Crash Protection in a Tiv
Discussion
A Griff/Chim might be worse for a side impact than an Elise as there's no side impact protection in the tiv, where there's a foot wide section of chassis in the Elise. However, no car is that safe in a side impact as there's simply no distance in which to decelerate and absorb the energy.
Don't agree with the fibreglass=toast theory there. Fibreglass is immensely good at impact absorption, the delamination dissipates a great deal of energy. Plus TVR's have a very strong chassis proved many times in crash testing of Tuscan racers.
I've witnessed a Cerb hitting a concrete wall at very high speed, ripping off a wheel, and the driver getting out unaided and walking away.
I've witnessed a Cerb hitting a concrete wall at very high speed, ripping off a wheel, and the driver getting out unaided and walking away.
finchy said:
Silly question time, what sort of crash protection does a TVR
offer, particularly earlier chims or griffs?
offer, particularly earlier chims or griffs?
Front or rear prang is not so bad as the fibre crumples and then you hit the metal backbone. That tends to be very rigid so protects quite well.
Side impact is not so good on Griff/Chim if on the doors. Unlike the wedges and cerbs there are no metal bars in the doors. I don't know about S, Tuscan, Tam, and current production.
Rollover protection on Griff/Chim is non-existant, however the post 1996 chasis does have points on which an aftermarket rollover bar can be mounted - the earlier ones don't. Anything pre-Griff does not have factory fitted rollover protection either as far as I know (? Grantura, Taimar ?). Cerbs, Tuscans, T350s & Sags do have strenghtened windscreens and a rear hoop - Not sure about the Tamora though.
finchy said:
Any differences between models e.g. Cerb better than Chim etc
Appreciate no driver aids & fiberglass body so are you toast if you visit the scenery or get hit.
Appreciate no driver aids & fiberglass body so are you toast if you visit the scenery or get hit.
See above.
finchy said:
In general discssion with her indoors about whether to get a 3rd car for hooning with Tiv or Elise at the top of the list. Wont be for a while yet so please no "Just get one" responses
Would a Tiv be any better than an Elise, (posting on Elise forum too)
Would a Tiv be any better than an Elise, (posting on Elise forum too)
It would be best to drive both and see which you prefer. For maximum progress down the twisties the Elise probably has the edge. For presence, sound, looks and sheer good fun a tiv comes out in front. Also the elise is much harder on the bum and I would not want to drivbe one for more than 100mls without a rest. I regularly do 300 mile trips in the Tivs with no problems. All the above IMO.
finchy said:
Wifey thinks both "death traps" in the crash/saftey stakes,
Any evidence to back this up or counter her concerns
Any evidence to back this up or counter her concerns
Errr - I was told a few years ago by my insurance company that Tuscans had the worst single vehicle accident record in the country, however that is down to how you drive them - drive like a 2@ and they will bite. I have now done 70k miles in Tivs and by driving defensively and within both my and the cars limits, I don't see that it is any more dangerous than any other vehicle - just a lot more fun. No idea how dangerous a sleaze is - always look very small though.
BTW what are the other two cars ?
Edited by Bob the Planner on Monday 9th October 18:45
Bob the Planner said:
Side impact is not so good on Griff/Chim if on the doors. Unlike the wedges and cerbs there are no metal bars in the doors. I don't know about S, Tuscan, Tam, and current production.
I believe everything post-Cerbera has side-impact bars. Certainly the newest cars do as I saw a few bars in the doors while visiting the factory.
espresso said:
I was told that the T350 and Sag have a full, FIA approved, roll cage.
I don't know for sure that this is true but mine (T350) certainly has bloody big bars running around the tops of the doors and a very tough looking frame in the rear quarters.
I don't know for sure that this is true but mine (T350) certainly has bloody big bars running around the tops of the doors and a very tough looking frame in the rear quarters.
They have a roll cage but in no way shape or form is it FIA approved. The first thing we did with the Sagaris shell we bought to create a race car was cut out the 'roll cage' and bin it. Don't get me wrong, it is a lot better than nothing, but the tubing is far too small and inadequately braced for anything approaching FIA standards. By the way, the rear quarters are not even mounted to the chassis, they terminate in the GRP above the rear wheels.
victormeldrew said:
Don't agree with the fibreglass=toast theory there. Fibreglass is immensely good at impact absorption, the delamination dissipates a great deal of energy. Plus TVR's have a very strong chassis proved many times in crash testing of Tuscan racers.
