time to get serious about buying a used Can Am
Discussion
I'll get to the point: I'd like to meet up with an Ultima owner (or two) who is happy to talk about the pros and cons of Ultima ownership, show me the car and really give me the detail (preferable Can Am).
I'm happy to travel to you, but due to my work commitments I would prefer keep this to North East England: ie: Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham, Cleveland, N Yorks, Northern Lancashire, Cumbria
OR
Scotland: central belt, borders and SW Scotland.
Any volunteers?
BACKGROUND
I've bored my friends senseless about the Ultima Can Am; ever since I saw it at Stoneleigh and had a demo run from the factory 10 yrs ago.
I'd prefer to build one, but I can't. Although I'm quite happy to deal with the day to day small fettling that is required with a hand built car, I simply do not have the free time to build the car from scratch.
Ten yrs ago the choice was simple: buy a complete, built, used Can Am or buy a used Ferrari... I bought a Ferrari 308 GTS, which was a very happy 7 yrs that I don't regret for a moment.
2014 and time for new special car. I still don't have the time to build an Ultima, if anything my job affords me less free time than ever, but HERE WE ARE AGAIN with a decision to make.
1) a used Can Am
2) Ferrari 348 TS / Spyder
I now know Ferraris fairly well and feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the Ferrari 348, but the Ultima I'm not so sure about. Bizarrely the Ferrari would be the safe choice for me: head says, "Ferrari", but heart says I'd regret not ever having had the Ultima.
Hence this post, I want to find out and I'm sure there's somebody here who has the answers.
David
I'm happy to travel to you, but due to my work commitments I would prefer keep this to North East England: ie: Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham, Cleveland, N Yorks, Northern Lancashire, Cumbria
OR
Scotland: central belt, borders and SW Scotland.
Any volunteers?
BACKGROUND
I've bored my friends senseless about the Ultima Can Am; ever since I saw it at Stoneleigh and had a demo run from the factory 10 yrs ago.
I'd prefer to build one, but I can't. Although I'm quite happy to deal with the day to day small fettling that is required with a hand built car, I simply do not have the free time to build the car from scratch.
Ten yrs ago the choice was simple: buy a complete, built, used Can Am or buy a used Ferrari... I bought a Ferrari 308 GTS, which was a very happy 7 yrs that I don't regret for a moment.
2014 and time for new special car. I still don't have the time to build an Ultima, if anything my job affords me less free time than ever, but HERE WE ARE AGAIN with a decision to make.
1) a used Can Am
2) Ferrari 348 TS / Spyder
I now know Ferraris fairly well and feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the Ferrari 348, but the Ultima I'm not so sure about. Bizarrely the Ferrari would be the safe choice for me: head says, "Ferrari", but heart says I'd regret not ever having had the Ultima.
Hence this post, I want to find out and I'm sure there's somebody here who has the answers.
David
If you were contemplating a 348 v's a CanAm it would be a tough choice 348's aren't getting any cheaper or less used now and if you are a Ferrari person it would be a pretty good investment now.
An Ultima will (should) still be in production years from now.
If you are looking at "the performance envelope" then the Ultima is the obvious route.
ETS if it were me I'd be looking at an F355
An Ultima will (should) still be in production years from now.
If you are looking at "the performance envelope" then the Ultima is the obvious route.
ETS if it were me I'd be looking at an F355
Edited by F.C. on Sunday 9th March 14:57
355 spyder not a 348.. they are ugly
ultima canam will be more fun and cheaper to maintain.
348/355 you have to change the cambelts every 2 years and engine out and cost more to insure/ service and rust to deal with.
if you bored your friends silly why ask... if you buy a 355/348 will you still talk about a canam?
ultima canam will be more fun and cheaper to maintain.
348/355 you have to change the cambelts every 2 years and engine out and cost more to insure/ service and rust to deal with.
if you bored your friends silly why ask... if you buy a 355/348 will you still talk about a canam?
V8Dom said:
355 spyder not a 348.. they are ugly
ultima canam will be more fun and cheaper to maintain.
348/355 you have to change the cambelts every 2 years and engine out and cost more to insure/ service and rust to deal with.
if you bored your friends silly why ask... if you buy a 355/348 will you still talk about a canam?
3 years=timing belts. They don't suffer with rust like the early Ferrari's...ultima canam will be more fun and cheaper to maintain.
348/355 you have to change the cambelts every 2 years and engine out and cost more to insure/ service and rust to deal with.
if you bored your friends silly why ask... if you buy a 355/348 will you still talk about a canam?
Well that stirred up a reaction, so in no particular order:
1) Yes there is a big performance gap, the Can Am is much quicker, although the 348 isn't exactly slow.
2) why 348 over 355... personal choice.
The 348/355 is basically the same car and I think the 355 soft shape bumper, door and tail mouldings don't sit right with the sharp edged upper panels. The 355 is beautiful, but I’d have the 348.
3) Ferraris and rust.
The new cars much better than of old (like most other marques), but they can still rust. The 348/355 and later monocoque cars are less likely to rust, but conversely are a bit harder to repair than the earlier body on chassis cars.
4) yes timing belts are a pricey job on a 348/355 as the engine has to come out. There are annoyingly a few other mundane jobs that also need the engine out of the car. I understand an American has grown an extra elbow and can now change the alternator with the engine in-situ.
Timing belts 2 yrs / 3yrs / 60K miles… rather depends on how brave you are! I have heard of one chap who left his belts on for 6yrs / 60,000miles, better him than me.
The high maintenance costs are offset by the lack of depreciation, or, if you’re really lucky, some appreciation.
5) USA imports / European imports:
There are enough pristine UK cars without looking overseas and UK cars will re-sell better.
6) Would I still keep talking about the Can Am? Yes probably. I regretted not buying a Fiat Super-Mirafiori when I was 17, but I survived that and doubtless I would survive if I never had the Ultima…
The more I type, the nearer to Ferrari I edge. Thank you for the input.
1) Yes there is a big performance gap, the Can Am is much quicker, although the 348 isn't exactly slow.
2) why 348 over 355... personal choice.
The 348/355 is basically the same car and I think the 355 soft shape bumper, door and tail mouldings don't sit right with the sharp edged upper panels. The 355 is beautiful, but I’d have the 348.
3) Ferraris and rust.
The new cars much better than of old (like most other marques), but they can still rust. The 348/355 and later monocoque cars are less likely to rust, but conversely are a bit harder to repair than the earlier body on chassis cars.
4) yes timing belts are a pricey job on a 348/355 as the engine has to come out. There are annoyingly a few other mundane jobs that also need the engine out of the car. I understand an American has grown an extra elbow and can now change the alternator with the engine in-situ.
Timing belts 2 yrs / 3yrs / 60K miles… rather depends on how brave you are! I have heard of one chap who left his belts on for 6yrs / 60,000miles, better him than me.
The high maintenance costs are offset by the lack of depreciation, or, if you’re really lucky, some appreciation.
5) USA imports / European imports:
There are enough pristine UK cars without looking overseas and UK cars will re-sell better.
6) Would I still keep talking about the Can Am? Yes probably. I regretted not buying a Fiat Super-Mirafiori when I was 17, but I survived that and doubtless I would survive if I never had the Ultima…
The more I type, the nearer to Ferrari I edge. Thank you for the input.
I'll try to keep this on topic ;-) If you want to talk Can Ams, feel free to drop me a line. I'm down in the Midlands, so a bit far away, but if you find yourself down this way, you're welcome to come and have a run in the car.
If you're serious about getting into Ultima ownership, talking to people is the best thing you can do
If you're serious about getting into Ultima ownership, talking to people is the best thing you can do
Hi there you can happily come for a look n chat at mine its going back on the road in April Im in the heart off North Yorkshire I bought one that was built by some one else I would recommend a can am It splits my face with a smile every time I go out ( mine is a old school small block chevvy ) this was the route I wanted to go . Enjoy
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