Why do people buy tamoras?
Discussion
This is not aimed as an offence to tamora owners before i start.
I kknow that they were the bottom of the range model ( not in a bad way obviously ) and the styling was a bit weird ( especially the back ) and it wasnt the most powerful engine, but still why does it give a certian shout about it that i cant quite put my finger on? Im sure some might see where im coming from and give me a reason why i do actually like it quite alot?
that could also sounds very very confusing, but for anyone who did get it, help
I kknow that they were the bottom of the range model ( not in a bad way obviously ) and the styling was a bit weird ( especially the back ) and it wasnt the most powerful engine, but still why does it give a certian shout about it that i cant quite put my finger on? Im sure some might see where im coming from and give me a reason why i do actually like it quite alot?
that could also sounds very very confusing, but for anyone who did get it, help
As an outsider looking in, I think I can comment.
Its small, light and agile - The Tuscan is too big and the Sag is too expensive.
Its a convertible, its unique - seen one on the road twice EVER.
Its a 10 second to 100 car. Bottom of the model range or whatever its still a quick car
I keep looking at them as an alternative/more comfy proposition to a high power elise.
And at 16k for a half decent 4 year old model with very few miles they seem a bargain.
A grigio 4.0 red rose with Nitrons and a big break kit would do nicely :-)
Its small, light and agile - The Tuscan is too big and the Sag is too expensive.
Its a convertible, its unique - seen one on the road twice EVER.
Its a 10 second to 100 car. Bottom of the model range or whatever its still a quick car
I keep looking at them as an alternative/more comfy proposition to a high power elise.
And at 16k for a half decent 4 year old model with very few miles they seem a bargain.
A grigio 4.0 red rose with Nitrons and a big break kit would do nicely :-)
Firstly, they look good, especially in the flip colours although I might be a little bias on that and they are few in number, about 340 in total IIRC and I have one of only 2 in Chameleon Blue. Secondly, it does not want to kill you quite as easy as say a Tuscan or a Cerb when you boot it & drive it hard. Thirdly, they sound great and are almost as quick as the other 'new' TVR cars, unless you were on a track I don't think you would spot a real difference.
Lastly, they may have been cheaper than the other models but they all share similar DNA, S6 engines, gearbox etc so price is not an issue. As already suggested how many cars that look and sound like a TVR for under 40K have sub 5/10 sec 0-60/100 times?. Even better I would suggest is easy access to second hand market. I paid less than 15K for a 12000 mile 52 plate car with a solid S6 engine.
Lastly, they may have been cheaper than the other models but they all share similar DNA, S6 engines, gearbox etc so price is not an issue. As already suggested how many cars that look and sound like a TVR for under 40K have sub 5/10 sec 0-60/100 times?. Even better I would suggest is easy access to second hand market. I paid less than 15K for a 12000 mile 52 plate car with a solid S6 engine.
Edited by shep1001 on Sunday 7th December 23:59
Edited by shep1001 on Monday 8th December 00:00
Ron Burgundy said:
This is not aimed as an offence to tamora owners before i start.
I kknow that they were the bottom of the range model ( not in a bad way obviously ) and the styling was a bit weird ( especially the back ) and it wasnt the most powerful engine, but still why does it give a certian shout about it that i cant quite put my finger on? Im sure some might see where im coming from and give me a reason why i do actually like it quite alot?
that could also sounds very very confusing, but for anyone who did get it, help
The Tamora was the same price as the T350, it was not a bottom of the range model.I kknow that they were the bottom of the range model ( not in a bad way obviously ) and the styling was a bit weird ( especially the back ) and it wasnt the most powerful engine, but still why does it give a certian shout about it that i cant quite put my finger on? Im sure some might see where im coming from and give me a reason why i do actually like it quite alot?
that could also sounds very very confusing, but for anyone who did get it, help
As an out of the box package, the Tamora is the best handling TVR to come out of Blackpool - get rid of that horrible Harvey Bailey supsension and it improves again.
As for it not being the most powerful engine, the standard model has a healthy (and quite honest) 350 bhp in a car weighing around 1150 kilos - enough for most folk. For those who want more, 400+ can be had if you wish to spend money, certainly the chassis is more than capable of handling the extra BHP.
The looks are a personal thing and with the rear defuser painted body colour rather than black the car looks better but is still an aquired taste.
Where the Tamora does fall short is that it struggles to get cool air to the brakes and under extreme use, even with a full S brakes (not just the fronts), good fluid and competition pads, brake fade will occur - not something that you will experience on the road and very few will see on the track. A very easy fix with some ducting, but thats the only thing I can fault the car on.
Buy a good one (if you can get the owner to part with it) and you'll have lots of fun with very little depreciation.
TVR_owner has it bang on. Fabulous handling (even on the standard suspension, if a bit twitchy on bumpy surfaces) and more than enough grunt for a road car (although plenty more is available when the engine needs its inevitable rebuild). I've never experienced brake fade from my standard stoppers, but it's never been on a track (just never got round to it. Honest 
).
The Tamora's arse is its only downfall - I still can't get used to it after all these years, yet it's my girlfriend's favourite part of the car.
I was there on press day at the motor show when the Tamora was launched. It was a big disappointment, especially after the Tuscan.
But as soon as I saw one on 18s and realised just how well the Tamora drives it became - for me - the best ever TVR. Wouldn't even swap it for a Sagaris because I like sports cars to be convertibles.
).The Tamora's arse is its only downfall - I still can't get used to it after all these years, yet it's my girlfriend's favourite part of the car.
I was there on press day at the motor show when the Tamora was launched. It was a big disappointment, especially after the Tuscan.
But as soon as I saw one on 18s and realised just how well the Tamora drives it became - for me - the best ever TVR. Wouldn't even swap it for a Sagaris because I like sports cars to be convertibles.
I think the Tam is an aquired taste and IMHO suits some colours better than others. Looks best in flips and pearls IMHO.
As for being the 'slow' engine, the 3.6 (also fitted to most T350s and many mk2 Tuscans) is still bloody quick and on the roads you'd never notice. The only problem being the lack of low down torque.
Handling wise they are one of the best TVRs, slightly softer than the T350 that shares the same chassis.
Personally I think the looks of the T350 sold the car to me over the Tam - one of which was given serious consideration.
As for being the 'slow' engine, the 3.6 (also fitted to most T350s and many mk2 Tuscans) is still bloody quick and on the roads you'd never notice. The only problem being the lack of low down torque.
Handling wise they are one of the best TVRs, slightly softer than the T350 that shares the same chassis.
Personally I think the looks of the T350 sold the car to me over the Tam - one of which was given serious consideration.
I moved from a Chim to a Tamora. When I was looking to change, I decided a couple of things. IMO a sports car has to be a convertible, although I think the T350 is stunning looking, its not, so that left me with only a couple of options. Tuscan or a Tam.
At the time, the only Tuscans in my budget where not the Tuscan 2 convertible, so I quickly rulled it out because I really don't like the roof arrangement with the rear glass panel etc.
Which left just one, the Tamora. The looks are an aquired taste, but as mentioned above, the rear is greatly improved with body colour rear splitter, and 18' wheels are way better. My wife and many others have commented that its better looking than my old Chim, but that I think is partly the colour.
Personally I absolutely love it. Handling is excellent, doesn't seem to come and bite you as much as my Chim, even in damp conditions. Never been in a 4.0 S6 car, and I am sure there is a difference, but the 3.6 gives me all that I want and is competetive with just about anything else on the road (not that I race anyone you understand!) And the styling is IMO wonderful.
So, thats why I bought one.
At the time, the only Tuscans in my budget where not the Tuscan 2 convertible, so I quickly rulled it out because I really don't like the roof arrangement with the rear glass panel etc.
Which left just one, the Tamora. The looks are an aquired taste, but as mentioned above, the rear is greatly improved with body colour rear splitter, and 18' wheels are way better. My wife and many others have commented that its better looking than my old Chim, but that I think is partly the colour.
Personally I absolutely love it. Handling is excellent, doesn't seem to come and bite you as much as my Chim, even in damp conditions. Never been in a 4.0 S6 car, and I am sure there is a difference, but the 3.6 gives me all that I want and is competetive with just about anything else on the road (not that I race anyone you understand!) And the styling is IMO wonderful.
So, thats why I bought one.
+1
LaserTam said:
I moved from a Chim to a Tamora. When I was looking to change, I decided a couple of things. IMO a sports car has to be a convertible, although I think the T350 is stunning looking, its not, so that left me with only a couple of options. Tuscan or a Tam.
At the time, the only Tuscans in my budget where not the Tuscan 2 convertible, so I quickly rulled it out because I really don't like the roof arrangement with the rear glass panel etc.
Which left just one, the Tamora. The looks are an aquired taste, but as mentioned above, the rear is greatly improved with body colour rear splitter, and 18' wheels are way better. My wife and many others have commented that its better looking than my old Chim, but that I think is partly the colour.
Personally I absolutely love it. Handling is excellent, doesn't seem to come and bite you as much as my Chim, even in damp conditions. Never been in a 4.0 S6 car, and I am sure there is a difference, but the 3.6 gives me all that I want and is competetive with just about anything else on the road (not that I race anyone you understand!) And the styling is IMO wonderful.
So, thats why I bought one.
Agree 100% At the time, the only Tuscans in my budget where not the Tuscan 2 convertible, so I quickly rulled it out because I really don't like the roof arrangement with the rear glass panel etc.
Which left just one, the Tamora. The looks are an aquired taste, but as mentioned above, the rear is greatly improved with body colour rear splitter, and 18' wheels are way better. My wife and many others have commented that its better looking than my old Chim, but that I think is partly the colour.
Personally I absolutely love it. Handling is excellent, doesn't seem to come and bite you as much as my Chim, even in damp conditions. Never been in a 4.0 S6 car, and I am sure there is a difference, but the 3.6 gives me all that I want and is competetive with just about anything else on the road (not that I race anyone you understand!) And the styling is IMO wonderful.
So, thats why I bought one.
I think if I go back into the TVR fold a Tamora will be top of the list. I had an 02 car new and on track it was superb, as enjoyable (if not more so) than the Sagaris I owned a few years later. On the roads, B roads in particular, it was a bit twitchy on the steering and required serious concentration. Maybe the 16" wheels would be better for road use?
I've yet to have experienced one from the hot seat, but the Tamora is widely acknowledged as being the best sorted TVR until the Sagaris dynamically, particularly if left on standard 16" alloys. Having been lucky enough to passenger in one (albeit on 18s) at Spa-Francorchamps, I can believe the hype. It's small, wieldy, as light as an early Chimmie or Griff and feels very planted where contemporary Tuscans, exciting as they are, never feel quite settled enough to want to grab them by the scruff of the neck and drive them.
As for 'entry level'- one problem of the post-Cerbera model line-up is that it consisted of cars with very similar power to weight ratios and thus, overall performance - leaving not much scope for people 'upgrading' within the range... Out of them, one just chooses the one that floats your boat.
As for 'entry level'- one problem of the post-Cerbera model line-up is that it consisted of cars with very similar power to weight ratios and thus, overall performance - leaving not much scope for people 'upgrading' within the range... Out of them, one just chooses the one that floats your boat.
Gassing Station | Tamora, T350 & Sagaris | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff