about to convert to porsche - Page 2 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

Well. Yes. That would be me, then. I own a Chimaera 450 and a Boxster S. I've posted on the subject of the differences between them a number of times. On to the Tuscan. I test drive a Tuscan when I decided to get my S. It was a fine, fine car and when like ordure from a polished digging implement. I was delighted by the improvement in interior fit and finish over our Chimaera. A real achievement for TVR...and I very nearly bought one. Then I test drove the Porsche. It just doesn't go like the Tuscan. In fact no Porsche this side of a Turbo will. So that wasn't the reason I got one, then. The Porsche oozed quality. It shone from every surface. The roof mechanism involves precision engineering which works perfectly. Every time. The sheer class of the car is something to behold - but is subtle! The drive of my S has been engineered so that it is smooth and easy to control under 4K and (relatively) ballistic above that. The car is as fast as anything you could want on the road and is a hoot on the track. Yes the 996s and TVRs will go by. Until the corner. Then they won't. Different Porsche models will provide (very) different experiences of course. All the way from Dom's magnificent 964RS (that's a TVR made by Porsche, that is - and I mean that as a compliment) which is loud and proud to my Boxster S - a fabulous, comfortable, quick, civilised but fun modern roadster. I love our Chimaera and I wouldn't be without it. But if push came to shove and one had to go I'd keep the Porsche. God its wonderful.

I believe that steve-p recently px'd a Griffith 4.3 against a 993, several threads about him buying a car, try contacting him, his car came from Paragon davidy

Ahh yes. ABS and Traction. These make absolutely no difference to how you drive the car on the road. My S has so much grip the PSM is only there to correct utter foolishness in the wet. I did manage to get it go off once on a slick surface pulling away. I used to "light-up" the Chimaera wheels regularly in the wet until I learned self-control. ABS retains assists in retaining steering control under braking. It doesn't make any difference to stopping distances that you can ('d be wise to) use. Clearly on a slick surface in an emergency stop I'd much rather have ABS/PSM than not. I'm a keen advocate of these technologies but I'm used to hopping in and out of cars with and without them and it doesn't change what you can (should) do with the car. So do they "make up" for lack of power...errr...irrelevant question. In my car the real joy is the GRIP. Just fantastic. Makes me smile just thinking about it. I might go and enjoy a few roundabouts on the way home.

Yes, I was a TVR owner for 10 years including a couple on the TVRCC committee running the web site, and ran the Berks region. I have a 993 C4 now. Paragon took my Griffith in part exchange. They passed it on to a company called Nutley Sports & Prestige Centre who seem to sell quite a few TVRs amongst other things (Ferrari, Lotus etc). Outright power in a straight line is just one attribute of a car. It's pretty unlikely I will be changing back again. Much more likely that a 993TT will be next.

Scottster also went from TVR to Porsche (griff to 911). I went from Lotus to Porsche and have never looked back. Derestrictor has also gone from TVR to Porsche, but he is a complete nutcase, so don't mind him Remember that for TVR rawness you need the RS models or the GT models. Even the turbos are quite civilised. Most reliable 911 model is probably the 993 Carrera from 1995 onwards, or a brand new 996. The early 996s are prone to problems. Later Boxsters would also be a good choice. I am still waiting for them to do a Boxster RS, which would have a 996 engine but with all unnecessary weight put in the skip where it belongs >> Edited by domster on Tuesday 17th September 17:43

I don't believe when Derestrictor moved from TVR to porsche (his version of what a porsche should be, teeny weeny bit of modification) he suffered any performance deficit. DAZ

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Hi scotty, used to have a Tuscan. Got seduced by the looks, sound and sheer excitement. Was prepared for a few 'niggles'. Didn't have to wait long, (withing an hour of picking it up! some were very serious, (breaking down 5 times), some plain irritating, most to do with bad quality control/cheap materials not up to the job. Sold it after nine months and bought a GT3. I think you'll find the longer you keep a Porsche, the longer you'll appreciate it's qualities. You'll also be able to drive it faster even if it doesn't have as much raw power. Just a more complete package. I've owned quite a few cars/bikes over the past 18 years and one thing I've learnt is that driving fast isn't just about BHP. You need a car that inspires confidence enough that you're about to use ever brake horse power. Could never manage that in the Tuscan.The rear wheels would lose traction, the fronts would tramline, little rear down force at high speed etc....all conspired to reduce the confidence for all but the bravest of drivers!!

...there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of turning the key and listening to that sound. You got to take it one day at a time. One day at a time. I've been driving a sensible car now for a year. A complete year without a relapse. But you know. When a friend offers you a ride...it can be so difficult sometimes...when TVRs got a grip on you..its deep. Deep in the soul. The devil plays sweet music to you. Tempting you with the V8 roar..you've just got to be strong, brother, strong. But Hallelujah I've been saved. Saved by my sweet Porsche. That flat-six music takes you straight to heaven. Straight to heaven, brothers and sistsers. Once you've tasted the delights of Automotive Paradise you won't need the devil's music. No sir. Be pure. Be vigilant. Behave. Buy a Porsche.

Me too - Chimaera / Griff / 3 x Cerberas and a Tuscan, now a GT3. Cancelled more Porsche orders than you would believe, such was the wrench to the German way. Once you own one however, you can experience the overall machined integrity of the car, something that TVR just doesn't exude. I don't actually miss the power or noise (GT3 is a fairly raw experience) or the frequent trips back to the dealer. And boy, does it handle ! Go get one.

Im new to Porsche 911 (996), not from a TVR but Caterham 7 and M5 The best total car ever owned. Very little tramlining, excellent feedback, comfortable, good grip, very fast mid and top range, PSM does not kick in until you are past the limit and then some - perfect. The M5 DSC was cutting in before you had done anything and thus took away the feel. so you drove with it off,. My wife can drive the 911 and enjoys it, my dog can sit in the back, we are off for a week hol to Cornwall shortly and we can get everthing we need into it. wow it look sooooo good, build quality ace, and it looks soooo goood. wow

I think this is one of the most true statements here. I went from a Lotus to a 993 twin turbo, and of course I loved the performance but I missed the light imeadiate steering of the Liz, but as time goes on the the Porsche just seemed to get better and better, and by the end I just could not fault the car. If you want Tuscan performance you need to be looking at a turbo model - brilliant in the real world.

Now thats what I call feedback--I daren't put the same post on the TVR gassing site, I'd get lynched. Thanks for the info chaps and I'll keep you informed as to what I've done!! Regards scotty

My Turbo's pretty raw Dom!You obviously need a ride on Sunday. (SB) (this is my office screen name) Steve

I own a 930 3.3 Turbo and have just bought a Griff 500 in addition.(Previously owned a Chim 450)I would say that if want the TVR rawness you have to go for a Turbo 930 or an RS.The later Porkers are much more refined.You pays yer money... Steve

OK, I admit that the older turbos have a rawness about them. But from the 965 onwards they got more refined as they got more intercontinentally ballistic!! But you haven't seen The Red Baron yet - and it's a pretty raw driving experience compared to pretty much anything - including being towed in the nude behind a Caterham R500. If your exhaust is louder at idle I'll buy you a beer

No Scruff, here... Trust you TVR boys to always have an electrical parts supplier ready to hand

The Griff has got a sports exhaust on it Dom,I might have to hold you to that beer! Steve cool pic though,nice colour! >> Edited by wonderwheels on Wednesday 18th September 10:28

If I had to choose which of the cars to keep......I just couldn't decide,they are very different but both excellent in there own way. Steve

Dunno what your budget is but if its Tuscan type money how about a 993 GT2. Its as raw a driving experience as a 964RS but with a lot more power its 430bhp standard and its esay to get a reilaible 500bhp. The handling is just fantastic, plus its only 2wd with no traction control...... you know you want to..........

If Typhoo put the T in Britain, then who put the RS in Arse

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GT2s are a bit more than Tuscan money, eh, iguana? I reckon 65k entry?

Jeez, that is very cheap for a Diablo... 35k was the norm for an early one. Almost worth taking it and flogging it on. Tell me the story off line if not for public consumption. Running costs are daft - 4k GBP for clutch, etc. Don't blame you not going for it, as I wouldn't own a Lotus Carlton again if you gave one to me, but what a *very* cheap Diablo!

I came close to buying a diablo nearly 2 years ago, late 91/92 LHD car in yellow from Europe, through a company that puts you in touch with private owners. The asking price was approx £38,000, but we negotiated to £34,500 and I'd have to pay a 5% commission to the introduction co. I didn't go through with it as the car needs a clutch every 3k miles, needs to be looked after like it was a King's favourite whore etc etc. and the owner admitted all this together with saying it could be VERY temperamental. IMO just a toy really. But at £25K it might be worth getting one just as a trophy, and then sell it on for £30K.

I use to live 2 doors down from a guy who had a early Diablo. He swapped it for a 996 as he reckoned it was costing more a month to keep it on the road than his mortgage. Fantastic car, you could here it coming 3 streets away. It even put my Cerbera to shame on the noise front.

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Are you sure? I know they get through bits quick but I find that very very hard to believe, 30k miles more like it.

Hail Scotty, Just found this nifty wee thread so I thought I'd sully proceedings with a bit of unrestrained enthusiasm. First of all, as has been said, ONLY the Turbo (964 type onwards) OR lightweight specials (see the irretrievably crazed Domster for any inspiration therein ) will do it for you. I remember dumping my 4.5 Cerbera for a (then standard) 993TT after discovering it was the only viable alternative. Things like the 996GT3 were way too slow so despite the undoubted build quality advantages - not to mention (yawn) reliability factor - but only the Turbo delivered serious, neck-break accelerative slam. Combined with the actual grip it was savagely quicker off the mark than the Cerbera but on the go (straight line) equality would prevail. However, the TT grips better than most and certainly makes you do things you might not have considered in a Cerbera, much less the trickier still Tuscan... Expend a few groats more and the TT can become really, indecently fast. I mean spleen-ripping. Uprate the springs and dampers and any ubiquitous charges of refinement are soon catapulted away. I would say my current vehicle is almost TOO harsh for UK roads. Certainly doesn't FEEL refined; the wheel writhes like a writherer with a bad case of writheritus and the interior creaks like Billy-O as the suspension crashes and bangs over the disgusting UK road network... I recall BossHogg worrying about licence retention on his return to the UK with his 993TT and he's right. A 996TT may have a degree of relative compliance but the gutteral lungings of a tweaked 993TT are just primal. And it's also true what people say about the 'acquired taste' syndrome; 911s do improve with a longer relationship and I really can't see myself ever ditching my beetle, even though it does need something red and altogether less brutal for snuggling purposes on cold winters' nights... And BTW, anal retention will not be an option following trade in c/o the OPCs.... So should you do it? I think so, certainly.

Even a 355 will apparently go through a clutch in 15-20K so if thats true I can't see a Diablo making it to 30K. 3K sounds silly but then its does have a shitload of power. I think perhaps someone who owns one can validly comment, not me. Just going on what I was told.

I have no idea what they should be, just guessing, but I find a new clutch every minor service would get even Diablo driver's wallets crying

You do seem to see a few for sale with less than 10k on that have had new clutches fitted. Four grand though, ouch. PS I'm guessing a service on a Lambo could never be called minor. >> Edited by Basil Brush on Tuesday 24th September 10:25

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I was lucky enough to run a Diablo for 2 years (1997 SV, sold two months ago) for the princely sum of £1,800 on maintenance. This was two annual services carried out by Lamborghini UK, £1000 and £800. Clutches do indeed cost £4000 a pop at Lamborghini but you can get them for £2000 through the independents. I managed about 11,000 miles without a new clutch - I was told never to slip the clutch which led to some fairly brutal starts but it did seem to work. The big killer is depreciation so if you can get one for £25k - go for it! They are surprisingly driveable day to day and on a good day are absolutely incredibly. My one trip to the South of France in it will live with me forever. Just hope I can afford another one at some point in the future...

currently own a TVR Tuscan--looks and goes like the dogs danglies but far from civilised. Question I'd like to ask is have any of you gone from TVR to Porsche and if so does the ability to utilise ABS/Traction control etc etc make up for the lack of sheer power? And I would like to p/ex--anyone heard of Porsche garages taking TVR's as P/ex? Regards 2dogs p.s no bitching about TR's please, they still have a place in my heart!!