Ive always had a dream to build a kit car, ultima RS to be precise. Talk me out of it.

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Left_Feeling_1730@reddit

As a long term Ultima owner (started build in 2008, registered 2012, evolved ever since), I’d say if you are comparing an Ultima with a Z06 or equivalent, an ultima is not the car for you. I’d expect you’d build one then sell it. Ultimas, like all kit cars, are flawed, especially compared to modern sports cars. You can jump in any modern sportscar and pretty much do what you like without really needing to think, regardless of weather. That’s not the case with an ultima. Every trip, even popping to the shops, becomes an event. They will make any production car feel soft, even if that production car is quicker, it won’t feel it. You will feel every rut and camber in an ultima, the steering is very quick and unassisted , there is no TC, no brake assist, no ABS, it’s as raw as it gets. But that’s what makes them so great. It’s like driving a 60s Le Mans car, and you’ll always get out of one feeling energised. It’s the only car I’ve owned that has zero prejudice from anyone. I love mine still.

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sl33ksnypr@reddit

I ask this as a concerned redditor. Have you ever driven anything with more power than it should have? Not to say you can't handle it, but if you're going from a fairly tame commuter car to something like that, you might want to get a little practice with something that actively tries to kill you when you drive it. I know with YouTube showing 1000hp this and 1200hp that, it seems commonplace these days, but 1000hp+ is not a normal car. It's definitely something you need to learn how to handle because you could very easily do one small thing wrong and you wrap it around a tree. I'm all for getting your dream car, especially building one. But please do your research, learn how to drive, and know your limits. $1000 to have a trained driver teach you is worth it weight in gold.

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

nope, fastest car Ive owned personally is a 350z. Id probably go with an LT5 around 700hp. 1000hp sounds fun, younger me would be impressed, but I imagine that just becomes less reliable and drivable, unless im focused on 150mph+ pulls, which Im not. Ive been in 700hp cars like GT500 and Viper, but not 950kg

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4r4r4real@reddit

You're into cars, willing and able to spend $150k on a woefully impractical and unusable race car, and you've never owned anything faster than a 350z? Why not just get a reasonable modern sports car for 1/5th as much and then see if you still want something as absurd, expensive, and impossible to resell as this?

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

The Z was 1/5th as much :p but yeah, Im looking at a factory five kit now. still rewarding, but 1/3rd of the cost.

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4r4r4real@reddit

You bought it new?

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

aye, 20 years ago. it was a different time lol

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BNF_Trading@reddit

So did you end up deciding if the Ultima was right for you?

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

havent been able to justify spending my retirement on a kit car :p looked at the factory five for a while, but damn if it doesnt add up to 70k, and its hard to justify over a GT500 or corvette thats probably faster. so my procrastination continues until Im wealthy enough to have all of them.

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BNF_Trading@reddit

Fair enough man, it's a tough game to break into, I'm currently still saving up for an Ultima RS and these tariffs probably just added another year's worth of savings 🫠 You can't go wrong with a GT500 or Corvette but do you think you're more after the speed or the uniqueness of the ride itself? I mean hell were all gonna be bested by a depreciated 35k Tesla plaid at the end of the day lmao I'd rather take the uniqueness but that's just my vibe. Have you looked into the McLaren MP4-12C? A little older for depreciation but damn those looks and speed still hold up pretty well today. Good luck you'll have to keep us updated!

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

Id enjoy the build the most of any of it. but its a hella expensive project. I would believe the ultima is the fastest car on 4 wheels, the factory five is by all accounts... a very mediocre sports car whos best quality is how impossible it is to drive fast.

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dannyphoto@reddit

As cool as an Ultima is, if you have $150k for a sports car, just go buy a Z06. You don’t want an Ultima if you want a sports car.

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

I hear that, but the ultima would be more exciting, and the build is what interests me. Ive been doing erector sets since i was a child, now I do woodworking and maker electronics. So the idea of building a super car is really appealing to me.

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ImmaPig@reddit

Dude, if you have the desire, knowledge, and the type of drive/personality to push through the headache and frustration of a build, do it! If you expect the end product to be uncomfortable and loud and inconvenient, but it still interests you, do it! Life's short. Try new things and take risks.

