Jumped the gun a little too early..FINALLY!!!

[turbohips]

Hello Everyone,
Let me start off by saying Factory Five is awesome and always comes out with cool stuff. I was a part of the forums a long time ago when I first wanted to get a cobra but didn't have the funds. Then I wanted a GTM but the job/economy hit me hard where I couldn't pull the trigger. Time has changed over the years with now being a business owner and father. I'm finally ready to buy something and FF comes out with another awesome kit. So I've read about this car and loved it immediately and went ahead and placed a bid for a donor car already. I'll find out on Wednesday if I get it or not. I simply wanted to share my excitement with everyone here and look forward to seeing future builds.
Regards,
Bruce

[Etos]

Might want to wait till the kit comes out first. You won't even know what it looks like. Also must factor in if a roadster is for you. Need a garage to keep it in. Also prices always go down over time so you can save some money waiting or just find a much better deal between now and when the kit is out.

[riptide motorsport]

Good for you, you can drive it till your ready to dismantle it.......Congrats!

[turbohips]

Thanks for the input guys but honestly my DD is much nicer and will be used while building this kit. Any idea when they will open up the orders for the kit? I'd like to place a deposit and be in line to get my hands dirty. Also thought it would be a good idea to purchase a book on the car so I can dismantle the car correctly. Is there any recommendations on which brand to chose for the book like Haynes etc? Sorry but last question, are there any specialty tools that will be required for this? I only have a 560 tool kit from Craftsman for cars and a few other tools such as O2 sensor tool and wiring stuff, etc. I also have gator ramps which are so so but wouldn't mind getting a lift or rotisserie if needed. Of course I'd rather go the cheaper route so looking for advise from people who have built kit cars.

[NonProfit]

Welcome turbohips,

Any idea when they will open up the orders for the kit?
When it's ready. :)

They've mentioned late this year or early 2013, but nothing more specific that that yet.

[0100]

specialty tools, deposit... lol

We don't even know what it looks like. We have another 6 months.

[turbohips]

I thought it was going to look like the track version car that was the #3 winner of the contest. Please correct me if I'm wrong. If so I might have to cancel my auction bids.

[shinn497]

Dave has come out and said that no kits will be sold until it is fully complete. So no preorders or anything. The earliest it will come will be fall 2012 probably around SEMA. azSUY5T4EW2SE74321

[wjfawb0]

I'm trying to stay away from the forum until it is done. There isn't much more to be learned until FFR says 'here it is.' Even then I don't want to be serial #1. I am in the camp of 'I need a good top.' I imagine that will make any possible order of mine a 2013 or 2014 timeframe. At the moment I'm building an offroad buggy in my garage to gain some skills and keep me busy.

http://www.fawbush.org/images/2012_3_18_buggy/2012_3_18_buggy_3.JPG

[skullandbones]

I thought it was going to look like the track version car that was the #3 winner of the contest. Please correct me if I'm wrong. If so I might have to cancel my auction bids.

I hate to be the one to break it to you but no one on this forum really knows what the first version will look like at this time, period. But if you go with your present plan you will proabably be disappointed. I don't know if you could modify the "roadster" to fit your track needs until a real one is released by FFR. Dave has said that the first version will be the roadster.

Personally, I think the timeline is close enough to start gathering parts. That would give you time to cherry pick the parts or at least know that you have the basics like control arms, steering column, MC, etc. I don't have room to store a complete donor but I could do a teardown and move the carcass out. As some have indicated, the remaining components could be sold to recoup some of the outlay for the donor (if you are good at that). I think a lot of these Subie enthusiasts already have parts or know how to get them quickly. So if you are one of those guys, you have no worrys. Good luck. WEK.

[Oppenheimer]

Dave has plans for multiple bodies, muliple versions of the 818. Each targeted (but not limited) to a specific use, like Street, Track, High MPG, etc. As was mentioned, the first body built is planned to be the Street Roadster version. As was mentioned, we don't know what its going to look like.

But we do know Dave really liked the track version of the 3rd place Xabier, so there is probably a good chance that one will be eventually built. One thing these versions of the 818 will all have in common is most of the donor parts will be the same (well, the High MPG version will use a VW TDi powertrain), so the only harm in buying a donor now is:

1) You may have to wait a while before they start building the version of the 818 you like (heck, even if you like the first one its still going to be a while)

2) We don't know yet all the components you need from the donor.

You will need space to store the parts until you they build the 818 you want. A lot of people are planning to buy a donor, and sell off the stuff they don't need. If you do that, then find you need some crazy bracket or the rear door hinges get used for an 818 hatch or something, you'll have to source those from a guy parting out a car.

But if you are OK with all that, then I see no harm looking for an awesome deal on the right donor in the meantime.

[Evan78]

Also thought it would be a good idea to purchase a book on the car so I can dismantle the car correctly. Is there any recommendations on which brand to chose for the book like Haynes etc?The Subaru Factory Service Manuals are available on various Subaru forums, ebay, etc.

Here is the most comprehensive source I know of:

http://ken-gilbert.com/impreza-manuals

Google will turn up other sources. Ebay usually has electronic and printed copies available for sale.

[turbohips]

Wow great info guys and thank you. I got bid out of the 3 cars I was looking at. They went for over 5k so that was my limit. The more I read into this and research it looks like I can get all the parts for cheaper than a donor. Again this doesn't mean that I would have all the little bits so I see why the donor is recommended. I do agree with you guys that I should wait until they are actually being sold first as I do only want a track version that looks like the #3 winner. I guess I'm holding off on everything for another few months. I really appreciate all the feedback though.

[riptide motorsport]

Dave has pretty much said the Xabiers (#3) will be the track version, exactly as he penned it...........near as I remember........Steven