Forgive me but...

[njw]

I own a nice s3c. Nothing as sexy as TVRs latest but good value fun nonetheless. Although I try and defend TVR as much as I can when my friends / colleagues etc slag them off for poor reliability, having read some of these threads and heard no end of horror stories (from reliable sources), if I had the money to buy a new TVR I would think twice. Although I do try and keep positive, it does appear the Mr Wheeler doesn't give a flying f***! TVR has achieved amazing things and I take my hat off to them but sometimes I just feel a bit dispondent.

[N17 TVR]

1) You're forgiven

2) cheer up !!!!!!

[markbigears]

nick, i agree.......to spend that amount of money, 40K plus, on a car that possibly will go pop at any moment...i'll stick with me trusty ford V6.....my balls aint that big! i take my hat off to the speed six owners out there. mark

[vinny]

I must comment here, I am financially at a point to sell the very trusty and must I say reliable every day car of a Chimaera. I really want a Cerbie V8, but so alarmed at the high rate of problems with the engines, the rover lump has been very well maintained by myself with most parts sourced from motor factors, with major work quite cheaply done by the local garage without fuss. How am I going to keep on top of the engine and stop worrying about it without spending all my spare funds with TVR or the like for its tappet adjustments, clutch replacements etc etc, If I get one I may have to give up going to the pub!! not a chance. Please TVR put a little effort into quality, reduce the horsepower ( god forbid!! ) slightly if just to gain good reliability, I think TVR would have a few more buyers out there, I know I would not hesitate or write threads like this if we were'nt all concerned. Vinnie

[njw]

quote:
...I think TVR would have a few more buyers out there, I know I would not hesitate or write threads like this if we were'nt all concerned. Vinnie

[njw]

quote:
...I think TVR would have a few more buyers out there, I know I would not hesitate or write threads like this if we were'nt all concerned. Vinnie

This is exactly the point. I can count at least 5 of my friends who have the funds to buy a TVR but I can't lie and tell them that TVR ownership is nothing but rosey.

[davidd]

quote:
I must comment here, I am financially at a point to sell the very trusty and must I say reliable every day car of a Chimaera. I really want a Cerbie V8, but so alarmed at the high rate of problems with the engines, the rover lump has been very well maintained by myself with most parts sourced from motor factors, with major work quite cheaply done by the local garage without fuss. How am I going to keep on top of the engine and stop worrying about it without spending all my spare funds with TVR or the like for its tappet adjustments, clutch replacements etc etc, If I get one I may have to give up going to the pub!! not a chance. Please TVR put a little effort into quality, reduce the horsepower ( god forbid!! ) slightly if just to gain good reliability, I think TVR would have a few more buyers out there, I know I would not hesitate or write threads like this if we were'nt all concerned. Vinnie

I've just done that, very reliable Griff 500 is for sale which I've done 55k miles in with only one failure and that was a cable ahich cost me £100 to get sorted).

I've just bought a very early 4.2 cerbera. I feel a little nervous but I think it is a viable proposition.

I got the car cheap as it needed some work, this has just been completed by a specialist and I was surprised how similar the costs were to the Griff. Yes the tappets are a pain but it is only going to be £250 every couple of years on average miles. Now Jools is up and running and you have cerberus, fernhurst are independant and Offord can now work on them it is all getting easier (I hope).
The difference between the two (Griff and Cerb) is amazing..Do it while you can..

D.

[gazzab]

Dont forget APM near Liphook!!!! Top Cerbie specialist!

[whatever]

quote:
I must comment here, I am financially at a point to sell the very trusty and must I say reliable every day car of a Chimaera. I really want a Cerbie V8, but so alarmed at the high rate of problems with the engines, the rover lump has been very well maintained by myself with most parts sourced from motor factors, with major work quite cheaply done by the local garage without fuss. How am I going to keep on top of the engine and stop worrying about it without spending all my spare funds with TVR or the like for its tappet adjustments, clutch replacements etc etc, If I get one I may have to give up going to the pub!! not a chance. Please TVR put a little effort into quality, reduce the horsepower ( god forbid!! ) slightly if just to gain good reliability, I think TVR would have a few more buyers out there, I know I would not hesitate or write threads like this if we were'nt all concerned. Vinnie

Being realistic, the cerbie is not a car to run on a budget. Well, it is, obviously, but it has to be a large one. Maybe.

I mean, you're looking at big money for alternate services, still at the pretty poor 6k interval (which is understandable for the type of engine, though I don't think porsche, bmw and mercedes need that much attention). If you're pretty handy yourself, though, you can save yourself lots of in-betweener stuff.

I think there's a lot of luck in buying a used cerbera. Did the previous owner thrash it when the oil was cold? Have they any idea what "mecahnical sympathy" is? Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes not. And if you buy new, you get a right old kicking off the depreciation.

Blimey, I think I could talk even me out of it! I wonder, sometimes, how I ended up with one. Oh yes, I remember...

[darreni]

I've just bought a 97 4.2 & i too was a little nervous about the reliability/costs etc, but using the car everyday seems to help, it seems to run smoother.

I wonder if some of the stories about costs/problems etc are like most stories in that they get better with the telling
( a bit like 911's going backwards into hedges if you dare look at the throttle, & that every cosworth has been stolen at least once/ all that crap)

i'll probably regret defending the cerb as the bugger is bound to blow up anytime soon.
Darren

[vinny]

Thanks for commenting guys, I didnt get any any positive vibes from your answers, but like most things TVR as soon as I have that coffe in my hands, and the salesman talking, a cerby will be mine, hmmmm crystal topaz lightweight will be a good step up I think, blow the cost! Cheers

[stevefield]

Consider this! you can go and buy a Ferrrari or a Lambo or even a Massaratti, pay three times as much for it as the TVR and in reality still have the same reliabilty problems, and still not attain the levels of performance available from a Cerb.It is about perspective.I would not consider running my car daily because already it has high miles on it ,but if there properly looked after then why not.But remeber your using a sledge hammer to crack a wallnut and every now and again your gonna twat your toes!.

[paulk]

I agree with all that has been said here. I run my early 96 4.2 on a very limited budjet. The costs are high but worth it. Go for it if you get the chance 2yrs of ownership and the smile is still very large.

[Paceracing]

I think that there is a significant element of PW not giving a flying f**k about TVR owners once they have purchased the car, but I also believe that many dealers are to blame for not doing a proper job when servicing the cars. I could quote many examples about several dealers who just want to take as much of your hard earned cash as they think they can get away with without having done the work they claim they have.
It is poor servicing which leads to many of the problems encountered by TVR owners and until PW does something about it and lead by example, things will only get worse.
No way would I purchase a new TVR unless it was Rover or Ford powered as I would be so frustrated at having to rebuild the engine every weekend that I would end up driving it through PW's office window.

Jas.

>> Edited by Paceracing on Tuesday 10th September 18:20

[Gasblaster]

I have run a Griff 500 for the last couple of years and had no problems at all. None. Nada. In the same period our German thing has had to go back to the dealers twice to have various electric bits replaced. TVR quality is damn fine IMHO, less knocking required please.

Had to larff the other day, I was behind a 993 turbo on a dual carriageway (sorry, I meant autobahn, officer) , he sees me and puts his foot down, huge clouds of black smoke spewed out of his exhausts, didn't look healthy, he hung on til 140ish then gave up and I sailed past, he looked as sick as his car. Hah!