Everything in the Ultimate Edition is cosmetic or convenience content. There is no extra story, no additional missions, and no part of the map locked behind it. The base game is identical in both editions.
Rockstar has confirmed Ultimate Edition perks unlock progressively by chapter rather than all at once at the start. You are not buying a day-one advantage; the content arrives gradually as the story opens up.
That matters if your reason for upgrading is wanting a fast car immediately. It also means the extras are paced to stay relevant rather than being obsolete by the time you can use them.
Standard is the sensible default. It is the complete game, and nothing in Ultimate affects difficulty, progression, or access to content. Buy Standard unless you specifically want the vehicles and store access.
Ultimate makes sense if you expect to play heavily and enjoy customisation, where the mod shops and garage get genuine use. The pre-order Vintage Vice City Pack is not a differentiator — both editions include it when bought before November 20, 2026.