Re: Reliable British Cars

["Sean Ford" <sean@nwh.org>]

76 mph on a highway designed for 70 mph travel using '60's automotive
technology models? You're a madman!!

Sean Ford
sean@nwh.org
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Newton, MA  02162 (USA)

----------
> From: Andreas Meyer <meyer@hpanix.an.hp.com>
> To: quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject: Re: Reliable British Cars
> Date: Wednesday, March 05, 1997 9:23 AM
> 
> 
> I have had my share of British cars. Three of them to be exact.
> 
> 1. 1980 TR-7 convertible: Fun, fun, fun car but terrible electrics and
> 	the engine was very weak. What did I do? I replaced the engine
> 	with a Buick 3.8 V6 and used a T-5 5 speed tranny. I also 
> 	installed heavier springs, bigger anti-sway bars, larger wheels 
> 	and tires.  The car became very reliable, was very fast, but 
> 	body flex was a problem that I never really overcame. But when 
> 	the top came down and I planted my foot down I was all smiles.
> 
> 2. 1980 Rover 3500 SD-1: Another fun car with an all aluminum V8 in it.
> 	This one also had all kinds of electrical gremlins in it and I
> 	eventually sold it due to that. Can't say that it was any worse
> 	than the Audis though and it had fewer electronics so it was
> 	somewhat easier to troubleshoot.
> 
> 3. 1986 TVR 280i: This was definitely the most fun car that I have
> 	ever owned. Got great comments wherever I drove it. People never
> 	knew what it was. Questions I got were: Is that a Ferrari?
> 	Is that the newest Lotus? It was fun having people try to figure 
> 	out what it was. Since TVR only imported about 200 cars a year into
> 	the US it was a very rare sighting indeed. Again, this car proved 
> 	very reliable. I never had any problems with it, but then I only 
> 	drove it about 3000 miles a year and sold it when it had 8000 miles 
> 	on it. Needed the money to finally settle down (get married) and
> 	build a house. Never owned any fun car like that since then. :-(
> 	Now I own a plane instead. Much less risk of getting speeding 
> 	tickets :-) and I just got one the other day on the Mass Pike in
> 	western MA for doing 76 in a 65! Talk about a revenue hungry SOB.
> 
> Andreas Meyer
>