GTM Libra commuting

[Pooh]

Due to a new job I am going to have to commute to Aberdeen from Perthshire far more often than I do now, so I am considering changing my V6 GTV for something more economical/cheaper to run and was thinking of a Libra.
My route is 15 miles of A or B roads followed by 50 miles of duel carriageway each way, I am wondering will the GTM deafen me and drive me mad on a long run and based on a 1.8 k series what sort of mpg and running costs could I expect?
Thanks.
Robert.

[GTMSpyder]

The Libra is pretty civilised at motorway speeds and is happy to cruise at anything from 80-100+. I've got a Spyder and have driven many miles in a Libra (Le Mans, Zolder) and would have no problems driving one on a commute every day (many of the Libra owners do). Of course it depends on the exhaust and gearbox, but the standard GTM one with a 1.8 (either VVC or not) is fine.

The only problem i can think of is that the demisting can be a bit poor until the engine is warm so getting off to a quick start on a winter morning could be a bit slow.

[hewlett]

I wonder if the Evo review of the V6 Libra (my summary: ragged composure at 10/10ths, quick but lacks being properly sorted) still holds true for later cars? Do owners tweak them and are they finally controllable and composed when pushed after improving the technology, post factory gate as it were? The Libra always seemed to hold great promise. I had a ride in a V6 a couple of years back and although it was great from what I could tell from the passenger seat, on the bumpy roads around Windsor the car was hopping and skipping around a bit - might just have been that build, had the wrong/too stiff maybe shocks etc. Adding a turbo to the V6, getting 300bhp/ton + from such a nice looking car, if it was well sorted in the handling department, it would be an ideal tool.

[Pooh]

bump Any more info please.

[Ferg]

Depends so much on the build.
Even down to how much soundproofing is built in, particularly in the rear bulkhead, obviously.
I don't commute in mine, but I never get out of it after a long drive disliking it at all, if that helps.
As for mpg etc.... it's like an MGF, but lighter!!!

And the V6?? Not as nice to drive in my limited experience.

[ricola]

It depends on the quality of your A roads, I found mine a bit too susceptible to being thrown about by poor road conditions. Also a really niggly thing is the rate at which the rear screens get filthy on the inside, much more often than I wanted to lift the rear clam or wash the car. For a daily I would recommend going over the electrics and moving as much inside the car as possible, fuses/relays/connectors are all very open to the elements in the engine bay and the standard stuff isn't up to much...
It is a fun car to throw about on the right roads and is very economical, I got 40mpg from my 160ps VVC on daily fast motorway commute and 45mpg on longer journeys.

[rdodger]

I love driving mine (vvc)and have been to Le Mans and Zolder with no problems and will be off to the South of France and Zolder again this year. I don't use it every day but others do. One owner did 30,000 per anum in his pretty much trouble free.

They aren't exactly quiet but as Ferg says sound deadening could easily be added. The exhaust can be made a bit quieter with the addition of another box depending on how it was built.

The steaming up in wet/cold weather would be the biggest down side I guess. I drive everywhere with the window down or it gets too hot. Ventilation isn't exactly wonderful but people have made it better. I have decent ICE but can't hear it above about 60mph unless it's so loud it scares predestrians when you stop.

Everything under the rear clam will get filthy if driven daily in all weathers so you will under there weekly cleaning it all. As Ricola says electrical connections can be troublesome on some cars depending again on how they have been built/ maintained maily due to water/ dirt ingress. Again easy enough to solve with a bit of time.

They are more practical than an Elise with a reasonable boot and a suprising amount of space behind the seats. Insurance is very reasonable and performance is great. It shouldn't be any less reliable and maintainance is easy as the clams open right up and are easy to remove.

I have no great experience of the V6 but never considered one as I didn't fancy the extra weight for minimal performance gains.

Join teamgtm.com and i'm sure there will be a member close to you who will take you out in theirs and show you over the car.

Get one, they are great!

[Paul Drawmer]

Roger and Rich have described it pretty much exactly as it is living with a Libra.

I like driving mine enough to get up at 4 in the summer for a drive to Wales and back for lunch. I've also done the same trip as Roger, drove to Zolder, 2 days on track, and then home again.

[dugt]

i drive my spider (1.4) everyday and its fine

ive done over 350 miles in it in one day and the car and i felt like we could go further

it relatively quiet on the motorway with the roof up

the boot on the spider is rubbish (the one on my rossa is much bigger)

doug

oh and dave clare
i got the radiator ok, i was going to phone you when i got to your house but my phone died and ive been too busy to reply on the team gtm forum

[Pooh]

Thanks guys, sounds like I would enjoy driving it but I need something I can park outside in Aberdeen for 2-3 weeks while I am offshore and still start when I get back. It also sounds like the rear screen would be a pain and the handling would be interesting on bumpy Perthshire back roads so combined with a slight lack of refinement it is probably not what I need.
A pity because I have fancied one since I had a short passenger ride in the original 1.4 demo car.

[dugt]

my spider lives outside all the time

i havent driven it in about a week and a half (since ive borrowed a different car to move some big stuff about) but it started fine

and what ever any one says, the spiders do leak

doug

[Paul Drawmer]

Cant resist this bit of trumpet blowing!

This was Sid in the Spyder, and me in the Libra leaving Zolder after the 2006 VAB Autohappening.

Don't know who took it, but I think they liked the GTM!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ubiPEkvb5KM