So why did you buy??
Discussion
Great looking cars with awesome presence on the road, but....... I've seen a lot of comments about how they can be beaten round the twisty bits (which is where most of the fun in driving comes from IMHO) by a plain ol caterfield and even on inital acceleration (tho not top end)
So what is it about an Ultima that makes you want to pay upwards of £35k on it - what is the one thing that about the car that did it for you and made you write the cheque/argue with your wife/rob a bank to get the cash?
I'm askin cos I'm interested, but torn by the high price and can't quite justify it to myself (yet
)
So what is it about an Ultima that makes you want to pay upwards of £35k on it - what is the one thing that about the car that did it for you and made you write the cheque/argue with your wife/rob a bank to get the cash?
I'm askin cos I'm interested, but torn by the high price and can't quite justify it to myself (yet
)
It depends what you want the car for. Most Ultimas are built to be road cars, so they're set up as road cars. This means that however much power you put into the engine, it won't be able to do a fantastically quick lap.
The R500 is a race car. That's it. It has number plates, but as it arrives, it's set up to race.
If you built an Ultima with the same philosophy as an R500 (like the GTR's in the British GT seies are), you'd be looking at a car that would absolutely piss all over an R500.
Lap times round Snet for an R500 ate about 1:15 or so, for a well driven and sorted racing example.
A GT Ultima will do the same lap in about 1:05.
The R500 is a race car. That's it. It has number plates, but as it arrives, it's set up to race.
If you built an Ultima with the same philosophy as an R500 (like the GTR's in the British GT seies are), you'd be looking at a car that would absolutely piss all over an R500.
Lap times round Snet for an R500 ate about 1:15 or so, for a well driven and sorted racing example.
A GT Ultima will do the same lap in about 1:05.
Dave,
Having graciously allowed me a ride in his Ultima at the weekend, James put pay to any thoughts about "Being beaten on twisty bits".
My only advice is to get a ride in one - preferably James' as it's race prepared - and you will soon realise why people are happily handing over their 1st born child to own one.
I have to admit, i did think if I owned one, then I'd probably be dead within a week - they are *that* quick. So driver tuition would be the order of the day before I thought about driving one in anger. Either that, or accept that you can have just as much track day fun in lesser specced cars - Just don't go thinking that they are slow in the twisty bits... oh no....
Having graciously allowed me a ride in his Ultima at the weekend, James put pay to any thoughts about "Being beaten on twisty bits".
My only advice is to get a ride in one - preferably James' as it's race prepared - and you will soon realise why people are happily handing over their 1st born child to own one.
I have to admit, i did think if I owned one, then I'd probably be dead within a week - they are *that* quick. So driver tuition would be the order of the day before I thought about driving one in anger. Either that, or accept that you can have just as much track day fun in lesser specced cars - Just don't go thinking that they are slow in the twisty bits... oh no....
Slow on the twistes! I think not.
I took mine to Donnington for my first track day in my Ultima.
I couldn't keep with the factory demonstrator driven by the MD, my car is more powerfull but I'm just not as good a driver.
The speed at which it disapeared into the horizon was impressive.
I'm sure a well driven R500 would have done the same, but may have had trouble getting away as I would catch up on the straights!
I took mine to Donnington for my first track day in my Ultima.
I couldn't keep with the factory demonstrator driven by the MD, my car is more powerfull but I'm just not as good a driver.
The speed at which it disapeared into the horizon was impressive.
I'm sure a well driven R500 would have done the same, but may have had trouble getting away as I would catch up on the straights!
Having raced a 250BHP Caterham and seen the R500 in close up racing it is impressive, which is why I choose a GTR, spec'd it right, 13"APbrakes, rose joint suspension etc, to beat a R500, then drop in 650BHP and game over !!
There are tracks that a Ultima will never win on, Pembrey, Cadwell Park, Brands Hatch Indy, then there are real circuits Donnington,Silverstone,Alton park,Mallory !!.
In the JCC 100 mile races Ultimas are limited by their tyre choice, while R500 run on Formula Ford ACB 10's
a cut slick !!!
There are tracks that a Ultima will never win on, Pembrey, Cadwell Park, Brands Hatch Indy, then there are real circuits Donnington,Silverstone,Alton park,Mallory !!.
In the JCC 100 mile races Ultimas are limited by their tyre choice, while R500 run on Formula Ford ACB 10's
a cut slick !!!
My tyre choice was limited. The best tyres I could find were the A032R's, but I could only get them in a maximum of 275 wide, so I couldn't use my 12" wide wheels. It still handles pretty well though.
The main disadvantage I found was in the gearbox. I run the Renault box, and it's bloody baulky at the best of times. The Caterhams (especially the bike engined ones) could change gear so much more easily, that they had a definite advantage.
I also spent all of last season trying to control engine temperature, so that tended to slow me down a lot too. It's pretty well sorted out now, so I'm just waiting for my next chance....
James
The main disadvantage I found was in the gearbox. I run the Renault box, and it's bloody baulky at the best of times. The Caterhams (especially the bike engined ones) could change gear so much more easily, that they had a definite advantage.
I also spent all of last season trying to control engine temperature, so that tended to slow me down a lot too. It's pretty well sorted out now, so I'm just waiting for my next chance....
James
Mondeoman,
I thought I'd explained that with my earlier reply. I'll repeat it for you.
I thought I'd explained that with my earlier reply. I'll repeat it for you.
quote:
I bought mine initially because I wanted something for a bit of track fun. I was already racing, so it was going to be a track day toy.
Needless to say, the first track day I did with it was last weekend. Other than that, the only times it's been out is to race.
James
quote:
Mondeoman,
I thought I'd explained that with my earlier reply. I'll repeat it for you.
quote:
I bought mine initially because I wanted something for a bit of track fun. I was already racing, so it was going to be a track day toy.
Needless to say, the first track day I did with it was last weekend. Other than that, the only times it's been out is to race.
James
But you can have a bit of track fun in a 2nd hand caterfield etc. The question I'm asking is, why the Ultima, why not something else? What is it that makes it worth the money, what has it got that other cars lack? Whats the magic in it for you?
What I wanted in a race car was a big wing, a big splitter, big tyres, big brakes and a big american V8 in the back....100% brand new (not a refurbished rusty wreck) but on a budget.
It also had to be easily modifiable so I can still kid myself that I know something about mechanical engeering
Could only have been an Ultima.
Once I found the Ultima website the only queston was how can I possibly afford it?!?
It also had to be easily modifiable so I can still kid myself that I know something about mechanical engeering
Could only have been an Ultima.
Once I found the Ultima website the only queston was how can I possibly afford it?!?
I couldn't have fun in a Caterfield. They're dangerous. I bought mine because I had been looking for an ex race Tuscan to convert for track day use, when the Ultima came up for sale. I looked at it, and decided that I could have just as much fun in it, as in a Tuscan, for less money.
No other car even entered my head as a possibility.
Everybody buys cars for different reasons. Why did you buy your BMW? Why not a Lexus (they're better value for money). Wht not buy a TVR. Why not buy a Nissan Micra? You have your criteria for choosing a car, we all have ours.
If there was a simple answer to "Why did you buy your car", the manufacturers would have worked out the formula, and we'd all be driving the same cars.
James
No other car even entered my head as a possibility.
Everybody buys cars for different reasons. Why did you buy your BMW? Why not a Lexus (they're better value for money). Wht not buy a TVR. Why not buy a Nissan Micra? You have your criteria for choosing a car, we all have ours.
If there was a simple answer to "Why did you buy your car", the manufacturers would have worked out the formula, and we'd all be driving the same cars.
James
quote:
But you can have a bit of track fun in a 2nd hand caterfield etc. The question I'm asking is, why the Ultima, why not something else? What is it that makes it worth the money, what has it got that other cars lack? Whats the magic in it for you?
At this price range and performance level there are, amazingly, few if any alternatives. Thats just me, I don't own one just a casual observer. There could be some obscure alternatives but Ultima Cars has a great reputation and following.
The caterhams, radicals, and etc are great track cars but lack the protection and weather conceilment. The Ultima is something different.
The attributes of this performance car are so good that it leaves me asking why would a performance car nut even consider a Modena or Marnello, or 911 GT2 (pretty close) or Lambo. Most of these cars weigh too much to be as good as they should be.
I just have to worka worka worka so I cana getta my owna! I'm very thankful to all the owners who provide build pages. It is truly fascinating watching the cars being built and the decisions that have to be made.
Why? Simple really, I wanted to own and drive a really fast car. Yep, a 996 turbo, 360 Fezza, Diablo or such like would be nice but I had 2 problems. One, I was about £50-100k short. Two, I could never run a car that was going to gobble up £2-3k every time it sneezed.
A TVR was concidered but read point 2! Then a collegue who had a Griff 500 started to build his own GTR and I was smitten. The fact that none of the list above could live with a properly spec'd Ultima was a nice bonus too.
Other bonus'?
Look at the value of used Ultimas.
Look at the insurance cost.
Look at the reaction owners get just filling up with fuel.
How many do you see down your High Street?
When was the last time you got to drive a renegade race car that has other road users jump out of your way when your trying to make progress around the M25?
Need any more reasons? I'll be more than willing to give them ........
Paul
A TVR was concidered but read point 2! Then a collegue who had a Griff 500 started to build his own GTR and I was smitten. The fact that none of the list above could live with a properly spec'd Ultima was a nice bonus too.
Other bonus'?
Look at the value of used Ultimas.
Look at the insurance cost.
Look at the reaction owners get just filling up with fuel.
How many do you see down your High Street?
When was the last time you got to drive a renegade race car that has other road users jump out of your way when your trying to make progress around the M25?
Need any more reasons? I'll be more than willing to give them ........
Paul
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