Review: LHD TVR Sagaris
Discussion
Beekman Europart Sagaris LHD
The first LHD Sagaris
Without no doubt the TVR Sagaris is one of the most extreme roadlegal cars of the moment. A good reason for Europart to buy one to promote their business. This car is eyecandy all over and it sucks crowds towards their decal-covered Chameleon Orange beast. Since May the first LHD Sagaris is a Dutchie and at the moment more are delivered to happy owners in Belgium, Italy and other European countries. Next series will have the (racehelmet) bulge back. Let's call this Saggy a series one and a halve then.
From the first moment this TVR was presented to the public the journo's were raving, EVO: ". . . crank down the window to better listen to TVR's irrevent disregard of political correctness." Top Gear Magazine: "It's faster than any TVR I've driven."
A car described as such and in my neighbourhood had to be paid a visit. So I mailed the guy who drives it and found out he lived just a 15 mins drive from my workadress.
The funny thing is that TVR is in some sort of crisis and inbetween moving from one to another location (we think
), a modernized factory compared to good old Blackpool avenue. New cars need to apply to Euro 5 or LEVII regs and in a well-sorted plant those standards are easier to achieve. Before the Sagaris S2 is sorted out, which will be somewhere in 2007, a handfull of cars are produced with some awkward detailing . . .
Like the smoothend up roof. Much to the owner's surprise BTW. TVR just did it, take it or leave it. The announcement of changing the exhausts from characteristicly sideways to bland straight had 14 customers to withdraw their options. Wow, you must really love the Sag to get one then . . . Err, no. "Just don't touch the exhausts or we'll withdraw too." Europart said. And Oxley left them right the way they're meant to be. Phew. Gorgeous. Thanx.
So there we were, standing in front of a very low and very wide and very agressive looking orange - Dutch national color - Sagaris series one and a halve.
The black devil
A year ago, september 17th at Blackpool a/d Rijn, I saw this baby for the first time. Dutch TVR dealer Nimag had a lushious Tusc Mk 2 and a black devil RHD Sagaris at display. As much elegance and grandeur there is to the Tusc, so much 'in yer face racyness' is the Sag. This car looks like a machine still under development. But it isn't. At the moment this is the best car TVR has made yet. And it's very well made indeed, it has the reliabillity-programme coming with it and it looks the absolute nuts. Next to a Boxter it's from a different planet.
The conceptcar's nosecuts were open. Imagine the claims TVR'd get when roadtrash would mash up the Sags internal bits. Now only the Tuscan-Challenge cars have open vents. But they're totally different cars really. Only the lightweight bodies are Sagaris, mounted on a 450 hp AJP8 powered race chassis. Sounds like good fun though.
You don't have to be a regular SpecSavers client to see this Chameleon Orange Sagaris lacks the charateristic racehelmet roofbulge. The handfull inbetween series now delivered, all have flat roofs and the funny thing is: next 2007 cars will have the bulges back. New Sparco seats will offer a far better support because what's in now doesn't hold normal proportioned humans that well. At speed and in the twisties I was thrown about and that isn't a good thing in a hardcore sportscar. As a passenger I've no complaints at all but behind the wheel I couldn't find a proper position. And I'm just 1.86m . . .
Inside the interior is a bit hate or love. I love it. The dials are a spicy bit of TVR's bloody-mindedness. The speedo goes clockwise and the rev-o-meter goes anti-clockwise. There are some buttons for windows and radio and that's about it. There are no electronic 'helpers' like ABS, airbags or traction-control. You have to drive the car all by yourself. Which is a good thing. I wouldn't have it another way. Especially because this TVR is so damn talkative when driven.
For a roadlegal trackcar the Sagaris has quite a lot of comfy bits in: aircon, leather interior, brushed alloy knobs, inboard pc, CD / DVD, satnav and enough space in the gorgeous boot to put luggage for a long weekends trip to Paris, or wherever. With a medium rightfoot it'll take you up to 285 miles for the next gasstop. In the best GT-style the Sag will bring you everywhere you like, and in great comfort.
Check out the startup-procedure: key in, and both clock's needles swung either way accompanied by a hip technodrone. The inline 6 came to life, baffled a few quick revups and rumbled along like a Merc Van: very elegant sir! The 1078 kilo's were shaking under the power of the mighty Speed Six mill. Within the first few yards it became clear this mean looking orange bullet is a cosy downtown-ride. I started wondering what'd happen if all 380 horsies hit the rear-axle.
The first LHD Sagaris
Without no doubt the TVR Sagaris is one of the most extreme roadlegal cars of the moment. A good reason for Europart to buy one to promote their business. This car is eyecandy all over and it sucks crowds towards their decal-covered Chameleon Orange beast. Since May the first LHD Sagaris is a Dutchie and at the moment more are delivered to happy owners in Belgium, Italy and other European countries. Next series will have the (racehelmet) bulge back. Let's call this Saggy a series one and a halve then.
From the first moment this TVR was presented to the public the journo's were raving, EVO: ". . . crank down the window to better listen to TVR's irrevent disregard of political correctness." Top Gear Magazine: "It's faster than any TVR I've driven."
A car described as such and in my neighbourhood had to be paid a visit. So I mailed the guy who drives it and found out he lived just a 15 mins drive from my workadress.
The funny thing is that TVR is in some sort of crisis and inbetween moving from one to another location (we think
), a modernized factory compared to good old Blackpool avenue. New cars need to apply to Euro 5 or LEVII regs and in a well-sorted plant those standards are easier to achieve. Before the Sagaris S2 is sorted out, which will be somewhere in 2007, a handfull of cars are produced with some awkward detailing . . . Like the smoothend up roof. Much to the owner's surprise BTW. TVR just did it, take it or leave it. The announcement of changing the exhausts from characteristicly sideways to bland straight had 14 customers to withdraw their options. Wow, you must really love the Sag to get one then . . . Err, no. "Just don't touch the exhausts or we'll withdraw too." Europart said. And Oxley left them right the way they're meant to be. Phew. Gorgeous. Thanx.
So there we were, standing in front of a very low and very wide and very agressive looking orange - Dutch national color - Sagaris series one and a halve.
The black devil
A year ago, september 17th at Blackpool a/d Rijn, I saw this baby for the first time. Dutch TVR dealer Nimag had a lushious Tusc Mk 2 and a black devil RHD Sagaris at display. As much elegance and grandeur there is to the Tusc, so much 'in yer face racyness' is the Sag. This car looks like a machine still under development. But it isn't. At the moment this is the best car TVR has made yet. And it's very well made indeed, it has the reliabillity-programme coming with it and it looks the absolute nuts. Next to a Boxter it's from a different planet.
The conceptcar's nosecuts were open. Imagine the claims TVR'd get when roadtrash would mash up the Sags internal bits. Now only the Tuscan-Challenge cars have open vents. But they're totally different cars really. Only the lightweight bodies are Sagaris, mounted on a 450 hp AJP8 powered race chassis. Sounds like good fun though.
You don't have to be a regular SpecSavers client to see this Chameleon Orange Sagaris lacks the charateristic racehelmet roofbulge. The handfull inbetween series now delivered, all have flat roofs and the funny thing is: next 2007 cars will have the bulges back. New Sparco seats will offer a far better support because what's in now doesn't hold normal proportioned humans that well. At speed and in the twisties I was thrown about and that isn't a good thing in a hardcore sportscar. As a passenger I've no complaints at all but behind the wheel I couldn't find a proper position. And I'm just 1.86m . . .
Inside the interior is a bit hate or love. I love it. The dials are a spicy bit of TVR's bloody-mindedness. The speedo goes clockwise and the rev-o-meter goes anti-clockwise. There are some buttons for windows and radio and that's about it. There are no electronic 'helpers' like ABS, airbags or traction-control. You have to drive the car all by yourself. Which is a good thing. I wouldn't have it another way. Especially because this TVR is so damn talkative when driven.
For a roadlegal trackcar the Sagaris has quite a lot of comfy bits in: aircon, leather interior, brushed alloy knobs, inboard pc, CD / DVD, satnav and enough space in the gorgeous boot to put luggage for a long weekends trip to Paris, or wherever. With a medium rightfoot it'll take you up to 285 miles for the next gasstop. In the best GT-style the Sag will bring you everywhere you like, and in great comfort.
Check out the startup-procedure: key in, and both clock's needles swung either way accompanied by a hip technodrone. The inline 6 came to life, baffled a few quick revups and rumbled along like a Merc Van: very elegant sir! The 1078 kilo's were shaking under the power of the mighty Speed Six mill. Within the first few yards it became clear this mean looking orange bullet is a cosy downtown-ride. I started wondering what'd happen if all 380 horsies hit the rear-axle.
The kick inside
I always like the first ten minutes in a new car to get accustomed and familiar with the specific sounds and habits. It's funny but this TVR felt a bit like a TR4. The unfinished and bold feel, the lack of elegance and the awkward behaviour of it all is typical TVR hence British. It's honest and direct and not at all frightening or intimidating. This is a fun car to drive. A very quick fun car that is. Nuff of my house chamber philosophies. Ten mins are over and it's time to raise some hell!
Some say TVR'll need a V8 to use in their sportscars but I'm not so sure. This 4 litre 6pot has the classic Brit 'Jag D-type at Le Mans' exhaustnote and it suits this hipo-tourer spot on.
Hit the pedals hard and we were looking at triple digits within 8 secs. Name me a 113k euro car capable of doing that (omit the kits). Windtunneltesting did the Sagaris good. It took a speed of 90 mph for me to realise my window was still unclosed. Good job lads. Topspeed is about 190.
But we didn't take her that far. Shifting at 5k and before noticing we were doing things highly illegal. Cloverleaf drives were a deadeasy job at 75 mph. Thanx to the heavy traffic ahead we still have our licences today, but when the occasion was there a shift back banged the Sagaris forwards up to 125. Shifting to four and with a whooping engine the rightfoot pauzed at 150, when a clattering hood caused a typical TVR-moment.
All this progress is without irritating wind noise. Hail, hail to aerodynamics. The added racy bits like the transparent Gurney flap and the diffusor have a purpose. The car is glued to the tarmac. With big phat Pirelli's ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAUli6wYdCE ) the Sag does look great, although you have to like the Spider wheels. Here they're even yellow.
Performance is there for the taking but can be tailor fitted. Choose a close-ratio box, a 3.46, 3.73 or 3.91 final-drive or a suspension set-up of your choice. Anything to meet the drivers needs.
Just look at it
The engine is up front and close to the driver's. After a nice hour of high speed cruising the mills pleasant warmth filled the cockpit. Time for a stretch and a bit of digital shooting. We parked our TVR at a T-junction on some deserted industrial area. Immediately a bunch of Clearasil punks came to us, attracted like flies to a jar of jelly. Big stories, celphone-photography and all that. Things got more serious when an all leather guy parked his big Jap bike next to the Sag. "WTF is this?", and Dink cascaded . . .
When Arnoud took over I unscrewed my pola to gain a few stops of light. With the early eve's decreasing sunlight I needed every bit to catch some nice details. "Why don't you have a seat Dink?" Well, allright. I've tried and was massively dissapointed. I can look over Arnoud's head and he is perfectly comfortable at the Sagaris' steeringwheel. But with my 1.86 metres of Dutch clumsiness I couldn't find a right position. Neither the wheel nor the pedals allowed me have a proper seat. I felt like a dad demonstrating his kids toytractor . . . Much to my surprise Digga951's 350i gave me all the support and a perfect seat. I could even drive his wedge without the leather in the hindmost position. But that's another story (Soon, after the Lancia Fulvia review).
Finally . . . I'd like to thank Arnoud and Europart for this occassion. I'd a wonderfull time in this thoroughbred ride. Which is one of the fastest and most blood-curdling sportscars of the moment BTW. Wow, my first TVR and I'm hooked. Hairychested my arse. They're made to handle. Men aren't. So that makes TVR's female, just like Lamborghini's.
Cheers, Dink, September 2006
Next: Lancia Fulvia Zagato Sport 1.3S, Digga951's TVR 350i, my dad's first car (Wolseley 16/60, found back after 26 years!), TVR Grantura, Maserati Mistral 4000, Gun Metals TVR SEAC 420, Jaguar Etype vert, Wim Klassiekerrally's Morris 1.3 and the list is growing.
You are on fumes and a wing and a prayor though. 
I'm 1.80mtr think I will fit properly in that car(as I also did in my 2 TVR cars I've owned) 
Dutch read will be available soon: October issue of Dutch British Car magazine within weeks.
Thanx for the mails and nice words guys.
I loved my time in a Sagaris when I borrowed it for a week from ecurie25. I've been fortunate enough to test (but not own, so not that fortunate!) a number of different cars including various Ferraris, an AMV8 and a couple of Gallardos amongst others and nothing matched the sense of occassion I got from getting into a Sag' and that low electrical hum you get before you start it up. It's the only car I was truly sad to see go.
Nice review btw.
Nice review btw.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff