) I said controlled stop. My 06 NA 2.5i (not using motor) has 2 pot in front and singles in the back. Low cost for sure because the came with my doner. The 2 pot caliper and rotors in the front are very heavy.

[Evan78]

What brakes would you guys suggest for me. I only need to do one high speed controlled stop in case my KERS system fails. Low cost, low rotational inertia, low unsprung weight, Low cost again.
BobWhat do you consider high speed? 60, 100, 130? You could use aluminum calipers, rotors that have an aluminum hat, and step down in size if you really want to cut weight from your brakes.

Can you recommend an engine for me? I want it to be cheap, make great power, be reliable, and cheap again :p

In all seriousness, all things being equal, a smaller setup should cost less. If you can't go with aluminum, you could look for smaller oem stuff.

[bnr32jason]

Well this discussion went a completely different direction (par for the course I guess :) )

You don't have to spend $10k or even $2k to get a good set of lightweight track proven brakes.

www.wilwood.com

http://www.wilwood.com/Images/BrakeKits/Kit%20Photos-Large-Parts%20Laid%20Out/140-9193_kit-lg.jpg

This kit runs just under $1100 and will shave 20-21lbs off your front hubs. If there is anywhere you want to eliminate weight it's in the wheels and brakes. This will improve every aspect of performance (handling, acceleration, and braking). You can probably sell your front Subaru 4-pot set for $500 to someone on the forums, so it's a $600 brake upgrade. Not too shabby.

[Kalstar]

I would assume shaving off nearly 1500 lbs on a car that stops in 123 feet (60-0) under full weight with crappy tires would be more then enough brake ability to stop the 818 with sticky tires.

As for color, white with graphics works for me.

[bnr32jason]

But the discussion isn't braking power, it's weight.

You get the better braking ability (even if it doesn't technically need it) but shave off ~21lbs from your front hubs, which is a BIG deal. People spend thousands on forged wheels to save 5lbs per wheel, you can save ~10lbs per wheel by spending $600 or so (net after sale of stock 4pots) for the brakes.


Anyways, yeah, absolutely white with bronze wheels and some carbon accents for me. :)

[longislandwrx]

Back to color... does Factory Five offer frame powder coating in a choice of colors for the other models or just black.

[Wayne Presley]

Back to color... does Factory Five offer frame powder coating in a choice of colors for the other models or just black.

You can have any color you want as long as it's black...

[longislandwrx]

You can have any color you want as long as it's black...

come on... new model, new beginnings... new powder coat options?

[Mechie3]

Black, or black with metal flake? :)

[bnr32jason]

Just get white, take the body parts into Maaco, pick the color you want to paint it....done (and cheap)!

[bnr32jason]

Saw this on my Facebook feed today from "GT Spirit"

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/919433_10151437040955143_1424826214_o.jpg

White supercars with red interior have always got my motor running :) I love it, I know red interior isn't for everyone, but I think it's amazing looking when combined with a white car.

I think I may just end up doing almost exactly this scheme, except carbon hood and "Factory Five" on the doors. I'll get red Corbeau seats and do other parts of the interior red as well, and then Plastidip my CE28's (wheels) red as well.

[AZPete]

This thread started with color so I will say RED, like the 818S I've been drooling over since November.

Evan78: you ask for inexpensive, powerful and reliable. The old adage is "select any two".
Pete

[Xusia]

What do you consider high speed? 60, 100, 130? You could use aluminum calipers, rotors that have an aluminum hat, and step down in size if you really want to cut weight from your brakes.

Can you recommend an engine for me? I want it to be cheap, make great power, be reliable, and cheap again :p

In all seriousness, all things being equal, a smaller setup should cost less. If you can't go with aluminum, you could look for smaller oem stuff.

As has been said, pick any 2:

Cheap + Reliable = Impreza Naturally Aspirated 2.5L (in the 818 it should make "good" power)
Power + Reliable = WRX Turbo 2.0L (because the 2.0L should be cheaper than the 2.5L)
Power + Cheap = I don't know why you would want to sacrifice reliability, so I don't have an answer here

[RM1SepEx]

You have to define "Cheap" I think that you could do a $15,000 818 with a low mileage, damaged 02-05 WRX donor if you stuck with many of the stock parts!

