I Have an Infection 

by "CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
Published 09/13/2017 at 18:05

Tags: Tvr ; TVR Tuscan ; fever
STARS: 6

Of the worst kind, the scratch you can’t itch.

It has been a dream ever since I saw the first TVR Griffith reboot to one. Then Top Gear comes around and shows me the Tuscan 2S and all of its amazing quirks. Then I got to drive and mess around with a Chimaera the other day.

And now I shake at the dream of flying to the UK, buying a TVR and driving around Europe.

I have always wanted to take that trip. Always seemed like the perfect vehicle to drive around in Europe and then ship home (US imports be damned). The worst part is that compared to a few years ago AutoTrader UK shows the price of the Tuscan 2S (my prefered vehicle) has come down and the Chimaera is really affordable.

The trip of course would start with the UK going around Britain, up to Scotland, through Wales and maybe out to the Isle of Man. I don’t know if I would go to Ireland, I guess I should. But I want to go everywhere from Burges to Moscow, from Germany (duh) to Italy. I especially want to go to Lake Reschen because it freezes over in the winter and you can ice skate around the steeple.

and I found the perfect Tuscan 2S (would like a more wild color, but this one is perfect)

Only about $55,500 in USD

Replies (47)

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
09/13/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 0

Definitely Ireland, it’s gorgeous. Connemara is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Also castles, lots of castles.

"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/13/2017 at 18:19, STARS: 1

You and me both... but I’m only finishing college and doubt I can realistically afford one any time in the near future, and bringing it to Canada (where they would mostly already be legal) would probably make maintenance a hassle.

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/13/2017 at 18:20, STARS: 1

I saw a green TVR convertible in my neighborhood yesterday. Kinda blew my mind.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:22, STARS: 0

Can I invade said castles? I’ve always wanted a castle

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:23, STARS: 0

Huh, how odd. I mean we get the older ones here, but the newer ones are super rare cause import duh.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:23, STARS: 1

Shhhh, your dreams should not be crushed in your own mind, but in the end when you have a Speed Six vehicle on blocks and an empty wallet.

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/13/2017 at 18:25, STARS: 1

I couldn’t begin to tell you what model it was, or how old it was. It was just wild to see one at all tooling through my unassuming midwestern suburban neighborhood.

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
09/13/2017 at 18:26, STARS: 1

I mean some of them are weirdly cheap. Someone I know was talking about buying a small castle in Wales for apparently $10,000CAD

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:27, STARS: 1

So I can invade with money huh.... I’ll just have my hordes attack.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:28, STARS: 0

No SR20? ;) I bet that was a fun sight.

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/13/2017 at 18:29, STARS: 1

Naw, I was driving. By the time I realized what it was, it was gone. It definitely was a fun sight!

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
09/13/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 0

Here’s another Chimaera:

"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/13/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 1

Psst: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/europpomeet-location-s-and-time-poll-questionnaire-ro-1797629724

You’d have about half a year to figure out how to buy one, and you can join us on a trip of Wales.

"Svend" (svend)
09/13/2017 at 18:37, STARS: 2

If you were to do the drive round the U.K.

Start off where ever you pick up the car, head up the M6 (head out west if you want to take in Wales, then back onto the M6) to Blackpool, home of TVR, then head to Lancaster and get the ferry to the Isle of Man, drive around the TT road course, then get the ferry to Dublin, drive up through Ireland to Northern Ireland, get the ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan, then either head north up the coastal road to Glasgow, onto Edinburgh along some scenic country roads, then from Edinburgh, head south to Hull, get the ferry to Holland then head for Germany, via Belgium and Luxembourg, Head down into Austria, then Switzerland onto Northern Italy and Lake Como, back into France via Lyon, head up to Paris and then take the Channel Tunnel to London, put the car on a roll on roll off ferry in Southampton to take it to the states. That’s the quick way round.

You’d of covered England, Wales, Isle of Man, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Luxerbourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:42, STARS: 0

Well fuck.... I guess I have to buy one now. Any good banks to rob there?

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:43, STARS: 0

And here is another

"benjrblant" (benjblant)
09/13/2017 at 18:43, STARS: 2

An infection? Oh, that kind? Sorry, looks like we’re going to have to put you down.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:44, STARS: 1

Well shit. Looks like a pretty damn good trip to me

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 18:47, STARS: 3

Damn, I was worried about that.

"benjrblant" (benjblant)
09/13/2017 at 18:49, STARS: 0

Me too. Welp, it’s been nice knowing ya!

"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/13/2017 at 18:52, STARS: 0

Yeah that’s the thing, I would have to have far more than just the money to buy the car in the first place, but I’m not giving up, just trying to be a lil realistic.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 0

Same

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 0

Like seriously, how did you come up with that trip?

