[Closed] TVR... should I? I know i want to..

Wiring on a wet day. Or so they say as I've never owned one

TVR or van? TVR or van? TVR or van. Hmmm. TVR of Van?

Yep, that's a difficult one.

In all seriousness though, the running costs of a TVR will be significantly more than that of a van.

why not?

12k on an unreliable car made by a company that no longer exists - hmmm, now let me think!

Yes, true, but you're unlikely do do a little sex wee when you hear a Ford Transit fire up though 😉

Dont they fall apart ? A mate worked on one for a customer and their own v8 was poor .The head was made of cheese and nearly everything was helicoiled because the theads stripped .Yes it was torqued correctly

A Tuscan growled and popped down our drive on Sunday.That angry purple one. I was reaching for the post-coital B&H within seconds.

Angry purple one and post coital ?

What TVR though?

Rover engined ones (electrical gremlins not wihtstanding) are mechanically pretty sound. So Griffs, and Chimearas are pretty solid as TVR's go.

The V8 Cerbera's with the TVR made engine were a reliabililty bombscare so I would avoid. Later Speed Six's were a lot better. Not sure what Speed Six Tuscan's go for probably still too expensive

Would you dump your spanners or gas set just because there's a newer model available, splashing loads of cash on the new set. A van is a tool to do a job. Get [s]the TVR[/s] a reliable sportscar.

I'd say that life was too short not to.

You can still buy a van when you are too old to enjoy a TVR.

TVR`S are a man of a certain age car are they not?

My neighbour has a grrrrriff. Adores it. He goes to lots of TVR fan meets, in fact he's taking his up to silverstone this weekend for some classic sports car thingy.

Does spend a fair bit of time under it, but then it's his main hobby too (retired). Most of the spendy stuff is him upgrading things like the exhaust or injection system or getting the ECU mapped. Tyres can be a bit pricey too.

The other day he ran over a lump of concrete that was slap bang in the middle of the carriageway and he had no where to go (traffic all around). While the debris was low enough for everyone else to miss...it tore through his bell housing, ripped the sump off, shredded the exhaust and took chunks out of the flywheel. Ouch. £3.5k insurance job.

A few weeks back, a mate was returning it after doing the TVR's MOT - when a tree branch fell on to the road smashing the windscreen (£800 or something to replace, very expensive special fit thing). Covered by mate's workshop insurance fortunately.

I just think he's really unlucky 😀 Great noise though.

From what I've read (granted its on the Internet) prices have bottomed on alot of tiv's, so unless you're using it as a daily, it should hold its value. The van won't. Do it 😉

Yes, true, but you're unlikely do do a little sex wee when you hear a Ford Transit fire up though

[img] [/img]

tore through his bell housing

I didn't think they were [i]that[/i] low!
😯

"My neighbour has a grrrrriff"
"Does spend a fair bit of time under it"
" it's his main hobby too (retired )"

TVR the car that sounds good but does not work, for when you are too old for having real fun.

My unkle was going to buy one, his friend was a dealer...

his friend refused to sell him one, as he was his friend....

Id be looking at the much less cool vx220...

People always give reasons why NOT to buy stuff you really want when you ask for advice like this. The problem with this sort of "want" is that it will always be there. If you decide on the van every time you see a TVR you'll wonder what it will be like to own one. You probably won't get it the other way round.

Buying things like this isn't based on any practical need. Reliability and image and all that doesn't come into it with the "want". Ok, go into it with eyes wide open - join a TVR club, get all the info you need, do research etc etc to get a good one.

Even if, after 6 months, you sell it again, you'll still have the experience of owning what you always wanted. If you've got the disposable income to spare then there really isn't any downsides....

Every time I see a TVR I want one. Someone on my daily commute has a Cerbera and I wind the windows down EVERY TIME to hear that glorious sound.

I'd say that life was too short not to.

You can still buy a van when you are too old to enjoy a TVR.

Surely a TVR (or indeed any sports car) is what you buy when you're too old to enjoy proper pursuits like - oh I don't know, mountain biking? - rather than the other way round 😉

Joking aside their reputation for reliability is terrible. Unless you enjoy lying on your back underneath cars you may want to look at an alternative provider..

Get a good 911 for 12k ?

A 911 engine rebuild is astronomical, a TVR v8 less so. Had a Griff and loved it, but they are getting older now. The sound is fantastic, handling less so. Buy it in the knowledge it will go wrong, that said I had mine for just under 2 years and if cost me £300 in servicing and lost £500 in depreciation.

I used to have a Griff 500, an awesome car. I paid a specialist to source me a good one and it was money well spent. Personally I love the way they look and with so much torque, in the real world they're as quick as any other TVR. Mine was just as quick as a Sagaris I also drove.

Yeah it cost me a few quid to keep it going and they're not cars you cut corners with mechanically, not unless you want headaches down the road!

As for reliability issues, I had a good one so for me it pretty much never missed a beat in 3 years I owned it. But as I said I spent money at the slightest sign of trouble. I had the chassis waxoyled for example to preserve the powder coating. When people don't do this is can rust and then worst case scenario is new chassis time.

Can't think of many cars that look like them, sound like them, go that fast and are as entertaining to drive. Entertaining by the way can also mean spinning the rear wheels up at 100mph on the motorway when it's damp!!

Go on, go on, go on, go on!

And TVR are due to be coming back to life with a new car out in 2015...

I bought my dream car. It cost a bomb to run, broke down regularly and I was scared to leave it anywhere.

BUT, much like a TVR, it made an incredible noise, was extremely rapid, attracted loads of attention from enthusiasts and was generally a very pleasurable experience. I got to go to car shows and be a part of the show rather than just a spectator. Me and the girlfriend loved it and had some very memorable trips in it. When it was running it was soooo much fun.

Now, a year after I've sold it I'm totally over it. I scratched the itch and got it out of my system. Now I have no desire or curiosity and I can trundle around in my diesel van knowing that I 'lived the dream' for a while.

Just get it done.

so why not a TVR.. seem fair value for for that kind of money, lots of go, why not?

I bought an FD RX7 last year, renowned for their robust engine and fuel economy, and it was the best decision I ever made. Nothing, literally nothing, on the road could have provided me with as many smiles per mile. If a TVR will do that for you, then buy one and laugh in your rear view mirror at the drones in their VAG/BMW/Ford/GM eco boxes.

I have no way of affording one at present,but I keep looking at the bargain Ferrari 456. 30k gets a low mileage v12 GT. Main reason this car goes so cheap is that it hasfour seats and the rules say four in a Ferrari is just wrong. If I had the cash I'd say stuff the rules and buy one!

As for the TVR buy the best one you can find and enjoy!

I bought an FD RX7 last year,

Wow. Here is a man that puts his money where his mouth is.

The only problem I can see with a TVR is that people expect them to be fast. The most amusing thing about my last car is that it was from 1983 and had a ford badge on it. It also had 250bhp per tonne so it was perfect for showing a clean pair of heels to almost anything. Which is handy if you like winding up fat old blokes in brand new Audi's and BMW's.

If I was in the market for a car similar to the one your after I would go for a good Cobra kit car based on a small block chevy 5.7 engine.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gardner-Douglas-AC-Cobra-replica-/181181305798?clk_rvr_id=503257650055

It will hold its value far better than a TVR.

Former housemate has a Chimera and loves it. Only problems areas have been wheel bearings and a leaky fuel tank. It's a 1994 and he's had it since 2006, it was his only car for a while! Now has an old diesl Corsa too for fuel cost reasons

did over 40k miles in a chim 400 as my only car. it was ace.
did a few trackdays. sorted suspension. saw off a number of faster cars on track. taught me I'm not that great a driver. drove a lot of other tvrs as I had loaners, my boss at the time had a cerb, and later a t350. the rover based v8 needs service at 6k mile intervals. there were intervening visits too. check the chassis thoroughly. consider a boxster s.
what you thinking of getting?

Keep the old van.

But a Lotus Elise.

Bought a red wedge 350 TVR because MrsWCA was watching Dancing on Ice and I had a load of beer and eBay.

Loved it. Drove it for a year. Sold it for a profit to fund another car.

Don't regret buying it.
Don't regret selling it.
Do remember the experience and will carry that to my grave

And TVR are due to be coming back to life with a new car out in 2015.

I know. Prices of bath tubs in B&Q are soaring and MG V8 engines are scarce on the used market at the moment 🙁

My old man had a Chimera for a while, sold it for a Boxster because the TVR was a bit too lairy for him, when you were pushing on a bit you could feel the car move around and there was always that "is this the moment the back end swops places with the front" feeling...

I loved it though my reactions are better than his being 30 years younger, the driving experience was pretty full on and the engine was pretty much bombproof but made a great noise. Just an old Rover 4L V8 on fuel injection, probably about 285 bhp. If you can accept that things will go wrong with it, then go for it. If you cant and want something more reliable then an S2000 Honda or a Boxster might be better.

Don't regret buying it.
Don't regret selling it.
Do remember the experience and will carry that to my grave

That's basically what I was saying but much more compact.

Have you bought one yet?

Mark,

I had the same though 8 years ago and made the right decision, I bought it and have never regretted it.

Mines a 98 Chimaera 400, they are excellent value for money and whilst they are getting on many of the bad ones are dead meat and the remaining ones have been sorted. Mine has never missed a beat, I drive it every week and last week it spent a day on the track in 30 degrees heat being driven by my two daughters. First time they had driven it and both surprised how easy it was.

I don't concern myself with the speed, it's faster and more capable than I am, sounds awesome and people love them. So many people have said to me I wish I had bought one, so do it but don't rush in.

If you use Pistonheads to find local owners they will show you round their cars and what to look out for, if you're near Gloucestershire I'll be happy to do so.

Running costs. 12000 mile service about £550.

Last set of 4 Tyres £310 total.

Windscreens and sterring racks are rare and can be expensive.

Fuel consumption, you don't buy a TVR if this is a high priority but going to work, 40 miles each way on the M5 steady 70ish I get over 25mpg, that's on standard unleaded.
Put your foot down and that's soon 20mpg.
On a track, don't even ask !!

Right I've had one so here comes some advice from somebody who's actually had one

Buy one, you'll love it

(mine never missed a beat in 20,000 miles)

If you don't spanner it yourself - run. Run like the wind.

peterstarkiss - you're not that far from me. I was wondering if you knew my neighbour? Silver blue griff, personal plate (GRF), goes by the name of Nigel (Driver, not the car).

Stoner, don't recognise the name or car. Thought I knew most of the local owners, there are not too many ! Does he go to the month end meetings at Kemble AV8 ?

not sure he goes to kemble. Often ends up in stourbridge or somewhere like that I think. Maybe a Worcs meet?

He had to go to the "Rumble" in his honda while the griff was up on blocks with the sump rebuild.

Mate of mine used to have a Chimaera. Could wheel spin it up the road... In reverse !

He always had issues with it, and said he would get rid of it, but he ended up keeping it for years.

Of course the sensible option would be a 3.4 Porsche Boxter.

If you can afford it and want it do it. Your a long time dead 🙂

Do it.

A Tuscan is on my wishlist, since I was much younger. Plenty will try and talk you out of it, but you know what? If you can a: afford it and b: it will give you pleasure, then there's no reason not to.

🙂

If you can a: afford it and b: it will give you pleasure, then there's no reason not to.

There are worse things in life....I am eyeing up a 3 litre Capri

Fuel consumption, you don't buy a TVR if this is a high priority but going to work, 40 miles each way on the M5 steady 70ish I get over 25mpg, that's on standard unleaded.
Put your foot down and that's soon 20mpg.
On a track, don't even ask !!

those figures sound good to me, my brothers old Volvo t5 did about that, his new impreza does less, and my old impreza did even less than that.

You will love it then hate it then sell it the realise you loved it then miss it then get something better, so go for it.

I used to have a TVR cerbera, the one with the TVR developed AJP8 engine.

It was great, not as reliable as a honda, but it never failed to get me to where I wanted to go.

I say do it....its an experience you wont forget.

I had a Chimera 500 from new in 98. I loved the car only problem I had was a hot starting issue. They replaced the starter cables with thicker ones under warranty and it never missed a beat after that.

I did about 20K fun miles in 2 years then wrote it off at Castle Combe Quarry corner. Would probably still have it now if I had not.

It was loud, fast (though a lot of that was probably perceived because of the noise) looked amazing and a lot of fun.

