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UltimaCH
1,714 posts
58 months
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0000 said: Sent PM to you
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Ult-Jim
267 posts
59 months
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I would like to thanks Pilbeam_mp62 for publishing his cost figures  . It has been very helpful as I am a wanabee Ultima Owner. With the latest prices I have from the Factory for a LS7 you are looking in the 70 to 74k range at today's prices, if you follow a factory self build imo. As soon as you go off piste with items such as the interior and body work then costs can get out of control. If the results are not good then second hand value suffers and time it takes to sell is prolonged. You just have to look at classifieds over the last year to see examples of that.
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tjlees
391 posts
106 months
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Yep. My build was around £62k for a ls7 installation. Probably cheaper because of the engine and gearbox choice and differing options ( pre deciding to change things though!) Only thing to add is the catch can Factory option if you are intending to put it on track. It will lose 3-4oz over the course of the day. btw the ls7 installation ( or at least mine) passes strict noise test and drive by on track days. The marshalls expected v8s to fail if they haven't got the extra muffler! Well done Gail at AS! 
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Storer
1,984 posts
84 months
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Beware of being swayed towards those nice little extras.
My leather interior (which is quite simple) was over £5k.
Paint (with me doing most of the prep) over £4k by the time I had the front clip done again.
Don't even mention all the SS extras I simply had to have.
I hate to admit it but the total is probably over £70k with the purchase price I paid Robin.
However, money well spent as I have enjoyed the experience.
Paul
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pilbeam_mp62
Original Poster
730 posts
70 months
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It's 2 years since I sold my Ultima, but I still like to read this forum and I was interested to see that my "Cost of an LS7 Ultima" thread had been resurrected. There are some interesting comments there, but the bottom line for any wannabee Ultima owner is to decide between the two main routes to ownership:- Route (1) - You want a hobby that will take you several hundred hours but at the end of it, will give you an enormous sense of satisfaction for (hopefully) a job well done. I spent a lot of time and care over my "Factory-Spec" build, and in order to ensure that I ended up with a high quality result, there were one or two jobs that I had the factory do for me - They must have thought I had done a good build http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fRfBdz0_7Q because they asked me if they could display my car on their stand at Stoneleigh in 2010. You MUST go into Route (1) with your eyes open... the instant the car is finished and IVA'd, if you choose to sell the car, it is highly unlikely that you will get back the money that you have put into the car - hobbies cost money, and I treated it as a hobby that would cost me money .... and it did !! Of course, if you decide to keep your Ultima for many years, you will still suffer depreciation, but it will be over a period of time, and may not be as painful.. Route (2)- You want to own an Ultima but you are conscious of the money aspect. In this scenario, you may be better off looking for a car that is being sold by a builder who has maybe let the costs get away from him and needs to sell the car. He will have suffered that first bite of depreciation. I will give you an opinion about the engine and exhaust as well - I bought the engine (and the wiring loom and ECU) from American Speed, because it was guaranteed to fit into the engine bay and guaranteed to work first time, and guaranteed to pass IVA emmissions - and it did. I bought the exhaust from the factory because it was guaranteed to pass the IVA noise test - and it did. I have read so many threads on here where people are asking about emissions or noise....of course if you want the grief and the challenge, then go ahead.... but I always say.. "you buy cheap, you buy twice" There are plenty of "box-shifters" out there who, on the face of it, are selling cheaper - but they are not selling the complete package so you are not comparing like-with-like. There may be an opportunity for someone to replicate, here in the UK, what American Speed are doing, and supply a package for the Utima that is complete, and guaranteed to fit and work.... I said this on here a couple of years ago, and to my knowledge no-one is doing it...yet. I have no connection with anyone mentioned in this thread - it's all just my opinion. Best of luck to all prospective builders/owners. Regards
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Storer
1,984 posts
84 months
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Kevin
I understand your points above.
However, (you were expecting a "However", weren't you!) part of the enjoyment is doing it different, for some of us. The challenge of creating an Ultima that is unique to you gives a great deal of pleasure.
No matter how you justify the purchase of an Ultima is is still a "hobby" even if factory built, just more so if you build and modify it yourself.
There is no doubt that if you intend to build and sell,it is essential to go the Factory standard route. You will loose money, just less.
I do struggle to understand why you would want to sell something you have built with your own sweat and tears. It is like selling a child.
The money I have spent on the Ultima is still a fraction of what it cost me to get each of my children to the point where they can fund themselves. Come to think of it I am still funding 1.5 of the 3 of them!!!!!!!!
Paul
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tjlees
391 posts
106 months
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Standard (ish!) build for me. It keeps the costs and weight down. The inside also looks clean and simple especially with stac instrument set! Driving the car gives me the greatest pleasure - not sure about the build bit. Some people like the building challenge and then sell shortly after for the next challenge. Two of my friends did exactly that. The main thing is getting pleasure from your Ultima however you boat floats. Apart from buying second hand, a good part build can prove cheaper as well and still allow you to spend lots ... I mean individualise..  Good luck to all prospective builders. IMHO you buying into the best track car for the money
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dal2litrefrogeye
274 posts
46 months
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Hi all , been reading this very interesting thread , and the over all vibe im getting is one of people sugesting an Ultima can or should be built cheap / cheaper , surely this is not what the car is about , if your tempted by any extras go for it , the ultima is a top car and i dont think it should be built down to a price ," the price is long forgotten when the quality is still being appreciated " , any prospective owner / builder should know its an expensive car ( a bloody fast exciting expesive car ) and if ya cant stand the heat etc etc , remember your only here once
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Ult-Jim
267 posts
59 months
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dal2litrefrogeye said: Hi all , been reading this very interesting thread , and the over all vibe im getting is one of people sugesting an Ultima can or should be built cheap / cheaper , surely this is not what the car is about , if your tempted by any extras go for it , the ultima is a top car and i dont think it should be built down to a price ," the price is long forgotten when the quality is still being appreciated " , any prospective owner / builder should know its an expensive car ( a bloody fast exciting expesive car ) and if ya cant stand the heat etc etc , remember your only here once Totally agree that's why I am saving and begging, pay peanuts get a monkey. Only the best will do for my motor. tending towards a factory 720 spec, proven over and over agai ! Then going AWOL with my own ideas at my own stupid expense.
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tjlees
391 posts
106 months
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Ult-Jim said: Totally agree that's why I am saving and begging, pay peanuts get a monkey. Only the best will do for my motor. tending towards a factory 720 spec, proven over and over agai ! Then going AWOL with my own ideas at my own stupid expense.
£62k to £67k plus inflation over 3ish years will get you a very high spec car ( intrax shocks, ap racing brakes, high bhp ls7 or sbc, etc). The quality of the standard build is also high. From previous posts, you easily can spend 5k on the interior or thousands going off recommended build components. It makes it individual but the car is pretty special with the standard interior and recommended components. Autobionics (www.autobionics.co.uk) give an alternative range of components that are reasonably priced if you want to go this way... ... Also used Justin at http://www.gleamingkleen.co.uk/ (now exclusive Car care) to detail car which made the biggest difference to the look of the car!
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Ult-Jim
267 posts
59 months
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tjlees said: £62k to £67k plus inflation over 3ish years will get you a very high spec car 62k at 3% inflation average for 3 years = 67.7k today 67k at 3% inflation average for 3 years = 73.2k today Not far out from the 70 to 74k I quoted above, especially if you add tools and a few mishaps, mistakes, miscellaneous expenses and increased taxes along the way. Thanks tjlees for your figures. Controlling and understanding the costs involved in my field of work is vital, so naturally I am doing the same for my own projects in life Have ready many positive reviews and photos shown on the Pistonhead detailing forum about Gleamingkleen. 
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tjlees
391 posts
106 months
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Ult-Jim said: 62k at 3% inflation average for 3 years = 67.7k today 67k at 3% inflation average for 3 years = 73.2k today Not far out from the 70 to 74k I quoted above, especially if you add tools and a few mishaps, mistakes, miscellaneous expenses and increased taxes along the way. Thanks tjlees for your figures. Controlling and understanding the costs involved in my field of work is vital, so naturally I am doing the same for my own projects in life Have ready many positive reviews and photos shown on the Pistonhead detailing forum about Gleamingkleen. Here is mine after Justin from Gleaming kleen had finished with it ....  .. best upgrade option ever  ... and just to show it does make a difference   
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HollywoodStig
127 posts
18 months
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Darth Vader's company car?...
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tjlees
391 posts
106 months
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HollywoodStig said: Darth Vader's company car?... Nope Usain Blot's car ... 0-100 5.3secs
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