HELP! - £8.5k for a S3 - good idea???

[ayjay]

MY lodger has got £8.5k burning a hole in his pocket to buy a car... he can't afford an Elise or V220 and wants something fun, stylish, masculine (no MX5's here) and relatively simple.

Ideally it would be reliable and not too thirsty either but I accept that this might be one step too far for a TVR.

What I need to know is:-

1.) Will you get a nice one for the money?
2.) How much fuel do they drink?
3.) What do they cost to run?
4.) Can you get cheap insurance?
5.) Are they quick?
6.) What goes wrong?
7.) What should we look out?
8.) Are we better off with an S2??

All help will be greatly appreciated.

Also, does anyone know anything about this one:-

www.dealer.autotrader.co.uk/_sportsspec2frame7.htm
(Green S3)

thanks!!

[shnozz]

ayjay said:

1.) Will you get a nice one for the money? yes, for £8.5k you should get the very best and latest S3/S4. A V8S is almost in that money... 2.) How much fuel do they drink? 2.9 V6 is fairly frugal. If its that much of a worry tho9ugh I wouldnt get a TVR. I have never bothered working out mpg on my TVRs. 3.) What do they cost to run? Ditto the above. I ran mine daily and did about 8k miles a year. Thats a service and a bit and the consumables. Probably £1500 a year on running costs, not including petrol, insurance etc. 4.) Can you get cheap insurance? depends. I was 23 when I got mine so no. Over 25 you can get them on classic insurance but IIRC you have to have a second car to get classic insurance with most insurers. I think there are exceptions to the rule. 5.) Are they quick? ish. Its a classic car and a modern hot hatch will probably stay with you or leave you in the twisties. They are quick enough to have a right laugh though and still 6 seconds to 60 and 135 - 140 mph cars. More to the point, drive one and you wont want a hot hatch ever again. They sound fantastic too. 6.) What goes wrong? Its an old car. Many things can. but no more than a similar age Beemer or Ford. Its simple engineering under the hood too so nothing too expensive and a lot that can be done yourself. Mine let me down once and that was a simple fault that I just couldnt fix with the tools I had. Other faults played up but didnt stop me getting to my destination. 7.) What should we look out? ? not sure what you mean by this? where should you look for one? or what faults should we look for? do a search for buyers guide on PH or Pies' website. Many times the question has been answered. Most important thing is the condition of the chassis. 8.) Are we better off with an S2?? buy on condition alone. Saying that, if your mate is over 6 foot I would look at the S3 and newer since the doors on the older S2 and S1 are shorter. I am 6' 3" and cant drive the girlfriends S2, but had no problem with my old S3 All help will be greatly appreciated. Also, does anyone know anything about this one:- www.dealer.autotrader.co.uk/_sportsspec2frame7.htm (Green S3) No

[kentishS2]

Looks a bit expensive to me. There are two lower mileage Chims for only £2k more.

[pies]

Ditto
In responce to shnozz

>> Edited by pies on Monday 26th July 14:56

[ayjay]

he can't run to a Chim on purchase price and surely a S3 (or 2) would be cheaper to run by virtue of it being a more simple car??? And also, surely buying the best of a type is better than going up a level and buying a dog of a new type?

[shnozz]

ayjay said:

he can't run to a Chim on purchase price and surely a S3 (or 2) would be cheaper to run by virtue of it being a more simple car??? And also, surely buying the best of a type is better than going up a level and buying a dog of a new type?

yep, S is cheaper to run and yep better to buy a decent example S than a dog of a chim. I looked around the bottom end of the chim market and decided I needed to spend at least £12k to get a sorted early one.

still think £8.5 is well overpriced. Look in the classifieds on PH to see what you can get for closer to £6k and then your mate has some left in the kitty for when it needs some unexpected work

[ayjay]

thanks guys...

you are saying all the right things... I think they are great and a 2.9V6 sounds a little more realistic than a V8 for economy and general costs.

He's 26 so hopefully insurance shouldn't be a massive gripe.

you have to forgive my ignorance, but what are the principle differences between the S2 & S3?

also... do you get big rust problems or are there any well-known issues? (for example I have a GTV which is renowned for going through rear-suspension bushings)

keep the advice coming and there will soon be a New Forest based convert to the ranks!

[ayjay]

thanks guys...

you are saying all the right things... I think they are great and a 2.9V6 sounds a little more realistic than a V8 for economy and general costs.

He's 26 so hopefully insurance shouldn't be a massive gripe.

you have to forgive my ignorance, but what are the principle differences between the S2 & S3?

also... do you get big rust problems or are there any well-known issues? (for example I have a GTV which is renowned for going through rear-suspension bushings)

keep the advice coming and there will soon be a New Forest based convert to the ranks!

[kentishS2]

An example of what looks a good buy from the PH classifieds and it's an S3C: - www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26045&s=4

Possibly based in Brentwood, Essex looking at the code??

