The great Boxster burnout
Discussion
As you may know, Channel 4's 'Driven' recently reviewd the Tamora and Porsche Boxster (hereafter referred to as 'Porkster').
Clearly the presenters wanted/expected the Porkster to win, but thanks to the TVRCC rapid reaction force the Tamora won the vote by a good margin.
HOWEVER, my thought is this. BOTH Porksters broke down with fried clutches and the one seen on TV for the vote actually had to be PUSHED into place (I have the photos to prove it). The programme made no mention of this fact. Consider, then, what would have happened if the *Tamora* had broken down. Do you think the programme would have (a) brushed it under the carpet and pretended it never happened, as in the case of the fried porkster, or (b) crowed about famous TVR unreliability?
I think the phrase is 'self-fulfilling prophecy'...
Clearly the presenters wanted/expected the Porkster to win, but thanks to the TVRCC rapid reaction force the Tamora won the vote by a good margin.
HOWEVER, my thought is this. BOTH Porksters broke down with fried clutches and the one seen on TV for the vote actually had to be PUSHED into place (I have the photos to prove it). The programme made no mention of this fact. Consider, then, what would have happened if the *Tamora* had broken down. Do you think the programme would have (a) brushed it under the carpet and pretended it never happened, as in the case of the fried porkster, or (b) crowed about famous TVR unreliability?
I think the phrase is 'self-fulfilling prophecy'...
In Auto Express last week there was a chap whose Porkster had broken down just one too many times. 
After just a couple of months things started going wrong, seems the clutch was first to go, it was fixed by a dealer but then burnt out again. Since then his Porkster has been back 3 more times for different repairs – he’s so ppi55ed off with it that he's contacted Watchdog! 
So… what with Drivel managing to burn out 2 x Boxters and the one on the show having to suffer the ignominy of being pushed into the studio is there more to this story?
Not that I wish any ill on Porsche
(I have had two) but could TVR’s reliability just be beginning to creep ahead of Porsche’s? 
Rich…
After just a couple of months things started going wrong, seems the clutch was first to go, it was fixed by a dealer but then burnt out again. Since then his Porkster has been back 3 more times for different repairs – he’s so ppi55ed off with it that he's contacted Watchdog! So… what with Drivel managing to burn out 2 x Boxters and the one on the show having to suffer the ignominy of being pushed into the studio is there more to this story?
Not that I wish any ill on Porsche
(I have had two) but could TVR’s reliability just be beginning to creep ahead of Porsche’s? Rich…
Although the truth was hidden from the TV screens of views at home, I wonder if it was the reliability that had anything to do with the TVR's "whitewash" victory? 
I love TVR's to death, but as with most specialist sports cars you tend to find that more people will buy the mainstream, simply because it is the mainstream, and also because of perceived name-badge snobbery. They know nothing
(all IMHO if course) I don't go for name badges, I go for something that is special and different to everyone else (and this is why I like specialist cars). I am sure Boxsters are good cars...for someone else.
Me, I'd have the Tamora anytime over a boxster.
I also noticed that the footage of the Boxster was very reserved, compared to the Tamora's tail slide-tastic type driving. I wonder if they were trying to break it
, or whether they knew that the Porsche's clutch was on the way out, and it couldn't do what the Tamora did.
I would have loved to have been there. Wonder if it is worth writing to Drivel to point out their bias (even the presenters sided with the Porsche). Doubt it ..
I love TVR's to death, but as with most specialist sports cars you tend to find that more people will buy the mainstream, simply because it is the mainstream, and also because of perceived name-badge snobbery. They know nothing
(all IMHO if course) I don't go for name badges, I go for something that is special and different to everyone else (and this is why I like specialist cars). I am sure Boxsters are good cars...for someone else. Me, I'd have the Tamora anytime over a boxster.
I also noticed that the footage of the Boxster was very reserved, compared to the Tamora's tail slide-tastic type driving. I wonder if they were trying to break it
, or whether they knew that the Porsche's clutch was on the way out, and it couldn't do what the Tamora did. I would have loved to have been there. Wonder if it is worth writing to Drivel to point out their bias (even the presenters sided with the Porsche). Doubt it ..
I own a Griff 500, had a Tamora demo car for 4 days and a Speed 6 Cerbera loan car for two weeks.
Before the Griff I had a BMW M Roadster.
Have also test driven 2.5, 2.7 and S Boxsters.
