Hello everyone:
As I explained in my post "Horrible Admission", I have purchased a TR7 in
order to accurately assess the accuracy of various preconceptions and
actual reports on the integrity of Britain's most maligned vehicle. Those
of us who are privileged to own MGs and MGBs in particular need empirical
proof that our smugness is justified and that the natural pity we accord to
the benighted individuals who are cursed with wedge ownership is not
misplaced. Due to the continuing benefits of El Nino here in western
Canada, I am able to carry out my exhaustive road tests under ideal
conditions.
Initial impressions, in a free association mode:
Gawd it's tiny, and those bumpers are really ugly. The back looks plain
and cheap, as though they couldn't afford a few nice chrome bezels or trim
bits. Everything is kind of dull and the lines are fuzzy. That swoop in
the side really looks odd and out-of-place. The wheels are really ugly and
dinky-looking. Bigger rubber would definitely look better.
The door opens easily but I can hear my wife already, "That door handle is
a nail-breaker". The interior looks quite nice. Sort of angular-modern.
The seat is comfortable and easily adjustable - unlike my B. I can adjust
the backrest but the notches are too far apart - I can't find one I like.
The windshield is positively huge.
The multi-switch is just like the one on a B but seems better- made and it
works better. What is this huge, goofy-looking knob? Oh, it dims the dash
lights. Why does the biggest knob control the least important function?
The gauges are very modern looking - big and round. The small gauges are
quite nice-looking also - very American. Wow, there's even a clock - and
it works! I wonder what this one does. Ha, what a blast. The headlights
pop up just like some kind of frog eyes. Up and down, up and down. Well
if it quits somewhere I can entertain the passersby.
The heater controls and panel are very American but huge. They take up
half the dash. I wonder what all those big trays in the top of the dash
are for? Probably dust. The dash is full of very American looking air
vents. I wonder if they do anything? Wow, what a huge glove compartment
and look at this big plastic bin under the rear window. You could carry
ice in that and keep your beer cold. There's even a console compartment
and look at that, the lid opens and the catch doesn't break off in the
process. Hmmm.
Well, let's start it up. Now where's the choke? (3 minutes later)
Finally, I found the %^$*&& thing. What a clever place, under the dash
where the hood release should be. The key is very similar to the one in my
B and just about as much fun to find the keyway. Well here goes. Hey, it
started right away. Gawd, what a racket. This thing sounds like the
inside of a culvert. Maybe I should go get my earplugs.
Wow, I gotta take the choke off a long way to keep it running. It's sure
running rich and loping a lot. There, if I keep my foot on it it'll idle.
Time to turn on the heater - there's frost on the windows. Let's see -
this one up, this one down, the next one down and last one up. Ahhh, it's
blasting me with minus 10 air. Stop that! Damn, the vent control just
moves up and down but the vents don't respond. Well, I'll just wait
outside until it warms up, it shouldn't take long. (15 minutes later) Too
hell with it, it's got to be warm enough. I guess I'll just scrape away
the frost.
OK, here we go. Into reverse. Let's see - push right, lift, push up.
Unnhh. Maybe if I use two hands. Yeah, that's got it. OK, a little
clutch, a little throttle. Damn, it stalled. Try again. OK, it started
right up. Here we go again. Oops. Damn. Once more - this time lots of
gas not too much clutch. Yeah. Yuck, what's that noise. Sounds like a
chipped tooth on the reverse gear. I hope it'll hold. Out of the
driveway, into first. Let's go. Ooops. Damn. That first gear is really
tall. Try again, lots of clutch slip - yeah that did it. Gawd what a
racket. If I drive this thing for long I'll go even deafer than I am
already. What's that rattling noise? Oh Hell! The needles are fried on the
layshaft. I wonder where I can get a tranny. Maybe it'll hold until I
finish my review.
Part 2 will be available soon.
John
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