Is there a sensible TVR?
Discussion
I want to buy a TVR, but which one? I have test driven and loved the Tuscan speed 6, but it seems to be getting a bad press. Is there anyone who's owned a Cerb, Chimera, Tuscan and Griff and can, through experience, vouch for which one is the most sensible new or used TVR to buy? No biased, just the honest truth please.
Dave.
I can only speak from a couple of weeks of Cerbera ownership, but I would have to say that you need to stretch the word "Sensible" a long way before it can be used to describe a TVR.
The Cerbera is a joy, it is very involving, noisey, and fast. In terms of British Sports car fun it is (IMHO) the best for the money, and I love it to bits.
Spend a lot of time in these type of forums and join the Yahoo Cerbera group, this will give you a true feel for the cars, and hopefully provide some idea of what to look for in the car of your choice.
I think you will find that the Speed Six reliability issue has been done to death, and you will no doubt find the reputation that the engine is made of glass, but I think it is also possible to get a sorted car.
If you choose a Cerb I would definitely stay with the AJP8 units (4.2/4.5), but with a Tuscan you don't have these choices.
None of the cars TVR produce, or have produced are going to have the reliability of Jap/German A-to-B-mobiles, and they won't have useable back seats, but they are thoroughly, pant-wetting exciting cars that involve like very few others.
I am sure you will enjoy finding out what they are all about anyway!!
I can only speak from a couple of weeks of Cerbera ownership, but I would have to say that you need to stretch the word "Sensible" a long way before it can be used to describe a TVR.
The Cerbera is a joy, it is very involving, noisey, and fast. In terms of British Sports car fun it is (IMHO) the best for the money, and I love it to bits.
Spend a lot of time in these type of forums and join the Yahoo Cerbera group, this will give you a true feel for the cars, and hopefully provide some idea of what to look for in the car of your choice.
I think you will find that the Speed Six reliability issue has been done to death, and you will no doubt find the reputation that the engine is made of glass, but I think it is also possible to get a sorted car.
If you choose a Cerb I would definitely stay with the AJP8 units (4.2/4.5), but with a Tuscan you don't have these choices.
None of the cars TVR produce, or have produced are going to have the reliability of Jap/German A-to-B-mobiles, and they won't have useable back seats, but they are thoroughly, pant-wetting exciting cars that involve like very few others.
I am sure you will enjoy finding out what they are all about anyway!!
I've not owned them all (unfortunately) but I will pass on the advice when I arrived at a dealer wanting a TVR, I didnt care which (with the exception of the Griff - not my bag) but I just wanted a TVR.
The Chim and the Griff are both Rover powered V8's as I am sure you are aware. The Griff initially was a harder more focussed car (I believe) than its slightly softer relative the Chim, but from 2001 the differences are purely cosmetic. At the time I bought mine the 450 and the 500 were available and I was told that the 450 is a more driveable engine for daily use and the 500 a better weekend engine as all the extra power is low down in the rev range.
The Cerb, Tuscan and Tamora are all based on the AJP engine developed by TVR. From reports on here it seems that the original 4.0 litre Tuscan engine was a little more prone to problems (but these are vastly exaggerated depending on who you speak to) so they dropped the standard Tuscan and Tamora engine size to 3.6 and this and continued development by the factory has seemed to sort the issues out. The Tuscan S still has the 4.0 litre Speed6 but I believe that their supply problems that caused the issues have been almost completely sorted now. The AJP V8 found on the Cerb also seems to have matured significantly since release and there are a number of owners who are using them as a daily driver.
On the whole it comes down to depth of pockets and personal choice. If I had gone for a Cerb then I would have had to go 2nd hand but there was an exceptional offer on new cars when I bought mine and hence chose the Chim, 7000 miles later it provided day in and day out transport with its first issue in 9 months coming out last night and I am hopeful that its a minor fix.
HTH
Matt.
The Chim and the Griff are both Rover powered V8's as I am sure you are aware. The Griff initially was a harder more focussed car (I believe) than its slightly softer relative the Chim, but from 2001 the differences are purely cosmetic. At the time I bought mine the 450 and the 500 were available and I was told that the 450 is a more driveable engine for daily use and the 500 a better weekend engine as all the extra power is low down in the rev range.
The Cerb, Tuscan and Tamora are all based on the AJP engine developed by TVR. From reports on here it seems that the original 4.0 litre Tuscan engine was a little more prone to problems (but these are vastly exaggerated depending on who you speak to) so they dropped the standard Tuscan and Tamora engine size to 3.6 and this and continued development by the factory has seemed to sort the issues out. The Tuscan S still has the 4.0 litre Speed6 but I believe that their supply problems that caused the issues have been almost completely sorted now. The AJP V8 found on the Cerb also seems to have matured significantly since release and there are a number of owners who are using them as a daily driver.
On the whole it comes down to depth of pockets and personal choice. If I had gone for a Cerb then I would have had to go 2nd hand but there was an exceptional offer on new cars when I bought mine and hence chose the Chim, 7000 miles later it provided day in and day out transport with its first issue in 9 months coming out last night and I am hopeful that its a minor fix.
HTH
Matt.
Owned both a 4l Chimeara and now a Tuscan. They are my only car and are driven daily. At the moment I'm doing 100-200miles a week. I use them for everything and have done two big road trips one in both >1750miles in 4 days.
If you want to discuss the ins and outs e-mail me with your number and I'll give you a bell, which should answer any questions better than a long post. I'm in the office till 5.30pm.
If you want to discuss the ins and outs e-mail me with your number and I'll give you a bell, which should answer any questions better than a long post. I'm in the office till 5.30pm.
What do you mean by sensible, it's all going to be relative wrt TVR's
Rover V8 powered machines (Griff or Chim) will be the cheaper to service, also very well sorted by now. Speed 6 based cars (Tamora, Tuscan, Cerb S6) will be more expensive but not as high as the AJP8 Cerbs.
Fuel consumption is going to be similar for all vehicles and is probably largely dictated by the abuse the loud pedal gets.
Tamora, being the JOLT product, will be the most highly sorted, closely followed by a recent Tuscan.
All of these will be challenging to drive initially, the Cerb certainly took a while to get comfortable with and is probably the most extreme.
That said, the cars all have different characters so you may find that you determine a theoretical sensible buy but then hate it when you test drive one.
Through much reading of this site and other sources I decided the Chim was my sensible option. Drove one and just didn't get on with it. Sat in a Cerb and knew straight away that I was going to live with the higher servicing costs
In hindsight, I'd not do too much background research but get some test drives arranged. If you're local dealer is any good he'll be able to help you with the decision.
Rover V8 powered machines (Griff or Chim) will be the cheaper to service, also very well sorted by now. Speed 6 based cars (Tamora, Tuscan, Cerb S6) will be more expensive but not as high as the AJP8 Cerbs.
Fuel consumption is going to be similar for all vehicles and is probably largely dictated by the abuse the loud pedal gets.
Tamora, being the JOLT product, will be the most highly sorted, closely followed by a recent Tuscan.
All of these will be challenging to drive initially, the Cerb certainly took a while to get comfortable with and is probably the most extreme.
That said, the cars all have different characters so you may find that you determine a theoretical sensible buy but then hate it when you test drive one.
Through much reading of this site and other sources I decided the Chim was my sensible option. Drove one and just didn't get on with it. Sat in a Cerb and knew straight away that I was going to live with the higher servicing costs
In hindsight, I'd not do too much background research but get some test drives arranged. If you're local dealer is any good he'll be able to help you with the decision.
Hi David - welcome to PH. I hope you're finding all this feedback useful. We're such a partisan lot aren't we!
No, there isn't a sensible TVR. That's we have them. They make no sense, they are for fun - and upsetting PC stick-in-the-muds. They're an ideal second car for high days and holidays but I wouldn't want to go shopping in one in the rain. That is where a 'sensible' car comes in! You need both, IMHO.
I can however take you for a blast in my Griff 500, which is about 9 miles south of you and available most days! You know my number...
No, there isn't a sensible TVR. That's we have them. They make no sense, they are for fun - and upsetting PC stick-in-the-muds. They're an ideal second car for high days and holidays but I wouldn't want to go shopping in one in the rain. That is where a 'sensible' car comes in! You need both, IMHO.
I can however take you for a blast in my Griff 500, which is about 9 miles south of you and available most days! You know my number...
I have owned Griff 500, Cerb 4.5 and now Tamora. If by sensible you mean least likely to have problems, cost of owenrship etc I would say a Chim or Griff especially the later ones. I had no problems at all with my Griff in just over 2 years.
If you are prepared for niggles and a higher cost of ownership then I guess it depends on budget. If you can afford one then as Lance has already stated try a Tamora. IMO this is the best car TVR have ever built, the handling is superb ! And as you will see from various threads this seems to be confirmed by its track day performances. The downside is the fact that they have only been around for 6 months so although initial signs are very promising reliability has yet to be proven.
Mark
If you are prepared for niggles and a higher cost of ownership then I guess it depends on budget. If you can afford one then as Lance has already stated try a Tamora. IMO this is the best car TVR have ever built, the handling is superb ! And as you will see from various threads this seems to be confirmed by its track day performances. The downside is the fact that they have only been around for 6 months so although initial signs are very promising reliability has yet to be proven.
Mark
Dear replyers to my ad. As a new member to the Pistonhead gassing station and as a bit of a novice to TVR's I thank you for sharing your TVR experiences and offering to me your constructive and helpfull advise. Most kind. (All except Richard8466 who either misread the question or is in serious need of a shag!)
Now, I'm as serious as one could be about buying a TVR.
Which one???, i dunno???... but, you can bet your bottom dollar i'll tell you when I get it!!
Thanks again.
David.
Now, I'm as serious as one could be about buying a TVR.
Which one???, i dunno???... but, you can bet your bottom dollar i'll tell you when I get it!!
Thanks again.
David.
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