CanAm Evaluation after 2500 Miles
Discussion
Just got back after doing 1300 miles in the CanAm in 3 days. As promised, an update of doing cross-country with the CanAm.
First day; 600 miles,10 hours driving time. Home to Hamilton Ontario, Canada
Second day; 100 miles, Hamilton to Toronto to Hamilton
Third day; 600 miles, 10 hours driving time. Home.
Problems:
Heat: Airscoop helped (see previous post), but we decided to do most of the travelling home at night. Were still wearing shorts and short sleeve shirt at night.
Engine clip release knob (factory cable). The T shaped plastic knob pulled off the inner shaft it's attached to again. Bought some epoxy, and glued it again. Will drill a 1/8" hole through the knob and cable shaft and put in a long rivet. I'm using one cable to activate the two catches, but it's happened to the front clip also with a similar set-up. If you don't have a pair of pliers, you're in trouble if you have to open them. Minor problem.
Seating.
Factory seats.
Comfortable at first, but after a few hours, the very thin padding in the seat becomes apparent. Even my wife noticed it. Bought some 1" dense foam 14"x18" in Hamilton. 200% improvement on the way home.
The very restrictive leg movement became apparent also after a few hours as my bad knee (throttle leg) began to lock up. Cured this by putting that leg on the passenger foot rest so I could move it around, and using my left foot on the throttle. Try this with a RHD set up!!
Had to stop every 2 hours and walk aroung the car a few times.
Stack Dash
`Like the digital fuel quantity readout, and the other digital info, but not sure if I like having to scroll through to get the info, although it keeps your mind busy on a long drive.
Digital readout panel is too bright at night. Will check with Stack about that, or have to carry some tranparent tape to put over it.
Mechanical problems;
None.(well, look who built the car!!!)
Engine never went over 183'F, and gearbox never went over 148'F at a steady 70 mph, even when ambient air temp was 90'F.
Lights
Love them. Not sure if they're adjusted to the proper height(no specs from the factory), but the road is well lit up. Had a van (which have high mounted lights)decide to check out the car about 1 am. He also had his fog lights on. First he'd stay on our rear, then get beside me. I'd slow down to let him pass, and he'd slow down, all the while his lights we blinding me in my mirrors. Finally I slowed down to about 45, and he passed, then I got right on his tail, and put on the high beams. The back end of that van sure lit up. I think he got the message when I saw his fog lights go off. We quickly passed him, and he stayed his distance.
Left hand cill shift;
Only way to go.
Driving:
Speeding fines are very costly here, so you just keep it at 5 mph over the speed limit since the car is so conspicuous. Also, get used to being boxed in by lookers, and to your new first name "hey"!!.
Consumption:
Water; None
Oil: 2 quarts Mobil 1
Fuel; 14-15 Miles Per American Gallon
Conclusion:
We keep a small dark towel on the seat bottom which we stand on to get in and out of the car. I'm sure this makes it easier than getting in and out of the GTR.
However, unless you have a top for the CanAm, I think this is the only advantage it has over the GTR, except I think it's a better looking car.(the CanAm that is).
Our CanAm, as it is, is very limited in use because of the lack of top. The first question from the inspector when we got to the Canadian border was "what do you do if it rains". Our reply was "that we checked the weather very carefully before we left".
The GTR is more practical. Right now the CanAm is more of toy, and good for very short trips, like to go to the ice cream store. The local ice cream drive up loves us because when the CanAm is there, cars that are passing, pull in to see it.
I guess we will check into the top. Andy will be the best person to talk to on that issue.
Handling is not a question, because of the slow speeds we travelled at. However, we did feel every bump and crack in road.
We've logged over 2500 miles so far, and am enjoying the car. The car is scheduled for it's first track date in October.
We'll have the small windscreen on next week, and will give an update.
Regards
Jack
>>> Edited by USCANAM on Monday 21st July 23:19
First day; 600 miles,10 hours driving time. Home to Hamilton Ontario, Canada
Second day; 100 miles, Hamilton to Toronto to Hamilton
Third day; 600 miles, 10 hours driving time. Home.
Problems:
Heat: Airscoop helped (see previous post), but we decided to do most of the travelling home at night. Were still wearing shorts and short sleeve shirt at night.
Engine clip release knob (factory cable). The T shaped plastic knob pulled off the inner shaft it's attached to again. Bought some epoxy, and glued it again. Will drill a 1/8" hole through the knob and cable shaft and put in a long rivet. I'm using one cable to activate the two catches, but it's happened to the front clip also with a similar set-up. If you don't have a pair of pliers, you're in trouble if you have to open them. Minor problem.
Seating.
Factory seats.
Comfortable at first, but after a few hours, the very thin padding in the seat becomes apparent. Even my wife noticed it. Bought some 1" dense foam 14"x18" in Hamilton. 200% improvement on the way home.
The very restrictive leg movement became apparent also after a few hours as my bad knee (throttle leg) began to lock up. Cured this by putting that leg on the passenger foot rest so I could move it around, and using my left foot on the throttle. Try this with a RHD set up!!
Had to stop every 2 hours and walk aroung the car a few times.
Stack Dash
`Like the digital fuel quantity readout, and the other digital info, but not sure if I like having to scroll through to get the info, although it keeps your mind busy on a long drive.
Digital readout panel is too bright at night. Will check with Stack about that, or have to carry some tranparent tape to put over it.
Mechanical problems;
None.(well, look who built the car!!!)
Engine never went over 183'F, and gearbox never went over 148'F at a steady 70 mph, even when ambient air temp was 90'F.
