I recall FFR being such a low-end production that even Curt Scott, who has trouble saying a bad word about any car, was pretty harsh on them in the third edition of his Cobra buyer's guide. They long had a reputation as junk - a third-rate body on a fourth-rate chassis populated with tired Mustang donor parts, not exactly the pinnacle of engineering compared to pulling systems from Jags and BMWs.
FFRs can also be built as complete junk, with solid rear axles that may as well be welded to the frame, donor suspension with abysmal angles and response, etc. Even the most hardcore FFR fan knows there are cars out there that just embarrass even the least discerning Cobra fan.
So, to a large extent, FFR earned their cheesy reputation, and some good number of their buyers help keep it low.
HOWEVER - FFR has clearly come up in the world and keeps working on making their product better, which is more than you can say for most kit and replica makers - the ones who fold the first time someone complains or they run out of welding rod or their brother the 'glass man gets another nickel in the slammer.
I wouldn't buy an FFR; I just don't care for their chassis engineering. I don't feel like I have much in common with the crowd that builds them as straight-line racers. I have even less connection to the crowd that seems to care less about their Cobra heritage than that they're easy to build into autocross monsters. But as a budget-level Cobra platform, I know they can be built into very fine machines, and - as I said - FFR has been consistent with their improvements and support. Power to 'em, and power to everyone who puts the sweat into building their FFR well. If they keep that up, and discourage/de-engineer the crappy end of the build options, they'll shed the last of the poor rep eventually.
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