Good and bad points to buying a used FF01?

[Jason1145]

What's everyone's thoughts/experience/opinion on buying a used FF01 chassis? I like the idea of a front wheel drive car but can appreciate it might make certain bodyshells harder to fit with the motor at the front... but apart from that... a good choice for very light off road and mostly tarmac driving?

[Percymon]

Plenty of spares available, thanks to sharing a lot with other chassis' types

Never really been a fan of the FF chassis personally - steering and driving the same wheels doesn't quite have the right balance for my taste.  An M chassis is much more nimble but then it's smaller too.

And yes, you are limited on body styles, needing passenger car shells with a fairly high bonnet like the VW Golf Mk4, Subaru Imprezza

[Jason1145]

Ultimately any FF chassis I get will wear a Civic Type R shell, in fact, I've just ordered that shell coming from Japan I think!

What other chassis could I look to for compatible spare parts?

I've seen the FF02 with it's motor mounted just behind the front wheels (not out in front like the FF01 and FF03) but I like the idea of having a car with the motor being out in front, for weight bias if nothing else, all I need is a decent roller so if anyone has one they want to sell....(not a single FF car in your 40 car collection Percy?!)

 

[Juls1]

There is quite a few ff-01 parts around, between TA-01/2, CC-01, M01/m03 and top force parts there is still plenty of option parts to be had. The only thing that’s harder to get is the A-parts, it’s generally not something that breaks easily though. 

B and E parts can be a little difficult as well, but generally not crazy prices of A parts. 

With the re release of TA02 yagermeister porsche there is cheap frp chassis parts about now as well.

im in the process of restoring my old FF01 now. Just waiting on a couple more parts and I’ll start putting up build pics hopefully by the weekend or early next week. 

If the intention is to burn around on the street I see few negatives. As for a racing chassis? Err no. It lacks adjustability, it’s quite a high chassis as well but this makes it great for general street work and also more realistic on those old school body’s. Finally you’ll want some super sticky front tyres if you want to be able to steer!!

Juls

[Jason1145]

10 hours ago, Juls1 said:

There is quite a few ff-01 parts around, between TA-01/2, CC-01, M01/m03 and top force parts there is still plenty of option parts to be had. The only thing that’s harder to get is the A-parts, it’s generally not something that breaks easily though. 

B and E parts can be a little difficult as well, but generally not crazy prices of A parts. 

With the re release of TA02 yagermeister porsche there is cheap frp chassis parts about now as well.

im in the process of restoring my old FF01 now. Just waiting on a couple more parts and I’ll start putting up build pics hopefully by the weekend or early next week. 

If the intention is to burn around on the street I see few negatives. As for a racing chassis? Err no. It lacks adjustability, it’s quite a high chassis as well but this makes it great for general street work and also more realistic on those old school body’s. Finally you’ll want some super sticky front tyres if you want to be able to steer!!

Juls

Thanks Juls, I just read for resto thread on your old Ff01, a great place for shopping list parts... keep it going!

I missed out on a used FF01 earlier today, I forgot the auction till it was over and it sold for under £60  

[KEV THE REV]

Tried to PM you Jason , is your mailbox full?

[Juls1]

There is quite a few NIB kits still on eBay. It’s a pity you bought the shell already as they are not terrible value for money all things considered. I know I wish I’d just bought a new kit, but I started out going to use some second hand parts some new. Of course as the process went on I ended up going deeper down the rabbit hole till I had everything new. And yes I ended up spending more than a new kit, albeit however many of the parts have been replaced with hopups.

Juls

 

[Jason1145]

6 hours ago, KEV THE REV said:

Tried to PM you Jason , is your mailbox full?

No it isn't.. I've missed messages before when people couldn't send them, I've just emptied it now so pls try again.

[Jason1145]

5 hours ago, Juls1 said:

There is quite a few NIB kits still on eBay. It’s a pity you bought the shell already as they are not terrible value for money all things considered. I know I wish I’d just bought a new kit, but I started out going to use some second hand parts some new. Of course as the process went on I ended up going deeper down the rabbit hole till I had everything new. And yes I ended up spending more than a new kit, albeit however many of the parts have been replaced with hopups.

Juls

 

Juls I've just seen a NIB VW Golf FF01 for about the £150 mark... and a new built boxed one for about £140 painted a lovely yellow... these are from 1997 so 20 years old, what a nice bit of history to own but I can't spend that much this time round which is a pity as they look great.

I can imagine you've already spent more than that lol... but atleast yours will be full of hop up parts as you say.

What pitch gears do these FF01 cars run?

Edit : Just seen new FF03's for about £125 from Asia.... hmmm if all else fails in my 2nd hand search I could just go NIB for something FF01 or FF03, but the wife will send me to guilty town for sure.

The fact I already have a shell doesn't deter me from buying a full kit with anothe shell, I always like two shells, one for scuffing and one for display.

[Jonathon Gillham]

Strangely Hobbyking have the FF03 for USD $150ish which is surprising, I find them better for bits than kits. 

Let me know how you get new cars past your wife, I need a new strategy as have exhausted mine!

[Wooders28]

On 27/09/2017 at 7:57 AM, Jonathon Gillham said:

Strangely Hobbyking have the FF03 for USD $150ish which is surprising, I find them better for bits than kits. 

At that price it's tempting!

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hks-opel-vectra-jtcc-ff-03.html

I'll see what it comes down to with the platinum discount! 

[El Dougo]

If you want to run it the FF03 is the one to have. 

