I have to ask

Author
Discussion

V8Dom

Original Poster:

3,546 posts

201 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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ive noticed recently the factory havent commented on the forum or offered their help as usual. this to me feels very strange as they usually look and keep quiet, but ever so often say hello which i really like.

May i be the first to think, seeing as i work for a car company, that is it possible and they ''could''be working on a new shape Ultima and just too busy at the moment?

It would be interesting even for the factory just to know, how popular this suggestion might be, as a lot of old or new potential builders visit this site all the time and research on here, and if some are put off by the old appearance of the car, there might be hope for some if the shape was to change.

I put this now you guys for input.

Dom...

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

200 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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It ain't broke....... So they don't need to fix it...

F.C.

3,896 posts

207 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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Not much Wong with it now.
I'd incorporate a roof scoop from the top of the windscreen and maybe drop the height of the screen a little to avoid the "fish bowl" effect.

The Italian

136 posts

121 months

Friday 29th August 2014
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I am one of those "lurking" for an Ultima as Dom has stated, and I am currently reading ALL the past 450 topics posted. I would also like to see more Factory response to these topics, but I also understand when the company makes a comment someone gets pissed- off as it may be contradictory to a members idea.
I think the car is very nice the way it is, it stands alone & I also know that the Factory has done testing like no customer ever has or will.
Being a factory Five owner, there has always been speculation to new designs between members and often those speculations are most often wrong. Gearing up a new design is very costly & requires a lot of testing/proving and risk to an already successful product.

My biggest question (as in the factory five forums) is HP, how much is too much and I know this has been covered many times, but it is my greatest concern since my experience has shown with a very lightweight car there is a balance somewhere, you just have to figure it out yourself.
I love the record breaking 720, but what would that get me in a street able / track day car? Do I go T/C or lower HP. We have seen those Turbo Charged Ult's , but my experience with my late Porsche was unpredictable power band with scary events just around the corner.

The biggest problems I have read so far is cooling problems - engine and cabin temp. These should be addressed, but even these are subject to different build designs by owners, then you have GTR vs Can Am differences. I am one of these Can Am fags as some of you say, but I am in So California and sorry, but the weather is near perfect here, to cover this thing up with a roof would be blasphemy and how would I "pick-up" guys if they can't see me and my latest apparel & hair design ?


MarkWebb

983 posts

216 months

Friday 29th August 2014
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Cooling is being discussed at the moment and is NOT an issue as long as the system is correctly put together i.e. as per factory design. HP is a subjective thing and as such is impossible to answer because it depends on so many things. The good thing is that if you decide that you want more or possibly less, then making the change is relatively simple and less expensive than it is with other "exotics" Take a stab and see how you get on. If you don't like it then change it. For a lot of us that is what makes the car so fantastic.
PS I have been a daily user of the Ultima forum since 2009 and whilst people including myself talk about cooling and make mods as I have done(not to improve the actual cooling) I am only aware of one car that has actually suffered from boiling at idle. This is a car with such serious and amazing engine mods that the cooling system was massively altered creating some kind of weird problem with circulation loss at idle. This particular car is immensely powerful and had no problem with cooling at any speed above 5mph. I believe and hope that the problem has now been solved.

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

200 months

Friday 29th August 2014
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Ultima factory said:
It ain't broke....... So we don't need to fix it...... smile

Racing Roj

488 posts

162 months

Friday 29th August 2014
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Its good to see the factory making their position clear. As someone who has just retired from running my own company with 170 employees I respect the fact that they have a clear vision of the Ultima product. The fact that the factory aren't going to change the car is of benefit to us as owners as our purchase and build is not going to depreciate dramatically.

We as customers have our own and differing opinions of what should be changed on the car both aesthetically and mechanically. If we want to make changes ourselves, because of the way the car is designed, we have no problem doing so. There are many options out in the market which provide a very professional approach to 'customising' an Ultima.

Where I think from a business point of view the factory is missing an opportunity is embracing the various options that they could make available to us as customers including: - indicator/wiper stalks, Cartronics sequential shift, antiroll bars, lower wing mirrors, various front clams, long lens rear view camera system, various types of dashboard switches, in tank fuel pumps (to cut down the noise), rear diffuser, dive plains, side air scoops, and I'm sure you could think of many more.

Having raced and had many amazing road cars the Ultima is up there with the best, especially in value for money terms. It is also a very special 'raw' 'in your face' car nothing like a Porsche or Ferrari which can be used equally on the road and track.

lets hope also that the factory remain extremely busy as a healthy factory is in all our interests.

V8Dom

Original Poster:

3,546 posts

201 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Thankyou Factory, its lovely to hear your voice again.
Sorry i had to ask as i havent seen you on any of the pages and as someone has said you have alot of history of testing and topics on here your wisdom is of benifit.

Dom