That David and Goliath moment
Discussion
To set the scene, finished work early. Sun's shining best part of 20 degree outside. So I decided to take a left of the main road and head home via the wonderful back roads. Some of Ox's and Buck's finest B and C class roads you could wish for.
Roof off, stereo off, just the way it should be
At one turning this pulled out in front of me:
Couple of points.
Mr TVR owner your car looks and sounds fantastic!!! Simply love that colour
But bloody hell do your exhausts wobble about a lot. Looked like the continually wanted to fall off! And Tuscan's have shockingly poor brake lights. That car really needs a 3rd brake light.
Oh yeah - and move over next time
In fairness, I suspect the wonderful back roads, complete with their current additional (fun) dips, dives, bumps and lumps did suit my car slightly better. That straight 6 TVR motor did sound the business though.
Nice blast
Roof off, stereo off, just the way it should be
At one turning this pulled out in front of me:
Couple of points.
Mr TVR owner your car looks and sounds fantastic!!! Simply love that colour
But bloody hell do your exhausts wobble about a lot. Looked like the continually wanted to fall off! And Tuscan's have shockingly poor brake lights. That car really needs a 3rd brake light.
Oh yeah - and move over next time
In fairness, I suspect the wonderful back roads, complete with their current additional (fun) dips, dives, bumps and lumps did suit my car slightly better. That straight 6 TVR motor did sound the business though.
Nice blast
Mastodon2 said:
Ah, the Smart roadster, I sat in one before I bought my Cupra R. The roadster was never really on the cards, but I loved the idea of a low, 2 seater car that is truly small. The sequential manual box is a great idea but I hear it's ponderous on the shifts, and that the wheels can buckle and bend quite easily. I can't say I loved the interior, particularly the errant clocks that sit on the dash, would have looked nicer if they were properly integrated like in a Focus ST. Still, I'd love to have a go in one.
The box is ok when you get used to it. It'll upshift at a similar speed to a person with a regular manual. Downshift is a little slower to engage but allows huge amounts of engine braking far easier than a normal manual.Brabus 17" rims are made of cheese, luckily mine is base model (the lightest) and runs 15" rims that have no such issue.
I don't mind the interior, a bit plasticky, but it was only a £14k car new.
Mastodon2 said:
Meeting a TVR in one might well be David and Goliath, but as you proved, an MR2/Smart/Mx-5 with a good driver can be more than a match for something with a lot more power!
v8will said:
This.
I got a drive in one of those Smart roadster thingies once. The owner got a go in the MX-5 I had at the time, which lets face it ain't no rocket.
I'd say with the exception of novelty value, the MX-5 was a better drive and better package in just about every way.
Oh I'm sorry, were you sitting in the seat next to me??I got a drive in one of those Smart roadster thingies once. The owner got a go in the MX-5 I had at the time, which lets face it ain't no rocket.
I'd say with the exception of novelty value, the MX-5 was a better drive and better package in just about every way.
Nope?
So what would you know what happened?
geeteeaye said:
More likely the TVR driver saw a 'character' in a Smart behind him trying to keep up and could barely drive for laughing.
Was it your TVR then dickwad? Sorry name calling, how childish, bit like trying to pretend you knew what happened 
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 25th March 21:21
Motorrad said:
I can easily believe you kept up with one on a tight twisty road or were even more comfortable and able to go faster.
I used to live very near Bispham and found I'd be pushing along trevors from the factory in my 205GTi as the back way to Preston just doesn't suit a high powered RWD car.
The roads certainly favoured me I agree. And evidently on any straights they could pull ahead, but the thing is, from a roll and only reaching 'x' speed on lanes it's quite hard to truly use straight line speed as such an affective tool.I used to live very near Bispham and found I'd be pushing along trevors from the factory in my 205GTi as the back way to Preston just doesn't suit a high powered RWD car.
I could brake later, corner faster and accelerate out of the bends sooner than they could. So even though a sprint from 20-60mph (ish
) The TVR could in theory out accelerate me, I was as a rule already travelling faster and able to get on the power sooner.
v8will said:
No, You'd have noticed me open the passenger door and ask 'Are we moving yet'
Or
I'd have had the squeakiest or squeaky bum times. You'd fail to ignore the smell of fear. That's what happens when you combine the awesomeness of a Smart car and a nervous disposition.
Well if if you are local I extend an offer to come for a passenger ride in it. Or
I'd have had the squeakiest or squeaky bum times. You'd fail to ignore the smell of fear. That's what happens when you combine the awesomeness of a Smart car and a nervous disposition.
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Saturday 26th March 10:41
v8will said:
Unfortunately I'm not but always gracious for the offer.
My only lasting impression was that the roadster had quite impressive mechanical grip or maybe no where near enough power to upset the tyres.
The gearbox is unforgivable though, put me right off buying a ForTwo as a commuter. I reckon I could perform a quicker and smoother shift in just about any regular manual box.
Lots and lots of grip and fine balance. 790kg curb weight helps too.My only lasting impression was that the roadster had quite impressive mechanical grip or maybe no where near enough power to upset the tyres.
The gearbox is unforgivable though, put me right off buying a ForTwo as a commuter. I reckon I could perform a quicker and smoother shift in just about any regular manual box.
I sort of agree about the box, although once you get used to it, it's fine, very fine.
As for shifting, well I thought so too. But look at the G gaps for the gearchanges:
Roadster:
TR7 with a Rover LT77 5 speed manual and short shift gear lever:
Heck of a lot closer than I'd initially have thought.
superman84 said:
what does 300bhp want, a medal? well done for keeping up with a more powerful car which may not have been racing and probably didn't want to push his pride and joy to anywhere near it's limits on the public road just because some chap in a toy car was sitting on his arse.
Sorry mate,. but you are being a total and utter f
king wk stain.I want nothing - just thought this was meant to be a motoring website where people would funnily enough like - motor cars.
So instead of whinging like some spoilt s
t spewing arse gravy. Why not take my advice, it's really simple - either contribute positivity or STFU.If you don't like my account - boo hoo! Go find the TVR owner and ask them, then post back if it worries you so much.
superman84 said:
Sorry for pissing on your parade but this is not only a complete non story it's also the type of lame will waving post I'd exect to see on vxr online. The points stands - it's easy to keep up with a much faster car who doesn't want to push his car to it's limits on a public road to prove himself to some joker in a smart car/whatver low powered motor. Well done 300 you're the man, you can pat yourself on the back knowing you've done well you crazy scamp you.
Sorry did you still not get the message? Would you prefer it by fax??robemcdonald said:
They did something lke this in autocar a few months ago. Can't remember the cars (one was a super car the other a hot hatch and one of the drivers was Steve Sutcliffe). Basically one driver drove the super car and tried to lose the hatch, they swapped and tried again. In both cases the super car couldn't shake the hatch. They concluded;
1. Lower powered hot hatches are more effective on b roads because they tend to be smaller.
2. The following car always has it easier because they don't have to worry about traffic coming the other way.
I think I new the roads better too, although I suspect they must be a local too. Sadly the 3 best corners they slowed to snails pace for some reason, not sure if their nerve went or just new they couldn't be as quick on them, so held me back as there was a decent straight after it where they shot up to around 90mph (guess 1. Lower powered hot hatches are more effective on b roads because they tend to be smaller.
2. The following car always has it easier because they don't have to worry about traffic coming the other way.
).So to all those saying they weren't trying, bulls
t! is the answer geeteeaye said:
Because they simply weren't 'racing' you despite your protestations - as racing on the road is immature, illegal and would also be pretty damn sad considering their car and your car. Would you race some chav in a Corsa SRi in your Camaro?
So you were there too.... 
funny that ain't it.Nope, they hurled it around other corners, but they seemed to know this bit. It's not as if they slowed a little and drove normally, they barrelled up to the corner, near emergency braked in to it and slowed to a real granny pace. As in 10-15mph slower than a normal person would go round them. They evidently knew the road and where using a tactic similar to a race driver under safety car conditions, "backing the pack up". They knew there was a straight after these bends that lead up to the next village.
And again, they certainly where trying, as approaching these beds required a fairly substantially manoeuvrer to get in front of 2 slower moving vehicles. Just a goo job it was all kept sane and legal.
robemcdonald said:
The point i was trying to make was; If the situation was reversed and you were the lead car and the tvr was up for it would you have pulled away? Unlikely. That's not a comment about your car or driving. I'm just trying to point out the cars are less relevant than the risk you are willing to take on a public road.
First question - yes.But I agree, driving on the roads is as much about sight as it is about HP.
Prince Jefri said:
Bore off OP; you're living in fantasy land.
You have a Smart Car. All I see here is vehicular small man syndrome.
0-60 in over 10 seconds. Do you realise that the TVR can hit 60, stop, and get on it again before your canoe on wheels wanders to 60mph?
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Haha have you actually driven a car? Because if you had you'd know B and C road bashing has nothing to do with such things. The tighter and twister it gets, even more so if bumpy the less hp plays a part. Just look at the TG lap times for an RX-8 and a e46 M3. One vastly more powerful and quicker in a straight line, yet on that track not any faster. You have a Smart Car. All I see here is vehicular small man syndrome.
0-60 in over 10 seconds. Do you realise that the TVR can hit 60, stop, and get on it again before your canoe on wheels wanders to 60mph?
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
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