Discussion
Hi
I need a little advice. I'm considering buying a Sag and using it for a tour round Europe. Here's the catch though, I've never driven anything with nearly so much grunt. To date the most powerful car I've driven is a 130Bhp Mazda MX3. So thats my issue really, is this a really bad idea? Is the Sag an easy car to drive? Is it comfortable enough to sit in for 12 hrs?
I've been driving for eight years and think I have a healthy sense of dicipline/fear of death behind the wheel. I'm fairly comfortable with oversteer and countersteering as my Maz suffers badly from lift-off oversteer in the wet, though of course I'm hoping not to run into such problems.
I'd be a lot happier if it had traction control or abs. The other option would be a Noble M12 which has a similar 0-60 time but just seems to be a more managable car, though no where near as pretty!
Thanks, and remember your answers could save me some big trouble!
I need a little advice. I'm considering buying a Sag and using it for a tour round Europe. Here's the catch though, I've never driven anything with nearly so much grunt. To date the most powerful car I've driven is a 130Bhp Mazda MX3. So thats my issue really, is this a really bad idea? Is the Sag an easy car to drive? Is it comfortable enough to sit in for 12 hrs?
I've been driving for eight years and think I have a healthy sense of dicipline/fear of death behind the wheel. I'm fairly comfortable with oversteer and countersteering as my Maz suffers badly from lift-off oversteer in the wet, though of course I'm hoping not to run into such problems.
I'd be a lot happier if it had traction control or abs. The other option would be a Noble M12 which has a similar 0-60 time but just seems to be a more managable car, though no where near as pretty!
Thanks, and remember your answers could save me some big trouble!
If yer going to tour the Noble isnt so much in the same league as the Sagaris, it just might as well be playing a different game, the Sagaris is the superior motor for the job. Track work might be a different matter, but touring the Sagaris wins it everday.
As to whether or not it is a bad idea, personally I would pick something in between first. I went Mx5, MG TF, Griffith 4.3, Sagaris and gradually upped my power levels and I toured Europe and GB in all of them. The Sagaris is a very easy machine to drive fast, wet or dry. It will telegraph its intentions to you and correcting drifts and the back end coming out is all quite easy. A possible area of concern is that if it does let go and you havent caught it, accidents tend to be of the big variety because you are carrying a lot more speed in the car than in normal stuff! In many ways, a lot of this car is about confidence and if you have the confidence to pick it up and drive it, you will be just fine. If you dont have that and spend half your time worrying you will increase your chances of having an accident in it quite considerably, it isnt a car happy with nervous inputs, it likes smooth and easy.
As to whether or not it is a bad idea, personally I would pick something in between first. I went Mx5, MG TF, Griffith 4.3, Sagaris and gradually upped my power levels and I toured Europe and GB in all of them. The Sagaris is a very easy machine to drive fast, wet or dry. It will telegraph its intentions to you and correcting drifts and the back end coming out is all quite easy. A possible area of concern is that if it does let go and you havent caught it, accidents tend to be of the big variety because you are carrying a lot more speed in the car than in normal stuff! In many ways, a lot of this car is about confidence and if you have the confidence to pick it up and drive it, you will be just fine. If you dont have that and spend half your time worrying you will increase your chances of having an accident in it quite considerably, it isnt a car happy with nervous inputs, it likes smooth and easy.
You do not say when you are going, but if I was touring around Europe I would go for a convertible. If in the summer air con will be essential in eg Spain, in the winter the cabin will be warm enough anyways. As to which car I would say the Tamora or a Chimaera. For a tin top I would also consider the T350C.
I suggest you try them all first, and see which ones stirs your blood the most.
As to driving just remember to kneel down by the drivers door and say 'You are a wonderful but powerful car, I love you and I will always respect you', everytime before getting in.
Steven
I suggest you try them all first, and see which ones stirs your blood the most.
As to driving just remember to kneel down by the drivers door and say 'You are a wonderful but powerful car, I love you and I will always respect you', everytime before getting in.
