NS Dev
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| posted on 23/10/07 at 05:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by tks
The ultima could get in the show but my opinion is that the kitcar manufactures arent serious enough with their cars
look at that Ultima it has a dashboard/interior wich you cant compare to any normal car untherstand???
if it would be nicer alla ferrari/toyota etc. etc. then i'm sure it would be more car and less road legal race car...
Tks
I know I always leap to Ultima's defence due to my obvious bias but.........
I have been on several trips to le mans and back from hinckley in leicestershire in ultima demo cars, and I can assure that they compete head to head
with the best of "supercars" in every respect.
Just because they don't have gaudy dashboards doesn't mean they don't have the necessary functions.
The car in the top gear test (and which I went to le mans in last year) is fitted with aircon which keeps you nice and chilled, electric remote
mirrors (to satisfy sva I believe) and a decent stereo and CD player believe it or not!!! (and yes you can hear it! )
Yes its not the most comfortable long distance car, but I have been in less comfortable small hatchbacks!
It also does a lot of things that most "supercars" can't, like get over big speedbumps without trashing the underside or front
bodywork!!!
It also doesn't break down (much, can't guarantee total reliability) in as much as I have been in ultimas for a good 3000 miles, with at
least 4 500 mile trips, and have never broken down yet. This is mainly due to simple design.....the KISS principle which all "supercar"
manufacturers seem to forget.
Now imagine what might happen if Ultima went all modern and actually fitted fuel injection or something else all space age to their demo car, the
720hp version is still a plain old holley carb.........reliable!!!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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JoelP
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| posted on 23/10/07 at 08:34 PM |
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NS Dev
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| posted on 23/10/07 at 08:51 PM |
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Just had a very interesting chat with my mate!!!
There is probably soon to be an interesting meeting of sh1t and fan, can't say much more on that one just yet.
The footage was NOT doctored, that is how it came off their cheap camera, so blame that if it skips!
It was all filmed professionally by "the motorsport company" and the car was fitted with a number of cameras, in keeping with a certain TV
programme's usual filming format.
The track was exactly as used by a certain tv programme, and might have been verified by people who may have connections to that programme.
The car was not driven by the car manufacturer, it was driven by someone that I'll leave to your imagination, just think about it, this person
may do work other than just for a certain programme.
Think thats about it until something surfaces more publicly, but I'm sure you can read between the lines.
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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mr henderson
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| posted on 24/10/07 at 06:50 AM |
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Is there an actual definition of 'production car'? I'm not sure that the Ultima would qualify. I'm sure that some of their
output is completed cars but they are basically a kit-car manufacturer.
That could constitute a reason for not featuring it on Top Gear.
To illustrate my point, how about if Gardner Douglas was to put together one of their T70 replicas a with a tuned LS7 engine and enter that as a
'production car'?
Also,I don't see Ferrari, Porsche etc offering their cars in component form.
These are not value judgements, BTW, I would very much like to have an Ultima despite the entry/exit difficulties.
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iank
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| posted on 24/10/07 at 08:26 AM |
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They put the Westfield XTR round, and I think a Marcos which both have very similar manufacturing arrangements IIRC.
Of course going on the program could ruin Ultima. How would they cope with a sudden couple of hundred extra orders?
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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tks
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| posted on 24/10/07 at 10:29 AM |
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Westfield is an car manufactuer and kitcar manufactures arent.
Westfield has his own chasis nummer sequence WMI. and thats something wich every kitcar producer should do. and will have in the future.
Sow basicly there is a difference between them.
Tks
its obvious that also i would like to have a ultima en for me the interior isn't such big deal. its just for the average person on this planet
liking cars that it makes the difference.
The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.
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NS Dev
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| posted on 24/10/07 at 10:45 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
Is there an actual definition of 'production car'? I'm not sure that the Ultima would qualify. I'm sure that some of their
output is completed cars but they are basically a kit-car manufacturer.
That could constitute a reason for not featuring it on Top Gear.
To illustrate my point, how about if Gardner Douglas was to put together one of their T70 replicas a with a tuned LS7 engine and enter that as a
'production car'?
Also,I don't see Ferrari, Porsche etc offering their cars in component form.
These are not value judgements, BTW, I would very much like to have an Ultima despite the entry/exit difficulties.
that's certainly a possibility.
I'm not sure about the ariel atom though, as that can't really be classed as a production car in the form in which it went round the
track.
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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NS Dev
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| posted on 24/10/07 at 10:46 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iank
They put the Westfield XTR round, and I think a Marcos which both have very similar manufacturing arrangements IIRC.
Of course going on the program could ruin Ultima. How would they cope with a sudden couple of hundred extra orders?
Another very valid point. I think "ruin" is probably ott, but it could cause a major headache I suppose!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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iank
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| posted on 24/10/07 at 10:46 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by tks
Westfield is an car manufactuer and kitcar manufactures arent.
