Pagoda vs. TR6

[France]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone seen the new Motor Klassik...comparison of 280SL with the concurrent TR (!!!!!)

I know which I would choose.

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France; Switzerland
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...stable now including a 92 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic

[Chad]

I taste vomit in my mouth at the mere mention of this comparison.

1967 230SL

[seattle_Jerry]

You really can't compare them. It is apples and oranges. TR3, 4, 5,250 and 6 were sports cars in the true sense. SL's more of a sports tourer. Probably ticked some people off there

I personally don't think there are many true sports cars built today. If it has either sound deadening, AC, electric seats, a radio, sunroof, electric windows/doors or (some might argue) a heater; then it is a sports tourer.

Mitsubishi actually offers a version of its Lancer Evolution with no options at all. Roll up windows, no Stereo, No A/C, No electric seats or doors. Personally I have an extra 50lbs I could lose off my waist before I worried about the cars extras.

1967 230SL Havana Brown Auto with A/C

[Mike Hughes]

quote:Originally posted by seattle_Jerry

You really can't compare them. It is apples and oranges. TR... 5,250 and 6 were sports cars in the true sense. SL's more of a sports tourer.

Oh, I don't know about that!  On paper they were quite similar, but for the country of origin and the price!  2.5L straight six, fuel injected in Euro spec, all independent suspension, folding soft-top and available detachable hard-top, forward hinged hood, decent but not outstanding performance, styling that has aged well, and significant numbers exported to North America.  There was even a kind of kinderseat available for the TR in the aftermarket.

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[jbrowder]

Since someone else brought it up, I'll chime in.  My first car was a TR6.  I owed several through the years, and drove one daily through college and med school.  Great little cars with lots of personality, and FUN to toss around.  Reliable. Simple.  After school, I started collecting them.  I amassed about a dozen, with the intention of restoring, showing, and driving them.

The problem was time, I did not have enough of it.  Being too busy to mess with the Sixes, I bought a nice Pagoda.  I had always been attracted to them, but knew little about them.  The build quality and comfort quickly won me over.  

Since then, I have owned several 280's and I am currently building my own version of a 3.2 MB V6-powered 280.  The TR6's continue to sit in storage, and I actually have sold a couple of the best cars.  The rest are for sale or trade.  If anyone is interested, you can check out my TR6 Collection website at: http://web.mac.com/jbrowder/TR-6_Site/Home.html

John B
Knoxville

[graphic66]

How about performance, is the TR6 faster, say 0-60, and top speed. I had two TR250,s back in the day. Great fun, almost too much fun. I wrapped one completely around a tree. Smashed that nice wood dash into three pieces and the fireman who were almost as drunk as me had a time sawing me out of that thing. I had seen them playing with their new extraction saw earlier that week. I can remember them asking if they thought my leg was going to get cut. The car held up very well and I only came out with a broken leg and a little more common sense at 17 years old. I loved those cars, they were the 1968 predecessor to the TR6, a TR4AIRS car with the 6cyl carb engine, probably rare now. But, with my 230SL it would be hard to go back to that British wiring system. The Brits never made the transition from horse harnesses to wiring harnesses very well.

[rob walker]

I have owned 1 TR4 and two TR6s. My feeling is the 3s and 4s were sports cars but as soon as they switched to the IRS then they became much softer at the rear and nose heavy at the front with the 2.5 engine, therefore less predictable to throw around as you should be able to do with a sports car. The 5s and 6s are more sports tourers.
I feel the Pagoda handles better than the later TRs and there is absolutely no comparison in the build quality.

John B that is one TR collection you have there I am sure the UK TR dealers would snap your hand off!

Rob Walker
1968 280SL papyrus white/green leather
Spain and Turkey

[dhunter]

quote:Originally posted by France

I know which I would choose.

The only Triumph TR6 I want...
and preferably together with it's lovely owner, a young Ann Margaret!

Otherwise, "Benzwagen" all the way!

[Peter van Es]

I read the article on my skiing holiday (first post after my absence.... no-one noticed, I hope...).

In a TR6 you'll get wet if it rains, regardless of position/state of top. In a Pagoda you won't (well, if the folding roof is whole, that is).

Peter

1970 280SL. Also known as 'admin@sl113.org' and organiser of the Technical Manual.

[Cees Klumper]

My first cars were Triumph Spitfires and, back then (I was 19 and 20) I always wished I could have afforded a TR 6. By the time I could, I was living in Florida and must admit I looked at a TR 6 considering to buy it before I ever looked at a Pagoda. So I finally saw the light, but the TR 6 still appeals to me. Maybe for my home in France? France?

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Ulfi]

After reading this post I went to get the magazine and the comparison is not really fair since the TR6 is the tame carburetted US-version with only 104 bhp vs. a 280 SL with 170...
I once owned a fuel-injected 1969 TR6 and that would have been able to drive in circles around my present 230 SL on twisty roads. Much less comfortable though, but much faster than my SL. I still miss it, wish I've could have kept it in a nice, warm garage next to my SL and the MGA that I also enjoyed for a few years...

[Else1969]

My son just recently moved to Hamburg and thoughtfully sent me a copy of the magazine (without me even asking for it....I have hbviously trained my 20 year old well in the art of spotting anything Pagoda related). I had a chance to read it last night.
It seemed to me that the article was basically just 2 guys touting the virtues of their respective car loves and pointing out the shortfalls of the other. It was written in the form of a conversation between 2 enthusiasts; the type of exchange you would expect to hear in a pub about any cars ever made. In other words a pissing contest, except this was obviously contrived by 2 journalists. The fact that the 2 cars are not comparable is somewhat irrelevant because of the bantering style of the article.
It was still an interesting read, although I did not agree with all the opinions offered. I would copy the article and post it if I did not think that it may contravene some copywrite laws.

Dirk
1969 Signal Red 280 SL