FFR "198" Roadster Announcement?

[FFR428]

Wow very cool to see. No exposed trunk hinges and smoother trunk line. I want one!

[Got the Bug]

Mark 4
http://www.factoryfive.com/roadster/update/Mk4.html

[Don DePontee]

An FFR with a perfect copy of the original, I think FFR has really put themselves over the top with this step.
Don

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by Don DePontee

An FFR with a perfect copy of the original, I think FFR has really put themselves over the top with this step.
Don

I think you will find it is not a perfect copy of the original. Perhaps a morph of the two. Nice to see improvements coming from FFR, it's always good for the whole industry.

Gonna feel bad for those guys in their garages though, sweating together an out dated kit with a couple more months or years to go...

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by Don DePontee

An FFR with a perfect copy of the original

Probably not a real good slogan to use.

[mrmustang]

Jay,

There will be a select few who might be upset (as they have been with every manufacturer and their updates and revisions), but in the long run they will be happy with what they are building. Why, simple, because they are experience the build of a dream from the ground (kit) up. My MK 3.1(currently in New England and working it's way back to me) is no less a replica because it does not have any of the newest upgrades(it has some, but those where before FFR offered them as a package), it's just an earlier version, as it was for my original MK I, MK 1.5, MK 2, MK2.5, MK III and all others that have come in between.


Bill S.

PS: Can't wait for my first MK IV, maybe later this year

[Cashburn]

Bill,
I understand that. However the pain is usually eased in those cases by a significant difference in price/cost. If this MkIV is only $1,000 more than a Mk3.1 then you are seriously pissed if you took advantage of the year long summer special right?

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Bill,
If this MkIV is only $1,000 more than a Mk3.1 then you are seriously pissed if you took advantage of the year long summer special right?

Not really, as I got what I paid for at that time. Every company I know makes revisions and upgrades from time to time, why should I be angry when I did not know it was already in the pipeline. The ones who might be upset are the ones who's kits have not yet been picked up or shipped from FFR, they should have a right (I believe they can upgrade their kits before they ship) to upgrade to the latest revision for a small fee (to cover costs of the newer kit)........


Bill S.

[jmimac351]

FFR talked about this eventuality 2 years ago so they telegraphed this move waaay in advance and I got out of my car because this possibility was important to me. If this was that important to guys buying recently then I'm not sure why they bought. It seemed obvious to me it would eventually happen and I was willing to wait. I suppose the guys who bought a 2010 Mustang are a little annoyed they are missing out on the new 5.0 as they had no heads-up.

There will always be something new coming along that makes you "gotta have it"...

Ain't competition great?

[Maricopa]

Still some oddities in the rear fenders and they retained the front turn signal pads. Also the sides don't tuck under. Big improvement over mine though. I went through a lot of hassles dropping the rear and getting a scoopless hood etc.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by Maricopa

Still some oddities in the rear fenders and they retained the front turn signal pads. Also the sides don't tuck under. Big improvement over mine though. I went through a lot of hassles dropping the rear and getting a scoopless hood etc.

So you don't think this is the digitized 198 body? I haven't compared them.

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by jmimac351

FFR talked about this eventuality 2 years ago so they telegraphed this move waaay in advance and I got out of my car because this possibility was important to me. If this was that important to guys buying recently then I'm not sure why they bought. It seemed obvious to me it would eventually happen and I was willing to wait. I suppose the guys who bought a 2010 Mustang are a little annoyed they are missing out on the new 5.0 as they had no heads-up.

There will always be something new coming along that makes you "gotta have it"...

Ain't competition great?

I hear you on that but the primary difference here is that the owner of the 2010 Mustang has been driving and enjoying it. My thoughts were with the guys that are still in the build phase ... that's the other edge of the Kit Car sword I guess

On a similar note we've had a rash of trade offers that include 2008 and 2009 Mustangs ... I'm sure the 5.0 next year has something to do with it.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by Cashburn

I hear you on that but the primary difference here is that the owner of the 2010 Mustang has been driving and enjoying it. My thoughts were with the guys that are still in the build phase ... that's the other edge of the Kit Car sword I guess

On a similar note we've had a rash of trade offers that include 2008 and 2009 Mustangs ... I'm sure the 5.0 next year has something to do with it.

Tough call but what is a manufacturer to do? Stop shipments 6 months before the newest version is introduced? Recall the previous version and replace with new? This is a business and a profitable one at that. This happens with a every other consumer product that grows market share. The overwhelming majority of FFR owners doesn't give a rats ass about originality. They would keep selling kits at a pretty good clip doing nothing at all. Like any other business trying to survive in these times, if the market seems saturated, then making changes to take market share from the existing available market is a sound strategy. That's what they'll do and there is more to come.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Maybe after they're available FFR should offer discounted (body) updates for those cars in process.

[Maricopa]

Not a 'perfect' one. It has front turn signal pads and the body doesn't tuck in at the bottom like a 'REAL' one. Not too sure about the rear fenders either, although 198s rear fenders have never seemed quite as flared out at the bottom rear as others.

[SunDude]

I hate to generalize, but most of the FFR owners I've met were primarily interesting in the experience of building a car and weren't terribly hung up on the idea of "accuracy." They had a vision of the Cobra they wanted to build and FFR was the perfect platform for them. No doubt the single-donor model was attractive to some of them, too. With more than 7000 kits sold, obviously FFR has been pretty successful so far.

So does the new MkIV represent a shift in target market for FFR? Are they going after the Cobra purist, y'know the guy who would've bought an ERA or other kit, or just trying to improve their product for their usual customer base?

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by SunDude

I hate to generalize, but most of the FFR owners I've met were primarily interesting in the experience of building a car and weren't terribly hung up on the idea of "accuracy." They had a vision of the Cobra they wanted to build and FFR was the perfect platform for them. No doubt the single-donor model was attractive to some of them, too. With more than 7000 kits sold, obviously FFR has been pretty successful so far.

So does the new MkIV represent a shift in target market for FFR? Are they going after the Cobra purist, y'know the guy who would've bought an ERA or other kit, or just trying to improve their product for their usual customer base?

When I built my FFR I wasn't concerned as much about the vintage look. Like anyone else I liked the Kirkhams but I thought my FFR looked good and it fit my budget at the time. Over time I began much preferring the more authentic look and I changed some things on my car. 2 years ago FFR announced plans for a "Legacy" series. I think the economy delayed that launch but I sold my car last summer expecting it to happen eventually. Recently I've been looking at the ERA 289 as an alternative. I no longer am. Based on what I've seen so far I'm convinced a 289 car is on the way as well. At the price point they are bringing this to market this is a pretty big deal - if you have the time and ability to build a car.

[Maricopa]

The folks who bought the "old" FFR's knew what they were buying - if they cared deeply about the accuracy of the body shape, they would have shopped elsewhere.

I cared very much about the body shape, but went with what I could afford and made a few changes that I thought helped. It's something that I've just had to live with but I realize that for the most part it bothers only me.
I just wonder what all those FFR guys that have said over the years, "I think the perky butt looks better and/or more racy." are going to say now.

[Frank Messina]

The Factory Five MK IV just steam rollered the playing field.
Frank

[TButtrick]

I'm gonna miss that ol' perky butt.