Is an old TVR suitable
Discussion
Having driven various M bmws, s2000, vx220 etc. through Scottish winters all have survived and been relatively pain free. Good summer tyres and a soft right foot plus sometimes some extra weight over the driven wheels and a roll of carpet to help get you moving. Need some encouragement that an older TRV would be perfectly reliable and easy to drive in the wet/cold.
How bad would a Griffith be as a daily driver in rural Scotland? Would it be happy left outside without a cover or is there likely to be water ingress or worse (know blisters from freezing effected the paint on some lotus/vx220)? Is winter salt/grime a big issue if the chassis has already had some work recently and repainted?
Had to watch from a distance as my neighbor reversed into my car four times at the weekend (left in gear with the hand brake off and the number plate holder is the first thing anything hits so thankfully it just rocked and bounced off with no damage but would that likely crack the fiber glass on a older TVR?
Do I just have to wait till I get a house with a garage and use it on dry sunny days?
How bad would a Griffith be as a daily driver in rural Scotland? Would it be happy left outside without a cover or is there likely to be water ingress or worse (know blisters from freezing effected the paint on some lotus/vx220)? Is winter salt/grime a big issue if the chassis has already had some work recently and repainted?
Had to watch from a distance as my neighbor reversed into my car four times at the weekend (left in gear with the hand brake off and the number plate holder is the first thing anything hits so thankfully it just rocked and bounced off with no damage but would that likely crack the fiber glass on a older TVR?
Do I just have to wait till I get a house with a garage and use it on dry sunny days?
Any opinion on this one (other than put the original wheels back on)
http://www.tvrecosse.co.uk/tvr-car-details.aspx?Ca...
Close to me so guess I would be using them for servicing and maintenance.
http://www.tvrecosse.co.uk/tvr-car-details.aspx?Ca...
Close to me so guess I would be using them for servicing and maintenance.
Went for a quick visit to see Barry at TVR Ecosse [knowledgeable chap who obviously knows these cars very well]. Turned out to be his home address on the website so I had a quick tour of his garage and his own collection before nipping down to his new facilities just outside broughtyferry. Was just a flying visit (and probably a good thing that I didn’t get time for a test drive or be seduced by the sound) but enough to have a poke around and decide that a griffith probably isn't for me.
[flame suit on]
Never having been up close with TVRs I had a good look round and with the exception of the stunning red Sagaris and some of the tuscans (looked a lot better finished than the earlier cars) they just weren’t made to my expected level of fit and finish. Missing stitching, corrosion, alloy oxidation, perished rubber, plastics degrading, poor fit and finish and badly applied paint that has been affected by the sun.
Disappointing as the simple mechanics of light body and v8 in a small manual two seater ticked all the boxes on what I would like for my next car and it isn’t really done by anyone else. SLK55 is an auto and a corvette is lhd and pretty big. Morgan might be an option but too expensive for me just now, Z4M might be my only other option.
[flame suit on]
Never having been up close with TVRs I had a good look round and with the exception of the stunning red Sagaris and some of the tuscans (looked a lot better finished than the earlier cars) they just weren’t made to my expected level of fit and finish. Missing stitching, corrosion, alloy oxidation, perished rubber, plastics degrading, poor fit and finish and badly applied paint that has been affected by the sun.
Disappointing as the simple mechanics of light body and v8 in a small manual two seater ticked all the boxes on what I would like for my next car and it isn’t really done by anyone else. SLK55 is an auto and a corvette is lhd and pretty big. Morgan might be an option but too expensive for me just now, Z4M might be my only other option.
On my second s2000, stop gap while I decide what I wanted next and was too nice a car to miss when I saw it was up for sale. Owned by the local Honda group owner’s mother and kept in the dealership as a display model during the winter so 28k miles in nine years and pampered with services twice a year and obviously they swapped anything that was marked, spotless in and out with only one small scratch under the drivers mirror and slight wear showing at the side bolster seam on the driver’s seat. They have offered to buy it back whenever I come to sell it and you wouldn’t know it has had another 12k miles in 18 months added.
I like an engine with character, no traction control and rwd in something fun to drive every day with a convertible roof and a lsd. Lots to like about the s2000 but it could do with a bit more power and I just fancy a change. Rather go older than newer as the new stuff doesn't really excite me with too many toys and not enough driving involvement and prefer something a bit more raw.
Started on hot hatches as most do and then moved to sports cars, then tried sensible with an e46 M3, 130i and 3lr z4 but all changed within a year or two either too mostly as they weren’t exciting enough though the ongoing cracked boot floors on the M3 made it a good time to get out. Tried a lotus and enjoyed the drive but the engines weren’t exciting enough for a daily driver (though I haven’t tried the newer Elise with the Toyota lump yet) and dealer 90 miles away was a pain when I was doing 25k miles a year. M5 was fun for a barge but too quiet with double glazing and I didn’t need a car that big.
Ideally I’d like the ingredients of a bmw z8 for about £15k
though I've read they aren't that good to drive. Z4M is ment to be a bit wilder than the m3 with the same great engine but a bit less weight.
I like an engine with character, no traction control and rwd in something fun to drive every day with a convertible roof and a lsd. Lots to like about the s2000 but it could do with a bit more power and I just fancy a change. Rather go older than newer as the new stuff doesn't really excite me with too many toys and not enough driving involvement and prefer something a bit more raw.
Started on hot hatches as most do and then moved to sports cars, then tried sensible with an e46 M3, 130i and 3lr z4 but all changed within a year or two either too mostly as they weren’t exciting enough though the ongoing cracked boot floors on the M3 made it a good time to get out. Tried a lotus and enjoyed the drive but the engines weren’t exciting enough for a daily driver (though I haven’t tried the newer Elise with the Toyota lump yet) and dealer 90 miles away was a pain when I was doing 25k miles a year. M5 was fun for a barge but too quiet with double glazing and I didn’t need a car that big.
Ideally I’d like the ingredients of a bmw z8 for about £15k
though I've read they aren't that good to drive. Z4M is ment to be a bit wilder than the m3 with the same great engine but a bit less weight.Edited by Crusoe on Monday 13th October 13:34
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff