Buying dilemma

[SonicHedgeHog]

Quite a specific question directed at TVR owners who are naturally very cautious with money.

Has anyone ever bought a TVR even though they weren't blown away on a test drive, but have really needed to scratch the itch? I've done it with another very different car in the past and it was the wrong decision. I find I can go to the local dealer and window shop for hours until it gets dark and I have to return home and look at the classified on Pistonheads. Will the ownership experience be as good as the fantasy?

I know there are lots of people who love their TVRs, but I really struggle with the "you only live once" argument and having £X,000 of car sitting in the garage while I drive everywhere in my hatchback could make me feel uncomfortable. Are there any TVR owners like me?

[Mr MoJo]

I have never met anyone who has driven a TVR and not been blown away by the performance. I think you'd have to be numb from the neck down not to appreciate how a TVR performs.....

....eta and sounds.

Edited by Mr MoJo on Friday 18th December 09:50

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

SonicHedgeHog said:

Quite a specific question directed at TVR owners who are naturally very cautious with money.

Those two things are mutually exclusive! Them that are tend to head for the hills early days.

[Lennaldo]

Well when i bought my car in late september / early october, after the test drive the only feeling i had was terror. I very nearly walked away, never to own a TVR because I really questioned my ability to deal with the car. So when I handed over the cheque I had no idea if it was the right thing to do, I just told myself "you've wanted one of these since you were 11 years old, don't back out now, be a man" and I hoped it would all work out for me. I had to drive the car 300 miles back home and within the first hour i knew i'd made the right decision. Now the more I drive it the more I love it and I've not really had that much chance with all the rain. I bought a 4.2 Cerbera by the way and if i'm honest it's a massive jump from anything I've driven before, It demands respect, If you don't it's quick to remind you that you should, and that is part of the reason why i like it so much.

[5.0ltr]

Lennaldo said:

Well when i bought my car in late september / early october, after the test drive the only feeling i had was terror. I very nearly walked away, never to own a TVR because I really questioned my ability to deal with the car. So when I handed over the cheque I had no idea if it was the right thing to do, I just told myself "you've wanted one of these since you were 11 years old, don't back out now, be a man" and I hoped it would all work out for me. I had to drive the car 300 miles back home and within the first hour i knew i'd made the right decision. Now the more I drive it the more I love it and I've not really had that much chance with all the rain. I bought a 4.2 Cerbera by the way and if i'm honest it's a massive jump from anything I've driven before, It demands respect, If you don't it's quick to remind you that you should, and that is part of the reason why i like it so much.

Ever thought of doing some driver training? They should excite not frighten.

[dbv8]

Test drive!? Whats a test drive?

I bought my car off ebay at a bargain price and it served me 2 years until requiring a little attention

[Zippee]

I purchsed my Chimaera without ever having driven one (let alone that one) as I didn't have relevant insurance the owner drove. Luckily for me I like it.
I purchased my T350 after a nervous test drive at Castle - took me 6 months to fall in love with this car! Now I have I wouldn't change it for the world...

[SonicHedgeHog]

Lennaldo said:

Well when i bought my car in late september / early october, after the test drive the only feeling i had was terror. I very nearly walked away, never to own a TVR because I really questioned my ability to deal with the car. So when I handed over the cheque I had no idea if it was the right thing to do, I just told myself "you've wanted one of these since you were 11 years old, don't back out now, be a man" and I hoped it would all work out for me. I had to drive the car 300 miles back home and within the first hour i knew i'd made the right decision. Now the more I drive it the more I love it and I've not really had that much chance with all the rain. I bought a 4.2 Cerbera by the way and if i'm honest it's a massive jump from anything I've driven before, It demands respect, If you don't it's quick to remind you that you should, and that is part of the reason why i like it so much.

Really useful post, as are some others. Thank you. This is just what I am like. Had a stressful test drive in the snow (I know, I know!!) a while back and thought if I buy this I'm going to arrive at destinations totally exhausted. I might just buy the damn thing.

[gold158]

After some sensible japanese motoring I realised I needed a TVR again.

Drove a tamora and wasn't blown away then drove an older cheaper 5.0 chimaera and couldn't wipe the smile off my face . Needless to say ended up with a Chim (although in 4.5 guise) and having had it a week I finally got to go out for a blast (sans roof) yesterday - this has been the right decision by far I love it and each time that engine fires into life I forget any niggles it may have. (I have to endure the ice and snow also as its a daily driver)

It has been said that it takes a while for RV8 lovers to fall for the newer speed six and that it happens with time. I think I am going to wait until I can afford one with a 4.3 before I make that jump and even then I think it might be in addition to what I have (might be some time then!).