"Svend" (svend)
09/13/2017 at 19:09, STARS: 1

While in England you could take in a couple of race tracks, Isle of Man for the TT course, Dublin for the stout and fine whiskey, Northern Ireland for history on the Titanic and motorbike race course similar to the TT in north Northern Ireland, Scotland for the Scotch whisky, Holland for the beautiful flat open spaces (they are a friendly bunch, I lived in Holland and made a point not to go to Amsterdam but to see central and southern Holland), Belgium for Spa, at Stavelot, Luxermbourg (well, been there, not a lot there really), into Germany, from Frankfurt head up to Wolfsburg for the VWs. Onto Berlin, then back down again to Stuttgart for Porsche, into Switzerland for some chocolate, onto Italy, some shopping in Milan, ten miles or so south of Como is a very nice indoor go kart track after then return back to Como to relax, into France via Bardonecchia and Lyon through some great tunnels and open motorways with good service stops. Romantic evening in Paris, Channel Tunnel, then onto London. Have tea at Fortnum and Mason, the Royal grocers, some light shopping in Kensington, hand the car over to a shipping agent, hire a car for a couple of days to take in some sites, then fly back to the U.S. And wait for your TreVoR to arrive.

"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/13/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 1

I’d suggest Switserland for that...

Given the success of the previous europpomeets, I’m guessing you don’t need to hurry for this one, though. There are many good roads left in Europe that we need to discover, and as long as that is the case europpomeets will probably continue happening. (And I do mean good roads, not only the overhyped ones. Last year we drove from Spa to the Ring while using as little major roads as possible)

"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
09/13/2017 at 19:16, STARS: 1

Frankly, I’ve always wanted a TVR. The major reason why it is a pipe dream is that I know that I’d end up travelling backwards at speed into a wall during the first week of ownership.

"Svend" (svend)
09/13/2017 at 19:17, STARS: 1

It’s simply taking in the most countries in a row and picking something there you want to see. There are some things we share in Europe, lots of history, lots of variety of food and drink and manufacturing of cars of all shapes, types and sizes.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 1

True, I could wait, but that goes against my Zero Patience policy.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:22, STARS: 1

Svend you are a magical man. You forgot the part where you show me how to properly detail said TVR. Now to come up with $50k for the car and maybe the same for the trip (I know I won’t need that much, but still).

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:26, STARS: 0

That is literally half the fun though. But seriously cars with no aids aren’t that hard to handle.

"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/13/2017 at 19:29, STARS: 1

Haha. Guess we’ll see you and your new TVR in March then ;)

"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
09/13/2017 at 19:36, STARS: 1

Yeah I know (as I seem to predate most driving aids apart from the steering wheel) but I honestly don’t have the skills to make the TVR worthwhile. It’d be driven like a Morris Minor...

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:40, STARS: 1

Hmmm, well they have driving courses for that.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 1

Sounds good to me

"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
09/13/2017 at 19:45, STARS: 0

...and I’d need a not-a-TVR to practise with. And that would take me down a rabbit hole I may never emerge from. Safer to look at pictures on the internet!

"Svend" (svend)
09/13/2017 at 19:48, STARS: 0

Well if you happen to stay on the M6 and take the last left before you get to Scotland, you’ll be in my home city, so you could always drop it off at my house, take a Carlisle to Settle steam train over the Ribble Viaduct for lunch, then come back she should be ready.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 19:55, STARS: 0

So looks like Gretna is the last town or slightly over the border... Hard to tell. GMaps is poor at defining. So I am guessing Carlisle is where you are.

Oh man steam trains are almost as cool as TVRs.... almost.

"ptak appreciates old racecars" (racecarptak)
09/13/2017 at 20:06, STARS: 1

This is a good dream. Make it a goal!

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/13/2017 at 20:18, STARS: 0

Oh it definitely is.

"Svend" (svend)
09/13/2017 at 23:46, STARS: 0

Gretna is just over the border.

I’m in Carlisle, ‘The Great Border City’.

In the summer there are three steam trains that operate on the Carlisle to Settle route (not everyday, because it’s a regular train line it has to operate with regular trains).

If you like steam trains you’ll absolutely pee yourself at the National Railway Museum in York.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/14/2017 at 11:05, STARS: 0

Ok that is kind of how it looked, but I wasn’t sure.

Quick the nickname there for your city.

That is really cool. I wish steam trains ran more often.

I might pee myself seeing that. Holy crap!

"Svend" (svend)
09/14/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 1

They have a working replica of the Stevenson engine.

Here the Flying Scotsman on the reopened Settle to Carlisle line in mid March 2017 after being closed for 16 months due to a land slide just outside Carlisle.

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"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/14/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 1

I want to go on the Flying Scotsman.

"Svend" (svend)
09/14/2017 at 13:10, STARS: 1

I’d like to but always have something else to do and because it’s always there, it’s easy to take it for granted.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/14/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 1

Well then you should go sooner rather than later

"Svend" (svend)
09/14/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 1

It’s like the Lake District and Cumbria as a whole.

It’s only when tourists point out how beautiful it is that your reminded how beautiful an area you live in.

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/14/2017 at 13:50, STARS: 1

That is amazingly beautiful! Holy crap. I mean I guess that works here too

You can easily forget how much beauty there is near you. Especially when your day to day is just the grind and work. The grimy cars and bad customers that make you want to drink.