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I had to come back to this video today, I think Harry heard you and dropped a new video with the new TVR Scamander within 24 hours of you saying TVR was dead…. Side note, the Scamander is a monstrosity 😂
I hope you get nowhere near a million views, but it’d be bad news to lose you going backwards through a hedge backwards upside down whilst being rogered by the car. A good friend bought a chimera 4.3 in British racing green with cream leather. Oh it looked amazing and sounded stunning. To be fair, I loved it. But I was not the owner, and didn’t have to pay the bills for it. It leaked, it had constant electrical gremlins leaving my mate stranded, suspension, box, clutch all needed£ rebuilding - more than once. Plenty of other issues. He sold it three years later with not as many miles added as he£ hoped - his wife hated never knowing if they’d get where they were going and home agin without an AA truck and the fact that he it made her hair a mess. A great excuse you’d think for my mate to keep it to avoid having to see the in laws. But eventually he chopped it in and that was that. Until one day 15 years later, it came up for sale. My mate remembered the amazing drives he’d had to wherever it was going to needed an AA van again and forgotten how many times he’d needed an AA van in the time he’d had it. So he bought it back from the guy he’d bought it from. 18 months later, it was gone again, the only time a car made a vehicle that was indeed Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious ( his 78 esprit) looked like a paragons of virtue.
Owners view: I found myself in a position almost 6 years ago where I was lucky enough to be in a position to buy a Tuscan. I spoke to the right people, looked round a few cars and then bit the bullet, and haven't looked back since. I've done over 5,000 miles per year, user it as daily as I can and still drive it with the same sized smile I did when I first pulled away in it! It will take some love to keep it going, and there's always a little job to do, but it's all silly fun stuff which comes out of hobby money. That said, I did have to get a full engine rebuild last year, but I went in open eyed that this particular car was likely to need that at some point having checked the history, so now have a 100,000 mile warranty on a 4.3 litre rocket. It never fails to turn heads and regardless of the speed you are doing, you feel like you're doing 100mph. I've been on 4 pan European road trips in it and it held it's own against all the cars there, to a degree of course, but the point is that even in Europe where you can get a little carried away, you're not doing 200mph the whole time and there are limited places to do 0-60 against your mates, so it's all about how you get to that speed, the noise, the sensation etc and this these cars deliver on that. I put a few of the guys on our last trip on my insurance and they took it out for a blast coming back smiling like a school kid going on about how they'd forgotten what it was like to really drive a car! Your point regarding the boot is one you need to get over, simple as that. Even with the roof and screen out you can fit at least 2 decent sized travel bags (overhead locker on a plane size) with plenty of space left for poking in whatever else you need. The wife and I have done numerous weekends away with no shortage of luggage, the only downside is having to take the roof out before you can get the bags, but as I said, you just get over that! I often think about what I would replace mine with, and play the AutoTrader game regularly, but don't ever come to something which will deliver what this does for the price point, with this degree of uniqueness. Some perspective which may make me sound crazy - while my car was having a rebuild, a friend leant me a 911 992 GT3RS. It had 90 miles on it when I took it off him and 3,000 when I gave it back (it was a Euro road trip this friend was on too, so he loved just being able to look at it while he was driving another piece of unobtanium). I had the Porsche for a week before we left for Europe, and if I'd had the call to tell me my Tuscan was ready, I would have left the Porsche at home and taken the Tuscan! Keep up the videos, love your work, especially TVR related for obvious reasons, but do yourself a favour, don't wait for the 1,000,000 views (which all of us are working hard on for you), just do it.
I can drive up a steep ski access road in my Toyota SUV v6 20-50mph. Fairly brisk as the corners are hairpin shaped. My TVR same road same speed is so so much fun. You'd think you were breaking all sorts of rules. Noise, sideways drift (there are rules against that), zero body roll. Manual gear changes. Just these cars being so light, engines resonating the cabin, exhaust howling and popping on trailing throttle. Now same road again Nissan turbo 300zx more than double the speed.....just not the same at all. Cabin noise low due to fully insulated floor roof and firewall. Same final drive ratio but difficult to press the throttle coz in a tight turn it'll over steer, even with a wheel alignment that counters that the weight distribution is not as good as the TVR. Thanks JayEmm!
Me and my mate from school used to spend hours pouring over TVRs in the auto rags, especially the Cerbera. To this day its my most lusted after car that I'll never own.
Yep, I am exactly the same, 4.5L Cerbera 100 percent. I was just starting to drive when the Clarkson vid came out, then I started work and drove past the TVR garage everyday. Never had the money to realistically run and maintain one properly though.
I absolutely adore my Tuscan. Three years and 12,000 miles and the only issues it has had outside of servicing has been two dodgy sensors. Servicing at one of the well known specialist is expensive, at between 1500 and 2000 a year. Worth every penny.
Any car driven badly will end in, or over a hedge. The Speed 6 engine doesn't have that much torque, it gets it's power from higher revs, which you should only do when conditions allow.
Something which never gets old is the head turns, long looks and pointing from people on the streets, or the windows dropping when you are about to pass on the road. They are greeted with the astonishment usually reserved for the high end exotics.
I used to get dropped off for school in the mid-2000s and walk past a little group of bungalows that looked like they were exclusively occupied by pensioners. And there was a beautiful blue/turquoise tvr tuscan on the drive. Always loved looking at that thing.
Years ago, I went to the MotorShow at the NEC in Birmingham. I went on the TVR stand as i had a Lotus Esprit Turbo HC at the time and wanted to compare. I said to this tall chap on the stand, is it faster than my Lotus? Unknowingly, it was Peter Wheeler... he said "I've got one outside, lets go for a blast up the motorway". I'm struggling to remember the model, but it could have been the 420 SEAC. And, he took me for a blast and it was great fun, & what a nice guy too. Did I buy one? no.. I always thought the mid engined Esprit more exotic and special.
@@javiercabanas2908 he did not say it feels like new. He said it would pick up the "fight" with today's cars in the look department, and I DO AGREE! Today's car design s*cks B really hard in general, and most new cars look utterly terrible...
@@staLkerhu Timeless sorta means that it could work nowadays, but yeah, I never disagreed on it being a looker. Modern design has gone downhill since BMW moved past their F81 4 Series.
Do it. I love e my Tuscan. Bits break from time to time but it’s 23 years old! When you put your foot down though the noise and theatre of it can’t be beaten.
I had a new Sagaris (I didn't own it, unfortunately) for two weeks and it was and still is the most awesome car i have ever driven. The acceleration and level of control was insanely good. You could light up the rear wheels in 3rd gear or get the car sliding without fearing for your life (not something I could do in my Elise). Not having abs did temper my efforts a bit, as it was very easy to lock the wheels, and i'm not a wannabee racing driver. I will never get anywhere near close to it again. I've never been in any other TVR so cannot compare it to any of their other products, but what i can say is that if ever any of you thrill seekers get the chance, try one. You might just fall in love.
I'm bringing over the actual 1999 Tuscan show car to the USA this coming October. It'll be the first Tuscan in the USA under the 25 year rule. Would love to chat about it some time.
I have owned a 1996 TVR Griffith 500 for a couple of years now. Everything you say about TVRs in general, I absolubtly agree with - the weirdness, wakieness, and yes the wonderfulness. The switchgear that sometimes works, the mad parts-bin engineering; I LOVE it, and its still a proper headturner, and that 5.0L V Rover / Taraka lump is just a superb soundtrack. I do hope you get you 1 miliion views. TJS
What makes TVR stand out from all the other small British car brands is how beautifully, and professionally the cars are designed. Maybe not pretty cars, but they really are pleasing to the eye in a way few other cars do for me.
I had a black Tuscan S with black wheels in gran turismo as kid - normally I dislike black cars but this just suited it. Looked mean as hell. It was my favourite car. Proper race car for the road… I’d love to scratch that itch in reality… Go for it!
That doesn’t count as ownership I’m lead to believe, as I sometimes quote my gran turismo garage as if it were my own, my most memorable for some reason is my yellow Fiat Punto GT yellow with white wheels highly tuned and won all my early races.
I love the concept of a TVR. The most fun car I ever drove was a ratty old Ford Capri with an American Stock Car engine in it, two cherry bomb exhausts and a piston welded to a rod as the gear lever. It was wildly fast to 90mph and then ran out of gears, had no suspension control worth mentioning and was probably on remolds. TVR’s seem to be in the same vein and I salute them for it!
I owned 2 Cerbera's back before the kids came along and at the time a mate of mine bought one of the first Tuscans. People used to stop and stare as we drove around - they were that dramatic! Always loved the TVR and I can certainly feel a mid-life (actually old-age) crisis galloping over the horizon again thanks to this video... 🤣
I'm on my second Tuscan, a 2006 Convertible. Yes, I wrote off my Mk1 Tuscan and can advise that GRP is a good energy absorber. (I used design energy absorbers for passenger trains). We've been many times to Germany and Spain in both the Mk1 and the Convertible as well as 2 x Chimaera's and a Tasmin. My Cerbera never got outside the UK unfortunately. Loved them all.
Yes do it and buy one! I own a Tuscan mk1 and have never looked back. Perhaps someone can design one of those bot things to get you to a million views!
I remember seeing a Tuscan in Harrogate when I was a child and being in awe of it with it's pearlescent purple and green paint and massive exhausts. Always have a soft spot for one since then, id love to drive one.
The design of these cars has held up so well. They were so wild and iconic and captured the imagination of the PS1/PS2 XBOX generation of kids like myself. I respect this brand for putting the middle finger up to convention and make such a wild car.
Selling mine was a massive mistake, 2000 Red Rose in Imperial Blue with Cream, loved it. Watching video and my old number plate pops up T3 USC ( different car though ) 😢.
What a fab car inside and out!! For me the colour is perfect for a car called Tuscan; Burnt Ochre. I’ve also shared the video with my 2m followers now……
I'm a massive Cerbera fan myself and would bloody love one... Hoping you get the million views just so something similar to this coild be more of a regular. Good luck and great vid.
On my 4th Tvr and second Tuscan, can't kick the habit! Both Tuscans been ❤reliable. Regular maintenance by a specialist is the key. Nothing else under 50k comes close for the thrills you get. Just get one, you know you want to! The Tvr car club is such a great family too with plenty of events and drives.
have amongst other things 2 ferrari and a very late tuscan mk1 which I've had for 16 years, nothing fallen off, no engine rebuild, bought from tvr Fernhurst who told me how to drive it from startup, its a race engine, under no circumstances drive above 3k rpm until warm, then all works properly..the car is an event to drive its been over the alps twice, and had the Tifossi loving it along with everyone in italy who saw and heard it
There’s a chap makes collapsible roof panels that fold up. Had one on my Chimaera and it folded up small enough to rest on the top of the space saver spare tyre in the boot, so didn’t take up any space at all. Toured Europe with a boot full of camping gear in my car and it was a game changer over the roof ‘panel’. You’ve no excuses now Jame’s 😂
Amazing! Had a rolex blue tuscan in 2004 - it followed ownership of a Griffith500 and an S1. The Tuscan was wonderful and I loved it despite the painful roof in the boot bit which was annoying! Sold it following the S6 engine issues as it was bound to go at some point but would love to get back in one! Fab video!!
I liked this immediately. I have one and it has been absolutely epic. I also took the plunge and added a Cerbera V8 recently - I suspect now they can be imported to the US these are going to become even rarer. They have been hideously undervalued for so long, I think we are about to see a readjustment. You should absolutely get one, would love to see how you get on with it.
for the chimera griff and tamora you can get the "surrey roof" which folds into a smaller bag you can pop on the parcel shelf to give you the full boot space even with the roof down
Great to see you in another TVR Tuscan. Really enjoyed your review of my Black Tuscan S (the one also featured in this video. Go on buy one you know you want to. ❤
I had one of the first Tuscan S’s and it was a fantastic car…when it worked. Wiper blade fell off 500m from picking it up, throttle cable snapped (twice) and front splitter split along its width at 180mph at the Bedford Autodrome….front of the car bounced up and down about a foot. Very entertaining. Killer was that at a steady 70mph the revs would pulse about 500 rpm….which just drove me mad. No doubt all these problems are now sorted so go for it!
