SP6 Driving characteristics
SP6 Driving characteristics
Author
Discussion

millerman

Original Poster:

817 posts

254 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
I have had the Tuscan about 3 months, done about 3500miles. I run it in for a 1000 miles after a rebuild, its losening up quite nicely now.

The car is running me in as well, MX5 to Tuscan, its a bit of a leap.

I have started to give it a bit of stick as my confidence builds with the car (and especially since i got the carbon cans on). The other day a Max power scooby doo was all over the back of the car, I was in 4th and floored it. The scooby kept up for a while, then i pulled away a bit (but not as much as i expected).

I think its got something to do with the fact that I was low in the rev range when i put my foot down. Given that the power comes higher in the rev range I assume that this leads to a particular driving style or characteristic, keeping revs High etc.

I havent really "rung its neck" (the car that is!), do i need to throttle its neck to get the best out of it ( i have been a bit reluctant because the rebuild was only 2500 miles ago)

How do you drive yours ?

Nick

Avalanche

615 posts

254 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
It took a while for me to drive the Tuscan as aggressively as I had the Cosworth, when I felt like it. At speed, I would also rely on torque in 4th gear to pull away. One day you choose 3rd, or 2nd! and realize you are in fact sitting in a racing car. I guess that'll be after the running in in your case!

Same around twisties - I'd been used to 4WD and ABS etc in the Cosworth. I was trying to drive the Tuscan as if it were the same car. Wrong. More about acceleration/braking...er, powerslides.

Just like every car drives differently in video games and style needs to be adapted accordingly, same is true in real life. Did I get that backwards..?!

powerlord

771 posts

257 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
yeh u need to treat it like a bike or a vtec honda. It might sound a bit rough at high revs, but thats where the power is. Unless the red light is coming on when u change gear you're not trying :-)

basic rule: if you have <4k clocked in, knock it down a gear for max oomph (very rough rule of thumb).

if u were at 60 say.. take it down into 3rd. If it u were at 40 or 50 I'd drop it to 2nd if you really wanted to get max (but you'll need a quick gearchange to 3rd a second later !).

driven like that it'll about keep up with anything (including bikes at motorway speeds at least _justabout_ ).

stu

dvpeace

611 posts

256 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
I had mine on the track on Monday and found 3rd to be a great gear, ran past the red light just because I could not be bothered to change to 4th for 2 seconds before braking hard for the hirpin. Down to 2nd for the hirpin and up to 3rd again a couple of seconds later whilst setting up for the next bend.

Fantastic fun!

David

Avalanche

615 posts

254 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
powerlord said:
treat it like a bike


Now that would've been a slogan!

delamars

152 posts

262 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
I'm with powerlord although even his numbers are a little out.

2nd is good for @70 mph
3rd is good for @110 mph
4th is good for @140 mph

You need quick hands on the gearstick though. I've missed a gear once or twice which slows you a bit

Mr Freefall

2,323 posts

274 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
delamars said:
I'm with powerlord although even his numbers are a little out.

2nd is good for @70 mph
3rd is good for @110 mph
4th is good for @140 mph

You need quick hands on the gearstick though. I've missed a gear once or twice which slows you a bit


More like
1st is good for 55mph (60 with a short ratio box)
2nd is good for @80 mph
3rd is good for @120 mph
4th is good for @150 mph

You'll be hitting hitting 7K and then flying.

I have not had one car keep with me, not in the Tuscan or the T350... This is why we all like the TVR's

sideways mostly

2,681 posts

257 months

Wednesday 29th September 2004
quotequote all
Hi Nick

Agree with all the above

The thing I discovered is that the power really comes on in the last third of throttle pedal travel.

Once you are happy she is really bedded in try this.
Find a nice straight road with no accesories early one morning( a really long straight road,good surface,dry,excelent visibility and NO side roads),get up to around 4k in third,then mash the peddle. If you don't scare yourself witless first time you do this either you didn't really try or it needs a bit of a tune.

It really is an awesomely fast car.The only way my friend at work would consider a drag is in the wet-and he has a 300 bhp Skube with all the mods.

philipleslie67

237 posts

268 months

Thursday 30th September 2004
quotequote all
millerman said:

The car is running me in as well, MX5 to Tuscan, its a bit of a leap.
Nick


Have you considered spending some time with Ride Drive on their TVR handling courses. Trust me you won't regret it!

powerlord

771 posts

257 months

Thursday 30th September 2004
quotequote all
delamars said:
I'm with powerlord although even his numbers are a little out.

