Aston Martin Vs TVR
Discussion
This will probably get me sentenced to a life of solitary confinement. I have noticed that the majority of Aston Martin posts are about "How shiny is your car today? or "Look I managed to get a watch strap, tie, wallet matched to the stitching of the glovebox lid"
TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
Shambler said:
This will probably get me sentenced to a life of solitary confinement. I have noticed that the majority of Aston Martin posts are about "How shiny is your car today? or "Look I managed to get a watch strap, tie, wallet matched to the stitching of the glovebox lid"
TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
Have you actullay been over to the AM forum?TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
I have seen no posts about watch straps, ties, wallets, etc.
What surprised me about the forum is just how many drivers do use their cars in anger, with many arranging blasts around the country and trackdays. The reason it surprised me is, because, like you, I thought it would all be about shiny cars and watch straps, ties, wallets, etc. That is just not the case.
Personally speaking I can't imagine I would want to track my Vantage or use it in anger the way I did with my VXR220, but then in my view we are talking about totally different cars and getting it wrong in the Vauxhall would have meant a repair bill of £6.50, getting it worng in the Vantage might cost more than a tenner and I haven't got that kind of money!
Cheers
Gerry
I bought my car mainly for the outstanding looks, the amazing soundtrack and just something I could be really proud of as a result of a lot of bloody hard work over the last 10 years.
Now that my not be everyones reasons for buiyng a car, but it was mine. It helps that the car is a great handler and the power is adequate for my needs, but for me these were bonuses, not the main reasons for purchase.
But I won't be 'ragging' it any time soon!
Howeever, I do take your point that for a car that some might consider a 'supercar', it generally is not seen as a car that most owners use for 'spirited' driving (in my limited experience).
Cheers
Gerry
Now that my not be everyones reasons for buiyng a car, but it was mine. It helps that the car is a great handler and the power is adequate for my needs, but for me these were bonuses, not the main reasons for purchase.
But I won't be 'ragging' it any time soon!
Howeever, I do take your point that for a car that some might consider a 'supercar', it generally is not seen as a car that most owners use for 'spirited' driving (in my limited experience).
Cheers
Gerry
Edited by Gerrym11 on Thursday 28th February 11:37
I own a Tuscan it's very reliable. After the inevitable rebuild they are strong engines.
Did 2500 trouble free miles in Europe last year, sat in heavy traffic in temps over 30deg no problem.
Did a trackday.
Started it the other day after it had sat for around 5 weeks, started first time, needed a little encouragement to get it to idle but fine.
Broke down once, a water hose split, hardly bad news, it's nearly 12 years old.
Did 2500 trouble free miles in Europe last year, sat in heavy traffic in temps over 30deg no problem.
Did a trackday.
Started it the other day after it had sat for around 5 weeks, started first time, needed a little encouragement to get it to idle but fine.
Broke down once, a water hose split, hardly bad news, it's nearly 12 years old.
Shambler said:
This will probably get me sentenced to a life of solitary confinement. I have noticed that the majority of Aston Martin posts are about "How shiny is your car today? or "Look I managed to get a watch strap, tie, wallet matched to the stitching of the glovebox lid"
TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
I don't think I've seen any watch / tie / wallet threads... get over to the AM forum and introduce yourself, there are plenty of folks who use the full potential of their cars (Yeti, Mikey, Cockernee etc).. I use mine everyday, cracking car.. it's also dirty most of the time as a result TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
I think the same can be said for many cars. If you've worked hard and bought a car you've aspired to then your hardly going to rag it everywhere taking big risks. There's also the fear of big bills if you get it wrong or long walks everywhere if you get caught ragging it. TBH AM's are pretty common here and most are seen going to and from docklands in the rush hour and are driven pretty much the same as every other car at that time of day - slowly.
Nice car btw, the Vantage is my favourite AM at the moment. I prefer it proportions to the other offerings. I was very tempted when I bought the Z06.
Nice car btw, the Vantage is my favourite AM at the moment. I prefer it proportions to the other offerings. I was very tempted when I bought the Z06.
Being a TVR owner, I think I can have a crack at this one.
Chimaera / Griff era - Well sorted cars that bar the usual consequences of hand construction (wonky running window here, dodgy wire there) were generally very reliable.
Later cars with home-grown engines, pushed the envelope and in the case of the AJP6 engine, deserved some of the flack they got. Going from a Rover V8 which if you kept an eye on normal maintance was a 'low concern' engine, to a SP6 that was fickle and issues came at great expense, was a bridge too far too soon.
But I guess despite offering Supercar pace, cause the cars were Boxter priced, people expected Boxter reliability.
(Though I don't agree that Supercars should be allowed to be as unreliable as some are)
However, on a slight balancing point, Ferrari's (etc) at 3x the price are forgiven for some very shoddy workmanship and owners of mainstream cars accept DMF / Clutch failure, Swirl Flaps, Variable Vane Turbo's, Injector failure etc etc at 4 figure sums, without tagging the car as unreliable.
Chimaera / Griff era - Well sorted cars that bar the usual consequences of hand construction (wonky running window here, dodgy wire there) were generally very reliable.