I've witnessed a Cerb hitting a concrete wall at very high speed, ripping off a wheel, and the driver getting out unaided and walking away.
I've witnessed a Cerb hitting a concrete wall at very high speed, ripping off a wheel, and the driver getting out unaided and walking away.
I've seen enough blunt impact damage on powerboats to be pretty confident that the material is very tough in many conditions.Quinny said:
No one wants to have an accident, but in my view there's a lot of bollox talked about TVR's and safety.
Put it this way I couldn't wait to get it repaired and start to enjoy it again. If I'd had any concerns about
If you want ultimate safety buy a Volvo
Agree totally with What he Said
I shouldn't worry about your driving ability.
I can't claim to be a great driver either but the modern Tivs are way less intimidating than some people make out.
I've had an Elise too and I actually think you're safer when driving cars like these.
You concentrate on what you are doing and the chassis is so communicative that you know when something is going to go wrong.
Just noticed on the Elise forum that you used to have a 2.8 Capri.
I had one of those many years ago and it was SERIOUSLY scary in the wet.
I take it all back - don't worry you'll be absolutely fine in a TVR or an Elise if you've survived the Capri!
I can't claim to be a great driver either but the modern Tivs are way less intimidating than some people make out.
I've had an Elise too and I actually think you're safer when driving cars like these.
You concentrate on what you are doing and the chassis is so communicative that you know when something is going to go wrong.
Just noticed on the Elise forum that you used to have a 2.8 Capri.
I had one of those many years ago and it was SERIOUSLY scary in the wet.
I take it all back - don't worry you'll be absolutely fine in a TVR or an Elise if you've survived the Capri!
Edited by espresso on Monday 9th October 22:43
Quinny said:
Well I walked away from this, which was about a 50mph impact into the side of a car that pulled out on me.
I ended up with a broken wrist when the steering rack snapped and whipped my hand around with the wheel, but other than that not a mark.
18 months before this I hit someone under similar circomstances in my BMW 316 touring. I ended up trapped in the car, with a nasty leg injury.
The BM was so badly damaged it was a write off. The Tiv was repairable.
No one wants to have an accident, but in my view there's a lot of bollox talked about TVR's and safety.
Put it this way I couldn't wait to get it repaired and start to enjoy it again. If I'd had any concerns about its crash protection, I'd never want to go in it again.
Repairs well under way
The day I picked it up
If you want ultimate safety buy a Volvo
F**k being in a car with you.I would be getting myI ended up with a broken wrist when the steering rack snapped and whipped my hand around with the wheel, but other than that not a mark.
18 months before this I hit someone under similar circomstances in my BMW 316 touring. I ended up trapped in the car, with a nasty leg injury.
The BM was so badly damaged it was a write off. The Tiv was repairable.
No one wants to have an accident, but in my view there's a lot of bollox talked about TVR's and safety.
Put it this way I couldn't wait to get it repaired and start to enjoy it again. If I'd had any concerns about its crash protection, I'd never want to go in it again.
Repairs well under way
The day I picked it up
If you want ultimate safety buy a Volvo
Edited by Quinny on Monday 9th October 20:08
quicker than i wanted too.
GreenV8S said:
snorky said:
isn't fibreglass stronger than steel weight for weight ?
I don't know, but having chopped up a fibreglass car and a steel car by hand, I can tell you the fibreglass takes far less energy. Think of the fiberglass as largely decorative and you probably won't be far wrong.
Fibre glass is much better at absorbing impact than steel or any other metal that car bodies are made out of. Indeed that is why (in my real life) I have sold a great many mountaineering helmets made fron this and not a single steel or aluminium one.
When I had a fairly high speed impact with the Armco at Croft in my Tuscan the body looked very bad indeed but did such a good job absorbing the impact that there was no chassis damage at all and I didn't even get a bruise from the seat belt,I just opened the door and got out.
When I had a fairly high speed impact with the Armco at Croft in my Tuscan the body looked very bad indeed but did such a good job absorbing the impact that there was no chassis damage at all and I didn't even get a bruise from the seat belt,I just opened the door and got out.
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