New To Kit Cars - Questions?
Discussion
I have had my eyes on the Ultima GTR for the past several months. Each time I take another look at this vehicle, I start to drool! Drooling is a good thing as long as it is not associated with some form of chemical imbalance in the brain. However, being a “supercar” owner in the past has left me gun-shy about going down that road again. Here’s why…
I bought a new 2000 C5 and took delivery of it from my dealer in December 1999, which was the perfect Christmas gift. I was very happy with the car and the power-output was outstanding for a 350hp street legal supercar. I like to drive hard and fast. My C5 routinely saw speeds in excess of 170mph (I am a top-speed man myself). I love road racing and making a car “dance” around a track. Putting the car right on the edge of its performance envelope is a very fun and exciting thing! Learning the “behavior” of the vehicle is also half of the fun of extreme driving.
I was very happy until I ran into my first few problems with the C5 AND with GM.
The issue was cockpit noise and a power loss above 4000rpm’s on the chassis dyno. The power loss was my biggest problem and that was ultimate troubleshot down to faulty spark in one of the cylinders. In the meantime, the guys over at GM tore my engine apart trying to find the problem.
The noise inside the cockpit abrasive and far too routine. My theory is that if I pay over $50,000 for a vehicle, then I expect a certain "build quality" and "materials quality" to come along with the car. I feel that GM used very cheap materials in the cockpit for a $50,000 “supercar”.
The car developed "rattles" that could be heard inside the cockpit with the windows rolled-up and the stereo turned off. Rattles from the door, under the dash, and near the right rear quadrant area of the car. Rattles that GM Mechanics could NEVER find.
My first question is regarding the "Materials and Build" quality of the Ultima GTR.
Does Ultima really give a hoot about making quality cars out of quality materials? Also, when I build the car and put it on the road, can I expect rattles beyond comprehension after the first 20 miles, or can I expect a sound, solid and well “engineered” vehicle with very good “parts tolerance” (quality fit between ALL components) in every piece that leaves the factory? How many of you have Ultima’s that rattle there way down the highway? I hope the answer is none!
Basically, I’m looking for reasons NOT to make the Ultima purchase at this time. I already have MANY reasons for making the purchase. This is my due-diligence homework. I really like the car and really want to purchase one, but NOT if it means a ton of additional headaches.
How well is this car engineered?
Cheers and God Bless You All.
I bought a new 2000 C5 and took delivery of it from my dealer in December 1999, which was the perfect Christmas gift. I was very happy with the car and the power-output was outstanding for a 350hp street legal supercar. I like to drive hard and fast. My C5 routinely saw speeds in excess of 170mph (I am a top-speed man myself). I love road racing and making a car “dance” around a track. Putting the car right on the edge of its performance envelope is a very fun and exciting thing! Learning the “behavior” of the vehicle is also half of the fun of extreme driving.
I was very happy until I ran into my first few problems with the C5 AND with GM.
The issue was cockpit noise and a power loss above 4000rpm’s on the chassis dyno. The power loss was my biggest problem and that was ultimate troubleshot down to faulty spark in one of the cylinders. In the meantime, the guys over at GM tore my engine apart trying to find the problem.
The noise inside the cockpit abrasive and far too routine. My theory is that if I pay over $50,000 for a vehicle, then I expect a certain "build quality" and "materials quality" to come along with the car. I feel that GM used very cheap materials in the cockpit for a $50,000 “supercar”.
The car developed "rattles" that could be heard inside the cockpit with the windows rolled-up and the stereo turned off. Rattles from the door, under the dash, and near the right rear quadrant area of the car. Rattles that GM Mechanics could NEVER find.
My first question is regarding the "Materials and Build" quality of the Ultima GTR.
Does Ultima really give a hoot about making quality cars out of quality materials? Also, when I build the car and put it on the road, can I expect rattles beyond comprehension after the first 20 miles, or can I expect a sound, solid and well “engineered” vehicle with very good “parts tolerance” (quality fit between ALL components) in every piece that leaves the factory? How many of you have Ultima’s that rattle there way down the highway? I hope the answer is none!
Basically, I’m looking for reasons NOT to make the Ultima purchase at this time. I already have MANY reasons for making the purchase. This is my due-diligence homework. I really like the car and really want to purchase one, but NOT if it means a ton of additional headaches.
How well is this car engineered?
Cheers and God Bless You All.
Thanks for all the responses!
Hmmm. I think I am starting to see the light here. My initial gut level reaction told me to expect high levels of cockpit noise. I’ve never worked with Kit Cars before, so I did not know exactly what to expect. Now, it is clear – noise WILL be an issue.
Ok - so, it looks like I have located my first build problem:
1) Noise Reduction at Build Time
In doing my research and simply looking at the pictures on the Web, I thought to myself that finding a “good” and “decent” way to efficiently "sound-proof" the cockpit would be one of my MAJOR goals. I REALLY hope that the guys over at Ultima can help with some ideas on this matter.
But, why sound proof?
Because - I love driving places. Yes – I am a Pilot and could just as easily fly to Las Vegas, or Los Angles from San Francisco, but there will also be times when I want to “fly on the ground” at 150+mph down south as well! On a big 500 mile run like that, “too much” cockpit noise can really wear a man down. You end up pulling into your hotel 4hrs later feeling like you have just driven 2000 miles! So, yes – this noise issue is going to have to get solved, or at least severely reduced – I hope?
Thanks for the honest input about the “noise” and what to expect, I really appreciate that from the veteran Ultima Drivers.
I’ll try not to hit you guys with too many questions – I’ll try to read the other posts first for my answers – but I sure do have a lot of them.
Thanks again!
L2Pilot
“A Possible GTR Man in Research”
Hmmm. I think I am starting to see the light here. My initial gut level reaction told me to expect high levels of cockpit noise. I’ve never worked with Kit Cars before, so I did not know exactly what to expect. Now, it is clear – noise WILL be an issue.
Ok - so, it looks like I have located my first build problem:
1) Noise Reduction at Build Time
In doing my research and simply looking at the pictures on the Web, I thought to myself that finding a “good” and “decent” way to efficiently "sound-proof" the cockpit would be one of my MAJOR goals. I REALLY hope that the guys over at Ultima can help with some ideas on this matter.
But, why sound proof?
Because - I love driving places. Yes – I am a Pilot and could just as easily fly to Las Vegas, or Los Angles from San Francisco, but there will also be times when I want to “fly on the ground” at 150+mph down south as well! On a big 500 mile run like that, “too much” cockpit noise can really wear a man down. You end up pulling into your hotel 4hrs later feeling like you have just driven 2000 miles! So, yes – this noise issue is going to have to get solved, or at least severely reduced – I hope?
Thanks for the honest input about the “noise” and what to expect, I really appreciate that from the veteran Ultima Drivers.
I’ll try not to hit you guys with too many questions – I’ll try to read the other posts first for my answers – but I sure do have a lot of them.
Thanks again!
L2Pilot
“A Possible GTR Man in Research”
Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff