Considering a TVR - is there a definitive buyer's guide?

Considering a TVR - is there a definitive buyer's guide?

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Andy Meads

Original Poster:

320 posts

202 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
Hello all.

TVR as a marque has always interested me, but I feel I lack knowledge as to the best place to enter the fray. I have had a range of cars in the past and I am thinking of a change later this year or early next. I miss the MX5 I used to have and have been considering a Mk IV, perhaps with some enhancement from BBR. But costing that up made me realise that there might be a more interesting path to follow, albeit one that I suspect might have some pitfalls for the unwary. Like me.

I do tend to play it safe when choosing cars: I currently have a M135i; the MX5 I already mentioned. Probably the more interesting end of my spectrum - a matter of debate, I know - has been a 996 C4 or, perhaps, the Mk IV R32 I had when they were newly released.

Even allowing for discounts, by the time I buy a new MX 5 Sport Nav (which is the one I would get) and have it sorted at BBR, it will be around £25k, I suspect. I know I don't have to have anything done to it, but my research, when allied to my experience of a Mk III, tells me that the suspension will probably need some improvement. And it would be rude not to have the Super 190 upgrade, or whatever its equivalent will be by then.

All of which made me wonder when I saw some very nice TVRs on the Str8six website for not much more. And I would wager they will hold their value better than a modified new MX5.

So, with apologies for the long lead-in, is there a definitive place I can go to educate myself in a general sense (aside from reading the many threads here!)? A search shows that there is nothing recent, although that might be my poor forum searching skills. I am interested in learnings about the relative merits of the later TVRs, although frankly I doubt I'd run to a Sagaris. At the moment, I like the look of the Tuscan, but that is an uninformed decision. Whilst I have a basic understanding, I get the strong impression that there is a huge amount of enthusiast knowledge based on ownership experience over many years. Surely there is a repository for it!

Thanks for reading and indulging what is, I must accept, a bit of a "what car?" thread.

Andy

Edited by Andy Meads on Sunday 21st August 11:58

jimed

1,500 posts

205 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
As far as I know there isn't a general guide. One idea might be to have a chat with the local TVRCC region RO (can get his/her details from TVRCC website) and go along to one of their meets and have a chat to some of the members. That way you will get some ideas of the experience of owners and also maybe a good look at some of the cars. It all helps. Good luck with the search - it will be worth it!
Jim

Andy Meads

Original Poster:

320 posts

202 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
jimed said:
As far as I know there isn't a general guide. One idea might be to have a chat with the local TVRCC region RO (can get his/her details from TVRCC website) and go along to one of their meets and have a chat to some of the members. That way you will get some ideas of the experience of owners and also maybe a good look at some of the cars. It all helps. Good luck with the search - it will be worth it!
Jim
Thanks Jim. That's good advice.

Andy

Big Al.

68,795 posts

257 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
I have a Chim buyer Guide I could send you, drop me a mail if you are interested. smile

Andy Meads

Original Poster:

320 posts

202 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
Big Al. said:
I have a Chim buyer Guide I could send you, drop me a mail if you are interested. smile
Thanks very much - done!

Andy

Bobhon

1,057 posts

178 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
?? Look in the Tuscan forum page on PH. One of the sticky's at the top is a buyers guide.

From memory it had a set of "what to check" pages for when you go to see a car.

Guess that this would be 90% carry over for most of the TV cars.

Bob

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,230 posts

234 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
As already posted, go to your local meeting & talk to owners. Most we be only too delighted to share their experiences (good & bad biggrin)


Shanksy87

370 posts

121 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Whilst not leading you by the nose to a guide, google can help you there, first step is to get to a meet, ask lots of questions and get some passenger rides in cars you think might be your cup of tea as they can be quite different for similar money. £20-25k seems to be the main hunting ground at present, although I think waiting a few months might see some more for sale adds up pop.

After making that decision there are no shortage of vehicle specific buyers guides to help you avoid some of the lemons out there, rule of thumb being you very much get what you pay for as buyers have got wise to leaving sketchy cars well alone; that being said there are some dreamers out there. The middle ground should see you good for a selection of the TVR range.

Cats

993 posts

173 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Buy from one of the dealers who will give you a 12 or 24 month guarantee for peace of mind.
You'll pay more but if it is a worry to you it would be the way to go.
That's what I did
In my 7th TVR year of ownership and apart from annual service costs cars have risen in value by some decent amount

Merc 450

919 posts

98 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
This section of piston heads is the TVR buyer's guide, I bought my Cerbera using only knowledge learned on this site, back in the day pH was a TVR website

Andy Meads

Original Poster:

320 posts

202 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies - apart from anything else, there is a great community around these cars and that will only add to the experience.

I will follow up on the comments you have all made and the information you have given.

Thanks again,

Andy

julianc

1,984 posts

258 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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You don't say what the new car is intended for - daily car or weekend/holidays? A Mk IV MX-5 and a TVR are very different animals - I know, I have both. For me, the MX-5 is a superb daily drive, which for me is 80 miles a day, half of which is motorway. The MX-5 is nippy, but doesn't try to kill me. If I attempted to use the TVR as the daily drive, I would now be deaf. Oh, and if you're not a good driver and don't treat a TVR with respect, it can kill you.

I spent the weekend on the TVR Car Club stand at the Tatton Park 'Passion for Power' classic car show, and I spoke to many people like yourself. As others have said, get yourself to the local TVR Car Club and you will get informed opinions and most probably a drive in the passenger seat.

Good luck, but go in with your eyes open and bank balance healthy!

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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I echo Julian's comments - what is to be the car's purpose?
The MX5 will do everything the TVR will on a track day, just with less drama and possibly a little less speed.
The MX5 will be easier to live with as a daily drive, but it looks like you have the BMW for that purpose.