The guy I got mine from had an extra rolling chassis with hop ups and wanted around £115.  Long shot but I'll drop him an e-mail and see if he still has it.

[Phil_H]

I sold my FF01 a couple of months back.....

I had no issues finding parts, make sure you put bearings in the gearbox...I found out it doesn't take much to melt the plastic ones

You can get a 2 different gearing options (71t spur or 66t) and I think I squeezed a 30t pinion in, but it was a 48dp so didn't mesh 100% to the 0.6 spur, but was enough to do some speed runs.

Handling was pretty good, point and squirt...with foams up front it was easy to pull it around corners. High speed the back end would get very twitchy, I think it's because it has quite a lot of toe in at the rear, not sure if you can change it as that would of helped. 

 

[Jason1145]

I've got a used FF01 on the way to me now, I'm really enjoying the FWD of my M03's so this is a logical step to take for the cheapest outlay... then if I'm still loving the 257mm wheelbase FWD experience then I'll add the FF03 later.

I've so many shells I want to make I'll need the chassis's anyway to sit them on.

 

[Jonathon Gillham]

4 hours ago, Jason1145 said:

I've got a used FF01 on the way to me now, I'm really enjoying the FWD of my M03's so this is a logical step to take for the cheapest outlay... then if I'm still loving the 257mm wheelbase FWD experience then I'll add the FF03 later.

I've so many shells I want to make I'll need the chassis's anyway to sit them on.

 

Brilliant, "i have so many shells i need another chassis"!

[Juls1]

I’m trying to find a suitable shell to sit a FF02 on, which is my next project. They only brought out 3 kits. Those shells either don’t exist or are obscenely expensive. 

Ive looked at TL01 shells but I really need something that was front drive in real life. That would suit the chassis that I like. I do intend to pickup a FF03 as well so don’t want anything too modern

[TurnipJF]

[Jason1145]

4 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

That is the Honda Castro FF03 Kit I've got my sights on! I've already got the JAS Civic Type R shell inbound so one'll be a runner the other a shelfer ( always two shells minimum per chassis it seems... to prove that I've just ordered a TBG Saint Dragon shell for my Thundershot Dash 1 Emperor!) 

[Jason1145]

15 hours ago, Juls1 said:

I’m trying to find a suitable shell to sit a FF02 on, which is my next project. They only brought out 3 kits. Those shells either don’t exist or are obscenely expensive. 

Ive looked at TL01 shells but I really need something that was front drive in real life. That would suit the chassis that I like. I do intend to pickup a FF03 as well so don’t want anything too modern

Luckily Juls I'm not to bothered running RWD cars on a FWD chassis... my BMW 2002 Turbo is a hoot on the M03.

Who knows, one day I might look into the Ff02 as well to complete the set? Are there anymore than those first 3??

[Jonathon Gillham]

17 minutes ago, Jason1145 said:

Who knows, one day I might look into the Ff02 as well to complete the set? Are there anymore than those first 3??

Really? Who knows? Its more when will the FF02 arrive! I like your style, just wish I could do the same!

[Jason1145]

23 minutes ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

Really? Who knows? Its more when will the FF02 arrive! I like your style, just wish I could do the same!

We all have our crosses to bare, I've just discovered some great storage boxes to store my cars in so it will actually shrink the storage space my cars take up as I can pile them on top of each other soon so not wasting precious footprint space, that's the biggest issue I have... space!

I need the FF03 first, that will be before Xmas hopefully.. good luck with your racing purchase that looks pretty dear but fun too!

[TurnipJF]

36 minutes ago, Jason1145 said:

That is the Honda Castro FF03 Kit I've got my sights on! I've already got the JAS Civic Type R shell inbound so one'll be a runner the other a shelfer ( always two shells minimum per chassis it seems... to prove that I've just ordered a TBG Saint Dragon shell for my Thundershot Dash 1 Emperor!) 

Although re-released with the FF-03, that Castrol Honda shell was first seen on the FF-01, so that would be a good place to put it when it arrives. The JAS Civic Type R would be an appropriate lid for the FF-03 as that was the first (and AFAIK only) FWD chassis with which it was released.

[Peter_B]

5 minutes ago, Jason1145 said:

We all have our crosses to bare, I've just discovered some great storage boxes to store my cars in so it will actually shrink the storage space my cars take up as I can pile them on top of each other soon so not wasting precious footprint space, that's the biggest issue I have... space!

I need the FF03 first, that will be before Xmas hopefully.. good luck with your racing purchase that looks pretty dear but fun too!

What storage boxes have you found?

[TurnipJF]

1 hour ago, Jason1145 said:

Who knows, one day I might look into the Ff02 as well to complete the set? Are there anymore than those first 3??

There is the FF-04 Evo too, but that only comes as a chassis kit, so in terms of bodyshells there is no "official" lid for it. Any FWD shell ought to suit it just fine.

[Jason1145]

9 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Although re-released with the FF-03, that Castrol Honda shell was first seen on the FF-01, so that would be a good place to put it when it arrives. The JAS Civic Type R would be an appropriate lid for the FF-03 as that was the first (and AFAIK only) FWD chassis with which it was released.

This does not help me, in fact it means I'd need to buy another shell now for my in bound FF01 if I'm to keep the JAS Civic Type R for a future FF03

Luckily in a cupboard I still have some shells to paint up, a Nissan Sunny GTI-R (same shape near enough as that Castro Honda) and a Nissan GTR... they will bring (me) hilarity on a Front wheel Drive FF