Westfield has his own chasis nummer sequence WMI. and thats something wich every kitcar producer should do. and will have in the future.
Sow basicly there is a difference between them.
Tks
its obvious that also i would like to have a ultima en for me the interior isn't such big deal. its just for the average person on this planet
liking cars that it makes the difference.
I don't believe Westfield are a car manufacturer in any different way to Ultima. Both take advantage of low volume type approval afaik (in
exactly the same manner as Caterham and Ariel for that matter with the Atom). Roadrunner have just done the same for their single seater. It's
the only sane way a manufacturer can sell completed cars without having to SVA them all individually.
I kind of agree about the interior, but it still looks more of a road car than the stripped out Aston Martin road racer they had on Top Gear a few
weeks ago - and that didn't have air-con.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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NS Dev
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| posted on 29/10/07 at 11:20 AM |
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hmmm, BBC lawyers have been in touch....................watch this space for further news!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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thunderace
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| posted on 29/10/07 at 01:29 PM |
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cool i have been for a lap in a ultima it was at the scotish kitcar show (edinburgh showground ingliston)about 5 years ago i have it on video it was
very very quick and was like superglue on the track . it was yellow i just asked him would he take my round he said no prob it was a great buzz.
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Peteff
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| posted on 9/11/07 at 01:26 PM |
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Still watching for news.
Caparo T1 is doing the lap this week, might be worth watching.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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RickRick
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| posted on 9/11/07 at 01:41 PM |
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that's the one that caught fire isn't it?
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andyps
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| posted on 11/11/07 at 09:49 PM |
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The Caparo was quicker than the Ultima, by a significant margin. But would the Ultima pass the sleeping policeman test as it was driven for the record
run? It looks a bit low in the pictures.
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 11/11/07 at 10:43 PM |
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Zero chance of the Caparo making it over even a fairly mild speed bump. I think it's a fugly looking thing as well, though it's certainly
quick.
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 11/11/07 at 10:47 PM |
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1.10 by the fireball on this weeks top gear.
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iank
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| posted on 12/11/07 at 09:43 AM |
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Broke down a couple of times while Clarkson was driving.
Don't thing the Ultima runs lower than a Zonda which was allowed to keep its time.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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tks
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| posted on 19/11/07 at 11:46 AM |
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mhhh
look at this!
will be old anyway but its strange that if they do this they don'tinvite themon their track not?
Link
The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.
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wilkingj
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| posted on 19/11/07 at 03:34 PM |
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Hmm.. I got the distinct impression that the Ultima Run on that track is Nothing to do with Top Gear.
ie they ran their car, around the same airfield track that Top Gear also use.
I would love to see the Ultima and any other kit type cars put through that track and featured on Top Gear.
To be fair, TG is comparing cars that roll off a factory production line, and are produced in volume not in quantites of 10 per year etc.
OK, you can claim that Ford are making just 80 GT's for the UK market, etc etc but they do make them as a mass produced car in the first
place.
IMHO its a shame it wasnt done by TG. They should show more of these types of cars.
Showing just Westfield / Caterhams is not enough.
If you show one kit then the opportunity should be open to all manufacturers .
'nuf said
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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tks
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| posted on 19/11/07 at 03:48 PM |
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link
this is the longer version..
Tks
The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.
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NS Dev
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| posted on 19/11/07 at 06:00 PM |
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Quite right TKS. My mate was at that show with the car by invite, but Top Gear, in terms of the tv show itself, still show no interest in running the
car, in fact rather they now show an interest in trying to sue Ultima for use of the Top Gear copyrights such as "stig"!!!
PS the car is over 100hp MORE powerful now than it was at that show 
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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NS Dev
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| posted on 19/11/07 at 06:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by andyps
The Caparo was quicker than the Ultima, by a significant margin. But would the Ultima pass the sleeping policeman test as it was driven for the record
run? It looks a bit low in the pictures.
Caparo was just over a second quicker round the track as far as I can remember, and yes, the ultima WILL get over a speed bump, and in fact the
factory demo GTR does go over several almost every day!!!
What you have to realise is Ultima is a TINY company, in fact the "team" supporting the caparo on the top gear show would amount to almost
the entire Ultima workforce. They use the demo cars regularly, and they clock up some pretty significant miles.
They like to use them as mules as well as demo cars, in order to test reliability, and its not unknown for my mate to use one or another of them as a
stand-in road car in the summer. He actually used one as a full time road car for several (5 i think) months a few years ago.
On our trips to le-mans we have taken all the camping gear in one as well as our clothes etc, and driven into the muddy camp site fields without
getting stuck. The biggest single issue with the car is getting mobbed whenever you stop anywhere.......its not a car to be in when you need some
peace.
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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