GTR or Can-Am.....
Discussion
Ok, I'm starting to pick up a bit of pace with this idea now. I managed to get through the entire of build diary on ultima-gtr.info. Not all of it made sense, but i'll probably read through it a couple of more times yet...
I've got a few friends who are keen to give me a hand with the build, one of which is an engineering nut who is just dying for me to buy one - says he'll build the whole thing for me if he has to (tho I'd like to try and do most of it myself!).
Trying to decide now whether I prefer the GTR or Can-Am. Is there anything that I should know that might sway me one way or the other? How good is the "weather" kit for the Can-Am? Will it do for the occasional wet outing? (the car will mostly be run in dry weather I expect anyway). Is it compromised in any way (handling, experience etc)? Is air-con still recommended in the Can-Am for that cool blast of air?
Just thought I'd see what you guys though. If theres no real important differences, then I guess it'll be up to me depending on the style I prefer. Must admit, it would be nice to have a car that has no roof for those sunny days...
-andy-
I've got a few friends who are keen to give me a hand with the build, one of which is an engineering nut who is just dying for me to buy one - says he'll build the whole thing for me if he has to (tho I'd like to try and do most of it myself!).
Trying to decide now whether I prefer the GTR or Can-Am. Is there anything that I should know that might sway me one way or the other? How good is the "weather" kit for the Can-Am? Will it do for the occasional wet outing? (the car will mostly be run in dry weather I expect anyway). Is it compromised in any way (handling, experience etc)? Is air-con still recommended in the Can-Am for that cool blast of air?
Just thought I'd see what you guys though. If theres no real important differences, then I guess it'll be up to me depending on the style I prefer. Must admit, it would be nice to have a car that has no roof for those sunny days...
-andy-
The build diary makes a lot more sense when you have the bits in front of yuo and you can see what I was rambling about 
As far as choice goes. Well, for me it was only ever going to be a GTR. Having has rag-tops in the UK before, they're more of a pain than they are a pleasure.
Also, I wanted a car with a full cage, as I may use the GTR competitively at some stage. Oh, and you can't get a supercharger in a Can-Am without cutting a big hole in the rear canopy
At the end of the day it's down to personal taste and what you can live with.
Just as long as it's not yellow, you'll be fine
I have a can-am.
The weather gear is more than up to the job and I have driven the car in rain and snow.
The can-am ends up a little lighter than the GTR and maybe a little less ridgid than a GTR with the full cage but unless you are a real race driver I doubt you will even detect a difference between the two when driving them back to back, I know I couldn't.
It really comes down to personnel choice on style and experience.
I had to have a convertible, and my car is actually extremelly civilised with a full screen, stereo etc...
There are better options than air-con for the can-am, but there is no reason why you can't fit it.
I'm more than happy for you to have a look around mine and to take you for a spin.
Over to Clive to start the hairdresser jokes!!!!!
The weather gear is more than up to the job and I have driven the car in rain and snow.
The can-am ends up a little lighter than the GTR and maybe a little less ridgid than a GTR with the full cage but unless you are a real race driver I doubt you will even detect a difference between the two when driving them back to back, I know I couldn't.
It really comes down to personnel choice on style and experience.
I had to have a convertible, and my car is actually extremelly civilised with a full screen, stereo etc...
There are better options than air-con for the can-am, but there is no reason why you can't fit it.
I'm more than happy for you to have a look around mine and to take you for a spin.
Over to Clive to start the hairdresser jokes!!!!!
I would do that Andy. Well doing 200 mph in a Converable without a Full roll cage, is scary (rollover bar or not) so as for safty then it's the GTR. As for comfort the GTR with Air-Con is lovely stuck in traffic, just great watching all the Hairdresser fry next to you.. oops said i wasn't Sorry Andy. In the end it's down to personel taste, but either are great cars.
"There are better options than air-con for the can-am, but there is no reason why you can't fit it."
What are the better options? Practically everyone I speak to, who has been in one, thinks Air-con is a necessity especially for the Can-Am. Having just come back from Le Mans my little Bro J-K is P1$$£d off he didn't get it in his Can-Am and there is a recent topic with various suggestions on how to keep the cockpit cool but none seem to be more effective than Air-con.
The main difference we have found between the GTR and Can-Am is getting in and out. It is much easier getting in the Can-Am especially for OAP's, (Thinking of our mum here who loves Ultimas but now wants to go faster- scary thought, and has just convinced another brother to build a Can-Am) and bigger people - Tall or Fat (J-K popped into my mind at this point hence the Can-Am). However I believe that with the wet weather gear on, the Can-Am becomes more difficult than the GTR to get into. But whichever option you go for you’ll be glad you did.
What are the better options? Practically everyone I speak to, who has been in one, thinks Air-con is a necessity especially for the Can-Am. Having just come back from Le Mans my little Bro J-K is P1$$£d off he didn't get it in his Can-Am and there is a recent topic with various suggestions on how to keep the cockpit cool but none seem to be more effective than Air-con.
The main difference we have found between the GTR and Can-Am is getting in and out. It is much easier getting in the Can-Am especially for OAP's, (Thinking of our mum here who loves Ultimas but now wants to go faster- scary thought, and has just convinced another brother to build a Can-Am) and bigger people - Tall or Fat (J-K popped into my mind at this point hence the Can-Am). However I believe that with the wet weather gear on, the Can-Am becomes more difficult than the GTR to get into. But whichever option you go for you’ll be glad you did.
Hmmm.. so it looks like air-con is a must on either car.
High speeds with no roof? Didn't you ever see my clip in the Tuscan?
Looks like it is going to be down to person preference I guess. I like the fact that the Can-Am is about 50-75kg lighter than the GTR though, but then I guess aerodynamics aren't as good.
Andy, whereabouts are you based. Would love to take you up on the offer (and also maybe get you to take my g/f out as she's not 100% convinced yet - says it's ugly
) Anyone else up for taking me for a spin? 
-andy-
>> Edited by sixspeed on Thursday 10th July 12:43
High speeds with no roof? Didn't you ever see my clip in the Tuscan?
Looks like it is going to be down to person preference I guess. I like the fact that the Can-Am is about 50-75kg lighter than the GTR though, but then I guess aerodynamics aren't as good.
Andy, whereabouts are you based. Would love to take you up on the offer (and also maybe get you to take my g/f out as she's not 100% convinced yet - says it's ugly
) Anyone else up for taking me for a spin? -andy-
>> Edited by sixspeed on Thursday 10th July 12:43
I can only add a note as to why I chose a Canam. I did also spend a lot of time agonising over which. Best to get one of each. It was down to open air motoring. Having owned a TVR Cerbera (with aircon)developed a bit of distaste of the smell of hot fibreglass. I also think the Canam is a great looking car. Yes Stig even in Yellow. I am slightly bais as I will only go out in dry and do not need to use the car on daily basis. Mine will be at factory from next week for a while so if you are visiting you will probably see it.
One last note. I think the Canam kit has been developed more recently and perhaps easier to build.
Good luck
One last note. I think the Canam kit has been developed more recently and perhaps easier to build.
Good luck
I'm in the Essex area.
As said on the previous thread air-con would be useless in the can-am unless the hot air was prevented from entering the cockpit.....
But when the hot air is blocked its not much different from any other convertible (I'm comparing it against our Boxter).
If people have only driven the can-am with the hot air being pumped into the canopy then they will suffer like I used to do.
But its not just the heat, but the fumes and the noise which used to bug me which all come in together and contribute to the Suffering.
I drive my car to work and have regularly sat in trafic on the A12 on hot days, and when I was suffering I used to think "god I wish I had fitted air-con".
But now with the hood keeping the heat out (but not fully on) I don't think there would be any point as its a perfectly amicable place to be.
If I seem to have laboured this point its beacuse I spent the best part of 9 mths suffering when I didn't need to.
Also the lack of air con is one of the factors to making the Can-am lighter.
Incidentally there is miles less wind buffeting in the Ultima (full screen) with the roof down than the Boxter. There is also less wind noise
As said on the previous thread air-con would be useless in the can-am unless the hot air was prevented from entering the cockpit.....
But when the hot air is blocked its not much different from any other convertible (I'm comparing it against our Boxter).
If people have only driven the can-am with the hot air being pumped into the canopy then they will suffer like I used to do.
But its not just the heat, but the fumes and the noise which used to bug me which all come in together and contribute to the Suffering.
I drive my car to work and have regularly sat in trafic on the A12 on hot days, and when I was suffering I used to think "god I wish I had fitted air-con".
But now with the hood keeping the heat out (but not fully on) I don't think there would be any point as its a perfectly amicable place to be.
If I seem to have laboured this point its beacuse I spent the best part of 9 mths suffering when I didn't need to.
Also the lack of air con is one of the factors to making the Can-am lighter.
Incidentally there is miles less wind buffeting in the Ultima (full screen) with the roof down than the Boxter. There is also less wind noise
Andy,
Any meets you're intending to get along to where I could have a good nosey around your car? Or if you have the spare time, perhaps just a meet at a pub this, or next weekend?
Picked up Which Kit today. One of their chaps seems to be doing a documented Ultima build in the magazine. Quite near to the end - anyone know if it's been a good write up? Worth ordering a few back-issues to give me another build to follow?
-andy-
Any meets you're intending to get along to where I could have a good nosey around your car? Or if you have the spare time, perhaps just a meet at a pub this, or next weekend?
Picked up Which Kit today. One of their chaps seems to be doing a documented Ultima build in the magazine. Quite near to the end - anyone know if it's been a good write up? Worth ordering a few back-issues to give me another build to follow?
-andy-
sixspeed said:
Andy,
Any meets you're intending to get along to where I could have a good nosey around your car? Or if you have the spare time, perhaps just a meet at a pub this, or next weekend?
Picked up Which Kit today. One of their chaps seems to be doing a documented Ultima build in the magazine. Quite near to the end - anyone know if it's been a good write up? Worth ordering a few back-issues to give me another build to follow?
-andy-
Which Kit articles have been done by Nigel 'detail' Dean. Only seen two of them and they don't really tell you a whole lot about how to build one.
You've already seen my site so pointless plugging that. You could try james Crewe's but seeing as it's basically a shameless ripoff of what I did, there's little point
Ahh.. I just finished reading his. That was this afternoon's skive at work Still to finish his car tho - so got more out of reading yours No harm in having more build diaries tho - can only help the rest of us would-be owners if more and more people document what they went through in putting their car together.
-andy-
Still to finish his car tho - so got more out of reading yours No harm in having more build diaries tho - can only help the rest of us would-be owners if more and more people document what they went through in putting their car together. -andy-
I'm near Portsmouth if you want to see a part built GTR
I also have a site 'Under construction' but it is only a collection of build photos & no words.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/m02s0g00/gallery.html
Steve
I also have a site 'Under construction' but it is only a collection of build photos & no words.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/m02s0g00/gallery.html
Steve
sixspeed said:
No harm in having more build diaries tho - can only help the rest of us would-be owners if more and more people document what they went through in putting their car together.
I started my GTR build site fairly recently.
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