Just wanted to share how I'm feeling...
Discussion
I've been feeling a bit despondent recently - with the factory closure, and all the doom stories about the worthlessness of my warranty, I've been wondering if it was such a good idea to buy my new Tuscan 2S Convertible last year. On top of this, I went away for Christmas, so hadn't driven the car for over a month.
This morning, for the first time this year, I thought I'd go and see if the car would start - bearing in mind that it's kept in a cold garage, and hasn't moved in over a month, I had visions of needing to get the RAC out just to start it (no, I still haven't invested in a battery charger, daft, I know, but I never seem to get round to it...). Anyway, it was a cold and miserable day, but the car did start, so I thought I'd take it for a bit of a spin - I live in SE London, and the roads were full of traffic, and the car isn't great when it's cold so I thought I'd go a bit further afield. Driving in traffic when the car is cold, I started to notice a few niggly noises - there is a bit of drive-train clunking, and a few annoying squeaks, and on top of this, the car is filthy, so visibility wasn't great. As I sat at some traffic lights, I did still wonder if I'd got the right car, but then something amazing happened... As the car warmed up, and I started to rev it a bit more (still sticking to my self-imposed rev limit, dependent on oil temp), it started to come alive, and then 40 minutes later, with the engine up to temperature, but still behind loads of traffic on a motorway, the road cleared ahead, the Porsche 911 in front moved over, I found third gear, and we were gone - through the revs in 3rd and 4th and into 5th, and suddenly I remember everything about this car and why I love it so much. A quick glance at the speedo highlighted just how quick the car is - a dab of brakes got me down to a more license-friendly speed. The feel coming through the steering and the seats tells you all you need to know about the road surface; there is so much power, it's possible to unstick the wheels in 3rd gear, even in the dry. I spent the next hour cruising around dual carriageways and good A roads, revelling in the power, loving the feel as you accelerate hard through 1st, 2nd and 3rd as the car struggles for grip initially and then throws you towards the horizon! Brilliant.
Back through London in a warmed-up car is a different experience, you can just cruise - no need for revs, just ride the torque and waft along.
Putting the car back in the garage I sat in the seat for a while remembering some of the great times had in the car in 2006:
- being one of 25 Tuscan convertibles on the parade lap for the GP Masters at Silverstone
- being one of hundreds of TVRs for London Thunder, an emotional day with Brent from the factory in the passenger seat
- helping to take the RAC Tourist Trophy to Silverstone from the RAC Club
- blowing away all kinds of expensive machinery on track days at Silverstone and Bedford
- and finally, driving through Tuscany and down to Sicily for our summer hols.
I love this car, and am already looking forward to seeing what 2007 will bring - one thing's for sure, whatever happens, I'll be facing it in one of the best cars I've ever driven, and certainly the best car I've ever owned - Tom, the Tuscan.
Richard
This morning, for the first time this year, I thought I'd go and see if the car would start - bearing in mind that it's kept in a cold garage, and hasn't moved in over a month, I had visions of needing to get the RAC out just to start it (no, I still haven't invested in a battery charger, daft, I know, but I never seem to get round to it...). Anyway, it was a cold and miserable day, but the car did start, so I thought I'd take it for a bit of a spin - I live in SE London, and the roads were full of traffic, and the car isn't great when it's cold so I thought I'd go a bit further afield. Driving in traffic when the car is cold, I started to notice a few niggly noises - there is a bit of drive-train clunking, and a few annoying squeaks, and on top of this, the car is filthy, so visibility wasn't great. As I sat at some traffic lights, I did still wonder if I'd got the right car, but then something amazing happened... As the car warmed up, and I started to rev it a bit more (still sticking to my self-imposed rev limit, dependent on oil temp), it started to come alive, and then 40 minutes later, with the engine up to temperature, but still behind loads of traffic on a motorway, the road cleared ahead, the Porsche 911 in front moved over, I found third gear, and we were gone - through the revs in 3rd and 4th and into 5th, and suddenly I remember everything about this car and why I love it so much. A quick glance at the speedo highlighted just how quick the car is - a dab of brakes got me down to a more license-friendly speed. The feel coming through the steering and the seats tells you all you need to know about the road surface; there is so much power, it's possible to unstick the wheels in 3rd gear, even in the dry. I spent the next hour cruising around dual carriageways and good A roads, revelling in the power, loving the feel as you accelerate hard through 1st, 2nd and 3rd as the car struggles for grip initially and then throws you towards the horizon! Brilliant.
Back through London in a warmed-up car is a different experience, you can just cruise - no need for revs, just ride the torque and waft along.
Putting the car back in the garage I sat in the seat for a while remembering some of the great times had in the car in 2006:
- being one of 25 Tuscan convertibles on the parade lap for the GP Masters at Silverstone
- being one of hundreds of TVRs for London Thunder, an emotional day with Brent from the factory in the passenger seat
- helping to take the RAC Tourist Trophy to Silverstone from the RAC Club
- blowing away all kinds of expensive machinery on track days at Silverstone and Bedford
- and finally, driving through Tuscany and down to Sicily for our summer hols.
I love this car, and am already looking forward to seeing what 2007 will bring - one thing's for sure, whatever happens, I'll be facing it in one of the best cars I've ever driven, and certainly the best car I've ever owned - Tom, the Tuscan.
Richard
Edited by rejn on Sunday 28th January 14:59
rejn said:
I love this car, and am already looking forward to seeing what 2007 will bring - one thing's for sure, whatever happens, I'll be facing it in one of the best cars I've ever driven, and certainly the best car I've ever owned - Tom, the Tuscan.
Richard
And one of the best looking, you lucky sod
that is exactly what tvr ownership is all about, there aint nothing i have ever driven or rode on that brings that feeling its amazing. dispite all the bad news and the feelings of sorrow for the workers who have been let down so badly by mismanagement you only have to go out in them and that grin and feeling soon returns.just sad i am moving to the USA and she has to go gonna miss the car terribly.
Edited by gudgeon on Sunday 28th January 15:46
Great post Richard.
Due to a shoulder operation last September, I had been unable to drive my Tuscan until this weekend. 4 months of pain with the shoulder and misery at not being able to drive.
Yesterday, I climbed into the cockpit and thanks to the Accumate, the Tuscan fired up first turn of the starter.
Once everything had warmed up and even the sun had appeared, I spent a glorious hour blatting around the Kent countryside and grinning from ear to ear.
I had forgotten just how much pleasure this car had given me over the last 2 years.
What a wonderful weekend.
:
Due to a shoulder operation last September, I had been unable to drive my Tuscan until this weekend. 4 months of pain with the shoulder and misery at not being able to drive.
Yesterday, I climbed into the cockpit and thanks to the Accumate, the Tuscan fired up first turn of the starter.
Once everything had warmed up and even the sun had appeared, I spent a glorious hour blatting around the Kent countryside and grinning from ear to ear.
I had forgotten just how much pleasure this car had given me over the last 2 years.
What a wonderful weekend.
:Brent - great to hear you are up & running again, hope to see you soon
Richard - if you fancy getting together with many like minded locals then please drop me a line via my profile. We have our local monthly meet next Sunday at Dunton Green (Im in Bromley) & it would be great if you could join us sometime.
All the best
Nick
SE London & NW Kent TVRCC
Richard - if you fancy getting together with many like minded locals then please drop me a line via my profile. We have our local monthly meet next Sunday at Dunton Green (Im in Bromley) & it would be great if you could join us sometime.
All the best
Nick
SE London & NW Kent TVRCC
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