New S3 owner

[grumpynuts]

Hi everyone, I have just bought my first TVR and my choice was a lovely mica red S3 from Amore Autos. I picked it up yesterday and had a great cross country 130 mile drive home from Bristol to Northamptonshire. I have fallen in love with it already and have started my "tinker list" of items I can fix/repair/improve.
It is a 91 S3 but has cats fitted, so they may be the first things to be removed, but I am wondering if I may get issues with emissions tests at MOT time if I do this. Everything else works as it should and it goes really well. I did wonder if I would feel short changed by not going for the V8S but there is plenty of performance and theatre with the V6. We already own fast cars (FK8 Civic type R and my wife has a GR Yaris) so we don't need speed, the little S3 is the perfect complement in our fleet.
I have been a biker since 16 years old and am now 62, but have been forced to give up biking due to 2 totally knackered knees (25 years of scriummaging) and a chunk of hamstring missing following a cancer op to remove a large tumor, I can no longer hold up a heavy bike. So the S3 is to be our summer top down country lane go to toy.
The S series have gone up in price over the past couple of years but still represent great value especially in V6 form, I really wanted a V8 in my life but they are a lot more money and we don't really need the extra performance, also the S fits in my narrow garage when my first choice Griffith would just fit but you've never get the door open to get out of the thing.
I am gathering there is an active facebook scene for the S series, I don't do facebook, had a bad experience on it many years ago, so a I am unlikely to see you there, but good to see some threads here on PH.
I will post a photo when I have stopped driving it.

[Stick Legs]

Good purchase, I was toying with the idea of buying that car. It looks good & I agree, there is something quite special about the S.

https://www.amoreautos.co.uk/car-listings/tvr-s3-2...

Ironically when I was in my 20's I really fancied an S but couldn't afford one, and so stuck with my Capri.

Now the Capri would be worth more.

Look forward to pics and hearing about how you get on with it.

Edited by Stick Legs on Tuesday 7th May 10:57

[ChazUwe]

Looks like a great buy you have got there, no better test than a good long drive home after collection! I have an S3 and a Griffith 500 and they are just so different. Still love driving the S3, I like the fact it isn't too quick, it means you can give it some beans but not be at crazy licence losing speeds. I see the S3 more as a classic and the Griffith more a sports car. Both are great !

Enjoy your new purchase .

[frontfloater]

Welcome, grumpynuts. If your knees are knackered as you say, you made the right choice ; the V8 clutch is horribly heavy compared with the V6.

Edited by frontfloater on Wednesday 8th May 15:51

[mk1fan]

Good choice. Wonderful, entertaining and fun cars to drive irregardless of outright performance.

I may have a set of stainless decat pipes in my store if you're interested. As I understand it, if CATs are fitted then the MOT requires them to remain. Whether an inspector will know they should be fitted is another matter. Pretty easy to swap in and out though - especially if you have the wide open bonnet mod.

[Stick Legs]

mk1fan said:

Good choice. Wonderful, entertaining and fun cars to drive irregardless of outright performance.

I may have a set of stainless decat pipes in my store if you're interested. As I understand it, if CATs are fitted then the MOT requires them to remain. Whether an inspector will know they should be fitted is another matter. Pretty easy to swap in and out though - especially if you have the wide open bonnet mod.

I pre-1992 they didn’t need to be retained.

“Cars registered after 1st August 1992 must have a cat fitted.”

I removed the car from a 1990 Volvo & never had any MOT bother.

I’d be quite relaxed about removing it especially as not all TVR S3’s had it.

Hopefully some with more knowledge & experience can straighten this out.

[GreenV8S]

I hope you'll take it along to the Northants regional meetings. The V6 S is a great introduction to TVR ownership. The V8 cars have more power and a great exhaust burble, but some of the V6 cars sound every bit as good IMO and are hardly any slower. These cars are a lot more involving to drive than some of the other models - often described as chuckability; when set up well you get great driver feedback.

If you still have the standard front indicator lenses make sure you don't break them. They're like hen's teeth these days.

[v8s4me]

grumpynuts said:

..........I am gathering there is an active facebook scene for the S series, I don't do facebook, had a bad experience on it many years ago, so a I am unlikely to see you there, but good to see some threads here on PH.....

There is indeed an active FB group but the FB format is hopeless for following any technical subject so PH is still the best place for serious stuff.

The FB group is great for buying and selling stuff though so possibly worth keeping an eye on what is happening there even if you don't want to get involved.

If you find yourself needing a stainless exhaust system I know where there's one gathering dust.

[phillpot]

grumpynuts said:

I am gathering there is an active facebook scene for the S series, I don't do facebook, had a bad experience on it many years ago

Gosh, what happened?

[grumpynuts]

Chas, you lucky boy having an S and a Griff. I will certainly be joining the local group meets and getting some decent miles on the car. It hasn't moved much in the last 5 years so needs a good workout. I already have done more miles in 2 days than the previous 2 years so a good start. The V6 is perfect as I didn't want a fast car, I wanted some theatre and chuckable fun at lower speeds, so the V6 fitted that brief. I'd like a bit more noise so I think I will be removing the cats, so am all ears ref any down pipes of full exhaust systems are clogging up someone's loft.
I have always wanted a TVR and have really bonded with the little S despite only just picking it up, so I know I've made the right purchase. It needs a little tidying on the interior to make it really nice, my summer project. Hope to meet sone of you fellow TVR owners soon.

[grumpynuts]

The wide open bonnet option sounds interesting, what is involved in that? Is it a simple mod?

[phillpot]

grumpynuts said:

The wide open bonnet option sounds interesting, what is involved in that? Is it a simple mod?

While it's not rocket science it is not that simple, as far as I know there is not a "kit" on the market, it will require you to fabricate (or get fabricated) some bracketry and source suitable bolts etc.
Most who have done it have also added gas struts.

If you track down a guy called Bob Honnor on the FB group he has some CAD files of his design which I believe he is happy to share.

[v8s4me]

There have been a number of "wide open bonnet" solutions over the years, see HERE.

[ChazUwe]

grumpynuts said:

Chas, you lucky boy having an S and a Griff.

Thanks, I certainly wouldn't want to be without either of them! The easiest way to get a 'wide opening bonnet' is to modify some planks and drive onto them. Put a towel or something on the ground where the bonnet might touch to avoid damage to the super valuable indicator lenses! Also some like myself have made a better bonnet stay out of a stainless steel fishing bank stick that is adjustable. Still need the front end up a bit but you can secure the bonnet rather than rest on the ground and risk the lenses!

[mentall]

Or a pair of caravan levelling ramps: currently £20-30 online, or scrounge a pair from a caravanner.
Works for me, when I need to work on the car outside the garage. Inside, there are a pair of six-inch high timber (scaffold plank) runways, with a scissor-lift between them. Perfect!