Discussion
Still trying to choose between 996 C4S and TuscanS.
Test drove both last Saturday and it's still difficult.
Curious about a few things on the Tuscan we drove though.
1) Pulling away there was a horrible metallic vibration which sounded like something loose around the exhaust. Some shielding maybe? Is this common?
2) At certain points in the rev-range there was a resonant frequency which caused everything in the car to vibrate. Is this normal? Got a very loud Exige which doesn't do this.
3) Wind noise was awful from the front edge of the side windows, especially above 80,90 mph. This was on both driver and passenger side. Do "they all do that sir"?
4) Speaking from behind me. Is this the rear window? Does it generally sqeak?
5) Under full power the back seemed to sqirm around causing me to apply a touch of opposite lock, first one way then the other. I'm convinced it wasn't losing grip, so is it just the suspension settling down at the back or following the road camber or something?
6) Doesn't seem to rev very high, change up light came on below 5000rpm! I'm used to going up to 8k. When does the limiter cut in?
Fantastically powerful I have to say. Love the instant response of throttle and steering. Brakes feel a bit wooden though, no initial bite, are there different pads that people use?
Porsche was pretty awesome though. Not a single niggle on the one I drove, pretty fast and sounds fantastic with the sports exhaust. Expensive and a 12 month wait though.
Test drove both last Saturday and it's still difficult.
Curious about a few things on the Tuscan we drove though.
1) Pulling away there was a horrible metallic vibration which sounded like something loose around the exhaust. Some shielding maybe? Is this common?
2) At certain points in the rev-range there was a resonant frequency which caused everything in the car to vibrate. Is this normal? Got a very loud Exige which doesn't do this.
3) Wind noise was awful from the front edge of the side windows, especially above 80,90 mph. This was on both driver and passenger side. Do "they all do that sir"?
4) Speaking from behind me. Is this the rear window? Does it generally sqeak?
5) Under full power the back seemed to sqirm around causing me to apply a touch of opposite lock, first one way then the other. I'm convinced it wasn't losing grip, so is it just the suspension settling down at the back or following the road camber or something?
6) Doesn't seem to rev very high, change up light came on below 5000rpm! I'm used to going up to 8k. When does the limiter cut in?
Fantastically powerful I have to say. Love the instant response of throttle and steering. Brakes feel a bit wooden though, no initial bite, are there different pads that people use?
Porsche was pretty awesome though. Not a single niggle on the one I drove, pretty fast and sounds fantastic with the sports exhaust. Expensive and a 12 month wait though.
No it was warm, been test-driving all day.
911 was very impressive but to be honest not that much different to our Impreza in the driving experience.
Tuscan left a more lasting impression!
It's the wind noise that bothers me the most, do people generally have no more wind noise from the side windows than a normal car?
911 was very impressive but to be honest not that much different to our Impreza in the driving experience.
Tuscan left a more lasting impression!
It's the wind noise that bothers me the most, do people generally have no more wind noise from the side windows than a normal car?
>1) Pulling away there was a horrible metallic vibration
Might be the heat shield - I've had mine vibrate from time to time - easily fixed.
>2) At certain points in the rev-range there was a resonant frequency
Yes...going *down* the rev range. Solution - take the roof off....not a factor then.
>3) Wind noise was awful from the front edge of the side windows
Never noticed excessive wind noise with the roof on; I do notice a little more wind buffet with the roof off than my old Griff, mostly from the rear roof/hoop.
>4) Speaking from behind me. Is this the rear window? Does it generally sqeak?
Speaking from behind you? - if there was then a) you had a rear passenger and this means b) you were in a Cerbera. Ok....squeaking...a strip of velcro along the top of the rear window fixes this, surprised it hadn't already been done.
>5) Under full power the back seemed to sqirm around
At full power or at 5K (see below)? - either way, over enthusiastic application of power in most TVRs will have this effect. Gently does it.
>6) Doesn't seem to rev very high, change up light came on below 5000rpm!
Sounds like someone had been playing with the change-up light settings - on my RR the factory defaults are 6000/6500/7000. I think the limiter is somewhere around 7300-7500....I tend not to go there.
(contd..)
Might be the heat shield - I've had mine vibrate from time to time - easily fixed.
>2) At certain points in the rev-range there was a resonant frequency
Yes...going *down* the rev range. Solution - take the roof off....not a factor then.
>3) Wind noise was awful from the front edge of the side windows
Never noticed excessive wind noise with the roof on; I do notice a little more wind buffet with the roof off than my old Griff, mostly from the rear roof/hoop.
>4) Speaking from behind me. Is this the rear window? Does it generally sqeak?
Speaking from behind you? - if there was then a) you had a rear passenger and this means b) you were in a Cerbera. Ok....squeaking...a strip of velcro along the top of the rear window fixes this, surprised it hadn't already been done.
>5) Under full power the back seemed to sqirm around
At full power or at 5K (see below)? - either way, over enthusiastic application of power in most TVRs will have this effect. Gently does it.
>6) Doesn't seem to rev very high, change up light came on below 5000rpm!
Sounds like someone had been playing with the change-up light settings - on my RR the factory defaults are 6000/6500/7000. I think the limiter is somewhere around 7300-7500....I tend not to go there.
(contd..)
Porsche vs TVR....in the end you should go for whichever you feel happiest with; the Tuscan is a hairy-ar*sed brute which will bite you if you don't treat it with respect, probably cost more to run than the Porsche and will get you a *lot* more attention. If you're still at the stage of life where you appreciate that kind of thing, go for it. 
The only points I can offer any help on are, the horrible rattle from exhaust area, I had this, no problem sorting it at service, where I was told one of the exhaust to body fixings had come a bit loose, once tightened, quiet as a mouse !!. The rear window squeak, basically you have rubber surround squeezed against perspex, but the velcro idea sound so simple, why didn't TVR think of that one, I'm off to buy some velcro.
If you find yourself in the dilema of a Porsche or a TVR then the answer is simple "Porsche".
TVR people are a very select band of brothers who appreciate the rough edge of a Hand built British Car which is built in a small factory in blackpool.
The porsche though is mass produced and near faultless,one of the best mass produced cars in the world,and problems big or small are very far between.
Whereas the TVR will never be faultless, will never be perfect but offers style and driving experience that can be matched by no other car or made machine.
So my advice is that if you have to question which car to buy then the safer bet would be the Porsche.
>> Edited by v8tvr on Tuesday 22 April 12:21
TVR people are a very select band of brothers who appreciate the rough edge of a Hand built British Car which is built in a small factory in blackpool.
The porsche though is mass produced and near faultless,one of the best mass produced cars in the world,and problems big or small are very far between.
Whereas the TVR will never be faultless, will never be perfect but offers style and driving experience that can be matched by no other car or made machine.
So my advice is that if you have to question which car to buy then the safer bet would be the Porsche.
>> Edited by v8tvr on Tuesday 22 April 12:21
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