Let's talk about cars
 

I was surprised to see parked outside Lowes a few days ago, a red TR7. It wasn't in the best shape, and the paint was badly oxidized.

It's not the first TR7 I've seen here, but I've never seen a TR8 in the US, although I had previously heard that the TR8 was developed for the US market, with the ;3.5 litre Rover V8, as opposed to the 2 litre 4 cylinder in the TR7.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

Citation needed for TR7 in "the best shape".

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

Well whatever it was, it would have come from the Solihull or Canley plants, because, while none of them were great, apparently those from the Speke plant were worse. :unsure: ..... Maybe the one I saw outside Lowes was a Speke car? :rofl:

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

To be fair, I always have a dream of one day getting a classic British roadster and Triumph is on the list of potentials. TR6 or a Spitfire maybe.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

I remember a secretary we had in the late 70's had a TR7. I recall the TR8 being reviewed in either Motor Trend or Road & Track -- but I do not recall ever seeing one. Having owned a Sunbeam Tiger, I would have remembered if I had seen a TR8.

I think fewer than 500 were sold if memory serves me correct.

I do recall seeing an "MGC GT" which had the V8 shoe-horned into an MGB-GT if memory serves me correct.

p.s. I just looked it up -- I remember seeing MGC which was a 6-cylinder. I read about the MGB-V8 which never made it over to the US.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

I saw a Spitfire three or four years ago, it was ahead of me as I drove out of town. I wondered where it was going, ..... then it turned into my subdivision, ..... and then into the the cul-de-sac where I live, but it swung round at the end and shot off before I got a chance to flag it down. Unlike the TR7, the Spitfire, a 1500, was in immaculate condition.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

500 is probably about right, because I think about 2,000 TR8's were manufacturedInteresting, I didn't realise that the V8 didn't make it to the US, because like the TR8, the V8 MGB was designed for the US market. I only ever recall seeing one MGC, and I didn't realize it had a six cylinder in it.

Did you know there was a late batch of MGBs made in the early 1990's, I think, ..... they made about 2,000 that were mechanically very similar to the MGB that had been discontinued in 1980. All were V8's, but the bodywork was "reinterpreted" - bulked-up, like an old MGB on steroids! :unsure:

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

I purchased a used green TR4-A when I lived in Switzerland in the late 1960s. Then I bought a new yellow VW Porsche 914. The TR4-A was actually more reliable than the 914.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

I know that this is probably a complete different class of car but what do you guys think of MazdaMX5?

The Harley may be going at the end of the year and I want a little fairly inexpencive convertible. Well if I can convince the man..:sneaky:

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

The TR4-A was a beautiful little car, as of course was the TR5, which had the same body, but a larger engine. .... Then there was the TR6, which looked like a brick, especially with the top down, and had the same engine as the TR5, but with a larger body! :rolleyes:

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

If you're going to buy a roadster, then that's one of your best options. The primary downsides are that Mazda could eventually bail out on the US (the company generally does poorly here), and the dealership network is fairly small, should you need it.

If used cars are a possibility, then you might also want to consider the Honda S2000.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

There's a chap up the road that has a very lovely one in the drive, also has a nice MG and a 'vette too.

Another not to bad MG across town and then a Midget near by is for sale.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

Unlikely. Mazda are due to open a plant in Mexico to meet the demand of Mazda's in the US and North America.
The one word that best describes the mx5, FUN!

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

I recall that the TR-4A with the six cylinder engine was sold as the TR-250 over here. In 1970 the Datsun 240Z came on the market and killed any demand for British roadsters.

Re: Let's talk about cars
 

Mazda has less than 2% market share in the US, and its share is declining. While the US car market grew YTD, Mazda sales dipped slightly.

Mazda went to Mexico for cheaper labor and because of the strong yen. It's more of a Hail Mary than an indication of strength.