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kindofblue
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Hi All,
I was given my TR250 free. I always knew I wanted an English sports car. Till today, I had never driven one, or even had a significant ride in one. The closest I came was my Unlcle's 1967 Datsun 1600 Sports (MGB lookalike). I knew I liked that car: basic, fun, loud, kind of creaky.
Today, our club had its last scheduled event of the season, a benefit regularity run for Habitat for Humanity. I was invited to navigate with a member in his TR5. (imported from Europe, and petrol injected). He drove the first loop, and I drove the second loop.
All I can say is the project is now a lot more real to me. This car was as much fun (even more so) than I expected. There are a lot of mixed reviews on the TR250/6 range. (weezy, rattly, heavy steering, vintage handling). Anyway the car was a blast to drive. The steering was light and direct at speed. I could feel the wires wheels flex about through the wheel on straighter sections. It wasn't the smoothest ride, and yes it did creak and rattle quite a bit. Its all part of the fun isn't though? I mean, we drove over wooden boards on a covered bridge, almost feeling the splinters in the boards. It got so shaky on some rutted roads that we were laughing along.
The feel of the inline 6 has been described as "masculine". I can say its true. The thrust. Coming out of first into second and letting it wind out to 5500 rpm. It feels like you are riding every one of those six cylinders, as the cabin fills with oil and the smell of exhaust (we had the top of on this November day). The Sound!! Oh that Sound. I have heard the sixes pull away from the sidelines, but to be behind it, staring down the shaking hood as the engine pulls through the gears. What a thrill. Smooth, even delivery. The sightline is neat too. those high fenders on each side, with the bulge that catches your on on right turns. Hard to know where the right edge of the car is though behind that looong hood.
The mechanicals were a lot easier than I expected. I have driven lots of other cars which had much heavier unboosted steering at parking speeds. The Gearbox was very postive. It was a little hard finding third, but once you let the box guide you there it was fine. The clutch effort was much heavier than a modern car. The feel couldn't be beat though. I knew exactly when it was engaged. I loved just holding it on the hill just to hear the exhaust moan through the backlight.
All in all, it was everything I had hoped for. Modern enough to keep up with traffic as needed. Still a very vintage feel to it. Something felt much older when we went down some narrow country lanes. Like this car dates back to a time way before internal combustion. Such a thrill. I think I am hooked for life on TRs....
I was given my TR250 free. I always knew I wanted an English sports car. Till today, I had never driven one, or even had a significant ride in one. The closest I came was my Unlcle's 1967 Datsun 1600 Sports (MGB lookalike). I knew I liked that car: basic, fun, loud, kind of creaky.
Today, our club had its last scheduled event of the season, a benefit regularity run for Habitat for Humanity. I was invited to navigate with a member in his TR5. (imported from Europe, and petrol injected). He drove the first loop, and I drove the second loop.
All I can say is the project is now a lot more real to me. This car was as much fun (even more so) than I expected. There are a lot of mixed reviews on the TR250/6 range. (weezy, rattly, heavy steering, vintage handling). Anyway the car was a blast to drive. The steering was light and direct at speed. I could feel the wires wheels flex about through the wheel on straighter sections. It wasn't the smoothest ride, and yes it did creak and rattle quite a bit. Its all part of the fun isn't though? I mean, we drove over wooden boards on a covered bridge, almost feeling the splinters in the boards. It got so shaky on some rutted roads that we were laughing along.
The feel of the inline 6 has been described as "masculine". I can say its true. The thrust. Coming out of first into second and letting it wind out to 5500 rpm. It feels like you are riding every one of those six cylinders, as the cabin fills with oil and the smell of exhaust (we had the top of on this November day). The Sound!! Oh that Sound. I have heard the sixes pull away from the sidelines, but to be behind it, staring down the shaking hood as the engine pulls through the gears. What a thrill. Smooth, even delivery. The sightline is neat too. those high fenders on each side, with the bulge that catches your on on right turns. Hard to know where the right edge of the car is though behind that looong hood.
The mechanicals were a lot easier than I expected. I have driven lots of other cars which had much heavier unboosted steering at parking speeds. The Gearbox was very postive. It was a little hard finding third, but once you let the box guide you there it was fine. The clutch effort was much heavier than a modern car. The feel couldn't be beat though. I knew exactly when it was engaged. I loved just holding it on the hill just to hear the exhaust moan through the backlight.
All in all, it was everything I had hoped for. Modern enough to keep up with traffic as needed. Still a very vintage feel to it. Something felt much older when we went down some narrow country lanes. Like this car dates back to a time way before internal combustion. Such a thrill. I think I am hooked for life on TRs....
