Advise needed by Honest John, Daily Telegraph

[404ROD]

In today's motoring supplement of The Daily Telegraph, Honest John writes that he is in the fortunate position of being able to indulge in his passion for British sports cars. He is considering either a Triumph Stag or a TVR Chimaera/Griffith. He admits the Stag is more of a classic but of steel construction, whereas the TVRs are more modern and have glass fibre bodies. He can spend £10,000 and asks which should he buy? So what advise do you think we should give him?

Rod

[martin]

Firstly - does he want a grand tourer, or a sports car ? It's a bit like comparing roast beef and cheesecake.

[404ROD]

Firstly - does he want a grand tourer, or a sports car ? It's a bit like comparing roast beef and cheesecake.

It's strange how so many people have a misconception of the Stag. It is of course a grand tourer and not a sports car. Perhaps this is what we should point out to Honest John.

Rod

[milothedog]

Isn't it funny that an "expert in these areas (all things motoring) " is asking for advice

Ian

[ChasR]

I guess even with all the information at your hands, it does not make choosing things easier. If anything, the choices can become more awkward!

[MissMoppet]

Firstly - does he want a grand tourer, or a sports car ? It's a bit like comparing roast beef and cheesecake.

Well to me a Grand Tourer is the Citroen DS 23 Pallas I so very nearly bought. Unbeatable comfort, effortless finger tip driving, power brakes and one of the most beautiful cars in the world. No contest. But look what I finished up with?

[72BLUE]

Well to me a Grand Tourer is the Citroen DS 23 Pallas I so very nearly bought. Unbeatable comfort, effortless finger tip driving, power brakes and one of the most beautiful cars in the world. No contest. But look what I finished up with?

Ahhhh.......... but does the DS 23 have ABS, for me, that would have beeen the clincher

Cheers
Keith

[Guest]

I gave up reading "Honest John" (if he exists) years ago as a lot of his answers were just plain stupid. But maybe the queries are made up too.

Anyway, if he wants to come and see me he can have mine - bang on his budget!

Miss Moppet - I had a DS 21 for 4 years - the semi automatic one. As you say, very comforatble cruiser but over servoed steering (like many other Citroens) and ferocious power brakes, the latter I quite liked. Citronists rave on about them, but no other manufacturer took up their hydraulic everything design. Too expensive and that's why the DS had to make so with the old Traction Avant engine - no money left in the kitty.

[ChasR]

Didn't Rolls Royce partially use some of PSA's suspension's underpinnings (I am sure I remember someone saying that the spheres are the same for both Citroens and Rollers of old!).

[KOY 23]

Honest John does/did exist. I used to see him at the car auctions with his leather jacket and trilby hat.

John (the other one)

[wilf]

Never mind advice to him - he didn't recommend this Club!

[jleyton]

I feel in a reasonable position to add to some of the comments above, having worked in Citroen uk's head office for 30 years and having known Honest John for about 20 !

Firstly, "Honest John' is a real guy called Peter Lorimer and he does know a fair bit about cars although, like many presenters/journalists, he is a little opinionated.

I hadn't seen the article in the Telegraph, but I'll contact Peter personally to give him a bit of Stag advice

As for Rolls Royce and Citroen suspension, yes they did use elements of Citroen's hydropneumatic set up but, unlike Citroen, in addition to a standard system. In particular, this gve Rolls Royce a self levelling facility.

Interestingly, and in contrast to some opinions regarding Citroen reliability, the components that RR purchased from Citroen, were found to be of such good qality that RR dropped their own quality control testing (I understand that this was the very first time hat RR did this). However, despite this, Citroen wered forbidden, by RR, to ever publicise the fact that they supplied parts to RR.

Cheers

Julian

[jakesmig]

It's strange how so many people have a misconception of the Stag. It is of course a grand tourer and not a sports car. Perhaps this is what we should point out to Honest John.

Rod

Don't tell mine its a tourer, it's got the attitude of a sports car.
John.