Factory Five/superformance/backdraft

[Cashburn]

At $35k used you should be able to find a very well built Factory Five with some searching. To find a nice used BDR you will need to go over $40k. And finally to find a decent, later SPF used it would be closer if not above $50k.

If you have a better budget for something new .... call me

[Slick61]

as a Backdraft owner, I'd say the overall fit & finish of a Superformance is slightly better- as is the paint. BUT... I LOVED the fact that the suspension was BMW-sourced... and the 2 inch stretch makes for less "squirrelly" handling at the limit- and it IS a very comfortable car, as Cobras go.

One thing that no one has mentioned yet is that Backdraft has one of the most nicely-finished engine compartments around. All the polished stainless really sets off a nice engine.

Exhibit A

[Joe Wicked]

In my research of everything, one thing I have not come across is price listings for these cars. Does anyone know if the respective companies publish the base price and price of options for the roller cars like the build yourself kit companies do? If I decide to go with a roller, I really like the Superformance, ERA and Backdraft. The more I think about it, the more I like a finished car, the body work is something that I will not want to attack myself, and I know that will get real expensive.

[Mattnshilp]

I started a long thread on which replica is best... Got some really great responses.


Along with FFR (The most affordable Replica worth spending money on), ERA (Expensive and supposedly just awesome), SPF (almost as expensive) and BDR (a wee bit more expensive then FFR), the other company that came up a few times that seamed to be worth looking into was Unique.

http://www.uniquemotorcars.com/

Turnkey pretty well loaded for somewhere between $47,500.00 and $49,000.00 . Used for a bit less.

I can't wait for mine. But it'l be a while before I decide which direction I want to go in. I want either an ERA or SPF. I like the ERA better but they are expensive. I can probably get a great pre-owned SPF for a great price. I just keep feeling like I should be buying an american produced and constructed Ford Cobra replica.

I am having a hard time with FFR's Bulky Butt. But if they can fix that problem, I would probably go for an FFR for my first to get in affordably and enjoy until I really learned what was important to me...

-Matt

[Slick61]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

In my research of everything, one thing I have not come across is price listings for these cars. Does anyone know if the respective companies publish the base price and price of options for the roller cars like the build yourself kit companies do? If I decide to go with a roller, I really like the Superformance, ERA and Backdraft. The more I think about it, the more I like a finished car, the body work is something that I will not want to attack myself, and I know that will get real expensive.

Backdraft's pricing is posted right on their website...

[flipscobra]

I have a SPF, Before I bought mine I went to look at a Unique Cobra in Va. I would probaly bought had I not driven a SPF. You have more footroom in the SPF, the pedals are further apart. All you have to do is look in the drivers side an you will see the difference. If you have big feet you will love the SPF.

[SKINNEDR]

I don't like above comments about BDR.
There is a big difference in appearance from a FFR to a BDR.
DEx....

[Wiplash]

OK, I see the difference now that I looked at the profiles. I have formally changed my opinion of the Backdraft (I officially dig it!)

Are SPF and BDR the only companies that turn out rollers?

Thanks guys!

Brett

[RodKnock]

CSX, ERA and Kirkham can have complete rollers available, if so desired. Unfortunatey, they're at the expensive side of the Cobra spectrum.

[wanab5150]

Keep in mind the BD has 3 series BMW suspension consisting of a BMW rear end made for a 250 hp or less car. It may handle the juice, but it's BMW and was never designed for 500 HP. Also, the front of every other kit or turn-key car has unequal length a arms like any race car, wheras the BMW front end uses struts, like most imports and Mustangs.

In my oppinion the BD would probably ride better than the others, but the manner in which a strut changes the caster/camber during its vertical travel does not allow the tires to stay planted as well as say Superformance or others. Ever seen struts on a real race car?. Also, there will be no real performance upgrades on the BD because ITS A STRUT.The others allow spring rate, and shock variations like Bilstein or QA-1's.

