possible Ultima competitors
Discussion
which lesser-known car manufacturers are or are potentially capable of competing with the Ultima's performance? I'm not trying to open a can of worms, but with the recent thread on Aspira (i understand that they are not aiming to compete with Ultima) i just wondered how many other high-performance car manufacturers there might be; companies that come to my mind are manufacturers like Mosler and Radical which have experience with such high performance.
Come to an Ultima forum and you are likely to see a bias towards the Ultima.
That said on this side of the pond (US) Fran Hall's (a Brit) RCR SLC (Race Car Replicas - Superlite Coupe) is probably a real competitor and is taking potential sales away from Ultima's territory. I have to say if I were building right now it would be my choice too, I just like the more modern lines...
I hear that Jeff Schwartz of 1000HP Ultima Twin Turbo fame (who has his Ultima up for sale on the PH classifieds) is selling because he has placed an order for an SLC.
Not much out there by way of performance figures, but word is the SLC is blisteringly quick and stiffer than an Ultima. FWIW the Aspira is really just an SLC by another name...
Julian
That said on this side of the pond (US) Fran Hall's (a Brit) RCR SLC (Race Car Replicas - Superlite Coupe) is probably a real competitor and is taking potential sales away from Ultima's territory. I have to say if I were building right now it would be my choice too, I just like the more modern lines...
I hear that Jeff Schwartz of 1000HP Ultima Twin Turbo fame (who has his Ultima up for sale on the PH classifieds) is selling because he has placed an order for an SLC.
Not much out there by way of performance figures, but word is the SLC is blisteringly quick and stiffer than an Ultima. FWIW the Aspira is really just an SLC by another name...
Julian
Edited by JoulesCanAm on Wednesday 19th January 19:25
JoulesCanAm said:
FWIW the Aspira is really just an SLC by another name...
nahh an aspira has full road UK IVA compliancy with many changes to the "turnkey" or pile of bits that you get with an SLC - until someone gets a SLC in UK (which should be RCR) and reverses this an Aspira is an Aspira.... or if we want to get technical and FWIW an SLC is a KudzuGT..
Edited by craig7l on Wednesday 19th January 21:10
JoulesCanAm said:
FWIW the Aspira is really just an SLC by another name...
Yes it is and a well done one judging from pics. Craig can call it what he wants and for whatever reason he wants but the fact is that it still uses all the SL-C "pile of bits", even in the interior with the exception of the bespoke gauges. All the paneling on the interior of that car is from RCR. Craig just upholstered the panels and made them look first class. Craig7l said:
... or if we want to get technical and FWIW an SLC is a KudzuGT..
Fran has made no secret about the Kudzu's influence for the SL-C body. They are different though, and way more than your photochop comparison shows. The similarities end with the skin though, as under the body, the cars are completely different and I think you know that as would anyone with more than half a brain.As for an SL-C being competition for the Ultima, I'd be happy if they could reach 90% of the performance from an Ultima. That alone would make it perform better than just about anything else out there. I think in the end though, given the same exact trim levels, the cars may be right on par with one another. One advantage I do see as likely though is that the Ultima may come in at ~100+ pounds lighter so they may still have an advantage. That said, I'm basing my weight guesstimates on the info provided by the numerous GTR owners on this site and one SL-C.
listen guys..just to be clear and from someone that is fully qualified from experience to answer the question of the original post:
Pistonheads is predominately UK, the original poster is from UK, and Ultima is UK and the SLC for me was supposed to be IVA and compliant for the UK.
That understood, i can then say this:
It would take a very brave (or some could say silly - like me hehe) person to buy an SLC kit for the UK unless you have masses of time, skill, patience and deep pockets to achieve a road going car for the UK. That said, i would love someone else to do it..Go on RCR rise to the challange...!!! part2
The SLC is no more UK compliant than these:
www.sakercars.com or www.stealthcars.co.uk or http://www.factoryfive.com/gtmhome.html or http://www.lynxaelr1.co.uk/ or http://www.retoga.com/ ..... i could go on.....
Pistonheads is predominately UK, the original poster is from UK, and Ultima is UK and the SLC for me was supposed to be IVA and compliant for the UK.
That understood, i can then say this:
It would take a very brave (or some could say silly - like me hehe) person to buy an SLC kit for the UK unless you have masses of time, skill, patience and deep pockets to achieve a road going car for the UK. That said, i would love someone else to do it..Go on RCR rise to the challange...!!! part2
The SLC is no more UK compliant than these:
www.sakercars.com or www.stealthcars.co.uk or http://www.factoryfive.com/gtmhome.html or http://www.lynxaelr1.co.uk/ or http://www.retoga.com/ ..... i could go on.....
crafty said:
craig7l said:
or if we want to get technical and FWIW an SLC is a KudzuGT..
Better call the Times and get them to revise their story.The Asspeerer is a rip off of a rip off of a car that didnt go into production.
The Aspeerer is a UK compliant "rip off" of a rip off (thats peddled by a rip off replica merchant) from a race car.
If we can agree on this crafty we are finally getting somewhere... hehe
Edited by craig7l on Thursday 20th January 10:11
I think this thread can be summarised thus:
If you want supercar performance and looks in a proven package with excellent support and at a fair price, all good to go on UK (or for most of the rest of the world for that matter) - buy an Ultima.
If you want a nightmare for the sake of being 'different', look elsewhere.
Even if you're not a fan of the Ultimas styling/engineering, it would probably be far cheaper to use it as your base and modify the bodywork/interior as you see fit.
If you want supercar performance and looks in a proven package with excellent support and at a fair price, all good to go on UK (or for most of the rest of the world for that matter) - buy an Ultima.
If you want a nightmare for the sake of being 'different', look elsewhere.
Even if you're not a fan of the Ultimas styling/engineering, it would probably be far cheaper to use it as your base and modify the bodywork/interior as you see fit.
Nevertheless Craig...I for one genuinely think...all credit to you for turning what is reported by you as an initial disaster to something you can be really proud of!
Enjoy it...and take our ribbing banter as just that! We are all Petrol-heads together!
Look forward sometime to seeing it in the flesh!
...and if you have thick skin (which you appear to have)..come and bring your car to the Ultima factory day in July!
Regardless of this ribbing I think many of us would welcome you and enjoy the chat and seeing your car first-hand...(not sure about the factory though...but I guess they would! - why not?)
...What have I said?
All the best
Keith
Enjoy it...and take our ribbing banter as just that! We are all Petrol-heads together!
Look forward sometime to seeing it in the flesh!
...and if you have thick skin (which you appear to have)..come and bring your car to the Ultima factory day in July!
Regardless of this ribbing I think many of us would welcome you and enjoy the chat and seeing your car first-hand...(not sure about the factory though...but I guess they would! - why not?)
...What have I said?
All the best
Keith
Edited by V8 Vum on Thursday 20th January 10:44
nor matter what personal conflicts are there, I feel that there should be a consensus that Craig has ordered an IVA compliant car and paid good money for that and RCR did not deliver. You can say he was way too optimistic and should have asked himself if a replica manufacturer in the US can know the specific requirements in UK......probably not. There are bits on this car I would love to see in an Ultima, hence it is not a perfect world.....
btw I like how the car looks from the back.
btw I like how the car looks from the back.
Stig said:
I think this thread can be summarised thus:
If you want supercar performance and looks in a proven package with excellent support and at a fair price, all good to go on UK (or for most of the rest of the world for that matter) - buy an Ultima.
If you want a nightmare for the sake of being 'different', look elsewhere.
Even if you're not a fan of the Ultimas styling/engineering, it would probably be far cheaper to use it as your base and modify the bodywork/interior as you see fit.
totally agreed and very well put only bit i would add is this dilemna is magnified 10fold based on road legalising in the UKIf you want supercar performance and looks in a proven package with excellent support and at a fair price, all good to go on UK (or for most of the rest of the world for that matter) - buy an Ultima.
If you want a nightmare for the sake of being 'different', look elsewhere.
Even if you're not a fan of the Ultimas styling/engineering, it would probably be far cheaper to use it as your base and modify the bodywork/interior as you see fit.
V8 Vum - would be great to come along to an Ultima meet thanks.
spatz - thanks for your supporting comments
and on that note its sunny here at silverstone and dry so gonna take it for a spin then try out some new brand carnuba on it.. hopefuly stig will allow one more picture for now...hehehe
Edited by craig7l on Thursday 20th January 11:25
I was considering the SLC as an alternative to the GTR. Having read the threads here and elsewhere, I am glad my decision has been taken for the GTR. Also, seeing all the hassles and trouble getting the Aspira or whatever IVA compliant, I just can't imagine what it would be to get it compliant and certified in Swissyland 
I just wonder also what it would take, if possible (but then anything is possible if you have the time and cash) to get a TUV like certification 
Edited for corrections
I just wonder also what it would take, if possible (but then anything is possible if you have the time and cash) to get a TUV like certification Edited for corrections
Edited by UltimaCH on Thursday 20th January 12:48
Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff