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Hey guys...
Is there going to be a soft top sometime soon?
Saw this in the email!
Zero Decibel Motorsports
Check out my new website!
www.zerodecibelmotorsports.com
www.facebook.com/zero.decibel.motorsports
Well, that looks hopeful!! What email did you see THAT in?
The one I got about 15 minutes ago. "Latest 818 news October 2013". Includes a bunch of other stuff too.
Zero Decibel Motorsports
Check out my new website!
www.zerodecibelmotorsports.com
www.facebook.com/zero.decibel.motorsports
Checking email now............Originally Posted by Mechie3
Count me in! That is one good looking soft top IMO.
Just got the email... SOLD!!!
I'm in too!! Can I do a $99 preorder?????
There is also a post here on this forum about all of the exciting things going on at FFR.
Doug
I'd like to see more of the top... back view... Looks like it follows the side of the hump on each side and comes to a point? how do the vinyl windows attach? $$$???
Dan
818S #17 Picked up 8/1/13 First start 11/1/13 Go Kart 3/28/14
I don't know what's up with my email. Not getting any of the news letters. But I'm glad it's available very soon. Can someone post the rest of the email plz.
SOLD! I'm hoping there will be soft side windows available also, but I want one. No, I NEED one.
Pete
818S/C : Chassis #25 with 06 WRX 2.5 turbo, ABS, cruise, PS, A/C, Apple CarPlay, rear camera, power windows & locks, leather & other complexities. Sold 10/19 with 5,800 miles.
Mk3 Roadster #6228 4.6L, T45, IRS, PS, PB, ABS, Cruise, Koni's, 17" Halibrands, red w/ silver - 9K miles then sold @ Barrett-Jackson Jan 2011 (got back cash spent).
Well, I guess we already know that the top will have soft side windows -- specifically, zip-in side curtains -- at least that's what was promised some months back. And I want one too. I would have ordered it with my kit if it had been available. We can probably figure on a price tag of about $3K, though.
Last edited by Silvertop; 10-07-2013 at 06:13 PM.
Dave's online post on the Forum is identical to the email...
Dan
818S #17 Picked up 8/1/13 First start 11/1/13 Go Kart 3/28/14
Cool just read it and was hoping for the same. Still need to contact ffr about the communication issue though.
The top looks fantastic. I just wish it had a window lip though.
I love the look of the soft top. Can't wait to see some more views but I think we're going to have to wait for SEMA. Do you really anticipate a price of $3k?
My money's on $2600. And no, I don't have any inside information. That's just an educated guess!
The soft top looks great
Wayne Presley www.verycoolparts.com
Xterminator 705 RWHP supercharged 4.6 DOHC with twin turbos
Now lets see it in the wind tunnel!
Last time you guessed something, you were spot on.My money's on $2600. And no, I don't have any inside information. That's just an educated guess!
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
For me I don't need wind tunnel for the top, cuz every time I would be driving with the top on means I can not drive fast enough to have much aero downside effects. I would use the top when raining or if it's really too cold to drive without it (then I need a heather too), which means the road would be quite cold too, which means less tire traction (especially with high-end performance tires or road/race tires). So I can't drive fast with the top on anyway.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
Yep...For me I don't need wind tunnel for the top, cuz every time I would be driving with the top on means I can not drive fast enough to have much aero downside effects. I would use the top when raining or if it's really too cold to drive without it (then I need a heather too), which means the road would be quite cold too, which means less tire traction (especially with high-end performance tires or road/race tires). So I can't drive fast with the top on anyway.
BTW - most soft tops start to billow (pull up/away from the support structure) at highway speeds. It's very hard on them to drive at track speeds.
please guess a little lower next time
ohh where does one store the top when not in use. Does it fold up like an umbrella to put under the set?
My $3k guess is really just a SWAG (Scientific Wild-A** Guess), based on the fact that the premium tops for the '33 and the Roadster seem to cost $3300-3500. Given that FFR has asked Hot Rod Tops to try to build it a little less expensive is kind of where I come up with the $3k number. But it could be less, perhaps as low as Xusia's prediction. But I wouldn't look for it to be much cheaper than that -- this is a custom, low volume top, and it is still supposed to a high quality product. So it still won't be cheap. And we don't want it to be. Just my humble opinion..........