Steven
I made this step when I purchased a Tamora. Although the Sag is faster than the Tam 
I can still offer some advice here. I have an MR2 Mk2 (168bhp) and have been driving this for about 7-8 yrs. The step from the MR2 to the Tam is immense, but if you take it easy for the first few months until you become confident you can handle the performance change, then I think you will do fine with the Sag. Thats the key - take it EASY!!!!!!
I can't begin to describe the fun and enjoyment of owning and driving a TVR
- you will discover this yourself.
So don't worry about the performance change, just go for it and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. Driving the MR2 after driving the Tam is like driving a bus - and the MR2 is no slouch
.
I can still offer some advice here. I have an MR2 Mk2 (168bhp) and have been driving this for about 7-8 yrs. The step from the MR2 to the Tam is immense, but if you take it easy for the first few months until you become confident you can handle the performance change, then I think you will do fine with the Sag. Thats the key - take it EASY!!!!!! I can't begin to describe the fun and enjoyment of owning and driving a TVR
- you will discover this yourself. So don't worry about the performance change, just go for it and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. Driving the MR2 after driving the Tam is like driving a bus - and the MR2 is no slouch
.As long as you don't drive like a cock and take the time to learn the car you will be fine.
Would say that a Tuscan S would be a better GT car than a Sag which rides a bit harder.
The seats in a Tam, T350 or Sag will break you if you are doing more than 3 hours a day. Le Mans nearly crippled me in the Tam.
Would say that a Tuscan S would be a better GT car than a Sag which rides a bit harder.
The seats in a Tam, T350 or Sag will break you if you are doing more than 3 hours a day. Le Mans nearly crippled me in the Tam.
DJC said:
If yer going to tour the Noble isnt so much in the same league as the Sagaris, it just might as well be playing a different game, the Sagaris is the superior motor for the job. Track work might be a different matter, but touring the Sagaris wins it everday.
Agreed - afaik the Noble has no boot at all whereas the Sag/T350 has a very good sized boot for touring
ed said:
The seats in a Tam, T350 or Sag will break you if you are doing more than 3 hours a day. Le Mans nearly crippled me in the Tam.
Not what I found.
Did 3500 miles over a couple of weeks down to the South of France, Monaco, Italy, CH and every single day I would have quite happily turned around and done the roads the other way around. Some days we were driving 12odd hours and on the couple of driving rest days we had I wanted to go and find some more twisty roads!
I went from a 140bhp MX5 to the Tam, and would highly recommend making the switch. As others have said just take it easy. You don't need to use all of that long throttle every time you press it. Wait until you have clear and straight road in front of you before you fully nail it, and take special care in the wet/damp/been wet recently conditions.
Any modern TVR is a pussy cat and easy to drive at normal speeds. No need for traction control etc. However, when you step up the speed it requires more attention and experience. Thus, get what you like and so long as you drive normally you'll be fine. Give it some welly and just remember the grim reaper on your shoulder.
Oh, and I've had no problems with the seats. Driving major distances across Europe without any problems. The biggest issue would be the noise (which I don't mind, but some may find intrusive).
Oh, and I've had no problems with the seats. Driving major distances across Europe without any problems. The biggest issue would be the noise (which I don't mind, but some may find intrusive).
lukesr said:
Don't be so pathetic, I went from a 1.4l Peugeot 206 to a Tamora. As long as you can drive and don't do anything stupid you'll be fine. Owning a TVR is the greatest thing in the world
Went from a E30 BMW 316 to a Cerbera 4.5. And the Sagaris is much more surefooted and stable than the Cerb . As long as you take it easy and respect the car, can't see it being a problem. Thanks for all the advice, I feel more reassured now. I was contemplating fitting a rev limiter, but I think it best I try and arrange a track day with the car before I buy.
I'll be touring this time next year so I've got some time to asses the thing and make the right decision. Really wish I could tell you more about what I'm planning to do with it, but I don't want to go shooting my mouth off until my plans are closer to being realised
Cheers
I'll be touring this time next year so I've got some time to asses the thing and make the right decision. Really wish I could tell you more about what I'm planning to do with it, but I don't want to go shooting my mouth off until my plans are closer to being realised
Cheers
Milks said:
Really wish I could tell you more about what I'm planning to do with it, but I don't want to go shooting my mouth off until my plans are closer to being realised
Cheers
Cheers
Go on, tell us
Whichever car you choose, I just think you need to buy it a good few months before your European trip, so you have a chance to gradually get used to it in the UK, with roads you know better, rather than trying to find out in a strange land with strange roads.
You will have no problems. We did the south of France to Northamptonshire in one day last summer with outside temperatures of 37C and got out feeling absolutely fine. The Sagaris is happy to sit at 110mph for hours and hours on European motorways with the aircon keeping you cool. (Make sure you get one with aircon or you will melt in continental heat).
You won’t have any problems with the lack of driver aids unless you drive like an idiot. I went from an Impreza Turbo to a Tuscan and simply spent the first 3 months slowly getting used to the car and learning how it responded. (And the mark one Tuscan is less stable that a Sagaris). Sure, you can get lift off over steer, but you have to be cornering very hard and really provoke it.
As others have said above, the sensible thing to do would be to buy the car a few months before you go on you trip to have time to get used to it.
You won’t have any problems with the lack of driver aids unless you drive like an idiot. I went from an Impreza Turbo to a Tuscan and simply spent the first 3 months slowly getting used to the car and learning how it responded. (And the mark one Tuscan is less stable that a Sagaris). Sure, you can get lift off over steer, but you have to be cornering very hard and really provoke it.
As others have said above, the sensible thing to do would be to buy the car a few months before you go on you trip to have time to get used to it.
A driving course is a good investment whether you get a Sagaris or not.
The car has 380bhp in 1100kg. It ought to be virtually undriveable but the long travel throttle and lack of low down (traction breaking) torque means the Sagaris is much less of a handful than something like the less powerful Griffith. The first TVR I drove was a mk 1 Tuscan S. The noise was so fearsome and power so exciting I got all my kicks and more in a straight line and under 100mph, so didn't feel the need to push it in the corners. It felt like it was going 200mph at 50, so noisy and exciting was it. For comparison, I drove a V8 M5 around the same time and ended up going 120 everywhere. The car was so lardy, numb and quiet in comparison I had to thrash it just to stay awake. Consequently I believe 'deceptively fast' cars are more hazardous to one's licence and health.
Just for your information a Sagaris with standard gearbox will easily break traction in first gear, so if you're used to nailing a car in first, get used to changing up early into second and make sure you're going in a dead straight line before giving it full beans. That's in bone dry, ideal conditions with fresh rubber. Add rain or worn tyres and you can rip up all you know. A Sagaris will likely wheelspin in 3rd with standard gearing in the wet, and that's in a straight line. If this happens it's not too bad as the Saggy's chassis balance is fundamentally on your side. But be smart and use your common sense - this is a clear warning to not even try high rpm round a wet corner. Instead use the lower, friendlier part of the rev range and you'll be astounded at the grip and traction available from the excellent Goodyear Eagle F1's.
My Sagaris has a close ratio gearbox which gives a higher first gear than the standard car's second, allowing full beans in the dry. Very few cars of this performance can do this as few are as highly geared. Having owned fast cars for a while, I almost never floor a car in first. I almost never floor a car full stop. Remember that a Sagaris on half throttle will easily pass something like a Golf GTi going flat out. But TVR's long travel throttle is a great tool and will look after you, as it makes it hard to 'floor' the car and will make you more progressive on the throttle. The problem with being used to driving slow cars is that people tend to use the throttle as a switch, ie full on or full off. A modern TVR is one of the best and most glorious introductions to a new and interesting world of progressive throttle control. Keep your brain in gear and you'll be fine. Enjoy!
The car has 380bhp in 1100kg. It ought to be virtually undriveable but the long travel throttle and lack of low down (traction breaking) torque means the Sagaris is much less of a handful than something like the less powerful Griffith. The first TVR I drove was a mk 1 Tuscan S. The noise was so fearsome and power so exciting I got all my kicks and more in a straight line and under 100mph, so didn't feel the need to push it in the corners. It felt like it was going 200mph at 50, so noisy and exciting was it. For comparison, I drove a V8 M5 around the same time and ended up going 120 everywhere. The car was so lardy, numb and quiet in comparison I had to thrash it just to stay awake. Consequently I believe 'deceptively fast' cars are more hazardous to one's licence and health.
Just for your information a Sagaris with standard gearbox will easily break traction in first gear, so if you're used to nailing a car in first, get used to changing up early into second and make sure you're going in a dead straight line before giving it full beans. That's in bone dry, ideal conditions with fresh rubber. Add rain or worn tyres and you can rip up all you know. A Sagaris will likely wheelspin in 3rd with standard gearing in the wet, and that's in a straight line. If this happens it's not too bad as the Saggy's chassis balance is fundamentally on your side. But be smart and use your common sense - this is a clear warning to not even try high rpm round a wet corner. Instead use the lower, friendlier part of the rev range and you'll be astounded at the grip and traction available from the excellent Goodyear Eagle F1's.
My Sagaris has a close ratio gearbox which gives a higher first gear than the standard car's second, allowing full beans in the dry. Very few cars of this performance can do this as few are as highly geared. Having owned fast cars for a while, I almost never floor a car in first. I almost never floor a car full stop. Remember that a Sagaris on half throttle will easily pass something like a Golf GTi going flat out. But TVR's long travel throttle is a great tool and will look after you, as it makes it hard to 'floor' the car and will make you more progressive on the throttle. The problem with being used to driving slow cars is that people tend to use the throttle as a switch, ie full on or full off. A modern TVR is one of the best and most glorious introductions to a new and interesting world of progressive throttle control. Keep your brain in gear and you'll be fine. Enjoy!
Edited by the pits on Thursday 31st August 17:26
Ive just come back from Europe, did 3,000 miles from London to the bottom of Italy and back in a T350 and that is very much similar to the Sag, if not identical on the inside. I found it a pleasure to drive the entire way.. did a similar trip in a Porsche last year and by the time I got back I was taking Tramadol for the back pain.. I even slept in the T350.
Sag is hugely more powerful than an 130 BHP and you will cr@p yourself like it or not, but this will give you unlimited respect for the car so I wouldn't worry, you'll go as fast as your nerves will carry you and the Sag will be well behaved enough to look after you.
Why not go for a T350? half the price, similar looks and nearly as quick (though not as stable at high speeds).. Just and idea.
HTH
Sag is hugely more powerful than an 130 BHP and you will cr@p yourself like it or not, but this will give you unlimited respect for the car so I wouldn't worry, you'll go as fast as your nerves will carry you and the Sag will be well behaved enough to look after you.
Why not go for a T350? half the price, similar looks and nearly as quick (though not as stable at high speeds).. Just and idea.
HTH
ed said:
As long as you don't drive like a cock and take the time to learn the car you will be fine.
Would say that a Tuscan S would be a better GT car than a Sag which rides a bit harder.
The seats in a Tam, T350 or Sag will break you if you are doing more than 3 hours a day . Le Mans nearly crippled me in the Tam.
Would say that a Tuscan S would be a better GT car than a Sag which rides a bit harder.
The seats in a Tam, T350 or Sag will break you if you are doing more than 3 hours a day . Le Mans nearly crippled me in the Tam.
errr... not sure about that.. I did 24 hours straight and found the car VERY, comftable.
Co-piolt said it was better on his back than his M3.. What good for one isnt always the same for someone else I suppose.
Edited by honahont350 on Thursday 31st August 18:23
Gassing Station | Tamora, T350 & Sagaris | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff