Which TVR to buy?

[Incognegro]

billynobrakes said:

I know what you mean but it has raised lots of questions this topic and just throw in my pennies worth some was tonque in cheek but I totally agree about getting my T350 to drive like a V8 and I got it just how I like it

Don't forget I have a Griff and now a Wedge that I am really enjoying

Back to the OP can't knock Chimeara,s as it was the first TVR I had so got a soft spot for them plus there are plenty for sale to choose from

Cheers begets in place just trying to make this my final spend and do it the right way. Sure the extra figures may mince my standard box so Im keeping a semi straight cut Quaife upgrade in the pocket MBE def being done its just do I add the 2 tricks. well I'll see what Dom says figures wise as it will work out cheaper doing all now I suppose. manifolds are in good order so Im having them ceramic coated along with the decats. Also a complete heat shielding overhaul being done (inc starter motor wrap so will be interesting to see how efficiently everything runs)... in real time too as I'll have the MBE data live on my android equipped smart phone.

So sorry to side track the OP but once your in the TVR world the possibilities are endless.

[Byker28i]

ChimpOnGas said:

One out of three, that's pretty good, almost Japanese reliability is that

Lets not bring so called Jap reliability into this.
I've had three Jap cars, two of which have needed a new engine under warranty. A Nissan Primera after 5 months, replaced after 9 years with a Mazda 6 that needed a whole new top end, turbo etc as they had a known problem with camshaft hardening that detonated the engine at 25K miles.

[Byker28i]

phazed said:

Slower RV8! Wash your mouth out!!!

The latest mods that many owners have carried out to to their pretty fast RV8s have made them very quick indeed.

Technology and talent never stay still, there is still plenty of surprisingly fast mileage left in a Rover.

None of them are slow on the road compared to other cars. On the runs I've been on all have been capable of making brisk progress, no matter which model. Comparing TVR's on the road is usually down to the driver, bit different on the track.

Anyway, all this talk of Rover V8's, S6's. We all know the AJP8 cars are the fastest, especially red ones

[Kitchski]

Byker28i said:

None of them are slow on the road compared to other cars.

Hmmmmmm

[KKson]

Obviously slightly biased but in my opinion it's got to be a V8 for the noise alone. The later Speed Six cars no doubt are faster and I do get boot envy every time I look inside a Tuscan but the V8 is pretty simply, comparatively cheap to repair and driven sensibly isn't stupidly thirsty (26mpg on the motorway for my 350i).

With a £10k budget it's either a very smart Wedge or a budget Chimp. The Chimp looks more modern, it is pretty, no doubt goes around corners better and is more practical. The Wedge on the other hand is rarer, pops and bangs like nothing else, for £10k you can get a minter, and is pretty easy to DIY, and of course with a Wedge you are allowed to be grumpy, out spoken and anti-establishment, if you so choose!

I've two Wedges but I do frequently think I should sell one and buy a Chimp......

[AutoAndy]

KKson said:

Obviously slightly biased but in my opinion it's got to be a V8 for the noise alone...

With a £10k budget it's either a very smart Wedge or a budget Chiimp.....

Feel like I've been here before......what were those things that I've seen with a TVR badge and a load of excellent guys and girls driving them....?

[AutoAndy]

...or...



Or








....naaa....they're boring...

[AutoAndy]

...



...yep...rubbish

[8ball_Rob]

You're quite right, the reflex purple sagaris isn't boring

[KKson]

Apologies. Yep youre quite right a S series also is a great option and makes a great noise. The 2.9l in reality is as fast as a 350i and to many is by far the prettier car. Prices appear to be rising steadily.

[Byker28i]

Kitchski said:

Byker28i said:

None of them are slow on the road compared to other cars.

Hmmmmmm

They aren't compared to the usual stuff on the roads. Yup there's some hot hatches, some exotica but not many around, so the general traffic you meet means even the older TVR's can make progress rapidly. I've never been held up on a run waiting for an older TVR to catch up.

[Kitchski]

Byker28i said:

Kitchski said:

Byker28i said:

None of them are slow on the road compared to other cars.

Hmmmmmm

They aren't compared to the usual stuff on the roads. Yup there's some hot hatches, some exotica but not many around, so the general traffic you meet means even the older TVR's can make progress rapidly. I've never been held up on a run waiting for an older TVR to catch up.

I took a Fiesta Zetec S on a TVR run once, and managed to keep up with everyone. Depends how you define making progress I guess, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't get down a windy road any faster in my S1 than I could my daily Pug 407 diesel smoker (in terms of pure pace).

I think worrying how fast they are is missing the point, personally (although AJP/S6 stuff genuinely can still live with M-BMWs and modern sports cars). How big a smile they put on your face - that's where it's at Even my V6 S is good at that (despite the fact a Passat TDI could probably see it off down a slip road!)

[PuffsBack]

Kitchski said:

I took a Fiesta Zetec S on a TVR run once, and managed to keep up with everyone. Depends how you define making progress I guess, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't get down a windy road any faster in my S1 than I could my daily Pug 407 diesel smoker (in terms of pure pace).

I think worrying how fast they are is missing the point, personally (although AJP/S6 stuff genuinely can still live with M-BMWs and modern sports cars). How big a smile they put on your face - that's where it's at Even my V6 S is good at that (despite the fact a Passat TDI could probably see it off down a slip road!)

Agree with this. I bought a 1.7 Puma new back in the day. Christ you could drive that car fast. Sure in a straight line it wasn't the fastest but the key was you could drive it at 105% of the limit all the time with zero effort and no talent! It would just gently know when you were being a prat. You won't get that warning in a TVR from an S to Sag, first you know that you have exceeded your talent level it will be in a hedge! that thought tends to curb progress a little!

[Kitchski]

PuffsBack said:

You won't get that warning in a TVR from an S to Sag, first you know that you have exceeded your talent level it will be in a hedge! that thought tends to curb progress a little!

Keeps you on your toes, which adds to the sense of occasion, and fun. In terms of outright cross-country pace, regular cars can carry much more speed through corners, what with the softer suspension etc.

On a smooth track, things could be different (though not in an S - you'll still get passed by every man and his dog )

[N7GTX]

Kitchski said:

I think worrying how fast they are is missing the point, personally (although AJP/S6 stuff genuinely can still live with M-BMWs and modern sports cars). How big a smile they put on your face - that's where it's at

Hmmmm......I think its all about how fast my car is. That's why I sold my AJP 4.2 Cerb and bought a Chim with the sole intention of making it faster, much faster. Despite the claims, the Cerb was not as fast as TVR would have you believe. I had an E46 M3 before it and another in between the Tivs and both were definitely faster.
Now however, my Chim is a lot faster, in fact the fastest car I have ever owned.
It seems more and more owners are modifying their cars, lots of turbos and superchargers about in the Rover V8 cars plus V8D engines, new ECUs etc etc so there must be a lot who do see speed as an important factor.
Despite the slower Cerb, I still loved that car but now I can truly keep the modern stuff at bay with a big smile on my face

[ChilliWhizz]

Apologies in advance but here's another view on the 'how fast' front... Not long after I became beasties fourth man servant we came off a roundabout straight into dual carriageway, right behind a BMW 535 diseasil estate (you know what's coming next)... Sooo.. I'm in fifth (at about 40mph -lazy tt), and the car in front of Mrs BMW moves to the inside lane and Mrs BMW clearly plants her right slingback through the floor and the auto box and TC do the rest... and off it flies... You'll notice I said Mrs BMW, this, and the (empty) kiddie seats in the back was the ultimate add insult to injury scenario....

So, my right foot mirrors Mrs BMW's and off me and beastie go... but hang on, the gap doesn't close (like the doors on the starship Enterprise do)... Where's all that massive torque at low revs gone... ya know, that the 500 is famous for Quick shift into fourth... damn gap is still getting bigger... into third, but we're nearing the speed limit.. I clock the rather attractive female driver as she slows for the next exit, and I'm bloody sure that's a smirk I see on her face... Blown into the weeds by Mum on the school run... My world had collapsed, all my beliefs questioned, and my manliness in doubt...

Reality set in, followed by depression... after a few months things started to improve, and after much soul searching I knew what I had to do.. It was with hope in my heart, and a faint smile on my face (the first in a long time) that I picked up the phone.. and called V8 Developments...

Some months later I was a new man, beastie didn't take prisoners, and my wallet had lost a lot of weight.. we never saw Mrs BMW again, but had I met her, I would have thanked her.. her actions changed our lives that day on the A11..

Thank you for listening...

Chilli and beastie

[ClassiChimi]

ChilliWhizz said:

Apologies in advance but here's another view on the 'how fast' front... Not long after I became beasties fourth man servant we came off a roundabout straight into dual carriageway, right behind a BMW 535 diseasil estate (you know what's coming next)... Sooo.. I'm in fifth (at about 40mph -lazy tt), and the car in front of Mrs BMW moves to the inside lane and Mrs BMW clearly plants her right slingback through the floor and the auto box and TC do the rest... and off it flies... You'll notice I said Mrs BMW, this, and the (empty) kiddie seats in the back was the ultimate add insult to injury scenario....

So, my right foot mirrors Mrs BMW's and off me and beastie go... but hang on, the gap doesn't close (like the doors on the starship Enterprise do)... Where's all that massive torque at low revs gone... ya know, that the 500 is famous for Quick shift into fourth... damn gap is still getting bigger... into third, but we're nearing the speed limit.. I clock the rather attractive female driver as she slows for the next exit, and I'm bloody sure that's a smirk I see on her face... Blown into the weeds by Mum on the school run... My world had collapsed, all my beliefs questioned, and my manliness in doubt...

Reality set in, followed by depression... after a few months things started to improve, and after much soul searching I knew what I had to do.. It was with hope in my heart, and a faint smile on my face (the first in a long time) that I picked up the phone.. and called V8 Developments...

Some months later I was a new man, beastie didn't take prisoners, and my wallet had lost a lot of weight.. we never saw Mrs BMW again, but had I met her, I would have thanked her.. her actions changed our lives that day on the A11..

Thank you for listening...

Chilli and beastie

I'm I'm bits your a great story teller

Yeah I'll be fecked if your catching me in the wrong gear anymore, I got jumped by a souped up Jeep,

I've come to the conclusuon we still look and sound better so there

[N7GTX]

Thank you for posting

Taken from Torque Stats (so not everyone will agree) are the following figures which may show why Chilli was struggling with this lady.

Chimaera 500 - 320bhp at 5,200 - 320ft/lbs at 4,200
BMW 535D - 268bhp - 412ft/lbs (huge low down grunt)

Had Chilli been in a lower gear and close to 4,000rpm then he would have taken her.

[phazed]

Big diesels are epic. My 9 year old ML320, 2.4 tonnes, 0-60, 7.5 seconds or thereabouts.

There is no hope..............That's siting in suppa luxury with heated seats on and watching Top Gear on Dave on the dash TV

Of course my chim is faster and so it should be but the fact that any old slut can just plant a foot and disappear down a straight road is so, err unfair.

Come the revolution, item No437 on the agenda will be to replace all 4x4 engines with 2 cylinder Trabby engines, (apart from mine 'cause that's what happens when we is all equal).

[Kitchski]

N7GTX said:

Thank you for posting

Chimaera 500 - 320bhp at 5,200 - 320ft/lbs at 4,200

If only those figures were realistic