The first two days....
The first two days....
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nelly1

Original Poster:

5,660 posts

254 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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Advance warning - this is another one of those gushing 'Tuscans are great' posts - so apologies if you've heard it all before, but I've just got to do it!

Finally picked my new toy up on Friday.
Had a long journey (Essex to Derby), and the drive back was pretty uneventful due to 1/ Traffic and 2/ The fact I was WELL nervous - Dream car I'd just spent all my pennies on, and Artics look soooo much bigger when you're that close to the road.
Got home and had to go straight to work, so the beast was reluctanly tucked up in the garage for the night. I've never had a nightshift last so long!

Yesterday was THE DAY! Perfect weather. New toy. Bliss!
Spent an hour or so washing the bugs off. Then another hour just staring at it. Then another hour playing Q&A with the neighbours / passers by.

So far so good. But I hadn't even driven it 'properly' yet!
There followed probably one of the best five hours of my life. I've NEVER enjoyed driving so much! I've never seen so many people just stop dead whatever they were doing. Never had kids point and cheer. Never been in total awe of using full throttle. Never smiled for such a prolonged time. Never had so much fun blowing the boy racers away. Never had friends go silent mid sentence when the LOUD pedal was pushed. Never noticed how sunburnt my face was getting!

This was truly the day you never want to end.

But alas, another nightshift beckoned! Oh well, tomorrow's another day.

There may well be downsides to owning one of these. I've no doubt things will go wrong.

But on the strengths of yesterdays experience - WHO CARES!!!! If the engine goes bang, it's under warranty. If bits fall off, I'll put them back on again. If the services are too long, I'll just appreciate it more when I get it back.
And it's only money. Life really is too short.

Thank god for TVR!

(Oh, and to James for putting such a blinding car together!)


>>> Edited by nelly1 on Sunday 20th March 10:36

Big Al.

69,325 posts

281 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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nelly1 said:
Thank god for TVR!


I concur, 150% OH

Safe driving and keep it shiny side up.

basil brush

5,514 posts

286 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

J_S_G

6,177 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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I'm soooooooo glad you're enjoying it. You've no idea how worried I was of a post of "it's too loud, isn't as comfortable as the Mondeo, drinks FAR too much petrol, and I don't like the way it handles". The first week of Tiv ownership has to be the most amazing when it slowly dawns on you that there's a supercar parked outside, and that you've got the keys to it. Tip top.

Me, I've bowed out of TVR ownership for a while now. I've got a serious hankering for a Sagaris, but financial commitments this next year just don't want to play the "lets buy a silly, silly toy" game. So, as of 5pm yesterday, I'm now the proud owner of a heavily upgraded XKR. I'll be picking the pipe, slippers, and tartan rug up in the next few days. First thoughts are that it's the exact opposite to the Tiv, with the sole exception that it goes ludicrously fast (even round corners - seriously!)

Oh, and drop me a mail with your postal address would you, bud... if I find any more paperwork, etc. kicking about I'll get it sent straight across, and I need it to transfer the warranty to you.

basil brush

5,514 posts

286 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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The XK must have a very active owners club. I see them driving from Harrogate to Leeds every morning.

J_S_G

6,177 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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basil brush said:
The XK must have a very active owners club. I see them driving from Harrogate to Leeds every morning.

I wasn't going to bring this up, but what the Hell, you started it...

I was feeling positively miserable yesterday morning. Beautiful day - not a cloud in the sky, nice and warm, roads in perfect condition for a blast. And I had only the Rover for company.

Was pottering into town, absolutely kicking myself for selling the Tuscan, wondering if there was any way I could've kept it. The I heard a familiar sound up ahead - a car alarm I recognised. Sounded like a Meta system - just like the one in my Tuscan. I looked across to see a Tuscan. With its alarm going off. On the back of a low-loader.

How many XKRs do you see being "carried" home every day?

basil brush

5,514 posts

286 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
quotequote all
J_S_G said:

basil brush said:
The XK must have a very active owners club. I see them driving from Harrogate to Leeds every morning.


I wasn't going to bring this up, but what the Hell, you started it...

I was feeling positively miserable yesterday morning. Beautiful day - not a cloud in the sky, nice and warm, roads in perfect condition for a blast. And I had only the Rover for company.

Was pottering into town, absolutely kicking myself for selling the Tuscan, wondering if there was any way I could've kept it. The I heard a familiar sound up ahead - a car alarm I recognised. Sounded like a Meta system - just like the one in my Tuscan. I looked across to see a Tuscan. With its alarm going off. On the back of a low-loader.

How many XKRs do you see being "carried" home every day?


Er, I wish I could come up with a clever reply, but my car is sitting in Gorner's workshop at moment waiting for bits. Hmmmm

nelly1

Original Poster:

5,660 posts

254 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
quotequote all
[quote=J_S_G].... but financial commitments this next year just don't want to play the "lets buy a silly, silly toy" game. So, as of 5pm yesterday, I'm now the proud owner of a heavily upgraded XKR.

Bloody Hell; that didn't take long did it? What happened to "...think I'll try and be sensible", etc. We could have cut out the middle man if we'd just driven straight to the Jag. Dealer and you let me buy your new car for you.....

By the way, you have mail.

J_S_G

6,177 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
quotequote all
nelly1 said:
J_S_G said:
.... but financial commitments this next year just don't want to play the "lets buy a silly, silly toy" game. So, as of 5pm yesterday, I'm now the proud owner of a heavily upgraded XKR.


Bloody Hell; that didn't take long did it? What happened to "...think I'll try and be sensible", etc. We could have cut out the middle man if we'd just driven straight to the Jag. Dealer and you let me buy your new car for you.....

By the way, you have mail.

I'm TERRIBLE for living without a sports car. I only lasted 1 day between the Cerb and the Tuscan - and I was supposed to be selling the Cerb to save some money! I always get rid of the car then think "damnit, I work bl**dy hard for my money, so I deserve something to show for it". The Jag was a very good deal - specced up to the hilt, £12ks worth of after-market upgrades, well below asking price, and a new set of rear tyres thrown in (and at 285/30 ZR20s, that's £500 a pair!)

But the Jag is relatively sensible - 10k service intervals, and £250 a service from an indy, or not-much-more from Jaguar. That alone should lower running costs by about £2k PA. It also means I can sell the Rover and just run a single car (never had quite enough faith in the Tuscan - was too far to the dealers, etc)...

So, if anyone wants the ultimate Q-car shopping trolley to accompany their Tiv, let me know:
An appears-completely-standard 300BHP Rover 620Ti specced up with leather interior, electric windows, sunroof, mirrors, seats, 6 speaker CD system, plus all the performance work (bored out engine, uprated cams, uprated (variable boost) turbo, top-spec dump valve, super-chipped, internal boost gauge, sports exhaust system, stiffened and lowered suspension) and new clutch & gearbox, new tyres, etc. A bargain at a little over a grand...

Incidentally, I raced a Chimaera in it yesterday afternoon down the A64 and won.

Plotloss

67,280 posts

293 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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Pictures man, pictures...

J_S_G

6,177 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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Plotloss said:
Pictures man, pictures...


Tusc, Jag, or battle-barge Rover?

>> Edited by J_S_G on Sunday 20th March 20:34

2 Smokin Barrels

31,719 posts

258 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
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Have I read these exact words before, or am I going completely mad?

nelly1

Original Poster:

5,660 posts

254 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
Pictures man, pictures...



If it's the Rover you're on about, I've seen it.
Just think standard Rover with boy-racer exhaust and you're about there. Don't be fooled though - it don't 'arf go!!!!!

S'pose you'll use the money from the Rover to buy a 900BHP Nova or something......

>> Edited by nelly1 on Sunday 20th March 21:33

J_S_G

6,177 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th March 2005
quotequote all
nelly1 said:

Plotloss said:
Pictures man, pictures...

If it's the Rover you're on about, I've seen it.
Just think standard Rover with boy-racer exhaust and you're about there. Don't be fooled though - it don't 'arf go!!!!!

S'pose you'll use the money from the Rover to buy a 900BHP Nova or something......

I hate tiny cars (especially hatchbacks)

The car money + insurance rebate will go on either:
1. Another 50BHP+ for the Jag
2. The base off-roader for the rallying. Dread to think what that's going to cost to do up... wonder if I can get more than 300BHP out of it.

To be fair, you did manage to keep up in the Tusc (unlike the Chim on Saturday), so the Rover's clearly not fast enough, anyway.

Tuscan Bev

310 posts

253 months

Monday 21st March 2005
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It's not just the first week that's amazing I've had my tuscan for 6 weeks now and each day you see people stop and admire it. The paperboy is great in a morning he actually stops pulling the trolley and just stands and stares till i'm out of sight.

dvpeace

611 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2005
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I know exactly what you mean. I get to drive mine everyday so have a fixed smile most of the time.

Smile fades when it's off the road, but come back fully the moment you get back in.

nelly1

Original Poster:

5,660 posts

254 months

Monday 21st March 2005
quotequote all
Took it to work today.
I work in a major Engine Plant with quite tight security. Manned outer gates (waved straight through with the guards hanging out of the door, open mouthed) and automated inner ones with number plate recognition. I'd changed the plate details so shouldn't have had a problem.....however - the reader is about 18" from the floor, whereas the plate on my new Tiv is only about 3" up!
Normally the attendant guard on this gate gets a bit jobsworthy at this point - "you'll have to phone central security / can't let you in /etc ".
Not this time! He was out with eyes out on stalks and his 'override' key quicker than you can say "dribble!"

Is this the 'TVR Effect'?!?

J_S_G

6,177 posts

273 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2005
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nelly1 said:
Is this the 'TVR Effect'?!?

That's the one.

Get it on the dyno, bud... that's the one thing I never got to do with the car that I REALLY wanted to.

nelly1

Original Poster:

5,660 posts

254 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2005
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I could stick it on our Rolling Road at work, but at present it only goes up to 200kW (approx. 260bhp). Trying to work on the supervisor to upgrade it and get a decent 'power-plot' type program.

Don't know of any other local (reputable) Chassis' Dyno.s in my area. Maybe someone could enlighten me?