How cautious to be with my new TVR?

[Sevenman]

I bought a Tamora 12 days ago, and it is the first car I have owned which attracts any attention. All positive so far from motorists / pedestrians.

I am fairly cautious about where I would leave it, but do TVRs tend to attract much unwanted attention when parked?

I have to make a trip to Oxford tomorrow, and would normally leave my car in the park and ride and then get the bus to the centre. The park and ride seems safe enough, and it would only be there from 9am until just after lunch.

I would rather be out and driving this car for proper journeys than have it sat in the garage and only doing local trips. And there are some good roads to Oxford...

What do people think about parking their TVRs?

[R11ysf]

People are generally excellent about TVR's. I've never had a bad comment and never had anyone damage it. I've driven through bad parts of london with the roof off and never had anything apart from "nice car" or "what is it?". I had worse comments driving a mate's MX-5!!

Don't be paranoid about leaving it anywhere, if you are then it will ruin your enjoyment of the car. If it gets scratched, then you can get it resprayed but remember the car should bring you enjoyment, if leaving it in a certain car park worries you then take a different car.

[athomp04]

I have never had unwanted attention when parking any of the TVR's that I have owned - only respect. Just trust your instinct on location, and usually if you look hard you can find a nice corner to tuck away into that will protect more sides of the car.

[Getsis]

Valve caps get nicked a lot from souvenior hunters, usual to get back to the car with someone taking a photo. no other problems except sometimes you will be late getting somewhere due to having to explain what the car is.

[Grey Ghost]

I am a little careful when I park the Chimaera and will try to find a quiet spot if using a car park rather than on the side of a road. However, most folk don't pay any attention unless they happen to be walking past when I start it up

[big_treacle]

Don't worry about it.

[illmonkey]

There will be a lot nicer cars in Oxford at the weekend. Don't worry.

Although, if you're really worried, you can leave it at my private lockup. Leave the keys, I may need to move it Oh, you'll need to get a bis into Oxford as well.

[rb5er]

big_treacle said:

Don't worry about it.

Yes ideally. But parking anything nice in a public carpark and dont expect to never get a ding or two in the door from idiots. If it was me i'd use a different car to leave in a public carpark.

[nawarne]

R11ysf said:

People are generally excellent about TVR's. I've never had a bad comment and never had anyone damage it. I've driven through bad parts of london with the roof off and never had anything apart from "nice car" or "what is it?". I had worse comments driving a mate's MX-5!!

Don't be paranoid about leaving it anywhere, if you are then it will ruin your enjoyment of the car. If it gets scratched, then you can get it resprayed but remember the car should bring you enjoyment, if leaving it in a certain car park worries you then take a different car.

^^^What he said.

My best experience was at some lights a few years ago when I had a Chimaera. Car (blinged up Golf Mk2) full of 'yoofs' pull-up alongside, passenger drops the window, and says "nice car mate!"....and there was I expecting some derogatory hand signal and equally bad comment....Had to give it some loud pedal away from the lights though!
Nick

[Sevenman]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like the TVR is coming to Oxford tomorrow, and I am really looking forward to the drive For some reason our diesel Mondeo, great car that it is, never made me want to drive it other than as an efficient way of getting somewhere.

2nd fill of the car this morning, and 26 mpg from the first tank of fuel after doesn't seem too bad to me, so I can afford to drive it

I am usually careful about finding a large space to try to avoid any parking incidents with careless people. Most of the park and ride car park doesn't have marked spaces, so people park with decent gaps.

[900T-R]

nawarne said:

My best experience was at some lights a few years ago when I had a Chimaera. Car (blinged up Golf Mk2) full of 'yoofs' pull-up alongside, passenger drops the window, and says "nice car mate!"....and there was I expecting some derogatory hand signal and equally bad comment....Had to give it some loud pedal away from the lights though!
Nick

M25, queing up for the Dartford tunnel. White van man drops his window.

'That sounds lovely, mate'.

'Thank you'.

[illmonkey]

Sevenman said:

Thanks for the replies. It looks like the TVR is coming to Oxford tomorrow, and I am really looking forward to the drive For some reason our diesel Mondeo, great car that it is, never made me want to drive it other than as an efficient way of getting somewhere.

2nd fill of the car this morning, and 26 mpg from the first tank of fuel after doesn't seem too bad to me, so I can afford to drive it

I am usually careful about finding a large space to try to avoid any parking incidents with careless people. Most of the park and ride car park doesn't have marked spaces, so people park with decent gaps.

How early you getting there? May be able to advise a carpark that'll be empty with some 'corner spaces'

[Sevenman]

~ 9:00 arrival. Park and ride has always worked for me, it has been some years since I drove into central Oxford.

[lazyitus]

I think our TVR's attract good responses from nearly everyone. I reckon the reason is that nearly everyone can afford one but not everyone has the balls to do it. That, I think, gains some respect.

[Chris71]

I can't say I've ever picked up a dent in a car park. I guess vandalism could be an issue if it's a suitably extrovert example and you leave it parked next to the local nightclub overnight or something, but I wouldn't be too worried otherwise.

I have to say, as mentioned above, the response to TVRs seems to be very positive. Unusual cars in general, whether it's kit cars, Caterhams or whatever, seem to get a much better reaction than a Porsche or Ferrari of the same performance would do, because they're just that little bit less 'obvious'. I think people realise you're a genuine enthusiast rather than a minor league footballer who just bought the fastest thing the dealership had in yellow.

[S6 Devil]

I picked up two door dents/chips whilst parked in my local swimming pool car park. I am always wary of leaving the TVR in any public car park as many people just don't give a s++t. I try to park it as far away from other cars as possible.

[illmonkey]

Sevenman said:

~ 9:00 arrival. Park and ride has always worked for me, it has been some years since I drove into central Oxford.

You have to pay for parking now

[NiceCupOfTea]

Sevenman said:

Thanks for the replies. It looks like the TVR is coming to Oxford tomorrow, and I am really looking forward to the drive For some reason our diesel Mondeo, great car that it is, never made me want to drive it other than as an efficient way of getting somewhere.

2nd fill of the car this morning, and 26 mpg from the first tank of fuel after doesn't seem too bad to me, so I can afford to drive it

I am usually careful about finding a large space to try to avoid any parking incidents with careless people. Most of the park and ride car park doesn't have marked spaces, so people park with decent gaps.

Wish my MX-5 got 26mpg!

[Filos Hippos]

lazyitus said:

I reckon the reason is that nearly everyone can afford one but not everyone has the balls to do it. That, I think, gains some respect.

Exactly Sir, yes Sir!!!

[andydw]

I've parked a chimaera previously, and now a cerb, in all sorts of public car parks like hotels, railway stations, airports and municipal car parks without a single incident of any sort. I just try to find several empty spaces together or an end-of-lane to minimise the chance of door dings. But have had no problems with malicious damage or theft attempts. Having said that, I always make sure its easily visible and not tucked away round a corner out of sight and is near a light if left overnight.