Discussion
I know subaru's are v.quick but....
a 98 UK Impreza Turbo with full Prodrive Handling pack and on circuit days it was absolutely stunning (never been passed by a V8 TVR!! at Cadwell and and Oulton (long circuit)). I was also doing similar times to quick TVR drivers (GreenV8S) in other sessions, though it has to be said that with the amount of practice he puts in, I don't think I would be in the running now!!
Must be extremely quick then!!
a 98 UK Impreza Turbo with full Prodrive Handling pack and on circuit days it was absolutely stunning (never been passed by a V8 TVR!! at Cadwell and and Oulton (long circuit)). I was also doing similar times to quick TVR drivers (GreenV8S) in other sessions, though it has to be said that with the amount of practice he puts in, I don't think I would be in the running now!!
Must be extremely quick then!!
I love TVRs to the bone, always will. But the Imprezza in one hell of a machine.
I'm not too surprised to hear about the alleged performance from TVRlover.
If I did'nt have a TVR as a toy, it would most probably be an Imprezza instead. Have test driven one and the grip was simply incredible.
I'm not too surprised to hear about the alleged performance from TVRlover.
If I did'nt have a TVR as a toy, it would most probably be an Imprezza instead. Have test driven one and the grip was simply incredible.
I know subaru's are v.quick but....
a 98 UK Impreza Turbo with full Prodrive Handling pack and on circuit days it was absolutely stunning (never been passed by a V8 TVR!! at Cadwell and and Oulton (long circuit)). I was also doing similar times to quick TVR drivers (GreenV8S) in other sessions, though it has to be said that with the amount of practice he puts in, I don't think I would be in the running now!!
Must be extremely quick then!!
I think I'd put my money on Pete H still
Are we comparing Subaroos to Tivs again? two complete opposites in the performance genre, Subaru's are great cars but....they make it too easy, an average driver steps out of one feeling like Colin McRae (probably a bad choice but I'm not clued up on the best Rally driver)and I guess that is the appeal. Tivs on the otherhand deliver the performance if you have the skills, the balls and it hasn't killed you yet
Well that was my quote from TVRlover, just to give you some background:-
1) I happened to be in the fortunate position at the time of having both an Impreza and a Griff500 (and 3 other TVRs!!!), therefore it was easy to compare them.
2) In the Oct98 TVRCC trackday at Oulton I was setting similar laptimes to GreenV8S but Trevor Jasper in a 1700cc Vixen was faster by about 4 seconds than both of us!! As I also said PeteH has done considerably more work on his driving since then and I have every reason to belief that if we went out today he would be quicker than me, unless it was pouring with rain
3) Driving the Impreza to the limit is much easier then taking a TVR to the limit. Every TVR owner I took round Cadwell or Oulton was impressed with the turn of speed.
4) I am a relatively experienced track day driver having done about 70 circuit days (mostly in TVRs) and a couple of seasons Sprinting (I once even claimed a Driver of Day pot at a Performance Technique Day
)
I NEVER said the Impreza was a better car than a TVR, but I am convinced that I can get round most UK circuits in an Impreza (with Prodrive mods) quicker than most people can pedal their TVRS.
But at the end of the day an Impreza is a quick car but a TVR is a motoring experience.
Hope that clears it up.
davidy
1) I happened to be in the fortunate position at the time of having both an Impreza and a Griff500 (and 3 other TVRs!!!), therefore it was easy to compare them.
2) In the Oct98 TVRCC trackday at Oulton I was setting similar laptimes to GreenV8S but Trevor Jasper in a 1700cc Vixen was faster by about 4 seconds than both of us!! As I also said PeteH has done considerably more work on his driving since then and I have every reason to belief that if we went out today he would be quicker than me, unless it was pouring with rain
3) Driving the Impreza to the limit is much easier then taking a TVR to the limit. Every TVR owner I took round Cadwell or Oulton was impressed with the turn of speed.
4) I am a relatively experienced track day driver having done about 70 circuit days (mostly in TVRs) and a couple of seasons Sprinting (I once even claimed a Driver of Day pot at a Performance Technique Day
) I NEVER said the Impreza was a better car than a TVR, but I am convinced that I can get round most UK circuits in an Impreza (with Prodrive mods) quicker than most people can pedal their TVRS.
But at the end of the day an Impreza is a quick car but a TVR is a motoring experience.
Hope that clears it up.
davidy
When I had an Impreza and went to track days, the vast majority of Impreza owners loved their cars but moaned that they couldn't get oversteer. The cars are set up for understeer and the technique for getting the back out was to lift off mid corner to de-stabilise the car then get back on the power. Most, me included, never really got to grips with it (the 'welcoming' armco may have had something to do with it!).