Of course I had to upgrade a bunch of parts!

[metalmaker12]

It would be hard to make one for 15,000 in R.I with our sales Tax of 7% and lack of low cost donors.

Kit: $9999
Donor: 2,500 (a decent running 80- 120k donor will be 5k-7k and a crashed one will be 2,500- 4,500+)
Needed to function parts minimum: 2,000 (a low ball)
Donor Tax to state: 175.00
Kit Tax: 699.93
Kit tax to state: 699.93
Total: 16,073.86 at the low end.

It will be hard to build one for 15k that will run that great or hold up long. 20k-25k is more like it to be honest.

[RM1SepEx]

My donor was 1850 w/o shipping (bad roll over) $3500 delivered to Maine`05 but only 70,000 miles

I "had" to replace 1 front control arm, i driver's seat belt, transverse links in rear, 1 rim and tire, steering rack

I chose to do a bunch more
Quaife, new rotors and hawk pads, light flywheel, new clutch, belts, pumps, ceramic header and up pipe etc
sold off $1200 in unused parts , even from an ugly roll over, ugliest donor I've seen!
Maine sales tax on Kit $500
Maine tax on donor $ 92.50
"needed" parts $ 500-1000

I could have done it for $15,000

[RM1SepEx]

funny, just finished the above post, went to crash, checked my email... PayPal notice, another $64 into my paypal account, I need to ship another unused WRX part tomorrow!

[Xusia]

But as I stated before, you got really lucky with your donor (as did I). Others can't expect to get a similar deal. I'm with Metal; I think a $15k car demands a NA Impreza. If you want to use a WRX, you should plan on spending $20k. If you get lucky, great, but you can't really plan to get lucky (if you could, I would have ALREADY won the lottery!)...

[RM1SepEx]

Patience... I deliberately started early to avoid some price increases due to 818 demand. I'm not really actively looking and I've found a couple more low mileage damaged donors with similar $3500-$4000 costs. I bet that there are quite a few examples already on this forum, they just are documented all over the place. There are so many build variables it is hard to compare. You can't really make blanket statements when there are documented exceptions, hell you even are one!

Anyone can find a deal if they look hard enough, Hitting the lottery vs finding a fair deal for a crashed WRX is not the same. Don't forget that you can sell off unused parts. Even my roll over with double airbag deployment and only one undamaged door panel has given me almost $1250 back... I still have more parts to sell. It would be very nice to get back the original $1850 purchase price...

Someone on this forum Erik? Flipped one, got a second WRX and now has his donor virtually free... no luck, no lottery, just time and effort.

What happened to colors BTW? I'm still at no on white, I'd be happy with Red or Blue.

[metalmaker12]

It is true the 15k build can happen( a lot of time and selling parts effort), but on avg most of us will spend 20-25k to complete the 818. I am at 7-8k in donor and parts. Add kit,taxes, ri tax on kit and donor. I will be in at 19-22k

[bnr32jason]

I'm probably just going to go through 818Donors. But to offset the cost I've been gathering tons of different parts here in Japan to sell back in the US when I come back. The profit should more than pay for my donor kit. :)

[JAubin]

My estimate I have worked up after buying my donor, + kit, and other things (new radiator and shroud, wheels, tires, gauges, timing belt kit, tranny rebuild w/ LSD) less sell-off of parts I won't be using is around 19k.

On topic, the white with black wheels and accents would look really nice. Simple and clean.

[Silvertop]

But as I stated before, you got really lucky with your donor (as did I). Others can't expect to get a similar deal. I'm with Metal; I think a $15k car demands a NA Impreza. If you want to use a WRX, you should plan on spending $20k. If you get lucky, great, but you can't really plan to get lucky (if you could, I would have ALREADY won the lottery!)...

Going NA is no guarantee of of staying under 15k either, unless you resist the urge to tweak the engine. In my NA project, I've added a set of cams and springs ($1000), stainless steel ceramic coated EL headers ($1000), ported and polished ceramic-coated intake manifold ($350), and a tuned ECU ($350). So I've already added nearly $3000 in upgrades. It would have been cheaper to have gone with a WRX, and then just leave it completely stock. And the result would have been faster. After I add in a 3k top, I'll be over 20k. And I'm still thinking about a Quaife LSD.

