Alez
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 05:04 PM |
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Choosing a sports GT / GTM car
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? 
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Alez
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 05:11 PM |
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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/
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worX
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 05:42 PM |
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???
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 06:12 PM |
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can open, worms everywhere 
[Edited on 4-12-07 by speedyxjs]
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Volvorsport
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 06:18 PM |
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mosler M900 .
i used to work there
[Edited on 4/12/07 by Volvorsport]
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
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Alez
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 08:00 PM |
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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.
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Alez
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 08:05 PM |
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Those Moslers cost £100k!! 
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=11571
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 08:28 PM |
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Sorry missed that bit
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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caber
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 08:56 PM |
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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
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Alez
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 10:18 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
Sorry missed that bit
My fault, I wouldn't have read such long post either!!
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Volvorsport
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 10:29 PM |
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or a darrian of course .
tarmac championship winners , like the banks europa only better .
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
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Alez
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 10:50 PM |
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quote:
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
Wooow!! Soooo nice!!!  I didn't know this one, really like it!!
The chassis doesn't look very stiff for a big Chevy V8, and also it looks a little small for that, but then they say it fits in..
Also I'm having trouble to picture the real proportions.. the spec says it's quite wide but then it doesn't look so.. it must be
very long? It actually looks a bit like a front-mid engined sports car (TVR, Marcos), generally longer and narrower than the ones I mentioned.. very
very nice anyway, will keep reading about it.
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Alez
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 11:09 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Volvorsport
or a darrian of course .
Indeed!!
http://www.darrian.co.uk/
Didn't know them, nice!!
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WanchaiWarrior
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| posted on 4/12/07 at 11:58 PM |
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or this perhaps.................
from Skelta
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RK
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| posted on 5/12/07 at 01:47 AM |
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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.
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caber
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| posted on 5/12/07 at 05:57 AM |
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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]
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Alez
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| posted on 5/12/07 at 01:43 PM |
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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
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