Thought I'd start a new topic, as this about the impressions of the car while leaving aside the fact that it spent half of the weekend not working due to a £2 (BMW) part...
First impressions:
- the noise - epic. Just such a perfect V8 noise; tuneful, bassy and off-beat rumbly in an old school way. At high revs, sounds like a WW2 figghter plane - just lovely. Unfortunately not that audible on motorways with the roof down due to wind noise!
- the looks. Awkward and funny looking in all photos but rear three quarter and profile. Yet stunning in the metal except for the front three quarter view, from where it looks a bit bunched up and weird (you don't get the benefit of the long bonnet from that view, and the lights' cross eyedness is emphasised).
- Public reaction. Oh my Lord. Nothing, and I mean nothing had prepared me for the attention this car gets - it's ridiculous. Several "that car is beautiful/amazing/sick" (latter from group of yoofs in sarf london on Sunday morning). Even when I was following the car on its way out of London on a flatbed, people were staring, pointing, taking photos, rubbernecking. I have to say I didn't think it would be this extreme; it's a little embarrassing. Even my day in London in a red 360 spyder didn't feel as exposed. No TVR I have ever owned has got such attention. So far, all reactions but one have been positive - one bloke yelled "w4nker!!" at the top of his voice. I waved, smiled, and drove on. This is the first time that I have been randomly insulted in any car, though - so perhaps I need to start getting used to it.
- performance. Quick, but by no means ridiculously so. In the dry, chassis easily handles the power - but in a neck and neck contest on the motorway, my friend's Cerbera 4.5 left the Mog behind once the TVR's V8 hits its cams properly at about 4000 revs. You are changing gear in the Morgan just when the TVR comes on song - this car could certainly use some more revs in the range. However, torque from low revs is fabulous and made this car really easy through town - except for the fact that you can't use the rear view mirror with the hood down. The car feels fast rather than properly quick, and could certainly use a few more bhp and another thousand rpm at the top end. However, that low down torque is brutal on the back end even in the dry - and in the wet, I think you'd be very careful indeed.
The Noble left both the Mog and the Cerb for dead, by the way. It was as if we were standing still - he's done 0-100mph in under 9 seconds.
- The revised hood. Beautifully put together, but sad to lose the glass rear window.
- Handling. As expected, very, very good. Planted, with an easily wagged and then caught back end, and very good at mid corner adjustments on the throttle with little or no understeer. Mind you, I didn't explore its limits and will not on a public road until I have found them on an airfield or similar. The steering is a joy - direct but not too quick, with wonderful feel on the road surface.
- Brakes. Stable, balanced, good feel, but stopping power could use improvement. Racing fluid as a first port of call, I think; certainly before any power increases!
- Ride quality far better than I expected - streets ahead of both Noble and TVR. The car is comfortable place from which to do large mileages.
- Air conditioning. Utterly overwhelmed by the weekend temperatures. Actually the problem isn't the system - ice coled. It's where the vents are. Cools your knees nicely, and that's it!
I love it. Absolutely love it. I have owned a number of cars - this is the only one I was in live with within 5 miles of getting into it for the first time. Was gutted when it broke, and ecstatic that it appears to have been fixed!
