Just for a chat..

Let's suppose you were considering buying a "sports GT / GTM" type of car(*). Let's say it's your first car of this type. Because of this and because they are expensive, you decide to aim at the less expensive ones, as you think they will be nice enough. You don't want some '80 crappy replica with Renault 21 turbo running gear but you are not considering a Pagani Zonda either, if you know what I mean. You want the lower end, but still the lower end of the real thing.

WHAT WOULD YOU GET??

Personally, for these, I favour coupe / cabin cars over convertible or roofless. A few choices I'm liking, in meaningful order (I'm not convinced by the last few ones):

-Ferrari F355 (manual non-F1). The price for the first "good" Ferrari (as in it's likely to start when you turn the key) has been decreasing and now you can get one of these engineering wonders for roughly the same price as a kit car of this type (brand new turn key or second hand depending on which). It's a heavy car at 1440 kg but it has tons more development behind than any. It's maintenance costs are likely the highest but are they compensated by the higher ride quality?

-Ultima GTR, 2nd hand. Apparently it's a very fine development, the chassis concept is very modern and it's a very light car that was made for the track, with hardly any trim. Cheaper to run than the Ferrari and much lighter, is it as "wow" to drive? You get a lot less stuff for the money, but is that a bad thing?

-Factory Five GTM (USA). Very fine car, costing $20k + engine / transmission + Corvette C5 donor parts (quite a few, and not cheap). High quality everywhere. Also light (for the level of trim, equipment and finish) and spaceframe. Nothing to do with the GTR, more with the F355?

-Race car replicas (USA). Recently, a guy on this forum called my attention over these. They are priced at about $42k-$44k for a comprehensive kit (needs engine / transmission and not much more). They are very fine replicas of Le Mans icons (GT40, T70, 330 P4), featuring a nice aluminium monocoque. They are therefore heavier than spaceframes. Do the fantastic looks compensate for the cost and the extra weight?

-Superlite (USA). The race car replicas guys are working on something. It has an aluminium spaceframe chassis (not sure I like that), with lots of purpose made CNC bits. It's not known if it will be any good when it comes out, or any ideas on cost.

-Saker (Australia based). I'm not too sure it diserves to be here as it's some kind of "smaller brother", but its popularity has been increasing over the last few years there in Britain. It's also light and spaceframe. Their competition results don't seem very impressive so far as far as I remember.


(*)Do you call these "sports GT" or "GTM" cars at all? I don't know the proper name for a sports car which is wide track, mid engined with a big and powerful engine, I think "supercar" (as some manufacturers call their ones) is a little "big" for them.

Opinions?

F355: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=192
GTR: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=188
FFR GTM: http://www.factoryfive.com/gtmhome.html
Race Car Replicas: http://www.race-car-replicas.com/
Superlite: http://www.superlitecars.com/
Saker: http://www.sakereurope.com/

can open, worms everywhere

[Edited on 4-12-07 by speedyxjs]

mosler M900 .

i used to work there

[Edited on 4/12/07 by Volvorsport]

The NSX is a steel monocoque, heavy and underpowered (compared to the ones I mentioned).

The Jag is nothing to do with the concept of car I said!

The Mosler is something I had never seen before.. I'm liking it, will read about it.. how much are these?

BTW remember the Minotaur? What happened to that, the car looked massive.

Those Moslers cost £100k!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=11571

Sorry missed that bit

How about a Banks rebuilt Lotus europa? url=http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/welcome.htm]linky[/url]
Up to date classic with good choice of ower plant. Engine in right place customisable to your requirement and British!





Nice!
Caber

quote:

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Originally posted by speedyxjs
Sorry missed that bit

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or a darrian of course .

tarmac championship winners , like the banks europa only better .

quote:

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Originally posted by caber
How about a Banks rebuilt Lotus europa? linky
Up to date classic with good choice of ower plant. Engine in right place customisable to your requirement and British!

Nice!
Caber

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quote:

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Originally posted by Volvorsport
or a darrian of course .

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or this perhaps.................



from Skelta

I vote ULTIMA. It's got the locost concept taken a step further. But then again, I have access to all the engine parts two kms away from me and you may not.

Colin Chapman designed the Europa as a Seven replacement, the first series were as basic as an Elise or even more so! the second series were mini GT cars with all the engineering flare of a supercar except in the engine department, the original ones used a Renault engine and gearbox that worked OK the later ones used a Lotus twin cam engine.

They are not big cars the later type 62 is much more butch, it was designed as a racer and could take abigger engine. My preference is for an original shape one with something like a modern V6 , 3 litres should be adequate and the right engine will give the right smoothness and noise for a proper GT. The thing is very light so should move pretty quickly and with Chapman designed chassis and suspension will go round corners. Anyone who feels like it can give me one for Christmas

OK I'll even take an original one that needs work

Caber


PS like a real supercar virtually no luggage space!

[Edited on 12/5/2007 by caber]

The Skelta thing doesn't look like a £58k car to me, also is that not front-mid engined and quite narrow for a GT? I haven't been able to find a single picture on their website that would tell me the engine location