Mid Life crisis & Driving lessons
Discussion
Hi all
Well I,ve been looking forward to my mid life crisis for many many years, I promised myself as a youngster that one day I would buy myself a TVR later in life when I could afford one. Well now older & wiser & able to afford one I,ve decided it's time to Purchase a TVR. After drooling over all the models on PH there's only one for me " A Sagaris "
Work dictates that I wait until after the summer until the purchase.
A few thoughts though.
- I consider myself a decent driver as do most men, I own a Porsche 911 albeit an older slower model, however I do have concerns about driving a car with so much power to hand. I intend to book some track lessons to actually learn how to drive a Sagaris before let loose on the roads. Any suggestions on where & who is the best to instruct on this ? I,ve never tracked a car before or Driven a TVR for that matter...Is this the right approach or wasted $$.
-Also once purchased, the TVR will be sat for long periods of time , sometimes up to 3 months without use. Apart from the obvious like the Battery are there any other issues that might arise from a TVR sitting for prolonged periods of time?
Cheers in advance
Well I,ve been looking forward to my mid life crisis for many many years, I promised myself as a youngster that one day I would buy myself a TVR later in life when I could afford one. Well now older & wiser & able to afford one I,ve decided it's time to Purchase a TVR. After drooling over all the models on PH there's only one for me " A Sagaris "
Work dictates that I wait until after the summer until the purchase.
A few thoughts though.
- I consider myself a decent driver as do most men, I own a Porsche 911 albeit an older slower model, however I do have concerns about driving a car with so much power to hand. I intend to book some track lessons to actually learn how to drive a Sagaris before let loose on the roads. Any suggestions on where & who is the best to instruct on this ? I,ve never tracked a car before or Driven a TVR for that matter...Is this the right approach or wasted $$.
-Also once purchased, the TVR will be sat for long periods of time , sometimes up to 3 months without use. Apart from the obvious like the Battery are there any other issues that might arise from a TVR sitting for prolonged periods of time?
Cheers in advance
To be honest, I wouldn't think you would need driving lessons to drive any road car. It is after all how you drive it and on the road, (unless you are being an idiot) you aren't going to get into any trouble. Just take it easy when you first get it and learn how to drive it. Obviously if you drive with the accelarator pedal on the floor every gear you will have problems but if like most of us you don't, you'll be fine.
As for storing it, where will it be kept? If outside, then you could have problems with rain getting everywhere. If it's in a garage, shouldn't be too many problems. Tyres could get flat spots if sitting too long so moving it every week or having it on stands eliminates that problem.
My Tuscan sat all winter without being driven, I got it serviced in the spring before driving and din't have any problems with it.
As for storing it, where will it be kept? If outside, then you could have problems with rain getting everywhere. If it's in a garage, shouldn't be too many problems. Tyres could get flat spots if sitting too long so moving it every week or having it on stands eliminates that problem.
My Tuscan sat all winter without being driven, I got it serviced in the spring before driving and din't have any problems with it.
Like the others have said, to just drive it you don't need any lessons, to drive in a press on style and know what to do if you give it some stick in a bend then some further training would be useful. I've done the IAM training but am thinking about some track based hoonage instruction
Regards to storage if you haven't already got one get yourself a good trickle charger to keep the battery in tip top condition. An Accumate is usually the weapon of choice. http://www.thegreenreaper.co.uk/Battery_Chargers/B... a bit expensive here but i'm sure you can buy them cheaper elsewhere. I like to charge mine through the cig lighter
I not long ago purchased a 350c - pretty much the most powerful car i've driven (had experienced RWD before (in a Nissan 200sx)) and so far ive found it incredibly planted and for road driving (in the dry), to reach the limits of the car - you've done something silly.
However, driving in the wet is a different kettle of fish and possibly where an advanced driving course may be money well spent.
I dont know any details - but there is some wet conditions driving advert on the home page of the TVRCC (tvr-car-club.co.uk) website - if your a member of the owners club??
Storage wise i'd recomend having the car covered - ideally in a garage. And finally... I recently had my car stand for 3 weeks - and the next drive I had was very lumpy for the first 45mins - after that its absolutly perfect again. I'm not very mechanically minded but presume its 'things' settling - based on this i'm going to make sure, even if I cant use the car weekly, i'll start it up every ~week and letting it tick-over to warm.
However, driving in the wet is a different kettle of fish and possibly where an advanced driving course may be money well spent.
I dont know any details - but there is some wet conditions driving advert on the home page of the TVRCC (tvr-car-club.co.uk) website - if your a member of the owners club??
Storage wise i'd recomend having the car covered - ideally in a garage. And finally... I recently had my car stand for 3 weeks - and the next drive I had was very lumpy for the first 45mins - after that its absolutly perfect again. I'm not very mechanically minded but presume its 'things' settling - based on this i'm going to make sure, even if I cant use the car weekly, i'll start it up every ~week and letting it tick-over to warm.
I waited like you, got my Tuscan in Sept and have not looked back. It is a joy to drive and if you are sensible then they are a kitten. However what I would say, and having done it, tuition will let you get the most from the car and to push you and the car further than you would normally. It is a great experience and one of the best things you can do. Members get discount from ride drive and it may help (upto 25%) on the insurance.
There is also an outfit that offers some track action in a Sag for £99, I can PM the details if needed.
We can all learn something new, I never stop learning........
There is also an outfit that offers some track action in a Sag for £99, I can PM the details if needed.
We can all learn something new, I never stop learning........
thechef said:
I'm not very mechanically minded but presume its 'things' settling - based on this i'm going to make sure, even if I cant use the car weekly, i'll start it up every ~week and letting it tick-over to warm.
I wouldn't - lots of cold starts for no reason, and idle has low oil pressure.Just get a trickle charger and you should be fine if you're talking a few weeks apart.
Mattt said:
I wouldn't - lots of cold starts for no reason, and idle has low oil pressure.
Just get a trickle charger and you should be fine if you're talking a few weeks apart.
Yes, repeatedly just idling a Sag is not good news. It is fine to leave it on charge for about 3-4 weeks and then start it + drive it. Just make sure you check the oil levels before hand and get a pre-oiler if you have the money.Just get a trickle charger and you should be fine if you're talking a few weeks apart.
Well they haven't done the mileages Dom and Jasons customers have racked up on the 4.3/4.5, but I'd say they are over the combined 100,000 mile mark, and it looks OK. So far it looks more powerful (especially with all the gubbins for it), but it still misses the massive warranty Dom is giving with his.
So far it looks horses for courses (and I still haven't driven the FFF2...)
So far it looks horses for courses (and I still haven't driven the FFF2...)
thechef said:
I not long ago purchased a 350c - pretty much the most powerful car i've driven (had experienced RWD before (in a Nissan 200sx)) and so far ive found it incredibly planted and for road driving (in the dry), to reach the limits of the car - you've done something silly.
However, driving in the wet is a different kettle of fish and possibly where an advanced driving course may be money well spent.
I dont know any details - but there is some wet conditions driving advert on the home page of the TVRCC (tvr-car-club.co.uk) website - if your a member of the owners club??
Storage wise i'd recomend having the car covered - ideally in a garage. And finally... I recently had my car stand for 3 weeks - and the next drive I had was very lumpy for the first 45mins - after that its absolutly perfect again. I'm not very mechanically minded but presume its 'things' settling - based on this i'm going to make sure, even if I cant use the car weekly, i'll start it up every ~week and letting it tick-over to warm.
Completely agree about the driving in the wet..However, driving in the wet is a different kettle of fish and possibly where an advanced driving course may be money well spent.
I dont know any details - but there is some wet conditions driving advert on the home page of the TVRCC (tvr-car-club.co.uk) website - if your a member of the owners club??
Storage wise i'd recomend having the car covered - ideally in a garage. And finally... I recently had my car stand for 3 weeks - and the next drive I had was very lumpy for the first 45mins - after that its absolutly perfect again. I'm not very mechanically minded but presume its 'things' settling - based on this i'm going to make sure, even if I cant use the car weekly, i'll start it up every ~week and letting it tick-over to warm.
Most of my moments have happened in third gear on the motorway when I was not expecting it (watch out for concrete surfaces)..I used to rally MK2 Escorts so I know how to handle a RWD car, but getting a car sideway on the M25 at 70 mph under acceleration is an experience you either drive away from, or not..so a skid pan course or something similar is highly recommended after coming from a Porsche with far better traction.
Don1 said:
Well they haven't done the mileages Dom and Jasons customers have racked up on the 4.3/4.5, but I'd say they are over the combined 100,000 mile mark, and it looks OK. So far it looks more powerful (especially with all the gubbins for it), but it still misses the massive warranty Dom is giving with his.
So far it looks horses for courses (and I still haven't driven the FFF2...)
You need to So far it looks horses for courses (and I still haven't driven the FFF2...)
Last I heard they has got to 450 bhp with 350 of torque on the demonstrator Tuscan.
Very revvy engine, very smooth and delivers the punch high up due to the very high cams which I think will be the main difference from the Power engines. Some will prefer the delivery style to others.
There is a video of one being started up for the first time on YouTube under Typhon Lives I think.
My Tam sat from October to January and had 2 runs in Jan...second of which resulted in me flooding the engine whilst fannying about outside the garage!
I haven't driven the car since as I only plan to use it for the dry months so will tax it in May. Before I drive it in anger (trip planned to the Ring in July) I will take it to The Garage in Compton for a checkup as it's only done 300 miles since the last service in August.
I have mine covered (Nissan Micra sized cover from Halfords) with the window down for ventilation and the trickle charger on. I work on the car almost every day, currently swapping the ball joints over so it moves around a bit in the garage
I haven't driven the car since as I only plan to use it for the dry months so will tax it in May. Before I drive it in anger (trip planned to the Ring in July) I will take it to The Garage in Compton for a checkup as it's only done 300 miles since the last service in August.
I have mine covered (Nissan Micra sized cover from Halfords) with the window down for ventilation and the trickle charger on. I work on the car almost every day, currently swapping the ball joints over so it moves around a bit in the garage
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