Alez
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 01:17 PM |
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TVR reliability?
What do you think of TVRs, specifically regarding reliability of the different engines and future availability of parts?
Are those TVR straight 6 any good reliability-wise?
If I was thinking buying a second hand TVR, am I better to choose an older one with a non-TVR engine?
Some used TVRs you can get from 12-16 grand..
Thanks for any comments  As I mentioned in another thread, I'm learning a lot about different cars from you, the reason I'm asking is
because I'm considering buying another used car in the future, btw starting May the 1st I'm an employee of Clyde Space in Glasgow:
http://www.clyde-space.com/
So it makes sense to consider a British beast 
Cheers,
Alex
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Hellfire
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 01:26 PM |
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A frieind of mine owns a newish Chimera and says it's not the most reliable car in the world. He doesn't drive it much but you don't
buy it to be reliable, you buy it because of how it looks and how they drive. If you want a reliable car get a Toyota or other Jap make...
Good luck with your new job...
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gingerprince
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 01:30 PM |
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You won't get a speed 6 engined car for 16 grand You will however get a nice griffith (or newer chimaera if hairdressing/golf is your thing
) for that money.
I have been running a TVR Griffith 500 (Rover V8 based engine) daily for 2 years. Pretty reliable, certainly no more breakdowns than any previous car
I've had. They like to be used so you get more issues if you use them on sunny weekends only.
The speed 6 engine is still debatable, apparently improved recently but I wouldn't like to own one without a good warranty (which the factory,
wherever it may end up, now offers).
My TVR has never left me stranded. It is booked in to have the cam/followers replaced in the next few weeks because they are worn and getting fairly
noisy. Other than that I've replaced a radiator and a clutch, but these are largely consumable parts anyhow.
however after that I will be selling the car as it's toy replacement was my MK Indy.
So if you'll be interested in a blue Griffith 500, sorted and freshly serviced/MOT'd I know of one that'll be for sale
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gingerprince
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 01:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
A frieind of mine owns a newish Chimera and says it's not the most reliable car in the world........He doesn't drive it much
My point exactly, they don't like being left standing for long periods.
I should be picking my Indy rollbar up from MK on Saturday morning. If I don't make it you know my TVR's broken down ( touching a
laaarge lump of wood here )
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Alez
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 01:59 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
you don't buy it to be reliable, you buy it because of how it looks and how they drive.
Of course! But I don't need to ask "hey, does it feel any good to drive one of these?" because I know the answer..
I'm just trying to decide if a TVR could be an option at all for a frequent use driver, if a bit thirsty.
Reliability and enjoyment per pound spent: get a mark 1 MX-5, got one for my girlfriend and it's a truly fantastic car for it's market
value
quote:
Originally posted by gingerprinceor newer chimaera if hairdressing/golf is your thing
Come on! A BMW Z3 is a hairdresser's car, not a TVR with a tube chassis!
Cheers,
Alex
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gingerprince
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 02:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Alez
Come on! A BMW Z3 is a hairdresser's car, not a TVR with a tube chassis!
It's a little in-joke within the TVR community. Griff owners rip at Chim owners for being golfers, Chim owners rip Griff owners for having
hairy chests and medallions 
Neither are really hairdressers cars, but that doesn't stop everyone thinking their model is better than the other
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Alez
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 02:10 PM |
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Aah, car freaks!
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Alez
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 02:12 PM |
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Some approved Griffiths:
http://www.tvr-eng.co.uk/approvedused.php?type=griffith
Some facts about the Griffith:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_Griffith
..So I can have a TVR approved Griffith 500, just over 1000 kg, 350 bhp, for 14 grand??? 
[Edited on 27/4/06 by Alez]
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gingerprince
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 02:42 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Alez
350bhp
Take that with a pinch of salt. They're well known for over-exagerating the bhp. They're not horses, they're blackpool donkeys
A typical Griffith 500 will be around 260-280bhp on the rolling road. But they have monster torque (>300lbft) and pull like a train. I still love
mine and grin like an idiot when I hold my foot down and the speedo keeps going up and up (until my sphincter lets go and I back off)
They can be very scary at silly speeds though in standard trim, the suspension is very rolly so doesn't inspire confidence. A lot of people fit
Nitron or similar suspension if doing a lot of track days.
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Alez
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 02:50 PM |
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Thanks Well I would keep my Locost fireblade for track days (due to the addiction to high revs I've developed), also I'm not interested
in high speed cruising, just normal use ("yeah boy, normal use, sure" ).
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Alez
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 02:59 PM |
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Btw what's exactly the difference between the Chimaera and the Griffith? They were both manufactured '92-'01, both convertible two
seaters, same engines.. I don't quite get it. The Chimaera seems more expensive, is that right?
Cheers,
Alex
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Liam
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 03:09 PM |
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My mate's dad has a tamora. Services are prohibitive as you'd probably expect. It spent a long time back at TVR with engine management
problems. Worst of all, the steering wheel fell off when he was driving it . Luckily got away with it! Wasn't even a nyloc!! He
sometimes regrets not going for his other choice - an M3, but still loves the TVR.
Liam
[Edited on 27/4/06 by Liam]
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gingerprince
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 04:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Alez
Btw what's exactly the difference between the Chimaera and the Griffith? They were both manufactured '92-'01, both convertible two
seaters, same engines.. I don't quite get it. The Chimaera seems more expensive, is that right?
Cheers,
Alex
Chimaera's are cheaper than Griffs, ie you'll get a newer Chim for the same money than a Griff. This is basically because there were a
lot more Chimaeras built than Griffiths so the Griff's residuals remain higher. I think it's something like 3000 griffs -vs- 9000 chims
or similar.
The main difference is the Chimaera is a slightly "softer" setup than the Griff. Bigger boot (hence all the golf clubs jokes). The
chassis are pretty much the same, but standard suspension etc is softer on the Chim (certainly in the older models, I think they got closer together
later down the line).
At the end of the day if you don't plan on track days etc in them then choose which you like the look of best.
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zxrlocost
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 04:32 PM |
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I was going to buy a TVR Cerbera before I built the INDY
they are the best looking car in the world when suitably modded
but all the costs that go with them are not worth it
where as when I drove my indy to the sva the other day I was getting thumbs up smiles hundreds of stares etc etc
and all for 400 pound insurance at 22
I know which one ill be sticking with
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speed8
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 05:36 PM |
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I ran a Cerbera for 2 1/2 years before selling it to fund the R1 beasty I'm building. You can pick up Cerbs from 10k now if you are willing to
spend a few bob making it right or you can get decent ones for 13-14k at the moment.
Mine was reliable imo. The clutch slave cylinder gave up the ghost once and the throttle cable snapped. Not a bad return considering the reputation.
Mine wasn't a daily driver but it was my only car till I got the bike. If you want a daily driver then the expense of running a cerb, petrol,
servicing, minor repairs and upgrades, would likely be prohibitive although a lot of people do. A Chim or Griff would be the less crazy idea and have
Rover engines so spares generally aren't a problem. I have known people wait months for a Cerb clutch these days.
Good luck with any of them, They are definately worth the experience.
ETA: Look at the TVR forum in www.pistonheads.com for answers to all the TVR questions you could ever ask.
[Edited on 4/27/06 by speed8]
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JoelP
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| posted on 27/4/06 at 09:04 PM |
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id have a sagaris in the blink of an eye. Ive never EVER seen a car that looks better.
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greggors84
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| posted on 28/4/06 at 12:38 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by gingerprince
quote:
Originally posted by Alez
Come on! A BMW Z3 is a hairdresser's car, not a TVR with a tube chassis!
It's a little in-joke within the TVR community. Griff owners rip at Chim owners for being golfers, Chim owners rip Griff owners for having
hairy chests and medallions
Neither are really hairdressers cars, but that doesn't stop everyone thinking their model is better than the other
So what do you call the Cerb owners then?
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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Alez
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| posted on 28/4/06 at 09:13 AM |
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Thanks a lot for all your comments and the explanation on the differences between these two.
quote:
Originally posted by gingerprince
Chimaera's are cheaper than Griffs, ie you'll get a newer Chim for the same money than a Griff. This is basically because there were a
lot more Chimaeras built than Griffiths so the Griff's residuals remain higher. I think it's something like 3000 griffs -vs- 9000 chims
or similar.
Chimaera's lack of distinction won't be an issue in Spain I don't think there's a single one of these cars down here, I
wonder if they are type approved (EU approved), I may need to get it through SVA
Cheers,
Alex
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