People say they handle crap but I disagree, they however do not suffer fools. They have a lot of grip but you have to remember they are a light car with a fair amount of power (and torque at low revs)

I have thought about getting another. Older cars do suffer from rusty out riggers on the chassis and a service did seem to really mean bolting the thing back together every 6K miles.

However the Rover V8 powered cars were pretty reliable and very simple to fix and maintain if you can wield a spanner.

The TVR powered engines the AJP V8 cars were pretty good and 4.5L engines make a lot of power. They were not built to a price and on the whole were good.

The initial six cylinder engines however were problematic they would eat cam followers and thus cam shafts. This was mainly due to the fact they tried to make the engine cheaper to manufactures. However by an engine that has be re-built by a specialist and you would be good to go and a lot of them offer engine warranties.

If I had cash left after a Aprilia RSV4 Factory and a 911 GT3 I would have a last of the line Sagaris in the garage 🙂

Bazzer

Plenty of useful info on Pistonheads about TVRs, although the key points have been highlighted above. If you are going to get one, you just need to be well informed about the potential risks/failings before taking the plunge.

How much are second hand Nobles now? That's what I'd get if I had some spare cash lying around.

I know 3 or 4 TVR owners, they didn't stay owners for long. There is a very long list of better sports cars.

As posted above you can get quite a decent Porsche Boxter or perhaps even an early Cayman for that money

If you go for a Chimaera you can also fit your bike in the boot...

I am afraid if you have a hankering for a TVR then a Porsche Boxster really isn't going to be a suitable replacement. Laaaaaame..... 😉

if you knew exactly how long you had left before you die them yeah maybe plan it out, get the van now then say 10 yrs before you pop it get the tvr.....all sensible like.

but you dont

so do the stuff that makes you happy

buy a tvr and rag it around flat out in second gear 😀

(or buy a 3dr sierra cosworth in moonstone blue and give it to me)

although i did like kevin mccloud's description of tvrs as a 'kind of reverse kit car....you buy a whole car which slowly dismantles itself in the garage'

withersea - Member
I have no way of affording one at present,but I keep looking at the bargain Ferrari 456. 30k gets a low mileage v12 GT. Main reason this car goes so cheap is that it hasfour seats...

This is the most sensible choice. Buy the Ferrari and rip out the back seats.

Now you're cool and have somewhere to carry your bike. 🙂

As usual ... You've had a lot of replies from people who haven't owned one and just repeat rumours and myths.

I've owned a Tasmin 350 and Griffith 500. I wouldn't buy another one as old as the Tasmin but for your money you can probably get a decent chimp or griff. The growl and burble of a TVR is orgasmic!

Buying one is the same as buying any second hand car... Look for a decent one... And that's the trick. If you find one you will love it and have tons of fun. If you get a dodgy one then be prepared to spend a little cash. If I was looking I'd be talking to the guys on piston heads rather than here and joining the TVR car club and visiting the ex dealers near you...most are still trading these cars and can help. Don't rush. Take your time checking a car out and finding a decent one.

I have owned a TVR Vixen for 12 years, its never broke, let me down, Insurance is cheap, tax is free, and its more than doubled in value over the years.
Also have a Lotus Elise, totally different car to the TVR, its also never broke, its cheap to run, depreciation free motoring.

Whatever your dream toy is - car/boat/motorbike/plane etc - just make sure that you can use it when you get it.

No point owning a nice TVR if all your local roads are full of traffic and speed cameras. But if you live in Wales / Scotland that may be different.

Ive owned a couple of fast cars, the first was years ago before speed cameras were invented, the last fast car was about 10 years ago now and I seemed to spend far too long stuck in traffic or on busy roads with it.

So now I use my motorbike to scratch my speed itch and my van to transport my other toys about.

If you get one, use it for special reasons, my last fast car I took on a tour of France. That was great. Commuting to work and back in it was crap.

Buy it carefully, enjoy it recklesly, die quickly 🙂

Bump

Just found this photo of mine 😀

[img] [/img]

Do it!!

I did about 20K fun miles in 2 years then wrote it off at Castle Combe Quarry corner. Would probably still have it now if I had not.

Hi not sure if your aware but if your near to stourbridge there is a tvr specialist there called central tvr probley could give you some good advice