Best handling TVR?
Poll: Best handling TVR?
Total Members Polled: 273
Discussion
Chris71 said:
I'm curious... there must be very few people who've driven all of them, but surely some who've owned a couple. What do you reckon is the best handling TVR? As ever this refers to feedback, precision and adjustability rather than outright speed. 
Driven numerous Chims and Griffs plus a couple of Tuscans and smattering of Cerbs including my own. Difficult one to judge as there are so many suspension choices - all the Griffs and Tuscans I drove were on standard supension. My own Cerb was on Nitrons, I have driven others with Ohlins, my current Chim is on Quantums, I have driven ones with Gaz, Nitron and Ohlins.The best handlers? The ones riding on Ohlins. Out of the Chim and the Cerb, the latter by a large margin.
IMHO Sagaris, closely followed by Tamora, then the T350 and finally Tuscan. Cerbs/Chims/Griffs are all next, then followed by the older TVR's.
Of course this is all based on Standard TVR setup without the aftermarket gizmos.
I remember Dad saying the Tam was the best handling TVR ever, till the Sag came out.
Its also down to your driving style and preference.
Claire
Of course this is all based on Standard TVR setup without the aftermarket gizmos.
I remember Dad saying the Tam was the best handling TVR ever, till the Sag came out.
Its also down to your driving style and preference.
Claire
I've had 8 over the years in the following order:
Tamiar
Tasmin 280i 2+2
350i S2
390 SE
450 SE
Griffith 500
Sagaris
Griffith 500
Handling wise, the cars have got better as the years have passed. The Sagaris is by far the best handling, an order of magnitude over anything else in the list above in my opinion.
The Wedges are better than you'd expect especially on smooth surfaces. The 450 could keep a 4.3 Griff honest on the track.
The ones I did consider but didn't buy in the end were a V8 Cerbera (had it on order after motor show launch but canceled after several demo drives due to very poor quality mechanically and cosmetically), a Tuscan S (could never come to terms with the styling) and a Tamora (ugly rear in my opinion). In terms of my limited exposure to handing of these, I'd say the Cerbera and Tuscan were about on a par with a Griffith and the Tamora significantly better.
Yes, you will see I've now got another Griff too (still got the Sag of course) as I think they are the best convertible TVR ever made and will be a real collectors item in years to come.
Tamiar
Tasmin 280i 2+2
350i S2
390 SE
450 SE
Griffith 500
Sagaris
Griffith 500
Handling wise, the cars have got better as the years have passed. The Sagaris is by far the best handling, an order of magnitude over anything else in the list above in my opinion.
The Wedges are better than you'd expect especially on smooth surfaces. The 450 could keep a 4.3 Griff honest on the track.
The ones I did consider but didn't buy in the end were a V8 Cerbera (had it on order after motor show launch but canceled after several demo drives due to very poor quality mechanically and cosmetically), a Tuscan S (could never come to terms with the styling) and a Tamora (ugly rear in my opinion). In terms of my limited exposure to handing of these, I'd say the Cerbera and Tuscan were about on a par with a Griffith and the Tamora significantly better.
Yes, you will see I've now got another Griff too (still got the Sag of course) as I think they are the best convertible TVR ever made and will be a real collectors item in years to come.
Edited by Englishman on Monday 13th October 12:03
x2
I voted Sagaris - but I'm only going on what I've heard.
Its such a shame TVR went under after making such a fantastic car, I think it was a sign of things to come from them.
Any word on the company's apparent resurection?? I haven't been keeping myself up to date since they unveiled a car earlier this year, and there was that shed with a TVR sign on it any news since then?
ETA: sorry dont mean to hijack the thread.
Its such a shame TVR went under after making such a fantastic car, I think it was a sign of things to come from them.
Any word on the company's apparent resurection?? I haven't been keeping myself up to date since they unveiled a car earlier this year, and there was that shed with a TVR sign on it any news since then?
ETA: sorry dont mean to hijack the thread.
Edited by patmahe on Monday 13th October 12:21
Ah best modern TVR you mean.
I suspect to find the best handling TVR you'd have to go way back pre wide tyre days .. most older cars in pure handling terms knock spots off modern machinery .. i suspect an old vixen or similar on narrow tyres would be as sweet as they come, certainly better than some of the later day machinery.
Of the later cars the S series is a fine handling car, its tall 205 tyres really giving lovely progressive breakaway at sensible speeds. I don't think you could really argue any of the later TVRs as std are fine handling in the true meaning of the words though I have to admit to never having driven a sag in anger, but i have driven everything else ...
I suspect to find the best handling TVR you'd have to go way back pre wide tyre days .. most older cars in pure handling terms knock spots off modern machinery .. i suspect an old vixen or similar on narrow tyres would be as sweet as they come, certainly better than some of the later day machinery.
Of the later cars the S series is a fine handling car, its tall 205 tyres really giving lovely progressive breakaway at sensible speeds. I don't think you could really argue any of the later TVRs as std are fine handling in the true meaning of the words though I have to admit to never having driven a sag in anger, but i have driven everything else ...
trackcar said:
Ah best modern TVR you mean.
I suspect to find the best handling TVR you'd have to go way back pre wide tyre days .. most older cars in pure handling terms knock spots off modern machinery .. i suspect an old vixen or similar on narrow tyres would be as sweet as they come, certainly better than some of the later day machinery.
Equally interested to hear about the older ones.I suspect to find the best handling TVR you'd have to go way back pre wide tyre days .. most older cars in pure handling terms knock spots off modern machinery .. i suspect an old vixen or similar on narrow tyres would be as sweet as they come, certainly better than some of the later day machinery.
My father has a 1600M, which apparently was a bit twitchy out of the box (he's owned it from new), but he made a few mods shortly afterwards which have made it much more predictable.
But I can immagine that smaller tyres, lighter weight and less power to deal with might potentially give the older cars an advantage. Certainly the S3 is far more docile than I expected 'a TVR' to be.
Gaffer said:
IMHO Sagaris, closely followed by Tamora, then the T350 and finally Tuscan. Cerbs/Chims/Griffs are all next, then followed by the older TVR's.
Of course this is all based on Standard TVR setup without the aftermarket gizmos.
I remember Dad saying the Tam was the best handling TVR ever, till the Sag came out.
Its also down to your driving style and preference.
Claire
Wot she saidOf course this is all based on Standard TVR setup without the aftermarket gizmos.
I remember Dad saying the Tam was the best handling TVR ever, till the Sag came out.
Its also down to your driving style and preference.
Claire
Saggyarse
Tam/T350
Mind you,Cerbs rank right up there once the suspension is sorted.
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