"TVR's are unreliable"
Discussion
Well, after almost a year of ownership and 5000 miles I can confirm that this is utter codswallop.
I must admit i thought i was letting myself in for a lot of grief, buying a TVR on the lower end of the market, and there were many people who gave me the 'are you serious?' look when i told them before proceeding to tell me all the usual stuff you hear from people. And without any real mechanical know-how i was a bit worried, but i thought what the heck, i'm going to find out for myself.
And since i've had my car I haven't had any major issues - the only real niggle was a power drain which was sorted out (faulty interior light relay). But my mate had a similar issue with his e46 Beemer. I haven't been left by the side of the road with a breakdown, unlike my other friend with a 911. I've been to the lake district, all around that area and back, as well as various other journeys, including a nice trip to goodwood revival with no issues and the Chim has just passed it's MOT with no advisaries, so all in all from first hand experience i totally dismiss the rubbish you hear thrown about concerning TVR's. So there!
I must admit i thought i was letting myself in for a lot of grief, buying a TVR on the lower end of the market, and there were many people who gave me the 'are you serious?' look when i told them before proceeding to tell me all the usual stuff you hear from people. And without any real mechanical know-how i was a bit worried, but i thought what the heck, i'm going to find out for myself.
And since i've had my car I haven't had any major issues - the only real niggle was a power drain which was sorted out (faulty interior light relay). But my mate had a similar issue with his e46 Beemer. I haven't been left by the side of the road with a breakdown, unlike my other friend with a 911. I've been to the lake district, all around that area and back, as well as various other journeys, including a nice trip to goodwood revival with no issues and the Chim has just passed it's MOT with no advisaries, so all in all from first hand experience i totally dismiss the rubbish you hear thrown about concerning TVR's. So there!
Yep... 17 months and 10k never let me down.
M.O.T back in July one advisory of a rear tyre that needs replacing,manifold gaskets has been my only major expense.
Two previous TVR's also never needed a recovery truck yet my trusty Nissan Primera left me on the side of the road leaving me a 2 mile walk to go get the Chimaera out the garage as I was picking my 81 year old Mom up. Surprised her a bit when I turned up in the TVR telling her I've had to abandon the Nissan on the side of the road.
M.O.T back in July one advisory of a rear tyre that needs replacing,manifold gaskets has been my only major expense.
Two previous TVR's also never needed a recovery truck yet my trusty Nissan Primera left me on the side of the road leaving me a 2 mile walk to go get the Chimaera out the garage as I was picking my 81 year old Mom up. Surprised her a bit when I turned up in the TVR telling her I've had to abandon the Nissan on the side of the road.
Had a brand new LR and only down 2k in a couple of months and its failed twice, and is still with the dealer where r has been for the past two weeks.
5 years ish of chimaera ownership and a starter motor was all that was needed and 6 months into Tuscan ownership and so far so good other the an adjustment (bending) needed on a micro switch. Also During my Chimaera ownership I had 3 Volvo's fail in a big way on me
Proof is in the pudding as they say.
5 years ish of chimaera ownership and a starter motor was all that was needed and 6 months into Tuscan ownership and so far so good other the an adjustment (bending) needed on a micro switch. Also During my Chimaera ownership I had 3 Volvo's fail in a big way on me
Proof is in the pudding as they say.
I bought a '97 one with 40k miles on it that the previous owner had only used at weekends and hadn't really used for months. Left it sitting outside for a month before I taxed and insured it then drove it every day as my only car, not gently either 
I was expecting quite a few 'niggles' not because it was a TVR but because I was taking something that was rarely used and throwing it into daily service around London with a lot of tearing around country lanes at weekends with the roof down.
Has it been unreliable? Hell no!! Started every morning and taken me to work, which is more than can be said for the Audi that preceded it, and the only work that I have had to do to it has either been upgrade because I wanted to or normal wear and tear that I would have to do to any car that I owned.
You've got to look after them, service them and not treat them like some runaround eurobox bouncing up kerbs and flying over speed humps, but they're neither fragile or unreliable
I was expecting quite a few 'niggles' not because it was a TVR but because I was taking something that was rarely used and throwing it into daily service around London with a lot of tearing around country lanes at weekends with the roof down.
Has it been unreliable? Hell no!! Started every morning and taken me to work, which is more than can be said for the Audi that preceded it, and the only work that I have had to do to it has either been upgrade because I wanted to or normal wear and tear that I would have to do to any car that I owned.
You've got to look after them, service them and not treat them like some runaround eurobox bouncing up kerbs and flying over speed humps, but they're neither fragile or unreliable
I was also properly warned before purchase, dont do it!!!
20.000 miles / 30 months later and whos laughing? Me of course, affordable v8 madness with thumbs up where ever I go.
My friend with the 996 3.4 had to auction it off because the engine went belly up. Lost 19k in 2 years of ownership.
My other friend with an old Maserati found some rust, turned out to be everywhere and bare metal 30k job
The rest of my friends have grey Audis
20.000 miles / 30 months later and whos laughing? Me of course, affordable v8 madness with thumbs up where ever I go.
My friend with the 996 3.4 had to auction it off because the engine went belly up. Lost 19k in 2 years of ownership.
My other friend with an old Maserati found some rust, turned out to be everywhere and bare metal 30k job
The rest of my friends have grey Audis
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff