Can TVRs turn?
Discussion
I just watched an old episode of Clarkson Unleashed just now on UKTV people. It had a drag race between a Cerbera, 911 and a Ferrari and other top cars. I just wondered the Cerbera won but how does it match the Ferrari and other supercars on the race track?? I mean for £40,000, 350bhp and 180mph top speed (no mods) how come they don't dominate. I know that they have reliability issues, but do they just lack the super car factor, handling etc?
well. there are rumours about how standard or otherwise that cerbera was, but nevertheless, it's a very quick car in stanard form.
yes, TVRs handle. witness in Autocar magazine (think it was) when the T350 beat the Lambo Murcilago (sp.) round the track. Autocar aren't big fans of TVRs so it wasn't dwelled upon, but it shows that a sub 40 grand TVR can keep up with a 150 grand Lambo with four wheel drive, Audi backing and over 150 bhp more
yes, TVRs handle. witness in Autocar magazine (think it was) when the T350 beat the Lambo Murcilago (sp.) round the track. Autocar aren't big fans of TVRs so it wasn't dwelled upon, but it shows that a sub 40 grand TVR can keep up with a 150 grand Lambo with four wheel drive, Audi backing and over 150 bhp more
Very weird as well, I was watching this this morning, the 911 Turbo was smoked, the TVR is a great car, but this is not what would have been expected.
Was too hungovered to go to work, and watched also this morning the Clarkson episod where waky vehicles are racing each others, as in motrized:
- Rubbish metal skip, full size
- Sofa
- Garden shed
Anyone seen that ?
Very weird as well, I was watching this this morning, the 911 Turbo was smoked, the TVR is a great car, but this is not what would have been expected.
Was too hungovered to go to work, and watched also this morning the Clarkson episod where waky vehicles are racing each others, as in motrized:
- Rubbish metal skip, full size
- Sofa
- Garden shed
Anyone seen that ?
Gulliver said:
Was too hungovered to go to work, and watched also this morning the Clarkson episod where waky vehicles are racing each others, as in motrized:
- Rubbish metal skip, full size
- Sofa
- Garden shed
Anyone seen that ?
And a boat made out of a Reliant Robin IIRC. Seem to recall that the shed cheated blatantly!
rev-erend said:
450bhp race engined car .. still hype like this does tend to shift the metal (or plastic in this case)
380ish maybe
TVR Bhp ... Its a Rapid motor, but I think it owes alot of its performance to its light weight.. of course there is nothing wrong with this.. but I fear without developing some silly (Porsche/Lambo) Bhp engines.. they will soon be trounced by the big boys again (and its not like the New breed of TVR is THAT cheap anymore)
I still miss my Chim tho.
rev-erend said:
450bhp race engined car .. still hype like this does tend to shift the metal (or plastic in this case)
It was a 4.2 with a decat. Im sure Roop(?) or someone else close to the factory has said in the past.
The 993 turbo wasnt smoked, it was just beaten. Get over it, the 4.2 probably had bang on 360bhp (all press cars seem to be made as close to the claimed figures/ built as well as possible) Infact I believe it was tested in Autocar and came out with said power figures. 360bhp/1100kilos v 408bhp/1400kilos+(?) Seemed pretty reasonable results wise.
As for the handling - they are reasonable, just difficult to drive hard. In the right hands I have seen standard Cerberas take on some pretty serious stuff on sprints/hillclimbs and come out victorious.
beaconbouy said:I saw this vid ages ago and this sort of made my mind up about buying one.....how wrong I was thinking that these were that quick
I just watched an old episode of Clarkson Unleashed just now on UKTV people. It had a drag race between a Cerbera, 911 and a Ferrari and other top cars. I just wondered the Cerbera won but how does it match the Ferrari and other supercars on the race track?? I mean for £40,000, 350bhp and 180mph top speed (no mods) how come they don't dominate. I know that they have reliability issues, but do they just lack the super car factor, handling etc?
....I can assure you, unless you have a very well sorted Cerb then forget about challenging a 360, 993 TT or similar in a straight line.....My 360 is so much quicker than my 4.5 Cerb ever was.....T.los angeles said:
The existence of TVR subverts the existence of car companies who charge the earth for their products on the basis of "superior engineering."
But they do have "superior engineering"
as proven by specific outputs against Engine longevity 
TVR has the Power now, but not the Longevity or build..
It will get there one day.. But for now :|
JamieBeeston said:
Big T said:
My 360 is so much quicker than my 4.5 Cerb ever was.....T.
Ayup Stranger.. Who stole you for the last few months then!
Surprised you say the Cerb was nomatch for the Modena, on paper it should beat it..
How much in it ? close? or miles apart?
Sorry chap, long stories, catch up soon though....Yes there is quite a bit of difference compared but I do know my 360 is a very quick one and my Cerb was putting out about the average 4.5 power which is no way near the factory figures....Don't get me wrong, it was a quick car but not close to my 360....and I haven't even pushed the 360 to it's limits yet but did give the Cerb a good thrashing....T.
Edited to say: I did let a friend of mine take the 360 out one quiet evening who once owned a Cerb and also drove my old 4.5 and he was shocked at how much quicker my 360 was!!!
>> Edited by Big T on Tuesday 21st December 16:53
c u in the new year...got alot of catching up 2 do!I've only driven my 94 Chimaera 400 and can honestly say that it has a lot of grip. It's very confidence inspiring in the dry, but when it's cold/damp/wet the grip is there but it feels like you're driving on a thin sheet of ice and could fly off the road at any minute!
I've done a airfield tuition day it the wet and know that the grip is there, but you seem to have to push past 'road driving' level before you feel the grip. On the track it's amazing; on the road it's better to take it carefully in the wet.
There was a Lotus Elise on the airfield course too. My car could carry more speed through the corners and in a time circuit run, my car was 12 seconds a lap quicker (my lap was only 1min), though the Elise was struggling with it's tyres.
HOWEVER, i passengered in the Elise and realised that although it carried a less speed in the corner, if the backend stepped out, it was much easier to control the slide. In my TVR, if the slide isn't caught early enough, it spins quickly - much sooner than the Elise.
Magazines always seem to be negative about TVR's handling which people interpret as not being able to corner and having little grip. The truth is they offer a lot of grip and can corner very fast, but you have to be a good driver to make them corner fast and have to concentrate very hard!
I believe later TVRs/chassis are better handling than the Chimaera. People also say that Nitron vastly improve the handling, though no-one has ever said exactly how and what the driving experience is like.
Saying that i plan to fit Nitron in the Spring, and will write a full review then.
So, can TVR's turn? Yes, if you're a good enough drive!
I've done a airfield tuition day it the wet and know that the grip is there, but you seem to have to push past 'road driving' level before you feel the grip. On the track it's amazing; on the road it's better to take it carefully in the wet.
There was a Lotus Elise on the airfield course too. My car could carry more speed through the corners and in a time circuit run, my car was 12 seconds a lap quicker (my lap was only 1min), though the Elise was struggling with it's tyres.
HOWEVER, i passengered in the Elise and realised that although it carried a less speed in the corner, if the backend stepped out, it was much easier to control the slide. In my TVR, if the slide isn't caught early enough, it spins quickly - much sooner than the Elise.
Magazines always seem to be negative about TVR's handling which people interpret as not being able to corner and having little grip. The truth is they offer a lot of grip and can corner very fast, but you have to be a good driver to make them corner fast and have to concentrate very hard!
I believe later TVRs/chassis are better handling than the Chimaera. People also say that Nitron vastly improve the handling, though no-one has ever said exactly how and what the driving experience is like.
Saying that i plan to fit Nitron in the Spring, and will write a full review then.
So, can TVR's turn? Yes, if you're a good enough drive!
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