2nd is good for @70 mph
3rd is good for @110 mph
4th is good for @140 mph

You need quick hands on the gearstick though. I've missed a gear once or twice which slows you a bit


eh ? so spot on then !

i was saying if you are driving at say 40/50 (in 4th or 5th) you can take it down to 2nd. at 70 (in 4th of 5th) you can take it down to 3rd.

that was what I was trying to say anyway.



stu

millerman

Original Poster:

817 posts

254 months

Thursday 30th September 2004
quotequote all
philipleslie67 said:

millerman said:

The car is running me in as well, MX5 to Tuscan, its a bit of a leap.
Nick



Have you considered spending some time with Ride Drive on their TVR handling courses. Trust me you won't regret it!


Yep. I have been in contact with Ridedrive. Their Guy is in Goole near me, and the aerodrome they use is in leeds. Not sure whether to book now or wait until its a bit brighter next year.

I am intrested in the £299 full day Jobbie, looks good, and from what you Guys have said it is good.

Hmmm do it now or wait ?

Nick

millerman

Original Poster:

817 posts

254 months

Thursday 30th September 2004
quotequote all
sideways mostly said:
Hi Nick

Agree with all the above

The thing I discovered is that the power really comes on in the last third of throttle pedal travel.

Once you are happy she is really bedded in try this.
Find a nice straight road with no accesories early one morning( a really long straight road,good surface,dry,excelent visibility and NO side roads),get up to around 4k in third,then mash the peddle. If you don't scare yourself witless first time you do this either you didn't really try or it needs a bit of a tune.

It really is an awesomely fast car.The only way my friend at work would consider a drag is in the wet-and he has a 300 bhp Skube with all the mods.


Good to hear. I shall try and find such a road this weekend Put the foot to the floor and see what happens ? I know one thing, it will make me smile

Nick

beano500

20,854 posts

291 months

Thursday 30th September 2004
quotequote all
millerman said:
Hmmm do it now or wait ?
JFDI A great day out!

delamars

152 posts

262 months

Thursday 30th September 2004
quotequote all
millerman said:

... Hmmm do it now or wait ...


If it was me I'd do it now. You can learn how to handle the beastie in difficult conditions which would be no bad thing given a leap from an MX5

millerman said:

... I know one thing, it will make me smile


I know one thing - it'll make you fart ! It is quite possible to spin the wheels doing that

Have fun

Oh and Stu, I get you now. My mistake

powerlord

771 posts

257 months

Thursday 30th September 2004
quotequote all
yes, from an MX5 you may find an excess of brown adrenalin running down your leg after trying this the first time.

do not panic. this is normal.



oh... and I know it's obvious.. but I'll say it anyway.. the throttle pedal goes all the way down.. you've probably not realised that yet if you've not be hammering it.. about 80o travel... tvrs 'traction control' as it's known...takes a bit of getting used to be actually make your foot go through that range of movements for a pedal that usually moves about 20o.

and while we are on pedals. learn to heal and toe if you don't already.

stu

InEssex

115 posts

267 months

Friday 1st October 2004
quotequote all
2nd gear good for 70mph? My speedo will go past 100 in 2nd.

powerlord

771 posts

257 months

Friday 1st October 2004
quotequote all
InEssex said:
2nd gear good for 70mph? My speedo will go past 100 in 2nd.


have u got the short ratio box ? was an option on the tuscan and I think standard on the S (wasn't it ?).

that did 90 odd in 2nd. with the speedo a bit out it could read 100 ?

stu

millerman

Original Poster:

817 posts

254 months

Friday 1st October 2004
quotequote all
Los Angeles said:
Hi, Millerman! An MX5 to a Tuscan! Wow! That's a ginormous leap; the equivalent of trading a lawnmower for a Big-Rig truck. Good colour, Nightfire Red. What colour's the interior? And how do you find the practicality of that removeable rear window? Cheers.


Yep its a bit of a leap.

The interior is Portland Grey, very nice. I have had no problems with the rear window, but then again i have only taken it out once or twice.

Nick

powerlord

771 posts

257 months

Friday 1st October 2004
quotequote all
millerman said:

Los Angeles said:
Hi, Millerman! An MX5 to a Tuscan! Wow! That's a ginormous leap; the equivalent of trading a lawnmower for a Big-Rig truck. Good colour, Nightfire Red. What colour's the interior? And how do you find the practicality of that removeable rear window? Cheers.



Yep its a bit of a leap.

The interior is Portland Grey, very nice. I have had no problems with the rear window, but then again i have only taken it out once or twice.

Nick


!"$!$$$$^^%&% !

millarman, get that window out. believe me, the differnce it makes to hear the engine.

it's like the surveys they do that say if you listen to thash metal, etc you drive quicker.... listen to a speed 6 and ur steve mcQueen at Monaco or Claude Lelouch driving through Paris in your Ferrari.

when u ar on a roll in a tvr..you see that the new slogan might almost ring true