My Test drive in a Tamora!
My Test drive in a Tamora!
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Discussion

MrPhotographer

Original Poster:

155 posts

212 months

Saturday 5th September 2009
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As some of you may know I've been thinking about increasing the power in my chim via supercharger or other mods or possibly getting a Tamora. Well on Friday I was down at Racing Green having a new windscreen fitted and had a chance to go out in a lovely viper blue Tamora. Well what can I say other than Wow!

I honestly wasnt expecting the car to handle as well as it did which was phenomenal and as for the power, well that was exhilarating! The guy who drove it took me on some great roads the same ones they used for the Sagaris promo video and he certainly wasnt holding back! When I drove it I initially took it easy to get a feel for the car, my thoughts are the seating position is lot like a normal car and not as low down like the chim. The clutch is lighter, brake pedal harder and throttle so much more responsive! The handling was fantastic and power delivery at the top end was great, its a totally different car to drive and will take a while to master but when driven correctly I think its an awesome car! The back end seems a tad more twitchy than the chim but thats also probably down to the sharp rise in power at over 5k rpm.

On the way home i had time to reflect on my experience and my thoughts are that even though my chim has uprated suspension and well set up geo the Tam matches it out the box, the power delivery will no doubt take a while to get used to but that speed six engine just screams! I think its an absolutely amazing car even though its got the potential to probably end up killing me.

The question now is do i get one?

pwd95

8,457 posts

267 months

Saturday 5th September 2009
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Have you tried an SC Chim?

Derek Smith

49,799 posts

277 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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I've got to say that I was stunned by the Tam when I first drove it. Everything about it is so well in tune. The steering, the clutch, the gearbox, brakes, handling, ride, and grip.

The looks aren't to everyone's taste, indeed I would say they are not to mine, but once inside and driving, everything is forgiven. Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.

But best of all I have to say for sheer thrill of driving, the Speed 6 is superb. Totally deceptive in the way it delivers, especially if you are used to an RV8.

Much as I like my Chim . . .

Omerta

2,013 posts

280 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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yes As has been often said - Tamoras are the most under rated of TVRs. The styling may be personal preference, but their handling in standard trim is way more direct and benign than the Griff/Chim/Cerb.

the jollyrodger

569 posts

207 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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having a t350,i would think theres not much difference between them both,although i hear great reports about the tamora's handling,i would go for it,you wont regret it,just warm it up before you plant it.i love its looks,IMO its better in a bright colour.GO FOR IT.

Gazzab

21,640 posts

311 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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that is a long test drive !! Petworth must be 20 miles away or more !

Zippee

14,127 posts

263 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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MrPhotographer said:
On the way home i had time to reflect on my experience and my thoughts are that even though my chim has uprated suspension and well set up geo the Tam matches it out the box, the power delivery will no doubt take a while to get used to but that speed six engine just screams! I think its an absolutely amazing car even though its got the potential to probably end up killing me.

The question now is do i get one?
My old Chim was exactly the same. Uprated shocks, poly bushed, full geo etc. but my totally standard T350 far excels in the handling dept and I can't wait to see the difference when I uprate the shocks next year.
If it's only more power you're after then TBH an SC Chim is an easy way to go. But a T car is just so different in every way to even the quickest of Chims/Griffs.
Another thing you notice is the amount of attention you get in the later cars, the Chim TBH went barely noticed by many - I know its not strictly a reason to buy one but.....

It took me a while to love my 350, the Chim was such a relaxed GT car to drive and had oodles of low down torque. The 350 is far more balls out but now I wouldn't ever go back, it's just sooo much fun!
My advice would be to do it!

CatherineJ

9,586 posts

272 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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We had a Tamora in 2005 and to this day we still miss it.

Targarama

14,785 posts

312 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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CatherineJ said:
We had a Tamora in 2005 and to this day we still miss it.
So buy another one. Easy.

Hunter T

401 posts

206 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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Is it just me or is the Tamara suddenly getting Much more desirable and Popular? Seems that many more people are saying much more positive things. Is it because more people have actually drove one recently?

RPE11Y

983 posts

290 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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I test drove a Tamora and Tuscan back to back on a TVR open day a number of years ago.
Although the Tam handled really sharply, the 'go-karty' feel stuck with me and I always remember much preferring the Tuscan package to it.
Got my Tuscan now and never regretted it...

Blues

8,546 posts

248 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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I have an SC Chim 450 putting out 425 bhp and 409 ft/lbs torque, and am not far from Racing Green. Happy to let you have a go in her for comparison... and may well be selling her soon wink

The Lukas

2,773 posts

223 months

Monday 7th September 2009
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Blues said:
Happy to let you have a go in her for comparison... and may well be selling her soon wink
Is that an open invitation? scratchchin

icraigmy

1,653 posts

252 months

Monday 7th September 2009
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I think the Tamora is a fantastic TVR, fast yikes, great handling driving, loud ears, and stunning looks lick - but I'm not biassed wink


getmecoat

julianc

1,984 posts

288 months

Monday 7th September 2009
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Derek Smith said:
Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.
You wouldn't happen to have their names and phone numbers would you? We obviously live in different places! biggrin

Blues

8,546 posts

248 months

Monday 7th September 2009
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The Lukas said:
Blues said:
Happy to let you have a go in her for comparison... and may well be selling her soon wink
Is that an open invitation? scratchchin
Yes, if you are seriously in the market for an SC Chim... but it hasn't been advertised yet, and will either sell "as is" through word of mouth, or i'll wait until spring, have the stone chips painted and hold out for the best price smile

MrPhotographer

Original Poster:

155 posts

212 months

Monday 7th September 2009
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pwd95 said:
Have you tried an SC Chim?
No not yet but it is something I plan to do.

Derek Smith

49,799 posts

277 months

Monday 7th September 2009
quotequote all
julianc said:
Derek Smith said:
Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.
You wouldn't happen to have their names and phone numbers would you? We obviously live in different places! biggrin
I parked in a layby at Beachy Head to get some still with the lighthouse in the background. I was just finishing when five - taht's five - female German students appeared. One handled the gearlever in a way that can only be called suggestive and all of them rubbed the leather.

The all agreed that the car: 'is beautiful'. That's accepting the questionable premise that they weren't talking about me. One asked for a ride! Where was she when I could have responded? Apart from still some 10 years from being born. I was trying to work out how much I'd lose if my pension was taken away from me and the they disappeared. Laer I was taking photographs near a village pond and two women came up to me and talked about how pretty the car was.

A little later I was setting up a photograph having a little dig at Amanda Stretton. She had been on the cover of Classic and Sports Cars draped over the bonnet of a Porsche. I thought I'd do one with me looking as sexy as I could over the bonnet of the Tam. Good idea? Highly erotic.

I set the tripod and pressed the delay but when I went to lay over the car I relaised my belt buckle might damage the paintwork. I took my belt off but heard the camera click before I was in position. Not wanting to disappoint my fan base I rushed over to the camera, forgetting that I had no belt on. My jeans started to fall down so I had to stop and pull them up. As I was doing so a woman came out of a school and gave me a look of some confusion. I apologised and said: There is a reason why they fell down.

She said: I prefer my guess.

But she smiled as she said it.

The Lukas

2,773 posts

223 months

Monday 7th September 2009
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You post is useless without pics smile

AlexanderV8

1,488 posts

232 months

Monday 7th September 2009
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Derek Smith said:
Whenever I parked the car for some photographs women came up to me and said what a beautiful car it was.
Derek Smith said:
I parked in a layby at Beachy Head to get some still with the lighthouse in the background. I was just finishing when five - taht's five - female German students appeared. One handled the gearlever in a way that can only be called suggestive and all of them rubbed the leather.
Derek Smith said:
Laer I was taking photographs near a village pond and two women came up to me and talked about how pretty the car was.
Now, I reckon you either:
a). Look like George Clooney.
b). Fantasize like Walter Mitty.
c). Write the 'Dear Deirdre' letters for the Sun.
I was edging towards b. but then I noticed you were a freelance writer............idea
Good man hehe