TVRs... and saftey
Discussion
Everything lined up to buy my first TVR over the next two weeks…. Can’t wait (of course ). Now, my girlfriend comes home this evening telling me about a conversation with a colleague at work saying: “… don’t let him buy one, it’s a death trap, they fold like a cardboard box in an accident… he should buy a Porsche”. Whilst this is certainly a pretty general comment, I’m just interested in people’s opinion on safety of a TVR in a crash situation and vis-à-vis other sports cars.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Looking at a Chim by the way.
>>> Edited by reichejh on Friday 7th January 20:53
Any thoughts appreciated.
Looking at a Chim by the way.
>>> Edited by reichejh on Friday 7th January 20:53
reichejh said:While they are not as crash-protected as something like a Porsche, saying they'll fold in an accident is rubbush probably born from the idea they are made of plastic.
Everything lined up to buy my first TVR over the next two weeks…. Can’t wait (of course ). Now, my girlfriend comes home this evening telling me about a conversation with a colleague at work saying: “… don’t let him buy one, it’s a death trap, they fold like a cardboard box in an accident… he should buy a Porsche”. Whilst this is certainly a pretty general comment, I’m just interested in people’s opinion on safety of a TVR in a crash situation and vis-à-vis other sports cars.
The main chassis is particulary strong, the area of concern (IMO) are the door and roofs on convertibles in anything pre-Cerbera (Wedges did have side impact bars for the US), but I've some seem pictures of horrific accidents in Chimaeras and Griffths were all has been OK.
I recall a Tuscan being one of the few (if the only) car to pash both frontal and side impact tests using the same vehicle.
Head on every TVR is very strong IMHO 
Wedges have extra side impact
Chims Griffs "S and wedge have no roll bar
but on the first three at least (im not sure about the wedge) you can get a roll bar fitted at reasonable price
IIRC the cerbie and T350 both have full roll cages
The Tuscan has at least one roll bar at the front im not sure but there may be one at the rear too
But be warned drive any TVR like an idiot and they will bite
Wedges have extra side impact
Chims Griffs "S and wedge have no roll bar
but on the first three at least (im not sure about the wedge) you can get a roll bar fitted at reasonable price IIRC the cerbie and T350 both have full roll cages
The Tuscan has at least one roll bar at the front im not sure but there may be one at the rear too
But be warned drive any TVR like an idiot and they will bite
reichejh said:
Everything lined up to buy my first TVR over the next two weeks…. Can’t wait (of course ). Now, my girlfriend comes home this evening telling me about a conversation with a colleague at work saying: “… don’t let him buy one, it’s a death trap, they fold like a cardboard box in an accident… he should buy a Porsche”. Whilst this is certainly a pretty general comment, I’m just interested in people’s opinion on safety of a TVR in a crash situation and vis-à-vis other sports cars.
Any thoughts appreciated.
If you're concerned about dying, then choose your car from this list.
www.euroncap.com/index.php
But if really you want to live then buy a TVR
>> Edited by sparkythecat on Friday 7th January 20:49
sparkythecat said:
If you're concerned about dying, then choose your car from this list.
<a href="http://www.euroncap.com/index.php">www.euroncap.com/index.php</a>
But if really you want to live then buy a TVR
Yep,, had a look on the roadster section, if you want to be safe AND reduce injuries to pedestrians, the MGTF it is
>> Edited by sparkythecat on Friday 7th January 20:49
At the start of December I was at the front of a 4 car pile up in my 280 FHC. A New Clio wnet into the back od a 3 series which in turn went into the back of a new Mini which then crashed into my back quarter. I was lucky in that most of the energy had been disippated by thetime I was hit, but it was hard enough to push the car from the centre of the lane to a couple of inches from the curb.
The Mini hit the corner of my carm scraped all down the side and came to a stop whith its front front wheel level with mine. The other 3 cars were written off. I had a chunk the size of a 2 pound coin taken out of the bumper, a couple of cracks in the paint, my door mirror was loosend, but still attached and the window was knoed out of it's tracks (down at the time). Oh, and some of the dirt on the car was wiped off
Gave my statements to the police, got in and drove home. Used it for another 2 weeks before taking it off the road for repairs!
Tough cars.
The Mini hit the corner of my carm scraped all down the side and came to a stop whith its front front wheel level with mine. The other 3 cars were written off. I had a chunk the size of a 2 pound coin taken out of the bumper, a couple of cracks in the paint, my door mirror was loosend, but still attached and the window was knoed out of it's tracks (down at the time). Oh, and some of the dirt on the car was wiped off
Gave my statements to the police, got in and drove home. Used it for another 2 weeks before taking it off the road for repairs!
Tough cars.
The fact you are a PH'r of quite long standing 15 mths judging from your profile suggests you have researched your purchase quite thoroughly. Dont let your girlfriends colleague, who probably has no idea about TVR's influence your decision. The body may be frail but the chassis are very strong and specifically designed for a performance car. Treat the car with respect and you shouldnt have a prob. Look at all of us on here, we love them.
I've never used crash protection as a criterion when buying a car. If safety worries anyone, they should get a Volvo. They will be unlikely ever to need its crash protection, and will be doomed to drive a car they didn't really want because it was 'safe'.
If TVRs didn't pass the requisite safety tests, they wouldn't be on sale. Far more importantly though, is the ability of the new TVR driver not to spank it in year one. GRP doesn't bend, it cracks, and I've seen TVRs looking like dropped hard-boiled eggs, but the driver was OK.
Follow your heart and do it
If TVRs didn't pass the requisite safety tests, they wouldn't be on sale. Far more importantly though, is the ability of the new TVR driver not to spank it in year one. GRP doesn't bend, it cracks, and I've seen TVRs looking like dropped hard-boiled eggs, but the driver was OK.
Follow your heart and do it
Pies has it right.
I worked in motor vehicle accident investigation for 6 years and have no problems driving a TVR.
I'd probably one day fit a roll cage and harnesses if I were seriously bothered, but for now haven't got around to it.
If you are that bothered and feel the extra protection is needed, fit a cage then harnesses. Do not under any circumstances do it the other way around; the last thing you want is for a harness to keep you held rigidly in a car with no protection if its about the flip upside down.
A cerbie or T350 has a full internal cage anway so ought to be ok. Tamoras have a hoop in the wondscreen surround which suffices. Older TVRs are vulnerable, but given their low centre of gravity not generally prone to roll over.
I worked in motor vehicle accident investigation for 6 years and have no problems driving a TVR.
I'd probably one day fit a roll cage and harnesses if I were seriously bothered, but for now haven't got around to it.
If you are that bothered and feel the extra protection is needed, fit a cage then harnesses. Do not under any circumstances do it the other way around; the last thing you want is for a harness to keep you held rigidly in a car with no protection if its about the flip upside down.
A cerbie or T350 has a full internal cage anway so ought to be ok. Tamoras have a hoop in the wondscreen surround which suffices. Older TVRs are vulnerable, but given their low centre of gravity not generally prone to roll over.
hmm, well if you are worried about this, perhaps your other half is suggesting that you spend a day with ride drive????
If you have never driven anything above 150bhp, then do so, it will be worth it.
However...
The cars are safe it's the people behind the wheel that get them reputations!
If you have never driven anything above 150bhp, then do so, it will be worth it.
However...
The cars are safe it's the people behind the wheel that get them reputations!
I have seen a few pics of Griffiths and Chimaeras that have been in accidents including my own (see HERE ) and have been quietly surprised how well they have stood up.
There Chassis are very similiar to the Tuscan Race ones so they are very tough.
GRP is a very Strong material but when it does go it Shatters and disintergrates which can be safer IMHO than parts of sharp metal splintering everywhere.
Doors are probable the weakest point but from what I have seen have stood up pretty well.
If rolled then you could be in trouble, but roll bars can be added for very little cost(which many owners have added). Cant think that I have seen many rolled as they sit so low to the ground and are pretty well planted to the road.