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Training-Fly8541@reddit

This is an important comment. The Ultima GTR and RS are street legal race cars. Very stiff, very noisy, extremely aggressive and responsive, and for all those reasons provides a connection with the road and a raw experience you’ll not find in 95% of other cars. Corvette Z06, a Porsche GT3 RS, a Ferrari F430 scuderia - all have sound deadening and are designed as road cars. Consider also in an Ultima you can’t roll the windows down. You have to squeeze in and out of the driver seat with a shoe horn. Getting in is more akin to falling in. There’s a reason a lot of GTR owners sell their cars not long after building them. The fun was in the build, but you soon realize this is not an every day car and even on weekends. It’s not necessarily a comfortable car. Anyone looking to build one I encourage them to join either https://ultimaownersforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=14 or the corvette forum where they are discussed. Good good and enjoy!

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BigOldButt99@reddit

Agreed. Or tbh, if you're comfortable spending 150k on a handbuilt custom kit car, you're probably pretty confident in your mechanical abilities. You might as well just spend 150k on a used 720S. Insanely fast, sexy, comfortable (they have some crazy hydraulic suspension with no sway bars).

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SpasticReflex007@reddit

I came in here to say this. The z06 is probably going to be better to have- more usable, still track capable, fun to drive, and it's going to save a ton of time. An ultima is a whole different thing. It's going to be faster I'm sure, but its also going to be scary and not very usable.

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UsernameAvaylable@reddit

I think you are downvoted because people do not get the distinction between sports car and race car.

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drakitomon@reddit

Yes, race car. Extremely stiff seats and suspension. Hard to gwt into and out of. Hard to get car insurance.

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happy--muffin@reddit

> Do it! OP asked us to talk them out of it, so I’m gonna do as requested. At $150k you can buy roughly 30 used Camrys at around $5k each, which already has built in AC and radio assuming they’re still working! It’s the perfect highway commuter and grocery store runner, big ass trunk and a signature Camry dent means you won’t bat an eye if someone rams their shopping cart into your vehicle.

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Redbulldildo@reddit

But how many V6 mustangs could you buy?

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ImmaPig@reddit

At least one. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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happy--muffin@reddit

The danger of having a V6 Mustang is that trees and light poles will come out of nowhere and wrap the car around them, and it’ll be no fault of the driver’s. Fortunately with our budget of 150k we can buy about 10 of them on average of $15k per pop

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xj98jeep@reddit

Hell you could buy a c6 zr1 and something else for $150k.

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drakitomon@reddit

Ok, get a camry and a C7 Z6

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mk1power@reddit

And you’d still have 50k for an Elise or something….

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drakitomon@reddit

Well the c7 is gonna need work. If its auto a trans refresh. If a manual probably a new trans from RPM. Plus its a LS, so super or turbo charger, building the engine....

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aos-@reddit

Hagerty may be possible for a custom/kit car insurance.

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TruthfulDeception@reddit

Worked for Hagerty for a while: my top three would be Hagerty, Grundy, and American Modern

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InstanceHot3154@reddit

I mean if you build it yourself, you can also get different suspensions eyc

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RespectCommon7019@reddit

Agreed hardcore

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Federal_Warthog_2688@reddit

Are you ok writing off the costs completely? You probably won't be able to sell the car for anything near the costs of the parts. People don't want to buy 'someone else's project' and that is for a good reason. If you will enjoy the car yourself for a long time , sure go ahead. But if it is all about the build and not the ride you may want to reconsider.

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

this is a hesitation for me. I could afford it, but there are some 100+k cars that can be driven for almost nothing as their depreciation is basically sideways. I dont know what Id get back on a kit car, not as much as I would on a 5 year old porsche or 10 year old Gallardo.

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RelativeEnthusiasm15@reddit

I’m about to finish building one. It’s taken me 2 years so far thanks to modifications I’ve made. I can tell you you’ll be driving something almost nobody has and everyone will want to see. That’s one of the appeals to me. I want to be different. It has had a few challenges but well worth it in the end. Looking at current pricing I would get the money I’ve spent back today, just not the labour hours. Don’t plan on selling it so not concerned. When you invest a couple of years of your life to build something, you’ll want to keep it for quite some time.

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4r4r4real@reddit

Not hust "how much you would get" but how long it would take to find a buyer. Could be years.

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Zelderian@reddit

Also that’s assuming if you finish it. I see so many half-finished projects on marketplace for like $9k when they’ve got 6-figures and a decade of time in the car. It’s a very niche thing to get into. I’m honestly surprised it’s as big of a thing with how many downsides there are when comparing it to just buying a nice street car.

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eijaman@reddit

I completely agree. This isn't $100k investment that you might be able to recoup. This could easily be spending $100k and still not having a working vehicle. Hopefully this is not OP's first project car.

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probablyhrenrai@reddit

Logistically, realize that anything you're not comfortable doing totally alone needs to be outsourced. Most friends will give you dozens of man-hours, but not hundreds. We're talking thousands of man-hours, several years of steady, consistent effort and progress and research and money. But the "biggie" here is that race cars, the real ones, are harsh, loud, cramped, rattley, and hot places to be... because real race cars aren't built for fun but for speed. You, the occupant, are just another component of the race-car; your comfort matters only as much as it affects your ability to drive, since lap times are what real race cars are built for, not a pleasurable drive. Obviously the Ultima *is* actually built to be pleasant, or at least bearable, but even so... it's trying to imitate the experience of a real race car. It will be tight, probably loud, and probably not a car you'll want to drive for over an hour at a stretch... but the only *real* way to know is to get a ride-along. They're two-seaters; find an owner who'll let you ride shotgun. If you're considering spending 6 figures and years of your life into just *building* this car, you should know exactly what one is like to at least *ride* in, see if it's worth it.

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Ok_Blueberry_1068@reddit

Is there a specific reason youre connected to the ultima or is it just the first kit car you saw that you liked? I feel like you'd be much better off just buying something for around that price, especially if you want something that can be driven daily and has space for groceries. A Porsche panamera might be a good option, sporty and fun but more space and built to be usable on the road.

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

well the boxy flat panel kits with 4cyl engines are really bland to me. just no emotion to them, I know they are light as hell and 300hp can move them, but its not exciting to me. Plus the look of them doesnt turn my head. Im noticing the Factory Five now, and thats actually interesting. Still has the fun of a V8, light, probably not as good of a platform for putting the power down, but for my purposes, it wont matter. Might dip my toe in for that instead.

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LanEvo7685@reddit

Why? Nobody asked you to do it today. I want to build a kit car too (some kind of Lotus Seven), I'm still learning how to maintain and do my own mechanic work, but I'm the future I'll restore a car, and further in the future I'll build a car.

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alexmaknet@reddit

As someone who built a kit car (FFR roadster, replica of a Shelby cobra), I just cant talk you out of building a kit car. Best experience ever.

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

you got me looking at an FFR mk5 now... looks a LOT less expensive, which is a bit less risk. could throw the LS engine in there still to get that experience too.

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alexmaknet@reddit

It definitely is less expensive. And with over 20k built, the process is pretty straightforward, although I wouldn’t call it too simple. Plenty of people build them with LS engines, although some purists won’t approve. Just came back from about 80 miles of driving back roads and it’s the best therapy ever

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Dat_Belly@reddit

Just reading your questions tells me you're not ready for it. Get a vette instead

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aceogorion1@reddit

The RS is constrained as a build by the look of the site. So it will perform the way they've set it up. For the old GTR, the answer to every question you have asked is "That's up to you". The important part of that is not only do you make decisions that will impact ride quality, nvh, tramlining, outward visibility, and so on and so forth, but that utlimately your knowledge in those things will have an impact on the suitability of the end product for those things. In other words, you can do a project like this, but you need to know the engineering behind it and have a sense of how to change the variables to get the result you want.

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natesully33@reddit

I LS-swapped a Miata in my garage once, which is less work but not by much. After that, I had a C7 'Vette that I did track stuff in. You need to be honest, do you want the end result or is this about the journey? Having experienced both if you don't enjoy solving problems and fighting the car the whole way you will not have a good time. If you need any amount of modern car comfort and convenience, you will also not have a good time. But, if you know what you are getting in to you might enjoy it, I did with my LS swap but I likely will not do a project on that scale again. It was type 2 fun I suppose, a great experience that I'm glad I had but don't need to repeat. If you do just want a track-able car you can daily drive that won't let you down and have 150k to spend, I really recommend C7 Corvettes. The base model not the Z06 or ZR1, it's enough track car for most people and overkill on the street anyway. Use the money saved on tires, brake pads, fluids and whatever else you need to get it on track.

