Sagaris month 3
Discussion
Sadly most of the past month my car has been tucked away in a garage in Somerset. However a few days ago I drove the car to London and then to Gatwick TVR for the bonnet mod before the planned trip to Italy at the end of August.
So only about 250 miles or so.
Total mileage is near 2300. I still haven't floored it quite to the redline but to about 7000 and everytime I do it seems to get faster and faster. But it's really not easy to find the right road or moment to unleash it. It's properly mental fast and utterly fantastic and addictive. I've actually got quite bad withdrawal symptoms right now!
The CR box needs some adjusting to. The gears are HUGE. Most of you know that it'll do 100 in 2nd but what you might not realise is a 911 turbo needs 3rd for 100. That means 1st gear is a proper driving gear, not something you just use for parking. It takes a little getting used to but it disguises a gruesome amount of performance. Only because it's easier to be in the wrong gear. I'm often overtaking in 3rd or 4th when I should be in second. And often exiting roundabouts in 2nd when I should be in 1st. Get in the right gear and by thunder it's an animal. It's too easy to floor it in 2nd and be expecting a little more thrust until the revs pick up but you can always cog it down to first for warp speed. To be honest it's hard to find too many opportunities or suitable bits of road to use all the performance so it's good to learn to dip in and out of the engine's titanic, never ending powerband.
I used to be a huge fan of turbo engines but they seem a bit crude in comparison to the S6. The linear power delivery also disguises the performance and it definitely needs to be revved to give of it's best, quite unlike the Rover V8 cars. But for me, that's how I like it.
The set up of the car and the steering in particular continue to delight everytime I drive the car. The ride is very nuggety down bumpy lanes, but these are crazy places to go fast anyway. On smoother roads the car is set up to perfection. The word is composed. Under hard acceleration, cornering, braking nothing dives, squats, leans or rolls. The thing just stays flat and goes. Brakes, pedals, gearchange, steering all utterly superb.
The paint protection appears to be working miraculously well. I was expecting a few stonechip horror stories at the front and behind the wheels, but so far it's much better than virtually any car I've owned. I don't know what they've done but it works and I'm glad I followed Gatwick TVR's advice and went for it over Armourfend.
It hasn't used a single drop of oil either and perhaps even more surprising I'm getting really quite decent mileage out of a tank of supergreen. That must be another advantage of having such a lightweight car.
Niggles? The led lights around the main dials disappeared at night. The computer screen was unaffected so it wasn't a big deal but not very confidence inspring and it came on again after restarting the car.
My Sat Nav gets easily lost which is really annoying but it's hardly tvr's fault so we'll leave it there.
The worst thing is the seat belt clip seems to have got damaged somehow and won't hold the 'male' part in properly. Worse than that it seems like it's in properly but I know it wouldn't hold in an accident. That's top of the list of things to be done.
Other than that I've suffered from a bit of bonnet paranoia as a result of threads on this forum. I pulled over the other day to check a noise. All the clips were fine. I think it was some rubber trim flapping around - again something that could be easily improved. But so far no bonnet problems at all.
I also owe tvr an apology! I said on an earlier thread that they 'stupidly didn't supply the owners with the proper tools to undo the main bonnet' of course they do and I've had it at home on my spare set of keys since I took delivery. So sorry TVR! It's too easy to assume they're always at fault. So I think we should give them a break. Their new car is superb and I'm not the only one who thinks that.
Every single drive is memorable like no other car.
Roll on September and Italy!
So only about 250 miles or so.
Total mileage is near 2300. I still haven't floored it quite to the redline but to about 7000 and everytime I do it seems to get faster and faster. But it's really not easy to find the right road or moment to unleash it. It's properly mental fast and utterly fantastic and addictive. I've actually got quite bad withdrawal symptoms right now!
The CR box needs some adjusting to. The gears are HUGE. Most of you know that it'll do 100 in 2nd but what you might not realise is a 911 turbo needs 3rd for 100. That means 1st gear is a proper driving gear, not something you just use for parking. It takes a little getting used to but it disguises a gruesome amount of performance. Only because it's easier to be in the wrong gear. I'm often overtaking in 3rd or 4th when I should be in second. And often exiting roundabouts in 2nd when I should be in 1st. Get in the right gear and by thunder it's an animal. It's too easy to floor it in 2nd and be expecting a little more thrust until the revs pick up but you can always cog it down to first for warp speed. To be honest it's hard to find too many opportunities or suitable bits of road to use all the performance so it's good to learn to dip in and out of the engine's titanic, never ending powerband.
I used to be a huge fan of turbo engines but they seem a bit crude in comparison to the S6. The linear power delivery also disguises the performance and it definitely needs to be revved to give of it's best, quite unlike the Rover V8 cars. But for me, that's how I like it.
The set up of the car and the steering in particular continue to delight everytime I drive the car. The ride is very nuggety down bumpy lanes, but these are crazy places to go fast anyway. On smoother roads the car is set up to perfection. The word is composed. Under hard acceleration, cornering, braking nothing dives, squats, leans or rolls. The thing just stays flat and goes. Brakes, pedals, gearchange, steering all utterly superb.
The paint protection appears to be working miraculously well. I was expecting a few stonechip horror stories at the front and behind the wheels, but so far it's much better than virtually any car I've owned. I don't know what they've done but it works and I'm glad I followed Gatwick TVR's advice and went for it over Armourfend.
It hasn't used a single drop of oil either and perhaps even more surprising I'm getting really quite decent mileage out of a tank of supergreen. That must be another advantage of having such a lightweight car.
Niggles? The led lights around the main dials disappeared at night. The computer screen was unaffected so it wasn't a big deal but not very confidence inspring and it came on again after restarting the car.
My Sat Nav gets easily lost which is really annoying but it's hardly tvr's fault so we'll leave it there.
The worst thing is the seat belt clip seems to have got damaged somehow and won't hold the 'male' part in properly. Worse than that it seems like it's in properly but I know it wouldn't hold in an accident. That's top of the list of things to be done.
Other than that I've suffered from a bit of bonnet paranoia as a result of threads on this forum. I pulled over the other day to check a noise. All the clips were fine. I think it was some rubber trim flapping around - again something that could be easily improved. But so far no bonnet problems at all.
I also owe tvr an apology! I said on an earlier thread that they 'stupidly didn't supply the owners with the proper tools to undo the main bonnet' of course they do and I've had it at home on my spare set of keys since I took delivery. So sorry TVR! It's too easy to assume they're always at fault. So I think we should give them a break. Their new car is superb and I'm not the only one who thinks that.
Every single drive is memorable like no other car.
Roll on September and Italy!
I want to say that i m totally agree with you! It s absolutely an incredible car that you have a so big pleasure to drive it! Nothing else for the money. The best car i ve ever driven. And of course, WE HAVE to give them a break, TVR is on a good way, just have to be a little patient.
They have done THE car and if they continue on this base, we will be part of the real future and life of TVR. They just need to progress on the niggles...
And please Pits come to see us when you will go to Italy, i will be very happy to see your beauty and to meet you.
Cheers
romain
They have done THE car and if they continue on this base, we will be part of the real future and life of TVR. They just need to progress on the niggles...
And please Pits come to see us when you will go to Italy, i will be very happy to see your beauty and to meet you.
Cheers
romain
I would love to Romain. In fact I now live and work in Paris so I'm planning to bring the car over here before I go to Italy. Hopefully I'll be driving it South later in the year too, if so I'll definitely look you up. Do you know Jaques Savoie? Will he be able to look after my car in Paris?
He is the previous importer and i will strongly recommend you to come to leave your car at "The english car mecanics" garage in Opio because they are the only official dealer in France for the moment. My office "TVR France" (official TVR importer as well)is at the same place. And about Paris we plan to develop a network with some dealership in the whole country.
But if you come, i will be happy to introduce you my bike
, the team and to explain to you my project.
Hope i will see you soon
Cheers
Romain
P.S: your warranty works at our garage because it s official then when you need a service, i can organize you a little week end in Cannes while your car is on the ramp...
>> Edited by TVRspirit on Tuesday 2nd August 14:43
But if you come, i will be happy to introduce you my bike
, the team and to explain to you my project. Hope i will see you soon
Cheers
Romain
P.S: your warranty works at our garage because it s official then when you need a service, i can organize you a little week end in Cannes while your car is on the ramp...
>> Edited by TVRspirit on Tuesday 2nd August 14:43
Excellent third month report Pits....
Have to agree...the car just amazes every time I drive it and I'm sure I don't give it half the welly you do.....
Sat Nav....try an Pioneer Avic X1R...b
y expensive but worth every penny......
Seat Belts..... yup....my son is an engineer working on belts and he says that has to be a priority fix......asap mate.
You are so right about the withdrawal symptoms too.
Ours was off the road for 2 weeks and I missed it badly.
I had got into the habit of coming home and just going out for a drive.....not necessarily a blat...just the sheer pleasure of driving it.
Never felt like that with the Cerb......
Hope DJC actually gets to arrange his Sagaris get together....would be good to meet everyone.
Looks like I may miss the forum get together....again..
YP
Have to agree...the car just amazes every time I drive it and I'm sure I don't give it half the welly you do.....
Sat Nav....try an Pioneer Avic X1R...b
y expensive but worth every penny...... Seat Belts..... yup....my son is an engineer working on belts and he says that has to be a priority fix......asap mate.
You are so right about the withdrawal symptoms too.
Ours was off the road for 2 weeks and I missed it badly.
I had got into the habit of coming home and just going out for a drive.....not necessarily a blat...just the sheer pleasure of driving it.
Never felt like that with the Cerb......
Hope DJC actually gets to arrange his Sagaris get together....would be good to meet everyone.
Looks like I may miss the forum get together....again..
YP
Thanks peril. The withdrawal symptoms really get quite bad some days don't they?!
I've actually got an Avic x1-r and it's superb, I just think the sat nav aerial needs repositioning. If you have one and it's working well could you find out the best place to put the aerial?
Did you know the X1-r has switchable dials for gps measured speed, lateral acceleration, compass bearing, and loads of other stuff I don't really understand? It's really cool. I just wish mine knew where it was going more often. To be fair it's fine on main roads, just a bit clueless on the little stuff!
I've actually got an Avic x1-r and it's superb, I just think the sat nav aerial needs repositioning. If you have one and it's working well could you find out the best place to put the aerial?
Did you know the X1-r has switchable dials for gps measured speed, lateral acceleration, compass bearing, and loads of other stuff I don't really understand? It's really cool. I just wish mine knew where it was going more often. To be fair it's fine on main roads, just a bit clueless on the little stuff!
The Pits - another excellent report.. as I have said before this car is absolutely amazing. I really still cannot believe how it handles and I have not even pushed it yet. You just find yourself playing around with it at national speed limits.. because it is so planted to the road. I keep saying to myself.. watch out watch out.. I just need to ensure I do not get complacent – it is that trustworthy. My last S6 used to sound like a lawnmower engine when cold.. the Sagaris for some reason sounds smooth from cold… anyone else noticed this. I have just done 300 miles in it – what a drive.. loved every minute of it (in the Tuscan seats !!). Enough.. what a great car.. The End.
Perhaps it's only fair to ad a word about my dealer Gatwick TVR. With any car good service is important and in my experience pretty rare. It's even more important with a handbuilt sports car.
In my experience they've been nothing short of superb.
I'm glad to see a lot of other ph'ers with good things to say about their dealers too, as it's very important for TVR going forward. I also have very few recommendations from my previous experiences with other marques, that includes Lotus, Ferrari and Lancia among others (that shows my age!). Though I can speak highly of my old local Ford dealer and the Nissan dealer I bought my Skyline from.
In my experience they've been nothing short of superb.
I'm glad to see a lot of other ph'ers with good things to say about their dealers too, as it's very important for TVR going forward. I also have very few recommendations from my previous experiences with other marques, that includes Lotus, Ferrari and Lancia among others (that shows my age!). Though I can speak highly of my old local Ford dealer and the Nissan dealer I bought my Skyline from.
Has no-one else experienced over-heating problems? I don't mean the engine, I mean the interior. When driving through London, its all stop-start and even in regular weather it starts to get a bit too warm but when the sun is out and its generally warm outside its unbearable inside even with the air-con on full. I registered 98 degrees (oil temperature!) before I figured I should shut off the air-con to save the engine. Without the air-con it then gets so hot in the car that I'm sweating and I can't wait to get out. A real shame but I actually won't drive the thing on a warm day, its just too stressful.
Please tell me I'm the only one, then there's some hope it can be fixed. Maybe I'm the only one mug enough to drive through the London traffic on a hot day!
Please tell me I'm the only one, then there's some hope it can be fixed. Maybe I'm the only one mug enough to drive through the London traffic on a hot day!
Never had water or oil temp over 90 in mine, which is 20 degrees less than my 350...
The interior is a different matter, the air intake for the aircon/heater is in the nose and the heat from the radiators gets pulled in so the aircon is trying to cool 45-55C air before it starts, hence the warm interior... I'm looking at working out a way of pulling fresh outside air into the system... that should solve all the problems... but will let you know if and when I find that solution....
God knows what it must have been like in the 'hot weather' testing the car supposidly had in the middle east.....
The interior is a different matter, the air intake for the aircon/heater is in the nose and the heat from the radiators gets pulled in so the aircon is trying to cool 45-55C air before it starts, hence the warm interior... I'm looking at working out a way of pulling fresh outside air into the system... that should solve all the problems... but will let you know if and when I find that solution....
God knows what it must have been like in the 'hot weather' testing the car supposidly had in the middle east.....
SpeedYellow said:
Never had water or oil temp over 90 in mine, which is 20 degrees less than my 350...
The interior is a different matter, the air intake for the aircon/heater is in the nose and the heat from the radiators gets pulled in so the aircon is trying to cool 45-55C air before it starts, hence the warm interior... I'm looking at working out a way of pulling fresh outside air into the system... that should solve all the problems... but will let you know if and when I find that solution....
God knows what it must have been like in the 'hot weather' testing the car supposidly had in the middle east.....
I need to understand whats different about the "natural" cool air vents on the Sagaris compared with the T350. The T350 would vent cold air in warm conditions with the car moving. The Sagaris does not.
Strange.........
No I've spent as little time in London traffic as possible. I've bumped into a bit and things warm up pretty quickly, and yes turning the air con off does help cool the engine a little. But it hasn't yet been unbearable inside, maybe my light titanium colour helps a bit here compared to your dark grey (hey, at least it 'looks' cool).
From memory my water temp has gone well over 90 in traffic with the air con on but not the oil. The air con definitely works better with a bit of forward motion but it doesn't stop altogether in stationary traffic. I'm hoping my aircon will be improved somehow because I'm one of those Sagaris owners who doesn't think it's up to much.
London traffic's a sucky place to drive anything, even my Kawasaki ZX12 hates it, let alone a Sagaris! Leave early in the morning or late at night. Sagari are very cool at night in London in every way, imo.
By the way what does lol stand for? That's the only one I can't work out. If it's lots of love I'll be looking for another forum!
lol
the Pits
From memory my water temp has gone well over 90 in traffic with the air con on but not the oil. The air con definitely works better with a bit of forward motion but it doesn't stop altogether in stationary traffic. I'm hoping my aircon will be improved somehow because I'm one of those Sagaris owners who doesn't think it's up to much.
London traffic's a sucky place to drive anything, even my Kawasaki ZX12 hates it, let alone a Sagaris! Leave early in the morning or late at night. Sagari are very cool at night in London in every way, imo.
By the way what does lol stand for? That's the only one I can't work out. If it's lots of love I'll be looking for another forum!
lol
the Pits
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