Venturing abroad in a Sag

[TN1]

I am hoping for a little advice in respect of taking my Sag abroad. I am a new but very proud owner of a TVR which is a marque I have dreamed of owning since childhood. I have to confess to not being particularly mechanically capable, but eager to learn. Does anyone have a recommended list of likely spares etc that they take on such trips? I will look into breakdown cover but was hoping to be able to deal with any common problems experienced by other owners. Isthere anything special I should get checked before leaving.

Thanks in advance.

Lev

[yanmar]

would get the throtle cable checked, i have new one about every 18 months after having one break.I would never travel without breakdown cover aswell. Go and enjoy those great roads and watch your speed!!!

[Laser Sag]

Obvious one is get the car checked before you go if it has been a while since it was serviced and then take a spare throttle cable, spare belt for alternator, tieraps, length of cable, small tool kit and replacement fuses including the 100/125 amp main fuse and spare bulbs.
Breakdown cover incase the worst happens and apart from that just enjoy as you would do at home.
Good idea to get to know whichever garage is looking after your car as a phone call to them can help you out of many problems with tips on how to bypass things etc.
Copy of Grahams speed 6 bible is very useful fullstop and if you have the space take it with you.

[Sevenman]

Back in April I started the same topic for my Tamora.

Have a look here for replies and information:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[TN1]

Thanks all. Had the car serviced last month so will purchase the stuff suggested. thanks again.

[Laser Sag]

forgot to add be prepared for a lot of interest, some of the reactions are incredible. Where are you going to go in Europe?

[TN1]

Laser Sag said:

forgot to add be prepared for a lot of interest, some of the reactions are incredible. Where are you going to go in Europe?

Thanks - going to Epernay at the end of August and it's only 4 days so hopefully all will be good. I went to the Stelvio Pass and Lake Como etc a couple of weeks ago in a different car but now have the urge to take the Sag there too. I have never driven such amazing roads! Cheers

[Laser Sag]

TN1 said:

Laser Sag said:

forgot to add be prepared for a lot of interest, some of the reactions are incredible. Where are you going to go in Europe?

Thanks - going to Epernay at the end of August and it's only 4 days so hopefully all will be good. I went to the Stelvio Pass and Lake Como etc a couple of weeks ago in a different car but now have the urge to take the Sag there too. I have never driven such amazing roads! Cheers

Lovely area to visit hope you get to visit at least one of the Champagne houses, just back from a week near Compiegne in the Sag with no problems although our friends T350 didn't seem to like the french fuel unfortunately.

The French reaction to any sports car is good but having taken the Griff and the Tuscans over there before I have to say the reaction to the Sag tops them all.

Remember the French have added single use breathalysers to the mandatory equipment you have to carry with you as of 1/7/12

[TN1]

I gather we are going to Mercier so should be good. Just a shame there's not a great deal of room to bring any fizz back!!. It never ceases to amaze me the reaction TVR's get. They are truly admired by young and old. Beautiful picture of yours by the way. Thanks, I will remember to take the Breathalyser and leave the radar detector!.

[Laser Sag]

Thanks for the compliment on the picture, on the radar detector are you aware they have now made it an offence to have a sat nav with speed camera locations indicated, 1500 euro fine. If you have a tom tom they have a one time update available which changes the notification to a safety area warning which is acceptable to the money grabbing flic, sorry the gendarmerie.

[TN1]

Laser Sag said:

Thanks for the compliment on the picture, on the radar detector are you aware they have now made it an offence to have a sat nav with speed camera locations indicated, 1500 euro fine. If you have a tom tom they have a one time update available which changes the notification to a safety area warning which is acceptable to the money grabbing flic, sorry the gendarmerie.

I read about that so didnt take it to Stelvio and I think there are enough TVR's going to Epernay that I can follow someone else and leave the Radar Detector at home. I'd like to take it on the Autobahn and see what it feel's like to push her. I imagine it starts to cause 'clenching' around 150, perhaps sooner!

[black11s]

Very handy thread this...

I'm heading off to Bordeaux next month in my T350.
What was the fueling issue your friend's car had? Should I take octane booster? I use super unleaded here after reading a post somewhere or other, but was using standard before that without any issues (as far as I know).

Also, with regards the speed camera sites on the sat nav...
Firstly, I have never given their speed cameras any thought in the past - will they chase me back here? I was flashed a few times a couple of years ago, during some (ahem) spirited driving between Bordeaux and Biarittz, but never heard back from them.

I have a built in sat nav for which I can purchase an upgrade file to show all the cameras. Is Monsieur LeFlic likely to get in my car and start playing with the system to try and find out if I have it though?

On a side note, I can't wait to drive through Le Shuttle now I've got the sports exhaust fitted! Has anyone ever documented how fast they've managed to go to whilst inside? Presumably there are not actually any official limits... (we'll ignore the fact that some may consider it slightly antisocial)

[JonRB]

Laser Sag said:

and then take a spare throttle cable

Always sound advice for the Chimaera and Griff, but I was under the impression that with the T-cars you have to take the entire airbox off to replace the throttle cable which isn't something I think I'd want to do at the roadside.

TN1 said:

I'd like to take it on the Autobahn and see what it feel's like to push her. I imagine it starts to cause 'clenching' around 150, perhaps sooner!

I took my Sag out on Bruntingthorpe and it felt very stable indeed. I was crossing the radar trap at 165+mph consistently. In fact, I think I achieved that pretty much halfway down the runway and then it barely crept up from that - you tend to hit an aero brick wall.

Edited by JonRB on Monday 18th June 15:07

[Laser Sag]

JonRB said:

Laser Sag said:

and then take a spare throttle cable

Always sound advice for the Chimaera and Griff, but I was under the impression that with the T-cars you have to take the entire airbox off to replace the throttle cable which isn't something I think I'd want to do at the roadside.

Air box has to come off to change 100/125 amp fuse, isnt to bad to do and has been off the Tuscan a couple of times whilst abroad to change fuse and alternator belt. Sooner do that than come back on a low loader for the sake of an hour or so graft.

[JonRB]

Laser Sag said:

Air box has to come off to change 100/125 amp fuse, isnt to bad to do and has been off the Tuscan a couple of times whilst abroad to change fuse and alternator belt. Sooner do that than come back on a low loader for the sake of an hour or so graft.

Ok, fair enough. And a good point.

Guess I would need some training on how to remove & replace the airbox.

[tvrtuscans]

TN1 said:

Laser Sag said:

forgot to add be prepared for a lot of interest, some of the reactions are incredible. Where are you going to go in Europe?

Thanks - going to Epernay at the end of August and it's only 4 days so hopefully all will be good. I went to the Stelvio Pass and Lake Como etc a couple of weeks ago in a different car but now have the urge to take the Sag there too. I have never driven such amazing roads! Cheers

Are you going with the Surrey group?.........they will be in Epernay at the same time

[Laser Sag]

black11s said:

Very handy thread this...

I'm heading off to Bordeaux next month in my T350.
What was the fueling issue your friend's car had? Should I take octane booster? I use super unleaded here after reading a post somewhere or other, but was using standard before that without any issues (as far as I know).

Really dont understand Marks problem with the T350, drove down to Folkestone in the rain early Sat morning and all was fine got over to France and still good. Filled up about half way to paris, both at same garage, all seemed good but then a day or so later it started to misfire sometimes mildly other times badly. Carried on like that for rest of time in France, filled up once more during the week and no change. Filled up again near Calais and it remained the same, got to the Dartford Tunnel and it cured itself and has been fine since. Mark hasnt had a lot of luck going to France in various TVRs so think maybe his cars are just anti Europe.
Never had the problem myself despite filling up at the same garages, mine does run TVR Powers Eprom chip so that may help but I dont know. Cant hurt to take some octane booster.
We always use 98RON if available which each of the fill ups were so I think just bad luck.
Hope you have a good trip.

[JonRB]

Laser Sag said:

Really dont understand Marks problem with the T350, drove down to Folkestone in the rain early Sat morning and all was fine got over to France and still good. Filled up about half way to paris, both at same garage, all seemed good but then a day or so later it started to misfire sometimes mildly other times badly. Carried on like that for rest of time in France, filled up once more during the week and no change. Filled up again near Calais and it remained the same, got to the Dartford Tunnel and it cured itself and has been fine since. Mark hasnt had a lot of luck going to France in various TVRs so think maybe his cars are just anti Europe.
Never had the problem myself despite filling up at the same garages, mine does run TVR Powers Eprom chip so that may help but I dont know. Cant hurt to take some octane booster.
We always use 98RON if available which each of the fill ups were so I think just bad luck.
Hope you have a good trip.

The standard ECU is pretty basic though. I'd be confident that a Syvecs-equipped car could cope with almost any grade petrol you threw at it. Knock sensors kinda help in that respect.

[Laser Sag]

JonRB said:

The standard ECU is pretty basic though. I'd be confident that a Syvecs-equipped car could cope with almost any grade petrol you threw at it. Knock sensors kinda help in that respect.

I would hope with the money spent on FFF and syvecs it would run on most grades of fuel. The wife tells me we will need to win the lottery before I will find out though, still not such a hard life when you have to slum it in a standard Sag

[JonRB]

Laser Sag said:

I would hope with the money spent on FFF and syvecs it would run on most grades of fuel. The wife tells me we will need to win the lottery before I will find out though, still not such a hard life when you have to slum it in a standard Sag

The Syvecs-equipped S6 is more economical on fuel, especially as one of the engine maps can be an 'economy' one (Syvecs has multiple engine maps selectable with a rotary switch). Only I prefer to call it 'extended range'

Perhaps you could convince your wife that it will pay for itself in reduced fuel bills? Worth a go.