Discussion
These sideways moments are God's way of saying "slow down you w*nker".
I had a serious off road expedition while showing off to a friend of mine a while ago, luckily no damage - felt a right tw*t though and had a bit of a moody with the car for a week or so. We're best buddies again now !!
I had a serious off road expedition while showing off to a friend of mine a while ago, luckily no damage - felt a right tw*t though and had a bit of a moody with the car for a week or so. We're best buddies again now !!
quote:
Lost back end for the first time today -Straight road - 2nd gear - accelerate - and back end all over the place!!
Expected this on corners - but on the straight!!!! Good job I had my brown cords on!!
Take the hint! As you get used to the car you'll develop a strange reluctance to accelerate or brake hard except when the car is in a straight line. The colder it gets the less braking and acceleration it takes to unstick the tyres and the more gentle you need to be. Throw in a little rain and sometimes you'll struggle to get any power down at all. Somebody once told me the trick to surviving in those conditions is to pretend you are early for an appointment with the dentist. I mean, are you in *that* much of a hurry?
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
What I do is pretend that the engine isn't warm. You know - revs under 2500rpm. Even in pretty horrid conditions this usually keeps the back end where it should be.
BTW: In the first few weeks of owning my Chim I had the back end wobbling uncertainly quite a few times - so don't worry - just take action and adjust the driving style in the wet..
BTW: In the first few weeks of owning my Chim I had the back end wobbling uncertainly quite a few times - so don't worry - just take action and adjust the driving style in the wet..
I've only had one dodgy moment, last winter, and that was due to me momentarily forgetting "slow in, fast out", getting mountains of understeer, followed by the other. The front drive hatch that was bearing down on me didn't have any problems (perhaps aside from me fishtailing in front of him...), and it was a valuable lesson in the differences between certain types of cars.
In these conditions, I'm really very reluctant to do anything much to the car until the wheels are straight, and the less camber there is on the road, the better. You can get lots of power down in the damp, but you have to be very progressive with the throttle and avoid doing it in 1st.
And to be honest, you can still make alarmingly brisk progress with under 3000 rpm and less than an inch worth of throttle pedal travel.
In these conditions, I'm really very reluctant to do anything much to the car until the wheels are straight, and the less camber there is on the road, the better. You can get lots of power down in the damp, but you have to be very progressive with the throttle and avoid doing it in 1st.
And to be honest, you can still make alarmingly brisk progress with under 3000 rpm and less than an inch worth of throttle pedal travel.
I'm got to say I'm still fairly new to the TVR thing, I've had my griff500 for a couple of months now, and its those 'oh my gawd' 2nd gear accidental back end out moments that make owning a TVR what it is. Your life flashes in front of you for a few moments and they you laugh out loud.
Many cars can scare the cr@p out of you if you try, but when you're not even trying......
Many cars can scare the cr@p out of you if you try, but when you're not even trying......
Lost the back end the first time I took mine out in the wet. Pulled up at large & greasy roundabout with the steering pointing left. Let the clutch out gently and wheywheeeey, the back end straightens without going forwards. Tried it a few times since for fun!!!! 
I'm now a bit more cautious round bends in the wet and still haven't found the limit in the dry 
- OK so i'm a bit of a wuss but I don't want to bend my baby.
Bob the Planner
I'm now a bit more cautious round bends in the wet and still haven't found the limit in the dry - OK so i'm a bit of a wuss but I don't want to bend my baby. Bob the Planner
The joys of TVR ownership! You get to rate the coefficient of friction of various tarmac surfaces! It's amazing how the grip levels differ, not something you'd notice in less torque'd up vehicles.
On my route to work there are two particularly slippy sections - don't notice in my everyday wheels, but the Chimaera picks 'em out and will smoke the back wheels through second with the merest hint of moisture.
It's a bit like they know when you're tired - I've spun mine twice after late nights at work just through not being able to concentrate as hard.
Respect is due!
On my route to work there are two particularly slippy sections - don't notice in my everyday wheels, but the Chimaera picks 'em out and will smoke the back wheels through second with the merest hint of moisture.
It's a bit like they know when you're tired - I've spun mine twice after late nights at work just through not being able to concentrate as hard.
Respect is due!
Totally concur with everyone - had my Chimp for nearly 2 months now and I have had two moments...
However, done the Ride and Drive stuff as advertised in the TVRCC Sprint magazine. Well worth it by the way. The simple thing that it teaches you is that you have the power to deal with almost all cars (Ferraris excluded here, but how many do you meet?). Dont bother farting around with getting the power down early on corners. You dont need to enter that corner that little bit too fast - you have all that power (remember at least 240BHP) to blast as soon as you get a chance.
Sounds daft, but I am a long term front-driver and you get used to carrying in a little too much speed. Then dragging it out mid corner with the throttle. However, you dont even need to do that in a TVR - slow in, get it straight after the turn and - BLAST - you are off. And due to the low down power, there isnt much that can catch you - never mind over take.
Quite a liberating experience learning that one - not worried about the wet in the TVR.
Cheers,
Paul
However, done the Ride and Drive stuff as advertised in the TVRCC Sprint magazine. Well worth it by the way. The simple thing that it teaches you is that you have the power to deal with almost all cars (Ferraris excluded here, but how many do you meet?). Dont bother farting around with getting the power down early on corners. You dont need to enter that corner that little bit too fast - you have all that power (remember at least 240BHP) to blast as soon as you get a chance.
Sounds daft, but I am a long term front-driver and you get used to carrying in a little too much speed. Then dragging it out mid corner with the throttle. However, you dont even need to do that in a TVR - slow in, get it straight after the turn and - BLAST - you are off. And due to the low down power, there isnt much that can catch you - never mind over take.
Quite a liberating experience learning that one - not worried about the wet in the TVR.
Cheers,
Paul
Maybe i've just been lucky so far, but I've found the back-end snaps back into shape pretty quickly if you ease back a little, and it doesn't get out of shape so quickly that you panic and therefore come off too quickly either. Its all quite progressive and fun to explore so long as you're cautious. And wet roundabouts are hilarious so long as there is no traffic and lots of spare tarmac.
ATG
Just curious, does yours have PAS?
Beware of tyres that change behaviour as they wear! I've been caught out by SO1's with close to the legal limit; they broke away with no warning whatsoever. Caught the slide but, as often is the case, the correction put me into a ditch. I will finish rebuilding the front suspension one day soon!!
I might even be able to screw it back together now I know what a castor angle is!
PS I've had TVR's for 6 years now, trust me, one day you will spin!
Edited by philshort on Wednesday 28th November 21:14
Just curious, does yours have PAS?
Beware of tyres that change behaviour as they wear! I've been caught out by SO1's with close to the legal limit; they broke away with no warning whatsoever. Caught the slide but, as often is the case, the correction put me into a ditch. I will finish rebuilding the front suspension one day soon!!
I might even be able to screw it back together now I know what a castor angle is! PS I've had TVR's for 6 years now, trust me, one day you will spin!
Edited by philshort on Wednesday 28th November 21:14
And I thought it was just me!!! Had my Chimaera 4.0 for 3 months now. Took her out last (v. cold and fresh) Saturday morning, lost the back end trying to get sharpish off a set of lights and into the right hand of three lanes, over corrected and spun 360 the other way! It happened too quickly to be frightened during it and thankfully the car kept to the carriageway. Must have looked impressive 'cause I ended up facing the way I wanted to go!. It's taught me respect though. As soon as Spring comes I'm gonna take the TVRCC recommended driving courses.
quote:
Maybe i've just been lucky so far, but I've found the back-end snaps back into shape pretty quickly if you ease back a little
I agree - it snaps back *very* quickly. I do worry that if it gets too far out before backing off, it'll go the other way so quickly that I'll be fscked. Therefore, I'm very careful indeed.
I've also found that S02s down to the wear bars offer significantly less grip than when new. Couldn't beleive the difference when I got new rears on. I'm consequently looking forward to getting my new fronts before winter arrives in earnest.
Edited by Marshy on Tuesday 27th November 23:37
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