Was your first love your true love?

Was your first love your true love?

Author
Discussion

JLF

Original Poster:

418 posts

200 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
I have not been a multi TVR owner, just two, first was a Tamora.

I was looking at a Tamora in the classified adverts tonight and thinking how much I loved my first TVR. I remember buying this yellow beauty and just loving every moment of driving it home. The sound, the feel, the theatre, was all truly fantastic. I had owned some great cars but this was different…it was more than just another fast car….it was unique.

I worked on that car to get it just the way I wanted. Something you just don't do with a Porsche…with a Porsche you buy it, drive it, then sell it. The Tamora was a beauty, the colour, leather, exhaust, engine was all just right. I remember driving it out of the garage just to look at it and sit in it…it was exceptional.

Then I sold it. I was asked if I enjoyed my TVR experience? I then realised I had lost something….an experience.

So was your first TVR your true first love and have you ever managed to repeat that initial excitement of driving your own TVR for the first time? The sound, the power and the theatre. Sentimental memories I know. Also has any other car ever hit the buttons in the same way? For me no….and does that include your next TVR….can you ever repeat the first love? I just think the Tamora is a fantastic automobile.


Edited by JLF on Wednesday 26th November 00:33

Goaty Bill 2

3,393 posts

118 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
One car, one fool, 15 years from purchasing near new, and not a thought ever of selling.
I would love to have another, something different (Cerbera 4.5 is top of the list), but not at the 'cost' of selling the one I have.
The thought of selling to buy something other than a TVR is unimaginable.

I am far from unique in this; there are others. Including a few that spec'd and ordered from the factory, as far back as the mid '90s that I have heard of, and still have theirs.
Sometimes you just know it's right.

spikep

468 posts

281 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Had my 3000M for 20 years now, when my son was born my wife said "there are 3 of us now". I replied "I can't sell my son's inheritance". He's now 17 and passed his test first time last Thursday. It's a good job they won't insure him for the Tiv yet!!

Ps, got a Griff now too in restoration.

Daggsy

892 posts

251 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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In 1982, a 1978 Red 3000M. Just couldn't afford the extra for the Taimar.
In and out of TVR ownership (Kids, houses, business etc)
2000 back for keeps with 4.3 Griff and later Tuscan 1 but, had two for 10yrs now but still drool over nice Taimars.
One day maybe yum

nawarne

3,088 posts

259 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Ooh dear!

Started with a Ruby Mica Red V8S in 2002? It was such an eye-catching car...yes had its foibles, but did enjoy it.
Then came a '98 Chimaera 450. A truly great car. Several trips to Spa, Le Mans also first experience of Silverstone Classic (when wife called to say "Have you forgotten your sleeping bag" and shivered in fitful sleep the first night?).

Then son finished uni, retirement beckoned and - - bought a Tuscan! I've now done 40K miles in "Tara" (the Tuscan) trips to Germany, Belgium (Spa and Ghent - to help son move) Le Mans and various French holidays.

I'm a firm believer in use 'em.
Could never keep two TVRs...missus would go mental!!
Nick

a1butch

269 posts

193 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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This is why i'm going back to TVR, the occasion. My first was a Chim, sadly written off after 3 months but loved the short-lived experience nevertheless.
Having owned a 997 I can understand the different adventure through TVRs. Porsche was excellent in every way except it lacked that sense of event you feel with driving TVRs. Totally different cars IMO, I would own both if the funds allowed.
Tamora is my next target though so looking forward to new TVR ownership soon, once I find the right one. Unfortunately my missus doesn't share my enthusiasm :-)

Daggsy

892 posts

251 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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nawarne said:

Could never keep two TVRs...missus would go mental!!
Nick
Easy, it was my missus who insisted we buy the Tuscan and she drives it. S.W.M.B.O.

nawarne

3,088 posts

259 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Daggsy said:
nawarne said:

Could never keep two TVRs...missus would go mental!!
Nick
Easy, it was my missus who insisted we buy the Tuscan and she drives it. S.W.M.B.O.
Ah, Ken...my missus prefers her horsepower to have 4 legs.
Finds the Tuscan too uncomfortable (and noisy).

But, do you know? I find TVRs one of the most comfortable drives of all the 'sports' cars I've driven.
These include Ferrari 430's, 458's California's and Maserati G'Turismos. TVR seats seem to be the most forgiving for my shape backside.
Nick


nightflight

812 posts

216 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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I had my first TVR in 1982 (Taimar), but had to sell that to fund my career. I've had a Griffith 500 for ten years, and will never sell that, although I am considering an LS conversion on it. I recently bought another Taimar, and that is sat on my ramp in the garage waiting for me to start a restoration. Nostalgia is expensive!

Barreti

6,680 posts

236 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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My Griff 4.3 is my second TVR
The first was also a Griff 4.3 but I am one of those idiots we curse, who binned their first TVR after a few weeks of ownership. I will live with the shame and sadness as long as I breathe.

I've had my Griff now for 10 years and love it. And pander to its every needs.
But I've driven very few TVRs until recently when my mate let me have a go in his T350T
Now I'm very curious about the T cars and when my garage gets beyond the Planning stage I will test drive a few to see how I get on with (and in) them.

Other marques? Not for fun, No.
TVR or nothing for me.

pjac67

2,040 posts

251 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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My first TVR 17 yrs ago was a Griff 500 ('L368WLC') and it was such a nightmare I through the keys back to the dealer (Broughtons) and swapped it for a 4.0HC Chimaera ('M226YSL').

Didn't put me off TVR's or Griffs though and have had a few since....

Oh and the Griff was bought by a boy Race(r) who turned it into a beast some may know as 'K1NEC'...

Speed 3

4,486 posts

118 months

Friday 28th November 2014
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I had a Chimaera back in the late 90's and loved it to start with. Problem was I did 70k in 3 years and fell out of love with it by using it too much. In the end the leaking, voracious appetite for lambda sensors, blowing manifold (replacement only through main dealers in those days) and lack of power steering overcame the joy. We do look back fondly now at long trips on warm nights with the roof off and its impact on the locals on holiday in Brittany.

20 years later and circumstances meant an occasional use car was feasible. Choice of classic 911, Griff or Tuscan came down to appreciating the design purity of the Tuscan, outside and in. Do I love it more or less than the Chimaera, no right answer really, but now I wish I hadn't done all that mileage in the first.

My first love really was my 6th car - Corrado VR6. I have absolutely nothing but positive memories of that one (similar use to the Chimaera which probably also explains my jaded memory of the latter). I've been sorely tempted to buy one again but I really don't want a second experience of a saggy, asthmatic car destroying the great memory. I suppose that's inverse to the TVR which can actually be improved in old age over what TVR managed ex-factory.

JLF

Original Poster:

418 posts

200 months

Friday 28th November 2014
quotequote all
The two most memorable cars I have owned or driven are the Noble M400 and the Mitsubishi Evo VI. The Noble is the best car I have ever driven for handling and pure feel…never owned one, came close twice. The second was the first time I drove an Evo. Put my foot down and it just felt like the road was being pushed up behind me like an old carpet…first Turbo car I owned so that was probably why I fell immediately in love.

Thing with these is you would never drive them out of the garage just to look at them…one has dated a lot and the other looks like it has been designed by someone with a Halfords loyalty card and a rivet gun.

I just don’t think there is a car brand that captures the power, unique looks, history and appeal that a TVR does. They all still looked current 10+ years after they were built.


Edited by JLF on Friday 28th November 16:25

JLF

Original Poster:

418 posts

200 months

Friday 28th November 2014
quotequote all
nightflight said:
I had my first TVR in 1982 (Taimar), but had to sell that to fund my career. I've had a Griffith 500 for ten years, and will never sell that, although I am considering an LS conversion on it. I recently bought another Taimar, and that is sat on my ramp in the garage waiting for me to start a restoration. Nostalgia is expensive!
I did try and locate my old Tamora in a hope of buying it back………never did... other half would have gone ballistic.

Nostalgia is expensive...then again so is dropping an LS into a TVR….....but worth every penny smile

so called

9,074 posts

208 months

Friday 28th November 2014
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My first TVR purchase was a Tasmin back in 1997 and was a wonderful thrill simply because I had finally bought my first TVR.
Even then I was still hankering for a Chimaera.
When I finally got my hands on a Chimaera in 2002, again, it was a huge thrill. The experience was tainted by a couple of very early problems that the dealer should have sorted before selling to me but I loved the car regardless.

In 2006 I bought myself a year 2000 Tuscan and straight away learned the true meaning of patience when the engine went straight away and I didn't see it for the first 4 months with a starting bill of 11k.
I felt like a real low down dirty rap when I sold my Chimaera to help pay for some of the repars to the Tuscan.
As soon as it was back and I was out on my first real drive I was like a child all over again. All of the ache disappeared and I loved it.
I can not express how low I felt for weeks after writing that Tuscan off frown

Then with loves sweet touch, I bought my current and most prized TVR ever in my Tuscan convertible.
She's currently to bed but heading up to Blackpool early in the new year for an interior refresh and a respray.

A couple of years ago I bought a second Chimaera but found spreading my love too frustrating and so had to let it go.