View Full Version : Has FFR ownership changed your view of other vehicles?
OK, it’s confession time. (It is Lent, after all…) Maybe it’s me, but I’m wondering if anyone else has felt this way. I have found that since I completed my build and got it on the road that I am less impressed by other cars. BMWs? Nope. Mercedes/AMG? Nope. Porsche? Not so much. Maybe a Corvette.
Lately I find that the only cars that impress me are resto-mods, classics, or Cobras. Maybe because of the personal effort involved vs. writing a check? Have I become a Cobra snob or have you felt the same way? Just curious.
GoDadGo
03-24-2021, 05:06 PM
Yes, I've Become A 100% Factory Five Cobra Snob & Don't Feel Bad About Admitting It!
..............These cars don't just get under your skin, they become part of your DNA which I never expected.
RoadRacer
03-24-2021, 05:10 PM
Maybe because of the personal effort involved vs. writing a check?
For me, I think it's this. "oh, you paid $80k for a roush something or a redeye whatever? cool story." :D
TMartinLVNV
03-24-2021, 05:14 PM
I appreciate all "car guys/gals". I've been the guy without a car cool enough park with the main group for most of my life. I like resto mods, stock rebuilds, hot rods, and even rat rods. I'm not a fan of the import extreme camber, huge spoiler, fart pipe type cars, but I can appreciate someone making that car into what they like. The lambo doors on Dodges and Mustangs seem to be the rage now along with color changing circle LEDs around the headlights. Again, I'm not a fan, but to each their own.
Just last week, I saw an older BMW with a LS motor swap. The car was ugly as sin, but I thought the swap was really cool. Many other car enthusiasts may look down on our niche because they think we put together a car from boxes like a lego set (their perception).
I don't pay much attention to the cars that are just off of the dealership lot. I walk by and appreciate the enthusiasm. But if I'm going to spend time looking at a car, I want to look at someone's hard work.
GoDadGo
03-24-2021, 05:18 PM
For me, I think it's this. "oh, you paid $80k for a roush something or a redeye whatever? cool story." :D
I've told kids (Anybody Under 35) in their Mustangs to go ahead and I'll catch up when they want to play the Red Light to Red Light Game.
So far it has been no match even when I found myself playing the game with a middle-aged fellow (40-ish) in his Charger Hellcat.
These things are so stupid quick that I'm shocked that heavy-hitting production cars can't keep up much less catch up.
The roadster is the car I brag about, but my BMW M550i will blow the roadster away in every category that matters when doing numerical comparisons, and I actually spent less on the Certified Pre-Owned BMW than I have invested in the roadster. Which would I prefer to drive when weather isn't a question? Absolutely hands down ... the roadster.
For those not familiar with the BMW M Performance cars, they are a tier between the standard lineup and the M cars. In 2018, before the new M5 was released, the M550i was faster than the 2018 M5. Keep in mind that this is a 4000lb. 4-door sedan!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB46-8J-hfE
Sdonnel
03-24-2021, 06:26 PM
Driving these cars will obviously make you more bias to what you built. I've had plenty of people ask if I wanted to run the car and I mention the dragstrip about 60 miles away. They shake their head in bewilderment. We could all raise our noses and be snobbish ( I am and do) with our preference in car. The thing is that anyone can buy horsepower. The smart ones know how to handle it and understand that our cars don't have 10 computers to keep the whole business from wrecking out every time we smack the loud peddle. Those are the people I enjoy talking to no matter what they are driving. Then again, owning a Cobra is like pulling an F-16 into a paper airplane show.
Jeff Kleiner
03-24-2021, 07:05 PM
I hate to think of it as being a "Cobra snob" but I'm definitely jaded and don't get excited or impressed by much anymore. Two notable exceptions over the past several years have been my old college friend Erney's 1M BMW:
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=927428&stc=1&d=1381882132
and my autocross buddy's Lotus Elise:
https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2005_lotus_elise_155641557316ec4eceb72709DSC01351. jpg?resize=620%2C413
Both are an absolute riot to drive in anger and toss around even if they aren't as fast as the Cobra. Aside from the two of them I haven't driven or even seen any production car that gets my blood up for a long time.
Regarding getting kind of jaded from exposure, Dave Smith and I were talking this winter after I spotted his often times daily driver '67 Fairlane 4 door in all of it's original patina laden glory sitting in the background of a photo of the R&D room. He commented that his VW bus was also in the factory up on a lift for winter storage and we laughed about how over the years we've become so accustomed to the roadsters, Coupes, etc. that they don't get much of a response any more but when we find an old Fairlane or VW hippie bus in the wild they get our attention and comments like "how cool!" and "that's awesome"! :cool: So yeah, I think it's safe to say that FFR ownership has affected our perspectives :)
Jeff
Robodent
03-24-2021, 08:09 PM
Oh yea !! I’ve been to many car shows and nothing really flipped my switch and said yea that’s it . Till I saw the ffr truck .
It’s the feeling of gratification that I built it myself that’s the best. I get tons of looks and thumbs up when I get it out on the road and when people ask what it is I say it’s a ffr and I built it that’s when the conversation really starts. Some not all ask how much ? And I say less than a mustang or Camaro or corvette the usual stuff you see at a car show. Three years later I’m still in love with my truck it’s mine I built it and its a one of a kind not the usual stuff. Rob.
This is fun! I was beginning to think that I needed therapy. Maybe not. (Then again....)
nuhale
03-25-2021, 08:47 AM
Have 1800 miles on 7275... every one of them with an ear to ear smile on my face. Sometimes with a sinister bond villain laugh. I don't think about my daily drivers... they have been invited to live outside of the garage. Nothing really gets me going... other than some older 60's C2 or rodded trucks. Agree... it's definitely changed how I look at my wife... woops... I mean cars. :)
FLPBFoot
03-25-2021, 09:35 AM
Agree with what has been said. I do appreciate the full frame off restorations and restomods I see at the shows and on the road. Particularly when the owner is the one who has done the work and like our cars touched every part of the car down to the smallest parts. To me they are building not just buying, like us doing a FFR.
narly1
03-25-2021, 10:35 AM
If anything I have a lot more respect now for guys who built custom cars "back in the day".
How the hell did they get anything done without the internet for answers?
GoDadGo
03-25-2021, 10:40 AM
Al_C,
This Has Been A Phenomenally Fun Forum Thread.
I know I'm over the top crazy about Factory Five Cars, but now I don't feel so bad about being "That Dude" who is overly enthusiastic about a car that came in a bunch of boxes.
Most of my "Porsche Pals" who have ridden in my car love the crude, raw, visceral nature of it; however, most did state that it "Scared Them" after we rocketed down the road.
Thanks Again For Starting This Thread!
Steve
RoadRacer
03-25-2021, 12:19 PM
however, most did state that it "Scared Them" after we rocketed down the road.
Steve
No ****, I'm only 600 miles in but still scared to go past half throttle.
CobraboyDR
03-25-2021, 12:28 PM
Welcome to the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon...
Alan_C
03-25-2021, 01:10 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed the build and driving of my MK4. The attention these cars get is 2nd to none. Few other cars have impressed me since, but the new C8 Corvette and the Cayman GT4 do to name a couple. What I kind of became a snob about was people who would through tons of money buying a custom car and then know very little out its construction. I have a whole different perspective when attending car shows now. Built and not bought makes our cars something special. Although built from a common platform, every car is as unique as its builder.
Before building my MK4 I did not have the respect I have now for the hobby. Building your own creation is so rewarding that I can't imagine not having a project to work on. I have gone on to building a full restomod 70 Boss 302 Coyote powered tribute. Without the experience gained in the building of my MK4, I would have never attempted the build of my Mustang.
R. Button
03-25-2021, 02:02 PM
There is only car that I chase after- no not vettes, mustangs, none of the rice boxes, nor even the Italian cars. All great cars and some of the work owners have put into their cars is amazing... lined up in my sights is a chevy... that my little brother owns! Now that I'm back on the east coast and we both hope the summer offers us a chance to be out driving to auto-x and other track events... I am determined not to be following this car;
145120
Not just any Corvair but this one has a mid engine Chevy engine in it!
And a WELL built engine too!
145121
It's a family thing! :)
https://www.v8registry.com/dave-button---groton-ny.html
There is only car that I chase after- no not vettes, mustangs, none of the rice boxes, nor even the Italian cars. All great cars and some of the work owners have put into their cars is amazing... lined up in my sights is a chevy... that my little brother owns! Now that I'm back on the east coast and we both hope the summer offers us a chance to be out driving to auto-x and other track events... I am determined not to be following this car;
145120
Not just any Corvair but this one has a mid engine Chevy engine in it!
And a WELL built engine too!
145121
It's a family thing! :)
https://www.v8registry.com/dave-button---groton-ny.html
That Corvair is a first-class classic! It's too bad that the Corvair was cancelled; once they got the rear suspension fixed, it was an awesome vehicle. I'm with you, Ralph!
Glen Davis
03-25-2021, 08:51 PM
I remember in the early 70’s at the company I was running the parts department for we could sale a Cor-8 Kit. If you put a stock 327 with stock cast iron headers they advertised it would do 13.2 seconds in the quarter, fast back then.
R. Button
03-26-2021, 08:23 AM
My brothers car is well balanced, so he has both speed and handling! Thus making it a very difficult car to beat at the auto-x events.
AC Bill
03-26-2021, 02:19 PM
Having worked for several years at a car dealership that sold new Ferrari's, Rolls Royce, and Alfa Romeo's, and had trade in's often including Lambo's, Porsche, Maserati's, etc, my awe for exotic European cars kind of fell off. It got to the point where Ferrari's became just plain boring.
Not so for the Cobras. Whenever I saw one, I got downright giddy with excitement. Still do..
NiceGuyEddie
03-29-2021, 04:06 PM
Moments before it was flown to its new owner in Europe, I drove an original 427 CSX around the Santa Monica Airport for about .3 miles total and it was quite a bear. The roadster seat was brand new (or restored condition) and not at all comfortable. No side support at all. It had of course the big wooden steering wheel and no power steering. The gear shifter was notchy and the throws were longer than expected. This made me appreciate Factory Five, which is still a white-knuckle ride but refined in all the right places.
I also drove a Superformance and I appreciated it in its own sense. Compared to my Factory Five, it was like a La-Z-Boy chair. I didn’t get underneath but I imagine it had nice rubber bushings in the suspension. The tires were 15” and that probably helped too. It didn’t rattle or squeak when going over bumps – it was like a “real” car. It didn’t have power steering but overall it was pleasant to drive.