My Test drive in a Tamora!
Discussion
As some of you may know I've been thinking about increasing the power in my chim via supercharger or other mods or possibly getting a Tamora. Well on Friday I was down at Racing Green having a new windscreen fitted and had a chance to go out in a lovely viper blue Tamora. Well what can I say other than Wow!
I honestly wasnt expecting the car to handle as well as it did which was phenomenal and as for the power, well that was exhilarating! The guy who drove it took me on some great roads the same ones they used for the Sagaris promo video and he certainly wasnt holding back! When I drove it I initially took it easy to get a feel for the car, my thoughts are the seating position is lot like a normal car and not as low down like the chim. The clutch is lighter, brake pedal harder and throttle so much more responsive! The handling was fantastic and power delivery at the top end was great, its a totally different car to drive and will take a while to master but when driven correctly I think its an awesome car! The back end seems a tad more twitchy than the chim but thats also probably down to the sharp rise in power at over 5k rpm.
On the way home i had time to reflect on my experience and my thoughts are that even though my chim has uprated suspension and well set up geo the Tam matches it out the box, the power delivery will no doubt take a while to get used to but that speed six engine just screams! I think its an absolutely amazing car even though its got the potential to probably end up killing me.
The question now is do i get one?
I honestly wasnt expecting the car to handle as well as it did which was phenomenal and as for the power, well that was exhilarating! The guy who drove it took me on some great roads the same ones they used for the Sagaris promo video and he certainly wasnt holding back! When I drove it I initially took it easy to get a feel for the car, my thoughts are the seating position is lot like a normal car and not as low down like the chim. The clutch is lighter, brake pedal harder and throttle so much more responsive! The handling was fantastic and power delivery at the top end was great, its a totally different car to drive and will take a while to master but when driven correctly I think its an awesome car! The back end seems a tad more twitchy than the chim but thats also probably down to the sharp rise in power at over 5k rpm.
On the way home i had time to reflect on my experience and my thoughts are that even though my chim has uprated suspension and well set up geo the Tam matches it out the box, the power delivery will no doubt take a while to get used to but that speed six engine just screams! I think its an absolutely amazing car even though its got the potential to probably end up killing me.
The question now is do i get one?
I've got to say that I was stunned by the Tam when I first drove it. Everything about it is so well in tune. The steering, the clutch, the gearbox, brakes, handling, ride, and grip.
The looks aren't to everyone's taste, indeed I would say they are not to mine, but once inside and driving, everything is forgiven. Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.
But best of all I have to say for sheer thrill of driving, the Speed 6 is superb. Totally deceptive in the way it delivers, especially if you are used to an RV8.
Much as I like my Chim . . .
The looks aren't to everyone's taste, indeed I would say they are not to mine, but once inside and driving, everything is forgiven. Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.
But best of all I have to say for sheer thrill of driving, the Speed 6 is superb. Totally deceptive in the way it delivers, especially if you are used to an RV8.
Much as I like my Chim . . .
MrPhotographer said:
On the way home i had time to reflect on my experience and my thoughts are that even though my chim has uprated suspension and well set up geo the Tam matches it out the box, the power delivery will no doubt take a while to get used to but that speed six engine just screams! I think its an absolutely amazing car even though its got the potential to probably end up killing me.
The question now is do i get one?
My old Chim was exactly the same. Uprated shocks, poly bushed, full geo etc. but my totally standard T350 far excels in the handling dept and I can't wait to see the difference when I uprate the shocks next year. The question now is do i get one?
If it's only more power you're after then TBH an SC Chim is an easy way to go. But a T car is just so different in every way to even the quickest of Chims/Griffs.
Another thing you notice is the amount of attention you get in the later cars, the Chim TBH went barely noticed by many - I know its not strictly a reason to buy one but.....
It took me a while to love my 350, the Chim was such a relaxed GT car to drive and had oodles of low down torque. The 350 is far more balls out but now I wouldn't ever go back, it's just sooo much fun!
My advice would be to do it!
The Lukas said:
Blues said:
Happy to let you have a go in her for comparison... and may well be selling her soon 
Is that an open invitation? 


julianc said:
Derek Smith said:
Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.
You wouldn't happen to have their names and phone numbers would you? We obviously live in different places! 
The all agreed that the car: 'is beautiful'. That's accepting the questionable premise that they weren't talking about me. One asked for a ride! Where was she when I could have responded? Apart from still some 10 years from being born. I was trying to work out how much I'd lose if my pension was taken away from me and the they disappeared. Laer I was taking photographs near a village pond and two women came up to me and talked about how pretty the car was.
A little later I was setting up a photograph having a little dig at Amanda Stretton. She had been on the cover of Classic and Sports Cars draped over the bonnet of a Porsche. I thought I'd do one with me looking as sexy as I could over the bonnet of the Tam. Good idea? Highly erotic.
I set the tripod and pressed the delay but when I went to lay over the car I relaised my belt buckle might damage the paintwork. I took my belt off but heard the camera click before I was in position. Not wanting to disappoint my fan base I rushed over to the camera, forgetting that I had no belt on. My jeans started to fall down so I had to stop and pull them up. As I was doing so a woman came out of a school and gave me a look of some confusion. I apologised and said: There is a reason why they fell down.
She said: I prefer my guess.
But she smiled as she said it.
Derek Smith said:
Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.
Derek Smith said:
I parked in a layby at Beachy Head to get some still with the lighthouse in the background. I was just finishing when five - taht's five - female German students appeared. One handled the gearlever in a way that can only be called suggestive and all of them rubbed the leather.
Derek Smith said:
Laer I was taking photographs near a village pond and two women came up to me and talked about how pretty the car was.
Now, I reckon you either:a). Look like George Clooney.
b). Fantasize like Walter Mitty.
c). Write the 'Dear Deirdre' letters for the Sun.
I was edging towards b. but then I noticed you were a freelance writer............

Good man

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As has been often said - Tamoras are the most under rated of TVRs. The styling may be personal preference, but their handling in standard trim is way more direct and benign than the Griff/Chim/Cerb.
, great handling
, loud
, and stunning looks
- but I'm not biassed 