Hope that answers a few questions and good luck finding a nice TVR
Dont listen to too many comments from people who probably know very little about these cars except what they hear from Pub talk.
BB
There Chassis are very similiar to the Tuscan Race ones so they are very tough.
GRP is a very Strong material but when it does go it Shatters and disintergrates which can be safer IMHO than parts of sharp metal splintering everywhere.
Doors are probable the weakest point but from what I have seen have stood up pretty well.
If rolled then you could be in trouble, but roll bars can be added for very little cost(which many owners have added). Cant think that I have seen many rolled as they sit so low to the ground and are pretty well planted to the road.
Hope that answers a few questions and good luck finding a nice TVR
Dont listen to too many comments from people who probably know very little about these cars except what they hear from Pub talk.
BB
sideways mostly said:
Just walked away from a big one,asdid my passenger.
Likewise (and I'm glad you're both OK Steve).
The resulting debris looks pretty spectacular but you're sitting in a pretty good place with the chassis around you.
I had passenger side impact with a v.big tree then spun and ended nose down in a 6ft deep ditch.
I climbed out and suffered only scratches and a broken bone in my hand.
It frightened me for a bit but I've already got my replacement car - another Griffith
Don't let these misinformed stories put you off. Buy whatever takes your fancy and if they want to worry let them buy one of these
I probably have rather more experience than most of crashing TVRs
The chassis on a TVR is generally very strong - however in an accident what you want is controlled energy absorbtion and dissipation - which is why conventional cars have crumple zones.
TVRs don't have crumple zones in the conventional sense. However, the GRP bodywork is amazingly good at dissipating energy.
Take a frontal impact - all TVRs have a GRP nosecone containing a radiator. Pile it into something solid and this will get wiped out - but as the GRP breaks and shatters, it is absorbing enegy - much better in my opinion than a bit of steel which folds. In effect you have thousands of mini cumple zones - which as someone mentioned before, is also a consequence of the curvey shape of many of the panels.
I put my Tuscan into a tyre wall backwards at about 90mph. There is only GRP hanging out of the back of a Tuscan - nothing more solid. The back end was destroyed - but in smashing itself to pieces, it took all the sting out of the hit. Granted the suspension was damaged on one side, but 2 hours and a load of gaffer tape later, I raced (in the first lightweight TVR Beach Buggy). If I was in a tintop I would have written the car off.
Roll over protection and side impacts are a worry in Griffs/Chimaera - so don't roll them and don't present your sides to the enemy.
Regards
Andy
The chassis on a TVR is generally very strong - however in an accident what you want is controlled energy absorbtion and dissipation - which is why conventional cars have crumple zones.
TVRs don't have crumple zones in the conventional sense. However, the GRP bodywork is amazingly good at dissipating energy.
Take a frontal impact - all TVRs have a GRP nosecone containing a radiator. Pile it into something solid and this will get wiped out - but as the GRP breaks and shatters, it is absorbing enegy - much better in my opinion than a bit of steel which folds. In effect you have thousands of mini cumple zones - which as someone mentioned before, is also a consequence of the curvey shape of many of the panels.
I put my Tuscan into a tyre wall backwards at about 90mph. There is only GRP hanging out of the back of a Tuscan - nothing more solid. The back end was destroyed - but in smashing itself to pieces, it took all the sting out of the hit. Granted the suspension was damaged on one side, but 2 hours and a load of gaffer tape later, I raced (in the first lightweight TVR Beach Buggy). If I was in a tintop I would have written the car off.
Roll over protection and side impacts are a worry in Griffs/Chimaera - so don't roll them and don't present your sides to the enemy.
Regards
Andy
k77-widow maker said:
one further point....
From a tiv owners point of view i hope that has answered a question!!!
>> Edited by k77-widow maker on Friday 7th January 22:25
Where did you get that babies bib from, my gf is going to have our first baby in June and I would like one of those and some other TVR clothing.
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