Mom and 2 teens in Arizona need advice on models before embarking on project

[ewenique1]

I'm looking for fellow Arizona Factory Five car owners to discuss model options before ordering a kit. May be interested in the GTM, MK4 or 818. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Wjhutchings]

I live in Marana and will receive my MK4 Roadster kit in November. I suggest you talk with Gorden Levy (Levy Racing) in Maricopa. He's well known on this forum and has been very helpful for me.

Good luck.

Walt

[David Hodgkins]

Hello ewenique1 and welcome to the forum!

I saw your profile when you signed up; I think it's GREAT that you want to build a car with your kids! You're a cool mom!

The models from factory five are all quite different. If you can answer these first few questions we may gain an idea of the direction you might want to go

Do you want a top? Some of the FFR models have a soft top option only and some are hard tops.
Is budget and issue? what is it roughly?
How important is build difficulty to you?
How important is the "single donor" concept to you?



:)

[luvaz]

Welcome.

This is a great family project.

I have a mark 3 roadster that I built in 2005. It has a soft top with heater and defroster, but no A/C.

We have folks all over the state. Whereabouts are you located?

Thanks,
Will

[skullandbones]

Are you in the Phoenix area? If so, you should visit one of the parking lot car shows and have a look at a roadster, at least. I don't know anyone who has a finished 818 yet. I'm only going by what I have seen and it's 100% roadsters so far (out at the local shows). Personally, I would say an 818 would be the best first project as it has late model donors available and it is quicker to build than the roadster. You can put less HP into it and get the same thrill as 400 hp roadster. Of course, the budget would be easier on the wallet as well. It depends how hard you were struck by the mystique of the Co*** when you were growing up. I think my mother must have seen one and somehow it "imprinted" on her unborn child, me! Whatever you choose, you can't really go wrong. However, budget and building skill set does vary a lot from 818 to the GTM. Good luck, WEK.

[ewenique1]

Thank you Walt. Yep I spoke with Gordon. He's very knowledgeable and we'll set up a time to meet with him. Thank you and have fun with your MK4 :)

[ewenique1]

Hi David, thank you for responding. Hum...decisions, decisions...I own an Audi TT and until I can afford my R8, I'd like to have a cool looking car to drive on the weekends and at the track. I've always liked the look of the Shelby Cobra and the exhaust sound. I prefer a convertible and would like to see what I can complete for under $50k.

[ewenique1]

I am in the North East/Scottsdale area. Where are the parking lot shows? Do you mean the one at the Pavillions?

[skullandbones]

That's one of them. I haven't been there in a while. The last time I was there a fellow had a beautiful roadster with some custom paint that you don't normally see on them. My local group is in the east valley east of Mesa so we frequent the Albertson at Baseline and Ellsworth on Friday night and The KayMart at Power and Southern on Saturday night. I believe there is a breakfast/ car show on Saturday mornings in the Cave Creek area. I'm sure there are others. It just depends on where you live. I do know of a fellow building an 818 (AZPete on the forum). He is in your general area. Don't want to volunteer anything but I'm sure he would like to show off his project which he just go kartedI hear.

It's OK to have stuff explained on the forum but there is no substitute for seeing, touching, discussing the thing in person. You know like, "what's that?" I got to see my first 818 at Huntington Beach and it was pretty impressive considering how long it has been released. WEK.

[luvaz]

I am in the North East/Scottsdale area. Where are the parking lot shows? Do you mean the one at the Pavillions?

The Pav is certainly one of the bigger events around.

Every Saturday morning, there's a cars & coffee by the sundial in Carefree, at the corner of Ho Hum & Easy Streets. Usually a Cobra or two there. My wife & I have been there several times recently, (the cafe there puts on a nice breakfast) and we'd be happy to make the ride over (we're in the Troon North / Rio Verde foothills area of NE Scottsdale).

I'd also suggest ordering the FFR DVD (if you haven't already). Short of a trip to the factory, this will give you a very good idea about the differences in the builds. I've suggested to many folks getting into a family build such as this that to better understand how to plan your build, first decide what your objective is for the finished product, which I typically categorize into one of three areas; race car, show car, or driver. Answering that question can help with planning & budgeting and help your build stay on track.:)

HTH,
Will

[blueoval_bowtie_guy]

One thing you should consider is insurance. When I built my roadster - I had to sign an acknowledgement that no one under the age of 25 could drive the car (whether or not I was in it with them). If I were undertaking the project with a teenager - I would build an 818S with a stock Imprezza engine (no turbocharger).

[Buzz Skyline]

I'm building an 818 now. Several years ago, I took my son to the Roadster build school in Michigan. So I have a little experience with both. I don't know anything about the GTM or the '33 Hot Rod.

I feel the 818 is a little easier than the roadster, but still a very engaging project. It's nice that you can build it for a bit less than a roadster, but the 818 kit is also less refined than the roadsters, which means you're likely to discover issues you'll have to deal with that haven't been addressed in the manual. Thank goodness the people on this forum are so willing to share their problems and solutions.

I think the 818 has more appeal to younger people like my son. I believe that was a large part of the motivation for developing the kit in the first place.

I plan to build a roadster someday, though. So I don't think you can go far wrong either way.

[68GT500MAN]

Welcome to the forum and the many decisions you will be making shortly. You should be able to build a very sweet roadster within your budget.
Doug

[JeromeS13]

I also have a *somewhat* completed 818S, but I'm over in Goodyear. I don't really make it out to your side of town too often. Also, it's been too hot lately to even drive the car (except at night).

[AZPete]

I'm building an 818 and I'm in your north Scottsdale neighborhood. My 818 is at the go-kart stage so you can see all the under-skin stuff. Send me a PM if you want to come see it. I also built a FFR roadster.
Pete