If the car is right you will not be able to stop thinking about it until you have it, or one similar. Drive some more, one will blow you away at some point. lets be honest these are 'heart not head' purchases and if it doesn't excite you then putting up with any issues could be a chore.

Whatever you get, enjoy!

[gold158]

just read your next post, of course if your test drive was in the snow it is difficult for any car to show off its abilities.

If you like everything else about it then nothing to lose. One thing we can all assure you is that fear not, once the roads are dry - it will be fast!

[Chris71]

SonicHedgeHog said:

Has anyone ever bought a TVR even though they weren't blown away on a test drive, but have really needed to scratch the itch?

Not personally.

I don't understand buying a 'fun' car that doesn't entertain. I know this is a herretical thing to say in TVR circles, but I found the Wedge that I was set on buying a bit of an anti-climax, so I abandoned that and got an S instead.

I appreciate that people don't want to 'tyre kick' unnecessarily, but I'd say a reasonable length test drive, leading to a broad grin (and peace of mind on the car's mechanical condition) was a must unless you're budgetting to spend time and money on the car as a project.

[Basil Brush]

Which model are you looking at? If a newer speed 6 car then you may need to really love the car to be able to justify the bills. Leaving major failures aside, they aren't cheap to run.

If I had to sit down and reconcile the c.4k I've spent on it this year in practical terms I couldn't. I knew I wanted a Tuscan from the moment I saw it in Swordfish and 6 years of daily highs and lows of ownership have not really changed that.

[SonicHedgeHog]

Basil Brush said:

Which model are you looking at?

A Griff.

[Basil Brush]

SonicHedgeHog said:

Basil Brush said:

Which model are you looking at?

A Griff.

Fair enough. You shouldn't have as much justifying to do then.

[greenm]

I bought mine after drooling over the pictures for weeks met in a pub carpark i did a px with my M3 Evo and spent twice what the plan was and drove home like a kid with his first ever drive and feeling as nervous. never looked back.

[WorAl]

I drove from Newcastle to Cardiff to get my car, checked it over, owner took it for a test drive (me oassenger) about 10 mins to check for rattles and I was on the road again after 45 mins and handing my car over and the cash.

Car I traded was an Impreza WRX with 270bhp, was good fun and an every day driver. Got the cerb and mainly use it at weekends so sits in garage most days during the week. would I go back? would I f.... not a hope in hell, will never be selling the Cerb, unless something better TVR comes along which i just can't resist.

To Summarise......... DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!!!!!!!! you will not regret it.

you may regret it if you dont do any research like a certain someone who went in a huff with them

[Gazzab]

WorAl said:

you may regret it if you dont do any research like a certain someone who went in a huff with them

Who was that?

[WorAl]

X TVR OWNER I think his name was???? was a while back

[Phil Dicky]

I'v ehad a Griff and loved it, only sold it to go racing....back in the TVR fold again with a Cerb which gets used most days (in it now even with ice and snow)...so my advice get one now and you'll have a beautiful car that probally wont depreciate if at all, so cheap motoring

[Lennaldo]

5.0ltr said:

Lennaldo said:

Well when i bought my car in late september / early october, after the test drive the only feeling i had was terror. I very nearly walked away, never to own a TVR because I really questioned my ability to deal with the car. So when I handed over the cheque I had no idea if it was the right thing to do, I just told myself "you've wanted one of these since you were 11 years old, don't back out now, be a man" and I hoped it would all work out for me. I had to drive the car 300 miles back home and within the first hour i knew i'd made the right decision. Now the more I drive it the more I love it and I've not really had that much chance with all the rain. I bought a 4.2 Cerbera by the way and if i'm honest it's a massive jump from anything I've driven before, It demands respect, If you don't it's quick to remind you that you should, and that is part of the reason why i like it so much.

Ever thought of doing some driver training? They should excite not frighten.

It was sooooo intimiating to drive such a car, and it really made me think if it was for me. I never lost control or anything like that (i did'nt go fast really) but it was such a departure from anything i had driven before it shook me up a bit, I'm pretty comfortable with it now, though i don't think of myself as some driving god and little snake from the rear end on a wet day tought me a valueable lesson, that lesson being don't get too comfortable. To be fair I would benefit from some training but for the time being (while i've got no money spare) i'm just going to pace myself. I'm quite fortunate that i can trust myself to not be too much of a hooligan.