Too Tall?
Author
Discussion

Lightningman

Original Poster:

1,228 posts

211 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
Before I make the trek to view an Ultima GTR, can anyone give me an idea of the max height someone can be and still fit in the car comfortably? I'm 6'3" and with my track helmet on, you'd have to add about another 1"

Is it worth the trip or am I wasting my time?

TIA smile

Paul.B

3,949 posts

293 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
That is a question that there is no answer to. I have a mate who is 6' 6" and he could fit in my GTR without the lowered floor. I on the other hand obviously fitted but could not wear a helmet without clashing with the roof!

A car with the lower floor makes a big difference but it really depends on your body shape! My mate's height was all in the leg. You will have to try a few cars with/without the lowered floor.

PS - Ted at the factory must be over 6'?

Paul.B

robm3

4,930 posts

256 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
Lightningman said:
Before I make the trek to view an Ultima GTR, can anyone give me an idea of the max height someone can be and still fit in the car comfortably? I'm 6'3" and with my track helmet on, you'd have to add about another 1"

Is it worth the trip or am I wasting my time?

TIA smile
If the car doesn't have a lowered floor then forget it, sorry...



martinlaw

283 posts

251 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
in my experience, the car must have a lowered floor and Ultima seats.

Martin.

srreck

529 posts

290 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
Go for the lowered floor and no seat. Just a piece of foam smile
You could build your own seat with a polyurethane kit as it is done in F1 and other racers. Cheap, easy and fits like a glove.

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

230 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
srreck said:
Go for the lowered floor and no seat. Just a piece of foam smile
You could build your own seat with a polyurethane kit as it is done in F1 and other racers. Cheap, easy and fits like a glove.
Fine for a racing car - but would not pass IVA in the UK...

Steve_D

13,802 posts

287 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
Keith (Ditto) must be about that tall.
Have to wait till he comes in to confirm it.

I do know he recently modified his roll cage as the original with two bars fore and aft in the roof were causing a problem. If you are going to build then I'm sure the Factory can make a cage to suit.
There is also an inner skin to the roof which it may be possible to modify or delete.

Steve

ditto

614 posts

269 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
Keith (Ditto) must be about that tall.
Have to wait till he comes in to confirm it.

I do know he recently modified his roll cage as the original with two bars fore and aft in the roof were causing a problem. If you are going to build then I'm sure the Factory can make a cage to suit.
There is also an inner skin to the roof which it may be possible to modify or delete.

Steve
Oi im 6’ 4” that extra inch is important hehe
I don’t have any problems and have done a number of long trips to Le Mans quite comfortably, but did modify the two roof bars, I moved those inwards
Also as Paul stated it depends on your body shape, so the only way to find out is go sit in one yes

V8Dom

3,547 posts

231 months

Friday 25th September 2009
quotequote all
im 6 ...1 and no problems here...dom

Lightningman

Original Poster:

1,228 posts

211 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Thanks, to all of you, for taking the time to answer my question.

The response seems mixed; however, lowered floor, the shallowest seat possible and modified cage seem like the 'must haves'.

Rather than start another thread, my next question would be about reliability and maintenance. As I'd be looking to buy a built car (this may be a problem with the height issue requirements) or a factory built car, should I still be concerned about reliability? Having read back the threads on here, there seem to be comments like "you've been Ultima'd" when people report of their cars having mechanical/electrical/reliability issues. The last thing I want is to book a track day and then go out to the car in the morning to find it's died - or worse, get it down to the track only to find it fails early on in a session.

And the second part, I don't have the time or inclination to do the maintenance on the car - can a reasonable mechanic find his way around one of these? I'm based in the South below London - is there anyone recommended who can service Ultimas?

TIA

martinlaw

283 posts

251 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Ultimas are not everyday cars, in my experience there is always something that needs fixing or adjusting to make it better - this is actually what appeals to me as it is a great feeling when you improve it.

Any competant mechanic can look after one of these as they are very basic.

Most important thing is always make sure the oil temp is up to at least 80 C before giving the engine some grief - it will last a lot longer.

Steve_D

13,802 posts

287 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Lightningman said:
........my next question would be about reliability and maintenance......should I be concerned about reliability?.....

And the second part, I don't have the time or inclination to do the maintenance on the car - can a reasonable mechanic find his way around one of these?
As said this is not a daily driver so it becomes a little more like a trackday car but not a race car.
It is likely to be highly tuned which in any car does not go hand in hand with reliability.
You would not expect to take any car to the track without some sort of preparation nor expect to bring it back and not have to do any further work.

Any decent mechanic should have no problem with an Ultima. A local who specialises in performance cars will be delighted to have it on his forecourt.

Steve

Edited by Steve_D on Saturday 26th September 16:07

ditto

614 posts

269 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Where south of London are you? You are more than welcome to sit in mine and see if you fit thumbup

Lightningman

Original Poster:

1,228 posts

211 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
ditto said:
Where south of London are you? You are more than welcome to sit in mine and see if you fit thumbup
I'm near Guildford. How does that work for you?

Car would definitely not be a daily driver biggrin and is being bought to use on track. Therefore track maintenance and TLC I can handle but breaking down on the way to the track I can't. wink

Rusti Evo

537 posts

223 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
You are welcome to have a sit in X8 GTR which is presently living near Chichester.

Also, the car will be for sale in a week or so..tongue out

ditto

614 posts

269 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Lightningman said:
ditto said:
Where south of London are you? You are more than welcome to sit in mine and see if you fit thumbup
I'm near Guildford. How does that work for you?

Car would definitely not be a daily driver biggrin and is being bought to use on track. Therefore track maintenance and TLC I can handle but breaking down on the way to the track I can't. wink
I tried to mail you my number but your mail it isn’t working, mail me your number

LuckyP

6,243 posts

254 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Rusti Evo said:
... X8 GTR...will be for sale in a week or so..tongue out
eek

Eh???

More info please.......

Rusti Evo

537 posts

223 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
LuckyP said:
Rusti Evo said:
... X8 GTR...will be for sale in a week or so..tongue out
eek

Eh???

More info please.......
Oh well, it's sort of onwards and upwards stuff.

The last few months have been a joy with X8 and with the geometry work in conjunction with the R888s the car is really stonking

Thanks to your build quality and design X8 is a properly developed Ultima not just a pub poser.biggrin Awesome!

Steve_D

13,802 posts

287 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Onwards and upwards to what?

Steve

Del 203

12,728 posts

278 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
ditto said:
that extra inch is important hehe
Only for some wink