I'm 6-1 with bad knees and find the SPF a lot more comfortable than I thought. The BD does however have more leg room.
I bought an SPF and I'm happy with it. I considered the BD but in the end wanted the A A arm suspension and a hearty Dayna style rear end for the 550 hp Roush even if I never use it. Unless someone crawls under the BD no one would know the difference and if it makes no difference to you, it may be the right car for you.

You'll end up the same money in a kit Factory 5 as the BD, but the resale on the Factory 5 car is lower as..... "would you buy a car someone else BUILT?" Or, would you buy a factory built car that's probably built by pros and is built to factory standards.
The BD is a deal. I think 10K cheaper than my SPF which I picked up in March.

Tough choice...........weigh the positives and negatives. CSX, Superformance, factory 5, ERA, Backdraft, their all good. If I had it to over again and I hit the

[Dinobyte]

Originally Posted by wanab5150

Ever seen struts on a real race car?. Also, there will be no real performance upgrades on the BD because ITS A STRUT.The others allow spring rate, and shock variations like Bilstein or QA-1's.

Ever hear of that German car maker called Porsche?

[lovehamr]

??

Originally Posted by wanab5150

Keep in mind the BD has 3 series BMW suspension consisting of a BMW rear end made for a 250 hp or less car.

Come on man, read a book! Or at least look around on the web for some info before you throw out blanket statements. Look at the E46 with it's 4.0 L 380hp (440 in race trim) V8 pushing a 3400# car. And that's not good enough for a Cobra? Just looking at the info in this site on who's running what in their BDR would show that it apparently is.

Originally Posted by wanab5150

Ever seen struts on a real race car?.

Allot.

Originally Posted by wanab5150

Also, there will be no real performance upgrades on the BD because ITS A STRUT.The others allow spring rate, and shock variations like Bilstein or QA-1's.

Jeez man, just because it's got a strut doesn't mean it can't be tweeked. aside from factory tweeks there are cartrige (shock) upgrades availible from KYB and Bilstein. And why you would think that spring rates can't be changed because it's a strut is beyind me.

Steve

[RAO-3]

Doesn't the backdraft use the E36 suspension?

[Cashburn]

Note the "racecar" that has been lapped...

[bobcowan]

Comparing the FFR to a BD or SPF is really tough. Yes, they're all Cobra's, but they're all really differant. The BD and SPF are "factory built". There's a lot of advantages to that, especially when buying used or reselling. You can have the car delivered to your house and be driving it in a few weeks. They say a week end, but I'm a little skeptical on that.

OTOH, the FFR is a u-build-it project. For some people, the build is a huge part of the fun. It took me three years to build my car, and I really enjoyed it. So much so, that I consider selling mine so I can build another one.

Intended use should also be a major facter. The FFR is considerably lighter than the SPF. Not sure about the BD. Both the BD and SPF can be modified to handle and brake very well, and hold a tremendous amount of power. But, you pay for parts and then have to replace them to get where you want to be. If you build the car the way you want it to start with, you can save a bunch of money. A good example is brakes. The brakes on both SPF and BD are plenty good enough for the street and autocross. But inadequate for the road course. You may spend a couple thousand upgrading those. Can the BD differential handle 550hp? I don't know, but I'm skeptical.

If you're looking for an exact replica, the BD and FFR are not for you. There are way to many visual differances from original. They can be changed, but again you're talking time and money. I think the most accurate and high quality kits available is the Unique or the Kirkham. When I looked at them a few years ago I was really impressed. And they've gotten better since then.

Another thing to consider is aftermarket support. If your nearest SPF dealer is 6 hours away, that could be a problem. Especially if you're not a builder kinda guy.

If you're not a builder, but want something unique, consider having somebody like Gordon Levy build one for you.

[madmaxx]

You cannot go wrong with either. I suggest you keep an eye out for both and one of the two will pop up with a price you cannot resist then go for it.

