TVR has changed my driving!
Discussion
Have now had my Chimaera for almost three weeks, and absolutely love it! People let me out at junctions, wave and smile at the car - and I have become a polite and happy motorist. Got back in the BMW today - and I have been letting people out, using those flashing light thingies when turning and generally being nice to other people - is this going to last, or is it a transient thing? If it is going to last, I will probably have to sell the BMW, as I would not fit in with the reputation of a standard BMW driver!
Same thing happened to me (both times !). I think I confused people when I had my various BM's as they never expect a curtious BM driver !
The other thing I've noticed is I have less inclination to race (well, slightly) and drive so much smoother in the TVR than any other car I've owned ... wierd !
The other thing I've noticed is I have less inclination to race (well, slightly) and drive so much smoother in the TVR than any other car I've owned ... wierd !
I'm the same. Before the Chimaera I had always owned cheapo GTi's and alike. Always found myself rushing round everywhere, foot to the floor most of the time.
Now I seem to just cruise round, quite happy to sit in those other 2 lanes on the motorway which I thought were just for lorries, alegro's and for me to use to get to the fast lane!! I flash people (fnnarr fnnarr), to let them out before me, don't race through yellow traffic lights and don't bite when there's a Novaman spoiling for a fight!
But ironicly, I've built up more points on my license in 1 year of TVR ownership than 10 years previously! I think they were just bad luck though.
>> Edited by dannyboyo on Saturday 3rd January 10:37
Now I seem to just cruise round, quite happy to sit in those other 2 lanes on the motorway which I thought were just for lorries, alegro's and for me to use to get to the fast lane!! I flash people (fnnarr fnnarr), to let them out before me, don't race through yellow traffic lights and don't bite when there's a Novaman spoiling for a fight!
But ironicly, I've built up more points on my license in 1 year of TVR ownership than 10 years previously! I think they were just bad luck though.
>> Edited by dannyboyo on Saturday 3rd January 10:37
I'm afraid this is a "me too" reply. I'm more considerate, drive more smoothly and generally take more notice of the IAM stuff I learnt a few years back. I don't bite when Novaman revs his little engine at the traffic lights, however, when I accelerate at a moderate pace away from said lights, my moderate pace is a lot more than his "balls out, foot to the floor" pace 
.
Only thing is, if I'm not carefull I'll end up with points on my license..... I looked down at the speedo last night and found I was doing around a ton along the M4
and it just gets there sooooooo easily. I don't think I'll be switching the dash lights off any time soon 
you can't see the speedo at all then, and I hate to think how quick I could do Swindon to Chippenham then 
. Only thing is, if I'm not carefull I'll end up with points on my license..... I looked down at the speedo last night and found I was doing around a ton along the M4
and it just gets there sooooooo easily. I don't think I'll be switching the dash lights off any time soon you can't see the speedo at all then, and I hate to think how quick I could do Swindon to Chippenham then Same here! I probably drive slower in my Chimaera 4.0 (owned for nearly 2 months), than i did in my Fiesta Zetec-S.
In the Fiesta, i felt i had to prove to everyone that my car was reasonably nippy. Now i just cruise around in the knowledge that i'm quicker than most of the cars on the road.
And it's also much more hard work driving the TVR quickly - so most of the time i dont!
In the Fiesta, i felt i had to prove to everyone that my car was reasonably nippy. Now i just cruise around in the knowledge that i'm quicker than most of the cars on the road.
And it's also much more hard work driving the TVR quickly - so most of the time i dont!
I used to chuck the MINI around corners because it was a go cart and stuck to the road no matter what you did. 
With the Chimaera an utterly different driving style is required.
I have started to play (in deserted car parks!) with getting the back end out and recovering (kinda like half donuts and driving off) just to get the feel for what it can and can't do. The difference between wet and dry is very significant; driving at the moment requires a more delicate use of the throttle so I tend to curl my toes to control it rather than use my entire leg (if you see what I mean!)
Anyway, whatever car has taken your fancy be careful out there. As we have heard, even the most experienced drivers can get caught out!
Keep 'em shiny and dent free folks!
Ace-T
With the Chimaera an utterly different driving style is required. I have started to play (in deserted car parks!) with getting the back end out and recovering (kinda like half donuts and driving off) just to get the feel for what it can and can't do. The difference between wet and dry is very significant; driving at the moment requires a more delicate use of the throttle so I tend to curl my toes to control it rather than use my entire leg (if you see what I mean!)
Anyway, whatever car has taken your fancy be careful out there. As we have heard, even the most experienced drivers can get caught out!
Keep 'em shiny and dent free folks!
Ace-T
jsr said:
Same here! I probably drive slower in my Chimaera 4.0 (owned for nearly 2 months), than i did in my Fiesta Zetec-S.
In the Fiesta, i felt i had to prove to everyone that my car was reasonably nippy. Now i just cruise around in the knowledge that i'm quicker than most of the cars on the road.
Yup, me too!!
I tend to drive my *generic BMW* (not my words I hasten to add, show yourself you know who you are
) harder and faster than I do in the Chim. I've come to the conclusion that this is partly to help alleviate the boredom of driving an ordinary car. In other words, I don't have to go fast in Trev to derive enjoyment from driving because I love everything about the car not just the power. But the power is there if you need it of course!! 
With regard to other driver's attitudes towards me, I haven't noticed a great deal of difference in the way I'm treated whether I'm out and about in the beemer or the Chim. For instance, they'll let me out of side-roads irrespective of which car I'm in (mostly by guys I have to say). But then I'm a considerate and courteous driver too
I get loads of enjoyment just looking at my car, let alone driving it!
I have noticed a difference - more people are more willing to be courteous to me (probably to have a better look at the car or hear it drive by!). But there's also more people who want to race me or drive right up my exhaust.
I find it quite incredible that white van man, or a 1.6 Orion with 5 kids in think they actually have any chance against me! I try not to let it get to me.
In the fiesta, i would have race almost anyone, but now i just ignore them. Of course, every now and then, i'll 'humiliate' someone and show them the difference between a regular car and a TVR, but they really have to be winding me up first!
cosmoschick said:
With regard to other driver's attitudes towards me, I haven't noticed a great deal of difference in the way I'm treated whether I'm out and about in the beemer or the Chim
I have noticed a difference - more people are more willing to be courteous to me (probably to have a better look at the car or hear it drive by!). But there's also more people who want to race me or drive right up my exhaust.
I find it quite incredible that white van man, or a 1.6 Orion with 5 kids in think they actually have any chance against me! I try not to let it get to me.
In the fiesta, i would have race almost anyone, but now i just ignore them. Of course, every now and then, i'll 'humiliate' someone and show them the difference between a regular car and a TVR, but they really have to be winding me up first!
jsr said:
I have noticed a difference - more people are more willing to be courteous to me (probably to have a better look at the car or hear it drive by!).
Oh yes, they want to race alright
Like lambs to the slaughter... But basically, around town, I've not noticed any difference in general attitudes apart from the Chim attracting more attention and admiration
Good god you whimps
owning a hot 500 griff has ruined my driving forever, my wife always said i acted as if I was the fastest thing on the road and the trouble is now I am!! love to hear the overrun in second, and with a true time of 3.9 seconds 0-60 mph nothing gets away faster than me.
Thankfully for most of of my driving life I am a respectable middle age polite Volvo (T5R) driving gentleman, who stays within limits, but I get in that fire breathing green monster and I loose half my age and more than half my brain capacity , oh and its wonderful , so if you do see a middle aged thug behind the wheel of a green de-catted Griff dont even think about passing me. One other thing I have been stopped for speeding inthe Griff at least seven times the last time I was leaving an unmarked M5 police BMW the cheat had to put his hidden lights on , and then the devil in me was saying go on floor it that numpty will never catch you. The point is I have been let off every time , bless the boys in blue. So go on be truthfull a bit of clear duel carriage way and its warp factor 8 Mr Zulu from the lights. Oh dear hope my wife doesn't read this . I do bumble and burble around town in it but thats only to see the admiring glances and I do so like looking at the reflections in the shop windows , I must say I adhere to the ten rules laid down in Sprint by Morgan's mutterings.
Simon
owning a hot 500 griff has ruined my driving forever, my wife always said i acted as if I was the fastest thing on the road and the trouble is now I am!! love to hear the overrun in second, and with a true time of 3.9 seconds 0-60 mph nothing gets away faster than me.
Thankfully for most of of my driving life I am a respectable middle age polite Volvo (T5R) driving gentleman, who stays within limits, but I get in that fire breathing green monster and I loose half my age and more than half my brain capacity , oh and its wonderful , so if you do see a middle aged thug behind the wheel of a green de-catted Griff dont even think about passing me. One other thing I have been stopped for speeding inthe Griff at least seven times the last time I was leaving an unmarked M5 police BMW the cheat had to put his hidden lights on , and then the devil in me was saying go on floor it that numpty will never catch you. The point is I have been let off every time , bless the boys in blue. So go on be truthfull a bit of clear duel carriage way and its warp factor 8 Mr Zulu from the lights. Oh dear hope my wife doesn't read this . I do bumble and burble around town in it but thats only to see the admiring glances and I do so like looking at the reflections in the shop windows , I must say I adhere to the ten rules laid down in Sprint by Morgan's mutterings.
Simon
If I floored it all the time I'd have no license at all mate. I use my Chim as a daily driver, and doing 30k a year, I have to exercise a bit of self control. I've been flashed once at 80mph (3 points) and stopped once by the plod at 102mph (3 points - but should have been a ban) so hairing it round all the time isn't really an option for me now.
Don't get me wrong, as soon as I get on those twisty welsh roads and in the sticks, away from civilisation and Scameras, I'm going hell for leather, sliding round corners and all. But my town/city and dual carrigeway/motorway driving has had to be calmed down a little. At least till I've got a clean license again.
Don't get me wrong, as soon as I get on those twisty welsh roads and in the sticks, away from civilisation and Scameras, I'm going hell for leather, sliding round corners and all. But my town/city and dual carrigeway/motorway driving has had to be calmed down a little. At least till I've got a clean license again.
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