I am currently on the hunt for a new car, and am after something a little fancy. I did really want a 4seater, but you cant get much fancier than a TVR at 21!
Only problem is this car will be my daily driver, and everyone knows that they are not the most reliable cars on the roads (about as reliable as my Indy in fact).
Only reason i'm even thinking about it is because i've been offered a tuscan speed 6 dirt cheap.

opinions please

Charlie

Go for it and join the RAC/AA/GreeeeeeenFlaaaaaaaaaaaaag!

I heard at one point that on average a TVR would break down every six months
I totally disagree that you cant get fancier than a TVR at 21. I went for a Jag at 19
Seriously though, would be a good show off car but not sure as a daily driver (also check out the insurance )

[Edited on 26-6-08 by speedyxjs]

My S2 is relaible, and I use it every day and for long trips too.

Good Club Scene.....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&f=11

Cheap as chips, great sound

Probably dirt cheap for a reason. Rebuilds are frequent, endless electric and trim issues too.

I looked at a Tuscan when I was 22 and instead went for a Clio V6.

Much cheaper servicing costs, more solid engine (abliet not as quick) still the same terrible handling too lol.

A localish TVR dealer too me MOle Valley stopped TVR's as its just too time consuming and warranty claims sucked away too much resource.

Still a great looking car.

Cerbera with the new front end is a lot more reliable

The straight 6 is the one to avoid, even less reliable than the 8

The S2 has a V6 Cologne Engine and, as an understressed lazy engine is unlikely to need a reduild. Same for the RV8 versions. Avoid anything too exotic, and as long as you know how a spanner works you should have few problems. However, TVRs have a reputation for poor relaibility, usually because they don't get used very often.

My full service costs about £40 because I do it myself. Anybody who can't service an S2 shouldn't be allowed to drive.

Good god...Speed 6 at 21.... Do you mind me asking how much the insurance is?

I get the insurance at the cost of the underwriters cos I have a good friend who works for an insurance company. I'm paying £400 for my toyota celica 190 fully comp, £170 for the Indy fully comp, and the speed 6 was £1200 fully comp with 12k miles per year. Its not what you know.........

Good god! Thats an amazing deal..

I pay £1200 for a Polo GTI 1.6 with 2Yrs NCB (im 20)

I hear they're pretty good on fuel.

TVR reliability

How odd.....I've never seen those two words together before...

quote:

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Originally posted by MK Charlie
£400 for my toyota celica 190 fully comp, £170 for the Indy fully comp, and the speed 6 was £1200 fully comp with 12k miles per year.

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I do agree that £1200 is still alot of money, but when you put it into perspective of what car i'd be driving it makes it fairly good value.
I know its a bit flash, but I've just landed myself a good job on really good money for my age. I've worked really hard to get where I am now, and thought I may aswell treat myself while I'm young and dont have kids or a SWMBO

lol, flash yes - but you do realise don't you that it'll only impress your mates, everybody else will just think you're driving your dads car.......or that you've just nicked it!!

There have been a couple of threads like this recently which have made me wonder exactly where my life went wrong - £10k to spend on a car and not bothered about paying £1200 a year insurance and only 21!!! can't be a bad life!

Well my view is that the meanining of life is to get as many toys as you possibly can while you can. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I live with my parents and have a reasonable job. My friends all went to uni, and I made the decision not to, and for me this has paid off. They are all coming out of uni and starting jobs on around £15k. Aswell as my mon-fri job I do 4 nights a month as a dj at a local pub/club which is an extra £200 per night! I work hard and feel I should reward myself, but am really struggling on choosing a car.

quote:

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Originally posted by MK Charlie
I do agree that £1200 is still alot of money, but when you put it into perspective of what car i'd be driving it makes it fairly good value.
I know its a bit flash, but I've just landed myself a good job on really good money for my age. I've worked really hard to get where I am now, and thought I may aswell treat myself while I'm young and dont have kids or a SWMBO

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and if you buy it and don't want it/crash it... sell me the engine, gear box and rear suspension!



[Edited on 26/6/08 by djrichie_stix]

quote:

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Originally posted by MK Charlie
Well my view is that the meanining of life is to get as many toys as you possibly can while you can. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I live with my parents and have a reasonable job. My friends all went to uni, and I made the decision not to, and for me this has paid off. They are all coming out of uni and starting jobs on around £15k. Aswell as my mon-fri job I do 4 nights a month as a dj at a local pub/club which is an extra £200 per night! I work hard and feel I should reward myself, but am really struggling on choosing a car.

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MK Charlie ....Good attitude to have....I had the same philosophy but spent the money on learning to drive this instead:

And I have the flexibility of being able to change jobs fairly easily unlike all my graduate friends who HAVE to have a job to pay their debts off



Although I wouldnt say no to a TVR

[Edited on 26/6/08 by tegwin]

quote:

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Originally posted by Alan B
TVR reliability

How odd.....I've never seen those two words together before...