>> Edited by kentishS2 on Monday 26th July 15:09

[shnozz]

ayjay said:

you have to forgive my ignorance, but what are the principle differences between the S2 & S3? also... do you get big rust problems or are there any well-known issues? (for example I have a GTV which is renowned for going through rear-suspension bushings) keep the advice coming and there will soon be a New Forest based convert to the ranks!

doors on the S2 are shorter. I can barely get in...

other than that not a lot although the girlfriends definately has a shorter interior and a longer boot, not good for lanky blokes like me.

rust problems - all TVRs are covered by this. The chassis rusts terribly if not regularly (annual) rubbed down and treated with waxoyl/hammerite etc. The outriggers can make these cars beyond economical repair on occasions. Look over the chassis carefully. I would be inclined to get an expert opinion either from a dealer local to wherever the car is (just pay them an hours labour to look over the car) or use someone like rob Ingleby. I used him when buying the S3 and he was helpful. he will at least make sure your mate doesnt buy a nice looking S thats a shed underneath.

I am only down the road in Southampton with a Chimaera and an S. Look forward to seeing another one localish. Funnily enough, was in Lymington a lot last year as 2 ex g/f's lived there

[kentishS2]

Phil, I'm 6'1" and my legs are long and I'm fairly comfy in my S2. Could do with a toe rest for the clutch foot though.

I'll have to ask if I can have a sit in an S3 as a comparison one day.

[shnozz]

kentishS2 said:

Phil, I'm 6'1" and my legs are long and I'm fairly comfy in my S2. Could do with a toe rest for the clutch foot though. I'll have to ask if I can have a sit in an S3 as a comparison one day.

weird. well at 6'3" and 15 stone I can barely get in Claire's S1.5. When I am in it with the seat fully back my knees are wedged either side of the steering wheel and i have to drive it with my hands perched on the top of the wheel not very satisfactory (or safe!)

having said that claires car is very very different to my old S3. As I said earlier, the boot is deeper and the cockpit shorter. that is very odd. so its not just the doors in hers. maybe its just the doors in the (slightly) later S2....

try them for size i guess is the answer

[V8Smith]

ayjay said:

you have to forgive my ignorance, but what are the principle differences between the S2 & S3? also... do you get big rust problems or are there any well-known issues? (for example I have a GTV which is renowned for going through rear-suspension bushings) keep the advice coming and there will soon be a New Forest based convert to the ranks!

Basic differences between S2/S3 are the bigger doors, different interior layout and front driving lamps! Like has been said if your mate is tall go for an S3 if not just look for a car with a sound chassis and mechanics and you wont be disappointed. There are no bodywork rust problems obviously, but you need to check the chassis thoroughly!

I think £8,500 for an S3 is top money and you will probably find a good S3 for around £6-7K on the PH classifieds, leaving money to improve it if needed! As long as the general condition, bodywork, chassis, suspension etc are in very good order dont be afraid to buy a car needing work for the right price as the leather seats/carpets/hood can all be replaced/reconditioned for relatively little money and if you look after the car you will possibly get your money back!

Look forward to seeing his car he wont regret it.

Mike

[shnozz]

Mike, not all S3's had driving lights. They were an option IIRC until the S3C, and even some of those escaped without driving lights! typical TVR!

My S3 had no driving lights. So dont be fooled if you are looking specifically for those to define an S3...

[V8Smith]

shnozz said:

Mike, not all S3's had driving lights. They were an option IIRC until the S3C, and even some of those escaped without driving lights! typical TVR! My S3 had no driving lights. So dont be fooled if you are looking specifically for those to define an S3...

I stand corrected......! I didnt know that, cheers!

Mike

[ayjay]

I must admit that i've never really considered the S2/3 before and since looking into this for my lodger (he's about 3ft tall so no fears about leg-room), I'm half inclined to call my bank-manager and get one myself!

Surely at +/-£6k, this must be one of the under-realised bargains of the sportscar world??

.. on the subject of chassis and bodywork corrosion,,, without the benefit of a specialist on hand,,, where should we look? (we are both quite simple when it comes to cars!)

[Podie]

Tell him to give me 7.5k for mine, and he can keep the change…

[ayjay]

Podie,

what's the mileage on yours? and why are you selling?

(and what does everyone else think?!)

[V8Smith]

ayjay said:

Surely at +/-£6k, this must be one of the under-realised bargains of the sportscar world??

Without a doubt and the V8S is a little stormer!

ayjay said:

.. on the subject of chassis and bodywork corrosion,,, without the benefit of a specialist on hand,,, where should we look? (we are both quite simple when it comes to cars!)

I suggest you buy the S Series Bible from Steve Heath it will tell you everything you need to know and will prove invaluable during ownership!! You could also pay Rob Ingelby to find you a car www.findasportscar.co.uk IIRC he will find you a car and inspect it for you, for a fee, he is very experienced with TVR's

Mike

[pies]

Buy the bible www.tvrbooks.co.uk

A couple of the main places to check



more here www.tvrsseries.com