Ordered GTR this morning

[msv]

I just wanted to say hello, as I'm sure I'll be turning to the collective wisdom of those here once my build begins.

I'm in Southern California, and will be building the car for street and track usage. There are a number of things I will be undertaking myself rather than sourcing from the factory. These include the brakes including the pedals, dampers/springs, wheels/tires, cooling system, fuel system, and some other bits.

Thanks to those on the list, especially those with websites detailing their build, for it made the decision to undertake this project that much easier.

[mkoch1]

Welcome to the club. More Us builders poping up everyday.


mark

[Steve_D]

Hello and welcome.
Your choice to source some of the parts yourself is valid but should be considered carefully.
I don’t know why you want to do your own brake pedals, perhaps you have some special design in mind.
You may want to consider getting just the front to back alloy cooling pipes as their shape will be difficult to establish yourself.

You may wish to post a list of the stages and options you are ordering then we can all give our 2 cents worth.
Steve

[msv]

I am indeed getting the alloy coolant pipes from the factory, but will be doing the radiator and fans, surge tank and the rest of the plumbing myself.

Below are the parts included in my order. I will get engine/transaxle related items once the build gets closer to requiring them.

I do have something special in mind for the pedals, namely an AP Racing pedal box. The brakes themselves will be Brembo.

Chassis
- RAC Roll Cage
- Alloy Panel Kit
- Alloy Double Skin Kit
Wishbone Set
- Front Ball Joints
- Front Uprights
Rear Uprights
Rear Toe-In Adjusters
Front Hubs, Bearings, etc.
Rear Hubs, Bearings, etc.
Steering Column
- Quick Release Boss
Steering Rack
Coolant Pipes and Fixing Brackets
Cable Gearshift for Getrag
Fuel Tank - Left
Fuel Tank - Right
Wiring Loom
- Relays and Fuses
- Switches
Body
- Hinges, Hardware, etc.
- Windscreen, Side Windows
- Headlights
- Rear Lights, Indicators, etc.
- Side Mirrors
- Windscreen Wiper and Washer
- Grills
- Stack Dash Pod
- Alcontara Dash Covering
- Rear Bulkhead Carpet
- Helicopter Vents
- Gas Strut Kit for Rear Canopy
- Body Fitting
- Body Trimming
Accelerator Cable Kit

[BigAl1]

Before I visited the factory last weekend, I had a similar plan for my build, for several reasons. After talking to Ted and seeing the list of items supplied in each of the stages, my previous plan is changed to more a factory spec car. Except for the specialty things like pedals and seats I need to make for my massive feet and 6'8" height, I will try to stick to the factory plan. As Ted explained it - "It all works together, period." Now if I can just get Canada to let the parts in the country, I'll be a HAPPY boy!
Allan

[msv]

For better or for worse, you can put me in the category of "can never leave well-enough alone."

To that end, I'm also planning some chassis modifications as well, in addition to the minor ones needed to fit the new pedals.

[ultimarobert]

I have never posted before, but have been intently reading the forum during the last four months.

My Ultima is being built by the factory and will be completed the first week of August. The specs include all the higher options, with exception of the engine -- it is the 450bph. Ted said the same to me about "it all working together".

I really admire the builders, their ideas and discussions, but do not have, myself, the abilities, tools or patience to put one together. Fortunately, there are three other Ultimas in Prague, Czech Republic, so company will be good.

My last comment: it is good to see the British/American perspectives since I am an American living abroad for years. The world would not be the same without British sarcasm, humour and their terrible fried breakfast -- or the psuedo brashness of my compatriots. Guys like L2 dumped the tea in Boston Harbour.

[gt_bwoy]

Guys like L2 dumped the tea in Boston Harbour

ROTFL (Rolled on the floor laughing) !!!

[TexasGTR]

I have not jumped in and purchased a GTR. Just curious, what was the cost of getting the car to California....I'm in the Dallas, TX area and have hopes of ordering a car soon as well. I anticipate that I'll not try to out-source too much. Too many potential conflicts that don't need to be re-engineered.

