Checkin In

[michigan0626]

I havent been in here for months. I used to check daily to see if there was anything finalized. Has anything been finalized yet? If so, can you put a link to a thread or picture. Way too many threads and posts to look through in the past couple months. If it hasnt been finalized, do you have a description of what progress there has been made, and what configurations it will likely be?

[skullandbones]

This is just a suggestion but if I were you I would check out the new FFR website first. It has more info than used to be on the old site. Then come back for more, here. See http://www.factoryfive.com It's pretty good! WEK.

[michigan0626]

So, is that picture of the silver and red targa the final design? In the gallary of design winners, my favorite is the yellow and green coupe with the awesome looking wing.

[skullandbones]

No nothing final yet. We are all waited anxiously just like you. There are hints here and there but nothing official. A lot of people have come up with some interesting theories so far. WEK

[michigan0626]

I know there are not finished with this project yet, but just thought about what their next project should be. 1 part GTM, 1 part CTS-V, equals Factory Five's version of a creative 4 door sport/supercar. The CTS-V has the distinction as the fastest production 4-door, with a 0-60 under 4 seconds, top speed of 191mph. There there is also the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed with a top speed of 200 mph, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds.

Now Factory Five might not be able to hit those numbers, but it if makes a car as beautiful as the GTM in a 4 door version and numbers that are roughly 0-60 in under 5, and a top speed of 185+, all the while being perfectly capable of being a daily driver, they would strike gold. The only down side is that it would have to provide those numbers and be able to be built for under 50k and look amazing. The CTS-V is a pretty attractive car, and only runs around 65-70k. That is a fraction of the cost of other cars hitting those numbers plus you get an extra two doors for free.

Not sure if they could do it, but I surely would like to see them try.

[Oppenheimer]

Not sure a 4-door sedan is the best direction. With the 818 we are seeing the first FFR that could potentially be a DD or commuter, but only for guys that don't mind doing so in a bare-bones car (interior appointments, features, etc). I'm thinking those that want a 4 door sedan are not going to put up with that. Even those of us that don't mind driving a car like that, if we're getting a 4 door, its so we can carry other people, and those people are most often not going to all be willing to put up with that.

I fear the cost associated with trying to make a kit plush enough to satisfy the needs of even a performance oriented consumer would make it cost prohibitive compared to just buying a production car. Then there is the whole safety issue. Its one thing to drive a performance sports car with 'race track' safety design, its quite another for a 4-door kit trying to compete with air-bags and 5-star safety ratings.

I would love to see FFR pull this off though, but I don't see how its doable.

[Canadian818]

While a 4dr sports car sounds like a cool project, I can't see it selling. People who want that level of car want too much for it to be cost effective. Sound deadening, power windows, locks, seats, sunroofs, nav, cruise control, air bags, etc. now get all that to work together well, and be a reliable dd. kit cars are often reliable because they're simple, something a luxury performance car is not. Buy a used CTS-V, BMW 335, do up a legacy, or even an evo/wrx.

[NonProfit]

If you're willing to spend $50K you can get a lot of sedan. If you're open to used, you can get a whole lot. I see three issues with FF going after this market:

a) Availability: One of the amazing things about the 818 is the idea of a single-donor. A guy like me can pick a low-cost Impreza, someone else might begin with a WRX, someone else can source new performance parts. The more standard equipment that's needed, the more restricted the donor pool will be. Small pool = small market for the project.
b) Difficulty: The less that needs to be done to get a functional vehicle the better. As more switches and motors are added, difficultly grows exponentially. When additional parts are shipped more tech support is required. Dropping $50K and ending up with a car that's not quite right is no fun.
c) Taste: When a car ships with a spartan interior, I know won't be paying for features I don't want. But it's my car and I'm always able to add whatever I can afford.

However, it might not be a bad idea if they would offer a list of "recommended parts" or write ups for "recipes" of the most successful projects.

[shinn497]

While a 4dr sports car sounds like a cool project, I can't see it selling. People who want that level of car want too much for it to be cost effective. Sound deadening, power windows, locks, seats, sunroofs, nav, cruise control, air bags, etc. now get all that to work together well, and be a reliable dd. kit cars are often reliable because they're simple, something a luxury performance car is not. Buy a used CTS-V, BMW 335, do up a legacy, or even an evo/wrx.

I agree with you. I have thought of FFR suggesting a luxury car, but it is too much work. Kit cars should be snap together, but luxury does require a LOT extra.

The thing is to fully do a luxury car right you would have to have a lot more effort minimum. IF not you'd just have a barebones 4door sedan that is outperformed by a lot of other cars out there.

[olpro]

Plus it takes engineering and experience to do a good sedan. The situation exists now where even the cheap sedans are SO good. They don't miss a trick and build on years and years of experience. They have huge engineering and design staffs to nurse these things to reality, big marketing staffs to research and benchmark the competition. By comparison it is easy to do a performance car, people even build them in small shops with relatively minimum technology.