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I wasn't having a go by the way If you've earned it you go out and spend it! - wish my stepkids had a bit of the same attitude rather than 'it's too hard, I can't be bothered, can I 'borrow' £20.........'

quote:

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Originally posted by MK Charlie
...They are all coming out of uni and starting jobs on around £15k...

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There are some compensations to being old then

yeah i sometimes wish i hadn't gone to uni as the job i am doing now doesn't need my degree! does help abit though as i work for a laboratory supplier it helps to have a science degree people think you know what you are doing!

However am only on 15K and am well into overdraft (approx £3k but still interest free tho)and have about 16K of loan to pay back.

Still would go to uni like a shot tho if i could make my choice again. It was the best time in my life, stressful and hard work towards the end but still good.

Just to add even if i was earning loads of money i don't think i could spend that much on a car. 10K is alot of money. So far i haven't spent more than £175 on one!

[Edited on 26/6/08 by trogdor]

Well, I would be selling my celica which is worth about £6k and have been offered an interest free loan from the bank of grandad!
The original point to this topic was yes TVR's are nice, but do we think it is too flashy/juicy/unreliable as a daily driver....or do I just bite the bullet and reap the consequences later?
I can handle the bad mpg, but if its breaking down ALL the time I'm sure my new work will get pissed off. Every so often is ok, but every week is a wee take! haha

If driving it ever day I would avoid the speed 6 engine. It's just not reliable enough to do any proper mileage with. And the fuel for it won't be cheap either! A lot of the reliability issues are due to cars only being driven once in a blue moon and as such the electrics never get a chance to dry out and warm up. Oh, and the outriggers fall off the chassis every now and again too! If you can afford the upkeep, which will be a lot (possibly even up to £3k or more a YEAR if things go really wrong) then fine, jump in. I would if I could afford to run a car like that. That's why I have the Indy. Parts and cheap, engines are cheap, fuel isn't even too bad if you're careful and it provides all the thrills I need. For now.

I've heard that the 8pot engines are much better than the 6's. Also read that changing gear at 6500 instead of 7k rpm makes a huge difference. I don't mind it costing money, but if its going to cost £3k to keep it on the road a year then I'll be looking elsewhere! haha. Luckily I live just down the road from a TVR approved garage, but will be servicing it myself, and I will be getting oil at cost price, and all TVR parts at trade price through my new job.

Mate's dad has a Tamora which he tries his best to use as a daily driver, but it seems to spend a lot of time off the road. Mainly engine problems related to the 6, though there was the time when the steering wheel came off in his hands. Luckily he wasn't sideways round a roundabout and was able to shove it back on but could of course have been pretty unpleasant. So you didn't like the idea of an S2000 then (or anything else mentioned in your other thread)?

Liam

Before you jump in, have a look on pistonheads and have a good look at the speed six engine. It even has it's own section in the TVR bit! I believe servicing on the car is mainly the engine as the top end needs a lot of looking after, as this is what causes a lot of bother due to it being a de-tuned race engine.

Good thread.

I am about to broach the subject of getting a Chim with SWMBO. That will be challenging as it will be car number 4. The logic is that she won't go in the MK for any distance - something to do with the running mascara and snotty cheeks at 80mph , so I thought a Chim would give us a touring car that she would be OK in... that's my general approach to convincing her, lets hope it pans out!! If it doesn't I will just have to do it and live with the fallout...

As for which TVR to get - I would avoid anything that you can't get support for - parts, specialist tools, engine rebuild services . Stick with a Chim 500 or a Griffith if you want big CCs.

Martin

quote:

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Originally posted by MK Charlie
I do agree that £1200 is still alot of money, but when you put it into perspective of what car i'd be driving it makes it fairly good value.
I know its a bit flash, but I've just landed myself a good job on really good money for my age. I've worked really hard to get where I am now, and thought I may aswell treat myself while I'm young and dont have kids or a SWMBO

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I'd say go for it, but maybe budget a cheap "get you out of a hole car " like a 306 diesel.

That way you'll get the TVR and can use it, but if it lets you down, you'll have "Plan B." 306 would be V cheap to insure (through your mate?) and tax, and you could probably do most of servicing on that.

HOWEVER, if you forgot about the TVR and put you back into it, you could probably save a fairly healthy deposit on a house, which (if you're single) you could partly rent out to help cover mortgage costs.

Yes, I'm over forty, spent like you want to, on things you want to etc etc etc..

Whatever you do, think about it and bear in mind RFL on anything remotely interesting made after 2001 will be at least £400 in a year or so (haven't you heard Gordon Brown wants to spend £100,000,000,000 (ie £1700 per head) on wind farms and will need to pay for it.

ATB

Simon

(Driver of very exciting Renault Grand Espace deeeeezel)