380 BHP RWD 1100kg with no traction ctrl....
Discussion
I am soon to join the ranks of Tuscan owners, having had a S2000, Marcos Mantaray, and ZM I'm used to a fair amount of power through the rear wheels (not quite 380bhp though)
but have concerns about the handling characteristics of the Tuscan, from what I've seen they have a tendency to loose the tail end.
My question is this, are TVR's really as bad as people say and if so does anyone know of a high performance driving school in Chelmsford / Essex.
Thanks
Just remember it'll only go as fast as your right foot is heavy...
I've had 2 Griff 500's and 2 Tuscans and I reckon the Tusc is streets ahead on handling. I've driven both varients in everything from sunshine to snow and have never had any incidents. I'm no super driver, I've never done a handling course and only a smattering of track days and those were in a front wheel drive Rover Coupe anyway.
So the message is buy one, enjoy it, respect it but don't be scared of it and you'll have endless hours of fun...
Cheers
DC
I've had 2 Griff 500's and 2 Tuscans and I reckon the Tusc is streets ahead on handling. I've driven both varients in everything from sunshine to snow and have never had any incidents. I'm no super driver, I've never done a handling course and only a smattering of track days and those were in a front wheel drive Rover Coupe anyway.
So the message is buy one, enjoy it, respect it but don't be scared of it and you'll have endless hours of fun...
Cheers
DC
and you can kill yourself in a Reliant Robin.Go for it the tuscan is a great car it handles,well stops well and the back is not that lively.The only time i managed to get the back to step out it was my fault i was driving like a prat, but i lttle touch of opposite lock and all was well again.I am not the worlds best driver but hapily drive it i the rain.Just keep a cool head and get some lessons you will see what the car is really capable of
arran said:
I am soon to join the ranks of Tuscan owners, having had a S2000, Marcos Mantaray, and ZM I'm used to a fair amount of power through the rear wheels (not quite 380bhp though)
but have concerns about the handling characteristics of the Tuscan, from what I've seen they have a tendency to loose the tail end.
My question is this, are TVR's really as bad as people say and if so does anyone know of a high performance driving school in Chelmsford / Essex.
Thanks
Well come along to the Mid-Essex meet (2nd Sunday of each month) and you will find out from fellow Essex Tuscan owners. I went from a Chim250 to a new Tuscan S this year and have taken it around Keevle and Bruntingthorpe....it all comes down to the driver but even as much as I pushed it...I still didn't lose the back end...
There is a policeman at Ride Drive who lives out Bishops Storford way so you can try your luck with him + I think going out with an instructor at a track is also prudent to get to know your car.
TVR's are great...you just need to know how to drive and respect them and don't end up in some ditch around Chelmsford somewhere!
Alan.
I don't think the car handles badly. I heard S2000s have loose tails. Do you think so ?
Some pointers I've picked up over the years :
Get to learn the car slowly. If you're going around a bend apply a small amount of constant throttle to keep the car balanced. Accelerate once you've straightened the car out. If you're feeling more confident, increase throttle travel only after you have started to turn the front wheels back to the straight ahead. If the tail waggles it should be easy to correct. The best way to spin a car is to increase the throttle whilst going round a corner i.e. you have constant or tightening steering applied.
You'll spin the wheels if you floor it in the wet. So don't!
Oh, and don't change down a gear without matching the engine revs. You'll lock the rear wheels and end up in a ditch.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Andy.
>> Edited by andyvdg on Wednesday 1st October 16:59
Some pointers I've picked up over the years :
Get to learn the car slowly. If you're going around a bend apply a small amount of constant throttle to keep the car balanced. Accelerate once you've straightened the car out. If you're feeling more confident, increase throttle travel only after you have started to turn the front wheels back to the straight ahead. If the tail waggles it should be easy to correct. The best way to spin a car is to increase the throttle whilst going round a corner i.e. you have constant or tightening steering applied.
You'll spin the wheels if you floor it in the wet. So don't!
Oh, and don't change down a gear without matching the engine revs. You'll lock the rear wheels and end up in a ditch.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Andy.
>> Edited by andyvdg on Wednesday 1st October 16:59
Agree entirely on what S1X OK on the handling side the only time you'll do something silly by giving it too much right foot and losing it is if your only experience is driving a underpowered shopping trolley car which you have to boot out of every corner to get it going. Owning a TVR without traction control will give you easily the best training on throttle control you can get. Although my experience is limited on the Tuscan's floor mounted pedals, they and the V8's (Chim/Griff/Cerbie) all do have a lovely long throttle pedal meaning you can get a real good feel for progressive throttle acceleration.
