Why did he do it?

[GG33]

I'm really torn now........Having finally talked myself into going down the Ultima route. LuckyP decides to sell his in favour of a Porsche. Now I thought that Ultima's were just that...(the Ultimate) Everything I read says they are the fastest accelearating/ fastest this/fastest whatever known to man. Okay , seriously faster than just about everything else out there (always the odd exception perhaps) But hearing LP's story, that may not be the case? So now I'm confused. So tell me, with an LS7 just how good is a GTR going to be? Surely better than a GT3 / TT / GT2 even a GT3RS perhaps? What is it that makes them hard to live with? What is it like to live with one as your fun car? Spill the beans...!

Thanks

GG

[GTR One]

The only thing the GTR lacks is probably refinement. Even the best finished versions are quite 'raw' in comparison the cars you've mentioned - I like that aspect of the car though and deliberately kept it like that. I've clocked up a trouble free 1000 miles now on my LS7 engined GTR. I can pootle around all day in city traffic without issue and except for a slightly heavier clutch and steering, it's no different than my Mondeo! Ok it's a bit shorter in the space department - but a GT3 is no estate car

The whole car has been totally reliable and I don't expect that to change. I guess maybe the SBC engined cars may be a little different from what I can gather though...?

[San Diego GTR]

GG,
I agree with Liam, but add that the GTR is a car you can continually tinker with to improve and customize, or as he calls it, refine. The thing that keeps me away from a production car at this time is the aspect of it being a hobby for me to tinker with. To be specific, I don't mean repair when I say tinker. I have about 2500 miles on my LS7 powered GTR and it has been fantastic! If I were to get a Z06 or GT3 or any other production car, what could I do to it other than wash it? I know there are a few mods to do, but they aren't really meant for lots of customizing or you'll void the warranty. And isn't the warranty one of the bigger selling points of a production car?

Someday, I may tire of this, but that doesn't mean the GTR is any less of a car than the GT3 or whatever I choose to buy. I would love to run with a GT3 anytime and am confident that I won't get embarrassed. I think Lucky P would agree.
Paul

[Steve_D]

GG
I don't have an LS7 so my 508HP is harder to come by in an SBC. The engine is not as refined but it serves me well and I will improve it. I built the car because that is what I wanted to do. Driving it is not as important.

When using LP as you reference point and trying to understand his move you are forgetting that he has now taken up racing so his focus has moved. Plus he also admits to have a limited attention span when it comes to cars.

Steve

[LuckyP]

GG33 said:

I'm really torn now........Having finally talked myself into going down the Ultima route. LuckyP decides to sell his in favour of a Porsche. Now I thought that Ultima's were just that...(the Ultimate) Everything I read says they are the fastest accelearating/ fastest this/fastest whatever known to man. Okay , seriously faster than just about everything else out there (always the odd exception perhaps) But hearing LP's story, that may not be the case? So now I'm confused. So tell me, with an LS7 just how good is a GTR going to be? Surely better than a GT3 / TT / GT2 even a GT3RS perhaps? What is it that makes them hard to live with? What is it like to live with one as your fun car? Spill the beans...!

Thanks

GG

Hi Greg,

I really hope that I haven't put you off considering an Ultima! None of my posts were ever meant to undermine the ability of the product and the enjoyment/excitement that WILL come your way if you deside to buy or build one.

To clear it up, I had reached a crossroads in mine. Stick with it and tinker or turn off the route and go for something different where your enjoyment comes in other areas.

Anyone that has been in my old car will know it's about as refined as you can get, carpet, sound deadening, stereo, rear camera etc.

It is all about what you want from the car.

If you want to be (relatively) unique and stand out from a crowd at every oportunity - get a GTR.

If you want to join the (relative) masses of Porsche enthusiasts then go for the Pork (looks like you're already there on that one )

I expect the GT3 to:

Be faster (not quicker)then my Ult.
Use less oil.
Be serviced at an OPC.
Be more frugal with fuel.
Be st up as Porsche wanted it from day one!!

Having driven both I can't stress how different they are in terms of the event. I guess the best way of describing to the Porsche fraterinty what an Ultima is nearer to, is to tell them to watch videos of the 962 Lemans racer with the scenery coming at and past you at warp speed!!

So if you had to say to a Porsche chap what would you rather have one drive in - they'd probably say the 962. If you asked them what one they would want to drive and live with every day - they might say the GT3.

(if you asked that of a Ult bod they'd say the 962!!!)

The answer (unless you already have done this) is to take a Test Drive. You will know immediatlely what I'm TRYING to say, and more importantly, you'll know if it's right for you.

What a nice place to be though.

Good luck.

Lucky

Edited by LuckyP on Monday 20th April 07:35

[GG33]

Thanks Pete.....That partly answers my question, however, I notice you say that you expect the GT3 to be faster (not quicker) than your Ult! I noticed that you said something similar in a previous post. To be honest, I dont understand the difference. Do you mean faster in a straight line vs quicker around a circuit? I perhaps incorrectly assumed that a well sorted Ultima would be both faster (top speed) and quicker around a circuit (aka Top Gear test times) and this is what led to my original post.

I understand about the day-to-day living with it, so is it that yours was just never set up 100% correctly? (I expect to be completely wrong there) or maybe it's not being an LS7?

I am interested in the build process as much as the ownership experience, but would hate to get it all done only to find that any old GT2 will have it for breakfast.....

GG

[Paul.B]

I think when people say one car is faster (not quicker) than another is the difference between top speed and acceleration.
EG an Ultima may do 0 - 100 in say 7sec and the GT3 may take 9secs (Both guesses) but the GT3 can do 185mph and the Ultima is all up at 175mph (because of short gearing and lower max revs) Therefore the GT3 is faster - higher top speed. The Ultima is quicker - accelerates faster!


Still confused? God my brain hurts!


Paul.B

[spatz]

ok a longer gear is solving this problem along with a LS7 which I will programm a rev limit of 7500 then it should me much faster and quicker as most of what will try to pass me......

[738 driver]

If you plan your build spec carefully, keeping abreast of the modern competiton should not really present a problem GG.
I think many owners past and present would agree that performance per pound the Ultima is still well ahead of most cars and is usually beyond most drivers limits.
Against a top-end Porsche?.... sort of like comparing a GSXR1000 to a Blackbird, two very lively machines....around the track the Gixer will be out there ahead but after a track session, which would you rather ride on the 200 mile journey home!

[LuckyP]

Paul.B said:

I think when people say one car is faster (not quicker) than another is the difference between top speed and acceleration.
EG an Ultima may do 0 - 100 in say 7sec and the GT3 may take 9secs (Both guesses) but the GT3 can do 185mph and the Ultima is all up at 175mph (because of short gearing and lower max revs) Therefore the GT3 is faster - higher top speed. The Ultima is quicker - accelerates faster!


Still confused? God my brain hurts!


Paul.B

Exactly right. But again, theis is a 550bhp with std ratios.

600+ bhp and trick ratios or higher rev limit and...well...where do you want to stop!!??

[MHunter]

I have AmerSpeed's 640hp dry sump engine, and I changed the gear stack in my G50/01. Theoretical top speed is 217 mph with the recommended tire size from the factory.

[V8Dom]

GG33 said:

I'm really torn now........Having finally talked myself into going down the Ultima route. LuckyP decides to sell his in favour of a Porsche. Now I thought that Ultima's were just that...(the Ultimate) Everything I read says they are the fastest accelearating/ fastest this/fastest whatever known to man. Okay , seriously faster than just about everything else out there (always the odd exception perhaps) But hearing LP's story, that may not be the case? So now I'm confused. So tell me, with an LS7 just how good is a GTR going to be? Surely better than a GT3 / TT / GT2 even a GT3RS perhaps? What is it that makes them hard to live with? What is it like to live with one as your fun car? Spill the beans...!

Thanks

GG

ive been going through the same as well recently after selling my v8 toy for wanting an ultima..... I have now spoken to Pete and asked the same question except i was compareing a 996tt and an ultima. The comparrision was very simular and there were pro's and cons on both sides

porsche does 30mpg on a run,has great boot and back seats for more Lemans booze, all the refinements and you could drive to the south of france fresh asd a daisy. it also has ABS, traction etc etc and if chipped will give ultima a good run for the money but is expensive to insure, and must have stamped service book to retail value,also and this is a BIG also it feels like a normal car until you put your foot down....see below why this is a problem to me....

ultima does 12-14mpg, no boot, shoulder to shoulder with passenger, cant open those bloody windows, and is basically a raw racing car on the road, but cheaper to insure than the porker as its a kit car and like classic cars the owners look after them...also you can service it for 100 quid and no service book needed.

