Is the Factory Five 818 a CHEAP SUPERCAR?

Is this Factory Five 818 a cheap JDM supercar with serious performance? It comes with a Subaru-sourced drivetrain and boxer-4 motor, plus a lightweight steel spaceframe and low-cost fiberglass exterior. The final build weighs only 1800 pounds, which is FAR LESS than most exotic cars! With three different models offered (818S, 818C, 818R), could this Factory Five supercar kit be an affordable alternative to McLaren and Ferrari?

🔵REMEMBER TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE🔵

[TheJamesLykins]

Amazing what you can do when you skip crash testing, etc.

[aaronbritt]

The "kits start at" price really isn't an accurate representation of what the average kit price is. Almost nobody orders a kit with zero options. For example, the chassis comes bare. FFR states that it must be powder coated to prevent corrosion. To have them do it adds $500. I'd wager the average cost of a 818C kit is closer to $17k. That's not very expensive, but it's not $13k.

[daviddyess]

Have an 818s. Bought it mostly finished and driveable for cheap. It is stubid fast and hardcore. It is also super uncomfortable (no a/c no roof). spooky handling over 100 mph mostly due to lack of downforce and bump steer I think. the shifter (cable linkage) SUCKS, even with the upgraded shifter assembly. A sequential trans would be the shiznit. Would kill almost anything on a medium speed road coarse once sorted with practice. Also, it has max performance 255/40r17 rear and 225/40r17 front on aftermarket wheels which are needed. It will step sideways quite readily at 300hp. Also, one of the BIG advantages of the boxer engine is its low center of gravity.

[danmorency]

I bought serial # 17 Factory Five 818S kit in August of 2013, I've driven it over 10, 000 miles since. My car weighs 1900 lbs with a full interior, stereo and heated leather Recaro seats and many custom options. It now has an upgraded VF48 turbo and larger injectors and a custom Speed density tune making approximately 300 RWHP through the stock WRX 5 speed with a Quaife LSD. It's an absolute beast and pulls harder and accelerates faster than my 2021 Corvette C8 as long as you can get traction! It easily breaks the tires free in 3rd gear when the turbo really spools up. It handles very well and has very good ride quality for a race car used on the street. I'm working on an emergency top as the roadster configuration is a huge limitation, it's almost as if dark clouds seek out the car to get the leather interior wet. Factory Five's kit results in a pretty basic, somewhat "incomplete" car. You won't be happy without a different shifter mechanism and cables, improved brake hardware, an improved fuel tank, revised intercooler setup, etc... A very nice roadster can easily be built for between $25 and $30, 000. 
The sense of satisfaction driving it, priceless!

[ditzydoo]

Anything Factory-5 makes may be "Inexpensive", but never "Cheap"...

[aaronsmyth]

Insurance rep: "Oh, ok sir, it's got 800bhp, and you built it yourself. Hold the line one moment."

[syntexx]

It would be awesome if kit cars gain popularity again since they lost so much over the years.

[GrantOakes]

I'd love to see this kit with a 600HP turbo K-swap! Oops, I just piddled myself thinking about it!

Yeah I'd definitely build one if I had the money, time, space, tools and skills required 🕺

[SynchroFPS]

As a Subie guy, I always thought the 818 was extremely cool. Ill probably build one someday. Hopefully.

[WARESPOWER]

Great point. No safe inspection of the build . No air bags no anti skid brakes system. These are fun cars . Lots of work to put together but for most of us that’s the fun in building.

[Mariuscb]

I dive an 02 MR2 with a lotus motor (2ZZ) making 190 hp. Some weight reduction was done and it now weighs 2050 lbs and is also a mid engine rear wheel drive car. It's a very fast car with 190hp, can't imagine what 500 hp would be with the little weight.

[OzarkTroutBum]

Really nice folks. I delivered part of a laser cutter there when their showroom was closed and they let me wander around inside.

[sonzu-officialmusicchannel]

Ngl i would seriously like to see a plug and play kit car. I could see the 986 boxter S working out. Just pull off the frame and mod the engine for more power and drop a new body on that looks like a 100k car.

[NALTOHQ]

Love seeing support for the brands of my home state. Go Massachusetts!!!

[jaynexus]

I wish I had the skills to build one of these. They are pretty sick.

[princequestly]

My brother has a factory 5 Cobra coupe with a coyote 5.0 crate motor And it is an absolute animal to drive.

[lucassohm]

I'm so glad I went with a DF goblin. Way more reliable drive train, 5-10K cheaper to build. Mine weighs 1560 lbs. Can handle as much power as you throw at it...

[frankdeak]

I’ve been following them since the beginning. Always wanted to build my own cobra. Still a dedicated supporter. One day I’ll be there. I hope you guys are when I can afford a crate

[americanAlienBoy]

I wouldn't say don't buy one. I mean, for the price it can be a good deal. Just be prepared for more work than you originally anticipated. But that's true for any race car project.

Two of my racing buddies had these. Note the word "had". One built his himself, the other bought an already built one. The guy who built his own described the chassis this way, "It looked like two different guys welded up the frame. But only one guy knew how to weld." As for the other one, I spend a couple of hours at the track helping him figure out how to keep the left half-shaft from grinding away at one of the suspension components (sway bar link, IIRC).


Both guys had to have the frames straightened before they could get a good alignment.