TVR + Renault... What could possibly go wrong?
Discussion
I've not bothered to do one of these threads... Because procrastination.
After owning, restoring and selling a Chimaera, I was looking for a well sorted TVR to enjoy. And what a challenge that was. I spent a good 6 months looking for a decent tasmin or chimaera. Cars advertised for 10k+ had me clamber under and pull what used to be metal from the underside.
Eventually, a clean 350i came up. Only 42,000 miles and garaged all of its life. I asked around and found someone nearby to look at it and confirmed that it was a good one. I negotiated a price that I was happy with before traveling, booked train tickets and off I went.
From just outside my house, a sleeper train passes through which goes from my small town near Loch lomond, all the way to central London. Minimal effort, that's how I like it.
Here is is:
Drove home (400 miles) without issue (Aside from getting lost because they shut every single road), the only fault I could find with the car was that the coolant temperature sender didn't work, so the gauge read zero all the time.
Just as I was being all smug about it being faultless, one of the bonnet bolts undone itself on the way to university resulting in the bonnet making a break for freedom at 70mph on the motorway. I slowed down enough for it to stay on with the weight of the bonnet. Drove about the whole day at a maximum of 50mph
Here's the little bugger:
And more photos:
I like the colour, It goes from a really dark burgundy in low light and can be a bright red on a sunny day.
Now on to the Clio. Technically my girlfriends car (we both drive each others cars though)
Why did we buy a Clio? I have no clue. But it's awesome.
Actually, I know why we bought the Clio. I was "disposing" of my Volkswagen at auction, walking around this little Clio catches my girlfriends attention.,. We didn't buy it, but unknown to me whilst looking at diesel Volkswagens she had taken a trip to Edinburgh and put a deposit on a Clio RS 197.
The first drive was oh-so disappointing. It actually felt slow and jerky, you couldn't drive it smoothly... But it's the sort of car where you have to find its sweet spot, and that happens to be at 5-7500 rpm. Some super unleaded and letting it warm up properly brought out a completely different car. It handles decently too, it will be even better when I get good tyres on it.
I like the fact that to "non car" people, it's just a Clio. An economical hatchback that's cheap to run. To them it's not expensive because it isn't an Audi, It isn't fast because its just a Clio. But it isn't nondescript either; not everyone's going to be fooled especially with the big brakes, vents and rear diffuser.
Her reason for buying it? The Rs Clio that went through the auction was 1.5 years older. And went for £5100. The car cost £6100, meaning £1000 depreciation in nearly 2 years. And that's at trade auction prices. Will get more privately.
After owning, restoring and selling a Chimaera, I was looking for a well sorted TVR to enjoy. And what a challenge that was. I spent a good 6 months looking for a decent tasmin or chimaera. Cars advertised for 10k+ had me clamber under and pull what used to be metal from the underside.
Eventually, a clean 350i came up. Only 42,000 miles and garaged all of its life. I asked around and found someone nearby to look at it and confirmed that it was a good one. I negotiated a price that I was happy with before traveling, booked train tickets and off I went.
From just outside my house, a sleeper train passes through which goes from my small town near Loch lomond, all the way to central London. Minimal effort, that's how I like it.
Here is is:
Drove home (400 miles) without issue (Aside from getting lost because they shut every single road), the only fault I could find with the car was that the coolant temperature sender didn't work, so the gauge read zero all the time.
Just as I was being all smug about it being faultless, one of the bonnet bolts undone itself on the way to university resulting in the bonnet making a break for freedom at 70mph on the motorway. I slowed down enough for it to stay on with the weight of the bonnet. Drove about the whole day at a maximum of 50mph
Here's the little bugger:
And more photos:
I like the colour, It goes from a really dark burgundy in low light and can be a bright red on a sunny day.
Now on to the Clio. Technically my girlfriends car (we both drive each others cars though)
Why did we buy a Clio? I have no clue. But it's awesome.
Actually, I know why we bought the Clio. I was "disposing" of my Volkswagen at auction, walking around this little Clio catches my girlfriends attention.,. We didn't buy it, but unknown to me whilst looking at diesel Volkswagens she had taken a trip to Edinburgh and put a deposit on a Clio RS 197.
The first drive was oh-so disappointing. It actually felt slow and jerky, you couldn't drive it smoothly... But it's the sort of car where you have to find its sweet spot, and that happens to be at 5-7500 rpm. Some super unleaded and letting it warm up properly brought out a completely different car. It handles decently too, it will be even better when I get good tyres on it.
I like the fact that to "non car" people, it's just a Clio. An economical hatchback that's cheap to run. To them it's not expensive because it isn't an Audi, It isn't fast because its just a Clio. But it isn't nondescript either; not everyone's going to be fooled especially with the big brakes, vents and rear diffuser.
Her reason for buying it? The Rs Clio that went through the auction was 1.5 years older. And went for £5100. The car cost £6100, meaning £1000 depreciation in nearly 2 years. And that's at trade auction prices. Will get more privately.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Tuesday 15th July 19:38
Passed its MOT this week
Tester described the emissions as "worse than the Renfrew tyre fire" ....
Took it for a good thrashing and went through emissions test fine.
Tester described the emissions as "worse than the Renfrew tyre fire" ....
Took it for a good thrashing and went through emissions test fine.
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