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undred orse
Original Poster
171 posts
23 months
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i've been looking to get a new weekend toy for a few months and while thinking about a number of different options i still keep getting drawn to the tamora. i've not had a tvr before so obviously need some help on what to look for /avoid on this model but i have bought and sold a lot of cars so i'm happy with doing a basic appraisal before perhaps an expert one before parting with my cash. i'm looking for a late tamora in a1 condition ideally. what do i need to look out for beyond basic matters such as service history,general condition etc. what is the general feeling about low miles cars - i'm drawn to the 3,000 miler at mole valley http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/730583.htm but it seems expensive and will the lack of use hurt? thanks for any tips.
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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undred orse said: i've been looking to get a new weekend toy for a few months and while thinking about a number of different options i still keep getting drawn to the tamora. i've not had a tvr before so obviously need some help on what to look for /avoid on this model but i have bought and sold a lot of cars so i'm happy with doing a basic appraisal before perhaps an expert one before parting with my cash. i'm looking for a late tamora in a1 condition ideally. what do i need to look out for beyond basic matters such as service history,general condition etc. what is the general feeling about low miles cars - i'm drawn to the 3,000 miler at mole valley http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/730583.htm but it seems expensive and will the lack of use hurt? thanks for any tips. The 3000 mile car is not expensive at all if visible condition reflects miles. You will now here lots of generalised guff about why low mileage cars are a bad thing. 
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5yearstobuyatvr
684 posts
46 months
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Give me a low mileage car with history anytime!
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Targarama
9,264 posts
110 months
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Depends on how those miles have been done. I've done that mileage on two trips to mainland Europe, and the car was nice and warm 99.9% of the time. If this car has been driven for 5 miles once a week (or whatever) then it won't do the mechanicals any favours. However, the engine is not a big deal these days - they take some punishment and are not made from chocolate like some would have you believe.
There are not many Tamoras out there, so if this one is honest, straight, to your liking etc. then why not. As long as you have the money.
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Hunter T
237 posts
4 months
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Targarama said: Depends on how those miles have been done. I've done that mileage on two trips to mainland Europe, and the car was nice and warm 99.9% of the time. If this car has been driven for 5 miles once a week (or whatever) then it won't do the mechanicals any favours. However, the engine is not a big deal these days - they take some punishment and are not made from chocolate like some would have you believe.
There are not many Tamoras out there, so if this one is honest, straight, to your liking etc. then why not. As long as you have the money. Well said. I basically use my car everyday while im at home...unless the weather is totally pants. Its warmed up correctly and looked after with plenty of washes and waxes. These cars need to be driven reguarly. Milage isnt the issue..its how the miles have been put on the car. A 30K mile car thats been warmed up and looked after is better than a 9K car thats been hammered from cold.
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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Hunter T said: These cars need to be driven reguarly. Maybe being pedantic here, but you hit on a pet hate. In short, they don't need to be driven regularly - and that was my earlier point. What they do need is the appropriate level of service and care in consideration for the type of use. It's as difficult to demonstrate that the appropriate level of care has been afforded to an average or high mileage car as it is a low mileage car. The less owners involved the easier it is.... 
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Hunter T
237 posts
4 months
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TVR_owner said: Hunter T said: These cars need to be driven reguarly. Maybe being pedantic here, but you hit on a pet hate. In short, they don't need to be driven regularly - and that was my earlier point. What they do need is the appropriate level of service and care in consideration for the type of use. It's as difficult to demonstrate that the appropriate level of care has been afforded to an average or high mileage car as it is a low mileage car. The less owners involved the easier it is.... I disagree, driving reguarly prevents the problems of seals, rubbers ect drying out and perishing. But thinking about it it all depends what your interpritation of what " drive reguarly" is.
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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Hunter T said: TVR_owner said: Hunter T said: These cars need to be driven reguarly. Maybe being pedantic here, but you hit on a pet hate. In short, they don't need to be driven regularly - and that was my earlier point. What they do need is the appropriate level of service and care in consideration for the type of use. It's as difficult to demonstrate that the appropriate level of care has been afforded to an average or high mileage car as it is a low mileage car. The less owners involved the easier it is.... I disagree, driving reguarly prevents the problems of seals, rubbers ect drying out and perishing. But thinking about it it all depends what your interpritation of what " drive reguarly" is. What part of "appropriate level of service and care in consideration for the type of use" do you not understand then.
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Hunter T
237 posts
4 months
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The car does benifit from being driven reguarly....if its only driven once evey 6 months then the seals will of started to perish..no matter how you drive it that day and no matter if you also had it serviced.
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900T-R
12,718 posts
84 months
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TVR_owner said: What part of "appropriate level of service and care in consideration for the type of use" do you not understand then. In my experience, those who can't find the time to drive their car regularly aren't going to spend quality time on its upkeep either.
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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900T-R said: TVR_owner said: What part of "appropriate level of service and care in consideration for the type of use" do you not understand then. In my experience, those who can't find the time to drive their car regularly aren't going to spend quality time on its upkeep either. Strange world eh....I actually know folk who enjoy looking after their P&J and tend to save the driving experience for special occasions. No 100% right and no 100% wrong I just get tired of blanket statements relating to lack of use being bad for cars. Taken to the extreme, if you were offered the chance, would you rather have a pristine 30 year old car with delivery mileage, or an average mileage (360000 miles) car that's been serviced correctly and repaired as required...
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900T-R
12,718 posts
84 months
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TVR_owner said: Strange world eh....I actually know folk who enjoy looking after their P&J and tend to save the driving experience for special occasions. Sorry but if you're not driving the thing you will hardly know what part of your car needs looking after. It will be very shiny and all. It will also very probably contain all of the 'quirks' that it left Blackpool with, plus a couple of new ones.
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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900T-R said: TVR_owner said: Strange world eh....I actually know folk who enjoy looking after their P&J and tend to save the driving experience for special occasions. Sorry but if you're not driving the thing you will hardly know what part of your car needs looking after. It will be very shiny and all. It will also very probably contain all of the 'quirks' that it left Blackpool with, plus a couple of new ones. What a load of tosh - even with smilie. Have you never used specialists to look after your cars? If you have limited knowledge they can be used as a substitute for personal experience  .
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900T-R
12,718 posts
84 months
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TVR_owner said: Have you never used specialists to look after your cars? If you have limited knowledge they can be used as a substitute for personal experience . Yeah, that's why every single car here that comes with a huge stack of receipts from well-known UK specialists has a list of faults as long as my arm. Not a problem as such as the pound is so low, but I (and other Tivvers from our side of the channel) will always assume a TVR will require ome major fettling on our shores before it becomes a 100% useable and enjoyable proposition.
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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900T-R said: TVR_owner said: Have you never used specialists to look after your cars? If you have limited knowledge they can be used as a substitute for personal experience . Yeah, that's why every single car here that comes with a huge stack of receipts from well-known UK specialists has a list of faults as long as my arm. Not a problem as such as the pound is so low, but I (and other Tivvers from our side of the channel) will always assume a TVR will require ome major fettling on our shores before it becomes a 100% useable and enjoyable proposition. Time you chaps stopped buying cars from over here with huge stacks of receipts from well-known UK specialists  I'll let you know the next time I'm selling one of my cars, at least you can break the mould. Anything you fancy??
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900T-R
12,718 posts
84 months
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Sorry, but I adhere to rule #1 for TVR bliss: if you (finally) have got one that works, hang on to it no matter what. 
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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900T-R said: Sorry, but I adhere to rule #1 for TVR bliss: if you (finally) have got one that works, hang on to it no matter what. 1/27 of ours have been unreliable - a 1965 Griff 400. We have kept 4, but, shock...don't have time to keep them all as nice as they should be so will have a thin out next year. If I should have kept one, it should have been the unreliable Griff!!
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900T-R
12,718 posts
84 months
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TVR_owner said: 900T-R said: Sorry, but I adhere to rule #1 for TVR bliss: if you (finally) have got one that works, hang on to it no matter what. 1/27 of ours have been unreliable - a 1965 Griff 400. There's a big void between 'unreliable' and 'performing to the best of its abilities'. Someone described my 117,xxx mile early Chimmie as 'the best I've been in' and compared to most others out there I'd say it's well sorted indeed - but there's still significant room for improvement; for starters the wishbones will need to be re-bushed at some point.
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TVR_owner
1,800 posts
18 months
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900T-R said: TVR_owner said: 900T-R said: Sorry, but I adhere to rule #1 for TVR bliss: if you (finally) have got one that works, hang on to it no matter what. 1/27 of ours have been unreliable - a 1965 Griff 400. There's a big void between 'unreliable' and 'performing to the best of its abilities'. Someone described my 117,xxx mile early Chimmie as 'the best I've been in' and compared to most others out there I'd say it's well sorted indeed - but there's still significant room for improvement; for starters the wishbones will need to be re-bushed at some point. I'm happy with ours to perform as well as they should have when new. If yours is so well sorted, are we talking upgrade or refurb that's required? (beyond the obvious knackerd parts its running around with now that you obviously don't have time to replace because its being used  ).
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900T-R
12,718 posts
84 months
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Having all four wheels point in the correct direction is a decent start.
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