I remember why I got one....

[pbrettle]

Everyone,

There seems to be quite a few negative comments flying around and I thought that I would attempt to change the balance a little. My wife (Emma - Smudged) has just taken my Chimaera out for a spin to show some work friends (they are quite excited too - they are accountants after all ).

Anyway, all of this winter weather means a roof-off experience is limited at best. However, I have just remembered why I got one - wife pulls off the drive and drives down the road - that noise..... ooooeerrr. Rubs hands on top of legs a la Shooting Stars / Reevs and Mortimer style....

It is simply glorious and noisy, wake the neighbours etc. You hear it in the car, but it is just wonderful when you are outside...

So, why did other TVR owners get theirs? Noise, looks, performance etc - would be interesting to be reminded all over again.

Cheers,

Paul

P.S. Still smiling...

[patrick]

Many years ago, I was walking back from the newsagents with the Sunday papers; I saw a 350i driving through the village, and then booted it up the steep hill. The noise was incredible....I'd never heard ANYTHING like that before ! I vowed there & then I had to have one. It was only many years later I found myself in the position to get one...and now I make people jump in petrol stations when I start it up. It's not just the noise though, the handling is fantastic. There are a few good country roads near to me, where you can have big fun pootling along.
Not long now before official roof-off weather !

[JeffGleed]

I was sat at traffic lights in my BMW 325i with the radio on when the car starting vibrating and making a strange sound. I turned the radio off but couldn't understand what was wrong, turned the engine off, still no idea, wound the window down and craned my neck out the window to see and experience a brand new Griff. What was I doing in a boring BMW when you could get looks and sound like that? Had to wait a good few years to buy one but I got one exactly the same. 102.5 Db in standard trim (according to the Chepstow noise police) reducing to 99.9 if it's nice and warm ... just under the 100 limit. Pre Cat TVR's just sound so neat, bit like a Spitfire only at ground level.

[cockers]

Noise, looks, performance, handling. The usual.

And the fact that I'd wanted one ever since I saw a Chimaera parked up in Leamington Spa when I was a student.

[.mark]

Indeed guys. 'Twas only yesterday when working from home, did I peer out of the window to see glorious blue skies abound.
It didn't take long for me to nip downstairs whip off the roof and go for a spin - only taga-stylee though - ohhhhh the pleasure, COME ON SPRING!!!!

[plotloss]

Cant quite put my finger on exactly why but I have always loved them. Same thing goes for the Jensen Interceptor, aboslutely adore them and I have no idea why.

Its the pure british-ness (?) of them that makes it for me, they are true sportscars that are angry and bad tempered and will bite you if provoked but the raw experience is just so marvellously rewarding.

For me it basically I suppose, like most other people, comes down to the looks, the noise and the performance.

I've only had it three months, but the next 33 months will probably shape my car buying for life. That being, if this one doesnt cause me headache after headache its a Cerb 4.5LW RR next and then who knows after that!

Keep up the good work TVR!

Matt.

[dan]

Mines similar to patricks.

Driving up an 'A' Road on a summer afternoon with the windows down. A beige metro trundles round the corner I am approaching followed by a 350i. As the pair go past me the 350 drops 2 cogs and boots it past the metty. The thought of that sound still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Soon after that the Griff came out to match the sound with the looks... That was it! It would be mine... oh yes... it would be mine.

[JonRB]

My father owned a 400SE in the early 90s, and the sound and sensation was amazing. I think that probably contributed to me buying one.

My Chimaera 500 just doesn't seem to make the hairs on my neck stand up the same way though , a fact reinforced the other day when I heard a 400SE again.

Methinks a sports exhaust for my Chimaera might be in order.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 23 January 13:47

[rthierry]

In just about 2 years it had became an obsession. No kiddin' I was sometimes dreaming of TVRs ! When walking around London we the missus - which we do a lot - I was adjusting our route to make sure I could see as many TVRs as possible. I know a number of streets where TVRs 'live' in West London, and of course there's H.R. Owen show room on Brompton Road... My wife started to get rather upset with this constant obsession and we finally agreed that the only cure was to get one. Not sure I am cured though, as I will still cross several road just to peek at a parked TVR and every excuse is good to go to the local dealer !
So, how / why did it started? Hard to tell really, a combinations of all the reasons listed below. What is for sure is that the more I learned about them - by reading PH and the TVRCC mailing list, the more I wanted one. Call me crazy but I like the idea of bespoke cars made to order with all their imperfections. Personally, I think perfection is boring in many ways. Probably because it is often similar with predictability...

