considering purchase
Discussion
Hi,
Hoping for a few words of advice. I'm looking at purchasing a new ultima. Initial costs provided suggest approx £35k + engine, if I went LS3, about £6k extra. Does that sound about right ?
Bigger question......I'm not a skilled mechanic, in fact my experience is more airfix than automotive. The biggest appeal is the satisfaction of building the car myself and learning along the way. The Ultima site suggests the build, with patience can be done my a newbie without any specialist skills......would you agree ?
I can follow instructions, check bolts are tightened to the correct torque, follow a wiring diagram......but welding, fabrication or going inside an engine are waaaay outside my comfort zone.
In need of either some reassurance or a reality check before I spend a lot of money on something I'll regret.
Is the build manual good ? Very thorough and visual or does it "assume" you know what a widget is ?
Anyway, would really appreciate the thoughts of some experienced ultima owners.
Thanks in advance
Al
Hoping for a few words of advice. I'm looking at purchasing a new ultima. Initial costs provided suggest approx £35k + engine, if I went LS3, about £6k extra. Does that sound about right ?
Bigger question......I'm not a skilled mechanic, in fact my experience is more airfix than automotive. The biggest appeal is the satisfaction of building the car myself and learning along the way. The Ultima site suggests the build, with patience can be done my a newbie without any specialist skills......would you agree ?
I can follow instructions, check bolts are tightened to the correct torque, follow a wiring diagram......but welding, fabrication or going inside an engine are waaaay outside my comfort zone.
In need of either some reassurance or a reality check before I spend a lot of money on something I'll regret.
Is the build manual good ? Very thorough and visual or does it "assume" you know what a widget is ?
Anyway, would really appreciate the thoughts of some experienced ultima owners.
Thanks in advance
Al
Your figure is low in my opinion. I think you will be looking at £55-60K.
No you don't need to be a mechanic as the mechanical element is fairly straight forward.
I always suggest that DIY skills are more important along with attention to detail.
Taken at your own pace the build should be fine as the Ultima is one of the most sorted kits on the market. Every assembly element comes in a well labeled bag and will include everything you need for that assembly stage. If part of that stage requires something to be secured in position the bag will contain the P clip, a washer and the rivet.
Steve
No you don't need to be a mechanic as the mechanical element is fairly straight forward.
I always suggest that DIY skills are more important along with attention to detail.
Taken at your own pace the build should be fine as the Ultima is one of the most sorted kits on the market. Every assembly element comes in a well labeled bag and will include everything you need for that assembly stage. If part of that stage requires something to be secured in position the bag will contain the P clip, a washer and the rivet.
Steve
See other threads on costings.
In terms of skills required to build a kit. If you have a good level of common sense and are good with you hands then you can build the kit. The build manual is quite good and there are build sites that can help (see stickies at top of Ultima home page).
However, the more mechanical knowledge you have the easier it is and the less questions you will need someone else to answer. No welding required. You can buy a complete engine ready to fit.
You will get a great deal of pleasure from the end result.
Paul
In terms of skills required to build a kit. If you have a good level of common sense and are good with you hands then you can build the kit. The build manual is quite good and there are build sites that can help (see stickies at top of Ultima home page).
However, the more mechanical knowledge you have the easier it is and the less questions you will need someone else to answer. No welding required. You can buy a complete engine ready to fit.
You will get a great deal of pleasure from the end result.
Paul
Hi,
Steve is definately closer to the final figure for the LS3 route.
In terms of build experience Andy and I are fairly good generally with technical things and DIY but in terms of car building we had nil experience when we started but after a year of building I think we've done a very good job so far. Definately worth getting the factory to do the body fit though.
The build manual is fairly good with lots of photos, diagrams etc. but could be better IMHO. CJ's (Stig's) build site has been a life saver all the way through as he seemed to think of everything Bob's Ultima site is also quite useful.
As long as you take it at your own pace, don't rush and pay attention to detail (as I'm sure you will if your into airfix) then you will be fine.
Hope that helps.
Oh, and make sure you ring the factory and go for a test (scare) ride with Ted.
You will then, not be able to say no!!!
Chris
Steve is definately closer to the final figure for the LS3 route.
In terms of build experience Andy and I are fairly good generally with technical things and DIY but in terms of car building we had nil experience when we started but after a year of building I think we've done a very good job so far. Definately worth getting the factory to do the body fit though.
The build manual is fairly good with lots of photos, diagrams etc. but could be better IMHO. CJ's (Stig's) build site has been a life saver all the way through as he seemed to think of everything Bob's Ultima site is also quite useful.
As long as you take it at your own pace, don't rush and pay attention to detail (as I'm sure you will if your into airfix) then you will be fine.
Hope that helps.
Oh, and make sure you ring the factory and go for a test (scare) ride with Ted.
