Cars That Grow on you
Discussion
Firstly the Tuscan, when it came out I was not terribly enthused with it, not I think it's great, but recently I have been looking at some pictures of a Tamora for work, and find myself really wanting one. The chances are minimal, but I have decided that I like it more than the T350 and Sagaris.
I can't coment on what a Chim sounds like or a Speed Six for that matter.
I have to say that I am very pleased with the sound that ours makes. I don't think it is going to annoy the neighbours, but it certainly does sound very good.
The ride is also excellent, it is certainly less harsh than the M3 that we had.
I have to say that I am very pleased with the sound that ours makes. I don't think it is going to annoy the neighbours, but it certainly does sound very good.
The ride is also excellent, it is certainly less harsh than the M3 that we had.
I agree with all of you. The 18" wheels are an absolute necessity in my opinion, as is a sports exhaust. The Tamora always looks better in the flesh, and if you look at one at a dealer, alongside loads of other tvr's, it never looks as good as it does out on th street amongst boring cars. Prices are good too, so I might get one myself soon...
Plotloss said:
TVR Wedge 350i
Bought mine a few months ago - No regrets
Funny you should say that, was never a fan but now really fancy the idea of a Tasmin FHC 2+2 for the school run...
Oh yes!! I treid but the girlfriend absolutelt put her foot down and said I wasn't to take a loan for a wedge.
MarkoTVR said:
I was really surprised when I first heard one. It might just have been the exhaust that was fitted, but it sounded a Chimera, nothing like the usual S6 sound (as nice as that is in its own right).
That'll be madbadger's then? He aquited himself well amongst the Cerbies and SEACs in the BNG noise test.
tobeee said:
I agree with all of you. The 18" wheels are an absolute necessity in my opinion, as is a sports exhaust. The Tamora always looks better in the flesh, and if you look at one at a dealer, alongside loads of other tvr's, it never looks as good as it does out on th street amongst boring cars. Prices are good too, so I might get one myself soon...
It's a revellation as to just how good a car can be to drive. It is the best TVR I have ever driven. The steering felt a little unusual at first but after a couple of miles it was all forgotten. The car is superb.
Balance, road-holding, ride, performance; there was absolutely nothing that wasn't just right. Oh, apart from the boot opening being very tight for the hard top although that was changed after a year or so. After taking some photographs with the top on I inherited quite a crowd of gawpers who were all amused by my antics when trying to replace it in the boot. It's a knack evidently, but one that I failed to crack.
It made me feel like a brilliant driver. The brakes were superb - you don't need abs. The only thing I wasn't sold on was the contra-rotating dials. Even after nearly five hours driving one courtesy of Dream Machines I still couldn't take to the display.
Colour is important. Some work superbly whilst others don't flatter the car in any way. But drive one and you'll be sold on it.
It does not look so attractive as a Griff or Chim, but the aerodynamics plant it firmly on the road.
I'd love one.
As regards the wheel size, I think the larger ones suit the car's looks much more but when talking to an owner who had changed from 16" ones, he said it made the ride harsher without any benefits to road-holding and that he was sorry he'd bought them. So I'd suggest any potential buyer should try both. I've only driven with 16" and was sold on them.
TVR's best kept secret and a worthy replacement for the Griff on all levels but looks.
If only I had the money!
Derek
Still not a fan of the Cerbera.
I was round at Dorothy Curetons the other day (the colour Cureton Green is named after her) and we were sat outside looking at Miss Daisy and Rose (her Dusty Rose Pink Cerbera (one of the fist cerbs ever built)) and I commented that although I am not keen on them I can appreciate the looks.
Dororty looked at me and said "yes, I know what you mean, but I love Rose".
I LOVED the Tamora as soon as I saw it, shame ppl based their opnions on the rear of it, which to me, looks fine, and the Tuscan, well when Dad pulled up outside our house in the black batmobile prototype all those years ago, I nearly cried...! then when he went off, I just stood there with my mouth open thinking WOW.
Claire
I was round at Dorothy Curetons the other day (the colour Cureton Green is named after her) and we were sat outside looking at Miss Daisy and Rose (her Dusty Rose Pink Cerbera (one of the fist cerbs ever built)) and I commented that although I am not keen on them I can appreciate the looks.
