I drove my big Healey from Washington state to Washington, D.C. about five
years ago, in October, and enjoyed the trip, except for exruciating
discomfort from a lack of thigh support in the seats (Triumph seats are MUCH
better than Healey seats). I would end up sitting sideways with my right
foot on the transmission tunnel and my LEFT foot on the accelerator, which
meant that if I ever had to brake, it would take me about five minutes to
get untangled first. The Healey didn't like idling at high altitudes (ie
over the Rockies) and it broke an (aftermarket) fan blade in Indiana,
stranding me for a day when the water pump fried its bearings. But it was a
fun trip.
Re TR6s, I actually think they're fine for longer drives ... my 1969 (a
great year, IMHO) didn't have OD and would still cruise comfortable at 70 to
80 mph in hot summers in Eastern Washington without overheating, which is
more than I can say for the Healey.
Graham
Vienna, Virginia
63 Austin Healey 3000 BJ7
72 Triumph TR6
87 Jaguar XJ6
87 Mazda RX7
89 Isuzu Trooper (tow vehicle)
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Seaton [mailto:rsh17@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 9:48 PM
To: ROVER827@aol.com; Web_disscusion List
Subject: Re: First Cross Country Trip (in the dead of winter)
Richard
Don't take this to personal but, with all these gripes on comfort, you
could
sell me your '71, even though I'm partial to the '69 (what would Freud say
on
this?) and just get a Miata or Z3, but a TR6 is by my definition a TRUE
SPORTS
CAR and not diluted by these creature comforts! Hey, maybe that's what the
Brits and all the columnist meant when they wrote about the "last of the
hairy
chested sports cars", gotta go through a little pain and discomfort to enjoy
these cars.
Personally I envy anyone that can drive his 6 right now, last time I drove
mine, before disassembly she had no brakes, water pouring out of the
radiator
hoses, 2000RMP idle, etc.......
Richard
'69 in the works
----- Original Message -----
From: ROVER827@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 6:50 PM
To: red_tr250@hotmail.com; lang@isis.mit.edu; bregal@wi.rr.com
Cc: 6pack@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: First Cross Country Trip (in the dead of winter)
Gang:
when I said it would be uncomfortable, I didn't just mean the seats, which
can be OK if the foam has been replaced lately.
It's mostly the other stuff:
--wind noise at highway speeds.
--wind leaks around the convertible top frame in the window area
--No place for your left foot
--Eye strain trying to read the gauges at night (they are not bright by
modern standards)
--No place to rest your left arm
TR6s are great. I have had 7. But they are really only tolerable for day
trips and car club outings.
I've never driven one in the snow, but I can imagine that it would be a bear
to steer straight.
Richard Truett
1971 TR6
1980 TR7 Spider
1982 TR8
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