Another potential buyer thread
Discussion
Hi
I had a brief drive in a friends GTR and fell in love with the rawness of the car. My budget is ~50k so would be looking to pick up one within that, hopefully for a bit less to have some left over for full inspections/repairs/inspections etc
Ive got some concerns though: Since I would mostly use it as a track car (replacing a caged e46 m3) how reliable are they when running at hot temperatures - Ive got little mechanical know how and worst, no space (public garage) to even attempt at working on it.
Ive also read loads of review on the power performance of these cars but not heard much about handling characteristics, is a properly setup car a weapon to drive on track or is it more straight line speed orientated?
My last concern is the saftey aspect of it. Any info here?
Appreciate your input
I had a brief drive in a friends GTR and fell in love with the rawness of the car. My budget is ~50k so would be looking to pick up one within that, hopefully for a bit less to have some left over for full inspections/repairs/inspections etc
Ive got some concerns though: Since I would mostly use it as a track car (replacing a caged e46 m3) how reliable are they when running at hot temperatures - Ive got little mechanical know how and worst, no space (public garage) to even attempt at working on it.
Ive also read loads of review on the power performance of these cars but not heard much about handling characteristics, is a properly setup car a weapon to drive on track or is it more straight line speed orientated?
My last concern is the saftey aspect of it. Any info here?
Appreciate your input
stef1808 said:
Hi
I had a brief drive in a friends GTR and fell in love with the rawness of the car. My budget is ~50k so would be looking to pick up one within that, hopefully for a bit less to have some left over for full inspections/repairs/inspections etc
Ive got some concerns though: Since I would mostly use it as a track car (replacing a caged e46 m3) how reliable are they when running at hot temperatures - Ive got little mechanical know how and worst, no space (public garage) to even attempt at working on it.
Ive also read loads of review on the power performance of these cars but not heard much about handling characteristics, is a properly setup car a weapon to drive on track or is it more straight line speed orientated?
My last concern is the saftey aspect of it. Any info here?
Appreciate your input
The only issues with heat seem to appear in dense traffic, there are all sorts of remedies but IMO the main thing would be run an LS rather than SBC as they have larger cooling galleries and overall are more efficient.I had a brief drive in a friends GTR and fell in love with the rawness of the car. My budget is ~50k so would be looking to pick up one within that, hopefully for a bit less to have some left over for full inspections/repairs/inspections etc
Ive got some concerns though: Since I would mostly use it as a track car (replacing a caged e46 m3) how reliable are they when running at hot temperatures - Ive got little mechanical know how and worst, no space (public garage) to even attempt at working on it.
Ive also read loads of review on the power performance of these cars but not heard much about handling characteristics, is a properly setup car a weapon to drive on track or is it more straight line speed orientated?
My last concern is the saftey aspect of it. Any info here?
Appreciate your input
some use "waterless coolant" to avoid boil overs, NB. the engine will over heat just the same just not spill its coolant out which could be a plus on track.
I think its fair to say these cars need a sympathetic owner to tweak and fettle the odd squeak or rattle over time, (garage space) or a reliable mechanic..
As for safety, who knows? these are low production cars so aren't subject to the same testing as the mainstream, suffice to say they have a roll-cage, some GTR's have FIA type (option) and I believe all of the evolution models are FIA.
Personally I think they aren't too bad in a crash seen some anecdotal evidence after spectacular looking pile ups with these cars looking smashed but occupants still alive!
As for handling see link below:
well and truly modified (what race cars aren't) for reliability. but handling should not be a worry it would run rings around the E46 on track.
http://us12.campaign-archive2.com/?u=04b235fab69fd...
FC,
Not sure you can compare a GT3 class race car with a typical road Ultima on track - that car is significantly quicker on track than any regular Ultima
However, set up correctly they are a blast and very quick on track. I've done a lot of trouble free days in mine, have only been passed by a single car, a race radical on slicks driven by a championship winner. Normal road cars are not even close, so you may suffer a degree of frustration being held up sometimes. An M3 as you probably know, is a very easy car to drive quickly as they're so well balanced, so you would probably need to be a little cautious trying to drive an Ultima like one
If you do track days you will need a maintenance programme, just like you would for any low volume car, so checking of bushes, driveshafts, hubs, connections etc fairly regularly and if you get a bushed car rather than rose jointed, expect to replace the rears yearly - a simple and cheap job. Quite often owners won't put a good enough brake fluid in for track days, so unless you know it's God enough, budget to change fluid and pads - motul rbf600 or 660 works well with Pagid pads, no surprises there.
Some people say the track tyres don't last well, but I got 5k out of the rears and 7 out of the fronts, these are Kumhos and was a mix of road and track.
Reliability wise, they're as reliable as other cars as long as they're built well, so get someone to come along with you and pay particular attention to the fuel system and heat protection. Heat protection can be added easily, a little trip ore tricky to pull out and replace the fuel system.
As FC says, try and go for an LS engine, good reliable power, but again, pay attention to the install and fuel set up - with fuelling I think the simpler the better.
For good track performance. Thank the geometry needs to be fairly aggressive and you could really do with one with a splitter as they have a tendency to under steer.
Depending on what you can get one for, if you have budget left for wider front wishbones, you can get wider front wheels and tyres....
I'm hoping to be at Bedford in July, if you're there will gladly take you out.
Cheers
Not sure you can compare a GT3 class race car with a typical road Ultima on track - that car is significantly quicker on track than any regular Ultima
However, set up correctly they are a blast and very quick on track. I've done a lot of trouble free days in mine, have only been passed by a single car, a race radical on slicks driven by a championship winner. Normal road cars are not even close, so you may suffer a degree of frustration being held up sometimes. An M3 as you probably know, is a very easy car to drive quickly as they're so well balanced, so you would probably need to be a little cautious trying to drive an Ultima like one
If you do track days you will need a maintenance programme, just like you would for any low volume car, so checking of bushes, driveshafts, hubs, connections etc fairly regularly and if you get a bushed car rather than rose jointed, expect to replace the rears yearly - a simple and cheap job. Quite often owners won't put a good enough brake fluid in for track days, so unless you know it's God enough, budget to change fluid and pads - motul rbf600 or 660 works well with Pagid pads, no surprises there.
Some people say the track tyres don't last well, but I got 5k out of the rears and 7 out of the fronts, these are Kumhos and was a mix of road and track.
Reliability wise, they're as reliable as other cars as long as they're built well, so get someone to come along with you and pay particular attention to the fuel system and heat protection. Heat protection can be added easily, a little trip ore tricky to pull out and replace the fuel system.
As FC says, try and go for an LS engine, good reliable power, but again, pay attention to the install and fuel set up - with fuelling I think the simpler the better.
For good track performance. Thank the geometry needs to be fairly aggressive and you could really do with one with a splitter as they have a tendency to under steer.
Depending on what you can get one for, if you have budget left for wider front wishbones, you can get wider front wheels and tyres....
I'm hoping to be at Bedford in July, if you're there will gladly take you out.
Cheers
Someone posted a while back about getting one they wanted to buy inspected - this is good advice, there are a few companies outside the factory that are very knowledge on Ultimas, so depending where you are in the country, or where a car you're interested is, pay to get it inspected. Money worth spending for sure.
Good luck in your search.
Good luck in your search.
Can't see any LS cars for sale?
The green one was a good one, but is now sold.
There was a black one for sale but seems to have gone. Do a search, someone was going to buy it but didn't go ahead, was only about a month ago I think. It was about 42k if I remember, so you'd have budget to track prep if it was a decent ca.
The green one was a good one, but is now sold.
There was a black one for sale but seems to have gone. Do a search, someone was going to buy it but didn't go ahead, was only about a month ago I think. It was about 42k if I remember, so you'd have budget to track prep if it was a decent ca.
deadscoob said:
FC,
Not sure you can compare a GT3 class race car with a typical road Ultima on track - that car is significantly quicker on track than any regular Ultima
For good track performance. Thank the geometry needs to be fairly aggressive and you could really do with one with a splitter as they have a tendency to under steer.
Ref: the Mac G link I did say well and truly Modified, just put it out there as to what "could" be done.Not sure you can compare a GT3 class race car with a typical road Ultima on track - that car is significantly quicker on track than any regular Ultima
For good track performance. Thank the geometry needs to be fairly aggressive and you could really do with one with a splitter as they have a tendency to under steer.
I think an anti roll bar (front at least) would benefit track work, I've been playing with an in car "adjustable blade" roll bar set up for my car, another on a long list of mods to develop.
I wouldn't discount a SBC car for the track as long as it's properly sorted. They are certainly easier to work on. Mine has recently had the evolution fans and grill set installed that coupled with a new rad fans switch and it never runs over 85 degrees even in heavy traffic on the M25
deadscoob said:
Can't see any LS cars for sale?
The green one was a good one, but is now sold.
There was a black one for sale but seems to have gone. Do a search, someone was going to buy it but didn't go ahead, was only about a month ago I think. It was about 42k if I remember, so you'd have budget to track prep if it was a decent ca.
I think that the black one was once red and has been for sale since God was a boy. I did try to go and see it when I was looking (and it was still red) but they were a pain to get hold of. From memory the car is a SBC without A/C although I'm willing to be corrected on that front as it was several years ago.The green one was a good one, but is now sold.
There was a black one for sale but seems to have gone. Do a search, someone was going to buy it but didn't go ahead, was only about a month ago I think. It was about 42k if I remember, so you'd have budget to track prep if it was a decent ca.
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