Best kit car...a super fine custom look done by ambutious vapor influenced glass heads... Parts hunters LOVE TO BARGAIN BARTER AND SUBSTITUTE AT WILL.. OH MY
Do it man. I have Mk1 Tuscan S in Copper Cascade and love it. Its the one car I would never sell. Fitted Gaz Golds and did all the suspension, bushes and brakes as well as engine rebuild and absolutely love it. Plus, for storage, put all your gear in... then take roof off and then when you park up put the roof on in 20 seconds and you have access to all your gear... and u want it covered in the UK anyway for security and weather. Nothing like em, get one whilst they are still reasonable and the yanks nick em.
I had a Griff. It did about 500 yards to the gallon, leaked, used more water than petrol, it was near undrivable and tried to kill me if it was raining in the next county, i needed a gym membership to gain enough strength operate the clutch and steering it was loud and brash. But I fecking loved it!
I grew up near Harrogate (Knaresborough) and I'd see TVRs regularly about the place. There was also a TVR showroom in Harrogate. Absolutely love them. I actually spoke to Damien McTaggart while i was a automotive design student back in the day. Tried my best to get some work experience. Iconic brand. The cerbera v8 being my absolute favourite. Oh wait, no, the 1993 Speed 12 concept. What a beast.
I have a Chimaera 450 and a Tuscan Convertible 4.5 Super Sport (the Sagaris had to go when I moved house less garage space) . In my Chim , I've had a passenger,2 sets of Golf Clubs,Electric Trolley,Baggage and the roof in the boot , so no space issue. Compared to a convertible with an Electric roof , less space is lost with a manual Targa. MK2 and Convertible Tuscan have a Ford steering column which is adjustable up/down and the steering rack is slower so less twitchy. Bilstiens became standard rather than Harvey Bailey , but I've changed to Nitrons on the Tuscan. My Tuscan is insured for a wrt value of £65k and £26k for my Chim. I sold the Sag for £80k 6 years ago.
I owned one for many 5 years between 2004 and 2009 before relocating to the Middle East. A truly awesome car. It replaced a Mercedes SL55 AMG that was written off in an accident and I can honestly say it was a blast to own. I never didn't have a smile on my face. Ruinously expensive to own and run but worth every penny.
Easy solution to the roof problem: Throw an old towel or sheet over the contents of the boot before putting the roof panel in there. If you need the stuff under the roof panel, put the roof on (or inside) the car
TVR's are just a bonkers car. So very British as well. I remember being a student in the early 90's and a lecturer had a Griffith 500 in a deep burgundy colour. what an amazing looking car and the sound wow rover v8 burble. In my opinion they have made some of the best looking cars out their especially during Peter Wheelers tenure. The interiors look as good as the outside and I even know a few people who worked at the TVR factory in sunny Blackpool. If I had enough money I'd have one for sure and it would probably be a Griffith as I just love the looks. You know you need one James :-)
You only live once, just do it! 😎 That famous straight 6 rumble is something you want in your life 👍 I’ve always lusted after an S2K myself but I’m also a carer…therefore paid jack shit….but if you buy a TVR, I WILL find a way to afford an S2K.
I owned a Mark 1 from new for about 9 months (don't ask) but for that brief period it had my heart (and soul). Still one of the most beautiful cars ever penned IMHO...inside and out...and the sound and performance to match. Every drive felt like a truly special occasion, no matter how slow the route. Not as fast or nimble as my Noble (fastest A to B road car of this era), but more lustful. I think I just may have to buy another - would be good to get your (more detailed) take on the different varieties available.
Oliver Winterbottom was the designer of the Lotus Elite (1974) and Eclat (1975). He subsequently moved to TVR and designed the Tasmin. He did not design the Excel - which initially was an internal refresh of the Eclat, and the face lifted Excel (with blister wheel arches) was the work of Peter Stevens. The Elite blew me away when it was launched in 1974 and looked so radical compared to other performance cars of the time . I now own one. In my opinion, the later Lotus cars of the family never had the visual excitement of the Elite, although were very good in their own right.
Big engine, rear wheel drive, lightweight, no driver aids... What could possibly go wrong on a damp country lane? Still love them to bits though. Dream cars for sure.
I had the privilege of ragging a 350C around Millbrook for a few laps. Alongside some other metal, such as a GT3, M3, 355, even an Ariel Atom. To this day, the best petrol fuelled experience of my life. I love all TVRs, despite their storied history. Sagaris is peak madness, but a 350C as a daily please...
The roof should come with a bag (to stop scratches) & don't forget, the perspex rear window comes out as well. But...as a regular viewer & someone who has had their car tested by you, for the love of god, make sure you buy a sorted one. I bought a 1999 car with the 4.0L Speed Six in Opalescent Green (green & purple depending on the light) in 2001 for £40K. In 28 months of ownership it needed two new engines, one covered under warranty, the other I had to pay for, and it was off the road for 18 or those 28 months. When I sold it it owed me £65K in total & I got £15K for it...and I was happy with that!!! If only I'd bought the 993 I was looking at I'd still have that now, but a test drive totally seduced me! Almost as bad as the engines were the electrics. When you have a car whose door opening relies on motors it's a recipe for disaster. I can't count the number of times I had to exit via the roof, Dukes of Hazzard style or worse, have to undo the number plate light & reach in for the manual door pull. When I left the house. it wasn't my wallet that I made sure I had with me, it was a screwdriver. When it was on the road it was pure joy. I experienced none of the handling horror stories & it pulled like an absolute train...but for a total ownership experience, it got me banned from car purchases for 10 years (well that & a disastrous Alfa 156 episode) Edit: Oh, and I forgot about flatspotting the really weak alloys.....on more than one occasion Edit 2: And damaging the bloody carbon fibre exhaust cans on a flipping kerb at a Burger King...that wasn't cheap
Hi Martin, I have had all those issues during my 16 years ownership. Door opened on a trip along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way and wouldn't stay shut (actuator failed) and another trio around Wales the boot release button failed so I could get into the boot to fuel it. Digital screen gradually stopped working and doors wouldn't always open (door control ECU). However, years on all those parts have been repaired/replaced by specialists and I've not had issues for a long time. The car has arguably been improved/upgraded from when it left the factory. And cost of repair is actually quite reasonable. Door ECUs for example £80 each. Screen I think was £200.
Wonderful looking cars but the cost of ownership put a lot of people off which kept prices low for some time but I’m not surprised they’re going up as most will have now made someone else suffer the cost of engine/chassis rebuilds. Even today though they still look a fresh design and so much more special than anything on sale today.
My friend Lionel(yes, Lionel) bought a TVR Cerbera and imported to France when he moved these. It was so loud he had a letter from the Mayor instructing him not to drive through the Village at more than 20 MPH!🤣🤣 He needn't gave worried really as it spent most of its time broken in some way! Don't buy one one!
Back in the day I had three (2 T350's and a Tuscan 2S Convertible).... the 2S Convertible is absolutely the one to go for... proper soft top (no targa lid to fill the boot) and handled like a dream (for a TVR)... still miss it to this day. (Ironically I now have a Roma, which one reviewer "criticised" for being like an upmarket TVR!!!!... THAT for me was like a dream endorsement!!!!!) You should definitely DO it... they're amazing cars.
Great video. I purchased a brand new speed six . Sold my 993 to get it drove it to Southend sea front and admired the purple pearlescent paint work . Looked beautiful. 2 days latter I regretted the purchase due to issues. Returned to TVR the sales guy said it’s not a Porsche it’s quirky 😂. He agreed to take the car back and only deducted 2 grand plus the price of the cd that went in the flexible boot . I did good all things considered. The cars still look amazing I did buy more 993s the speed six looked better
A friend of my Dad's had a 3000M - the one with the Cortina rear lights. He followed it up with a 350 (of the wedge era). I think he bought a Jag E-Type after that but he liked and enjoyed his TVRs. World was a better place with Peter Wheeler's contributions. 😁
I rarely miss any of your videos, James, so will watch this one out of both interest and loyalty. But for me, my sister and all other people I know that has had/driven one would counsel you against buying it. I did like the Griffith & Chimera, though. And acknowledging fellow TVR drivers on the road was fun.
Had a few TVR's back in the day, best driving for me was the Tamora especially when on track. Earlier cars like the Griff and Chimp had a bag for the roof which did go someway to protect it.
I think, frankly it's long overdue. You have an appreciation for drivers cars, and are firmly still in touch with your inner 9 year old. I'd say its for chaps like you that Peter made this generation of TVR.
What was the TVR from the 60s with the Ford 289 called? I love those cars! Also, the Tuscan is also a beauty, as is the Sagaris. Oh, also beautiful country roads Jay.
If the targa panel in the boot is an issue get a Chimaera instead. It takes virtually no space in the boot because it fits vertically against the bulkhead. Also loads cheaper and you can actually lift the bonnet and see the engine! 😄
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I had to come back to this video today, I think Harry heard you and dropped a new video with the new TVR Scamander within 24 hours of you saying TVR was dead…. Side note, the Scamander is a monstrosity 😂
As an American, I really want one....but I drive a 5 speed 1998 Nissan Sentra....so you know I can not afford one.
I hope you get nowhere near a million views, but it’d be bad news to lose you going backwards through a hedge backwards upside down whilst being rogered by the car.
A good friend bought a chimera 4.3 in British racing green with cream leather. Oh it looked amazing and sounded stunning. To be fair, I loved it. But I was not the owner, and didn’t have to pay the bills for it.
It leaked, it had constant electrical gremlins leaving my mate stranded, suspension, box, clutch all needed£ rebuilding - more than once. Plenty of other issues. He sold it three years later with not as many miles added as he£ hoped - his wife hated never knowing if they’d get where they were going and home agin without an AA truck and the fact that he it made her hair a mess. A great excuse you’d think for my mate to keep it to avoid having to see the in laws. But eventually he chopped it in and that was that.
Until one day 15 years later, it came up for sale. My mate remembered the amazing drives he’d had to wherever it was going to needed an AA van again and forgotten how many times he’d needed an AA van in the time he’d had it. So he bought it back from the guy he’d bought it from. 18 months later, it was gone again, the only time a car made a vehicle that was indeed Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious ( his 78 esprit) looked like a paragons of virtue.
It’s hard not to love the brits: they got like 10 sunny days a year but they have the most convertible cars. This is boss-level optimism!
One year we will get a good summer!!!! 😂
@@TheHughsie never give up on your dreams
keep on dreaming
I think it's because we live in the Goldilocks zone.
As long as you are doing 30mph+ the rain doesnt even get you!
hypothermia builds character :-)
Owners view: I found myself in a position almost 6 years ago where I was lucky enough to be in a position to buy a Tuscan. I spoke to the right people, looked round a few cars and then bit the bullet, and haven't looked back since. I've done over 5,000 miles per year, user it as daily as I can and still drive it with the same sized smile I did when I first pulled away in it!
It will take some love to keep it going, and there's always a little job to do, but it's all silly fun stuff which comes out of hobby money. That said, I did have to get a full engine rebuild last year, but I went in open eyed that this particular car was likely to need that at some point having checked the history, so now have a 100,000 mile warranty on a 4.3 litre rocket. It never fails to turn heads and regardless of the speed you are doing, you feel like you're doing 100mph.
I've been on 4 pan European road trips in it and it held it's own against all the cars there, to a degree of course, but the point is that even in Europe where you can get a little carried away, you're not doing 200mph the whole time and there are limited places to do 0-60 against your mates, so it's all about how you get to that speed, the noise, the sensation etc and this these cars deliver on that. I put a few of the guys on our last trip on my insurance and they took it out for a blast coming back smiling like a school kid going on about how they'd forgotten what it was like to really drive a car!
Your point regarding the boot is one you need to get over, simple as that. Even with the roof and screen out you can fit at least 2 decent sized travel bags (overhead locker on a plane size) with plenty of space left for poking in whatever else you need. The wife and I have done numerous weekends away with no shortage of luggage, the only downside is having to take the roof out before you can get the bags, but as I said, you just get over that!
I often think about what I would replace mine with, and play the AutoTrader game regularly, but don't ever come to something which will deliver what this does for the price point, with this degree of uniqueness.
Some perspective which may make me sound crazy - while my car was having a rebuild, a friend leant me a 911 992 GT3RS. It had 90 miles on it when I took it off him and 3,000 when I gave it back (it was a Euro road trip this friend was on too, so he loved just being able to look at it while he was driving another piece of unobtanium). I had the Porsche for a week before we left for Europe, and if I'd had the call to tell me my Tuscan was ready, I would have left the Porsche at home and taken the Tuscan!
Keep up the videos, love your work, especially TVR related for obvious reasons, but do yourself a favour, don't wait for the 1,000,000 views (which all of us are working hard on for you), just do it.
I can drive up a steep ski access road in my Toyota SUV v6 20-50mph. Fairly brisk as the corners are hairpin shaped. My TVR same road same speed is so so much fun. You'd think you were breaking all sorts of rules. Noise, sideways drift (there are rules against that), zero body roll. Manual gear changes. Just these cars being so light, engines resonating the cabin, exhaust howling and popping on trailing throttle. Now same road again Nissan turbo 300zx more than double the speed.....just not the same at all. Cabin noise low due to fully insulated floor roof and firewall. Same final drive ratio but difficult to press the throttle coz in a tight turn it'll over steer, even with a wheel alignment that counters that the weight distribution is not as good as the TVR.
Thanks JayEmm!
Me and my mate from school used to spend hours pouring over TVRs in the auto rags, especially the Cerbera. To this day its my most lusted after car that I'll never own.
I was the same and bought a chimaera 6 years ago
I couldn’t imagine never having one now such ace cars
I saw one once in Toronto. I’m confident I was the only person within miles who could identify it.
Yep, I am exactly the same, 4.5L Cerbera 100 percent. I was just starting to drive when the Clarkson vid came out, then I started work and drove past the TVR garage everyday. Never had the money to realistically run and maintain one properly though.
Get it bought, enjoy it,only going to go up in price,what else could you buy with that smile factor😊
Never say never!
I absolutely adore my Tuscan. Three years and 12,000 miles and the only issues it has had outside of servicing has been two dodgy sensors. Servicing at one of the well known specialist is expensive, at between 1500 and 2000 a year. Worth every penny.
I wouldn't have thought that TVRs have any censorship
That's about what I used to spend on keeping my E46 running, so par for the course!
I can’t think of another car in this league that would cost less than that.
I wouldn't say mine is quite that much... last service (12k) was 1200 and the one before that (6k) was about 800.
How many miles are you doing a year?
The major is 900 quid before they find things to do...
If you’re doing cars like the TVR surely we need a Noble M12 video?!!!
Been done
I love the fact that the traction control and abs is the strength of the driver's legs... You never miss leg day in a TVR. It's so on brand.
Thanks for spotting my cappucino going the other way. Loved the tiny supra comment 😂
Are you in fact selling it like one of the other commenters thinks? If so, you might want to contact them!
i love the TVR headlights ! 🇬🇧
Don’t do it mate. Would hate to lose you in a hedge.
We won't lose him. Have you seen those snazzy shirts James wears? We'll spot him in the hedgerows in a jiffy!
Yeah: It's supposed to be Russel in a hedgerow, not Jay in a hedgerow.
That's the cerbera
Surely with adjustable suspension, suitable tyres, and a well-executed alignment there's nothing to worry about. Maybe some ARBs etc too.
Any car driven badly will end in, or over a hedge. The Speed 6 engine doesn't have that much torque, it gets it's power from higher revs, which you should only do when conditions allow.
One of the most beautiful cars ever
It is; black wheels are spoiling it for me though.
It just shows how we all have different tastes. I think it's an absolute abomination.
Agreed, an absolute lust fest.
I'm quoting James to say that this is a 5/5 looking car and a 2.43/5 looking car welded together
@@rain-bender4712 😦
Something which never gets old is the head turns, long looks and pointing from people on the streets, or the windows dropping when you are about to pass on the road. They are greeted with the astonishment usually reserved for the high end exotics.
I used to get dropped off for school in the mid-2000s and walk past a little group of bungalows that looked like they were exclusively occupied by pensioners. And there was a beautiful blue/turquoise tvr tuscan on the drive. Always loved looking at that thing.
These are a true antidote to modern lifeless EVs which may be fast but are silent and soulless
Years ago, I went to the MotorShow at the NEC in Birmingham. I went on the TVR stand as i had a Lotus Esprit Turbo HC at the time and wanted to compare. I said to this tall chap on the stand, is it faster than my Lotus? Unknowingly, it was Peter Wheeler... he said "I've got one outside, lets go for a blast up the motorway". I'm struggling to remember the model, but it could have been the 420 SEAC. And, he took me for a blast and it was great fun, & what a nice guy too. Did I buy one? no.. I always thought the mid engined Esprit more exotic and special.
If this car was released as brand new today, it would still look phenomenal. A textbook case of timeless!
Totally agree Mate ❤
It is beautiful, but it screams late 90s like no other
@@javiercabanas2908 he did not say it feels like new. He said it would pick up the "fight" with today's cars in the look department, and I DO AGREE! Today's car design s*cks B really hard in general, and most new cars look utterly terrible...
@@staLkerhu Timeless sorta means that it could work nowadays, but yeah, I never disagreed on it being a looker. Modern design has gone downhill since BMW moved past their F81 4 Series.
Do it. I love e my Tuscan. Bits break from time to time but it’s 23 years old! When you put your foot down though the noise and theatre of it can’t be beaten.
I had a new Sagaris (I didn't own it, unfortunately) for two weeks and it was and still is the most awesome car i have ever driven. The acceleration and level of control was insanely good. You could light up the rear wheels in 3rd gear or get the car sliding without fearing for your life (not something I could do in my Elise). Not having abs did temper my efforts a bit, as it was very easy to lock the wheels, and i'm not a wannabee racing driver. I will never get anywhere near close to it again. I've never been in any other TVR so cannot compare it to any of their other products, but what i can say is that if ever any of you thrill seekers get the chance, try one. You might just fall in love.
I'm bringing over the actual 1999 Tuscan show car to the USA this coming October. It'll be the first Tuscan in the USA under the 25 year rule. Would love to chat about it some time.