They are not difficult to drive.
They are not difficult to drive.
andyvdg said:
I don't think the car handles badly. I heard S2000s have loose tails. Do you think so ?
Some pointers I've picked up over the years :
Get to learn the car slowly. If you're going around a bend apply a small amount of constant throttle to keep the car balanced. Accelerate once you've straightened the car out. If you're feeling more confident, increase throttle travel only after you have started to turn the front wheels back to the straight ahead. If the tail waggles it should be easy to correct. The best way to spin a car is to increase the throttle whilst going round a corner i.e. you have constant or tightening steering applied.
You'll spin the wheels if you floor it in the wet. So don't!
Oh, and don't change down a gear without matching the engine revs. You'll lock the rear wheels and end up in a ditch.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Andy.
>> Edited by andyvdg on Wednesday 1st October 16:59
Excellent advice, but I'll add a bit...
I used to own an S2000 and I can tell you from personal experience that going around wet roundabouts in the Honda was something that needed the driver's full attention. The Honda does, in fact, have a very loose tail. Especially in light of the fact that the rear wheels are smaller than the ones in front.
I was much more comfortable in a Tuscan.
The difference to me is the linearity of the throttle and what I can only describe as the "balance" of the car.
While it is certainly possible to lose the rear-end of a Tuscan, I can't for the life of me figure out how anyone could do it by accident.
The Tuscan will do what it is told - including bite your head off. The Honda will sometimes develop a mind of its own and try to bite (well, nibble anyway) your head off - out of the clear blue.
andyvdg said:
Oh, and don't change down a gear without matching the engine revs. You'll lock the rear wheels and end up in a ditch.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Andy.
>> Edited by andyvdg on Wednesday 1st October 16:59
Andy,
Never had this happen to me and as I'm addicted to engine breaking in my TVR I reckon it's something that I might benefit from a bit of guidance on!
Under what circumstances do you find this happens and are there any obvious warning signs...
Cheers
DC
er brake pads are cheaper than an engine......
Best to use as little engine braking as possible in normal road driving.
You will lock up the rear tyres when changing down if the engine revs vs the car speed vs the road surface = the tyres cannot grip hence locking up.
for example: doing 50 mph in 2nd gear, change straight down into 1st gear and the rear tyres will lock up until the engine revs or car speed slow down enough for them to unlock.
Probably an idea for a track day or instruction etc.
Have fun,
Whitey
Best to use as little engine braking as possible in normal road driving.
You will lock up the rear tyres when changing down if the engine revs vs the car speed vs the road surface = the tyres cannot grip hence locking up.
for example: doing 50 mph in 2nd gear, change straight down into 1st gear and the rear tyres will lock up until the engine revs or car speed slow down enough for them to unlock.
Probably an idea for a track day or instruction etc.
Have fun,
Whitey
Dai, engine braking, that is slowing down whilst in gear with your foot off the throttle is OK, it's just when you change down a gear, say from third to second, when you want to slow down, you must apply some throttle when the clutch is let in so that the engine revs to where it will be when you lift the clutch up in second.
Otherwise the engine speed will not match the current wheel speed when second gear is engaged. As the clutch friction is greater than the tyre/road friction the rear wheels will skid until the car speed / engine revs match for that gear.
Have skidding rear wheels causes great instability.
Hope this helps - the best advice is to get out on the track with an instructor who can go through all this.
Cheers,
Andy.
Otherwise the engine speed will not match the current wheel speed when second gear is engaged. As the clutch friction is greater than the tyre/road friction the rear wheels will skid until the car speed / engine revs match for that gear.
Have skidding rear wheels causes great instability.
Hope this helps - the best advice is to get out on the track with an instructor who can go through all this.
Cheers,
Andy.
Andy,
What I do is what you describe in terms of changing down a gear. Never blip the throttle to match engine revs though. Sounds like I could be skating on thin ice!
I will be taking it on the track next season and will actively seek some instruction, there's always something to learn!
Cheers
DC
What I do is what you describe in terms of changing down a gear. Never blip the throttle to match engine revs though. Sounds like I could be skating on thin ice!
I will be taking it on the track next season and will actively seek some instruction, there's always something to learn!
Cheers
DC
Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff