Every cloud - silver lining etc

[Markytop]

While it is certainly no consolation to the guys on here who have damaged their cars in the past days (glad you both walked away) it has in a bizarre way helped settle my mind. Bought a Cerbie in autumn, and shortly afterwards while in my everyday runabout (Audi A3) was driven into by a 38tn truck, causing reasonable amount of damage to the Audi. Given that is built like a tank I was worried what would have happened if I had been in the Cerbie. However seeing these pictures of how they stand up to big accidents (especially the rollover) has made me think they are stronger than they look/appear. Guess it comes in handy having a full roll cage?

The thoughts of "Oh my god what have I bought and I must get rid before I injure myself!!" are disappearing now. Still going to treat it with serious respect though, especially given the horrible slimy state the roads are currently in.
Guess it is just part of the learning process for me being used to 4 wheel drive Audi's

Mark

[david smith]

as I have said on one of the other threads it is a little reassuring to see
how they stand up! ... my lotus smash could have been a lot worse for me if it was steel!

moral this weather is take it easy - we have nothing to prove - winter months for posing!

DAS

[jesfirth]

I feel much safer chucking the cerb around a track than I did in my 400SE-also having seen the recent photos has only reinforced my opinion of these great cars

[cirks]

jesfirth said:

I feel much safer chucking the cerb around a track than I did in my 400SE

Not everyone is quite as on the limit on track as you though are they Anyway, don't forget that the Wedges actually have more reinforcement than the Griffs, Chimaeras etc.. Not that I want to be hit in any of them.
p.s would be good to see you again

[jesfirth]

I am hoping to get to the rolling road day on 25th Feb but I believe my wife may have other ideas! I am also hoping to get to the odd TVRCC track day this year with my neighbour who has bought a Tuscan. Could be fun!

[Tam Lin]

jesfirth said:

I feel much safer chucking the cerb around a track than I did in my 400SE-also having seen the recent photos has only reinforced my opinion of these great cars

From Andy's (APM Autos) findings, the only real weakness appears to be that the roll cage is in fact not triangulated to anything at the rear (c/d pillar). This is borne out by the crash photos, where the rear canopy appears to have suffered more than the front.

Not a real concern on track, but to be borne in mind by those of us with sprogs in the back. I may install a hoop or something around the child-seat, based on the TVR seat mounting points.

[purpleheadedcerb]

Kids are so low down in the back anyway. At least if they can fit in they tend to be. I don't use more than 50% throttle with them in anyway. No point in risking it.

[jesfirth]

there was me thinking the change up light was the target in every gear-only joking not with my kids in the car-I drive like an octegenarian when they are with me.

[Tam Lin]

purpleheadedcerb said:

Kids are so low down in the back anyway. At least if they can fit in they tend to be.

Agree on the active safety bit of your post..but..my three year old is 3ft, so say 1.5 ft vertical length above seat. And as the child seat is on a platform, and the seat itself is quite thick, this does raise the kid up a bit. If you draw a line from the top of the A pillar to the first thing with any substance at the rear (top of fuel tank), you have a worst case roll-over scenario. In my case therefore, I either have to lower the sprog (ie sit him down without the booster cushion), or reinforce his survival cell.

[purpleheadedcerb]

I hadn't factored in booster seats. Don't use one with our youngest who has just turned 4. Good luck with it, be interesting to see if there is a relatively easy fix for this but I suspect as with most roll cages, the diagonal bar will need to be just where your kids are sat.

[jesfirth]

completely agree-can you run the braces for the hoop down to the rear suspension mounts or does the fuel tank get in the way?

[Tam Lin]

jesfirth said:

completely agree-can you run the braces for the hoop down to the rear suspension mounts or does the fuel tank get in the way?

I'll put up some pictures on here if I manage something clever. Otherwise, it is tempting just to dispense with the booster cushion..