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Other-Comfort5592@reddit

If you cannot afford it cash then please stop looking you can't afford it

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AdventurousFox9651@reddit

I'd ask yourself if this is really the project you want before starting. It'll probably be a year or two before you finish it even if you are spending a lot of time working on it. Are you sure a Caterham or stripped down Miata wouldn't be the fun car at a lower price? It would be a bit friendlier to use and you wouldn't worry as much about damage since the cost is already low.

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8_bit_femboy@reddit

Aaa

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Gwolf4@reddit

Kit car and an última? You are not ready to pay the price, build yourself or pay for someone to build? All that puts you into locost 7, replica of lotus 7. Still cumbersome but way cheaper, a car like última is a money pit. The amount of work needed to make those cars fit is understated.

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icanfly@reddit

What have you built before? What skills do you have regarding mechanics, welding, composites etc? If you’re planning on doing it yourself here’s what you should think about. 1. It’s a long journey. Commit or don’t start. 2. A garage, with at least a quick jack setup, compressor and sweet of mechanics tools, grinders etc. 3. A welder - and the skills to hot glue metal together (learn by doing-don’t be scared). 4. Mechanical knowledge (and engine connects to a trans, fueling and cooling, and a wiring harness). 5. Learn to read a multi-meter 6. Composites (fiberglass - it’s not hard, just takes a little time). 7. Ambition. Take however long you think it will take to build and triple that time ( unless you’re an ME or have friends). And take the cost estimates and add 50% more. You can do it. Don’t be scared, be prepared and committed. Dm if you need real advice from another (non ultima) builder. Same shit - different car.

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Chrodesk@reddit (OP)

I have time, garage, no welder, but own almost every other possible tool thanks to woodworking. I read somewhere that kit cars are cooked in 2030, you heard anything like that? is it just that you cant register new, or will all the old become banned from public streets? hows insurance? is it collision only? and is it a fortune?

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icanfly@reddit

This is a good place to start. Legality is different in every state. Look up your local laws pertaining to “specialty constructed vehicles”. There are logistics that matter. Keep all your receipts for every part you put on the car. Not cooked. Things are becoming more difficult - there is always a way.

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newcarguy2019@reddit

Have you ever built a car or worked on one much? There's a reason project cars are sold all the time or just sit on jackstands, it's not just a meme. At $150k that would be even more painful.

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Tittilator@reddit

Theres a guy on youtube that built one and posted his whole build process. Took a long time

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ozziegt@reddit

Link?

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Tittilator@reddit

https://youtu.be/DzVW1Ej0Bk0

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i_reddit_it@reddit

Also v8 creative, very detailed build. https://youtube.com/@v8creative

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RememberTooSmile@reddit

Time is going to be the biggest factor for sure. Most builds Ive seen take a long time and have at least noteworthy 1 or 2 hiccups

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Bonerchill@reddit

This isn’t like “bruh so extreme every drive will be a tactile delight,” it’s more of a taser buttplug. Sometimes exciting, but most of the time just too much.

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nleksan@reddit

>it’s more of a taser buttplug. I wonder why they don't use this in their advertising?

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phalanxs@reddit

The Ultima RS (and GTR) are super cool but if I think that unless I lived in or near the UK, I would go with a Superlite SLC instead. Mostly because the factory seems much more open to non-standard stuff.

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csimonson@reddit

why not build something like an atom, midlana, Exocet, or locost? All of those would be way cheaper and more easily built. Except for maybe the atom with the super long curved chassis bits.

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I-live-in-room-101@reddit

To even consider this level of time, commitment and cost yet you’ve never driven one, is strange to me. Not seen sat in one as a passenger? That wouldn’t have been my first step on the journey.

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BWFTW@reddit

Send it. Don't second guess it. Just send it

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BudgetHelper@reddit

In my racing sim, the Ultima RS is so incredibly hard to drive at the limit. It tries to murder me. One time it twitched so hard the wheel injured my thumb. Build it!

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LeonMust@reddit

>It has air conditioning, I see many owners even install radios... it has lifters for clearance. Hell yeah, go for it. >Is this kind of car just going to rattle my teeth out of my skull? This will probably happen. >Just how horrendous would it be to commute on the highway or roll down to the grocery store for a few items? That will probably happen but depends on your threshold for pain.

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