Alernative Choice
Discussion
rbfisher said: Still fancy a Marcos but I don't know enough about them.
Anyone had any experience of these?
Cheers,
Richard Fisher
:treadscarefully: Well the only Marcos experience I have is of a Mantis, but I have to say I prefer the driving experience to that of a Griff 500. 
I have found that the Mantis is more challenging and intimidating to drive than a Griff, but ultimately more rewarding. You sit lower and the car is considerably wider. When I drove a Griff, I found I could jump in, feel immediately comfortable and get on with driving it. The Mantis takes a bit more acclimatisation.
Performance is broadly similar. Any differences are more likely to be down to the driver than the car. The Marcos comes with fully adjustable shocks and ride height and the handling may be slightly better, but unless you are a driving God (and I'm not), the limits are so high that you shouldn't really be breaching them on the public highway. Wet weather driving requires the same 'gently gently' driving style as the Griff. Power oversteer on demand
. :minefield: Reliability. Ahem.
With a handbuilt Ford Mustang V8 up front, reliability should not be issue, and as far as I know, Marcos were never inundated with expired engines being returned to the factory for a rebuild. I'll say no more. Build quality is at least on a par with TVR (he said diplomatically). It's not perfect, but there aren't many handbuilt sportscars that are. Styling. Well, you either like it or you don't. It's a subjective issue, and each to their own. It will turn heads, that much is assured.
All of the above is IMHO only. I reserve the right to be wrong. I reserve the right to stand corrected. I reserve the right to be considered a bit odd.
For a weekend 'play thing' at TVR money (£40k) I would certainly sign on the line for a Tiger Z100WR.
THE fastest production car on the planet.
0-60 in 2.8s
0-100 in 6.2s
Swift.
'Course, as a 7-type it has no doors, windows or windscreen, which makes it totally unpractical, but for a play thing there can surely be no better!?
Incidentally, look out for an appearance on Top Gear's 'Fastest Car Challenge'. Jim Dudley (the chairman) has mentioned his creation to the production team and is waiting for a reply. Should be interesting.
THE fastest production car on the planet.
0-60 in 2.8s
0-100 in 6.2s
Swift.
'Course, as a 7-type it has no doors, windows or windscreen, which makes it totally unpractical, but for a play thing there can surely be no better!?
Incidentally, look out for an appearance on Top Gear's 'Fastest Car Challenge'. Jim Dudley (the chairman) has mentioned his creation to the production team and is waiting for a reply. Should be interesting.
Gradually resigning myself to having to put the Tuscan in the garage for the winter unless my dealer or TVR can stop the leaks around the front of the side windows. If this is the case then if I dont get a Cerbera then I am tempted to get a Maserati 3200.
With 3 kids the extra 2 seats in the back of either would come in useful. Then if I have to take 2 or more of them out my wife can still use her car.
With 3 kids the extra 2 seats in the back of either would come in useful. Then if I have to take 2 or more of them out my wife can still use her car.
I went from TVR to Esprit V8, but soon came back to TVR. (although the Lotus was lovely). For relatively sensible money I would change for a Noble like a shot, and would also consider a mk2 Elise 111s or a 7.
If I sold my grandmother and a kidney it would be 355, Diablo, GT3 or Muira.
If I sold my grandmother and a kidney it would be 355, Diablo, GT3 or Muira.
rbfisher said: Still fancy a Marcos but I don't know enough about them.
Anyone had any experience of these?
Cheers,
Richard Fisher
Yep, I seriously looked at the Mantaray (v8 one rather than the 4 pot). But the TVR quality and style sold it for me (oh and Marcos's horrendous depreciation). Not sure about the new Marcasite, interesting styling (for Marcos at least, since the front's always been a big ugly IMHO) bit MX5'y at the front. The Ford Duratec is a good lump (good enough for the Noble) but NA it seems a bit weedy (compared to the v8). I've not personally driven one buy would like to and also hear from anyone that has.
Anyhoo, no TVR: (in affordability order)
Cat R500
Lotus Elise (would need to be fettled with by Turbo Technics first)
Radical SR3 / Westie XTR
Noble M12 GTO
Invicta
DB7
Vanquish
"For England James..."
If we're talking classic rather than new then:
Lambo Miura SV
De Tomaso Pantera or Mangusta
Fezza Daytona
Jenson FF (or a series 3)
Shelby Cobra
Shelby Mustang
T-Bird (it's OK I done nautical handling courses!!)
Cady CoupeDeVille (sp)
Steve
>> Edited by fatsteve on Wednesday 6th November 22:42
After 4 TVRs I needed something with 4 proper seats and the only thing that came close was the HSV (rear wheel drive,V8 nice noise etc.) Assumed I'd get a DB7 but the 4 I drove were pants. If 2 seats only, for the same money as a TVR the only ones would be the Noble (probably) and the Trident (possibly).
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