Discussion
Started first turn of the key bless her 
Everything working, all good so we headed out for a hoon 
Roads were wet although no rain, and she only tried to kill me twice... This last 7 weeks is probably the longest I've gone without driving her, my previous record was 6 weeks after a long trip working away, but this was also different because in those 7 weeks I've not been away (other than a few days here and there in the office) and have been regularly driving my other British hand built front engine RWD V8 
So, driving beastie today felt a bit like what I imagine first time TVR buyers experience on their first test drive or driving home for the first time... Starting her up in the garage ruptured both ear drums... (not really but instant grin on gob
) Tried unsuccessfully (twice) to get her into reverse, then remembered it's right and down not left and up So, out into the winter sunlight in the drive and climbed out whilst she got a bit of warmth into her... Climbed back in and was reminded how responsive and quick revving the engine is, more silly grins Clutch and gear change sooooo much better than the Aston, thunderous bark and an arse wiggle reminded me to go easy on the on off pedal Suddenly very conscious that I'm now driving a car that has only 20bhp less than the Aston, but has far more torque, is half a tonne lighter, and has no traction control, ABS, or power steering.... This, on a very damp road, is driving by the seat of your pants, the sensory inputs are huge, damn thing is like a caged animal let loose.... It requires much focus on the driving, which can only be a good thing
It's a combination of terror and hilarity, and I bloody love it
So in summary, just thought I'd share... Can't wait for Summer
Everything working, all good so we headed out for a hoon Roads were wet although no rain, and she only tried to kill me twice... This last 7 weeks is probably the longest I've gone without driving her, my previous record was 6 weeks after a long trip working away, but this was also different because in those 7 weeks I've not been away (other than a few days here and there in the office) and have been regularly driving my other British hand built front engine RWD V8 So, driving beastie today felt a bit like what I imagine first time TVR buyers experience on their first test drive or driving home for the first time... Starting her up in the garage ruptured both ear drums... (not really but instant grin on gob
) Tried unsuccessfully (twice) to get her into reverse, then remembered it's right and down not left and up So, out into the winter sunlight in the drive and climbed out whilst she got a bit of warmth into her... Climbed back in and was reminded how responsive and quick revving the engine is, more silly grins Clutch and gear change sooooo much better than the Aston, thunderous bark and an arse wiggle reminded me to go easy on the on off pedal Suddenly very conscious that I'm now driving a car that has only 20bhp less than the Aston, but has far more torque, is half a tonne lighter, and has no traction control, ABS, or power steering.... This, on a very damp road, is driving by the seat of your pants, the sensory inputs are huge, damn thing is like a caged animal let loose.... It requires much focus on the driving, which can only be a good thing It's a combination of terror and hilarity, and I bloody love it
So in summary, just thought I'd share... Can't wait for Summer
phazed said:
I am not rising to the bait of you out playing while most of us are fecking about earning a living!
Insurance ran out last Friday so taking the opportunity to fiddle and fettle a few things while the dark nights draw in.
Work has dried up Peter, now working less than 50% of what I was 2 years ago, and things looking pretty dire for 2017... Just failed my offshore medical 10 days ago with high BP, working hard to get it down though... So, enjoying the cars while I can still afford to keep them, may have to get a job stacking shelves in Tesco if things don't look up Insurance ran out last Friday so taking the opportunity to fiddle and fettle a few things while the dark nights draw in.
Oil industry in the UK is on its knees....
Chilli....
ChilliWhizz said:
So, driving beastie today felt a bit like what I imagine first time TVR buyers experience on their first test drive or driving home for the first time... Starting her up in the garage ruptured both ear drums... (not really but instant grin on gob ) Tried unsuccessfully (twice) to get her into reverse, then remembered it's right and down not left and up
no traction control, ABS, or power steering.... This, on a very damp road, is driving by the seat of your pants, the sensory inputs are huge, damn thing is like a caged animal let loose.... It requires much focus on the driving, which can only be a good thing
It's a combination of terror and hilarity, and I bloody love it
So in summary, just thought I'd share... Can't wait for Summer
First timer here ! ) Tried unsuccessfully (twice) to get her into reverse, then remembered it's right and down not left and up no traction control, ABS, or power steering.... This, on a very damp road, is driving by the seat of your pants, the sensory inputs are huge, damn thing is like a caged animal let loose.... It requires much focus on the driving, which can only be a good thing
It's a combination of terror and hilarity, and I bloody love it
So in summary, just thought I'd share... Can't wait for Summer
Got all these feelings and had mine since August! (on road September)
Out on Sunday last, in the frosty roads, brilliant stuff! As you say seat of the pants, and compared to my XK8
completely looney!
