Questions About Ultima GTR

[d3vine]

I'm thinking about purchasing an Ultima GTR. I don't have a whole lot of money. Just graduated, and been working for 2 months. Got about a bit over 20k saved up.

I would like to build a rolling chassis. It doesn't have to be complete... As long as it can be rolled around the floor? I would also like to buy the body as well (lightweight version). What stage of the kit would I need to build a basic roller?

I'm going to source the brakes, wheels, steering wheel, and other parts somewhere else.

[Stig]

Wow - that's some project to take on after just starting work dude!

Still, all power to you

As a bare minimum for rolling chassis (especially ebing in the US), I reckon you're gonna need the first 10 stages of the car (at least that's what Ted told me when I was first buying IIRC).

You have to be a bit careful, as what you do early on can dictate what you CAN do later - AC for example is a right pain to retro-fit.

Make sure you plan things as thoroughly as you can first before diving right in. If you're serious, the factory will be able to give a lot of help and advice in this respect.

[mkoch1]

You will be much better off if you order everything you are going to need from the factory all at once. Either save up a little more or take out a loan. You will be amazed how much shipping stuff over from the UK costs.

Also be careful what you think you can source cheaper than the factory. A fair amount can be purchased in the us, but some parts actually turn out to be a really good price after you look into have things custom made. Aren't you in DC, if so you have several ultimas near you I suggest you go see them to help you decided what factory parts you want and what you want to source in the US.

Head on over to www.ultimaclub.us and you can contact the owners near you. I am in Baltimore with a 3/4 built canam if you ever want to swing by.

Mark

[just dave]

Check out the factory's U.S. Web pages- to get one over here now the MINIMUM order is $42,000 !!

I have done the numbers on what I want, and the total (minus the things I plan to source myself) is right about $50,000.
I also say "good luck"! When I was young, I had more toys (but less money in the bank), now I have fewer toys, but can buy them more easily. Go figure.

Dave

[mkoch1]

Ouch seats, exhaust, and wheels are part of the minimum order. I guess that is one way of making sure you don't source them somewhere else. Just made going with a non Chevy motor more expensive, considering you have to spend 3K on exhaust you won't be using.

Hard to tell if that's the minimum order or just the minimum order that will get you free shipping. Either way you’re pretty much locked in, unless you’re willing to pay for the shipping expenses. The crate alone has got to cost a pretty penny.

Can't blame the factory I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of shipping a crate over if I wasn't going to make much of a profit.

Mark

[just dave]

mkoch1 said:

Ouch seats, exhaust, and wheels are part of the minimum order. I guess that is one way of making sure you don't source them somewhere else. Just made going with a non Chevy motor more expensive, considering you have to spend 3K on exhaust you won't be using. Hard to tell if that's the minimum order or just the minimum order that will get you free shipping. Either way you’re pretty much locked in, unless you’re willing to pay for the shipping expenses. The crate alone has got to cost a pretty penny. Can't blame the factory I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of shipping a crate over if I wasn't going to make much of a profit. Mark

Mark,
No blame here. The factory should do what is cost effictive for them. I also do not know what is included as "minimum". Not close enough to placing an order to find out.

Besides, if it sounded good enough, I might be forced to do something about it!
How is your build progressing?

[mkoch1]

just dave said:

Mark, No blame here. The factory should do what is cost effictive for them. I also do not know what is included as "minimum". Not close enough to placing an order to find out. Besides, if it sounded good enough, I might be forced to do something about it! How is your build progressing?

If you look under USA the canam prices everything with a * next to the price is included in the minimum order.

My build progress has slowed down, but I hope to find some time and get it done this summer.

mark

[d3vine]

The minimum order for free shipping is $41,408. That will cover majority of the items on the list. But I would like to source some other aftermarket items outside to save some weight on the car. I am most likely going to use a Chevy v8 smallblock. 300-350 hp is enough for me. I haven't actually driven anything faster than a 2003 Mini Cooper.

Does anyone know how much the lightweight body for the GTR cost? It's not listed on their Website. 27k for the base kit includes the standard body.

I really want a different style of wheel, lighter brakes, suspension, seats, and few other parts. I know I could definitely bring down the weight by sourcing my own items. Also, make my GTR more unique to my likings, plus save weight... But do you all think it's better if I buy these parts from the factory or source them myself? The Ultima wheels seems heavy, and also some of the other parts as well.

[mkoch1]

d3vine said:

I really want a different style of wheel, lighter brakes, suspension, seats, and few other parts. I know I could definitely bring down the weight by sourcing my own items. Also, make my GTR more unique to my likings, plus save weight... But do you all think it's better if I buy these parts from the factory or source them myself? The Ultima wheels seems heavy, and also some of the other parts as well.

If you pass up on the free shipping offer the money you spend on shipping will probable be more than the money you save sourcing the parts in the US. If you want non factory parts just to save money it's probably not going to work. If you want them for weight or just to personalize the car then I say go for it. I would stick to simple things like the rims, shocks, seats, gauges, etc. Wouldn't mess with anything that needs fabrication, without researching it first.

Unless the lightweight body is made of something other than fiberglass lightweight is going to equal thinner fiberglass. Gel coated fiberglass is already prone to cracking I wouldn't want them to make the body any thinner. If it's made out of a different material like carbon or Kevlar it might be worth it.

I am a little confused you say "300-350 hp is enough for me" but you are worried about cutting weight. I realize a lighter car will handle better but if you plan on street racing you don't need handling you need horse power. Remember this car in stock form is lighter than almost every car on the road.

mark

[d3vine]

I want the car to be light so I don't need a whole lot of horsepower. I'm aiming for around 1850-1900 lbs wet. I think that's definitely achievable. Then later on, if I choose to add more horsepower, it'll be much quicker than the same amount of horsepower in a heavier car.

I'm just going to buy aftermarket bolt on parts. Not any parts that require fabrication to beable to fit onto the GTR. For instance, smaller wheels made with different materials, and the same for the suspension, springs, and etc... I haven't calculated the total cost for a roller just to meet the minimum purchase cost. But if it includes everything for 41k then I'll just stick with the factory parts. But if it still requires other parts like wheels and etc then I'll source the parts on my own.

Hey Mark, can you give me a ride when you get your car running and inspected? Drive around Arundel Mills, show off your car to the ladies... ahah, you probably kick me out and drive the ladies around.

[bigmack]

This isn't such a bad deal if they are paying for the shipping. I had to pay my own shipping and it wasn't cheap. Of course you'll also want to keep an eye on the U.S. to UK exchange rates. I found this helped me some when I ordered my kit.
Don't waste your time chasing lighter brakes. I'm speaking from experience. I run 328mm floating Brembo discs with Brembo X9.005 4-piston race calipers(same used on MacF1). The weight saving is marginal and you will never really see the potential of the setup unless on a track. I spent somewhere around $8k for this brake setup which included having custom hats and caliper brackets made. Way overkill for a car that will live on the street.
The exhaust and wheels, I would prefer to source myself, if I were ordering another kit. The stainless exhaust is really expensive, and the plain steel rust badly. I wish the factory would offer aluminum exhaust as an alternative to the plain steel.
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers!
-Mack

[ultimarobert]

I would sell you my GTR body, if only. I wish the Gel coat manufacturer would accept custom colour orders, then you'd see a Kawasaki Green GTR monster on the road. My wife picked out the yellow -- compromises, compromises.