On the joys of being a TVR owner.
Discussion
Picture the scene - young frightened looking bloke (looked like the young one from Malcolm in the Middle) stalled in the middle of a junction in some 20 year old Japanese box. Kindly old fat bloke (that’s me) decides to pull over and help push him clear of the junction, well we’ve all been there haven’t we?
Having done this with his car now pulled up behind mine he offers his profuse thanks, at least I think that’s what he was doing - I don’t speak South London. As I’m about to get back into my car an Audi TiT pulls up beside me and offers the rejoiner – ‘Russian... Plastic.... breakdown.... should buy German..... etc’
I was about to remark said driver had quite a deep voice for a driver of a TT when ‘Dewey’ standing next to me turns purple and breaks out in an Irish Brogue not unlike that used in ‘Snatch.’ I think the Audi driver understood rather more than I as he turned white and drove off without a word.
Dewey grunts, hands me a card advertising windowcleaning and drain clearing and goes to sit in his car. I leave. Quickly.
So if anyone needs their windows cleaned in Greenwich, let me know I know just the man.
Having done this with his car now pulled up behind mine he offers his profuse thanks, at least I think that’s what he was doing - I don’t speak South London. As I’m about to get back into my car an Audi TiT pulls up beside me and offers the rejoiner – ‘Russian... Plastic.... breakdown.... should buy German..... etc’
I was about to remark said driver had quite a deep voice for a driver of a TT when ‘Dewey’ standing next to me turns purple and breaks out in an Irish Brogue not unlike that used in ‘Snatch.’ I think the Audi driver understood rather more than I as he turned white and drove off without a word.
Dewey grunts, hands me a card advertising windowcleaning and drain clearing and goes to sit in his car. I leave. Quickly.
So if anyone needs their windows cleaned in Greenwich, let me know I know just the man.
Thats a great story! Unfortunately I have broken down in my TVR a few times. It's only ever broken down due to running out of petrol as i couldnt second guess my faulty fuel gauge, hadn't got used to the level of fuel consumption and like to keep the fuel tank low for weight saving/fire issues. What a fool! Its really wierd how many people notice a TVR when it's broken down. Friends of friends of friends must have driven past as the news eventually got back to me that I'd been spotted! I got the old 'you shouldn't have got a plastic car' comments. It was my fault, not the car's. German car drivers love to diss other cars. Funny thing is I have never really heard so much stick from Jap car lovers even though they are the ones best placed to diss other cars on reliability. I think maybe there's an underlying sense of inadequacy and a lack of adventure with a lot of German car drivers.
My colleagues all worship German cars and when they get back from the Nurburgring they love to tell me the only TVRs they saw were broken down. Muppets! Thing is I've lost count of the times their Audi/BMW cars have failed and cost a lot of money to put right.
My colleagues all worship German cars and when they get back from the Nurburgring they love to tell me the only TVRs they saw were broken down. Muppets! Thing is I've lost count of the times their Audi/BMW cars have failed and cost a lot of money to put right.
Go pedal cable snapped on my Tamora recently.... friend in a Boxster was behind with hazards on, whilst I drove the couple of miles home just on tick over (max 20mph). Wasnt until later occurred to me that it looked very much like I was towing the boxster, wonder if any of the people overtaking made comment!
About 3 years ago TVR Power re-built my engine in the Griff but unfortunately, an issue arose that under acceleration the block would move back and hit a bunch of cables, some of which wore through and so the car started blowing the fuel pump fuse and conking out.
This first happened one evening passing Kings Cross, the AA came along and replaced the fuse, tested everything and off we went. The car then stopped by Portland Place on Marylebone Road and as I was pushing it to the side, a very kind group of chaps pulled up in their BMW and hit me with a beer bottle. Which was nice. Especially, when two days later a friend pointed out that it would have been on CCTV, which it was.
The most recent joy though was a story I heard about someone in a Griff who was driving up the M1 when a TT came steaming up behind flashing its lights and making emotional hand gestures. The Griff pulls over, lets the TT past and then comes back out around it and matches its speed. The TT puts its foot right down and there are big lumps of smoke on every gear change.
Meanwhile, the Griff is just sitting 100 yds back all the way and when the chap gets to his limited top speed, the Griff keeps on coming, when a few tens of yards away gives one flash and the chap has to move over as the Griff sails past still accelerating and offering one simple, polite little wave.
This first happened one evening passing Kings Cross, the AA came along and replaced the fuse, tested everything and off we went. The car then stopped by Portland Place on Marylebone Road and as I was pushing it to the side, a very kind group of chaps pulled up in their BMW and hit me with a beer bottle. Which was nice. Especially, when two days later a friend pointed out that it would have been on CCTV, which it was.
The most recent joy though was a story I heard about someone in a Griff who was driving up the M1 when a TT came steaming up behind flashing its lights and making emotional hand gestures. The Griff pulls over, lets the TT past and then comes back out around it and matches its speed. The TT puts its foot right down and there are big lumps of smoke on every gear change.
