Mat Smith Sports Cars
Discussion
Just had more excellent service from Mat as always. Can't speak highly enough of him.
12k service, tappets, MoT and AC Condensor replacement all done very quicky and efficently
Great to see my Sag parked next to B055SAG as well - Reflex Charcoal next to Chameleon Orange, looked madness
hopefully Mat will post some pics on his Website
12k service, tappets, MoT and AC Condensor replacement all done very quicky and efficently
Great to see my Sag parked next to B055SAG as well - Reflex Charcoal next to Chameleon Orange, looked madness
hopefully Mat will post some pics on his WebsiteEdited by PuffsBack on Saturday 28th May 10:54
In my experience a well skilled well trained owner who isn't being paid by the hour will always beat a hourly paid 'expert'. I have witnessed appalling dealer servicing over the years, in fact my wife's new car was serviced by a main dealer technician. The air filter was put on properly, the oil level was out, the fault codes hadn't been reset and I have little faith that they actually serviced the car. The are plenty of horror stories from TVR full history cars.
The bottom line is there are good owner mechanics and there are bad, just the same as dealers and specialists. You can't stereo type people.
Just my point of view
Fully qualified engineer with experience in the aerospace, automotive and F1 industry, part time tinkerer in the garage.
The bottom line is there are good owner mechanics and there are bad, just the same as dealers and specialists. You can't stereo type people.
Just my point of view Fully qualified engineer with experience in the aerospace, automotive and F1 industry, part time tinkerer in the garage.
Big thanks to Heath and Paul at X WORKS Preston
Just got home after a three hour drive along A and B roads around Southport Blackpool Preston Chorley
The Sag was a beast yet after X WORKS witchcraft its become a ferocious beast
The response has improved,handling is just WOW its incredible,gear change is much smoother and stops a lot better,think X WORKS have gave me the wrong car back lol
Thanks Guys :-)
Just read this on another thread and again it backs up using a specialist to get the car absolutely spot and their knowledge of these cars is far superior to us DIY mechanics.
Just got home after a three hour drive along A and B roads around Southport Blackpool Preston Chorley
The Sag was a beast yet after X WORKS witchcraft its become a ferocious beast
The response has improved,handling is just WOW its incredible,gear change is much smoother and stops a lot better,think X WORKS have gave me the wrong car back lol
Thanks Guys :-)
Just read this on another thread and again it backs up using a specialist to get the car absolutely spot and their knowledge of these cars is far superior to us DIY mechanics.
Can't beat a specialist you trust in my opinion with these cars. I know a lot of people like Scole and Kerridges, both of which are much closer to me (in fact Kerridges is within walking distance) Mat is a 100 mile round trip, but I totally trust him with the car and have used him since he setup from virtually day one.
nrick said:
In my experience a well skilled well trained owner who isn't being paid by the hour will always beat a hourly paid 'expert'. I have witnessed appalling dealer servicing over the years, in fact my wife's new car was serviced by a main dealer technician. The air filter was put on properly, the oil level was out, the fault codes hadn't been reset and I have little faith that they actually serviced the car. The are plenty of horror stories from TVR full history cars.
The bottom line is there are good owner mechanics and there are bad, just the same as dealers and specialists. You can't stereo type people.
Just my point of view
Fully qualified engineer with experience in the aerospace, automotive and F1 industry, part time tinkerer in the garage.
Hi NeillThe bottom line is there are good owner mechanics and there are bad, just the same as dealers and specialists. You can't stereo type people.
Just my point of view Fully qualified engineer with experience in the aerospace, automotive and F1 industry, part time tinkerer in the garage.
You are definitely exception to the rule with all your experience in both F1 and Aerospace. It's finding a specialist you trust , sticking to more specialist smaller and more personal industry types like Matt at Downham and Paul and Heath at kirkham.
portzi said:
Another good reason when purchasing any Tvr is specialist service history, from a garage that knows what they are doing and not a DIY mechanic at home where things can be missed!!!!
Neill thanks for the restrained reply...Portzi What an earth are you on about. It's an old ladder chassis with an engine and a body chucked on. I've spent the last few years rectifying specialists work. As Neil says a decent home engineer isn't paid by the hour. Add to that these cars a super simple, the speed six doesn't even have oil squirters in the bottom end. If you sent the latest Porsche or Audi to one of these guys they'd s
t the bed. Looking at your profile you have a car with an old rover engine. You do realise people were rebuilding and tuning these long before tvr.
Edited by m4tti on Saturday 28th May 20:02
m4tti said:
portzi said:
Another good reason when purchasing any Tvr is specialist service history, from a garage that knows what they are doing and not a DIY mechanic at home where things can be missed!!!!
Neill thanks for the restrained reply...Portzi What an earth are you on about. It's an old ladder chassis with an engine and a body chucked on. I've spent the last few years rectifying specialists work. As Neil says a decent home engineer isn't paid by the hour. Add to that these cars a super simple, the speed six doesn't even have oil squirters in the bottom end. If you sent the latest Porsche or Audi to one of these guys they'd s
t the bed. Looking at your profile you have a car with an old rover engine. You do realise people were rebuilding and tuning these long before tvr.
Edited by m4tti on Saturday 28th May 20:02
. Edited by portzi on Saturday 28th May 20:19
Edited by portzi on Saturday 28th May 20:19
portzi said:
Hello Matt,l too have seen some shocking chassis work done by some reputable large TVR specialists which have needed rectification so nothing new there.It's not just the engine and chassis Matt as these are the simple areas to maintain. It's the entire set up of the car and it's driveability. The 2 specialists mentioned have been working on TVR's for many years both at factory level and race series so their knowledge will far surpass our knowledge of these fantastic cars. Yes both my engines are old the rover v8 and the Audi 5 cylinder 20v another old engine.
Ok maybe half a point there, I admit although I do just about everything, I've done the engine, installed new engine management, I do use TVR101 for the geometry and set up! . Edited by portzi on Saturday 28th May 20:19
Edited by portzi on Saturday 28th May 20:19
Having said that I've just worked with powerflex to help get their bush kit and diagrams correct as the last "specialist" advised them "they're all different". He's gone now but clearly clueless from the bush set up. The power flex kits should be top notch now.
Edited by m4tti on Saturday 28th May 20:42
portzi said:
Another good reason when purchasing any Tvr is specialist service history, from a garage that knows what they are doing and not a DIY mechanic at home where things can be missed!!!!
I spent most of 2014/15 personally rectifying utter negligence on a car purchased on the merit of its 'specialist history'. There are DIY Mechanics and there are mechanics who exercise their profession at home. Don't tar us all.
Jay-Kay-Em (MIMI HND Auto Eng.)
jay-kay-em said:
portzi said:
Another good reason when purchasing any Tvr is specialist service history, from a garage that knows what they are doing and not a DIY mechanic at home where things can be missed!!!!
I spent most of 2014/15 personally rectifying utter negligence on a car purchased on the merit of its 'specialist history'. There are DIY Mechanics and there are mechanics who exercise their profession at home. Don't tar us all.
Jay-Kay-Em (MIMI HND Auto Eng.)
portzi said:
2 separate painting brushes here Jay Kay ? One that is used and left in a jar of turps on a shelf in a DIY mechanics garage , then another brush which again is cleaned with turps but is then washed down and totally cleaned and put away in your POL cabinet ready for the next use.
Do people still use brushes. How old are you 
m4tti said:
portzi said:
2 separate painting brushes here Jay Kay ? One that is used and left in a jar of turps on a shelf in a DIY mechanics garage , then another brush which again is cleaned with turps but is then washed down and totally cleaned and put away in your POL cabinet ready for the next use.
Do people still use brushes. How old are you Workshop needs sweeping Matti , the first job of any good engineering apprentice , apart from making the brews and getting the overalls washed !!!!portzi said:
The first tool an apprentice gets his hands on in any decent workshop Workshop needs sweeping Matti , the first job of any good engineering apprentice , apart from making the brews and getting the overalls washed !!!!
Hmm the management system I've installed uses cat 5 cable to connect to the laptop, you Hoover my workshop floor. Workshop needs sweeping Matti , the first job of any good engineering apprentice , apart from making the brews and getting the overalls washed !!!!Ohh and is your specialist installing fully sequential injection with idle control valve and vacuum manifold. I can probably answer for you.
m4tti said:
portzi said:
The first tool an apprentice gets his hands on in any decent workshop Workshop needs sweeping Matti , the first job of any good engineering apprentice , apart from making the brews and getting the overalls washed !!!!
Hmm the management system I've installed uses cat 5 cable to connect to the laptop, you Hoover my workshop floor. Workshop needs sweeping Matti , the first job of any good engineering apprentice , apart from making the brews and getting the overalls washed !!!!Ohh and is your specialist installing fully sequential injection with idle control valve and vacuum manifold. I can probably answer for you.
m4tti said:
portzi said:
OK you win, l will get out my dyson in today's modern Workshop
Portzi your a good sport. Good health to you 
m4tti said:
portzi said:
Another good reason when purchasing any Tvr is specialist service history, from a garage that knows what they are doing and not a DIY mechanic at home where things can be missed!!!!
Neill thanks for the restrained reply...Portzi What an earth are you on about. It's an old ladder chassis with an engine and a body chucked on. I've spent the last few years rectifying specialists work. As Neil says a decent home engineer isn't paid by the hour. Add to that these cars a super simple, the speed six doesn't even have oil squirters in the bottom end. If you sent the latest Porsche or Audi to one of these guys they'd s
t the bed. Looking at your profile you have a car with an old rover engine. You do realise people were rebuilding and tuning these long before tvr.
Edited by m4tti on Saturday 28th May 20:02
They are quite simple really, you should try working on a Bentley GT W12 TT at home
Edited by nrick on Monday 30th May 20:49
a big up for Mr Lambo (TorqueRVT) too.Gassing Station | Tamora, T350 & Sagaris | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff