Ultima Evolution
Discussion
You could have a look at this thread that I started 8 years ago when I built an Ultima GTR - it will give you an idea of what a Factory Spec car cost then.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=76...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=76...
Pilbeams spreadsheet remains a very good basis for a real budget.
Although you’d save on perhaps an engine if you went ls3, most other factory parts will be a little higher, so look through that and work out whether you can trim or if not, whether you want to extend your budget.
Mark has built a couple, so have a look through his site and Defo go in with eyes wide open
Although you’d save on perhaps an engine if you went ls3, most other factory parts will be a little higher, so look through that and work out whether you can trim or if not, whether you want to extend your budget.
Mark has built a couple, so have a look through his site and Defo go in with eyes wide open
Thanks Guys, just had the factory price list through.
With a LS9 638 Supercharged Chevy engine, 6 speed Porsche gearbox and double adjustment dampers, air con, racing dash, upgraded 18 inch wheels, leather covered roll cage and some carbon fiber bits ......
£70k + VAT looks about the figure give or take a bit
With a LS9 638 Supercharged Chevy engine, 6 speed Porsche gearbox and double adjustment dampers, air con, racing dash, upgraded 18 inch wheels, leather covered roll cage and some carbon fiber bits ......
£70k + VAT looks about the figure give or take a bit
So, £84k with VAT included for UK builders. That sounds more like it! I would recommend budgeting a clean 90k for job done, cheaper of course if your some God of a car builder, own every Snap-on tool ever designed, or doing it as a business or some way of avoiding the VAT. Thats cleared that up. Going to bookmark this page along with pilbeam_mb62's page as they are must read by all interested newbies who query how much?
F.C. said:
deadscoob said:
When an m4cs is £90k you’re not wrong Paul
And it's still 1580 Kg despite weight saving!There is some great info on this thread so thanks for all this. This thread is also very useful: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I am in a place where I can't decide what to do so I'm interested in hearing other peoples perspectives. I placed an order on a Ariel Atom last summer (July 2017). Now the new Atom 4.0 is due to start build in December this year I should be one of the first people to get a 4.0 - delivery sometime in spring. If you don't know, the new 4.0 of the Atom seems to have got a lot of attention due to it's announcement at Goodwood wait times are now around 22 months. Given I have waited so long, I have been thinking about an Ultima Evo, possibly instead of the Atom. I know the Ultima build will take considerable time and I don't have the money to allow the factory to build it for me.
So, I have been pondering whether to instead get an Ultima in kit form and build that instead of the Atom. I question whether the Evo would be a more fun car, I'm certain it's more practical. I know the Evo will cost a little bit more than the Atom. To be clear, ever since I can remember I've wanted an Atom, but there is now this deep itch of wanting to build something and the Evo does look like a nice bit of kit. I do question lots of things regarding the Evo just because I am only now learning about it; reliability, ownership love of the car once built, running costs etc. I know the Atom is very reliable, doesn't lose it's value, running costs are relatively low etc.
I am in a place where I can't decide what to do so I'm interested in hearing other peoples perspectives. I placed an order on a Ariel Atom last summer (July 2017). Now the new Atom 4.0 is due to start build in December this year I should be one of the first people to get a 4.0 - delivery sometime in spring. If you don't know, the new 4.0 of the Atom seems to have got a lot of attention due to it's announcement at Goodwood wait times are now around 22 months. Given I have waited so long, I have been thinking about an Ultima Evo, possibly instead of the Atom. I know the Ultima build will take considerable time and I don't have the money to allow the factory to build it for me.
So, I have been pondering whether to instead get an Ultima in kit form and build that instead of the Atom. I question whether the Evo would be a more fun car, I'm certain it's more practical. I know the Evo will cost a little bit more than the Atom. To be clear, ever since I can remember I've wanted an Atom, but there is now this deep itch of wanting to build something and the Evo does look like a nice bit of kit. I do question lots of things regarding the Evo just because I am only now learning about it; reliability, ownership love of the car once built, running costs etc. I know the Atom is very reliable, doesn't lose it's value, running costs are relatively low etc.
I would be careful about lining up the Ultima as more practical than the Atom. Certainly, if it rains I would expect to stay dryer (assuming you built the Ultima correctly ) but after that I would still class the Ultima at the more impractical end of the scale. Reversing, rear view, speed bumps/ground clearance all make the driving the car an event. A car for pootle off the shops it is not..
That said, there are far positives. Each Ultima owner will have their own list and priority of positives; for me the fact that I built mine myself and continue to improve it stands highly. If you have a deep itch of wanting to build something, building an Ultima will not disappoint. I am glad I did rather than buy a factory build or 2nd hand one.
I also have a hankering for an Atom style car. I am not sure if I will ever have the money to buy an Atom (not whilst keeping the Ultima and looking at an LS3 upgrade…) but I might stretch to one of these once I finally get a big enough garage/workshop. I think I would get a good part of the Atom experience and of course I will be building it…
) but after that I would still class the Ultima at the more impractical end of the scale. Reversing, rear view, speed bumps/ground clearance all make the driving the car an event. A car for pootle off the shops it is not..That said, there are far positives. Each Ultima owner will have their own list and priority of positives; for me the fact that I built mine myself and continue to improve it stands highly. If you have a deep itch of wanting to build something, building an Ultima will not disappoint. I am glad I did rather than buy a factory build or 2nd hand one.
I also have a hankering for an Atom style car. I am not sure if I will ever have the money to buy an Atom (not whilst keeping the Ultima and looking at an LS3 upgrade…) but I might stretch to one of these once I finally get a big enough garage/workshop. I think I would get a good part of the Atom experience and of course I will be building it…
Thanks for the feedback. I assumed after reading the Ultima FAQ that it easily clears speed bumps, is this not reality?
The Atom does clear speed bumps and is designed to be both a road and a track car. I will likely get an Ultima probably with a LS3 but I'd like to entertain other engines, like a Ferarri v8 out of the 360 or the Audi v8 from the R8 assuming the car can accommodate the engine and transaxle combo. The reason being is I prefer the racy sound and much higher rev's than the chevy engines. I won't be able to do this until after the Atom is delivered - need to sell more stock to pay for it!!
The Rocket range of cars is a great alternative to the Atom and loads cheaper too. The new Atom 4 starts at £40k but by the time you add shocks, brakes, baffled sump and all the other bits it will be a little more.
The Atom does clear speed bumps and is designed to be both a road and a track car. I will likely get an Ultima probably with a LS3 but I'd like to entertain other engines, like a Ferarri v8 out of the 360 or the Audi v8 from the R8 assuming the car can accommodate the engine and transaxle combo. The reason being is I prefer the racy sound and much higher rev's than the chevy engines. I won't be able to do this until after the Atom is delivered - need to sell more stock to pay for it!!
The Rocket range of cars is a great alternative to the Atom and loads cheaper too. The new Atom 4 starts at £40k but by the time you add shocks, brakes, baffled sump and all the other bits it will be a little more.
I finished my build last December and I've had my Ultima the #BlunicornEvo on the road/track since February. I don't think that I would place the Atom in the same performance category, even despite it's hp/ton, because of aero and open cabin reasons. I've put over 3000 miles on my Evo since February, I drive it to the track and back, I've done 6 track days with it, and done various cruises through California mountains and coastline.
Here's a few of my observations since completing my car.
2017 Heritage Blue Evolution, 695hp/625tq LS7, G96/50-20
https://www.instagram.com/drivedriverdriven/
1. Street driving is tolerable, not necessarily comfortable over time
2. Decent milage as supercars go, can be driven long distance but hearing protection is recommended
3. I recommend LS power for simplicity and bulletproof performance/maintenance. (As dumb as a bag of hammers, and just as reliable)
4. The true performance of the Evo can only be utilized at the track, and it is a brutal track weapon driven at speed.
5. If you are serious about using the Ultima as a track car, physical fitness helps, a lot.
6. The Evo gets everyone's attention, all the time. I've been outnumbered by Pagani's and Koernigseggs at cars and coffee events, but get just as much coverage.
The Evo is not a car I can recommend to everyone, it is fairly hardcore and track focused. If you're also looking at an Atom, chances are you're okay with the compromises track focused cars make.
Will
Here's a few of my observations since completing my car.
2017 Heritage Blue Evolution, 695hp/625tq LS7, G96/50-20
https://www.instagram.com/drivedriverdriven/
1. Street driving is tolerable, not necessarily comfortable over time
2. Decent milage as supercars go, can be driven long distance but hearing protection is recommended
3. I recommend LS power for simplicity and bulletproof performance/maintenance. (As dumb as a bag of hammers, and just as reliable)
4. The true performance of the Evo can only be utilized at the track, and it is a brutal track weapon driven at speed.
5. If you are serious about using the Ultima as a track car, physical fitness helps, a lot.
6. The Evo gets everyone's attention, all the time. I've been outnumbered by Pagani's and Koernigseggs at cars and coffee events, but get just as much coverage.
The Evo is not a car I can recommend to everyone, it is fairly hardcore and track focused. If you're also looking at an Atom, chances are you're okay with the compromises track focused cars make.
Will
wannabe-racer said:
Thanks for the feedback. I assumed after reading the Ultima FAQ that it easily clears speed bumps, is this not reality?
The Atom does clear speed bumps and is designed to be both a road and a track car. I will likely get an Ultima probably with a LS3 but I'd like to entertain other engines, like a Ferarri v8 out of the 360 or the Audi v8 from the R8 assuming the car can accommodate the engine and transaxle combo. The reason being is I prefer the racy sound and much higher rev's than the chevy engines. I won't be able to do this until after the Atom is delivered - need to sell more stock to pay for it!!
The Rocket range of cars is a great alternative to the Atom and loads cheaper too. The new Atom 4 starts at £40k but by the time you add shocks, brakes, baffled sump and all the other bits it will be a little more.
Well, some of the speed bumps/humps in Oxfordshire present me somewhat of a challenge. they seem to be of many different dimensions and I can touch (cloth..) when going of many of them. Either way, the approach to any of them is typically at walking pace.. Note that one of the most recent popular topics on the forum here is lift kits The Atom does clear speed bumps and is designed to be both a road and a track car. I will likely get an Ultima probably with a LS3 but I'd like to entertain other engines, like a Ferarri v8 out of the 360 or the Audi v8 from the R8 assuming the car can accommodate the engine and transaxle combo. The reason being is I prefer the racy sound and much higher rev's than the chevy engines. I won't be able to do this until after the Atom is delivered - need to sell more stock to pay for it!!
The Rocket range of cars is a great alternative to the Atom and loads cheaper too. The new Atom 4 starts at £40k but by the time you add shocks, brakes, baffled sump and all the other bits it will be a little more.
Choice of the engine is of course personal.. I would suggest the received wisdom is that deviating too far from a factory norm would impact resale value, the audience for a bespoke Ferrari engine install (for instance) would be an awful lot smaller as the factory would not touch it. Plus there all the cost and complexity of doing the install and integration in the first place. But, hey, being different is good….
I think it eminently possible to make an LS rev and I am pretty sure it would be possible to put a flat plane crank in it if you wanted a more interesting sound..
humble said:
I finished my build last December and I've had my Ultima the #BlunicornEvo on the road/track since February. I don't think that I would place the Atom in the same performance category, even despite it's hp/ton, because of aero and open cabin reasons. I've put over 3000 miles on my Evo since February, I drive it to the track and back, I've done 6 track days with it, and done various cruises through California mountains and coastline.
Here's a few of my observations since completing my car.
2017 Heritage Blue Evolution, 695hp/625tq LS7, G96/50-20
https://www.instagram.com/drivedriverdriven/
1. Street driving is tolerable, not necessarily comfortable over time
2. Decent milage as supercars go, can be driven long distance but hearing protection is recommended
3. I recommend LS power for simplicity and bulletproof performance/maintenance. (As dumb as a bag of hammers, and just as reliable)
4. The true performance of the Evo can only be utilized at the track, and it is a brutal track weapon driven at speed.
5. If you are serious about using the Ultima as a track car, physical fitness helps, a lot.
6. The Evo gets everyone's attention, all the time. I've been outnumbered by Pagani's and Koernigseggs at cars and coffee events, but get just as much coverage.
The Evo is not a car I can recommend to everyone, it is fairly hardcore and track focused. If you're also looking at an Atom, chances are you're okay with the compromises track focused cars make.
Will
I've been watching your youtube channel/videos of the Blunicorn build for a while now and it has really inspired me to get serious about building one. I might have to sell my Aston to fund it, but what a car. Yes, you could go out and buy a production car, but whats the fun in that. Looking forward to the next video. I'm currently clearing out the garage for space needed. Here's a few of my observations since completing my car.
2017 Heritage Blue Evolution, 695hp/625tq LS7, G96/50-20
https://www.instagram.com/drivedriverdriven/
1. Street driving is tolerable, not necessarily comfortable over time
2. Decent milage as supercars go, can be driven long distance but hearing protection is recommended
3. I recommend LS power for simplicity and bulletproof performance/maintenance. (As dumb as a bag of hammers, and just as reliable)
4. The true performance of the Evo can only be utilized at the track, and it is a brutal track weapon driven at speed.
5. If you are serious about using the Ultima as a track car, physical fitness helps, a lot.
6. The Evo gets everyone's attention, all the time. I've been outnumbered by Pagani's and Koernigseggs at cars and coffee events, but get just as much coverage.
The Evo is not a car I can recommend to everyone, it is fairly hardcore and track focused. If you're also looking at an Atom, chances are you're okay with the compromises track focused cars make.
Will
leerandle said:
I've been watching your youtube channel/videos of the Blunicorn build for a while now and it has really inspired me to get serious about building one. I might have to sell my Aston to fund it, but what a car. Yes, you could go out and buy a production car, but whats the fun in that. Looking forward to the next video. I'm currently clearing out the garage for space needed.
I've got to apologize for the cadence of the videos, building the Ultima was far more fun than video editing! I'm about a year behind, and I've made it a goal to finish the build videos and post a first year recap before the end of the year. Will
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