Later cars with home-grown engines, pushed the envelope and in the case of the AJP6 engine, deserved some of the flack they got. Going from a Rover V8 which if you kept an eye on normal maintance was a 'low concern' engine, to a SP6 that was fickle and issues came at great expense, was a bridge too far too soon.
But I guess despite offering Supercar pace, cause the cars were Boxter priced, people expected Boxter reliability.
(Though I don't agree that Supercars should be allowed to be as unreliable as some are)
However, on a slight balancing point, Ferrari's (etc) at 3x the price are forgiven for some very shoddy workmanship and owners of mainstream cars accept DMF / Clutch failure, Swirl Flaps, Variable Vane Turbo's, Injector failure etc etc at 4 figure sums, without tagging the car as unreliable.
m3jappa said:
I own a Tuscan it's very reliable. After the inevitable rebuild they are strong engines.
Did 2500 trouble free miles in Europe last year, sat in heavy traffic in temps over 30deg no problem.
Did a trackday.
Started it the other day after it had sat for around 5 weeks, started first time, needed a little encouragement to get it to idle but fine.
Broke down once, a water hose split, hardly bad news, it's nearly 12 years old.
I keep reading posts like this about Tuscans. It just makes them more attractive to me Did 2500 trouble free miles in Europe last year, sat in heavy traffic in temps over 30deg no problem.
Did a trackday.
Started it the other day after it had sat for around 5 weeks, started first time, needed a little encouragement to get it to idle but fine.
Broke down once, a water hose split, hardly bad news, it's nearly 12 years old.
OK, we admit it, 29 PH Astons will be blasting across Northern Europe next month to visit the Jaeger LeCoulture factory! All cars will start off shiny - but won't be by the end of the trip. Get the impression it will be a spirited drive as well.
Might even make a thread about it in General Gassing so people can follow the progress.
Might even make a thread about it in General Gassing so people can follow the progress.
Neil1300R said:
OK, we admit it, 29 PH Astons will be blasting across Northern Europe next month to visit the Jaeger LeCoulture factory! All cars will start off shiny - but won't be by the end of the trip. Get the impression it will be a spirited drive as well.
Might even make a thread about it in General Gassing so people can follow the progress.
That sounds awesome, please do!Might even make a thread about it in General Gassing so people can follow the progress.
DanielSan said:
m3jappa said:
I own a Tuscan it's very reliable. After the inevitable rebuild they are strong engines.
Did 2500 trouble free miles in Europe last year, sat in heavy traffic in temps over 30deg no problem.
Did a trackday.
Started it the other day after it had sat for around 5 weeks, started first time, needed a little encouragement to get it to idle but fine.
Broke down once, a water hose split, hardly bad news, it's nearly 12 years old.
I keep reading posts like this about Tuscans. It just makes them more attractive to me Did 2500 trouble free miles in Europe last year, sat in heavy traffic in temps over 30deg no problem.
Did a trackday.
Started it the other day after it had sat for around 5 weeks, started first time, needed a little encouragement to get it to idle but fine.
Broke down once, a water hose split, hardly bad news, it's nearly 12 years old.
The real issue was the engine which were a good design but let down by poor parts, once that's addressed it's the same as any other high performance car IMO.
I do use mine properly as well.
I do look at selling up but is have to some how find quite a bit more money to get something as exciting.
Shambler said:
TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
On to the Cerbera No Massive issues here either lots of upgrades but i treat it as my 3rd car and a hobby but i have never been left by the road side yet in either TVR so i have covered around 25k by TVR power and loved every mile of it with no "catastrophic" Issues not saying there all like this but can any other brand performance hand built cars say this as well???? You need to do more home work and report back
Owned a Cerbera 4.5 for six years & tbh it was terribly unreliable but maybe I just bought a poor one...but it was a one owner car with only 12k miles on it & it needed rebuilding at 19k miles.
Nothing to me beats the sound & sense of occasion of a TVR but boy you need lots of patience & money, two things I haven't got much of...I still miss the power it had though
Nothing to me beats the sound & sense of occasion of a TVR but boy you need lots of patience & money, two things I haven't got much of...I still miss the power it had though
picked up my second Aston this week, have no intention of getting a matching wallet etc but do have 2 weeks booked off in may/june for the Isle of Man TT where the mountain section is one way with no speed limit and previous 7 years living there gives me good knowledge of where to get the most out of it. Have also had a good play this week.....up to the regulated 70mph speed limit of course
Shambler said:
TVR posts seem to be entirely about something going catastrophically wrong followed by repair then followed by another repair. My question is this, does anyone own an Aston Martin that actually uses it in anger? and does anyone have a TVR that is completely reliable?
The answer of course, is yes. 
Yes, people will drive their cars in the manner for which they were made. Just because you haven't observed it doesn't mean it never happens. But, you don't have to drive everywhere at Mach 1 to enjoy a performance car. Equally, when you have put a lot of time/money into the up keep of these cars you don't want to ruin them by driving everywhere like a nutter.With regards to constant posts about repairs etc. You have to remember that PH's was originally started by TVR enthusiasts, hence the big community. TVR didn't have a large number of servicing outlets even in their heyday. Since they've gone the TVR community here has become an invaluable resource for owners so that cars can be kept in tip top condition.
If you look hard enough you WILL see and hear about people enjoying their cars.
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