Discussion
I couldn't help it, I took the Sagaris out for a run on Christmas day. When most people were tucking into their turkey I had some of my favourite roads in Somerset to myself.
While I had no human company for the drive it never felt like I was alone, so ALIVE is the car and the driving experience. While the Sagaris features many impressive advancements over TVRs of old, TVR have somehow managed to preserve the uniquely good bits of TVR ownership. A-men to that. It's just such an intense, involving experience. And it sounds like a cliche but I did feel more alive after the drive. I actually feel my skill (such as it is) being required and made use of. I feel I matter as a component. So many modern cars are so numb and the driver is kept a nice safe distance from the action. With a TVR you never feel like a passenger if you're behind the wheel. If I was to pick a slogan for TVR it would be something like - 'Remember driving?' For people that like such quaint out-moded things, driving a TVR can be a revelation. It was for me a year ago and it still is. Unlike any car I've previously owned the experience remains undiminished.
If anything, since my dealer has gotten to grips with the essential niggles list the car is entering a 'better than ever' zone. Everything works beautifully. The engine's pulling harder and there's still not a single squeak or rattle from the (yes actually) beautifully made interior. Even the Sat nav works perfectly now which made my christmas in itself. OK, it would be great if they left the factory flawless and hopefully they are working towards that goal as it's essential to the survival of the company. My advice for anyone who's frustrated by their car in the early stages is to stick with it. It will get better and I feel sorry for those who sell them on with very low mileages because they're missing out.
Driving a TVR is more like riding some kind of wild beast, than driving a mere machine. Maybe this is why so many of us seem to be able to put up with the eccentricities as, in some wierd way, it seems apt and in keeping with the idea it's like some breathing creature.
But with no traffic around, sunny weather and dry roads, this year's drive was mindblowing. Able to drive as fast as I dared, I was still well within the car's performance envelope. My notion of what's responsible and my nerve were all that was keeping a lid on the rate we were covering ground. The car had so much more to give. Which, given how fast and exciting it was, was massively impressive and a bit disturbing! Breathless and with a head dizzy with speed the car never once made peak power (7000 revs) and was kept to rev ceiling of around 6000 due to the cold, and I never once reached the limit of grip at either end.
I've been going for a drive on Christmas day for some time now and I've been lucky enough to do it in several very nice cars. I've never before felt compelled to write it down or tell people about it before.
Suffice to say I'm rather pleased with the car but I would still love the vents to be open and the bonnet design to be improved (just in case some of you thought I was being too gushy!)
Here's wishing you all as good a year ahead in your TVRs as I expect to have in mine.
>> Edited by the pits on Monday 2nd January 13:21
>> Edited by the pits on Monday 2nd January 14:43
>> Edited by the pits on Tuesday 3rd January 09:36
While I had no human company for the drive it never felt like I was alone, so ALIVE is the car and the driving experience. While the Sagaris features many impressive advancements over TVRs of old, TVR have somehow managed to preserve the uniquely good bits of TVR ownership. A-men to that. It's just such an intense, involving experience. And it sounds like a cliche but I did feel more alive after the drive. I actually feel my skill (such as it is) being required and made use of. I feel I matter as a component. So many modern cars are so numb and the driver is kept a nice safe distance from the action. With a TVR you never feel like a passenger if you're behind the wheel. If I was to pick a slogan for TVR it would be something like - 'Remember driving?' For people that like such quaint out-moded things, driving a TVR can be a revelation. It was for me a year ago and it still is. Unlike any car I've previously owned the experience remains undiminished.
If anything, since my dealer has gotten to grips with the essential niggles list the car is entering a 'better than ever' zone. Everything works beautifully. The engine's pulling harder and there's still not a single squeak or rattle from the (yes actually) beautifully made interior. Even the Sat nav works perfectly now which made my christmas in itself. OK, it would be great if they left the factory flawless and hopefully they are working towards that goal as it's essential to the survival of the company. My advice for anyone who's frustrated by their car in the early stages is to stick with it. It will get better and I feel sorry for those who sell them on with very low mileages because they're missing out.
Driving a TVR is more like riding some kind of wild beast, than driving a mere machine. Maybe this is why so many of us seem to be able to put up with the eccentricities as, in some wierd way, it seems apt and in keeping with the idea it's like some breathing creature.
But with no traffic around, sunny weather and dry roads, this year's drive was mindblowing. Able to drive as fast as I dared, I was still well within the car's performance envelope. My notion of what's responsible and my nerve were all that was keeping a lid on the rate we were covering ground. The car had so much more to give. Which, given how fast and exciting it was, was massively impressive and a bit disturbing! Breathless and with a head dizzy with speed the car never once made peak power (7000 revs) and was kept to rev ceiling of around 6000 due to the cold, and I never once reached the limit of grip at either end.
I've been going for a drive on Christmas day for some time now and I've been lucky enough to do it in several very nice cars. I've never before felt compelled to write it down or tell people about it before.
Suffice to say I'm rather pleased with the car but I would still love the vents to be open and the bonnet design to be improved (just in case some of you thought I was being too gushy!)
Here's wishing you all as good a year ahead in your TVRs as I expect to have in mine.
>> Edited by the pits on Monday 2nd January 13:21
>> Edited by the pits on Monday 2nd January 14:43
>> Edited by the pits on Tuesday 3rd January 09:36
Another great synopsis about modern TVR ownership 
I read with interest what the non S6 owners think about the S6, especially the Tamora, all I can say is that, I pity them, for they don't know what the hell they're talking about, I was OK selling my Chim without much apprehesiveness, but my Tam, nearly 2 years now, and still makes me laugh out loud when driving it, it's simply perfect for me!
I read with interest what the non S6 owners think about the S6, especially the Tamora, all I can say is that, I pity them, for they don't know what the hell they're talking about, I was OK selling my Chim without much apprehesiveness, but my Tam, nearly 2 years now, and still makes me laugh out loud when driving it, it's simply perfect for me!
sideways mostly said:
I pity them, for they don't know what the hell they're talking about
and many do it with such belief....
Agreed - delighted with the roads being clear of traffic, and taken full advantage over the last few days.
And no, they don't know what they are talking about.
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