The TVR will beat the other two if you want car club style cameraderie, new friends, lots of admiring looks every time you go out in it, want to go to car shows (a good shiny Tuscan beats most other cars on the planet for the budget), and like noisy dramatic cars.
Whatever you do, buy a nice bright colour (but not a ridiculous one), and just be aware that the wackier paint jobs are great until you want to touch in stone chips.
If you buy a boring silver one with a black interior you will spend the next several years wishing you had been more adventurous and giving the owners of yellow cars envious looks.

If you can wait until October, get along to the TVR car club show at Chatsworth (in I think October), and have a good look at the choice
Prices are lower in winter, as already said. And your purchase, while requiring maintenance, will increase in value.

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
quotequote all
If you want a very rare TVR for your money, have this:

http://www.exchangeandmart.co.uk/used-cars-for-sal...

(I have the more common 400SE hehe )

Andy Meads

Original Poster:

320 posts

202 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Thanks again for the input.

As to usage, the reality is that I doubt I'd be tracking it. So it'll be a bit of a weekend toy. I wouldn't propose to use it as a regular daily, but on occasion I might, if the conditions allow.

I would certainly have the sense to treat it with a healthy level of respect: I don't arrogate Driving God status to mysel, but I believe I have a good understanding of car control and a strong sense of responsibility when I am on the road.

I would be selling the BMW. We have a family bus and as we are getting a dog soon I am intending to buy an old V70 that I could also commute in when not cycling to the station.

I suppose I like the idea of something different; more mechanical with an interesting back story. The mechanical characteristics really appeal. By constrast, as competent as my M135 is, I would like more connection.

I also like the community around these cars. The friendly replies on here are an example. That October show looks like a great idea!

Thanks again,

Andy

ChimpOnGas

9,637 posts

178 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Buying a TVR is the same as buying any classic car, and that means buying the very best one you can afford.

The later "T" cars (Tuscan, Tamora, T350 ect) are becoming quite expensive these days so while your budget may give you access to an average example the same money would buy you a completely mint late model or fully restored Chimaera.

You say....

Andy Meads said:
I do tend to play it safe when choosing cars
Well all I'd say is... "playing it safe and choosing the TVR brand are two things that aren't really compatible.

Saying that buying one of the models that came with the durable and well developed Rover V8 is a lot safer that buying one with TVR's own Speed Six engine as fitted to the "T" cars,.

If playing it safe is what you feel most comfortable with, use your money to buy an absolutely mint late model Chimaera with sensible development modifications like a well fitted and mapped after market engine management system and brake/suspension enhancements.

A properly restored and improved Chimaera will be the most reliable and least frustrating TVR purchase you can just get on and enjoy from day one, it'll also be a massively cheaper TVR experience than buying a later "T" car you may well find needs money spending on it fairly early on into your ownership.

In summary, buy the model with the most proven & robust components made by manufacturers that had proper development teams & budgets, then select the very best example of that model you can afford.

At your price point (or even less) the above TVR buying advice will lead you straight to an original very late model Chimaera or a properly restored and enhanced one wink

Have a look at these options...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

Personally I wouldn't pay more that £20k for a super nice Chimaera, saying that you try to buy and restore one for £20k and you'll soon find out these over £20k examples aren't that expensive after all wink


Edited by ChimpOnGas on Tuesday 23 August 12:16

Yex 450

4,583 posts

219 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Andy, if you are free on September 10th we have a PH meet in Bicknacre for breakfast and a chat. There are usually a few TVR's present - my 450 Chimaera and a Griff 500 almost certainly will be on site and we have had a couple of Tuscans and a Wedge turn up recently as well. All of us will be happy to chat about the cars and at least myself and Matt (Griff 500) would take you out for a quick demo drive biggrin

If Dave is there with his Griff 500 best not eat before you sit in his passenger seat yikesbiggrin

Speed 3

4,483 posts

118 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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£25k would buy you a fairly mint RV8 car Griff/Chim apart from the specials. These are old school hoolies that most people admired back then and now, leading to a sales surge. Surprisingly practical for weekends away and benefit from being used rather than stood (same goes for most TVR's). Pretty easy to maintain and improve.

Cerbera is a fairly unique animal that bridges the gap between those and the T-cars. Choice of 6 or 8 pot in-house designs. Former was trouble in early factory form, can now be sorted, V8 pretty robust from the outset. Both engines give a very different driving experience to the RV8's, more top-end revvy and different noises. Can be money pits in both resto and general maintenance but despite that, very sought after fast 2+2 (or 1+2 if you are tall) that is unique.

T-cars (starting with Tuscan) all based around Speed 6 engine and all subject to well known issues to some extent or other. Basic advice is the later the better for engines and general build quality out of the box (now a while ago !) but a poorly maintained later car will always be inferior to a well-fettled early one. If you like the Tuscan, this site formed the basis of my research and whilst its quite old and not necessarily maintained, it is comprehensive and accurate: http://www.mytuscan.co.uk/

Best to see cars and talk to owners to narrow down your choice of model and engine. From there the PH Massive can give you more specific buying/owning advice. Whilst there are always a couple of potential disagreements, on the whole the official (TVRCC) and unnofficial forums (PH,FB) are friendly places with willing advisers. There will be a fair few owners in Essex / EofE / London if you ask around. Specialist dealers are pretty approachable too but they tend to be a bit west/north of you (with decent stock levels anyway) so be prepared to travel.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Chatsworth is 2nd October (Sunday). Derbyshire run out on 1st. You are welcome to start the runout as my passenger and jump ship at every stop - anyone with a spare seat will I am sure be happy to give you a ride. Or just turn up for the main event the following day

Here's the Faceache link

https://www.facebook.com/TVR-Chatsworth-Gathering-...