Out of them all, for sheer driving pleasure in a surreal, real-life arcade game way - it would be the Tamora every time. I would love to take a Tamora on a track and give it a damned good seeing to! Unfortunately it had various bits not working or falling off and the boot was wet inside. The Cerb was in a similar state, minus the water leaks. And my Griff has needed constant (if usually minor) fettling, but naturally, because its mine, I put that down to 'character' and forgive it everything.
The normal Boxster was too slow in both 2.5 and 2.7 guises. The 'S' was a tremendous car, fast and handled superbly, but felt more of a tourer than an out and out sports car. The BMW, with its more unforgiving ride, felt more sporty, even though the Porsche was probably quicker from A to B cross country.
It would take more than the tale of 2 or 3 cooked clutches to make me doubt their reliability, BTW.
If all I did was go out and drive for fun, I'd have the Tamora.
If I did lots of mileage and had a second car, I'd have the Tamora.
If I was only allowed one car and did lots of miles, I'd take the Boxster S.
Sorry!
Before the Griff I had a BMW M Roadster.
Have also test driven 2.5, 2.7 and S Boxsters.
Out of them all, for sheer driving pleasure in a surreal, real-life arcade game way - it would be the Tamora every time. I would love to take a Tamora on a track and give it a damned good seeing to! Unfortunately it had various bits not working or falling off and the boot was wet inside. The Cerb was in a similar state, minus the water leaks. And my Griff has needed constant (if usually minor) fettling, but naturally, because its mine, I put that down to 'character' and forgive it everything.
The normal Boxster was too slow in both 2.5 and 2.7 guises. The 'S' was a tremendous car, fast and handled superbly, but felt more of a tourer than an out and out sports car. The BMW, with its more unforgiving ride, felt more sporty, even though the Porsche was probably quicker from A to B cross country.
It would take more than the tale of 2 or 3 cooked clutches to make me doubt their reliability, BTW.
If all I did was go out and drive for fun, I'd have the Tamora.
If I did lots of mileage and had a second car, I'd have the Tamora.
If I was only allowed one car and did lots of miles, I'd take the Boxster S.
Sorry!
I overheard a die-hard Porsche fan said he'd been doing trackdays in Boxsters for years and never had any clutch trouble - he said the TVR louts must have broken them deliberately by dragging the clutch; don't think he was joking either.
Bad loser! Bu then, he probably liked Abba too.
Bad loser! Bu then, he probably liked Abba too.
griff2be said If I was only allowed one car and did lots of miles, I'd take the Boxster S.
Sorry!
Hah! Know what people mean about the regular Boxster being a bit underpowered. I didn't even consider it after the wife and I got our Chimaera. Having said that it's still a great car.
I don't have a Boxster S because I do lots of miles - I have one because although its a subtle car there are hidden depths. I have an absolute blast every time I drive it.
Mine has been fairly reliable. 18300 miles. Some might remember my "Bad Week Boxster S" thread when it blotted its copy book. Wasn't the clutch though - which has been fine for all that mileage and several Track Days. It was the PSM computer which went barmy. Still - they fixed it in about ten days and it didn't need to go back to Germany either...
I do think Drivel should have mentioned the mechanical failure though - I know I'll be very cheesed off if the clutch goes. Although so long as Porsche fix it and do so quickly...its not so bad.
I am disgusted they didnt mention the Porsche problems to be honest. Regardless of loyalties the whole point of the demo cars was to be thrashed about by the car club members. With this in mind both Porsche and TVR would have sent their best examples along. Losing 1 is bad enough but both is bloody careless.
The point of my rant being, they didnt have to mention it as a comparison of the two makes, or even to the detriment of Porsche, but what a wonderful opportunity to set the record straight about the myth's of modern TVR's just falling to bits!
How they could push the car into the studio and then all vote for it with no comment is a joke.
The point of my rant being, they didnt have to mention it as a comparison of the two makes, or even to the detriment of Porsche, but what a wonderful opportunity to set the record straight about the myth's of modern TVR's just falling to bits!
How they could push the car into the studio and then all vote for it with no comment is a joke.
jamesk said: I am disgusted they didnt mention the Porsche problems to be honest
Do we all recall a year(ish) ago when the pre-production Tamora was being testing - Plato said something like 'now it wont do well in this (slow manoeuvring) bit of the test as it's got the wrong bits...' (cant remember exactly what it didnt have) and as expected the turning circle was pretty lousy. Puny Mamms shouted out ' OOOH THAT WAS REALLY JUST AWFUL!!! ' 2 seconds later. Cor, find one little fault with a TVR and they shout about it alright!
Bloody woman
Ed
Regards
Ed
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff