Details on the Grassroots build...?

[PhyrraM]

Have any details been leaked about how Grassroots is going to build their car?

Of most of the early cars, it seems that the lucky ones are planning higher dollar cars. Aftermarket wheels, aftermarket harnesses and ECUs (and expensive tuning to go with), seats, trim, brakes, steering wheels, etc.

While I complete support how someone chooses to build their own car, I was hoping that FFR would ensure that one of the early builds (or their own) would be the $15,000 single donor, giant slayer we were all told was part of the design goals. I remember when the Roadster first came out a bone stock, one kit + single donor Mustang build was a feature of the old print ads. I am hoping they do the same with the 818 too.

[Mechie3]

Of most of the early cars, it seems that the lucky ones are planning higher dollar cars. Aftermarket wheels, aftermarket harnesses and ECUs (and expensive tuning to go with), seats, trim, brakes, steering wheels, etc.

I was hoping that FFR would ensure that one of the early builds (or their own) would be the $15,000 single donor, giant slayer we were all told was part of the design goals.

I don't know about GRM, but I plan to do a (close to) $15k build (not including shipping...it'll be close to including though) and have all of the things you listed above except the wiring harness and ECU. I did get to "cheat" by having some aftermarket parts for the motor already from my donor. My kit ships July 20th and I've been keeping a detailed list of all expenses.

[bstuke]

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/2002-subaru-impreza-wrx/setting-goals/

[Erik W. Treves]

not sure I understand... even the early mk1's were hardly bone stock mustang donors... I absolutely think you can build these kits for 15,000. now how you manage the delta between the kit price and donor is on the builder. in my case I actually bought 2 donors (total cost <4500) and had enough cash left over from all the parts I didn't use to get parts that work and look better than stock.... additionally for speed of build some specific parts were bought.

[RM1SepEx]

I agree with Erik and Mechie3

my build will be close to low buck, as mentioned several times in many threads our buiulds could easily have been done under the 15K number... my donor after selling parts, replacing what was broken could have been less than 3K if I used the still serviceable brake rotor, pads, clutch, header, flywheel, no quaife etc...

[wleehendrick]

Of most of the early cars, it seems that the lucky ones are planning higher dollar cars. Aftermarket wheels, aftermarket harnesses and ECUs (and expensive tuning to go with), seats, trim, brakes, steering wheels, etc.

I'm planning on FFR's carbon fiber trim, aftermarket wheels, seats, steering wheel (those things you touch and make a strong visual impact). I have a low mileage 06 donor with the bigger brakes, and right now my predicted budget is only a bit over $20k. Not a $15 basic build, far from 'high dollar' to get most of the items you mention.

An aftermarket ECU, traction control, LSD, additional engine mods... are possible future options for me, but these get add up pretty quickly and probably won't be part of my initial build.

[Buzz Skyline]

I'm planning on as low a budget as possible to begin with, and then upgrading bits over time. Partly, it's the challenge of seeing just how economically I can do it, and partly it's to have things to do in the future.

For a donor car, I'm using a 2002 WRX sedan we bought for rallycross several years ago. That means it's beat up pretty good on the outside and underneath, and saturated with Summit Point clay dust, but we kept the mechanicals in good shape. I've seen comparable cars selling for $3500. I'm guessing, even in the shape it's in, we'll be able to recoup about a grand in selling pieces like headlights, hood, trunk, etc. So, I'd estimate the effective cost at $2500. We're going to pass on a crate, pick up the the kit ourselves in a rented or borrowed truck, stick with all stock parts over options on seats and such, and polish up the gel coat instead of painting. The goal is a car that costs under $13,000 ($9,500 out of pocket, since we already own the donor).

Of course, once that's done we're going to blow a lot of money on upgrading seats, wheels, the motor, turbo, and so on and so on, one piece at a time. Even then, we're going to pick up as many parts as possible from Craigslist and Subaru forums.

It's not because I'm cheap - I just like a challenge.

[bnr32jason]

A NA build can easily be under the $15k mark, a turbo build will be a little more difficult but not impossible.

I suppose you could just use all the stock parts, but who wants to do that? Stock Impreza wheels on the 818? Bleh! Stock Impreza seats? Yuck. But to each his own I guess, but I would expect most people will at least get some aftermarket wheels which will add to the cost.

[SixStar]

My 04 seats are very nice and work well with my harness, the 02-03 seats are pretty bad.

Wheels and tires are $2k easy for nice light weight versions and some sticky tires. Even the Rota Grids I have as my DD wheels were only $840 new, a bit heavy but they're 17x9 in the right ET for the 818, the tires were another $1200 though. NOW by Enkei RPF1s were well over $1000 and new R comps were $1200 installed which was a bargain! It's all about what you want to do with it.

[Wayne Presley]

Have any details been leaked about how Grassroots is going to build their car?

Of most of the early cars, it seems that the lucky ones are planning higher dollar cars. Aftermarket wheels, aftermarket harnesses and ECUs (and expensive tuning to go with), seats, trim, brakes, steering wheels, etc.

While I complete support how someone chooses to build their own car, I was hoping that FFR would ensure that one of the early builds (or their own) would be the $15,000 single donor, giant slayer we were all told was part of the design goals. I remember when the Roadster first came out a bone stock, one kit + single donor Mustang build was a feature of the old print ads. I am hoping they do the same with the 818 too.

The car is going to be built in my shop and currently its going to be built close to stock but with a few additions. I'm not at liberty to divulge details, post pics but it will be a one car with a single donor.

[metalmaker12]

It can definitely be done for 15k minus paint, and maybe even with if you really work it. I am going to be in the 25-30k range total with nice paint scheme and a solid number of extras , I think 20k is a better goal for this car as a low buck price point. But if you work as hard as Erik and others to get good deals, you will get close to 15k.









Vt