Best TVR for A-B roads

[The Lukas]

Just wondering what TVR would you recommend on A+B road handling wise? I first think of the T cars of having good handling characteristics (thought I've never experienced one) but when it comes to normal roads, what TVR would be best?

Your thoughts!

[lazyitus]

A Griff 500 with a good set up such as Nitrons.

Maybe not the most precise handling thing you could have but if you're looking for a truly challenging and rewarding blast, you could do worse.

It WILL make you concentrate hard but will make you smile in equal measures.

It depends on your definition of 'best', I suppose.

Edited by lazyitus on Wednesday 15th July 22:39

[grahamw48]

It'll be the one I can't afford...of course.

Then again, how often can you get above 50 on our stty A roads, plagued as they are with Morrisons trucks doing 30 and tractors doing 20 for mile after mile, followed by a train of useless gits who are either too timid or too useless to be able to overtake even a pushbike ?

[NTEL]

TAMORA

[Evo]

Any TVR, wind down the windows and enjoy the experience, still love my Chimaera as this is my journey every day i take it to work.

V8 noise,pops and bangs it doesn't get any better

[900T-R]

Anything 430 o' course

[The Tea Boy]

may i suggest a classic with lots of character, and you prob wont loose any money and fairly cheap to run. I would go for the 3000M personally, i love the car been fortunate enough to have a drive of supasparks and would really like one if only i had some spare cash!!

Matt

[brogenville]

NTEL said:

TAMORA

[mgaut]

you'd have great fun in an S

(S series)

Mike

[Derek Smith]

I've driven a few and nice though a Griff is, I would not be able to pilot it as fast as I would a Tamora. I've never driven a car that is so well balanced and that has everything in tune. Steering, clutch, g/box and that lovely engine.

Now I'm no longer a police officer I suppose I can admit to an incident on a test drive of a Tamora. I was new to the car so when the elecronic read out went out I had no idea I'd switched it off, nor could I switch it back on. The contra-rotating dials irritated me - the only criticism I had of the car - and I found it difficult to read easily.

I drove along the Beachy Head road approaching the lighthouse. I went into a fast right and the car felt perfectly stable despite the fact that the tyres made a bit of a noise. I couldn't read the speed so thought I'd go back and see how fast I'd been.

I've been back since with my Chim and at 65 (indicated) it was a bit twitchy.

I worked out what how to read the dial and went into the corner at 60 but realised well before I got there that it was silly. I accelerated up to 75 but it was still pathetic. In the end I went in at 95 and the tyres were mute, so it was probably the ton.

I couldn't believe it. I'm normally law abiding with regards to speed limits. I did all my fast driving in a police car. On my way back to Dream Machines to return the car I suddenly realised I had braked just before turning. So 110-120 on a single carriageway road. I just couldn't believe it. The car felt so slow. I then looked at the speedo and it showed over 70mph.

I was stunned. I normally judge speed by the way the car feels and it felt so within its limits that it was impossible to estimate the speed. On the way back every time I looked at the speedo I was going faster than I thought.

110 in a 60 limit is ban time. I bet the plea of: I didn't know I was going at that speed, would have brought derision.

The Tamora is so good that it made me think I was a good driver. Cars don't get any better than that.

[Don1]

For noise and sun on the head - Chimera/Griff.

For total ability, that makes you drive like Petter Solberg (you know - mouth open, catching flies), then it's the Sagaris.

I'm sure the Tam (etc) is amazing, but I have never known anything like the Sag.

[icraigmy]

Derek Smith said:

I've driven a few and nice though a Griff is, I would not be able to pilot it as fast as I would a Tamora. I've never driven a car that is so well balanced and that has everything in tune. Steering, clutch, g/box and that lovely engine.

Now I'm no longer a police officer I suppose I can admit to an incident on a test drive of a Tamora. I was new to the car so when the elecronic read out went out I had no idea I'd switched it off, nor could I switch it back on. The contra-rotating dials irritated me - the only criticism I had of the car - and I found it difficult to read easily.

I drove along the Beachy Head road approaching the lighthouse. I went into a fast right and the car felt perfectly stable despite the fact that the tyres made a bit of a noise. I couldn't read the speed so thought I'd go back and see how fast I'd been.

I've been back since with my Chim and at 65 (indicated) it was a bit twitchy.

I worked out what how to read the dial and went into the corner at 60 but realised well before I got there that it was silly. I accelerated up to 75 but it was still pathetic. In the end I went in at 95 and the tyres were mute, so it was probably the ton.

I couldn't believe it. I'm normally law abiding with regards to speed limits. I did all my fast driving in a police car. On my way back to Dream Machines to return the car I suddenly realised I had braked just before turning. So 110-120 on a single carriageway road. I just couldn't believe it. The car felt so slow. I then looked at the speedo and it showed over 70mph.

I was stunned. I normally judge speed by the way the car feels and it felt so within its limits that it was impossible to estimate the speed. On the way back every time I looked at the speedo I was going faster than I thought.

110 in a 60 limit is ban time. I bet the plea of: I didn't know I was going at that speed, would have brought derision.

The Tamora is so good that it made me think I was a good driver. Cars don't get any better than that.

Especially a 4.0L Tamora with Nitrons Derek

Great post

[Chris71]

mgaut said:

you'd have great fun in an S

(S series)

Mike

I'm clearly biased, but I have to say the handful of Griff/Chims I've driven didn't feel as nimble or provide as much feedback as the S. I've been told by several knowledgable TVR types (including an ex TVR employee) that they thought the S was the most fun in standard form. The guy I sold it to who'd owned proper grown up V8 TVRs seemed a bit shocked at how fun and how close in performance the baby TVR was.

[900T-R]

I'd say the best driving TVR is one that has had the benefit of a proper wheel geometry and suspension set up using the best components available - the exact model is a secondary consideration really.

[RichardD]

900T-R said:

I'd say the best driving TVR is one that has had the benefit of a proper wheel geometry and suspension set up using the best components available - the exact model is a secondary consideration really.

Something I've never really seen mentioned is the technical differences in the cars as to working out why, much above dampers and geometry.

There is aero - a reason for a Tamora to be better at speed than a standard Griff.

What difference does having a roll bar / roll cage make and what differences are there, say V8 vs SP6 as in the V8 is shorter and would give a better rearward bias (but can anyone notice it), but does the SP6 being narrower sit lower down in the chassis ?

[350Matt]

I would say its largely down to the longer wheelbase and revised wishbone pickups that the T car's have over the V8 models

[slowtypa]

I have to say i have never measured it but as the speed six engine is dry sumped i would

guess that does sit lower in the chassis, because it can!

Ray

[900T-R]

slowtypa said:

I have to say i have never measured it but as the speed six engine is dry sumped i would

guess that does sit lower in the chassis, because it can!

Ray

But OTOH it's a fair bit longer than a V8...

[_DeeJay_]

The Lukas said:

Just wondering what TVR would you recommend on A+B road handling wise? I first think of the T cars of having good handling characteristics (thought I've never experienced one) but when it comes to normal roads, what TVR would be best?

Your thoughts!

I've owner a Griff, Cerb, Chim & T350 and would rate the grip available in that order, though the Chim had well set up Nitrons and the Griff std shocks.

However, when I test drove a Sag it felt much easier to corner at speed than any of the others. However, I'd probably have ended up in a tree if I'd have bought one as it was so flattering to the driver and by the time I'd have reached its limits I'd have been travelling way too fast!

[SEN 18]

I've driven and owned most of the TVR's and I have to say and this not because I have a Tamora Factory RR (Bluprinted 3.6 jobie), its just the best thing I've driven with a TVR badge on it full stop.