Dororty looked at me and said "yes, I know what you mean, but I love Rose".
I LOVED the Tamora as soon as I saw it, shame ppl based their opnions on the rear of it, which to me, looks fine, and the Tuscan, well when Dad pulled up outside our house in the black batmobile prototype all those years ago, I nearly cried...! then when he went off, I just stood there with my mouth open thinking WOW.
Claire
Derek Smith said:
his article on the Tam
Derek
It was your article (Tasty Tamora), that made me want a Tam so badly! Still having as much fun in it now as I did when I first bought it early last year, and I have had not one bad comment, coupled with the fact that I think it looks nigh on perfect and has never let me down, I wont be changing for a while yet!!!!
chris watton said:I'm relieved you're pleased!
his article on the Tam
Derek
It was your article (Tasty Tamora), that made me want a Tam so badly! Still having as much fun in it now as I did when I first bought it early last year, and I have had not one bad comment, coupled with the fact that I think it looks nigh on perfect and has never let me down, I wont be changing for a while yet!!!!
I was going to do a couple of pages on it but once I'd driven it I thought it deserved more. I think the article ran to six pages in the end. Amanda did a feature for Classic & Sportscar the previous month and they had a picture of her draped over a 911 with the suggestion that it attracted women. I took a picture of me draped over the Tam hoping to suggest that the car attracted men.
Was it as good as I said? I was overwhelmed by it.
I've avoided driving one since as I know I will never be able to afford to buy or run one. I'm buying a Chim this week and I don't want to keep thinking, "If only . . ." every time I open the garage door.
The car would be a beauty whatever it looked like.
Glad you are happy with it.
Derek
Derek Smith said:
I'm relieved you're pleased!
I was going to do a couple of pages on it but once I'd driven it I thought it deserved more. I think the article ran to six pages in the end. Amanda did a feature for Classic & Sportscar the previous month and they had a picture of her draped over a 911 with the suggestion that it attracted women. I took a picture of me draped over the Tam hoping to suggest that the car attracted men.
Was it as good as I said? I was overwhelmed by it.
I've avoided driving one since as I know I will never be able to afford to buy or run one. I'm buying a Chim this week and I don't want to keep thinking, "If only . . ." every time I open the garage door.
The car would be a beauty whatever it looked like.
Glad you are happy with it.
Derek
Your observations were spot on, it was the way you described the way it drove that convinced me I NEED one! And you were right! I traded my Chim 450 soon after for the Tam. I seen one when I first bought the Chim back in 2002, and I loved the way it looked then - like the Tuscan, it looked liked nothing else out there, with the squat stance, rear diffuser and the very clean, timeless lines, I liked it as much as the Tuscan - and looking at how low it was to the road, I just knew it would drive as well as it looked, your thoughts in your article confirmed that, and then some!
alloypearltam said:
I think the Tamora is probably TVR's best kept secret.
Can't help thinking that owners must feel quietly smug in the face of the Tamora's detractors. A hoot to drive. I spent a few days with one and 'converted' a Lotus fanatic to the wonder of TVRs with it. I didn't like the Tamora when it first came out. Subtle face lift, 18s and body-coloured splitter made all the difference. When you STAND and look at a Tamora, it looks kind of cute. But low down, especially in silver, it looks mean - suddenly looks sharky instead of smiley. Seeing a black Tamora in the mirror is a great sight too.
I wasn't a fan of the Cerbera when first shown (doors looked too long). Or the Tuscan (hated the row of front lights, the holey grille and the radius of the A pillar). Or the Sagaris at MPH2003 - I thought it was a joke and/or TVR had lost the plot.
All have grown on me, in particular the Cerbera.
Chimaeras have never truly grown on me, although the rear when following one, especially when roof is up, looks good. T350 passes me by - I don't know why because there's nothing I dislike about it. Griffith however was love at first sight.
Of all the non-TVR 'growers' though, I'd crown the Bangle 7 Series as biggest turnaround for me. Starting from having the urge to vomit on sight, I really like them now.
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