For expample Starformance (superformance dealer by the way) had two rollers he was trying to move that went for $35K!!!!! complete with top, tonneau, install kit, heck he was willing to complete with run of mill motor for low $40K!!!!!!!!

A deal like that comes along once a year, keep looking at cc and ebay and strike when it presents itself. Alot of rich buy and sell quick and they could not care less if they loose 10-15K on the car they just want it gone.

Needless to say with used you take some risk but both are built so well I would not worry about anything but the condition of the paint.

The only reason I did not buy one even though I have one, the deal was so good is I want a SPF GT40 or even a bdrgt.

[SkipB]

Note to all,

A Backdraft differential can and has handled over 700HP. (Why do guys invent problems that don't exist?)

Plus, a Backdraft handles better than most cars with the stock suspension. Throw in the M3 upgrade and watch out! (FFRs can be built with several different upgrades too)

Finally there are a bunch of fine race cars out there with struts. Upgrades, changes are readily available if you look, especially for BMW based cars!

To Wiplash,

buy whatever you can get the best deal on at the time and within your budget. I looks to me like a well built FFR or a Backdraft might be in the $ area you want. Either way you can't go too far wrong!

SkipB

[Slick61]

Originally Posted by SkipB

Note to all,

A Backdraft differential can and has handled over 700HP. (Why do guys invent problems that don't exist?)

Plus, a Backdraft handles better than most cars with the stock suspension. Throw in the M3 upgrade and watch out! (FFRs can be built with several different upgrades too)

Finally there are a bunch of fine race cars out there with struts. Upgrades, changes are readily available if you look, especially for BMW based cars!

To Wiplash,

buy whatever you can get the best deal on at the time and within your budget. I looks to me like a well built FFR or a Backdraft might be in the $ area you want. Either way you can't go too far wrong!

SkipB

... Amen, brother... my Backdraft is putting out over 600 hp & I've yet to break anything.

[wanab5150]

I stand corrected on the strut issue.....I was thinking of f-1 and indy style cars, can-am etc...not street based cars converted to race cars like porsche,BMW and Mustang...maybe others.

For the guy that said the BD comes with the E-36 parts, not the E-46 parts is correct. I like Backdrafts, don't get me wrong. I've had a 320i, 740IL and currently have a 3.0 Z-3 that if I had to pick one, I would keep the BMW over my new (3 mo. old) Roush 427/SPF. It' the most fun car I have ever driven and is more pure fun than the Cobra. It's just all the guys asking me if they make one for men that pisses me off!

It would just be nice to have rear end that takes two hands to hold (ford 9" or Dayna) rather than one the size of a 3 lb. coffee can. Look for yourself.
My opinion and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee. It's just an opinion. I've been wrong before!

[SkipB]

Wanab5150,

You are still confusing me on the "rear end" question. A Ford 9" is very heavy and heavy duty. They were often used in trucks. I think that is one of the reasons it stands up to much abuse. But it was designed many years ago when the easy way to make something last was to make it big and heavy.

Along comes BMW back in the 80s with a very stoutly designed differential that is quite small and light in comparison. They put millions of them on the E36 series cars and many of them were raced in stock form with virutally no problems. 400+ horsepower? Not too often. But when Backdraft put one in their Cobra replica, it really got a workout! They built more than one car with much more than 400HP and as I understand it, no problems. They even drag raced one of the cars! Talk about abuse. So, perhaps newer technology can be both better and lighter. You can also have one built even "beefier" for road and drag racing. I thought about having this done to my stock differential, but can't justify the approximate $2K upgrade charge. If I was racing it, perhaps, but for just blasting down the highway, I feel my stock unit is just fine.

Did you ever have problems with any of your BMW differentials? (I know they are not all the same units) Just curious. I understand the dealerships repair vitually none of them, unless they are really old. Good old time German engineering, at least in this area!

The race car mantra is "lighter is always better", as long as it works! And the BMW units seem to work very well under many conditions.

SkipB