I think that's the problem (if there is one) with the Impreza. Its a fantastic handling car with brilliant road performance. BUT, the 4WD system instils so much confidence that people end up entering corners too fast, panicking, lifting off and then exit the road stage left.
On the track most people are out to have fun rather than shave seconds off their lap times. And if you're anything like me then fun includes getting the car out of shape and sliding it round corners. Its quite tricky to get it right in the Impreza.
I thought it was quite amusing that the same people on Scoobynet (not that it was called that in those days) used to slag off TVRs, BMW's and the like. Odd, because whilst the powerful rear wheel drive cars may not have been as quick through the wet and twisties - they can be a lot more fun on a track. They also demand more respect.
I think that's the problem (if there is one) with the Impreza. Its a fantastic handling car with brilliant road performance. BUT, the 4WD system instils so much confidence that people end up entering corners too fast, panicking, lifting off and then exit the road stage left.
On the track most people are out to have fun rather than shave seconds off their lap times. And if you're anything like me then fun includes getting the car out of shape and sliding it round corners. Its quite tricky to get it right in the Impreza.
I thought it was quite amusing that the same people on Scoobynet (not that it was called that in those days) used to slag off TVRs, BMW's and the like. Odd, because whilst the powerful rear wheel drive cars may not have been as quick through the wet and twisties - they can be a lot more fun on a track. They also demand more respect.
The oversteer can be dialled out using the full Prodrive suspension settings, this adjusts front camber and rear toe-in. This can (and did in my car) almost completety remove the understeer, it turned in real sharp and I could get oversteer (easier in the wet than in the dry).
But although the handling was devasting on the track, over rough kerbs (eg the exit of Cascades at Oulton), the big bumps seemed to confuse the 4 wheel drive system and the car just turned sideways
but fortunately Imprezas are very recoverable, just turn the wheel and it comes back in line.
davidy
But although the handling was devasting on the track, over rough kerbs (eg the exit of Cascades at Oulton), the big bumps seemed to confuse the 4 wheel drive system and the car just turned sideways
but fortunately Imprezas are very recoverable, just turn the wheel and it comes back in line. davidy
mel said: Impreza = Flash builder devoid of taste
TVR = Hard working connoisseur of the finer things in life
Mel, having seen the size of you at BTaP, I say this with the tmost respect.
Feck off.
Agree with many of the comments here - but it's also futile to compare the two cars. They are completely different.
Having owned a Griff 500, Impreza Turbo and now onto an Impreza P1 I've got a fairly good idea of the differences, although I'm no pro driver. (picture of my old impreza will prove that). I've driven the first 2 around circuits and, well, they are chalk and cheese.
It comes down to your own driving preference. Personally I loved the sound and whole experience of driving the Griff. The straight line grunt, the roar, even the smell of the leather. Fantastic. On a track I thought the brakes were woeful and it dived at the front of the car making it very unstable.
Since owning an Impreza I am pretty much a 4wd convertee, as I love the 'gripped' feeling and the sheer sideways force that you can generate. Sadly my last car was far better than the standard of my driving, and as the quote says above I "exited stage left".
Horses for courses - see you at the next track/Don Palmer day
Jellison , 
stop looking for a fight/arguement
Its horses for courses, I mean if we were all the same we would race TRs and drive Chimaeras with upgraded brake hoses, wouldn't we!!
There are merits to many different performance cars and people should have open enough views to understand this.
davidy (end of
)
>> Edited by davidy on Wednesday 27th November 10:21
stop looking for a fight/arguement Its horses for courses, I mean if we were all the same we would race TRs and drive Chimaeras with upgraded brake hoses, wouldn't we!!
There are merits to many different performance cars and people should have open enough views to understand this.
davidy (end of
) >> Edited by davidy on Wednesday 27th November 10:21
Have had both now and consider them both great cars...
Try www.scoobynet.co.uk for a look at things from a Scooby perspective
J
Try www.scoobynet.co.uk for a look at things from a Scooby perspective
J
Evos will definitley have no chance if your T5 is fitted with the optional side stripes and blue lights 
Seruiously though I was severely hassled one night down a very twisty B-road whilst honing it in the Impreza. In the end I slowed down to let the car behind past who was obviously going faster than me and what was it??
A Volvo T5 Estate
Now using my great powers of deduction I reckon that this particular Volvo T5 driver in his Volvo T5 would be faster round most UK circuits than most TVR owners in their TVRs....discuss......
davidy
Seruiously though I was severely hassled one night down a very twisty B-road whilst honing it in the Impreza. In the end I slowed down to let the car behind past who was obviously going faster than me and what was it??
A Volvo T5 Estate
Now using my great powers of deduction I reckon that this particular Volvo T5 driver in his Volvo T5 would be faster round most UK circuits than most TVR owners in their TVRs....discuss......
davidy
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