Still, the 15k build can be done, and I think it can be done with either a WRX or an NA donor, if one shops carefully and can exercise financial restraint. I don't know how to do that. :p

I suppose I could save some money by going with a white car rather than a blue one. I like pristine white, and I think this car will look good that way. If I stay with the blue, I will be obliged to two-tone it, generating at least another $1000 in expenses. But then, it really isn't about saving money. I'm building it the way I want it.

[flynntuna]

The original concept Dave described to us was to offer us a $9000 kit,and add $5000 for a donor. Everything else,upgrades, taxes, delivery charges ect. Wasn't to be included in that $15000 cost to build, because those are variables which are different for every costumer. Can it be built for $15k, of course, but most won't be because it in our nature to improve on what's given to us.

[FFR-ADV]

I was thinking these front and rear

17672

Hi Wayne,

This is an interesting option as 6 pot big brakes up front are likely overkill and add unnecessary weight (and cost) for a car which is as light as the 818.

I see a complete Wilwood kit for the rear rotors which uses the Dynalite calipers, but have not found mounting information for using them on the front calipers. I like the aluminum hub on the Wilwood disks, and slotted disks but have heard many warnings about drilled rotors cracking with negligible weight benefit. Do you have a particular rotor set and mounting bracket source which you can share with us?

Thank you for your continued help!

Cheers!

[metalmaker12]

I included all the cost related to a build (kit, donor needed parts, taxes on those items) under my total cost when I build something for myself. In the real world, yes it is true that that Dave said $9999 and a 5,000 donor to reach the 15k goal. If I was just building the car for a customer I would not count the tax, or delivery, that would be a given. I just want to get it out to the people that have not built a kit or a custom etc, that you have to figure it all in when it is your build or you can be very short on your total build estimate. My final "word to the wise" is that you need about 20k saved to build the 818. Oh and since we are way off on the thread topic I want white

17754:cool:

[Xusia]

I'm tracking EVERY little expense, including any tools I need to buy for this project. I want to have a realistic picture of what it cost in the end. I agree with Metal (again) that there are a lot of small costs people don't factor in and it will cause the cost to creep.

So could someone do it for less than $15K? I absolutely think so. BUT human nature being what it is, I don't see that as very realistic for 99% of the people. And I think anyone considering building an 818 - or ANY kit car - should be aware of the likely reality, and not just the ideal.

[metalmaker12]

Thanks Xusia, We think on the same page here;)

I have an excel file going, I am at like 19k with kit and rising! I would post it, but my computer is failing me

[Silvertop]

............. Oh and since we are way off on the thread topic I want white

17754:cool:

Nice recovery.:rolleyes:

[FFR-ADV]

+1 Xusia and Metalmaker

I have been carrying an estimate of about $20K for the car I want to build. I expect $15K is possible if a very tight rein is placed on extras, but not for the car I want to build.

Color Preference: Blue

17758

Handling:
Koni suspension from FFR, clean suspension
Aluminum control arms (it makes me smile)
Wheels & Tires (TBD, some interesting Enkei group buys on NASIOC)

Control:
Depowered Steering (welded)
Depowered Brakes (Wilwood master cylinders)
Balance Beam Brake Pedal
Racelogic Traction Control

Safety:
5 or 6 Point Harness
Racing Seats (Support in hard cornering, make model TBD) (Also need more room than stock WRX seats will give me)
Possible upgrade to Wilwood 4 Pots front and rear.
HANS Device

Engine related:
Timing belt, water pump (Gates racing kit)
Valve cover gaskets
Stainless header and up-pipe
Stainless catted downpipe
Titanium wrap
New Radiator (I don't trust the donor one)
Maybe an Air/Water Intercooler

Drive:
Clutch- Easier to do before installing into 818

Down the Road:
Removable Hardtop (when available)
Wing and Splitter (will learn more from 818 wind tunnel and track testing)
LED Tail Lights

Time savers if available:
Factory Five 818 wiring harness (This would save time and eliminate weight quickly)

Cheers!

[RelfF2]

I would rank the colors Blue, White, Red...but seeing how white is easier to tinker with and may therefore meet the needs of more people I'm thinking White, Blue, Red would be the best production roll out. very interested to see what the decision will be....