Could i run a TVR on a hot hatch budget
Discussion
Dear deirdre,
Currently drive an astra VXR as a daily drive but the missus is getting an Audi A1/Twingo 133/Fiat 500 Abarth (hasn't fully decided which one yet) that we will 'share' so my daily drive will just become a weekend pleasure.
Being an Astra it's not so much a pleasure so maybe its time to get something real fun for occasional use
Help me with the man math please, the whole point we will be sharing the OHs car is to keep car expenses down, so how can i sell the idea of a firebreathing Tuscan to SHMBO ?
I've heard lots of stories about people laying out all kinds of crazy cash just to keep blackpools beloved in working condition so i am worried that if i took the plunge, would it cost me more on maintenance / repairs than im used to?
For a guide in the last three months i have had on the astra
1) gear box rebuild (that bloody bearing!) £399
2) full service at a non main dealer £190
3) 2 new front tyres @ £140 each
4) new discs and pads all round £450
5) road tax @ £280 ish
The on board MPG is showing overall average of 24.5 and we are spending between £350-500 per month on fuel just for the astra (inc a 16mile daily commute in stop start london traffic which i won't have to do in the TVR)
I just fancy something REALLY special and don't have fortunes to spend.. the Tuscan seems to tick so many boxes in my man math world and i can't stop looking at pictures of them in the classifieds..
Yours,
Confused from Essex.
Currently drive an astra VXR as a daily drive but the missus is getting an Audi A1/Twingo 133/Fiat 500 Abarth (hasn't fully decided which one yet) that we will 'share' so my daily drive will just become a weekend pleasure.
Being an Astra it's not so much a pleasure so maybe its time to get something real fun for occasional use
Help me with the man math please, the whole point we will be sharing the OHs car is to keep car expenses down, so how can i sell the idea of a firebreathing Tuscan to SHMBO ?
I've heard lots of stories about people laying out all kinds of crazy cash just to keep blackpools beloved in working condition so i am worried that if i took the plunge, would it cost me more on maintenance / repairs than im used to?
For a guide in the last three months i have had on the astra
1) gear box rebuild (that bloody bearing!) £399
2) full service at a non main dealer £190
3) 2 new front tyres @ £140 each
4) new discs and pads all round £450
5) road tax @ £280 ish
The on board MPG is showing overall average of 24.5 and we are spending between £350-500 per month on fuel just for the astra (inc a 16mile daily commute in stop start london traffic which i won't have to do in the TVR)
I just fancy something REALLY special and don't have fortunes to spend.. the Tuscan seems to tick so many boxes in my man math world and i can't stop looking at pictures of them in the classifieds..
Yours,
Confused from Essex.
Depends.
The more recent ones cost a fair amount to run, and worth having a contingency fund. Rover V8 cars generally less expensive but can still present big bills.
In my case I decided to buy the best S Series I could find, which is probably the cheapest to run TVR there is - but buy well as chassis work isn't cheap!
The more recent ones cost a fair amount to run, and worth having a contingency fund. Rover V8 cars generally less expensive but can still present big bills.
In my case I decided to buy the best S Series I could find, which is probably the cheapest to run TVR there is - but buy well as chassis work isn't cheap!
Suggest a good RV8 engined car. Not sure of your budget but providing you buy a good one then parts can be pretty cheap as often Rover/ford based. You may find the missus likes the comfy top down burbling as well. By comparison Tuscans are TVRs own engine. Very good they are too but likely to cost more in terms of parts/servicing etc. Also tyres/brakes etc will be more costly. The other consideration is depreciation. Griffith prices heading North as will others. My advice would be Griff 500 or Chim450 with a good chassis. Good luck
For a tuscan, rough man maths costs to work:
5k limited mileage insurance, around £500 per year
rear tyres, around £120 each, replace frequency depending on weight of right foot
Decat one off £300
New clutch every 20 to 25,000 miles £600 plus fitting
6,000 mile service around £400
12,000 mile service around £800
Window sensor, or a another sensor randomly failing allow £200 per year
Lines appearing on dash screen every 3 years approx £300 inc. fitting
Stone chip rue spray every 3 years allow £800
New nitron shocks and eibach springs one off, approx £1500
20mpg average
Grin factor priceless!
5k limited mileage insurance, around £500 per year
rear tyres, around £120 each, replace frequency depending on weight of right foot
Decat one off £300
New clutch every 20 to 25,000 miles £600 plus fitting
6,000 mile service around £400
12,000 mile service around £800
Window sensor, or a another sensor randomly failing allow £200 per year
Lines appearing on dash screen every 3 years approx £300 inc. fitting
Stone chip rue spray every 3 years allow £800
New nitron shocks and eibach springs one off, approx £1500
20mpg average
Grin factor priceless!
TVRs are fantastic value cars that can give you supercar performance but can also give you super car bills, but they are wonderfull cars to drive but not for everyone.
If your on a tight budget you might find it quiet stressfull many people sugest £3k a year to run a TVR and thats not far wrong in my experience Tuscan and Cerbera. If you buy a good one you could be lucky and not experience that kind of cost and also as has been mentioned you will not suffer much depreciation either so factor that in as well.
If your on a tight budget you might find it quiet stressfull many people sugest £3k a year to run a TVR and thats not far wrong in my experience Tuscan and Cerbera. If you buy a good one you could be lucky and not experience that kind of cost and also as has been mentioned you will not suffer much depreciation either so factor that in as well.
Our Griff is 18 years old this year, and last year it had something of a refresh. Every suspension bush replaced, full service, brake overhaul, etc etc at a specialist TVR garage. There wasn't much change from £2500.
I know someone who has just had a clutch in their Tamora, along with a big service and new discs and pads all round - again at a specialist. They didn't get much change from £3000.
You can run these cars on a shoestring budget, but given time they will present a large bill. As long as you are aware of that, it's fine. Then there is the minor issue of upgrades...
I know someone who has just had a clutch in their Tamora, along with a big service and new discs and pads all round - again at a specialist. They didn't get much change from £3000.
You can run these cars on a shoestring budget, but given time they will present a large bill. As long as you are aware of that, it's fine. Then there is the minor issue of upgrades...
I've had my Tusc for 2 years and haven't had to spend much on it for it was almost mint when I got it (besides the rear tires that needed replacement when I bought it).
Only a 1k service (tapets included) and I keep my fingers crossed for the one coming this summer !
The real question mark is when choosing the car, make sure it's been cared for, the last service was done within a month or two prior to the sale and you should be fine for a few years. (It will leave you time to save up for a clutch or new discs or suspensions or tires...)
Only a 1k service (tapets included) and I keep my fingers crossed for the one coming this summer !
The real question mark is when choosing the car, make sure it's been cared for, the last service was done within a month or two prior to the sale and you should be fine for a few years. (It will leave you time to save up for a clutch or new discs or suspensions or tires...)
Just to give you an idea, my Tuscan came having a service within the last 6 months. Came with aprroximately £25k - £30k of bills and my parts bill alone in the first year came to approximately £1500 doing all the work myself. Thats not including tax or insurance.
In comparrison to the Astra pads and disks all round on the Tuscan will be about £800.
The fact it has mountains of bills and service history cant be relied on. Rightly or wrongly garages occasionaly have to cut corners to line cost up with customer expectation. i.e puting certain jobs off.
Fuel around town will typically be around 13 mpg.
And you want to make sure really that the car is garaged...
In comparrison to the Astra pads and disks all round on the Tuscan will be about £800.
The fact it has mountains of bills and service history cant be relied on. Rightly or wrongly garages occasionaly have to cut corners to line cost up with customer expectation. i.e puting certain jobs off.
Fuel around town will typically be around 13 mpg.
And you want to make sure really that the car is garaged...
JnP said:
The real question mark is when choosing the car, make sure it's been cared for, the last service was done within a month or two prior to the sale and you should be fine for a few years. (It will leave you time to save up for a clutch or new discs or suspensions or tires...)
I've re-read ths several times and I'm still not sure. Are you suggesting you only service a car every few years?Agree with most of the things stated in the replies but getting back to the OP's question... Could I run a TVR on a hot hatch budget.... the answer appears to be No, you can't.
Accepting the depreciation factor - its not something that is seen as a cost, or at least a monthly cost even though, in reality, in the long run is very much is.
Accepting the depreciation factor - its not something that is seen as a cost, or at least a monthly cost even though, in reality, in the long run is very much is.
peteA said:
Agree with most of the things stated in the replies but getting back to the OP's question... Could I run a TVR on a hot hatch budget.... the answer appears to be No, you can't.
Accepting the depreciation factor - its not something that is seen as a cost, or at least a monthly cost even though, in reality, in the long run is very much is.
Agreed.Accepting the depreciation factor - its not something that is seen as a cost, or at least a monthly cost even though, in reality, in the long run is very much is.
I think you could run a V6 S series on a hot hatch budget, if you buy a well sorted car initially.
In the old days of PH, the general rule of thumb was that a V8 (S/Chim/Griff) would cost around 40% more to run.
If you can afford to do so buy from a reputable dealer with a 12 month guarantee with a fresh service and MOT which will cover most unforeseens.
Then if you don't like it or worried about the costs of your chosen toy (or it proves to be a dud) there's a pretty good chance that you will get your money back at the end of the year the way that prices are at the moment.
Or sell it before the service is due.
I get around 250 miles on a tank (the tank is 56 litres) but I tend to fill up when on or around 10 litres so not that expensive on juice especially as you will be learning (or should be to start with lol)
Tax is better than most cars these days £220 / 12 months last year
There - man maths - it's got to be done!!!
Do it while you can or you'll regret it
Then if you don't like it or worried about the costs of your chosen toy (or it proves to be a dud) there's a pretty good chance that you will get your money back at the end of the year the way that prices are at the moment.
Or sell it before the service is due.
I get around 250 miles on a tank (the tank is 56 litres) but I tend to fill up when on or around 10 litres so not that expensive on juice especially as you will be learning (or should be to start with lol)
Tax is better than most cars these days £220 / 12 months last year
There - man maths - it's got to be done!!!
Do it while you can or you'll regret it
Jhonno said:
I'd say no you couldn't for a modern Tuscan/Cerb/Tcar..
Yes for an older Griff/Chimp/S/Wedge etc.
I'd agree with this... If you buy a decent older one you should be OK, there are some incredible spec Chimps out there for the money, certainly cost a lot more to get them into the condition they are in than the selling price would suggest....Yes for an older Griff/Chimp/S/Wedge etc.
I put £300 pcm into a "war chest" for my Tuscan and that seems about right. I have just had MOT, big service (with some necessary work items ) at 42K and Nitrons fitted. The Nitrons are a £1500 one off cost as listed.
So next year I am hoping to not need anything other than a yearly fluid change depending on the mileage I do and then the spare money will keep totting up till something happens on a wear item like the clutch or the front pads and rear tyres will need doing by then.
I really could also do with a £300 new carpet set as mine have faded. Admittedly the faded colour is actually quite a nice light blue-grey when it should be a dark grey so putting that off till the war chest is looking a bot more full as that recent lot took it to zero.
So next year I am hoping to not need anything other than a yearly fluid change depending on the mileage I do and then the spare money will keep totting up till something happens on a wear item like the clutch or the front pads and rear tyres will need doing by then.
I really could also do with a £300 new carpet set as mine have faded. Admittedly the faded colour is actually quite a nice light blue-grey when it should be a dark grey so putting that off till the war chest is looking a bot more full as that recent lot took it to zero.
Look at the garage section on my profile and you'll see every cost I've had (excluding tax, fuel & insurance) for 5 years ownership on a Chimaera 400 and then 5 years on a T350 - gives a good comparison between V8 vs S6.
My cars are (or was in the case of my Chim ownership) looked after anally and if it needs doing it's done. Mileage wise I do circa 5-6k a year.
If you're on a budget I'd personally ignore a S6, especially if you can't get one with a recent rebuild from a reputable specialist (Power, Str8 Six etc) - I don't care what anyone on here says, it's a lottery as to whether or not the engine will go. Mine was in perfect health but the half time bearing failed which lunched the engine - mine was religiously warmed through and serviced.
My cars are (or was in the case of my Chim ownership) looked after anally and if it needs doing it's done. Mileage wise I do circa 5-6k a year.
If you're on a budget I'd personally ignore a S6, especially if you can't get one with a recent rebuild from a reputable specialist (Power, Str8 Six etc) - I don't care what anyone on here says, it's a lottery as to whether or not the engine will go. Mine was in perfect health but the half time bearing failed which lunched the engine - mine was religiously warmed through and serviced.
Edited by Zippee on Wednesday 15th May 13:13
Kind of depends on the mileage you intend to do in the TVR and also which model.
A rule of thumb (IMHO) is £1000 for every 6K miles but this could be higher now as many now have additional chassis out rigger issues.
Tyres, clutches and some models can catch you out with an expensive engine rebuild can blow that £1000 figure easily.
A rule of thumb (IMHO) is £1000 for every 6K miles but this could be higher now as many now have additional chassis out rigger issues.
Tyres, clutches and some models can catch you out with an expensive engine rebuild can blow that £1000 figure easily.
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