LOL - sorry! I will try to do better next time!please guess a little lower next time
My guess is that it will not be a folding top. Rather, the support structure will not be permanently attached to the top (if I'm right, yet another reason to avoid high speed driving with it) and will disassemble for storage in the trunk. Since the top isn't attached, it can fold for storage too. These kinds of tops are more difficult to put on and take off, but they can be stored in very little space.
Last edited by Xusia; 10-08-2013 at 12:28 PM.
Dave said: "The 818S soft top design goals were to be a bit more affordable". Since the other tops are well over $3k, I would guess around $3k. I'd love to be surprised and have it be priced closer to $2500, but I doubt it.My money's on $2600. And no, I don't have any inside information. That's just an educated guess!
Anyway, my wife said she'll buy me the top for Christmas!
That would be consistent with the designs of the tops for the Roadster and the '33 Hot Rod, which are taken apart and stored in the vehicle. However, at least one of them has an optional "Boot" which snaps around it and allows the top to be stored in place on the rear deck. At least, according to the lead guy at Hot Rod Tops, who I spoke with some months ago in an effort to learn how the top design was coming along. He didn't tell me much else...... Anyways, based on that tidbit it is at least possible the 818's top may be stored on the car while still partially assembled rather than completely taken apart and stored inside. I'm not predicting that -- but it's a maybe....
I would love that, though I fear the humps will make it impossible...
Xusia: "will disassemble for storage in the trunk."
Do you mean the trunk in the garage?
818S/C : Chassis #25 with 06 WRX 2.5 turbo, ABS, cruise, PS, A/C, Apple CarPlay, rear camera, power windows & locks, leather & other complexities. Sold 10/19 with 5,800 miles.
Mk3 Roadster #6228 4.6L, T45, IRS, PS, PB, ABS, Cruise, Koni's, 17" Halibrands, red w/ silver - 9K miles then sold @ Barrett-Jackson Jan 2011 (got back cash spent).
I guess those with AWIC over the tranny will have no luck to store the soft top. Unless you meant the front storage location, for which I haven't seen any good photos yet so I don't know if there is space in the front.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
I plan to have a trunk in the back, and at least look at also putting one in the front; though the front might better qualify as a large trunk!
I just got interested in the 818. Soft top is a must for me, since I live in Florida and it rains every day at 4:30pm. Glad progress is being made, although a price of $3K is a very big percentage of the cost of the car!
Not really. Convertible versions of coupe production cars are often priced several thousand more. Assuming you are building a $15k 818 and that the soft top will be less than $3k, that's the equivalent of an $18k convertible production car vs. a $15k coupe version. I'd say that's definitely within reason.
Though most production soft tops do fold down easily. But, the cost of a custom soft top is what it is. It's a high percentage of the 818 cost because its an inexpensive kit in the grand scheme of things not because the top is expensive. Kind of a chicken or egg point I guess
Any updates on this for forum members before SEMA??
Pretty please
The soft top looks great.
I live in Florida, where rain is a very frequent occurrence, and it can last quite a long time, often all day. Driving a car in the rain requires more than just a roof over your head, so here are a few questions:
Does it have windows?
How long does it take to put up and take down?
Does it need to be stored at home, or does it fit somewhere in the car? (such as, hopefully a trunk over the transaxle)
Is the 818S now equipped with windshield wipers?
I doubt there is AC, but is there heat or at the least, ventilation? Fresh air is needed for when the top and windows are up, both to breathe and for windshield de-fogging.
Yes it has zip in windows, yes the wiper can be added, soft top comes on and off very easy. If you build a truck behind the engine the top can be sorted there (folded down the top takes up very little real estate). No heat or a/c option at this point but can be aftermarket retrofitted. Anti-fog and rainX goes a long way too.
How fast can one go with windows down or no windows?
VERY fast. If you want...
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