Some questions about Can-Am

[chiz]

Hello,

Thanks for your responses to questions about the GTR. I have a few questions about the Can-Am. As you can see, it looks like I've got the Ultima bug

a) Is the only difference between the GTR and the Can-Am the roof?
i.e. can I have a high performance Can-Am as fast as the GTR?
And how effective is the canvas roof it is starts chucking it down? I have a Caterham and the weather protection when you need it is fine so I'm not comparing the Can-Am to a Mercedes CL or anything for weather proofing.

b) I have a photo of a Can-Am with full windscreen (the one in the online brochure) and it has side windows that are half the size of the
standard ones. Do you simply inter-change these manually with the full size windows? I know the windows don't wind down, don't care about that.

c) Does the car have a limited slip diff? If not what are the implications of not having a LSD on road and on track? I have one on my TVR Tuscan and Caterham R400.

d) Is there any point in having a heater/aircon if buying the Can-Am? Can't see any point myself. There is no heater in my Caterham.

I've already had an insurance quote from MSM (£100 more than my Tuscan) so I'm *very* seriously considering ordering a fully built and SVAed Can-Am or GTR. Delivery time is 6 months.

Thanks for your time,
Lee

[Steve_D]

Lee
CanAm is pretty much as you say – no roof.
I’m told the roof is very good. It certainly looks OK.

Don’t know about the windows.

The car will have a LSD if you buy a ‘box with that option. Choice is yours but I don’t think many do have LSD.

If you have a full screen i.e. with the soft top you will have to have demist (heater) for SVA.
At a standstill hot air comes out of the cowling on the engine cover and wafts down into the cockpit so A/C would be a good idea. See other threads for possible cures.
Steve

[gtrclive]

Why not save your self 20 grand and buy a used car. Factory cars are some where between 55 and 65, but you can buy a High Spec used GTR for 45K. Maybe even Mine....... or if you want a Can-Am Andy is sellig his. Just look at the Classified section of this sight.. Test Rides always a Pleasure

[daydreamer]

The other differences that are worth noting are that the Can-Am can't have the full FIA roll cage, and you can't get a stig type engine in (so power is limited to somewhere in the mid 500's bhp from the standard AS catalogue).

I'd personally go for the full screen Can-Am, but with heating and possibly Air Con. Just bought a race car though , so no Ultima for a couple of years now .

[chiz]

So what is the difference between the standard roll cage and the FIA approved one, other than the obvious: it is FIA approved.

I would not be racing with the car so is this an issue?

Thanks

[Brian Jackett]

I am sure you can get more then 500hp without going the Super charge route.

Pretty sure AS do an engine 427 which is 600hp + and not supercgharged.

[Stig]

Brian Jackett said:

I am sure you can get more then 500hp without going the Super charge route. Pretty sure AS do an engine 427 which is 600hp + and not supercgharged.

You can - but the idle characteristics would make it a complete pain in the ar$e on the road as the cams are rather lumpy to say the least!!!

[eclipsar]

My 427 with 550hp idles like a dream, not lumpy at all.

Regards
Chris

[ultimaandy]

Dont forget the canam is around 80kgs lighter with the full screen hood etc, than a GTR of the same spec with FIA cage.

So you need more power in a GTR just to keep up

canamsruleok

Oh, and insurance should be much cheaper than a TVR, try MSM or another 'Kit car' specialist.

[ultimaandy]

Forgot to add that I have the hood and have used it in terential rain and I find it more than adequate, if your happy with the 7's roof then the Ultima one will be no problem.

andycanam

[chiz]

Hello Andy,

I'm already with MSM for my Caterham, they have quoted me £100 more than I currently pay for my Tuscan, which sounds OK.

I've seen pictures of your Can-Am on your site. One picture shows full size side windows, another the half size side windows. Are these simply manually inter-changable?

Also, can the roof be stored in the front "bonnet"?

Thanks

[andycanam]

The side windows are manually interchangable, but to be hounest since fitting the larger ones I have never used (or re-fitted) the smaller ones.

The roof stores behind the seat or folds over the back of the car, there isn't room for anything under the front clip.
I've also been over 150mph with the roof up so there is no problem there either.

Andy

[andycanam]

Brian Jackett said:

I am sure you can get more then 500hp without going the Super charge route. Pretty sure AS do an engine 427 which is 600hp + and not supercgharged.

GMAN has over 650bhp from a NA AS chevy.