1 AM Pacfic time... sorry I'm late on this guys. Went out tonight even though I didn't think I would. It's been raining and I planned on staying home and writing to you guys about my first impressions of the kit in it's finishing stages.
Chris is a really stand up guy. He showed me basically everything, right down to how they keep the screws together in little individual bags so everything is accounted for.
The rain stopped on the 70 mile trek to Kaotic Innovations making the communte a little easier. A block a way I spotted my car sitting in their lot; the biggest grin I've had in a long time was plastered to my face. As we parked I saw my baby naked sitting in the rain. Chris was at the enterance to great us.
The purpose of todays visit was to drop off my 18" wheels and tires. We went out back just to look at the car and Chris took me on a walk around and then told us to wait while he grabbed the finished front bumper. He attatched the bumper and with a smile and my hands over my crotch to hold in the joy I said "oh my god" I laid a grin that would be near sin.
Seriously guys, the kit is drop dead beautiful. There were no headlights or grill since they sat in the trunk. Chris quickly grabbed them to give the added effect. My friend and I couldn't speak, just smile and smile more. We stood far and we stood near and from every angle at any distance it looked good. Damn good! The kit flows so perfectly with the Contour and mimicks the curves better than anyone could have anticipated. The kit sits low to the ground, not as low as the Mikro but low with my BAT suspension on the E1's.
Next we went into the shop itself to check out the rear bumper. I opted for him not to put it on the car simply because it was so damn cold. On the rear bumper: I think it looks better than any of us could imagine. I went in thinking it would look one way and kind of boxy like the RS4 kit. Kiddies, Chris doesn't play... the kit wraps around better than rubber on a stick. The outlets allow my Brullen 3.5" tips to have about an inch top and bottom and perfectly centered.
On thing Chris is dealing with at the moment is working on how the hangers are going to work for the dual exhaust. Ford built the bumpers so the hangers are integrated to the bumper and not the body. Chris is having to figure out how this is going to be accomplished so far he's taking the SVT hangers and working with them. From what I saw it looks like he might get it right. Chris has been working with Terry Haines on getting this done right. Don't worry children it will all be figured out soon.
On the quality of the fiberglass. Really good, very flexable. He gave me a fiberglass hood he made and told me to bend it. That bitch would bend and keep it's shape. You know how I said Chris is a stand up guy? Well he put the hood on the ground and walked on it. Not did he only walk on it he gave a little hop and stood there and talked to us for a while. I think the point was proven when he lifted the hood to show us no cracks or deformations. Don't try this @ home! But yeah, very impressive.... I don't think anybody would be complaning about the quality of the fiberglass.
On the side skirts: The jack stand points are being eliminated and the skirts will be molded more to the body. The skirts will flow from the end of the front bumper to the end of the rear making for a very nicely flowing kit all around. The original proposed side skirts have been ditched for these custom made ones. The car will have to be lifted on the front and back to put these suckers on.
Hoods Hoods Hoods! Yes there is going to be a hood made. This I didn't get to see a Contour specific application but he threw around some ideas including the WRX style which he did a quick mock up on the car sitting outside. Very aggressive and sweet.
All in all this visit made my rainy day weekend. The car is gonna look great! It's going to be about a month late due to some complications and the addition of a hood (not part of the kit). I will be posting installation instructions tomorrow to show you how well Chris has thought out everything for the professional and do-it-yourselfer. Of course he suggests only a professional install the kit. Part of this install kit comes with sealer, double stick tape and other various items to help you out. The kit will also come with good quality black wire mesh (not the cheap chicken wire sh!t).
Feel free to ask me any questions about my experiences on this forum. Sorry but I couldn't take pictures and Chris' was recently stolen. I went in thinking that Chris would have his camera on hand.
I sincerly don't think anybody can make a kit that's gonna look this good. The kit will go into production about 6 months after the bulk buy is over at a higher price. So you guys who miss out on it now will have an opportunity come spring time or summer.