You will then, not be able to say no!!!
Chris
All the above x 2 ..
Go for a test run, then 'walk away' and have a think (that'll be the tough part as you may want to order the same day!!) .. Its quite a specialist toy in terms of what you get, how you can use it and who might buy it if you decide to part company one day.
A build can be a sort of snowball in both headscratching and cost... (starts off a good handful and ends up
the size of a double garage). So the best advice is read, look and drive around, meet a few owners/builders and put as much of this experience into the initial build as you can so that any later mods/additions might be better accommodated.
The transmission seems to be regularly overlooked in terms of performance, cost and sourcing. Many spend 10K on this single item during their experience...
Tony, who Im sure still lurks around, had little previous build experience but also did a great build site...if you have not already, google ultimagtr640.com
Good luck.
Go for a test run, then 'walk away' and have a think (that'll be the tough part as you may want to order the same day!!) .. Its quite a specialist toy in terms of what you get, how you can use it and who might buy it if you decide to part company one day.
A build can be a sort of snowball in both headscratching and cost... (starts off a good handful and ends up
the size of a double garage). So the best advice is read, look and drive around, meet a few owners/builders and put as much of this experience into the initial build as you can so that any later mods/additions might be better accommodated.
The transmission seems to be regularly overlooked in terms of performance, cost and sourcing. Many spend 10K on this single item during their experience...
Tony, who Im sure still lurks around, had little previous build experience but also did a great build site...if you have not already, google ultimagtr640.com
Good luck.
Edited by 738 driver on Friday 20th May 10:05
Naaa!
Yes- go an get a test drive!
Yes- Have a really restless night tossing and turning dreaming and feeling the adrelanine rush of the 'drive' and how you would be in control of your 'Beast'! (with many repeat dreamed performances over the years)
NO - don't think...DO! You only live ONCE!
Not counting the Missus and Kids - Can't think of many things in my life that cost so much (but at least manageable over a few years) and consistantly gives so much pleasure back as you build - and then.......DRIVE!
Yes- go an get a test drive!
Yes- Have a really restless night tossing and turning dreaming and feeling the adrelanine rush of the 'drive' and how you would be in control of your 'Beast'! (with many repeat dreamed performances over the years)
NO - don't think...DO! You only live ONCE!
Not counting the Missus and Kids - Can't think of many things in my life that cost so much (but at least manageable over a few years) and consistantly gives so much pleasure back as you build - and then.......DRIVE!
738 driver said:
The transmission seems to be regularly overlooked in terms of performance, cost and sourcing. Many spend 10K on this single item during their experience...
I think "many" has to be a major exaggeration. Which cars do you know of that have £10,000 gearboxes ?Most Ultimas use the G50 gearbox (and no-one seems to be able to recall one breaking, do they ?)
£3,000, or thereabouts, for a re-conditioned G50 and I reckon they are pretty well bullet-proof aren't they ? What gearbox does the factory car that has broken all of the world records have ? I am pretty sure that is just a standard G50.
Regards
...if reconditioned is a quick wash, maybe some flange seals, a lick of paint and fresh oil....3k might get you there for an unknown mileage example... 12-14 k dollars for a fully prepped G50 box plus shipping, duty etc all to handle serious torque...with piece of mind of course !
Several have gone through their first transaxle and then gone the full route Kelvin... had three of em in for post-failure assessment! (hence 'the during-their-experience' post)
G50 is a great unit but if you are going to use it regularly on track or serious street with a proper rated motor, it may well wear quickly in stock form...
Several have gone through their first transaxle and then gone the full route Kelvin... had three of em in for post-failure assessment! (hence 'the during-their-experience' post)
G50 is a great unit but if you are going to use it regularly on track or serious street with a proper rated motor, it may well wear quickly in stock form...
Edited by 738 driver on Saturday 21st May 20:25
pilbeam_mp62 said:
I think "many" has to be a major exaggeration. Which cars do you know of that have £10,000 gearboxes ?
Most Ultimas use the G50 gearbox (and no-one seems to be able to recall one breaking, do they ?)
£3,000, or thereabouts, for a re-conditioned G50 and I reckon they are pretty well bullet-proof aren't they ? What gearbox does the factory car that has broken all of the world records have ? I am pretty sure that is just a standard G50.
Regards
The gearbox fitted to mine was brand new (7k plus vat) in 2002.. I hate to think what Porsche would charge for a new one today?? Must be in the region of 10kMost Ultimas use the G50 gearbox (and no-one seems to be able to recall one breaking, do they ?)
£3,000, or thereabouts, for a re-conditioned G50 and I reckon they are pretty well bullet-proof aren't they ? What gearbox does the factory car that has broken all of the world records have ? I am pretty sure that is just a standard G50.
Regards
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