Road & Track eval of the 818R

[Goldwing]

Factory Five delivers super car performance on a beer budget.

MurrayT

Wait, I have to give up my beer to get an 818?!? :P

On a more serious note, opening that article reminded me of opening my first R/C car, a Team Losi JRX2, as a kid with those graphics. Nice Job Factory Five, you've impressed the difficult to impress. Looking forward to my delivery at the end of the year. (Oh, finally, first post! Hi guys!)

[spaceywilly]

I was able to read the article free on zinio.com by signing up for a 1-week trial of z-pass, or you can buy the issue for $5

[bbjones121]

If you have google magazine app, just do the 14day trial of Road and Track to see the July issue right away.

[Someday I Suppose]

Wow, you Hansen and Treves, its like Factory Five Royalty!!

Scott, I'll be there. Erik Hansen and I are arriving into Boston @ 5:30 and we are planning on meeting up with you guys at breakfast.

You gotta go!

[ursa5000]

Bought the dead tree version of R & T. Great article, fab graphics...! After reading the article, I finally called two folks in the car trade to find me a sweet 2006 Subie so I can start the teardown, after first driving it for few months.

Da Bear

[longislandwrx]

Two things I saw in the article,

Suspension mentions rear anti-roll bar... wonder if that's accurate.

Article confirms dash is fiberglass, not CF, minus the top that is.

[trublue]

Dave,
Not since Henry Ford has there been such an automobile entrepreneur/genius/hands-on enthusiast as you. You exemplify the American Dream.
Trublue

[oki-ra]

I think in the spy shots thread there was a pic of the anti-roll bar. Picked up the magazine today and pre-ordered my kit yesterday.

[JAubin]

I don't have the magazine in front of me but I recall it saying there was a "roll cage" in the R and not in the S. I understand they mean the extra reinforcement on the roll-protection on the R, but there is of course protection on the S obviously. Anyone have input as far as harness options? Planning on using race buckets, and hence not the standard seat belts...planned on 5 or 6 point, but I wonder if a 4 point is more appropriate without the extra rigidity in the S model.

Article was pretty awesome tho... I really liked the "Don't glue your fingers together" caption. Hah! Who hasn't done that?

[Mechie3]

The only 4 point that is good is the Schroth 4pt ASM which I don't think is compatible with the 818 structure. A 5 or 6 is the way to go.

[JAubin]

Good deal, 5/6 it is.

Also just (finally) put in my placeholder for the kit. Had been procrastinating thinking "I'll just wait a bit and maybe get more info on a coupe" but with Dave's commitment to a compatible hardtop it sealed the deal. No date yet, but estimate from tech support is I'll be into August of next year. Gives me plenty of time to gather extra fancy parts I'll try not to be consumed with jealous rage of everyone starting their builds this month.

[Xusia]

Glad to see you jump in! Welcome...

[flytosail]

The only 4 point that is good is the Schroth 4pt ASM which I don't think is compatible with the 818 structure. A 5 or 6 is the way to go.

Was planning to do a 5 or 6 point harness. Anyone ever have any problems getting this passed an inspecton or road side, "Do you know why I stopped you?".

[305mouse]

I was pulled over for not wearing my seat belt when I had my 4 point harness on. Cop never saw that, just the shiny buckle in the window. When he came over he started the whole "know why I pulled you over?" I said no, he states it's cause I wasn't wearing a seat belt. I look down, look at him, back down, back at him and he goes "yeah, I didn't see that. You probably can't get in and out of that too quickly can you?" "Nope" and I was on my way.

[Flamshackle]

Wow, read the article and loved the images. This car is going to be a rockstar! dying to see the HARDTOP ideas as I believe it will sell like hot cakes as a coupe option.

LOVE the idea of an 818SR.

[Mechie3]

Was planning to do a 5 or 6 point harness. Anyone ever have any problems getting this passed an inspecton or road side, "Do you know why I stopped you?".

I went through a superbowl evening seatbelt check roadblock one night with my Schroth ASM harness. Guy looks at me, looks in the back window at the rest of the harness, looks at me, looks in the back window kind of befuddle again, then waves me on. :lol:

FWIW, only Schroth are truly road legal. I believe federal law requires belts that have a single button to undo them and are not cam lock. That said, I plan on doing a 5/6 pt myself.

[longislandwrx]

I just have cheap RCI latch 5 points that have served me well so far. I can get in and out rather quick. Those asm's are slick if you don't have the sub slot.

[Buzz Skyline]

. . . with Dave's commitment to a compatible hardtop it sealed the deal. No date yet, but estimate from tech support is I'll be into August of next year.

Any idea if it will be back compatible with the kits they've sold before then? That is, can I upgrade to a hard top after building one with a soft top? I'd love a hard top, but I don't want to wait that long to start building.

[JAubin]

Any idea if it will be back compatible with the kits they've sold before then? That is, can I upgrade to a hard top after building one with a soft top?

That's my basic understanding...tho I'm diving in knowing that there are unforeseen things that could make a hardtop not happen. See Dave Smith's comment #41 of this thread, he indicates it would be compatible with the current body shape. I'm implying that it means it'll work with the current design.... Maybe we can even hope it'll have a roof scoop ala an Exige to provide some air to the intercooler.

[K3LAG]

I'm sure glad I pre-ordered the week of the SEMA show! With a road test report like that, I'm betting that FFR is going to be SWAMPED with orders after the magazine hits the stands!!! Just WOW!

I pre-ordered the day the article came out. I was going to wait for the open house, but was afraid the article might prompt a bunch of people to jump in line in front of me.

Me and a friend will be building the car. We and our wives are going to be at the open house and will also spend a few days sight-seeing in the area.

I look forward to meeting some of you at the open house.

[Xusia]

Welcome!

[A_C]

Just read the R&T article. Very good write up. Jack always does a bang up job. One question. The hp/tq figures (estimates) have got to be way overstated. 0 - 100 in 9.9 and 100 to 120 in 5.1 in a 2000 lb race car? The last FF roadster I rode in would destroy this 818. Even with 300 lbs of driver and passenger, the 330 hp roadster was way faster than this. Maybe the 3.8 to 60 time would be the same, but after that, no way.

[Silvertop]

Just read the R&T article. Very good write up. Jack always does a bang up job. One question. The hp/tq figures (estimates) have got to be way overstated. 0 - 100 in 9.9 and 100 to 120 in 5.1 in a 2000 lb race car? The last FF roadster I rode in would destroy this 818. Even with 300 lbs of driver and passenger, the 330 hp roadster was way faster than this. Maybe the 3.8 to 60 time would be the same, but after that, no way.

What performance testing methods did you use on the 330 hp roadster you rode in?

[metalmaker12]

The 818 destroys the challenge car at the track, and I think some of these times are not correct, plus it was 40-50 degrees when tested and the tires area made for at least 60-70 degrees to
Hook up. I have asked FFR, and Dave said the 818 is much faster with the same hp and torque, and a much better track car. Don't get me wrong I am a huge roadster fan, and it is an awsome car etc, they just really engineered the 818 to be a fast little car.
Remember the 33, roadsters, and Daytona running 11's with like 400 -500 horse, well the 818 will do the same plus some, it is about power to weight and gearing , and the Subaru turbo engine produces the same torque as hp.

[DodgyTim]

I couldn't understand a couple of the numbers in the print version of the article, 0-60 was 3.8 sec but 5-60 was 4.6 sec, why is it so? Am I missing something obvious?

[longislandwrx]

I couldn't understand a couple of the numbers in the print version of the article, 0-60 was 3.8 sec but 5-60 was 4.6 sec, why is it so? Am I missing something obvious?

because racecar

[DodgyTim]

No worries, i googled it... 0-60 is dumping clutch, 5-60 is roll on with clutch out

[longislandwrx]

Yeah just messing around... figured it was a hard launch/launch control on boost. With warm pavement should be even faster.

[FFR-ADV]

Here is a link to the Author's Web Page with the R&T Article:

http://jackbaruth.com/?p=234

818test.jpg

Cheers!

[wleehendrick]

"a test of a car that rises, phoenix-like, from the ashes of crashed Subarus."

Great quote, but I hope nobody's inspired to paint a flaming chicken on the hood!

Firebird_Trans_Am_Logo_by_TheCarloos.jpg

[Turboguy]

Here is a link to the Author's Web Page with the R&T Article:

http://jackbaruth.com/?p=234

818test.jpg

Cheers!

Is that the entire review & article ?? I was anticipating it would be several pages plus...........

[bnr32jason]

No it's not the entire thing.

[rjh2pd]

Is that the entire review & article ?? I was anticipating it would be several pages plus...........

They are selling them at wal-mart now. first place I saw it. Go pick it up, its worth it

[flynntuna]

I have a subscription to several car mags Road & Track being one of them. Every month I see the new issue on the news stand weeks before I get it at home. Not sure who to be mad at , R&T or snail mail.LOL Thats my rant for the day. ahhh feel better now. By the way I read the article at the grocery store last week, FFR should enlarge the road test page to poster size and put it in their catalog for sale. I'd buy one.

[shinn497]

Is that the entire review & article ?? I was anticipating it would be several pages plus...........

The article is longer. I think it has an extra page.

[FFR-ADV]

Is that the entire review & article ?? I was anticipating it would be several pages plus...........

Hi Turboguy,

The author indicated on the webpage that there would be more pictures in the printed version but I cannot comment beyond that since I have not seen it yet. Does anyone know if there are new pictures which are not from the Factory Five website? Was there any more text?

Cheers!

[wleehendrick]

Hi Turboguy,
Does anyone know if there are new pictures which are not from the Factory Five website? Was there any more text?
Cheers!

The image is only that portion of the article on pages 72 & 73 from the magazine; the article starts on page 68. So, yeah, there's a lot more to read and see in the full print version!

[Turboguy]

Awesome - going to pick up a copy of R&T today!

[JAubin]

Looks like they posted the full article for anyone who hasn't picked up the mag yet. http://www.roadandtrack.com/features...embly-required

[pondo]

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7iQ...it?usp=sharing

Here's the entire issue in PDF format - I'll leave it available for a few days. The page below was left off the article as published online above.

818.jpg