[steve_D]

I'm not sure on this but believe you guys in the US enjoy free delivery on you first order from the factory.
It all comes in a huge plywood packing case with the car in the bottom and a compartment above for all the smaller items. It gets delivered to your local port and is your responsibly to get it home from there. It makes sense to get as many parts in that first order as possible.
As mentioned elsewhere, if you want to source items yourself ask here first. Many have successfully done the same or made expensive mistakes.
Steve

[TexasGTR]

steve-D

Thanks for the insight. I want to learn as much as I can from you guys. I can be of some assistance when it comes to the engine. I have built numerous SBC, in fact, I currently have a 500 hp 383 sitting in my garage to be put in a Cobra. Really don't care much for Ford power plants.

I have been impressed with the GTR and the Spyder. Beautiful tools.....

[mkoch1]

steve_D said: I'm not sure on this but believe you guys in the US enjoy free delivery on you first order from the factory.
It all comes in a huge plywood packing case with the car in the bottom and a compartment above for all the smaller items. It gets delivered to your local port and is your responsibly to get it home from there. It makes sense to get as many parts in that first order as possible.
As mentioned elsewhere, if you want to source items yourself ask here first. Many have successfully done the same or made expensive mistakes.
Steve

The free shipping applies only to the boat ride from the UK to the USA. YOu are still responsible for the import tax, documents fees, + delivery from the port to your house. He is what is cost me. I live about 15 minutes from the port of baltimore

CARGO MARKETING (shipping company fee) 324.50
Customs broker fee 125.00
Customs bond (customs fee) 120.00
Additional Classifications fee (customs fee) 65
Duty / USC User fees (customs fee) 1006.59
Pier Loading charge (Spartan CFS warehouse) 105.00
Documentation Charge (Spartan CFS warehouse) 25
CFS Ramp Fee (Spartan CFS warehouse) 35
Delivery (Ted's towing) 145

US customs charges a 50% tax on anything with bearings in it. If you use a customs broker tell them not to meantion the bearings in the uprights and you can save yourself 300-400 dollars in taxes. Wish I would have known that before hand.

mark

[jhr8]

I'm not sure on this but believe you guys in the US enjoy free delivery on you first order from the factory.

Yup, they definitely advertise that feature; I guess wanting to be be competitive with co's like Mosler and all that... I'm also in SoCal and might need a few light, small parts in a second shipment, but once I get started, I plan to work on it nearly full-time, so I'll order everything I KNOW I'll need in the first shot.

As mentioned elsewhere, if you want to source items yourself ask here first. Many have successfully done the same or made expensive mistakes.

Speaking of which... :-)
Can anyone tell me the offsets for the factory brakes' "hats" (yanno, the thin metal disks which the rotors attach to), front/rear?
...and if anyone has a 600 HP or so blown/INTERCOOLED Ultima please see my "intercooler" topic/thread posted today.

[steve_D]

The bearings tax is not very fair. If you want you can get the uprights without the bearings and source them locally. The bearings are readily available from Ford or any bearing supplier.
Steve

[jhr8]

Ah, I might have to retract my faith in the company's "free" delivery: This site, www.markkoch.net/canamMain.asp, details how "Cargo Marketing," the "shipping company" which appears to be the comapany chosen by the factory to deliver this guy's car-parts, charged him "$324.50". Wonder what's up with that? Hell, and after seeing the total for other fees to import this, it's making me wonder if a US-built Mosler IS cheaper, after all the hidden costs add up? I still have plenty to read before deciding, though.

[mkoch1]

jhr8 said: Ah, I might have to retract my faith in the company's "free" delivery: This site, www.markkoch.net/canamMain.asp, details how "Cargo Marketing," the "shipping company" which appears to be the comapany chosen by the factory to deliver this guy's car-parts, charged him "$324.50". Wonder what's up with that? Hell, and after seeing the total for other fees to import this, it's making me wonder if a US-built Mosler IS cheaper, after all the hidden costs add up? I still have plenty to read before deciding, though.