Lights
Love them. Not sure if they're adjusted to the proper height(no specs from the factory), but the road is well lit up. Had a van (which have high mounted lights)decide to check out the car about 1 am. He also had his fog lights on. First he'd stay on our rear, then get beside me. I'd slow down to let him pass, and he'd slow down, all the while his lights we blinding me in my mirrors. Finally I slowed down to about 45, and he passed, then I got right on his tail, and put on the high beams. The back end of that van sure lit up. I think he got the message when I saw his fog lights go off. We quickly passed him, and he stayed his distance.
Left hand cill shift;
Only way to go.
Driving:
Speeding fines are very costly here, so you just keep it at 5 mph over the speed limit since the car is so conspicuous. Also, get used to being boxed in by lookers, and to your new first name "hey"!!.
Consumption:
Water; None
Oil: 2 quarts Mobil 1
Fuel; 14-15 Miles Per American Gallon
Conclusion:
We keep a small dark towel on the seat bottom which we stand on to get in and out of the car. I'm sure this makes it easier than getting in and out of the GTR.
However, unless you have a top for the CanAm, I think this is the only advantage it has over the GTR, except I think it's a better looking car.(the CanAm that is).
Our CanAm, as it is, is very limited in use because of the lack of top. The first question from the inspector when we got to the Canadian border was "what do you do if it rains". Our reply was "that we checked the weather very carefully before we left".
The GTR is more practical. Right now the CanAm is more of toy, and good for very short trips, like to go to the ice cream store. The local ice cream drive up loves us because when the CanAm is there, cars that are passing, pull in to see it.
I guess we will check into the top. Andy will be the best person to talk to on that issue.
Handling is not a question, because of the slow speeds we travelled at. However, we did feel every bump and crack in road.
We've logged over 2500 miles so far, and am enjoying the car. The car is scheduled for it's first track date in October.
We'll have the small windscreen on next week, and will give an update.
Regards
Jack
>>> Edited by USCANAM on Monday 21st July 23:19
Good one, I think more of us should give this kind of feedback on here.
I'll give a quick brief of my experiences in the rain with full screen.
For my first 1500miles I never had a roof, I still used it to work and I got caught when it it decided to have a monsoon in the afternoon..... the car filled with over an inch of water but due to the screen it was only the seats that got wet and the car started and drove impecably.
It was odviously still raining hard and due to the engine being tight the car didn't run smooth below 2000rpm which made it a nightmare to drive without the rear jumping out.....
When moving above 30mph the rain stops coming in and you don't get wet.
Got the roof, which is excellent..... got caught out with the wife in another monsoon late at night, car was no problem in the rain as I was able to pull away at low revs..... only blemish was a horn/police incident that was close to getting me a night in the slammer.... but thats another story.
Did we get wet.... answer is yes..... but only when I went through a huge pool of water and it came through the front bulkhead ie hole for steering column.
The roof itself worked 100% and I very much doubt anyone will use the car in any worst weather... after all I am insane!
After 3500miles what problems have I had.... well my only major problem has been the CV joints.
first off on my 3rd run down the strip I discovered my CV joints were not the strong ones.... as one exploded. No such problem after many more runs now they are the GKN ones.
Plus they have thrown grease... and the bolts have worked loose.
New bolts and very careful assembly and that has been sorted.
And of cause I swapped the wires on the alternator, causing the battery to go flat.... and the front splitter flew off at over 170mph..... Doh!
After 1 year of driving, the car still gives me a thrill, goes like stink and attracts more attention than I can handle.... for the cash it is perfection!
I'll give a quick brief of my experiences in the rain with full screen.
For my first 1500miles I never had a roof, I still used it to work and I got caught when it it decided to have a monsoon in the afternoon..... the car filled with over an inch of water but due to the screen it was only the seats that got wet and the car started and drove impecably.
It was odviously still raining hard and due to the engine being tight the car didn't run smooth below 2000rpm which made it a nightmare to drive without the rear jumping out.....
When moving above 30mph the rain stops coming in and you don't get wet.
Got the roof, which is excellent..... got caught out with the wife in another monsoon late at night, car was no problem in the rain as I was able to pull away at low revs..... only blemish was a horn/police incident that was close to getting me a night in the slammer.... but thats another story.
Did we get wet.... answer is yes..... but only when I went through a huge pool of water and it came through the front bulkhead ie hole for steering column.
The roof itself worked 100% and I very much doubt anyone will use the car in any worst weather... after all I am insane!
After 3500miles what problems have I had.... well my only major problem has been the CV joints.
first off on my 3rd run down the strip I discovered my CV joints were not the strong ones.... as one exploded. No such problem after many more runs now they are the GKN ones.
Plus they have thrown grease... and the bolts have worked loose.
New bolts and very careful assembly and that has been sorted.
And of cause I swapped the wires on the alternator, causing the battery to go flat.... and the front splitter flew off at over 170mph..... Doh!
After 1 year of driving, the car still gives me a thrill, goes like stink and attracts more attention than I can handle.... for the cash it is perfection!
Andy
Re the top; I know how much it costs.
; Can it be stowed in the car?
: What kind of a job is it to put up?
: It appears from the photos of your car that you have all kinds of attachment devices on the rear clip. Is that correct?
If interested, I'll tell you how and where to put drain holes in the cockpit.
Thanks
Jack
Re the top; I know how much it costs.
; Can it be stowed in the car?
: What kind of a job is it to put up?
: It appears from the photos of your car that you have all kinds of attachment devices on the rear clip. Is that correct?
If interested, I'll tell you how and where to put drain holes in the cockpit.
Thanks
Jack
USCANAM
Thanks for a very informative evaluation - I am in the process of buying a GTR and posts like yours are extremely helpful for people like me to get an understanding of how these cars behave under real world conditions. Especially when one is in Canada and these cars and owners are spread thin. Please keep these posts coming.
Thanks again
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