While the T-Rex feels right at home on a track or on twisty country roads, it’s a little rougher around town. Shifting gears isn’t a smooth operation, and rearward visibility is virtually nonexistent; I can’t adjust the driver-side mirror to my liking, so changing lanes is not an easy task until you get the hang of it. The inside rear view mirror is only good for looking at the engine plumbing.
What’s pretty unusual is waiting on a stoplight at a two- or three-lane intersection; you sit so low in the T-Rex that if your arms are long enough, you can reach out and steal hubcaps off the cars beside. Of course, you don’t see much of the road ahead when you’re following traffic.
Climbing into the T-Rex requires a few easy steps: sit down on the vehicle’s hip, grab the roll cage with two hands, flip your feet inside and slide yourself in. Both the pedals and the seatback angle are adjustable; however, you can’t move your head around freely without rubbing your helmet on the roll cage.
It’s basic motoring in the T-Rex; there is no radio, no ventilation system, and not even a 12-volt power outlet, which would be nice to have. If you’re worried about safety, it benefits from a full roll cage and seat belts, but has no electronic stability control devices like the Can-Am Spyder does.
Competition
The T-Rex 1400R costs $49,995 in Canada. Our screaming yellow test car includes some options, such as the wind deflector ($299), dual suitcases ($1,199) and carbon-fibre trim ($999), for a total of $52,492. Shipping charges start at $1,000.
There aren’t many competitors to the T-Rex, and the number is even smaller when you include only those that are factory-produced. One that comes quickly to mind is the Ariel Atom, which is distributed in Canada as a track-only machine. You could also arguably consider the Lotus Elise.
Quebec and British Columbia are the only places in Canada where you can plate the vehicle; Campagna is working hard in convincing the Government of Ontario to certify the vehicle for use on public roads. For the past 6 months in La Belle Province, you can pilot a T-Rex with a regular Class 5 driver’s licence, which is good news.
Conclusion
The T-Rex is a pure performance machine that provides an adrenaline-pumping driving experience. It’s expensive and it’s not practical, but for those who can afford a weekend warrior, it’s a blast to drive and looks like nothing else on the road.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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| Rearward visibility is virtually nonexistent. |
What’s pretty unusual is waiting on a stoplight at a two- or three-lane intersection; you sit so low in the T-Rex that if your arms are long enough, you can reach out and steal hubcaps off the cars beside. Of course, you don’t see much of the road ahead when you’re following traffic.
Climbing into the T-Rex requires a few easy steps: sit down on the vehicle’s hip, grab the roll cage with two hands, flip your feet inside and slide yourself in. Both the pedals and the seatback angle are adjustable; however, you can’t move your head around freely without rubbing your helmet on the roll cage.
It’s basic motoring in the T-Rex; there is no radio, no ventilation system, and not even a 12-volt power outlet, which would be nice to have. If you’re worried about safety, it benefits from a full roll cage and seat belts, but has no electronic stability control devices like the Can-Am Spyder does.
Competition
The T-Rex 1400R costs $49,995 in Canada. Our screaming yellow test car includes some options, such as the wind deflector ($299), dual suitcases ($1,199) and carbon-fibre trim ($999), for a total of $52,492. Shipping charges start at $1,000.
There aren’t many competitors to the T-Rex, and the number is even smaller when you include only those that are factory-produced. One that comes quickly to mind is the Ariel Atom, which is distributed in Canada as a track-only machine. You could also arguably consider the Lotus Elise.
Quebec and British Columbia are the only places in Canada where you can plate the vehicle; Campagna is working hard in convincing the Government of Ontario to certify the vehicle for use on public roads. For the past 6 months in La Belle Province, you can pilot a T-Rex with a regular Class 5 driver’s licence, which is good news.
Conclusion
The T-Rex is a pure performance machine that provides an adrenaline-pumping driving experience. It’s expensive and it’s not practical, but for those who can afford a weekend warrior, it’s a blast to drive and looks like nothing else on the road.
 |
| The T-Rex is a pure performance machine that provides an adrenaline-pumping driving experience. |
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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