Hello everybody
Discussion
I'm new to the ultima when i saw it about a year ago i fell in love straight away.
The lines, the power the ultima.
First thing that my mind said to me. "you have to get one, no matter what"
So now a year later I still don't own one but still really kean on getting one.
But i have some question wich are really importend to me.
And i hope you can help me.
Here goes :-)
Due to the fact i'm in a wheelchair with a spinalcord injure i need it to be an automatic gear system.
Is this possible i'm an absolute noob in car engines.
I know it will not be as much fun as a normal gear box but he it's still a gtr :-)
Next thingy is the wheelchair i can fold mine to a much smaller package but is there room for it?
I was thinking on putting the frame of the chair on the passenger chair and i don't have a clue were to put the wheels.
i heard something about putting it behind the seats???
could somebody be so kind to take photo's of all the bagage room there is in a ultima gtr.
Well thats about it.
Tnx for reading.
And hope to read a few reply's.
The C
The lines, the power the ultima.
First thing that my mind said to me. "you have to get one, no matter what"
So now a year later I still don't own one but still really kean on getting one.
But i have some question wich are really importend to me.
And i hope you can help me.
Here goes :-)
Due to the fact i'm in a wheelchair with a spinalcord injure i need it to be an automatic gear system.
Is this possible i'm an absolute noob in car engines.
I know it will not be as much fun as a normal gear box but he it's still a gtr :-)
Next thingy is the wheelchair i can fold mine to a much smaller package but is there room for it?
I was thinking on putting the frame of the chair on the passenger chair and i don't have a clue were to put the wheels.
i heard something about putting it behind the seats???
could somebody be so kind to take photo's of all the bagage room there is in a ultima gtr.
Well thats about it.
Tnx for reading.
And hope to read a few reply's.
The C
The Ultima uses a Porsche gearbox so any Porsche systems that will suit you may fit (not 928, 924 etc).
Some Renult and Audi boxs fit but these are from a very limited range of cars which means less chance of finding somthing that will suit, but worth looking into.
There if little storage in either the GTR or the Can-am although there would be room behind my seats to fit somthing the size of a wheel.
Mine is a Can-am so with the roof down you could slot them down from the top, but the GTR won't give you this option so don't really know what to suggest other than speaking to the factory.
Some Renult and Audi boxs fit but these are from a very limited range of cars which means less chance of finding somthing that will suit, but worth looking into.
There if little storage in either the GTR or the Can-am although there would be room behind my seats to fit somthing the size of a wheel.
Mine is a Can-am so with the roof down you could slot them down from the top, but the GTR won't give you this option so don't really know what to suggest other than speaking to the factory.
I think it far more likely you will source a Renault auto box than a Porsche. The drive shafts should exit in the same place relative to the engine mounting. If it is longer, then this is less of an issue in the GTR than it is in the Can Am.
If you had a passenger there would be no room for the chair. In which case dispensing with the passenger seat would provide ample space. (it could just be slid forward off of its runners and removed or replaced as required).
Getting in and out is the challenge.
Both models have very wide sills (usually bare ali. and are approx 16 inches from the ground) so the first move would be to transfer to there. From that seated position dismantle the chair and load. Spin round on the sill to get your legs in then drop down into the seat. Getting out would be the reverse but would require a large amount of upper body strength. Your best move is to visit the factory and give it a try.
I have no doubts that Ted and his team will do all they can to make this work for you, not because they want to make a sale but because they care.
Be prepared for a very dramatic test drive which has wallet opening side effects.
Steve
If you had a passenger there would be no room for the chair. In which case dispensing with the passenger seat would provide ample space. (it could just be slid forward off of its runners and removed or replaced as required).
Getting in and out is the challenge.
Both models have very wide sills (usually bare ali. and are approx 16 inches from the ground) so the first move would be to transfer to there. From that seated position dismantle the chair and load. Spin round on the sill to get your legs in then drop down into the seat. Getting out would be the reverse but would require a large amount of upper body strength. Your best move is to visit the factory and give it a try.
I have no doubts that Ted and his team will do all they can to make this work for you, not because they want to make a sale but because they care.
Be prepared for a very dramatic test drive which has wallet opening side effects.
Steve
Chair - I may be talking crap, but, you may find a Porsche Tiptronic box could be adapted for the Ultima. I know versions of these auto boxes were fitted to 911's and having a torque converter fitted to the Chevy V8 should cause no problems. As mentioned, ask the factory!
Also as mentioned the chair could be made to fit, even if it meant removal of the passenger seat.
One thing you have not mentioned is throttle and brake operation. I'm assuming you use hand operated levers which may require some minor chassis mod's to the scuttle rail to take the required brackets. Also, SVA, would this bracketry pass the test? You may need to get the car tested and then make to modifications afterwards.
Best of luck ....
Paul.
Also as mentioned the chair could be made to fit, even if it meant removal of the passenger seat.
One thing you have not mentioned is throttle and brake operation. I'm assuming you use hand operated levers which may require some minor chassis mod's to the scuttle rail to take the required brackets. Also, SVA, would this bracketry pass the test? You may need to get the car tested and then make to modifications afterwards.
Best of luck ....
Paul.
First of all thanks for the reactions people.
They were really usefull.
It seems where there is a will there is a way.
I'm thinking to make it a one seater and if somebody really wants to tag along he/she has to put in the seating chair.
About the gas and brake system there are special company's here who do all that stuff lucky me.
They could modify a car in such matter that you could drive the car with 2 fingers and head movment.
So i'm really happy about that.
Whe there is some progress i will keep you posted but for now i will just keep on dreaming.
Tnx all
the c
They were really usefull.
It seems where there is a will there is a way.
Also as mentioned the chair could be made to fit, even if it meant removal of the passenger seat.
One thing you have not mentioned is throttle and brake operation. I'm assuming you use hand operated levers which may require some minor chassis mod's to the scuttle rail to take the required brackets. Also, SVA, would this bracketry pass the test? You may need to get the car tested and then make to modifications afterwards.
Best of luck ....
I'm thinking to make it a one seater and if somebody really wants to tag along he/she has to put in the seating chair.
About the gas and brake system there are special company's here who do all that stuff lucky me.
They could modify a car in such matter that you could drive the car with 2 fingers and head movment.
So i'm really happy about that.
Whe there is some progress i will keep you posted but for now i will just keep on dreaming.
Tnx all
the c
Hi Chairman, great to see someone else who thinks being in a wheelchair just makes you want to go faster.
My problems are due to illness rather than injury, but you are not on your own here!
I am using a poxy Pug "van with windows" but am planning on getting hold of a Subaru Legacy estate
(hopefully 2.0 turbo 
) as i have to drag wife and kids around as well. 
Good luck with the Ultima.
My problems are due to illness rather than injury, but you are not on your own here!
I am using a poxy Pug "van with windows" but am planning on getting hold of a Subaru Legacy estate
(hopefully 2.0 turbo ) as i have to drag wife and kids around as well. Good luck with the Ultima.
Due to the fact i'm in a wheelchair with a spinalcord injure i need it to be an automatic gear system.
Is this possible i'm an absolute noob in car engines.
I know it will not be as much fun as a normal gear box but he it's still a gtr :-)
The C,
You can also get round the auto box problem by retaining the manual gearbox and fitting a clutch hand control system. There are a number of companies that supply and fit hand controlled clutch systems: Guidosimplex and Kempf are the most well known. I've been running a TVR Griffith with such a system for six years and have suffered only a few minor glitches.
Good luck,
Dave
ultimapaul said: One thing you have not mentioned is throttle and brake operation. I'm assuming you use hand operated levers which may require some minor chassis mod's to the scuttle rail to take the required brackets. Also, SVA, would this bracketry pass the test? You may need to get the car tested and then make to modifications afterwards.
Best of luck ....
Paul.
SVA wouldn't be a problem. The car would go through prior to fitting hand controls. There are several companies out there who fit them to all sorts of cars, and they wouldn't have to hack the chassis around to do it. I'm sure that Tce Chairman knows more about hand controls than the rest of us though, if he has them on his current car.
