Whither soft tops?
Discussion
Why don''t TVR do proper folding soft tops? I asked PW at the motorshow last year, and he said it was because, at the kinds of speeds TVR''s are capable of, a soft roof wouldn''t take the pressure. Now, if Aston Martin, BMW Z8, Ferrari, and more relevantly, Boxster and Z3, etc can do it, I''m damn sure TVR can get rooves to work. It seems stupid and cumbersome to have a big solid panel, where a little folding number will greatly enhance convenience and ease of use. It is obviously the need to stow the hard top in the boot that''s led to the difficult design solution at the back of the Tamora. The packaging of a large exhaust and roof panel at the back end is impossible, and the Elise has a similar problem with exhaust and mid -mounted engine. But it has a silly piece of canvas for a roof - problem solved!
Does anyone know where an after-market roof can be obtained? I think fixing a segment of folding top onto the current rear roof section, with clips to the header rail, could easily be made to work, and wouldn''t be too expensive. Any ideas, anyone? 
Can't agree with you on this one Nubbin - Personally I think TVR's roof is pretty well spot-on. On most rag-tops I have owned they are noisy, tend to leak more (yes more) than the TVR roof and get tatty quickly. Roof on and a TVR feels almost like a closed top coupe, a roadster just rattles more. Regards space if you think a Griffith boot is tight with the pannel in, take a look at a Merc SLK (or the Pug 206CC) with the tin-top folded to see what small really means. The best solution was undoubtedly that of the S series, and a two part Griffith/Chimaera roof is shown as available on Wedge Automative's web site, although I have never heard of anyone with it?
Rich...
Sure, Rich, and don't get me wrong - I do like the solid feel to the roof when I have to put it on, and mine has never leaked a single drop of water, it's just that, for example, getting caught in a shower, it would be so much easier to flip a folding top up - rather than have to drag everything out of the boot to get the panel out. I do think the Tamora's back end would be a lot neater it the exhaust was tucked away under a smaller boot, but it can't be done as there needs to be a space in the boot between the petrol tank and exhaust to fit the panel. An opportunity missed, I think!
My other thought was a bit of design to allow the roof panel to clip onto the underside of the boot lid - a bit like the position in the Tuscan ,but lifting up with the boot lid as it opened - hey presto, full access to the boot and lid!
Edited by nubbin on Friday 13th July 10:41
Edited by nubbin on Friday 13th July 10:41 I agree that the Chim/Griff roof is an excellent compromise. Fully (properly) open when off...and almost a hardtop once closed. The downside being the relatively long job of putting it on/tearing it off. This is only a problem when touring really though as then your boot is full of stuff that has to be removed in a hurry and replaced as the first drops start to fall...
Having said that I reckon the reason TVR have chosen the roof mechanism they have is because they can manufacture it reliably....
This MAY become a problem for them as these days almost any similarly priced convertible sports an electrically operated roof...and if (like me) you LOVE driving 'top-down' then a fast-operating electric roof means more times you can 'risk it'. (You know...clouds everywhere but roof off anyway...)
TVRs have enough attraction that fans don't care but larger markets may prove harder to convince.
Oh..and the Porsche Boxster has the best 'rag' roof I've ever used. Fast. Doesn't compromise boot space AT ALL. Looks tidy when down. Suprisingly quiet when up (given its a ragtop). I wish my Chim was as convenient...but I wouldn't be without it 
quote:Likewise, except as mentioned below when touring. Its not so easy to do when you have to extract your golf clubs, trolley, three bags, shopping and a small donkey before you get to the roof...
I normally whip mine out and slot it in in about 20 seconds when it's wet. Ready... The roof goes up quickly too.
quote:Rigidty: So what happens when the roof isn't in place? Doesn't sound likely to me...although I could be wrong, too! Weight of motors: Yes. But surely not enough to affect the Power to Weight THAT much? Expense: Sure does - lots...and not just the parts but the development cost (and that's assuming buying in the bits and just engineering how they fit...) ..And if you have such mechanisms then they have to work day in day out for years several times a day....Much as I'd like the convenience I'll be happier buying my next Tivver with the the same mechanism as the Chim/Griff/Tamora have now!
Isn't the reason TVRs have a hard top/soft back section simply for structural rigidity? ... Remember that a folding roof mechanism (espesh with electric motors) adds a ton of weight and expense. Cheers Domster
Structural rigidity is supplied by the steel chassis, not by the body or roof as in a lesser car. But I guess the roof might afford some protection in the even of a roll??
Best roof ever IMHO was on my wife's old MX-5. You could reach behind and pull it up one handed from the drivers seat. No fancy motors required.
MX5 Roof: Yes. One of the finest I've seen. Fastest to operate, can be done INSIDE the car, VERY quick to get to the point when the interior is protected. A mate of mine has got one and is most amused at my TVR struggling. - But the struggling really isn't too bad either, is it?
Stow behind the seats: Like this idea!
Abroad in my old Chimp, roof off, it started to rain heavily. Pulled into a layby and just as I got out an MX5 pulled in behind, roof down. I got my roof on as quick as his including taking the baggage out and back in. Okay the girlfriend helped and the MX5 had to take the silly roof tonneau off, but Hey.
I did once for my sins own two MX5's, old and new and they definately have the best roofs. You can put them up one handed at upto 30mph coming up to roundabouts.(Honest officer I was in full control)
Problemm is MX5's although they handle well don't go as well as a Tuscan.
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