most fun model to drive?
most fun model to drive?
Author
Discussion

BEN99W

Original Poster:

85 posts

265 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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Im just wondering if theres a consencus as to which model is more fun to drive. Ive driven a great many different cars, but TVR~wise just quick drives in a 4.0 chimaera and a tamora. But i would say the most fun car i ever drove was a 1982 bmw 323i, which with 148bhp and an LSD would go everywhere sideways. Tivs seem to be great at delivering the straight line thrills, but i've rarely seen anyone throwing one about. Often it seems the more power a car has, the higher the limits and the more snappy and less playful the handling. Perhaps a more modestly powered model, possibly even a v6 model could be more easily exploited?

Anyone have any input?

Ben

TUS 2 CON

467 posts

304 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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Having driven most of them, I'd have to say the original 4L Griff.

s p a c e m a n

11,818 posts

174 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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BEN99W said:
Tivs seem to be great at delivering the straight line thrills, but i've rarely seen anyone throwing one about.
You clearly haven't passed me at any point, Essex is a big place though. If the roads damp, I look like this > driving

jamienshelly

1,826 posts

164 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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I think the best one, is the one that says TVR on the bonnet.
They are all great fun, its just that some are a little more scarey than others smile

wongthecorrupter

2,707 posts

197 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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My tuscan is a lot scarier than my old 450 chimaera, but in a good way.

grumbledoak

32,467 posts

259 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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I would agree. Well, not the BMW bit, but for pure fun my Mk1 MX-5 beat either of my TVRs.

BEN99W

Original Poster:

85 posts

265 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
quotequote all
I appreciate that its probably akin to trying to get a concensus on which is the best sexual position, because different people get their kicks in different ways. So perhaps i should refine my question.

Which would be more provokable and controllable in terms of handling? Are the less powerful models easier to exploit to their full potential on the road, or is it simply a case of the more potent the better?

I hope to have a budget of £8/9k for a TVR when i sell my westfield, so obviously ill have to make some compromises in choosing which model to buy.

Thanks for any input

Ben

steveT350C

6,728 posts

187 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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I think Tiff in a Morris 1000 answers the question

http://youtu.be/ooBJ2Z2sZvo

GTRene

21,637 posts

250 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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Kitchski

6,549 posts

257 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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I've driven most models of TVR in recent years and I'd say for smiles it's the V8S. Best all-out driver is Cerbera, but V8S always puts a massive grin on my mug.

peteA

2,758 posts

260 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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Can only comment on the cars I've driven properly - chin 400, cerbera 4.2, griff 500 and Tamora.

Tamora for me followed by the cerbera.

But, best to drive them yourself as they are all different and it's the only way to see which suits you / your requirements?

EGB

1,774 posts

183 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
quotequote all
BEN99W said:
Im just wondering if theres a consencus as to which model is more fun to drive. Ive driven a great many different cars, but TVR~wise just quick drives in a 4.0 chimaera and a tamora. But i would say the most fun car i ever drove was a 1982 bmw 323i, which with 148bhp and an LSD would go everywhere sideways. Tivs seem to be great at delivering the straight line thrills, but i've rarely seen anyone throwing one about. Often it seems the more power a car has, the higher the limits and the more snappy and less playful the handling. Perhaps a more modestly powered model, possibly even a v6 model could be more easily exploited?

Anyone have any input?

Ben
Your LSD probably was not working? Or you were on bald tyres biggrin

GTRene

21,637 posts

250 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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I only driven/owned the V8S and the Griffith 4.3 BV

in the V8S you feel more driving a classic (just the feel/shape/etc)
in the Griffith 4.3 you feel more driving a sporty classic biggrin

from those 2 its the Griffith, although if I would ever buy again I would change the seats for some hugging types, otherwise you glide from left to right when driving enthusiastically biggrin

Rib

2,579 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Come to Curborough one month when I take my chimaera and ill show you just how well they can be thrown around. I find tvrs to be a different kind if fun. Throw am mx5 or 325bmw round the same track and it's sts and giggles fun, take the tvr round and it's adrenaline - being chased by a shark fun! But fun, just very different kinds, and certainly not snappy when set up properly

450Nick

4,027 posts

238 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Supercharged chimaera.... It's an absolute hoot to drive, it's like driving a low flying spitfire!

Goaty Bill

1,779 posts

177 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Short list of TVRs; Chimaera 400/450/500, Griffith 500, Cerbera 4.5 and Tuscan MK1
(All less than 10k miles and under 3 years old at the time of driving; so it's been a while)

The Chimaeras; 400 and 450 were fun, until I drove a 500. The 500 was just plain terrifying (so I bought one).
The Griffith 500; only drove one, and it was almost enough to sway me from buying a Chimaera. Like driving a go-kart on steroids. I instantly felt completely at home in the driver's seat.
Tuscan MK1; second year of production, hated it from beginning to end. An absolute bag of rusty nails in every way. Apologies to owners of these. I know they got better, but the one I drove was junk (a dealer demonstrator with only 1200 miles on the clock).
Cerbera 4.5; Just WOW. You feel special in a whole different way driving that car. Amazing controlled acceleration, cornering to die for, and a street presence that you just know everyone else is seeing.
I will always regret that I didn't buy one of these when I could afford it, but the Chimaera had to stay as well, and common sense banghead told me not to do it.

I realised after a couple of years of ownership, that while I loved my Chimaera, I wasn't actually having more fun than when driving my subtly (subtle externally) modified Midget 1500, but I was having a totally different type of fun.

Cerbera 4.5 - amazing
Griffith 500 - raw fun
Chimaera 500 - the love of my life

Jasper Gilder

2,166 posts

299 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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In my view every model is better than the one before, 350s have great turn in and traction, but the Griff is tauter. My 4 Litre Griff was tighter than the 350SX ( which I still have). Griff 500 was better than the four litre as it had more power and power steering, but the four litre was a bit more raw

Cerbera handled better than the Griff, but the 4.5s are frustrating on UK roads as they are off the cam half the time and mine only really came alive at 70MPH, which coincided with two years with 9 points.....

My 3000M is a hoot, but it's had the suspension and engine heavily modified, so I don't know what an original would feel like as I've never driven one; but the question is most fun model and there's only one answer in my view....

Sagaris

anonymous-user

80 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Agree with most of what Jasper said above.

Last word especially smile

so called

9,160 posts

235 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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I've had a Wedge, 2 x Chimaera 400's and 2 x Tuscans.
I think the Tuscan, after proper setting up have been the best.
BUT
After writing off my first Tuscan I test drove a Tamora and loved its feel.
Wife insisted in me having another Tuscan so I have in wink

Oldred_V8S

3,764 posts

264 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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Any of the S's. A real raw, seat of the pants experience.