Meanwhile, the Griff is just sitting 100 yds back all the way and when the chap gets to his limited top speed, the Griff keeps on coming, when a few tens of yards away gives one flash and the chap has to move over as the Griff sails past still accelerating and offering one simple, polite little wave.
Horse_Apple said:
The most recent joy though was a story I heard about someone in a Griff who was driving up the M1 when a TT came steaming up behind flashing its lights and making emotional hand gestures. The Griff pulls over, lets the TT past and then comes back out around it and matches its speed. The TT puts its foot right down and there are big lumps of smoke on every gear change.
Meanwhile, the Griff is just sitting 100 yds back all the way and when the chap gets to his limited top speed, the Griff keeps on coming, when a few tens of yards away gives one flash and the chap has to move over as the Griff sails past still accelerating and offering one simple, polite little wave.
It must be something with TT's and the M1/A1. I picked up my old chim at the begining of the summer after about 3 months worth of work. I was sensibly pootling back up the A1 with my mam in the car, when a TT with what can only be described as a spice boy came up behind me flashing his lights. I resisted the urge to go for it and pulled over to let him past. Anyway about 10 mins later were stuck in traffic leading up to a roundabout. When we finally reach the roundabout heres the same TT sideways with the front left corner resting on the brake disk and with the alloy wheel in the shrubbery in the middle of the roundabout with all the bolts sheered off. Poor spice boy was on the phone looking close to tears, probably getting wrong off daddy. Oh how I laughed...
iv never had comment made when iv had problems, mainly because i kept driving home when the radiator dumped its fluid and when power steering failed etc etc. but iv had plenty of the 'why a tvr?', 'havent they gone bust?', 'you bought a ticket to an early grave', 'they break all the time' blah blah kinda comments
mackempete said:
Horse_Apple said:
The most recent joy though was a story I heard about someone in a Griff who was driving up the M1 when a TT came steaming up behind flashing its lights and making emotional hand gestures. The Griff pulls over, lets the TT past and then comes back out around it and matches its speed. The TT puts its foot right down and there are big lumps of smoke on every gear change.
Meanwhile, the Griff is just sitting 100 yds back all the way and when the chap gets to his limited top speed, the Griff keeps on coming, when a few tens of yards away gives one flash and the chap has to move over as the Griff sails past still accelerating and offering one simple, polite little wave.
It must be something with TT's and the M1/A1. I picked up my old chim at the begining of the summer after about 3 months worth of work. I was sensibly pootling back up the A1 with my mam in the car, when a TT with what can only be described as a spice boy came up behind me flashing his lights. I resisted the urge to go for it and pulled over to let him past. Anyway about 10 mins later were stuck in traffic leading up to a roundabout. When we finally reach the roundabout heres the same TT sideways with the front left corner resting on the brake disk and with the alloy wheel in the shrubbery in the middle of the roundabout with all the bolts sheered off. Poor spice boy was on the phone looking close to tears, probably getting wrong off daddy. Oh how I laughed...
One of my neigbours has got an Audi TT. Here's the problem, he (and he's not the only owner to hold such a view) genuinely believes it's a sports car. Of course it's not - even my 330D could teach it a damn good lesson in handling and speed. It is, of course, a fashion accessory, which invariably means the driver will often have an ego.
Horse_Apple said:
One of my neigbours has got an Audi TT. Here's the problem, he (and he's not the only owner to hold such a view) genuinely believes it's a sports car. Of course it's not - even my 330D could teach it a damn good lesson in handling and speed. It is, of course, a fashion accessory, which invariably means the driver will often have an ego.
Absolutely right!
Her indoors had a TT up until last year, now she's got a beetle cabrio (in retro pale blue) she's happy to admit that she uses the same principle buying cars and handbags - nice shape , nice colour etc etc..........
Girlie fashion accessories.
M
srebbe64 said:
mackempete said:
Horse_Apple said:
The most recent joy though was a story I heard about someone in a Griff who was driving up the M1 when a TT came steaming up behind flashing its lights and making emotional hand gestures. The Griff pulls over, lets the TT past and then comes back out around it and matches its speed. The TT puts its foot right down and there are big lumps of smoke on every gear change.
Meanwhile, the Griff is just sitting 100 yds back all the way and when the chap gets to his limited top speed, the Griff keeps on coming, when a few tens of yards away gives one flash and the chap has to move over as the Griff sails past still accelerating and offering one simple, polite little wave.
It must be something with TT's and the M1/A1. I picked up my old chim at the begining of the summer after about 3 months worth of work. I was sensibly pootling back up the A1 with my mam in the car, when a TT with what can only be described as a spice boy came up behind me flashing his lights. I resisted the urge to go for it and pulled over to let him past. Anyway about 10 mins later were stuck in traffic leading up to a roundabout. When we finally reach the roundabout heres the same TT sideways with the front left corner resting on the brake disk and with the alloy wheel in the shrubbery in the middle of the roundabout with all the bolts sheered off. Poor spice boy was on the phone looking close to tears, probably getting wrong off daddy. Oh how I laughed...
One of my neigbours has got an Audi TT. Here's the problem, he (and he's not the only owner to hold such a view) genuinely believes it's a sports car. Of course it's not - even my 330D could teach it a damn good lesson in handling and speed. It is, of course, a fashion accessory, which invariably means the driver will often have an ego.
but then neither is a 330d a sports car, i drove (thrashed) my mother's TT round knockhill 2 years ago when she had it (fashion accessory), gordon sheddon the touring car driver was my instructor (who owned a 300bhp tuned TT). The TT is very capable at the hands of someone who knows how to drive (not spice boys)!
mackempete said:
Horse_Apple said:
The most recent joy though was a story I heard about someone in a Griff who was driving up the M1 when a TT came steaming up behind flashing its lights and making emotional hand gestures. The Griff pulls over, lets the TT past and then comes back out around it and matches its speed. The TT puts its foot right down and there are big lumps of smoke on every gear change.
Meanwhile, the Griff is just sitting 100 yds back all the way and when the chap gets to his limited top speed, the Griff keeps on coming, when a few tens of yards away gives one flash and the chap has to move over as the Griff sails past still accelerating and offering one simple, polite little wave.
It must be something with TT's and the M1/A1. I picked up my old chim at the begining of the summer after about 3 months worth of work. I was sensibly pootling back up the A1 with my mam in the car, when a TT with what can only be described as a spice boy came up behind me flashing his lights. I resisted the urge to go for it and pulled over to let him past. Anyway about 10 mins later were stuck in traffic leading up to a roundabout. When we finally reach the roundabout heres the same TT sideways with the front left corner resting on the brake disk and with the alloy wheel in the shrubbery in the middle of the roundabout with all the bolts sheered off. Poor spice boy was on the phone looking close to tears, probably getting wrong off daddy. Oh how I laughed...
Nice. This just reminded me of another story where I nearly crashed as the tears of laughter obliterated my view: I was driving along the A4 from Henley back to London when I came across a MG Montego which I duly passed on one of the dual carriage way stretches.
This turned out to be a big error on my part as what I had essentially done was clearly the equivalent of nailing the driver's mum, from behind, infront of him and his mates while sipping a Martini and looking down on him through my monicle. This chap was very upset.
He displayed his upset by driving one foot off my bumper for the next couple of miles with his hand on the horn. This then changed to dropping back and charging up to the one foot mark while flashing lights and blowing the horn. All most irritating.
Anyway, after a while he just dropped back and stayed there, his plan was to clearly lull me into a false sense of security before launching the mother of all revenge overtakes. And it worked.
As I approached a slight right-hander, which had opened up to two lanes onto a 2 lane roundabout, he launched his surprise attack. Indeed, I had forgotton all about him and he had floored it up behind me so that just as we opened into the 2 lane approach he was alongside and traveling at good pace.
The important spot of information to note at this juncture was that the exit was not directly straight ahead but kinked off to the left and single lane, not two.
The result was that the poor MG's brakes, tyres and driver intellect had, byt the time the car entered the roundabout, been comprehensively exceeded. Instead of a stunning and well executed overtake that would have carved me up and taught me such a lesson while catapulting him into the back of the car infront of me, he never quite made it that far. The actual result was for him to lose grip going in and understear to the central roundabout, knock the front wheels off under the car and spin sideways into the exit central reservation and bring a signpost down on its roof.
One slowed down sufficiently to thank the driver and his passenger by way of open, unrestricted pointing and laughing but decided it would be best to drive on.
hollowpockets said:
iv never had comment made when iv had problems, mainly because i kept driving home when the radiator dumped its fluid and when power steering failed etc etc. but iv had plenty of the 'why a tvr?', 'havent they gone bust?', 'you bought a ticket to an early grave', 'they break all the time' blah blah kinda comments
I get that all the time and I dont own a TVR yet
They read my TVR sticker in the Burgundy Battlecruisers windscreen, smile and say "Moving abroud arent they?"
I usually politely smile and say "Yeah, but when the time comes, I'll buy british!"
Oooh, me me me - another TT story.
As I approached (recently) the Airport tunnels in the Griffith, I could see a red TT about 4 cars back, desperately (SO DESPERATELY) trying to catch up with me. He weaved dangerously in and out of the traffic and finally got behind me.
I left the Griff in 3rd, waited for the inevitable attack in the overtaking lane and then, only then did I press the explosion button. Childish, unnecessary but bloody well worth it. The sound and view was exemplary.
Get back in line sonny. You're FAR too slow. 
As I approached (recently) the Airport tunnels in the Griffith, I could see a red TT about 4 cars back, desperately (SO DESPERATELY) trying to catch up with me. He weaved dangerously in and out of the traffic and finally got behind me.
I left the Griff in 3rd, waited for the inevitable attack in the overtaking lane and then, only then did I press the explosion button. Childish, unnecessary but bloody well worth it. The sound and view was exemplary.
Get back in line sonny. You're FAR too slow. I cannot believe that TT drivers actually believe they can out pace a TVR. I'm not being arogant but are they just stupid or do they have no idea of the capability of a TVR ?
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