ChilliWhizz said:
It's been long enough, a good seven weeks now, so I'm off to the garage at the end of the garden to fire beastie up....
I've just renewed the insurance too, so we can go out for a hoon
I've just renewed the insurance too, so we can go out for a hoon
You be careful out there mate, I even had the feeble underpowered 'Ol Gasbag' four wheel drifting out of a roundabout in Rickmansworth this week. Believe it or not I had my near 80 year old Mum in the car (she loves a V8), I was quite pleased when she said... "nice correction son"
Secretly of course I'd done a little poo in my pants, but upheld the driving God myth by explaining the handling benefits of my new Bilsten suspension
If I can get a drift on in 'Ol Gasbag', Beasty will demand some respect on these greasy roads mate, especially after a few weeks getting used to that Aston Martin traction control.Be safe Mr ChilliWhizz
ChimpOnGas said:
You be careful out there mate, I even had the feeble underpowered 'Ol Gasbag' four wheel drifting out of a roundabout in Rickmansworth this week. Believe it or not I had my near 80 year old Mum in the car (she loves a V8), I was quite pleased when she said... "nice correction son"
Secretly of course I'd done a little poo in my pants, but upheld the driving God myth by explaining the handling benefits of my new Bilsten suspension If I can get a drift on in 'Ol Gasbag', Beasty will demand some respect on these greasy roads mate, especially after a few weeks getting used to that Aston Martin traction control.
Be safe Mr ChilliWhizz
Thanks Dave, and your Mum clearly has great judgement Secretly of course I'd done a little poo in my pants, but upheld the driving God myth by explaining the handling benefits of my new Bilsten suspension
If I can get a drift on in 'Ol Gasbag', Beasty will demand some respect on these greasy roads mate, especially after a few weeks getting used to that Aston Martin traction control.Be safe Mr ChilliWhizz
Very accurate description Richard.
As some of you know I've tried to drive mine til im bored of it,, nearly worked but then I have the odd week when I can't drive it and even after all the miles I've completed in it just those few days off and the first time you fire it up and drive it again, it's all new, harsh and difficult, takes some driving, then it slowly warms up and all the parts start coming in tune, the driver feels all of this, cold tyres, hard shocks, oil cold and it's painfull, yet given a chance to heat up they start to come alive, once warm, even in this sharpe weather there's a difference in the cars feel, it just seems to get better with every minute and mile you drive.
I often take notice of the odd poster who mentions 12 /15 years of ownership etc so many guys who have had these cars for donkeys years and still you can taste the thrill in their words when describing the feeling of driving that same car all those years later, others who post just to find out where there old car is and always you feel the sadness and loss of not owning it anymore, they nearly always regret selling it and nothing's managed to touch their heart since.
There's days when it's archaic suspension or nasty window rubbers and leaks annoy you but mostly you forgive it it's few downsides for all the very good parts and things it does well.
I go to the shops and buy treats for my dog and sometimes even the family, because you want the best for them, when I buy replacement /updated parts for my Tvr it's because it's now part of the family and I want the best I can afford for it.
I've always put good stuff on cars but more so they runs well, doing it with the Tvr is more personal in that it's not just making it run better, it's making it live longer, your ensuring years of pleasure can be obtained with each small improvement that elevates the car to the level Tvr could sadly never dream of but you can have that dream and live it every single time you turn the key, I've driven all day, parked up, like a drug I'm still hooked when firing it up again, it never ever stops giving you a thrill.
By f
k life's got its mundane side, traffic jams on the way home from work, life's to short,
I was in a traffic jam earlier in the van, very boring but found myself alongside a Shelby Mustang, modern one, stationary,
I opened the window of the van cos I could hardly hear it!!!!! That's wrong for a start
I was so underwhelmed by its brakes, it's sound, looked ok but to fat.
The driver noticed my window opening, he knew what I was doing so duly obliged and tried to give it some beans but the traffic was to slow, even in traffic My/ our Tvr's Sound way better, far more dramatic
I've noticed this feeling I've been getting when looking at other cars against my Tvr, there just not as good as the Tvr.
It's so extreme a car that even so called hard core stuff looks tame to me.
Sportscars are really all about there looks, engine and sound.
We've got that covered then so just sort the niggles, spend wisely but spend on really top class upgrades and you really have got your cake and can eat it.
I grew up around extreme race machines, bikes mainly and odd fking ones at that, Grasstrack, just try it son in my mid twenties my heart sank as I slowly realised cars just don't go like you'd like em to,
Even the fast stuff didn't seem it to me, then Tvr piped up with the Griff and in turn the Chimaera, I realised for the first time in my life there was a car that would command my respect in all those raw driving areas I'd feared and then tried to learn to master through various riding/driving endeavours,
I once liked gear box carts, still got one somewhere,,
That's proper extreme, I loved it, any cart to be honest,
The Tvr is the only car I could ever hope to afford to own that is that type of extreme.
I must add, I felt more in control of the gearbox cart driving one handed than the Tvr, but that's also the point, I've met my match, the car on roads is faster than me, I want that, I want that level of respect afforded to it by me every time I turn the key.
People say you pose in cars like ours, I say I can't fking see the thing when I'm driving it so I have no idea how it looks and don't care because I care more about its sound and handling, it's steering, it's engineering.
When I was a kid I'd watch this big strong intelligent looking bloke work a steam engine, old hat on, the lot, real character and would jump about this huge machine tickling and fettling it, oil can the lot, steam and smoke, noise and hissing, then it would move off and we'd run down the road as he went, I wanted something that I'd love like that, work at it like he did, it took years to get it running and it pissed water everywhere but it worked
My Tvr is that sort of man obsession with machinery and it's brilliance when working properly, my steam engine, I like its ancient design, it's basic nature.
Richard just penning those few words of joy at his Tvr provoked all this.
But everytime I go past my Tvr I feel like this.
I thought I was being provocative by telling people I was buying a Tvr and would show it could or would at some point be reliable, disbelief and ridicule from all,
What a statement as I'd never even heard of Pistonheads or what I was really getting into but I knew one thing, it must surely be able to be fixed, I'll stand up for British workmanship, etc etc, I had no idea there was hundreds/thousands of Tvr owners out there already doing it.
Thankyou to each and all of you guys for a start
Tvr ownership for most should be a dream come true, not all can afford one, in fact few can because they cost lots to put right, but when you've got that Tvr you always dreamed of, you make it even better, learn mechanics as part of ownership and share woes and exciting new ideas with other owners etc,
It's a priveledge to own a TVR and I count myself to be a very lucky man.
I've looked, and other than a far more expensive to own Porsche there's nothing to match them. Unique and when you truelly get shot of hot start /ECU and any cooling faults, the worlds your ouster in these RV8 powered cars.
Let's not forget they totally excel in long distance touring, wind noise, pffft, try a bike!
So I hope you keep the passion for your Tvr Richard, Aston, speaks for itself, wonderful thing, but the Tvr is a wonderful thing too.
I'm just waffling cos I'm bored of these cold nights and I can't drive the Tvr
As some of you know I've tried to drive mine til im bored of it,, nearly worked but then I have the odd week when I can't drive it and even after all the miles I've completed in it just those few days off and the first time you fire it up and drive it again, it's all new, harsh and difficult, takes some driving, then it slowly warms up and all the parts start coming in tune, the driver feels all of this, cold tyres, hard shocks, oil cold and it's painfull, yet given a chance to heat up they start to come alive, once warm, even in this sharpe weather there's a difference in the cars feel, it just seems to get better with every minute and mile you drive.
I often take notice of the odd poster who mentions 12 /15 years of ownership etc so many guys who have had these cars for donkeys years and still you can taste the thrill in their words when describing the feeling of driving that same car all those years later, others who post just to find out where there old car is and always you feel the sadness and loss of not owning it anymore, they nearly always regret selling it and nothing's managed to touch their heart since.
There's days when it's archaic suspension or nasty window rubbers and leaks annoy you but mostly you forgive it it's few downsides for all the very good parts and things it does well.
I go to the shops and buy treats for my dog and sometimes even the family, because you want the best for them, when I buy replacement /updated parts for my Tvr it's because it's now part of the family and I want the best I can afford for it.
I've always put good stuff on cars but more so they runs well, doing it with the Tvr is more personal in that it's not just making it run better, it's making it live longer, your ensuring years of pleasure can be obtained with each small improvement that elevates the car to the level Tvr could sadly never dream of but you can have that dream and live it every single time you turn the key, I've driven all day, parked up, like a drug I'm still hooked when firing it up again, it never ever stops giving you a thrill.
By f
k life's got its mundane side, traffic jams on the way home from work, life's to short, I was in a traffic jam earlier in the van, very boring but found myself alongside a Shelby Mustang, modern one, stationary,
I opened the window of the van cos I could hardly hear it!!!!! That's wrong for a start
I was so underwhelmed by its brakes, it's sound, looked ok but to fat.
The driver noticed my window opening, he knew what I was doing so duly obliged and tried to give it some beans but the traffic was to slow, even in traffic My/ our Tvr's Sound way better, far more dramatic
I've noticed this feeling I've been getting when looking at other cars against my Tvr, there just not as good as the Tvr.
It's so extreme a car that even so called hard core stuff looks tame to me.
Sportscars are really all about there looks, engine and sound.
We've got that covered then so just sort the niggles, spend wisely but spend on really top class upgrades and you really have got your cake and can eat it.
I grew up around extreme race machines, bikes mainly and odd f
king ones at that, Grasstrack, just try it son in my mid twenties my heart sank as I slowly realised cars just don't go like you'd like em to, Even the fast stuff didn't seem it to me, then Tvr piped up with the Griff and in turn the Chimaera, I realised for the first time in my life there was a car that would command my respect in all those raw driving areas I'd feared and then tried to learn to master through various riding/driving endeavours,
I once liked gear box carts, still got one somewhere,,
That's proper extreme, I loved it, any cart to be honest,
The Tvr is the only car I could ever hope to afford to own that is that type of extreme.
I must add, I felt more in control of the gearbox cart driving one handed than the Tvr, but that's also the point, I've met my match, the car on roads is faster than me, I want that, I want that level of respect afforded to it by me every time I turn the key.
People say you pose in cars like ours, I say I can't f
king see the thing when I'm driving it so I have no idea how it looks and don't care because I care more about its sound and handling, it's steering, it's engineering. When I was a kid I'd watch this big strong intelligent looking bloke work a steam engine, old hat on, the lot, real character and would jump about this huge machine tickling and fettling it, oil can the lot, steam and smoke, noise and hissing, then it would move off and we'd run down the road as he went, I wanted something that I'd love like that, work at it like he did, it took years to get it running and it pissed water everywhere but it worked
My Tvr is that sort of man obsession with machinery and it's brilliance when working properly, my steam engine, I like its ancient design, it's basic nature.
Richard just penning those few words of joy at his Tvr provoked all this.
But everytime I go past my Tvr I feel like this.
I thought I was being provocative by telling people I was buying a Tvr and would show it could or would at some point be reliable, disbelief and ridicule from all,
What a statement as I'd never even heard of Pistonheads or what I was really getting into but I knew one thing, it must surely be able to be fixed, I'll stand up for British workmanship, etc etc, I had no idea there was hundreds/thousands of Tvr owners out there already doing it.
Thankyou to each and all of you guys for a start
Tvr ownership for most should be a dream come true, not all can afford one, in fact few can because they cost lots to put right, but when you've got that Tvr you always dreamed of, you make it even better, learn mechanics as part of ownership and share woes and exciting new ideas with other owners etc,
It's a priveledge to own a TVR and I count myself to be a very lucky man.
I've looked, and other than a far more expensive to own Porsche there's nothing to match them. Unique and when you truelly get shot of hot start /ECU and any cooling faults, the worlds your ouster in these RV8 powered cars.
Let's not forget they totally excel in long distance touring, wind noise, pffft, try a bike!
So I hope you keep the passion for your Tvr Richard, Aston, speaks for itself, wonderful thing, but the Tvr is a wonderful thing too.
I'm just waffling cos I'm bored of these cold nights and I can't drive the Tvr
Edited by ClassiChimi on Wednesday 7th December 22:52
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