I have owned a 1996 TVR Griffith 500 for a couple of years now. Everything you say about TVRs in general, I absolubtly agree with - the weirdness, wakieness, and yes the wonderfulness. The switchgear that sometimes works, the mad parts-bin engineering; I LOVE it, and its still a proper headturner, and that 5.0L V Rover / Taraka lump is just a superb soundtrack. I do hope you get you 1 miliion views. TJS
Only 949.000 more to go! I press both thumbs for u hitting 1 million!
I really want to see that Tuscan in ur videos!
By the time the video has a million views, the remaining TVRs will either be in museums or cost half a million pounds 😜
What makes TVR stand out from all the other small British car brands is how beautifully, and professionally the cars are designed. Maybe not pretty cars, but they really are pleasing to the eye in a way few other cars do for me.
In my opinion I think they've made some very pretty cars, the cerbera is among the best looking cars ever made i reckon.
How could you not be keen on the looks of a Griffith!? Best of TVR.
Passion is never sensible. I love my Tuscan, I'll never let it go...
Mate IV had 4 tuscans still got one and lol I'm after another two why because I'm mental lol ya fabulous looking car for me.
What a glorious car - god bless lunacy
James, you are daft! Just buy one already. I adore the Tuscan.
That Kei car was a Cappuccino. Shocked to see it driving, I’ve been staring at the for sale advert on Facebook for weeks!
I am sure one came to my meet just like it, possibly the same car
Had a Cappuccino in the early 00's, 0-60 was 6 seconds or so. 75 was about the top speed tho 🤣🤦
Mad little thing, 12k rev counter 🤯
For a brief period, I owned a Cappuccino and a Griffith 500 at the same time.
@@AlexRoebuck That's an epic duo. One is big thrills and the other, small bills!! 😆
The cappuccino is one of my dream cars, fell in love with it a few years ago
As a TVR owner just get one, you won’t stop smiling 😁😁😁😁😁
I had a black Tuscan S with black wheels in gran turismo as kid - normally I dislike black cars but this just suited it. Looked mean as hell. It was my favourite car. Proper race car for the road… I’d love to scratch that itch in reality… Go for it!
That doesn’t count as ownership I’m lead to believe, as I sometimes quote my gran turismo garage as if it were my own, my most memorable for some reason is my yellow Fiat Punto GT yellow with white wheels highly tuned and won all my early races.
I love the concept of a TVR. The most fun car I ever drove was a ratty old Ford Capri with an American Stock Car engine in it, two cherry bomb exhausts and a piston welded to a rod as the gear lever. It was wildly fast to 90mph and then ran out of gears, had no suspension control worth mentioning and was probably on remolds. TVR’s seem to be in the same vein and I salute them for it!
I owned 2 Cerbera's back before the kids came along and at the time a mate of mine bought one of the first Tuscans. People used to stop and stare as we drove around - they were that dramatic! Always loved the TVR and I can certainly feel a mid-life (actually old-age) crisis galloping over the horizon again thanks to this video... 🤣
Went on a factory tour many years ago. The sound of the engines makes it so special.
I'm on my second Tuscan, a 2006 Convertible. Yes, I wrote off my Mk1 Tuscan and can advise that GRP is a good energy absorber. (I used design energy absorbers for passenger trains).
We've been many times to Germany and Spain in both the Mk1 and the Convertible as well as 2 x Chimaera's and a Tasmin. My Cerbera never got outside the UK unfortunately.
Loved them all.
Yes do it and buy one! I own a Tuscan mk1 and have never looked back.
Perhaps someone can design one of those bot things to get you to a million views!
The hole in the dash at about 12:07 that's where you drop your drugs if you get stopped by the police ;)
I just bought a black cerbera! You should buy it, they're so much fun and other motorists enjoy seeing you on the road
A black cerebra is perhaps one the sexiest looking cars ever made. Congrats mate
@@joebloggs9719 thanks ❤️
I remember seeing a Tuscan in Harrogate when I was a child and being in awe of it with it's pearlescent purple and green paint and massive exhausts. Always have a soft spot for one since then, id love to drive one.
Full scale Hot Wheels!
The design of these cars has held up so well. They were so wild and iconic and captured the imagination of the PS1/PS2 XBOX generation of kids like myself. I respect this brand for putting the middle finger up to convention and make such a wild car.
TVR nostalgia will always the swordfish model that set it off for me 😊
Selling mine was a massive mistake, 2000 Red Rose in Imperial Blue with Cream, loved it.
Watching video and my old number plate pops up T3 USC ( different car though ) 😢.
I'm pretty sure that the Speed Six is the best sounding engine in the world!
What a fab car inside and out!! For me the colour is perfect for a car called Tuscan; Burnt Ochre.
I’ve also shared the video with my 2m followers now……
Always loved the look of the Tuscan. It looks like it was designed yesterday it's that good😍
Defiantly buy one, best-looking sportscar ever.
I'm a massive Cerbera fan myself and would bloody love one... Hoping you get the million views just so something similar to this coild be more of a regular. Good luck and great vid.
On my 4th Tvr and second Tuscan, can't kick the habit! Both Tuscans been ❤reliable. Regular maintenance by a specialist is the key. Nothing else under 50k comes close for the thrills you get. Just get one, you know you want to! The Tvr car club is such a great family too with plenty of events and drives.
have amongst other things 2 ferrari and a very late tuscan mk1 which I've had for 16 years, nothing fallen off, no engine rebuild, bought from tvr Fernhurst who told me how to drive it from startup, its a race engine, under no circumstances drive above 3k rpm until warm, then all works properly..the car is an event to drive its been over the alps twice, and had the Tifossi loving it along with everyone in italy who saw and heard it
There’s a chap makes collapsible roof panels that fold up. Had one on my Chimaera and it folded up small enough to rest on the top of the space saver spare tyre in the boot, so didn’t take up any space at all. Toured Europe with a boot full of camping gear in my car and it was a game changer over the roof ‘panel’. You’ve no excuses now Jame’s 😂
I had once a chance to drive a tvr griffith 400 v8 1965. It was amazingly one, and it won historic european championship !
Love the two tone orange and black. Great video.
16:34 cappuccino jumpscare
Amazing! Had a rolex blue tuscan in 2004 - it followed ownership of a Griffith500 and an S1. The Tuscan was wonderful and I loved it despite the painful roof in the boot bit which was annoying! Sold it following the S6 engine issues as it was bound to go at some point but would love to get back in one! Fab video!!
At 16:33m: It's a Suzuki Cappuccino! The coolest JDM car ever (I'm biased because I own one myself 😁)
I liked this immediately. I have one and it has been absolutely epic. I also took the plunge and added a Cerbera V8 recently - I suspect now they can be imported to the US these are going to become even rarer. They have been hideously undervalued for so long, I think we are about to see a readjustment.
You should absolutely get one, would love to see how you get on with it.
1m view target means James doesn't really want one that much
He's got a few video over 1m, so not impossible.
Maybe 1m views is enough advertising revenue to buy a TVR lol
@@jazzventura only 3 lol
Of course, if there's a TVR owner desperate to sell their car, they could probably buy 900k views from India, and give James a real shock!
for the chimera griff and tamora you can get the "surrey roof" which folds into a smaller bag you can pop on the parcel shelf to give you the full boot space even with the roof down
Great to see you in another TVR Tuscan. Really enjoyed your review of my Black Tuscan S (the one also featured in this video. Go on buy one you know you want to. ❤
Just change the title to something like "I'll prove you why the Tuscan is better than a Porsche 911" and voila! 3 million views! 😆
Or just throw "Tesla" in the title for ... reasons...
@@jamesengland7461 yes that's the idea.
@@jamesengland7461 use hastag tesla
Porsche weighs a thousand pounds more and has less power in many cases of a vehicle similar in value and date of manufacture of course.
Love the fact that it not only has a targa roof, you can also remove the rear window...
I had one of the first Tuscan S’s and it was a fantastic car…when it worked. Wiper blade fell off 500m from picking it up, throttle cable snapped (twice) and front splitter split along its width at 180mph at the Bedford Autodrome….front of the car bounced up and down about a foot. Very entertaining. Killer was that at a steady 70mph the revs would pulse about 500 rpm….which just drove me mad. No doubt all these problems are now sorted so go for it!
Best kit car...a super fine custom look done by ambutious vapor influenced glass heads...
Parts hunters LOVE TO BARGAIN BARTER AND SUBSTITUTE AT WILL..
OH MY
Adore these, purchased one many years ago but the deal fell through. I will add one to the garage one day!
Do it man. I have Mk1 Tuscan S in Copper Cascade and love it. Its the one car I would never sell. Fitted Gaz Golds and did all the suspension, bushes and brakes as well as engine rebuild and absolutely love it. Plus, for storage, put all your gear in... then take roof off and then when you park up put the roof on in 20 seconds and you have access to all your gear... and u want it covered in the UK anyway for security and weather. Nothing like em, get one whilst they are still reasonable and the yanks nick em.
I had a Griff. It did about 500 yards to the gallon, leaked, used more water than petrol, it was near undrivable and tried to kill me if it was raining in the next county, i needed a gym membership to gain enough strength operate the clutch and steering it was loud and brash. But I fecking loved it!
I grew up near Harrogate (Knaresborough) and I'd see TVRs regularly about the place. There was also a TVR showroom in Harrogate. Absolutely love them. I actually spoke to Damien McTaggart while i was a automotive design student back in the day. Tried my best to get some work experience.
Iconic brand. The cerbera v8 being my absolute favourite. Oh wait, no, the 1993 Speed 12 concept. What a beast.
I have a Chimaera 450 and a Tuscan Convertible 4.5 Super Sport (the Sagaris had to go when I moved house less garage space) . In my Chim , I've had a passenger,2 sets of Golf Clubs,Electric Trolley,Baggage and the roof in the boot , so no space issue. Compared to a convertible with an Electric roof , less space is lost with a manual Targa. MK2 and Convertible Tuscan have a Ford steering column which is adjustable up/down and the steering rack is slower so less twitchy. Bilstiens became standard rather than Harvey Bailey , but I've changed to Nitrons on the Tuscan. My Tuscan is insured for a wrt value of £65k and £26k for my Chim. I sold the Sag for £80k 6 years ago.
I owned one for many 5 years between 2004 and 2009 before relocating to the Middle East. A truly awesome car. It replaced a Mercedes SL55 AMG that was written off in an accident and I can honestly say it was a blast to own. I never didn't have a smile on my face. Ruinously expensive to own and run but worth every penny.
I remember seeing a (then) brand new purple TVR Tuscan in the centre of Manchester. There was nothing else like it.
Well, that intro summed up my feelings about this car perfectly.
Easy solution to the roof problem: Throw an old towel or sheet over the contents of the boot before putting the roof panel in there. If you need the stuff under the roof panel, put the roof on (or inside) the car
TVR's are just a bonkers car. So very British as well. I remember being a student in the early 90's and a lecturer had a Griffith 500 in a deep burgundy colour. what an amazing looking car and the sound wow rover v8 burble. In my opinion they have made some of the best looking cars out their especially during Peter Wheelers tenure. The interiors look as good as the outside and I even know a few people who worked at the TVR factory in sunny Blackpool. If I had enough money I'd have one for sure and it would probably be a Griffith as I just love the looks. You know you need one James :-)
I think you need a TVR Jay. As an American I love to see these things.
Had a TVR Cerbera pass me at well over 110 yesterday on the M5 the noise was incredible enough for me to turn off my radio ! Good job the rd was dry!
You only live once, just do it! 😎
That famous straight 6 rumble is something you want in your life 👍
I’ve always lusted after an S2K myself but I’m also a carer…therefore paid jack shit….but if you buy a TVR, I WILL find a way to afford an S2K.
I owned a Mark 1 from new for about 9 months (don't ask) but for that brief period it had my heart (and soul). Still one of the most beautiful cars ever penned IMHO...inside and out...and the sound and performance to match. Every drive felt like a truly special occasion, no matter how slow the route. Not as fast or nimble as my Noble (fastest A to B road car of this era), but more lustful. I think I just may have to buy another - would be good to get your (more detailed) take on the different varieties available.
Cerbera the pinnacle of TVR. Owned mine since 2002 and a car I will never sell!
Oliver Winterbottom was the designer of the Lotus Elite (1974) and Eclat (1975). He subsequently moved to TVR and designed the Tasmin. He did not design the Excel - which initially was an internal refresh of the Eclat, and the face lifted Excel (with blister wheel arches) was the work of Peter Stevens. The Elite blew me away when it was launched in 1974 and looked so radical compared to other performance cars of the time . I now own one. In my opinion, the later Lotus cars of the family never had the visual excitement of the Elite, although were very good in their own right.
My bad! I'll apologise to Peter
... and who can forget the Lotus Eclair, with the rich brown paint outside, and creamy leather interior...
Ha so wierd - literally just been binging your old TVR videos, and here’s a new one!
Big engine, rear wheel drive, lightweight, no driver aids... What could possibly go wrong on a damp country lane? Still love them to bits though. Dream cars for sure.
I had the privilege of ragging a 350C around Millbrook for a few laps. Alongside some other metal, such as a GT3, M3, 355, even an Ariel Atom. To this day, the best petrol fuelled experience of my life. I love all TVRs, despite their storied history. Sagaris is peak madness, but a 350C as a daily please...
The roof should come with a bag (to stop scratches) & don't forget, the perspex rear window comes out as well.
But...as a regular viewer & someone who has had their car tested by you, for the love of god, make sure you buy a sorted one. I bought a 1999 car with the 4.0L Speed Six in Opalescent Green (green & purple depending on the light) in 2001 for £40K. In 28 months of ownership it needed two new engines, one covered under warranty, the other I had to pay for, and it was off the road for 18 or those 28 months. When I sold it it owed me £65K in total & I got £15K for it...and I was happy with that!!! If only I'd bought the 993 I was looking at I'd still have that now, but a test drive totally seduced me!
Almost as bad as the engines were the electrics. When you have a car whose door opening relies on motors it's a recipe for disaster. I can't count the number of times I had to exit via the roof, Dukes of Hazzard style or worse, have to undo the number plate light & reach in for the manual door pull. When I left the house. it wasn't my wallet that I made sure I had with me, it was a screwdriver.
When it was on the road it was pure joy. I experienced none of the handling horror stories & it pulled like an absolute train...but for a total ownership experience, it got me banned from car purchases for 10 years (well that & a disastrous Alfa 156 episode)
Edit: Oh, and I forgot about flatspotting the really weak alloys.....on more than one occasion
Edit 2: And damaging the bloody carbon fibre exhaust cans on a flipping kerb at a Burger King...that wasn't cheap
Hi Martin, I have had all those issues during my 16 years ownership. Door opened on a trip along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way and wouldn't stay shut (actuator failed) and another trio around Wales the boot release button failed so I could get into the boot to fuel it. Digital screen gradually stopped working and doors wouldn't always open (door control ECU). However, years on all those parts have been repaired/replaced by specialists and I've not had issues for a long time. The car has arguably been improved/upgraded from when it left the factory. And cost of repair is actually quite reasonable. Door ECUs for example £80 each. Screen I think was £200.
Do it anyway mate…at least it will test your driving skill set…you are a breath of fresh air…congrats
Really enjoyed Speed Six ownership for two years and only experienced three factory engine rebuilds in the first 12,000 miles.
Wonderful looking cars but the cost of ownership put a lot of people off which kept prices low for some time but I’m not surprised they’re going up as most will have now made someone else suffer the cost of engine/chassis rebuilds. Even today though they still look a fresh design and so much more special than anything on sale today.
My friend Lionel(yes, Lionel) bought a TVR Cerbera and imported to France when he moved these. It was so loud he had a letter from the Mayor instructing him not to drive through the Village at more than 20 MPH!🤣🤣
He needn't gave worried really as it spent most of its time broken in some way!
Don't buy one one!
Back in the day I had three (2 T350's and a Tuscan 2S Convertible).... the 2S Convertible is absolutely the one to go for... proper soft top (no targa lid to fill the boot) and handled like a dream (for a TVR)... still miss it to this day. (Ironically I now have a Roma, which one reviewer "criticised" for being like an upmarket TVR!!!!... THAT for me was like a dream endorsement!!!!!) You should definitely DO it... they're amazing cars.
Good video. And that TVR is in a nice colour
How about a Sagaris? Would love to see you drive one of those crazy machines
Do it anyway even if this only gets 999k views. I love these no matter how "bad" they are. Truly an epic car any TVR
Its looks have really pasted the test of time. It sounds great. It handles well and it’s truly different. I’d buy it asap!
Great video.
I purchased a brand new speed six . Sold my 993 to get it drove it to Southend sea front and admired the purple pearlescent paint work .
Looked beautiful.
2 days latter I regretted the purchase due to issues.
Returned to TVR the sales guy said it’s not a Porsche it’s quirky 😂.
He agreed to take the car back and only deducted 2 grand plus the price of the cd that went in the flexible boot .
I did good all things considered.
The cars still look amazing I did buy more 993s the speed six looked better
A friend of my Dad's had a 3000M - the one with the Cortina rear lights. He followed it up with a 350 (of the wedge era). I think he bought a Jag E-Type after that but he liked and enjoyed his TVRs. World was a better place with Peter Wheeler's contributions. 😁
I rarely miss any of your videos, James, so will watch this one out of both interest and loyalty.
But for me, my sister and all other people I know that has had/driven one would counsel you against buying it.
I did like the Griffith & Chimera, though. And acknowledging fellow TVR drivers on the road was fun.
Had a few TVR's back in the day, best driving for me was the Tamora especially when on track. Earlier cars like the Griff and Chimp had a bag for the roof which did go someway to protect it.
I think, frankly it's long overdue. You have an appreciation for drivers cars, and are firmly still in touch with your inner 9 year old. I'd say its for chaps like you that Peter made this generation of TVR.
Love it ! Brings out the 13 yr old in me too.
Great car, great review 👍
James, listen to your own comments and just do it. Great content awaits...
What was the TVR from the 60s with the Ford 289 called? I love those cars! Also, the Tuscan is also a beauty, as is the Sagaris. Oh, also beautiful country roads Jay.
If the targa panel in the boot is an issue get a Chimaera instead. It takes virtually no space in the boot because it fits vertically against the bulkhead. Also loads cheaper and you can actually lift the bonnet and see the engine! 😄
I've always loved TVR. I'd love to have a left hand drive Tuscan S.