And the wheels start to turn!

[timmy318]

Just received my email!!!!! :D

[riptide motorsport]

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wleehendrick]

Got my email at 1PM PST today.

[Kalstar]

Got my email at 1PM PST today.

Me too

[timmy318]

Can't wait for June to come around!!!!

[Mechie3]

Thanks for posting this. Gmail dropped it as spam!!!

[timmy318]

We're gonna have to have a talk with google soon to tell them what's important in this world.....:p

[Silvertop]

Got mine too! And AJW Performance says my camshaft set is on the way from Calgary!

[Hayai]

Any of you guys care to share what was in the email other than deposit confirmation? Any new info or timelines? I'm not currently in a financial situation to put a deposit down, so I feel a little out of the loop :(

[timmy318]

Any of you guys care to share what was in the email other than deposit confirmation? Any new info or timelines? I'm not currently in a financial situation to put a deposit down, so I feel a little out of the loop :(

Would love to fill you in but I think that's up to Dave Smith to decide (BTW, this specific email didn't really include any new info :(). Don't worry though, I'm sure whenever he releases some new news it'll be blowing up on the forum somewhere :p!

[Kalstar]

Ditto, no new info. Just a connection communication.

[Silvertop]

The email did reiterate June 2013 as the target for shipping the first of the pre-ordered production vehicles. Otherwise (as above) pretty much a connection communication. Confirms that they received a pre-order and promises approximately monthly updates.

[bromikl]

I found my email in my spam folder:




Project 818 Welcome and First Pre-Order Update

First of all, welcome to Project 818. If you are receiving this e-mail, you are one of 129 customers who have placed their faith in us and pre-ordered our exciting new 818 sports car package. In the coming days, you will receive a hard copy of your order and an initial ESTIMATED production date. Each month or so, as we approach production (to begin in June 2013), I will be sending you an e-mail update, such as this one. These e-mail updates are ONLY sent to customers with orders for the 818. You may choose to share the details of our updates, but we will not be posting the bulk of these updates publicly.

Update 11/20/2012: Right now, we are still letting the dust settle from a very successful 2012 SEMA Show and initial product introduction. The reception of the 818 was truly beyond all of our expectations. As excited as we are, we are also dedicated to making sure that the 818 receives the most comprehensive testing and well considered launch planning. 10 years ago, I would have released the product as it is now, but the importance of this car to our company cannot be understated.

The 818R (shown in blue above) is currently at an outside race shop where it is getting final work done before heading south to Georgia for three months of track testing. When the car is optimized, we will proceed with testing by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. While the race car is undergoing track development, the street car has been completely disassembled and is being modified for additional street testing and tooling is being finalized.

We will do our best to communicate changes and updates, however, it is my goal to protect the development team from delays and so we will attempt to communicate primarily through our website and the forums. Thank you for your order. I am working personally with Jason and the crew in the office to ensure the sequence of production dates are fair. If you have any questions, please forward them via e-mail to info@factoryfive.com.

Thanks again!

Dave Smith
President

[Mechie3]

Last sentence of paragraph one says its up to us if we want to share the details but FFR won't be publicly posting.

Pretty much confirms us on the list, we'll be getting a hard copy confirmation with a date, and they're working to ensure the best fit and finish and fair production dates. I interpreted that as each individual getting a hard copy confirmation will have different and unique date corresponding to their place in line vs projected manufacturing volumes.

Edit: I type too slow on my phone and got beat to the punch. Lol.

[Nuul]

Wow, 129 orders already. That's almost a years worth of work for them at 2-3 a week.

[blueoval_bowtie_guy]

I think Dave told us the 2 to 3 a week was while they got the production all sorted out. IIRC, production will then ramp up to 10 to 15 per week.

[longislandwrx]

I look forward to the email that gives out the official spots and production estimates.

[bil1024]

Awesome news!

[timmy318]

I look forward to the email that gives out the official spots and production estimates.

Me too! It'd be nice to know what place you're at in line so you know around how much time you got left until it arrives at your door!

[07FIREBLADE]

I wonder what the preorder total sales is compared to their other kits by volume. This will go to show the worth of the kit that they have on their hands. It already seems like this thing is selling like hot cakes. Hope this will motivate other iterations sooner rather than later on down the road. For the people who are holding off til a coupe comes out or a hard top or power windows... The list can go on and on.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I have to think that unless quite a few drop out it will take until 2014 to fill all of the preorders. Not a bad thing unless you are not already on the list!

Jeff

[metalmaker12]

I am not talking. Zip

[Kwizatz-haderah]

Did everyone get their email? I didn't get mine...

[Mechie3]

Did you check your spam folder?

[AZPete]

I got the email and it was nice to confirm they got my pre-order.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Got mine a day or two ago.

Jeff

[NISMO_RB25]

got mine as well. I have no problem waiting for it and am just thankful that they are building a kit car that I truly want to buy. Now the donor search begins.

[wallace18]

I got my email as well. Also a phone call to verify info. I look forward to new info for the build. With 129 preorders from SEMA and this forum, I believe it will go crazy after some magazine articles about the car as well. I hope this works out well for FFR. I commend them for making sure everything is right from the get go. I as well as others will have this as our first Kit car. Best to leave a good impression the first time IMO. I am willing to wait, but very excited at the same time.

[BrandonDrums]

I'm actually somewhat in the online marketing/email marketing industry and Gmail started marking just about everything as spam in early/mid October. My spam folder actually has a fair amount of Google+ notifications and Facebook updated in there.

If Google's mail service is marking their own social network's email notifications as spam, you know they've taken the little automatic spam filter game too far. There have also been many complaints to Gmail about legitamate mail being marked as spam. They posted this help article last month.

http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=9008

I suggest Everyone just find any and all FFR emails from the spam folder, mark them as "not spam", move them to the inbox, open them, download images and click the links in one or two of them. Gmail will see that as "engagement" or whatever and will help future guys like you get their email status updates from FFR. As for assuring you get your own emails from FFR, follow google's instructions.

Pretty ridiculous, I really think Gmail will eventually pull that back a bit. It's caused some waves in the online marketing community and has really ticked my wife off a good many times where she signed up for something so she could get a coupon and only found it in the spam folder after it expired lol.

[Martin]

As long as the hard top version comes out, my wife has just agreed that the 818 will be our second FFR car. But this one will be for my daughter, and she will have to build it with us so she isn't afraid to give it a go. That gives us about 7 years to get it completed before she gets her drivers license.

My next "run around" car will be a Subaru to drive until it is needed as a donor. My logic says, we'll be ordering in about 4 years time. ;)

I haven't even finished building my first one yet (MK4 Roadster), but boy is this addictive!

Martin

[Mechie3]

I noticed today that FFR charged my credit card on the 20th. It's official.

[longislandwrx]

I noticed today that FFR charged my credit card on the 20th. It's official.

yup $99 on the 20th for me too

[Rasmus]

Glad I stopped to read this thread.

No email. Checked the spam folder and Odin's gaze fell upon me; Freya kissed me on the cheek. I'm one of the 129! I'm in for a 818R.

[Jeff F]

Jeff F is number 53! Weird though, I was told by someone at the factory that there were 500 orders!?

[Mechie3]

Did you get a letter in the mail? I've been away from home for 10 days, returning today. Maybe I'll have something too!

[Kalstar]

Kalstar is #31

[Rasmus]

Jeff F is number 53!


Kalstar is #31

Okay, where did you guys get that information. More personally, what slot am I?

[rlogan]

Can't wait to hear more about track testing...

[C.Plavan]

Okay, where did you guys get that information. More personally, what slot am I?

Yeah- I'm curious too.

[Kalstar]

Yeah- I'm curious too.

When I spoke with Factory Five about payment. I asked what number in que I was. He said I was #31.

[Zodiac]

mine wasn't charged til the 26th. I wonder if that's cause of processing time or something. Now I wanna know what number I am but too lazy to call right now lol

[timmy318]

mine wasn't charged til the 26th. I wonder if that's cause of processing time or something. Now I wanna know what number I am but too lazy to call right now lol

Haha, I talked to Sally at FFR and she said that they were swamped!!!!

[wallace18]

I was called by FFR about my CC date. I asked my #. They would not tell me at that time. They said Dave would give out that info later. JMTC.

[Highway Star]

I got my processing info from Tara this morning. The note didn't include my # but I'm sure it will come in due time. No point in bothering them until they have time to put together an info package.

[metalmaker12]

They have not told me my number, but said a packet is going out soon with that info. They charged me the 26th, but told me they would have the 20th if they had the cc expiration date. They said it has no effect on your placement, that was recored when we pre-ordered online.

[Highway Star]

They have not told me my number, but said a packet is going out soon with that info. They charged me the 26th, but told me they would have the 20th if they had the cc expiration date. They said it has no effect on your placement, that was recored when we pre-ordered online.
Same issue here. The original preorder form just said date. It wasn't clear whether the date was the submission date or CC expiration date. No biggie and even better if it didn't affect my placement.

[timmy318]

Well, if a info packet is coming out in the near future I guess I can stop bothering them now :p! Speaking of wheels turning, is anyone going to any of the autorama shows (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?8128-Factory-Five-to-Headline-2012-2013-Autorama-Shows)???

[Jeff F]

Okay, where did you guys get that information. More personally, what slot am I?

They needed my credit card experation date and I asked my placement and the person gave it up freely. Won't mention name as I don't want to get anyone in trouble. Glad I know though. BTW, My email from Dave did also go to spam. Got it though.

[Mechie3]

email number two. Fun parts bolded.


Project 818 Pre-Order Update #2
November 30, 2012 Update.
This week you may have noticed your credit card was charged $99 for your 818 pre-order. We have sold one hundred and eleven 818S models (street version), twenty 818R (race version), and there are four of you whose expiration dates wouldn't allow us to process your order (we are calling you, don't worry).
The guys have worked hard to establish a fair and reasonable production date for all of your orders. We are planning to begin production in June 2013 and our production plan calls out for a steady ramp up which will enable us to deliver kits currently on order between June and the following February. Next week, you should receive a hard copy of your order with your PRODUCTION DATE. This production date is an estime and based on our best forcast...but it may change, hopefully for the better!
The 818R is close to running and driving. It will be heading south in the next week or so for a few months of track testing. The guys in R&D are working hard on tooling and pre-production work. Everyone is very excited about this new Factory Five and 100% commited to ensuring that the cars are fully developed, tested, and ready for production.
Thanks for your support and if you have any questions, please forward them via e-mail to info@factoryfive.com.
Thanks again!

[Leturnracing]

Just received email update #2 !!!

[timmy318]

Just received email update #2 !!!

Same here!

[Zodiac]

same here. 135 orders already haha awesome. can't wait for more updates and pics of the 818S

oh and we will estimate on our production date yay

[metalmaker12]

I think we will see the kits sooner than expected

[Rasmus]

Getting that second email is a wake up call that I need to get off my *** and start sourcing the other half of the build.

So I called and went to meet a local Subaru Breaker. Guy buys salvage Subaru's and Sailboats (?). Fixes them up or sells their parts. I think it's the first time he ever had a guy call and ask:

Can I get a Salvage 2006 WRX Sedan with a Manual Trans?

Which part you looking for?

The whole car.

Met him at his yard and he seemed very interested in the project. For a small fee on top of the price of the car he'll find and buy me a salvage 2006 or 2007. If he can get one local he'll have the yard drop it off at my house. If not it'll come to his yard and he'll forklift it on to my trailer.

Plus I'm now on an active hunt for an EJ22T shortblock.

[wallace18]

I think we will see the kits sooner than expected

I sure hope you are right!:rolleyes:

[metalmaker12]

I am going to keep this short,

I am involved in large volume sheetmetal/structural fabrication and we build parts of assembles way ahead of time to put into kits. From that background it just seems that they will work out the kinks on the track in like 3-4 months and than start building kits like march or april. And while there testing, why not weld some frames and stock pile them, along with all the other set in stone parts. (At the track they have to fine tune the ride quality, get all the wiring down etc etc. It sounds like nothing, but it will be very involved I am sure.) I think the body is a hurdle at tis point and thats what will really hold the project up. Once they can bang the bodies out, than we are in good shape lol no pun intended , but if it turns south with the paint free, it may take awhile longer or a decision will be made.

[timmy318]

I'm happy with either option (though the no-paint would be a nice touch). I plan on painting mine anyway but if I had the no-paint I would actually be tempted to wait a while and drive it just to see how it actually holds up. What I would love but I know isn't going to happen is have FFR ship out the first couple of 818's out in parts:
- Part 1: Enough to get the car to the basic go-kart stage
- Part 2: Then the "luxuries" :p
I know that this idea's far fetched (actually very far) and it just simply asks too much of FFR. But, it would be cool to do it like this!

EDIT: My reasoning is that it would give you a "head start" on your 818 while FFR tweaks the body a little. IMHO, I don't expect any frame changes or other major changes so that makes this idea quiet feasible (in the mind that is).

[Mechie3]

Every day I come home, check the mail, and walk up my driveway sad. lol.

[metalmaker12]

Every day I come home, check the mail, and walk up my driveway sad. lol.

Me too, where is our packet, it is taking much longer than I thought it would, it better be a nicely packaged item etc etc lol, a what ev, just glad to be a part of this all

[Mechie3]

I'm just too excited!!!! Lol

[timmy318]

Me too, where is our packet, it is taking much longer than I thought it would, it better be a nicely packaged item etc etc lol, a what ev, just glad to be a part of this all

What if the package is actually an 818 but FFR is just playin us??? :p

[metalmaker12]

Yea that would be crazy, a really good dream come true