Is it worth it...?

[Midds]

Tonight I sat in an ultima for the first time and I've established that my 6'5" frame will get into one ok IF it has a lowered floorpan, some custom seats that are bolted to the floor and the pedals set as far back as it is possible to put them...

Even then, it woukd be a squeeze with a helmet on... But doable in relative comfort

there's the square root of bugger all shoulder room between me and the passenger, but that kind of works too

so my question is, will I regret chopping in the Ferrari 550 for one when I want to use it for blatting, track, motorway trips to see people etc, or should I stat with the comfort of the 550 and give the track a miss?

An Ultima is a big gamble for me, but is it a worthwhile o e?

All helpful comments appreciated

[Steve_D]

• The one you sat in most likely had the dropped floor and I believe that is all the factory do now.

• If it had the factory seat then there is very little padding in the base and the base itself is all bar a finger thickness from the floor so there will be nothing gained by changing seats.

• There is nowhere to move the pedals too. They are already as far forward as they can go.

Have to say I don't think an Ultima is for you.

Steve

[bluesatin]

If you have a bag seat made up (basically sitting on the floor) you get a couple of inches of headroom.

[singlecoil]

I believe I know how you feel. I would love to have an Ultima but getting in it, and then getting comfortable, would be a big problem for me too.

Designers hate making cars big enough for those of the tall persuasion, it causes all kinds of problems for them. To do it with a Group C inspired car is even more difficult for all sorts of reasons that I have been deeply involved with recently.

I personally would not find the discomfort worth it, but maybe you would, in the end only you can decide.

[robm3]

Midds, I'd stick with the 550 and get yourself a Caterham or the like for track fun.

The Ultima can be uncomfortable as a day to day machine (I used mine for around 3 months every second day this time last year and then started using a 'normal' car for my commute, a big relief) and as you're so tall this'll exacerbate the situation.

[playa635]

I think the GTR would be an excellent choice for you. Contact Ted or Richard for more details!!!

[Midds]

I've done a lot of thinking and for now, I think I am going to hold on to the Ferrari and see where I am in a year

So that counts me out for now, bit I'll keep in touch for when the time is right

besides, maybe tracking a 550 might be ok?  

[LuckyP]

I think the best 'model' of how to run an Ultima comes from our very own Bluesatin.

He runs an Ult for all the crazy schnizzle, shows, V-Max, cruises. And then has (or just had) a 7TT for trouble-free, comfortable stylish teleportation.

The jolt from the comfort of a 550 to the no frills cabin of an Ultima, whilst novel for the first week, would soon wear off. So yeah. I think you make the right decision there.

How about a GT Porsche?

[Midds]

Agreed, but the 550 is not my daily drive, I have a Beemer estate for that and an A4 cab which my wife uses, the 550 / Ultima would be the thrashing toy, much like the westfields I have had in the past (including a megabusa), the race engined Dutton Phaeton or the stripped out Porsche 944 turbo...

It's just I get attached to my thrashing toys and start using them more and more frequently (20k miles in 15 months in a hayabusa engined Westfield with only a fly screen anyone?)

Midds