Discussion
Minor upgrade. Decided to fit a couple of extra heat shields around the area of the fuel swirl pot and fuel pumps and add additional gold heat reflective foil around the main fuel rail. Heat build-up in around the engine is known to be an issue with the cars on the continent in summer and whilst it hasn't affected me (I guess even on a good day it's not exactly continental in Scotland) it seemed a good idea to guard against it and bling things up a bit more.
Also spent a fair bit of time cleaning, degreasing and repainting the gearbox.
Also spent a fair bit of time cleaning, degreasing and repainting the gearbox.
I'm off to the shops 
MrVert said:
Holy moly...! As a weekend fun toy, I cannot think of anything around that would beat your car for smiles per miles...!
That's pretty much my way of thinking about it. 
It's very much a "shock and awe" car and you have to buy into the fact that when you are on the road in it or even parked at the side of the road then you are a centre of attention and interest and that's all part of the fun of a weekend car. There is a drama to driving it quickly and using the performance but there's also smiles and drama with just pottering around in it.
It's also a good car to just be an owner of and I think that's as important as a weekend fun toy. I'm the least mechanically minded guy you could get but even I quite enjoy pottering around with some of the mechanical bits. Looking back over this thread the car has evolved mechanically and cosmetically to where it is now without breaking the bank and anyone competent at diy stuff could have done it far cheaper than I could. Similarly, when I sell it, the next owner might strip some of my creature comforts out of it and use it as a hardcore track car.
You don't really get to personalise your ownership experience with the likes of a Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren or the like in the same way so I'd advise anyone who has a shortlist of daft weekend fun cars to add an Ultima to that list.
I was going to update this with a pic of the new battery I've had to fit to the Ultima this month but I guess a pic of battery is a bit boring.
So, just to contrast the size of the Ultima with the size of a modern "hot hatch" I squeezed my new Civic Type-R into the garage for a pic. The Type-R is a bit of a brute anyhow, but positively looks like a bus next to the Ultima.
So, just to contrast the size of the Ultima with the size of a modern "hot hatch" I squeezed my new Civic Type-R into the garage for a pic. The Type-R is a bit of a brute anyhow, but positively looks like a bus next to the Ultima.
Edited by renmure on Thursday 8th March 16:42
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff