Questions about ownership: a/c, interior temps and usability

[SmokyTyrz]

Hi folks

First post. I need some Ultima info and this seems like the best place for it. I've surfed the FAQ's, read owner's diaries, and searched posts but still can't quite find the info I'm looking for.

I am currently looking at a 2010 Ultima GTR. I recently owned a Noble M400 and a Lotus Exige S. It was an extremely hot car on the inside, even after performing cooling mods. The a/c was semi effective but engine heat would get blasted into the interior through the transmission tunnel. Even in the winter it got too hot. Perfect car otherwise.

Is the Ultima GTR better or worse in terms of interior temp? Does the available a/c kit work well? Is the interior a tolerable place to be? I live in south Louisiana, USA where we see 80-100% humidity and 110F summer days. This will be a weekend car but I'd still like to not be limited to driving on cooler days as we don't get many here.

How about interior space? Is it larger or smaller on the inside than a Noble M400? How about compared to the Exige S? I'm avg height, about 5'10", and avg build. But when the wife or other friends are riding shotgun it is nice to still have a little elbow room and not be rubbing shoulders like in the Exige.

Being an LS7 drivetrain I assume the performance and daily driveability should be impeccable. Are there any concerns or things I should look out for when shopping used/pre-built examples?

Are these cars well built? Reliable? Do they look like kit cars? The Noble, IMHO, did not look like a kit car. It was a few notches above. Not many, but a few. Where does the Ultima rank? Word of mouth is that the Ultima is production quality but those reviews tend to come from folks with 15 minutes of experience doing a review. What do owners have to say about the build quality? Is it up to par? Body lines symmetrical and even? Interior solid? Cowl shake? Rattles? The Noble and Exige were noisy but it was boost, drivetrain, and road noise, there were no rattles or "loose car" sounds. What can I expect with the Ultima?


Thanks very much for reading !

[Verde]

You haven't mentioned much about the build regarding whether there have been any mods to the HVAC system but from what I know and have heard, the HVAC system, particularly the A/C system when operated in warm environments is a weak link in the car. The size of the condenser, the cockpit vent sizes and locations all come together to limit the interior cooling capability. As a result, with a good size greenhouse, sustaining a comfortable environment on hot days (warmer than 85-90 degrees in direct sunlight, mid to greater humidity) is a real challenge. I know of a few in the California area who feel that this is one of the few weaknesses of the car.
I was fortunate in that the builder of the car I now own (he built it and raced it for some years) lived in Florida where heat and humidity is more challenging than here in the U.S. West. So I believe he added a second condenser, built a new plenum behind the center of the dash and added three large Ford-OEM vents. No matter how hot it is, there is cool air blowing at sufficient volumes to keep the cabin cool. Frankly I don't know how one would drive the car in hot weather with the standard system. I just returned from Monterey (where I showed the car at the Concourso Italiano) and though quite warm out, I was quite comfortable.
I do not know how practical it is to retro such changes in a stock car. And it's likely that in it's native environment (U.K.) the system is sufficient for most days.
All that said, by any other reasonable measure the car is outstanding. I would look to see if someone could make some form of the modifications I outlined if you felt the need. The car is just too good to let this aspect prevent you from owning one.
Hope that helps,
V

Edited by Verde on Sunday 18th August 03:27

Edited by Verde on Sunday 18th August 03:29

[SmokyTyrz]

That's a great reply and very helpful! I am jealous you were able to attend the Monterrey events this year. I very much wanted to bring my superleggera and attend the stampede. Wife approval and work conspired against me this year.

It sounds like the a/c is comparable to the Lotus, maybe a tad weaker. But it sounds livable. I'm not hearing about anything more than greenhouse effects in your reply. Those I can mitigate a bit (I mostly drive early AM, nights, etc). I was worried there might be cabin heating issues such as the Noble's engine heat chimney in the ebrake boot, or the Exige's oil line heat running along the door sills.

I have to admit I find your reply promising, even if it might not sound like the reply I was hoping for. or maybe i'm just that lovestruck right now.

I need to sell the SL first. Then it's gonna be time for a tough decision!

Thanks again for your help!