Canam vs GTR ?

[shithotfast]

One question chaps.... why are so many going for the GTR rather than the Canam? I am interested as I recall the factory first building the Canam and they were expecting lots of orders to switch from the GTR to the canam, something which didnt seem to happen.

I have the old spyder and have a real love of the (rare) uk sunshine. I always felt the canam would be a great choice as you can have open air for the summer and closed for the winter etc. I have never driven a canam - is there a differance? or are GRT drivers not as keen on the sun or what? As I say, just curious!!

[layada]

I went for a spyder too and no regrets. Open air motoring is great.. and I have 'a certain thing' for the Original Canam racers of the late 60s.

Unless you need a roof to keep the heat out - you dont need one... and who wants to drive in the rain anyway?

Regardless of what people may say Ultimas are not practical cars IMO. So if you are not going for practicality, just go all out for fun!??

[craig-ultima]

I went for the closed cockpit GTR for four reasons:
- sun: its too hot here in summer to be in the sun. I burn too easily.
- wind: I don't like the turbulence of open cockpit cars at speed. Wind in the hair at 60 mph is nice. 120 mph its like someone is slapping you about!
- rain: Don't want to get caught in squalls on long drives.
- safety: I presume that you can put the roll cage on the Canam, but it probably doesn't look as good.

It would be interesting to know what the aerodynamic difference is between the canam and the GTR.

[peterpsg]

For me it's purely down to looks, I have always prefered the GTR and never even considered the Canam for a moment, as to me, and I know Andy will slag me for saying it, the Canam looks like someone took a pair of firemans 'jaws-of-life' (giant car can opener) to a GTR and made a hash of the job, though I think my pet hate about it is the poles that the mirrors mount on...

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, but then again I come from a land where people are a bit more direct...

The Canam could look good, with a bit of revision, as many a convertible car has proven, but not as a simply a what seems to be chopped up GTR...

all IMHO of course...

(prepares to dodge rotten fruit thrown by disgruntled Canam owners)

[cliveg]

Before visiting the factory I was convinced I would go for a gtr. Ted took me out in the GTR and only went out in the can-am because it was sunny and it seemed like a good way to get Ted to bumble along the local roads a second time The difference between the two is enormous, not in speed, braking, cornering; just in how they 'feel'. Brain said 'buy gtr'; heart said 'buy can-am'. Heart won by a country mile. Minimal buffetting, exhaust music to die for, and no less usable (for me) than the gtr. I've tried other open tops (7s, cobras, saabs, bmws etc), and have never liked them. The can-am is the first open top car I have been in that I have really wanted to own.

Probably the gtr will always sell more - if I had wanted a car mainly for track days the gtr would have been the choice. But its still worth trying both. Thinking back, I should have been less decisive and asked Ted if I could just try them both a second time ...

Dodgy chopped GTR Peter? Rotten tomato in flight!

>> Edited by cliveg on Thursday 4th August 22:48

>> Edited by cliveg on Thursday 4th August 22:57

[andygtt]

For me I was never into that lemans racer look before I got mine so the GTR never appealed at all, the canam was more mainstreem and to me much better looking than the GTR but only with the full screen. For me the low screen just looks totally wrong and with it fitted I have much the same view as Peter.

I also hated those canam mirrors...

I would say that the buffeting was much less than the boxter and I went well past 180mph in mine with the roof down.

IMO many people preffer the canam... however the ones that actually buy an Ultima want the more hardcore looking GTR.

Having driven and been in both, I'd never have a GTR over a canam.

[craig-ultima]

The rear clip of the Canam looks lower behind the driver than the GTR. Presumably that impacts the engine configuration - you'd need to use a shallow air filter and super-chargers won't fit?? Is that right?

[Crazy of Cookham]

I had the debate on this one with myself. In the end went for Canam.
1) I prefer the looks. Even like the mirrors.
2) Didn't want to be enclosed in hot fibreglass car. I had bad experience of TVR.
3) Decided it was easier to build in a garage with very restricted space.

In an ideal world I guess most folks would have one of each!!.

[layada]

craig-ultima said:

- wind: I don't like the turbulence of open cockpit cars at speed. Wind in the hair at 60 mph is nice. 120 mph its like someone is slapping you about! It would be interesting to know what the aerodynamic difference is between the canam and the GTR.

I would anticipate the GTR would win the drag wars 150+

Have not experienced the difference is between the low screen and the high screen on the canam makes to the ride but I can say that there is remarkably little buffeting with the low screen on the spyder even @ 120+. Unlike more 'regular' open tops there is almost no 'reverse flow turbulence' (i.e. you'll notice you hair does not get pushed forward like on 'convertibles').

For my height (5.11) just the top of my head catches the breeze, all the rest is surprisingly calm. This also helps things on a clear mid winter day - you don't get as cold as might be expected... in fact it's quite cozy with a thick jumper, the heater on.. and of course the obligatory a set of shades.