TVR Across Canada??
Discussion
Hi all,
The wife an I have been talking for ages about taking a summer out and traveling across Canada in an RV. However now I've returned to TVR ownership, I was wandering about doing it in my Chim?
I don't mind shipping it over, as I can suffer the dull car for a few weeks either side of the hols.
Anyone done this/thought about doing this??
Ta
PJ
The wife an I have been talking for ages about taking a summer out and traveling across Canada in an RV. However now I've returned to TVR ownership, I was wandering about doing it in my Chim?
I don't mind shipping it over, as I can suffer the dull car for a few weeks either side of the hols.
Anyone done this/thought about doing this??
Ta
PJ
I don't know about Canada specifically, but North America has quite a dedicated TVR following, at least for the older models.
I was at a show in Florida in December and bumped into no less than two local TVR owners!
By the way - as soon as I saw the thread title I had this mental image of a Chimera up in the Rockies framed by mountain peaks and a deep blue sky. It would be a simply fantastic experience I reckon. Please, please keep us updated if you decide to go for it - sounds great.
I was at a show in Florida in December and bumped into no less than two local TVR owners!
By the way - as soon as I saw the thread title I had this mental image of a Chimera up in the Rockies framed by mountain peaks and a deep blue sky. It would be a simply fantastic experience I reckon. Please, please keep us updated if you decide to go for it - sounds great.
I did an RV holiday in the USA in 07 and am planning to do another in Ontario this year. A lot of Americans tow a vehicle behind the RV and many tow an SUV. If they can tow an SUV you can tow a Chim? 2 birds with 1 stone? The convenience of the RV and the Tiv on hand for blasting about in.
JagPJ said:
Hi all,
The wife an I have been talking for ages about taking a summer out and traveling across Canada in an RV. However now I've returned to TVR ownership, I was wandering about doing it in my Chim?
I don't mind shipping it over, as I can suffer the dull car for a few weeks either side of the hols.
Anyone done this/thought about doing this??
Ta
PJ
PJ: You wouldn't regret the trip but the cost of shipping both ways would be high. We are in Alberta near the mountains and have 3 TVRs that would like to have their picture taken with a younger brother if you do come over. We will be on the east coast of the United States from the middle of September 2009 to about the middle of October 2009 for a TVR show if everything goes as planned at the moment. We also may be in N.Z. during Feb. 2010 for the Festifal of Speed races. Keep us informed of your plans with TVR in subject line.The wife an I have been talking for ages about taking a summer out and traveling across Canada in an RV. However now I've returned to TVR ownership, I was wandering about doing it in my Chim?
I don't mind shipping it over, as I can suffer the dull car for a few weeks either side of the hols.
Anyone done this/thought about doing this??
Ta
PJ
aleppard@hotmail.com
Wayne/Sherry Leppard.
I have driven across Canada from Van to PEI and back to Toronto, and I have to say I think it was one of the pinnacles of my life! There are so many places to see at either side of the country, but not a whole lot for a number of days worth of driving in the middle. That's a lot of straight roads, no twisties. I bought a Ford Econostar van (big MPV) for the journey as we camped a lot of the way, and it did break down a lot. For most the journey is real hick towns, I would be concerned about some of their mechanics getting their hands on my TVR, and if you break down you could be a serious hitch away from the nearest town. In fact one such hick town mechanic managed to over-tighten a PAS reservoir bolt on our van and cracked it thus breaking the car by the time we got to the other end. If he managed to do that with a standard as anything, seen everywhere car from the world's most universally fixable manufacturer then I shudder to think what might end up happening to a never before seen specialist performance car from UK.
If I were you, I would consider joining them rather than attempting to beat them by hiring a stang or something open top and the worries of break-downs fade away. Road surfaces are frequently not great, and if you do the whole journy I think you would regret taking the Tiv. You just won't get the benefit from speed as lane-hogs are commonplace even on empty stretches, and you would be hankering after something with a big comfy armchair when you are 10,000Km in! Maybe consider buying an open top yank classic.
I reckon if you are going somewhere like that, you need to get into the 'thing' that makes that country what it is. I just don't think taught sports-cars translate to the Canadian (or Yank) 'thing' that well. Depends on the locality I suppose, but having driven that route before, I would not want to do it in a Tiv!
If I were you, I would consider joining them rather than attempting to beat them by hiring a stang or something open top and the worries of break-downs fade away. Road surfaces are frequently not great, and if you do the whole journy I think you would regret taking the Tiv. You just won't get the benefit from speed as lane-hogs are commonplace even on empty stretches, and you would be hankering after something with a big comfy armchair when you are 10,000Km in! Maybe consider buying an open top yank classic.
I reckon if you are going somewhere like that, you need to get into the 'thing' that makes that country what it is. I just don't think taught sports-cars translate to the Canadian (or Yank) 'thing' that well. Depends on the locality I suppose, but having driven that route before, I would not want to do it in a Tiv!
Blown2CV has some very good points. 
I think JagPJ was going for the rarity of driving across Canada with a car that we cannot have here and with 1 that very few would ever know what it was. ( Probably lots of thumbs up though. )I think I see where he was coming from and tried to point out that there should be some serious thought about bringing his Chim over and then back home due to the costs. IMHO I think the shipping cost monies could be used in a better way but if a person can afford that cost then I will do whatever I can to make their trip the best it could be. Since we live close to the mountains I don't mind doing a 500 mile trip in 1 of our TVRs but doing close to 3000 miles would take some serious thought and we don't have the shipping costs to consider. Having a break down and not knowing who to use for the repairs would be very scary. We are trying to make a 7000 mile return trip in Sept. and I went out and bought a new diesel truck and getting a 24 foot trailer to pull our car just for that reason. Putting the money issue for shipping aside, we all have our comfort zones and have to act accordingly. I personally wouldn't ship 1 of my cars to the UK if I was going for a holiday as pre 1980 TVRs are probably not rare there and costs to me wouldn't equal the wow factor. We know a person in the UK and another in Germany that have Sags. who show interests into coming to Canada and if they do, my Spousal Unit and I will do what we can for them to experience driving a TVR on Canadian roads and I hope they would do the same for us.
I think JagPJ was going for the rarity of driving across Canada with a car that we cannot have here and with 1 that very few would ever know what it was. ( Probably lots of thumbs up though. )I think I see where he was coming from and tried to point out that there should be some serious thought about bringing his Chim over and then back home due to the costs. IMHO I think the shipping cost monies could be used in a better way but if a person can afford that cost then I will do whatever I can to make their trip the best it could be. Since we live close to the mountains I don't mind doing a 500 mile trip in 1 of our TVRs but doing close to 3000 miles would take some serious thought and we don't have the shipping costs to consider. Having a break down and not knowing who to use for the repairs would be very scary. We are trying to make a 7000 mile return trip in Sept. and I went out and bought a new diesel truck and getting a 24 foot trailer to pull our car just for that reason. Putting the money issue for shipping aside, we all have our comfort zones and have to act accordingly. I personally wouldn't ship 1 of my cars to the UK if I was going for a holiday as pre 1980 TVRs are probably not rare there and costs to me wouldn't equal the wow factor. We know a person in the UK and another in Germany that have Sags. who show interests into coming to Canada and if they do, my Spousal Unit and I will do what we can for them to experience driving a TVR on Canadian roads and I hope they would do the same for us.V8TVR1978 said:
We will be on the east coast of the United States from the middle of September 2009 to about the middle of October 2009 for a TVR show if everything goes as planned at the moment.
You'll be at Woodwork? Are you planning to bid for anyhing in the auction?I'll show you what irony really is!
It is just an idea at the moment I have to be honest, but it would be a once in a lifetime holiday.
I do have a lot of things to work out, especially the shipping and tech support on the way. However I think the idea at least warrants some investigation. As I said in my OP, the original idea was to do it in an RV, and we might go back to that plan, if things don't work out.
I've already been in contact with the TVRCCNA, and they are more than willing to help where possible which is great. That's what I love about the TVR owners, we're happy and eager to help out our TVR owning brothers and sisters.
If we go ahead we may have some heartache on the way, but we'll also have some great days! Both sides are what will make the trip so exciting and ultimately fulfilling!
If it's even vaguely possible and not cost prohibitive then I think we'll give it a go.
In the meantime, any thoughts/ideas/contacts would be greatly received!
Thanks all!
PJ
I do have a lot of things to work out, especially the shipping and tech support on the way. However I think the idea at least warrants some investigation. As I said in my OP, the original idea was to do it in an RV, and we might go back to that plan, if things don't work out.
I've already been in contact with the TVRCCNA, and they are more than willing to help where possible which is great. That's what I love about the TVR owners, we're happy and eager to help out our TVR owning brothers and sisters.
If we go ahead we may have some heartache on the way, but we'll also have some great days! Both sides are what will make the trip so exciting and ultimately fulfilling!
If it's even vaguely possible and not cost prohibitive then I think we'll give it a go.
In the meantime, any thoughts/ideas/contacts would be greatly received!
Thanks all!
PJ
JagPJ said:
It is just an idea at the moment I have to be honest, but it would be a once in a lifetime holiday.
Well I think its a fantastic idea and hope you pull it off. I would love to do a trip like this at some point in the next few years. Edited by Dave 500 on Tuesday 28th April 09:17
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