What do you guys think about TVRs?
Discussion
rthierry said: Interesing points, thanks!
I agree it seems TVRs and Ferraris overlap, which does not seem to be so much the case for Porkers. So, I guess Porkers are the real enemy!
I am glad you said that 'tongue-in-cheek' because Porsche are not the enemy, just another (slightly more bland?) version of our enthusiasm. The real enemy is those t
s currntly in power in Westminster!
rthierry said: Interesing points, thanks!
I agree it seems TVRs and Ferraris overlap, which does not seem to be so much the case for Porkers. So, I guess Porkers are the real enemy
Actually I think Porsches have a different ethos again. To my mind Ferarris and TVR have some things in common - the enthusiasm of their owners, their extreme nature in terms of power and handling. Sure TVRs are significantly less expensive but the Petrolhead ethos is the same. You'd have to go back a few years to find a Porsche built for the same reasons (IMHO!). A modern Porsche is a different compromise. My S combines the ease of use and everyday reliability of a mass market car (e.g. BMS/Audi/Mercedes etc) with a sports car. Someone searching for a car that will thrill on first acquaintance is not likely to be impressed with my Boxster S. Dig deep and over time and its true nature is revealed...but it will never be outragous in the way a TVR or a Ferarri is.
All IMHO. And...yes I'd love a Ferarri - but not as an everyday car. I certainly wouldn't get rid of the Porsche to get one. But there will always be space in the garage should finances permit.
As Don says, you need to dig deep to get the excitement and charisma from the modern Porsches, but it can still be found. For a less subtle reminder of why Porsches are enthusiasts machines, look at the 964RS. As Roms will testify, it has an exhaust note up there with the TVRs and Ferraris. Plus I dare say it will outhandle any of them (it's essentially a race car so the comparison is slightly unfair), even if not as quick in a straight line.
Indeed Domster,
But I am almost tempted to say your car is an exception - but what exception! And although there must be numerous real sports car enthuiasts driving Porsches, I doubt they find the standard models really satisfying. Having said that I am sure, there are planty of Porsche specialists out there willing to unleash the Beast in the car. Standard TVRs or Ferraris on the other hands deliver planty of thrills. Although the addition of a Tubi exhaust seems to be a worthwhile enhancement for the latter!
But I am almost tempted to say your car is an exception - but what exception! And although there must be numerous real sports car enthuiasts driving Porsches, I doubt they find the standard models really satisfying. Having said that I am sure, there are planty of Porsche specialists out there willing to unleash the Beast in the car. Standard TVRs or Ferraris on the other hands deliver planty of thrills. Although the addition of a Tubi exhaust seems to be a worthwhile enhancement for the latter!
rthierry said: Indeed Domster,
But I am almost tempted to say your car is an exception - but what exception! And although there must be numerous real sports car enthuiasts driving Porsches, I doubt they find the standard models really satisfying. Having said that I am sure, there are planty of Porsche specialists out there willing to unleash the Beast in the car. Standard TVRs or Ferraris on the other hands deliver planty of thrills. Although the addition of a Tubi exhaust seems to be a worthwhile enhancement for the latter!
Roms. If you thought I was saying I was dissatisfied with the "sports car"-ness of my Boxster S - I wasn't. All I was trying to say is that its a subtler thing than the appeal of my TVR...and that I'd consider the appeal of a Ferrari to be...
Dom's car is quite something, mind. It reminds me very, very much of my old 911 (which was an RS come to think of it)- although it is from a later era in Porsches when they were so very much better made.
Wandering a little off-topic here, sorry.
I've owned 3 TVRS (Chimp and two Cerbies) a 355 and currently a 360. In general the Chimp was absolutely fine, both Cerbies were pretty bad, but I still loved them when they went, I just couldn't stand the way I was treated by TVR over them (they even called me a hair dresser when I decided to move to Ferraris! unfortunately we're not allowed to name and shame here though so I can't....) The 355 I had for 18 months and about 18K miles and it never missed a beat, brilliant car, the 360 I don't think is quite so well put together, but it must be said is leagues ahead of either Cerby, but it should be it cost twice as much.
ps there is a fair amount of GRP in the 360!!
ps there is a fair amount of GRP in the 360!!
craigalsop said:I think that many Ferraris use aluminium or galvanized steel sandwiched within fibreglass for floor & other panels.
Bodo said:AFAIK only the first 308 were made of plastic - resina.
Most other 'rarris use the stuff, which Landrovers are made of: alloy
The Testarossa uses GRP on some of it's panels, along with Kevlar.
Mondial 3.2 & T use GRP on some body panels.
Some Daytonas had aluminium & GRP panels for competition use I guess.
As you've mentioned, the first 308s were GRP bodied (808 of them apparently)
The Ferrari 288 GTO had GRP & composite bodypanels.
OK, I'm gonna stop there, cos I'm bored searching Google now....
You forgot the F40 and the F50 .... Composite Weave
Very intelligent comments from Ninja. As a former Tuscan owner, the points made by Ninja about lack of 'finish' with TVRs are spot on. Great sounding cars but poor build quality, inconsistant handling dynamics and unacceptable mechanical and electrical reliabilty were too much for me. I think the TVR crew need to pay more attention to quality control and build the cars so that they have some sort of durability. Its not just about straight line performance, its about the balance of the car and the handling consistency, on the limit, that makes a true supercar. I moved onto a 550 (with a TUBI) and never looked back. I would only buy a TVR again if they address the fundamentals. The cars TVR build have great potential but poor underpinnings. I would rather pay more, and have less worries about safety and reliability, than pay less and have to stomach all the gremlins. Its a shame the owners of the TVR marque refuse to address the fundamentals as it could be a great car with more attention to detail.
) 
TVR's are fantastic.....for the money nothing comes close for sheer thrills and power.....I started off in a pre cat Griff (hairy handling though) but the noise and stance made up for that but like Flasher I got fed up with being hassled by standard Jap toys on the road....so I upgraded to a Cerbie 4.5 in a wonderful irradescent halcyon paint (see link www.theratpac.com/img/member_cars/fraser/Lemans1.jpg) and that is Flasher in his Tamora behind me... nothing has come close to the experience the noise the unbelivable grunt in a straight line, the way you are totally focussed everywhere you drive and therein really lies the problem for me....reliability and build issues aside ( I was fairly lucky relative to my compatriots who all had cerbies too (good old ratpac!!)and rarely had issues but with all that said I spent over £5k in 11 months not including devaluation which is now frightening.....|I started to lose confidence in the car a little to be fair and my love affair had started with a 355 spider so I decided to sell it for a few reasons.....driving a 355 was just as involving when you wanted it to be but handled far better in the twists and turns without the need to upgrade everything and was actually great fun but also easier to drive on long journeys...sure its nowhere near as fast as the cerb which would bruise your kidneys under full load - but when we arrived in Le Mans we were knackered - maybe that comes from the fact that you are never 100% sure that you will arrive in one piece and the car will make it which is a feeling I will not miss......and the 355 is a convertible.....but it has a tubi of course because as someone once stated - life is too short to drive around in silence - the louder the better and boy is it loud.....I will end on this though - TVR's are fantastic IF you have the patience to deal with all the little niggles that occur...by a V8 or the very latest speed six if you by a tamora IMHO...for the money thewy give you supercar performance at a fraction of the cost but devaluation, build quality issues,question marks over unproved engines and poor customer service in general (again in my own experience with TVR not with the independant that I ended up using) are the downsides of a wonderful car (and I am really referring to the Cerbera here)..... yes a 355 was a shed load more money but the customer service I have recieved form Graypaul has been outstanding - the car has now done 4k miles in 3 months and all it has cost me is a lot in fuel - sure i spent money on the tubi and the headlight upgrade but apart form that not a penny so far.....in my first 3 months in the cerbera I spent over £2k......However I will be buying a cerbera again as a second toy but I will buy one when they are really cheap (not long looking at second hand prices now) and run it myself with an independant servicing ) ...sorry about all that ramble but I love both cars and have totally enjoyed the experience and the people I met owning a TVR....
FJB
www.theratpac.com
FJB
www.theratpac.com
I own a TVR and a 355 Spider. The difference for me is that I can take the TVR out everyday and not worry too much about leaving it in a car park.
The 355 has class and style way beyond the TVR but then it does cost nearly 3 times as much.
Perfect world - TVR for everyday, Ferrari for sunny weekends and European holidays!!
The 355 has class and style way beyond the TVR but then it does cost nearly 3 times as much.
Perfect world - TVR for everyday, Ferrari for sunny weekends and European holidays!!
It's bangs per bucks. I currently run a Griff 500 which does me fine. In the past I drove a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona - and I have to claim that as the best car ever, for a variety of reasons. Looks, effortless performance. If I had a bit more of the folding stuff I may have gone for a Miura.
The Griff is easily the match of the Daytona, but it is 15 years later so not a fair comparison. I still think a Miura SV is the dogs gonads though.
The Griff is easily the match of the Daytona, but it is 15 years later so not a fair comparison. I still think a Miura SV is the dogs gonads though.
flasher said:
As far as I'm concerned a 355 or 360 modena are probably the only cars that could get me out of a TVR.
Absolutely. The only thing I'd swap my Cerb for would be a 355 or 360. And the other comment about the ex-TVR fraternity going for Tubis.
I don't believe I've yet had the pleasure of hearing a Tubi'd 355 or 360. I guess it's apples and pears in the grin-stakes really. You're swapping the lift-off crackling and popping of the AJP for the howl of the 355/360 on full gas. So I guess you guys end up going everywhere with a little more urgency then!
I hope I'm able to join you one day.
trackdemon said: For rawness maybe, but why do they have to be so ugly? What a shame.
I thought this too, initially but a few visits to the GTR gallery has convinced me otherwise.
It helps to remember the 'raison d'etre' of the beastie - pure, unadulterated Le Mans recreation.
Just have another look at some of the angles - you *might* change your mind! It's one mean SOB.
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