818 GT (Grand Tourer)

[Gummy]

Hey Everyone,

Since there's going to be three variants of the 818 planned (from last I saw a while back), track and street being the most heavily discussed; I am actually most interested in the high-mileage version. I am planning to design and create my 818 to become a Grand Tourer (comfortable across long journeys, yet able to keep up with some sporty cars on the road). Using the high-mileage version of the 818 as a grand tourer would make the most sense to me as I drive long distances for both work and pleasure.

Does anyone have any ideas to brainstorm about the additions a 818 should have to make it a grand tourer? And I would like to hear about which body (winners of the competition and ones currently discussed on the forum) should be used for the high mileage version.

[BipDBo]

The high mpg model is still a ways off. I seriously doubt that it's body design will come from the contest. It will probably be designed in house or as some university project. It needs to be done by someone with some good fluid dynamics software. Access to a wind tunnel wouldn't hurt either. I think it would be really interesting for Factory Five to have a design contest between several universities.

[riptide motorsport]

Any version should give you high mileage, you'll be half the weight...Steven

[Oppenheimer]

Does anyone have any ideas to brainstorm about the additions a 818 should have to make it a grand tourer?

A back seat? Traditionally a GT is 2+2 seating.

Seriously though, if you aren't concerned just about hyper-mileing, then any body design with a roof option and windows should suit you, once they get around to building those. The officialy 818 MPG body will certainly have a roof (aerodynamics), but it seems some of the other more 'exotic' looking designs will eventually have roof options, Targa, etc.

[Rasmus]

Grand Touring to me is about sporty comfort.
Legacy GT Leather Seats with the seat heaters in them.
Stereo (w/Sat NAV?)
Sound Deadening
HVAC
Power Steering
Windshield, roof, windows, wipers
High(er) profile tires with soft(er) sidewalls 205/55 R 16's
Softer springs both front and rear
Cup holders glovebox, trunk space.

[StatGSR]

well i can tell you that it will require deep pockets to make the 818 into anything that could be truly considered a Grand Tourer

[Xusia]

I think the non-track package FFR supplied Koni suspension should be pretty good for GT purposes, especially if coupled with the right tires (i.e. designed for sport touring & comfort, NOT track use). The stock Subaru seats should be plenty comfortable, but since the 818 will be able to use the stock seats, there's probably plenty of good after market choices that would increase comfort even further. Add some creature comforts like heating & AC, a sound system, and maybe some sound dampening to lower engine and road noise and I think you'd be pretty good to go.

That said, the 818 will be pretty small - something that probably can't be changed without a lot of effort - so that may limit overall comfort considerably...

[kach22i]

One issue any high mileage version will face is the rear window/engine deck lid.

Smooth air flow over the rear may be at odds with intercooler intake or if no intercooler, plain old engine bay cooling.

The idea shape for least amount of drag is discussed in detail in this thread from another forum.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/aerodynamic-streamlining-template-part-c-9287.html

[Twinspool]

Grand Touring to me is about sporty comfort.
Legacy GT Leather Seats with the seat heaters in them.
Stereo (w/Sat NAV?)
Sound Deadening
HVAC
Power Steering
Windshield, roof, windows, wipers
High(er) profile tires with soft(er) sidewalls 205/55 R 16's
Softer springs both front and rear
Cup holders glovebox, trunk space.

Then you do not want the 818.

Here you go! (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=306657164&dealer_id=66633509&car_year=2002&systime=&doors=&model=&search_lang=en&start_year=2000&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1331132629997&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2013&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=PHILADELPHIA_NO&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=18018&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=28000&make=MAS&seller_type=b&num_records=100&cardist=2426&standard=false)

[Oppenheimer]

Hey, thats not what I want in my 818, but why can't he build his (somewhat bloated) dream his way?

None of the stuff on his list seems that outragious or even costly to me. Well, except for the trunk space.

[Rasmus]

Were I to build a 818 I would not build a Grand Touring Version. I'd go Race, because cage. That list is what I think when someone asks me what should go in a 818 G.T. car.

[Twinspool]

You're right, customization is one of the big appeals, however :)

Buying an 818 and then turning it into a mustang GT seems akin to dating an olympic gymnast and asking her to get fore and aft implants.

[StatGSR]

Buying an 818 and then turning it into a mustang GT

who said anything about a mustang GT??? a mustang GT isn't even a real grand tourer...not in my book anyway...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_tourer

[Gummy]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Customization of the 818 to whatever my fancy is, is very appealing, albeit somewhat bloated hehe.

Nonetheless, I won't be turning it into a Mustang GT, as I don't really consider it a real grand tourer, then again, my 818 GT would be hard-pressed to be considered a real grand tourer anyways. However, it will be nice to drive a car a certain amount of distance and not feel not every bump, pothole and crack in the road. Roads up here in Canada are quite terrible and could do without a sore bum after driving.

[skullandbones]

The 818 will have the IRS which is the best ride for any of the FFRs. I can't see why you couldn't get a reasonably comfortable ride from the proposed suspension. You might have to experiment with the coilovers a little but that is done a lot for the roadsters (threads I have followed). I think you will be pretty comfortable in the stock seats if that develops as suggested (Legacy perhaps). If you are a Wookie then you may fit in the 818 like a glove. I have had to create an entrance and exit strategy to gracefully move in and out of the roadster. So I hope you are not so big. I believe the other limiting factors like noise in the cockpit will be quite manageable in this project (not like the coupes and roadsters). It's not so far fetched to invision a GT version. You will just have to be very organized with your approach and realistic with your goals. WEK. :):)