I'd say that the tricky bit will be getting in and out. The rollcage could become a very useful piece of equipment for hauling yourself out
James
Firstly Chairman, welcome to the Ultima fraterity.
As James asks, do let us know how the hand clutch works when changing gear.
Also several people have suggested you ask the factory and l would add to that. For some reason many ask questions in this forum and get various conflicting replies but the best source of info is undoubtedly the factory. They have proved themselves to be honest and straightforward so wont mess you about. They may even see this as an opportunity for helping to develop a disabled friendly supercar.
For myself, l dont know the exact implications of getting into such a car with spinal injury, but with practice and technique you can get in without using your legs; just needs strong arms and stomach. Much fun can be had from watching "experts" who insist they can get in, one leg at a time as it is hard to close the door with a spare leg trailing out! Getting out though is another thing altogether and you need a push from your legs unless you are an olympic gymnast. Best of luck with it. The one Euro country l have yet to take my car is Netherlands, so perhaps next summer eh.
As James asks, do let us know how the hand clutch works when changing gear.
Also several people have suggested you ask the factory and l would add to that. For some reason many ask questions in this forum and get various conflicting replies but the best source of info is undoubtedly the factory. They have proved themselves to be honest and straightforward so wont mess you about. They may even see this as an opportunity for helping to develop a disabled friendly supercar.
For myself, l dont know the exact implications of getting into such a car with spinal injury, but with practice and technique you can get in without using your legs; just needs strong arms and stomach. Much fun can be had from watching "experts" who insist they can get in, one leg at a time as it is hard to close the door with a spare leg trailing out! Getting out though is another thing altogether and you need a push from your legs unless you are an olympic gymnast. Best of luck with it. The one Euro country l have yet to take my car is Netherlands, so perhaps next summer eh.
james said:
How do you operate the clutch with one hand, and change gear with the other? It sounds tricky?James
In simple terms, the Clutch Control system allows the engagement of the clutch via the normal action of gripping the gear shift knob when changing gear instead of engaging the clutch via the foot pedal. Gripping the knob activates an internally mounted tilt micro-switch in the knob assembly, this event is processed by an ECU, which issues the respective control signals to various parts of an hydraulic system.
Marc Haynes has used this system on his race prepared 911, with good results in the Porsche Classic Cup series. My main problem with the clutch/throttle/brake setup on the Griffith is it's not possible to simulate heel and toe, so the brakes get a bit of a caning on track days.
BTW Does your father still have his TVR? I haven't seen him at the Dorset TVRCC meets recently, so I hope he's OK.
Dave
We've been using an electric powered "Twin Clutch" on the Paradigm (see www.willyrose.com/paradigm/car.htm) from day 1 - supplied by RSE developments in London.
It uses the cable out of a (don't laugh) windscreen wiper motor to operate the clutch pedal or, in our case, the master cylinder direct.
In conventional installations it's operated by a button on top of the gear lever. You operate the clutch by pressing the button with your thumb as you change gear, remembering to let go of the button to release the clutch.
Micro-switches and some neat circuitry release the clutch either slowly or quickly depending on whether you'd starting from rest or changing gear on the move.
A wheel speed sensor can be used to depress the clutch automatically as you come to rest so you don't have to worry about getting your knickers knotted as you learn how to use it.
>> Edited by Busa on Saturday 9th November 11:03
It uses the cable out of a (don't laugh) windscreen wiper motor to operate the clutch pedal or, in our case, the master cylinder direct.
In conventional installations it's operated by a button on top of the gear lever. You operate the clutch by pressing the button with your thumb as you change gear, remembering to let go of the button to release the clutch.
Micro-switches and some neat circuitry release the clutch either slowly or quickly depending on whether you'd starting from rest or changing gear on the move.
A wheel speed sensor can be used to depress the clutch automatically as you come to rest so you don't have to worry about getting your knickers knotted as you learn how to use it.
>> Edited by Busa on Saturday 9th November 11:03
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