What do they know..........
Discussion
It's only disappointing in hindsight. When it was new you'd have struggled to find anything better for the money. Different maybe, but not necessarily better.
Alas the back-room boys spent the mid/late 80s playing with turbochargers at the same time as CADCAM and the new plastics technologies were making cars lighter...
Alas the back-room boys spent the mid/late 80s playing with turbochargers at the same time as CADCAM and the new plastics technologies were making cars lighter...
Not sure it should be number 19 but the Tasmin was not a great step forward if you consider the direction TVR was hoping to go.
It was more expensive but slower than some of its predecesors.
Might have been better if they had "skipped it" and gone straight to the 350.
No need to check profile, I have a 280
It was more expensive but slower than some of its predecesors.
Might have been better if they had "skipped it" and gone straight to the 350.
No need to check profile, I have a 280
The 2.8i Tasmin was quicker than any other car using that spec engine at that time.
It had more sophisticated suspension, rustproof bodywork, separate chassis and luxurious interior, was hand-built and comparatively exclusive.
It is only fair to compare like with like.
Most of the people compiling these s
te reports weren't even born in 1980. 
It had more sophisticated suspension, rustproof bodywork, separate chassis and luxurious interior, was hand-built and comparatively exclusive.
It is only fair to compare like with like.
Most of the people compiling these s
te reports weren't even born in 1980. grahamw48 said:
The 2.8i Tasmin was quicker than any other car using that spec engine at that time.
It had more sophisticated suspension, rustproof bodywork, separate chassis and luxurious interior, was hand-built and comparatively exclusive.
It is only fair to compare like with like.
Most of the people compiling these ste reports weren't even born in 1980.
How was the suspension more sophisticated Graham? Unless you mean that in comparison with a live rear axle and cart springs, TVRs version was somehow better? Had they sneaked a look under the Esprit they'd have seen that even Colin Chapman had admitted the silliness of using the driveshaft as a top link and added a separate one.It had more sophisticated suspension, rustproof bodywork, separate chassis and luxurious interior, was hand-built and comparatively exclusive.
It is only fair to compare like with like.
Most of the people compiling these s
te reports weren't even born in 1980. TVR even furgled the Cortina front arrangement by switching the tie-rods to be in compression rather than tension, hence the fidgety steering of the early cars. Granted they corrected it (by switching it back to the original setup) but it looks to be a case of trying to hide the Ford bits in some supposed trick installation... which it wasn't.
Luxurious interior.... well yes, if you call brown vinyl, brown cord carpets and granny's-knickers-beige velour luxurious
From my recollections of my Tasmin, most of the carpet was glued directly to GRP, there wasn't any sound-deadening under it.Yes...I suppose I was comparing to the live axled Capri, and maybe the Scimitar.
Could never understand why they didn't just use the complete Cortina crossmember at the front, and everything already attached to it...including the correct geometry.
Let's not forget (interior and nearly everything else) that 'taste' wasn't a high point of the 80s.
I was a big Lotus fan back then, but only the Esprit was an attractive car in that model range, to my eyes.
The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
Could never understand why they didn't just use the complete Cortina crossmember at the front, and everything already attached to it...including the correct geometry.
Let's not forget (interior and nearly everything else) that 'taste' wasn't a high point of the 80s.
I was a big Lotus fan back then, but only the Esprit was an attractive car in that model range, to my eyes.
The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
Edited by grahamw48 on Thursday 29th October 00:35
grahamw48 said:
Yes...I suppose I was comparing to the live axled Capri, and maybe the Scimitar.
Could never understand why they didn't just use the complete Cortina crossmember at the front, and everything already attached to it...including the correct geometry.
Let's not forget (interior and nearly everything else) that 'taste' wasn't a high point of the 80s.
I was a big Lotus fan back then, but only the Esprit was an attractive car in that model range, to my eyes.
The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
Europa ?Could never understand why they didn't just use the complete Cortina crossmember at the front, and everything already attached to it...including the correct geometry.
Let's not forget (interior and nearly everything else) that 'taste' wasn't a high point of the 80s.
I was a big Lotus fan back then, but only the Esprit was an attractive car in that model range, to my eyes.
The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
Edited by grahamw48 on Thursday 29th October 00:35
I actually thought the interior of the 280 was the biggest improvement over prev models.
I think the article was probably looking at the 3000M and wondering whether the exra cost was justified. (at the time)
jeff m said:
grahamw48 said:
Yes...I suppose I was comparing to the live axled Capri, and maybe the Scimitar.
Could never understand why they didn't just use the complete Cortina crossmember at the front, and everything already attached to it...including the correct geometry.
Let's not forget (interior and nearly everything else) that 'taste' wasn't a high point of the 80s.
I was a big Lotus fan back then, but only the Esprit was an attractive car in that model range, to my eyes.
The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
Europa ?Could never understand why they didn't just use the complete Cortina crossmember at the front, and everything already attached to it...including the correct geometry.
Let's not forget (interior and nearly everything else) that 'taste' wasn't a high point of the 80s.
I was a big Lotus fan back then, but only the Esprit was an attractive car in that model range, to my eyes.
The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
Edited by grahamw48 on Thursday 29th October 00:35
I actually thought the interior of the 280 was the biggest improvement over prev models.
I think the article was probably looking at the 3000M and wondering whether the exra cost was justified. (at the time)
Graham, I think you were trying to remember the (Mk II) Elite?
Just a quick point, the top of the range M series cars were more expensive than the earlier Tasmins and had interiors that were to die for with Wilton carpets, East (or is it West..) of England cloth head linings, walnut dashes rather than cheap veneer and quality leather. Tasmins were almost bargain basement spec all round in comparison..but still a cracking car in its day.
Just a quick point, the top of the range M series cars were more expensive than the earlier Tasmins and had interiors that were to die for with Wilton carpets, East (or is it West..) of England cloth head linings, walnut dashes rather than cheap veneer and quality leather. Tasmins were almost bargain basement spec all round in comparison..but still a cracking car in its day.
Edited by TVR_owner on Thursday 29th October 12:37
grahamw48 said:
I was a big Lotus fan back then, but only the Esprit was an attractive car in that model range, to my eyes.
The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
The original Eclat was IMO a nicely-proportioned car with huge glass areas due to the slender cant rails. When they reshaped it to create the Excel it got a bit fat.The others (Eclat, and the other one that I've forgotten) were...orrible.
The Elite (the wedge version) was definitely love-it-or-hate-it. Not many loved it.
Incidentally if you think working on the TVR wedge rear brakes is hard, try the Elite/Excel's inboard DRUMS
The diff and brakes was (allegedly) lifted from a milk float (double
) and changing the shoes involves almost a full rear suspension strip.A Rover V8-engined Esprit ought to be the home mechanic's ideal sports car
The handling on my old Excel was just sublime. It felt like I could enter any corner at any speed & just drive round it, amazing. You'd see your passengers start to grip things on the approach to a corner & be swearing profusley on the way out.
RV8 Esprit would be fab, especially if you could fit the SC Power kit on there & keep it all cool.
..
RV8 Esprit would be fab, especially if you could fit the SC Power kit on there & keep it all cool.
..
TVR_owner said:
Graham, I think you were trying to remember the (Mk II) Elite?
Just a quick point, the top of the range M series cars were more expensive than the earlier Tasmins and had interiors that were to die for with Wilton carpets, East (or is it West..) of England cloth head linings, walnut dashes rather than cheap veneer and quality leather. Tasmins were almost bargain basement spec all round in comparison..but still a cracking car in its day.
Hi John Just a quick point, the top of the range M series cars were more expensive than the earlier Tasmins and had interiors that were to die for with Wilton carpets, East (or is it West..) of England cloth head linings, walnut dashes rather than cheap veneer and quality leather. Tasmins were almost bargain basement spec all round in comparison..but still a cracking car in its day.
Edited by TVR_owner on Thursday 29th October 12:37
Yes, I think it was the S2 Elite I was thinking of.
Oh, and I'll make a point of having a look at that East of England headlining of yours next time you're in the pits.
Well done by the way.
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff