Carver
The incredible tilting three wheeler - driving slowly has never been so much fun!
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Since I started this PH malarky, I've been fortunate enough to drive some fantastic cars. Everything from an amusingly small and slow Daihatsu Copen through to a devilishly powerful 1994 Tyrell. Some have bored me, most have brought a smile to a face one way or another. The vehicle I drove yesterday though, brought a completely unique range of emotions into play. Misplaced fear and constant hilarity were the main ingredients in this test drive.
The vehicle to which I refer is the Carver. A Dutch three wheeler with a hydraulic tilting mechanism. British Rail couldn't get it right with their Advanced Passenger Train and Mercedes have been toying with it for years, but the one bloke to get it right did so in his shed in the Netherlands.
Getting it right might be open to argument however. The tilting mechanism on this three wheeler is very well engineered but takes some getting used to. Programmed to stay upright up to 7mph, once you exceed that pace a small turn of the wheel has the body rolling. In my first few yards up the road, the sensitivity of the system totally overwhelmed me. Dialling in enough turn to barely change direction had the cockpit on the move. Only a few degrees mind you, but anyone used to a bike will be fighting their senses as it feels like you're about to topple over. In the same way as you might over correct some oversteer, I overcorrected my 'lean' and proceeded up the road like a Weeble-Wobble (and no, you don't fall down).
Motoring
Once on the move, it was a lot easier. Taking it smoothly and winding up the little motorcycle engine it's actually a joy to drive. It feels wonderfully stable on the move and the ride quality is excellent. Cruising around sweeping bends introduces the right amount of lean and it's similar to cruising on a bike. The 600cc bike engine is matched to a convential H pattern gearbox with a nice big stick which is easy to use. The Carver's in its element in twisty country roads swinging from side to side and lapping up the tarmac.
Pushing on hard would be an interesting experience. Without knowledge of how a three wheeler would handle near the limit you'd be on dodgy ground, throw in the fact that the weight distribution is totally dependent on the steering angle and you've got a complex set of variables to investigate. The lean is dictated totally by the angle of steering too - not by your speed so it doesn't always feel right. That comes with practice - and retraining your sense of balance!
At slower speeds things can be very disconcerting. Attempt to navigate a small roundabout at 15mph and the adrenaline can suddenly pump. Forced by a closed road to double back on myself, I had to steer hard right at a roundabout. Dialing in so much lock causes the Carver to lean over at about 45 degrees and for all sorts of alarms to start sounding in the cockpit. Was I about to tip over? Had someone got missile lock on me? Why were all those people staring at me?! All my senses were telling me that I was about to topple over yet that was far from the case. Once out of the bend and with things approaching the vertical I could do nothing but laugh.
Two Up
It's the same in the back of the Carver - hilarious. Rear passengers adopt a pose more familiar to gynaecologists with feet up either side of the driver. It's like being on a fairground ride! As the driver tips you one side then the other all you can do it chuckle yourself silly. Your grin will only be matched by the incredulous looks of those on the streets around you!
It's tempting to try and find a niche for the Carver. Is it the perfect commuting vehicle? Is it a compromise between a bike and a car. At around £22K it's never going to be a compromise for anything. Niches aside, the Carver remains one of those unique vehicles that is an absolute hoot to drive at reasonable speeds. In this day and age, that might be an attraction to a lot of people.
Thanks to Mole Valley for the loan of the vehicle. More info at www.carver.nl
What a cool little car. 
Everything about it is appealing, apart from the price. 
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