New to TVR's

Author
Discussion

Fatrat

Original Poster:

682 posts

190 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
I am looking to get into TVR ownership (after an Elise and a Caterham) and have about £10K to £12K to spend.

There appear to be a whole raft of models available at this price point. I am looking at the older cars (if only because my garage won't accommodate a Chim or later).

I have been looking at Taimar,s 3000M's, S3's etc.

Any suggestions on what might be best? Is there a huge difference between say a Taimar and a 3000m? It will be a weekend / sunny day car.

Any advice welcome

Renaldo

311 posts

148 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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My 2500M is the most fun of any classic I've owned -- that includes an MGB GT, MG Midget, Triumph TR4 and TR6, and Mazda MX5.

Fast, makes a beautiful noise, and rare enough that people just gawk at it.

I'm sure the 3000M and Taimar would be fantastic choices, since they've got a bit more oomph. The Taimar with an opening hatch, is -- dare I say it -- almost practical.

Vixen are a particular favourite of mine too. Gorgeous!

You can't go wrong as far as fun is concerned.

Ron

prideaux

4,969 posts

148 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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Fatrat said:
I am looking to get into TVR ownership (after an Elise and a Caterham) and have about £10K to £12K to spend.

There appear to be a whole raft of models available at this price point. I am looking at the older cars (if only because my garage won't accommodate a Chim or later).

I have been looking at Taimar,s 3000M's, S3's etc.

Any suggestions on what might be best? Is there a huge difference between say a Taimar and a 3000m? It will be a weekend / sunny day car.

Any advice welcome
Dear Ratty
I do wish you would at least put your first name on your profile i rather hate answering Rats and especially Fat ones wink
However in reply to your question any of the pre 80s cars will give you great pleasure and all have there own unique features but all have the ability to Give you a smile from ear to ear every time you dive them.
If its a fantastic nimble Go cart type driving experience then the Vixen is the sweetest one of them all IMOP not that the earlier cars are not as well but the little extra wheel base does effect the driving ability and handling and is IMOP one of the best handling cars TVR ever made altough there are a smaller number of early MK1 cars out there with the shorter wheel base.
However the M series chassis is also great and properly set up a fantastic handling car badly set up it can be horrid but you could say that about all cars.
All the variants of the m series are within your budget although a pristine 3000s at that price probably not if your not after open top motoring then IMOP although a bit heavier the Taimar is a very practical classic and second car due to the rear hatch.
Turbo cars though seen as the rarer and most desirable of the M series they are not a complicated Turbo but need expert knowledge setting up properly and unless i lived within 30 miles of Coventry i would avoid wink.
A good well maintained and even fully restored M may be within budget although restored or not expect to have to constantly maintain them as with all older cars but you have had many so you know the score.
There is a fantastic group of people out there that will be willing to advise and a fantastic group of specialist suppliers that can help as well.
Very little is not still available somewhere.
Be prepared to either fall in love or just move on as it may not be to your taste but should you fall in love its a fantastic relationship.
Andrew Gray

prideaux

4,969 posts

148 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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I forgot to mention the earlier Grantura and 1800s cars I did so as I have no experience of these models and maybe someone who has can add there bit all I will say is there owners seem to be very much in love with them and are a very special group of people
Andrew Gray

Fiscracer

585 posts

209 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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prideaux said:
I forgot to mention the earlier Grantura and 1800s cars I did so as I have no experience of these models and maybe someone who has can add there bit all I will say is there owners seem to be very much in love with them and are a very special group of people
Andrew Gray
Don't think you will get a roadworthy Grantura at that price point Andy.

magpies

5,129 posts

181 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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The S3 is below your budget!! - so the best available could be bought - even the V8

Certainly £8 to 10K with money left over for upkeep / improvements

Brilliant set of chaps on here too.

We are having a big do at Blenhheim on Monday if local ish

Fatrat

Original Poster:

682 posts

190 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks to everyone for your comments

I love the look of the M Series so I just need to try some but I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

The Caterham I have at the moment is a 4 speed and when travelling at any speed even over relatively short distances it is enough to make your ears bleed.

I know the Caterham is a far more "open air" experience but what are the 3.00cc M Series cars like at speed if they are just 4 speed with no overdrive?

Also I assume the main thing to look for is chassis rot?

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Unless your heart is set on the looks of an M/Taimar I'd seriously consider an S Series?

First and foremost the roof comes off!

The whole car has a more modern, stronger, solid feel, imho.

For example...

Ball joints not crappy trunnions
Pre-set wheel bearings front and rear not fiddely taper rollers (especially rears)
CV joints not UJ's on drive shafts
Five speed gearbox not four
Injection not carb
Then there's the electrics.....................


In a nutshell, bomb proof Ford Sierra stuff not antiquated (never was too good) Triumph stuff!


PS love my Taimar but you have to love 'em to put up with 'em smile

plasticpig72

1,647 posts

148 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Fatrat,
if you are o.k. with electronics imho go for a S3, maybe V8S.
I only sold my S3 because i do all the work on the car myself and am lost with Electronics.
I now have a 3000S
Alan

Fatrat

Original Poster:

682 posts

190 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
phillpot said:
Unless your heart is set on the looks of an M/Taimar I'd seriously consider an S Series?

First and foremost the roof comes off!

The whole car has a more modern, stronger, solid feel, imho.

For example...

Ball joints not crappy trunnions
Pre-set wheel bearings front and rear not fiddely taper rollers (especially rears)
CV joints not UJ's on drive shafts
Five speed gearbox not four
Injection not carb
Then there's the electrics.....................


In a nutshell, bomb proof Ford Sierra stuff not antiquated (never was too good) Triumph stuff!


PS love my Taimar but you have to love 'em to put up with 'em smile
Well I am no mechanic at all so I will have a fund to keep on top of the maintenance.

When you say you have to love the Taimar to put up with it is that just because it requires constant work or is less fun to drive? This will be a weekend / fun car

davepen

1,460 posts

269 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
phillpot said:
consider an S Series?

The whole car has a more modern, stronger, solid feel, imho.

Then there's the electrics.....................
In a nutshell, bomb proof Ford Sierra stuff
I had an S (S1 280S). When I first got it, Dad then got a 3000S.
As you say the Wheeler S was more modern than the Lilley S.
The S1 required the roof to go in the boot; the 3000S, the side screens.
The S1 was more useable every day, but it was then a nearly new car.
The S3 with the bigger doors was then a lot more money.

Now the S1 would be twenty five years old, and many S owners have moved on to Griffith smile

As to the electrics, it is still a fibreglass TVR. The 280S needed the under steering column connector repaired and an Escort indicator stalk failed, also needed to redo the ground return in the NSF wheel arch.

stockpie

104 posts

137 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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In defence of roofed taimars & 3000Ms all the ones i looked at over a period of 15 months had webasto sunroofs which as in mgbgts are a great compromise esp if you have no garage like me. Having bought a project for £3.5 k & having spent 4k on it within the year already , I would say that the two Taimars on Pistonheads which have both lopped £3k off their initial prices in the last few days would be well worth looking at (one is yellow the other is gold)

Good luck!