The import process in not cheap, but the free boat ride from the UK factory to the US helps. I imagine the boat ride is expensive. The factory does say all shipping charges once it arrives in the US are the responsibility of the buyer. To lower cost you could always fudge the prices on your invoice. You are the one that supplies customs with an inventory/price sheet. Sure it's not legal but you could always discount the prices to save on taxes. If I did it again I would have at least forgot to mention the uprights contained bearings. I probably would have accidentally submitted the price sheet showing the UK prices instead of the US prices.

mark

[jhr8]

The import process in not cheap, but the free boat ride from the UK factory to the US helps.

Well that's pretty cool, I mention Mark's name, and he suddenly appears! ;-) So what was the $325 charge, cuz maybe I'm missing something? I thought that 'all shipping charges once in the US are responsibility of the buyer' meant that the ground-based transport, customs, and unloading were your costs, but who's "Cargo Marketing," and what was that fee for?
Of course, the customs and unloading fees were something I've been wanting to look into, but I guess aren't something that many like to talk about (Thanks for posting yours.), so that's why I'm getting price-shock. I mean, nevermind the $325, it's the other fees that are a significant portion of the overall cost for the actual product...

I'd be interested in hearing from any Americans still reading this thread who've registered their Ultima, if in addition to the tariffs, your state made you pay sales tax (or if you had to pay it to the UK??), but of course, being in CA, I'd be most interested in whether Californians got charged (although I should also look up what CA is currently doing, myself)?

If I did it again I would have at least forgot to mention the uprights contained bearings.

LOL, that's a good one. What are the bearings worth, like 2% of the overall cost of the upright? Then they tax the entire upright at 50% for having bearings inside? What government wonk sits up at night dreaming of these percentages? ;-) It seems like there's no rhyme or reason...

>> Edited by jhr8 on Monday 16th June 15:11

[msv]

Since I've just ordered mine, I don't have the totals on what the import charges will come out to, though I don't expect it to be much different than what Mark experienced. I will be using a customs broker for this as well, as I have no desire to try to pour through the tariff fees and still end up getting it wrong.

[mkoch1]

So what was the $325 charge, cuz maybe I'm missing something?

I don't remember what the shipping company said 325 charge was for. Before the shipment arrived they contacted me and told me it was due. The builder in northern VA looked into it more and they told him it was because the steel cargo crate our wooden car box goes in was not full. It's basically a surcharge for not filling the steel box. The interesting part was the fee was assessed in the UK shipping yard. I guess you could fight with the factory over it. I just wrote it off since they give the US customers a discount on the body prefit.

In MD when you go to title a kit car you have to product receipts to prove the value of the car + to prove no parts where stolen. They will then tax you 5% on the total value.

Check out this thread about titling

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=32730&f=20&h=0&hw=titles



mark

[jhr8]

Yeah, msv, I'm also guessing that tariffs don't vary by state, and won't have varied too much since Mark ordered his, so yours would be similar.
To clarify, when I asked "whether Californians got charged," I meant charged for sales tax (at some later date), not for the tariffs.
If the only taxation for the purchase of a kit car is the import tariffs, I'm happy. :-) But that's a big "if": I'm pretty sure some states allow you to not pay sales tax on component cars except as the components themselves are subject to tax (e.g., when you buy your seats, if you buy them in your own state, you'll pay tax on those seats), or if only the parts you've already PAID SALES TAX on aren't taxed again at registration-time. Hey, isn't there a federal law that there's no sales-tax on internet purchases? Maybe, then, if we submit our orders to the factory via their website... :-) (But seriously, not sure if no-internet-tax only applies only to domestic buys, or also international buys.) I wanna research it more, and CA's situation in particular, but can't today...

Mkoch, LOL, a surcharge for NOT filling your steel container.