I was so convinced the Porsche was the way to go i shot down to surrey on saturday and looked at a X50 which i really like, but????????

Now the but....Im not wealthy as i balls'd up school and college ive ended up as a mechanic with a public school background, money is very tight even without children... If im spending 30k on a porsche i want more than a standard common car(and they are common as muck in Cheshire) that if i drive arround at legal speeds gives me no more thrills than my 10 year old peugeot. But if i had an ultima, wow what a pose, Every time i jumped in the seat and pressed the start button, id hear music to my ears and everyone walking along the pavement would get in the road and bow............... But guys please buy the porsche as there will be more ultimas for me to look at , and if anyone knows any at reasonable money please let me know as im dyeing to attach my ROU 5H number plate to my new toy

[LuckyP]

Good lad Dom

The fact is that trying to compare an Ultima with a Porsche just ain't comparing apples wiv apples. If you want THAT buzz, you ain't gonna get it with a slice of Pork. And I'm including CGTs and GT2. Probably only in a Ruf CTR3....but even that will be refined in comparison.

[Gulf -LS2]

i can understand Petes choice....

but i do think you can make a Ultima very civilised, as demonstrated by Simon Bookers lovely LS2 powered car, which will get better and better..... it does need a nice blower though mate??

I think Dom is spot on though.... drive down the road in a Porker and no one will even bat an eyelid, drive down the same road in a Ult and its a very different story.

[V8Dom]

Gulf -LS2 said:

i can understand Petes choice....

but i do think you can make a Ultima very civilised, as demonstrated by Simon Bookers lovely LS2 powered car, which will get better and better..... it does need a nice blower though mate??

I think Dom is spot on though.... drive down the road in a Porker and no one will even bat an eyelid, drive down the same road in a Ult and its a very different story.

so all i need now is an Ultima at the right money... or a porker for a year or so, let the prices go back up and buy a ultima with all the profits...hahha

[budala]

I don't think Porsche is faster or quicker than Ultima GTR.
My Ultima GTR with AS 540hp engine (but 440 hp on the bench) is 0,2sec faster
on the HTTT Paul Ricard (5,8 kms) than my beloved 996 GT2 with 640 hp (Techart).
And I won the last three Porsche'races made on that track with my GT2 vs Carrera GT,
997 GT2 or turbo or GT3 and GT3RS...
Surely my GT2 is more comfortable and useable than the GTR, more economic too.
But the GTR is another world...

[LuckyP]

budala said:

I don't think Porsche is faster or quicker than Ultima GTR.
My Ultima GTR with AS 540hp engine (but 440 hp on the bench) is 0,2sec faster
on the HTTT Paul Ricard (5,8 kms) than my beloved 996 GT2 with 640 hp (Techart).
And I won the last three Porsche'races made on that track with my GT2 vs Carrera GT,
997 GT2 or turbo or GT3 and GT3RS...
Surely my GT2 is more comfortable and useable than the GTR, more economic too.
But the GTR is another world...

What's your GT2's top speed? What's the Ult's?

If the answer is more for the GT2 - then it's faster.

What is the 0-60 for the same?

If the answer is the Ult then it's quicker.

Make sense?

Pete

Edited by LuckyP on Wednesday 22 April 14:43

[GTRCLIVE]

Sorry top speed GT2 faster did I miss somehting..... AKA 231mph+ dam thats one fast any GT Porker...

[d3vine]

In stock form without modifying the gearbox ratios of any G50 gearboxes, the top speed of an Ultima isn't as fast in the top speed bracket in comparison to the Porsche GT2/3. However, the 231 mph stated by Ultima is gearing limited and ever since the Nurburgring attempt, they now offer that gear ratio for that 231 mph. So therefore, if you have that gear ratio and sufficient amount of hp to push it to that speed, the GT2/3 aren't as fast.

Furthermore, it's quite obvious an Ultima is quicker than a Porsche GT2/3. As to refinement, confort, and modern electronics, the Porsche GT2/3 has the Ultima beat.

So in conclusion, an Ultima can be faster than Porsche GT2/3 but most likely quicker.

[LuckyP]

So has a GTR gone 231mph?