Anyway, I've had the car for about 8 weeks now, and covered over 3800 miles in that time, and I just love it ! I only wish I could be behind the wheel AND behind the car to look at it and hear it better.

[lovemytvr]

Always loved TVR since seeing and hearing a Tasmin owned by a guy down my road. Until last month drove a BMW 523i,automatic - quiet,smooth,refined and ultimately pretty boring. Then went to look at a Chimaera 450 - salesman said if he started the engine I would buy the car - he did and I did!! Never fails to make me smile when I start it and driving it is a dream. Have now also bought a Cerbera 4.5 with sports exhaust which is equally as load!! Spoilt for choice - totally different cars and both wonderful!!

Neal
W9 TVR
Rs RSL

Edited by lovemytvr on Wednesday 23 January 14:39

Edited by lovemytvr on Wednesday 23 January 14:41

[pbrettle]

Neal,

You mean you have both - a Chimaera and a Cerbera? You lucky lucky lucky man.... Tried that once on the wife - "we could get a Cerbera for taking Thomas around (10-month old son) and the Chimaera for sunny days on our own" - got a bit of convincing to go on that one!!!

If only - but I can still dream. I did notice that you were getting the Cerbera from Adrian Blyth, but assumed that you would be trading the Chimaera... silly me.

Cheers,

Paul

[lovemytvr]

I know I`m very lucky - the Chimaera I am paying for for the next 4 years but the BMW was a company car that was due for a change.I asked them if they minded if I had a TVR as a company car and got the go ahead!!
(Good job they didn`t ask me about servicing costs!!)

Got to be done really - it would be rude not to!!

He..He..He..

Neal

[fish]

As a teenager -

Model radio controlled planes read the box, double the engine power!

As a young driver -

Raced compsafari landrovers, got introduced to V8s great.

A short while on -

A chiamera both over powered and V8 even better!!

Only 8 months further -

A Tuscan... GOT TO GET MORE POWERRRR...!!

[christof]

Original plan was to marry J-Lo, but she's married now and the fun coming next to that is driving a TVR...especially with a sports exhaust

Watch out TVR riders, will be in the UK in the last week in march. Will also join the TVR crew in BrandsHatch.

I CAN'T WAIT !!! :hippie:

[pimplegoose]

Hubby heard one go by him when he was 15 year old has wanted one ever since. Couple of years ago when at the motor show went on the TVR stand and found that there was a 400SE for sale, just the car he wanted at the time (thanks flasher for getting a Cerbie never forgive you for that) anyway - I was going to London on business (!) and visited the broker. Phoned him from the brokers to listen to the car over the mobile phone and the deal was done...

[pimplegoose]

I'd never heard or really seen a tiv before that, now I wouldn't be without one ... the noise whaaaa

[5ltvr]

Noise, grunt, noise, dashboard, noise, snug seat, noise, feel like Mr Toad, noise, scariness, noise, when will Leven make front mounted machine guns, noise.............

[kevinday]

The sound and the performance

[LeszekG]

Have to own up and say that I haven't always been a TVR fan. Always tended to prefer the older cars from the 60's. After many years of MGB ownership, eventually bought a Healey 3000 which I still have now (emotional attachment etc). Loved the S3 but wasn't practical enough as a daily car alongside the Healey so for a few years have had a Lotus Excel as my daily driver.

The crunch came when the Cerbera came out a few years back. It wooed and wowed me and I fell in love with it. I love the combination of the styling, the noise and (surprisingly) the practical layout. Recently did something about it and bought a 4.5. Hopefully in a years time I'll be sitting here saying that 'I've not looked back since'!

[DIGGA]

First 'noticed' TVRs in my 'XR2' days of student poverty, when I kept seeing - and more importantly hearing - a 400SE. Wow!

Enjoyment of TVR ownership comes from many sources - a good number already mentioned - and even now I'm discovering more. A major part of it was summed up well for me by a guy (Phil, from Belguim) on another thread who said his TVR made him feel like a proud Spitfire pilot - excellent!