Anyone gone from TVR to Evo?
Anyone gone from TVR to Evo?
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Discussion

jsr

Original Poster:

1,155 posts

274 months

Tuesday 29th December 2009
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As the title says, i'd love to know if anyone has moved from a TVR to an Evo and if so, what your thoughts on the two are and if you have any regrets.

I've had a TVR Chimaera 400 for the past 6 years and love it to bits, but i fancy a change. I actually miss taking more than 1 passenger out with me, and pretty soon, my wife and i may start trying for a family, so rear seats will be necessary. I've always loved the Evo, especially from VII onwards. Could also be tempted by the X, but not 100% sold on looks yet.

I would definitely miss the TVR's V8 sound, the instant torque and it looks, but the Evo also a special car, just in a completely different way - clever electronics/diffs, huge grip, potential for tuning etc.

So, has anyone done this?

Cheers,
James

mrmr96

13,736 posts

228 months

Tuesday 29th December 2009
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Both chuffing fast cars, but very different. I have an Evo 8 and love it. It's very tunable, I took mine from 300 to 360 for under £1k, there's a well trodden route! Very capable car, so requires highly illegal speeds before driving becomes a challlenge. However it also lets you keep the pace up when conditions aren't perfect, so great on wet trackdays! Also, later models come with isofix points for child seats.

For more info get over to the MLR, englands biggest Evo ownersclub and forum.
www.lancerregister.com

hth

jsr

Original Poster:

1,155 posts

274 months

Tuesday 29th December 2009
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Thanks. I've been checking out the lancerregister - very good site.

I do love the ease of tuning. I wont be chasing huge power, but it is good to know there are options if/when i get used to the standard power. I thought about tuning my chimaera, but it would have cost thousands for very little gain.

I've been looking at VIII/IX's and their prices are very reasonable. My personal favourite is the VII (i like the front), but i know it has a much smaller fuel tank compared to the later models that puts me off.

Wadeski

8,875 posts

237 months

Tuesday 29th December 2009
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jsr said:
I do love the ease of tuning. I wont be chasing huge power
yes you will hehe

I swore i was only going to do basic breathing mods to my MR2 turbo. 250hp, enough for anyone right?

I'm shooting for nearly 400bhp in Jan with a new turbo and standalone EMS...

S1 Roly

72 posts

212 months

Wednesday 30th December 2009
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Slightly similar....

Just gone from a TVR S2 - not a V8, sadly - to a 51 Impreza. Absolutely loved the Tiv for two years, but it was time for a change. The impreza will (hopefully) start more times than not biggrin and I was starting to miss not being able to fit more than one other person in the car. The other half never really loved the Tiv, but really likes driving the Scoob, which makes life easier biggrin

Chimaera and Evo are both awesome cars, would love to own either some day in the future.

Good luck with the choice.

HarryW

15,896 posts

293 months

Wednesday 30th December 2009
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I've got a rude Cerbera and my eldest has an EVO VI, it is a very very capable car.
My Cerb is putting down a genuine 450hp through the rear wheels and his is a standard 276hp EVO, sub 50mph there isn't lot in it with his grip versus my wheel spin hehe, once rolling then I think you'd need about 600hp of EVO to do the same. That said point to point on B roads he'd kill me every time. As an affordable car there is probably no better all round performer than an EVO.

jsr

Original Poster:

1,155 posts

274 months

Thursday 31st December 2009
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A.G. said:
Tank range anything from 165 to 200 miles which isn't brilliant but I can forgive it that.
That's about the same as i get from my tvr so perhaps so shouldnt discount the VII just because of the tank size.

HarryW said:
I've got a rude Cerbera.....putting down a genuine 450hp through the rear wheels
I've thought seriously about a Cerbera. My wife struggles to drive drive my chimaera - it is too fast and oo hard to drive for her. I bought the car a couple of years before i met my wife and it seems a waste to have a car in the garage that only one of us can drive. She definitely would not be able to drive a cerbera. I could of course change my wife!!! wink

The Evo does seem like the best all rounder, yet still with awesome performance and a true drivers car.

johnnywas

114 posts

205 months

Thursday 31st December 2009
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I have had 2 evo.s really good car's but if am honest got bored very quickly with them,never had a tvr but would proberly jump at one over an evo anyday,ask yourself why you kept your tvr for 6 years ? stand back and look at a tvr ,,lovely





HarryW

15,896 posts

293 months

Thursday 31st December 2009
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johnnywas said:
I have had 2 evo.s really good car's but if am honest got bored very quickly with them,never had a tvr but would proberly jump at one over an evo anyday,ask yourself why you kept your tvr for 6 years ? stand back and look at a tvr ,,lovely
I see and fully understand what you mean. Starting up and driving a TVR is an occasion, an event even it brings a smile to your face every time and as a fun dry weather second car they are great. However if its for taking others out and an only car then no they can become the 'wrong car'. An EVO can do 80% of the fun of a TVR but can also do 110% in other areas, and makes you think you are a driving god.
If I could have only 1 car then I think the EVO would possibly be it yes




















although I'd consider getting the bus so I could have one for the weekends hehe.

DeanR32

1,840 posts

207 months

Saturday 2nd January 2010
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I contemplated selling my 32GTR for an Evo for the extra 2 doors.

I've never driven an Evo, but been in a couple and two shortfalls for me is the sound of it, and the very short gearing on it. I've driven a Cerbera 4.5 lightweight, and the drama of the thing is nothing i've ever experienced. You'll get none of that from an Evo, but it'll be doing most of what the TVR does without all the drama, and some of it even better.

I opted against the swap because my car sounds unbelievable on boost, and i ended up getting a Jeep so i could keep the Godzilla!

If i needed 4 doors and a reasonable sized boot, i'd go for an evo, but until then, i'll stick with the Skyline GTR!

You wont go wrong though with an 8 or 9. Lovely cars, and foolproof handling.

liner33

10,861 posts

226 months

Sunday 3rd January 2010
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I went from a 450hp R33 GTST (with nitrous) to a 370hp (ish) Evo VI and although the Evo doesnt feel anywhere near as quick I am sure than on the road the Evo would slaughter it , real world point to point driving its simply awesome and comfort wise even the wife and son are happy with it.

Proper sized boot as well makes the car far more practical than it deserves to be and mine is actually doing mid 20's to the gallon , sensible normal motorway stuff gives 26mpg so i'm getting 250m between fills

Of course i need more power already smile


ge0rge

3,053 posts

229 months

Monday 4th January 2010
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Mid 20's to the gallon in any evo and your driving it like my gran, i never used to get above 21/22 mpg driving my vi like a gran ! I do hear that this is a lot different in the mivec based cars ix and x though!?!

jsr

Original Poster:

1,155 posts

274 months

Monday 4th January 2010
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I average 16mpg from from my TVR. I have to drive it very conservatively to get 18. On motorways i can get 30 tho! Not really fussed about economy. I'm sure an Evo would be about the same.

liner33

10,861 posts

226 months

Tuesday 5th January 2010
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ge0rge said:
Mid 20's to the gallon in any evo and your driving it like my gran, i never used to get above 21/22 mpg driving my vi like a gran ! I do hear that this is a lot different in the mivec based cars ix and x though!?!
As most things it depends on the map and the modifications(Mine was remapped by Extreme last year), cruising at 80 on the motorway is giving almost 26mpg based on fill to fill which is about what I could eek out of the Skyline after it had been remapped, a previous map had my Skyline giving 16mpg on a cruise

I've not had less than 20mpg over the tank as yet out of the Evo although when the weather warms up i expect i will be pushing it harder

No-one should really base the mpg figures as a reason to buy or not to buy this kind of car

andysgriff

913 posts

284 months

Thursday 7th January 2010
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I went from a Cerbera 4.5 Red Rose to an EVO 9 FQ-360. I loved the Cerb but was at my wits (and wallets) end with constant repairs. The Cerb didnt get used enough as I was working away a lot and it suffered badly by just sitting around. I needed a car that I could leave standing for a few weeks and not worry too much about getting it going again.

The Cerb seemed the quicker car in a straight line as the power delivery and gearing are so much different to the EVO, the Cerb would still be accelerating hard at 140-150 but the EVO runs out of steam around about this speed. Round the twisties there is no comparison, the EVO is in another league in any weather.

I sort of forget that I'm driving a very capable car for the money in the EVO but most trips in the Cerb were an 'event' (horrible cliche I know.. but very true)..



I am looking for a good Cerbera again but I will be keeping the EVO. wink