Somebody PLEASE talk some sense into me
Discussion
I've had my S1 for about 6 weeks now, and although I am having a couple of minor "teething" problems (all fully anticipated when buying a 24 year old car) I still think it's awesome.
I'd have really liked a V8, but as you all know they're really hard to find, and consequently hold their value really well.
I paid a fair price for my S1 (I don't mind saying - £3800) and it's a 37,000 miler in pretty good condition, certainly the chassis is solid, shocks are new, master cylinder, radiator, fuel tank etc - all new and although I am having some small "overheating" issues it's still a great car.
I have an endowment policy that's due to mature in a couple of weeks, and that means I'll have a bit of cash to spend and I am seriously tempted by an S3 V8 I have come across in a TVR specialists. It's ~£10k which seems about right.
I have a bit of a "sliding scale" for toys, the S1 I have now is in the "think about it for a day or two" area of the scale and the £10k V8 is in the "that's proper money - think CAREFULLY" end.
I really don't think the V8 is worth 2.5 times the cost of my current S1 - in pure monetary value. But then again I don't think buying a TVR is a decision you make with your head.
Can someone PLEASE dissuade me, surely my S1 is a perfectly good car and I don't NEED the V8?
My head says I don't need it..... but my heart, well that's arguing loudly and the V8 is calling!
I'd have really liked a V8, but as you all know they're really hard to find, and consequently hold their value really well.
I paid a fair price for my S1 (I don't mind saying - £3800) and it's a 37,000 miler in pretty good condition, certainly the chassis is solid, shocks are new, master cylinder, radiator, fuel tank etc - all new and although I am having some small "overheating" issues it's still a great car.
I have an endowment policy that's due to mature in a couple of weeks, and that means I'll have a bit of cash to spend and I am seriously tempted by an S3 V8 I have come across in a TVR specialists. It's ~£10k which seems about right.
I have a bit of a "sliding scale" for toys, the S1 I have now is in the "think about it for a day or two" area of the scale and the £10k V8 is in the "that's proper money - think CAREFULLY" end.
I really don't think the V8 is worth 2.5 times the cost of my current S1 - in pure monetary value. But then again I don't think buying a TVR is a decision you make with your head.
Can someone PLEASE dissuade me, surely my S1 is a perfectly good car and I don't NEED the V8?
My head says I don't need it..... but my heart, well that's arguing loudly and the V8 is calling!
Julesprivate said:
I've had my S1 for about 6 weeks now, and although I am having a couple of minor "teething" problems (all fully anticipated when buying a 24 year old car) I still think it's awesome.
I'd have really liked a V8, but as you all know they're really hard to find, and consequently hold their value really well.
I paid a fair price for my S1 (I don't mind saying - £3800) and it's a 37,000 miler in pretty good condition, certainly the chassis is solid, shocks are new, master cylinder, radiator, fuel tank etc - all new and although I am having some small "overheating" issues it's still a great car.
I have an endowment policy that's due to mature in a couple of weeks, and that means I'll have a bit of cash to spend and I am seriously tempted by an S3 V8 I have come across in a TVR specialists. It's ~£10k which seems about right.
I have a bit of a "sliding scale" for toys, the S1 I have now is in the "think about it for a day or two" area of the scale and the £10k V8 is in the "that's proper money - think CAREFULLY" end.
I really don't think the V8 is worth 2.5 times the cost of my current S1 - in pure monetary value. But then again I don't think buying a TVR is a decision you make with your head.
Can someone PLEASE dissuade me, surely my S1 is a perfectly good car and I don't NEED the V8?
My head says I don't need it..... but my heart, well that's arguing loudly and the V8 is calling!
10K seems at the top of the scale for a V8, but if it is a good one and you really have the itch you will not be satisfied until you get one. They are an awesome car, the noise alone is worth the money! I'd have really liked a V8, but as you all know they're really hard to find, and consequently hold their value really well.
I paid a fair price for my S1 (I don't mind saying - £3800) and it's a 37,000 miler in pretty good condition, certainly the chassis is solid, shocks are new, master cylinder, radiator, fuel tank etc - all new and although I am having some small "overheating" issues it's still a great car.
I have an endowment policy that's due to mature in a couple of weeks, and that means I'll have a bit of cash to spend and I am seriously tempted by an S3 V8 I have come across in a TVR specialists. It's ~£10k which seems about right.
I have a bit of a "sliding scale" for toys, the S1 I have now is in the "think about it for a day or two" area of the scale and the £10k V8 is in the "that's proper money - think CAREFULLY" end.
I really don't think the V8 is worth 2.5 times the cost of my current S1 - in pure monetary value. But then again I don't think buying a TVR is a decision you make with your head.
Can someone PLEASE dissuade me, surely my S1 is a perfectly good car and I don't NEED the V8?
My head says I don't need it..... but my heart, well that's arguing loudly and the V8 is calling!
Keep the S1 as a track car and get a V8 for the other times.
If you're thinking of spending iro £10k on a V8, with all due respect to the S, I think you'd be better moving on to a Chimaera or a Pre-Cat Griffith.
Jimed on here ummed and ahhd for a while before he finally took the leap from his S to a Griffith (I think a ride in mine finally pushed him over the edge) and he hasn't regretted it.
Sorry if that wasn't the kind of 'sense' you you were after but I don't imagine you treally expected anyone to try and talk you out of spending the cash now did you?
Jimed on here ummed and ahhd for a while before he finally took the leap from his S to a Griffith (I think a ride in mine finally pushed him over the edge) and he hasn't regretted it.
Sorry if that wasn't the kind of 'sense' you you were after but I don't imagine you treally expected anyone to try and talk you out of spending the cash now did you?

LOl - No, I guess not - one of the great things about this forum is that almost everyone on here has a similar outlook to vehicles. it's a much nicer place to be than the TT owners forum we joined after buying Jude a TT Roadster.
Fortunately I am going on holiday tonight so i will be away from temptation for 2 weeks... Maybe the V8 will sell in that time LOL
I'm one of those guys who'd always aspired to TVR ownership but never honestly expected to be in a position to own one, and still can't believe my good fortune.
I understand the point about a Chimera or Griffith, they're fantastic cars too.... which makes the decision harder!
Fortunately I am going on holiday tonight so i will be away from temptation for 2 weeks... Maybe the V8 will sell in that time LOL
I'm one of those guys who'd always aspired to TVR ownership but never honestly expected to be in a position to own one, and still can't believe my good fortune.
I understand the point about a Chimera or Griffith, they're fantastic cars too.... which makes the decision harder!
You could of course choose a different path and make a massive donation to the S-Club charity https://www.justgiving.com/SCH2012
Seriously, I know what you mean. I've pondered the same thing. I really like my S3C, especially the noise the V6 makes. But I've never owned a V8 and the V8S does sound awesome.
But then it does a fair bit less to the gallon than the V6, not that that's a major issue for a few thousand miles a year.
Then of course there is the Chimaera option...
I'm not helping am I

Seriously, I know what you mean. I've pondered the same thing. I really like my S3C, especially the noise the V6 makes. But I've never owned a V8 and the V8S does sound awesome.
But then it does a fair bit less to the gallon than the V6, not that that's a major issue for a few thousand miles a year.
Then of course there is the Chimaera option...
I'm not helping am I

V8 GRF said:
If you're thinking of spending iro £10k on a V8, with all due respect to the S, I think you'd be better moving on to a Chimaera or a Pre-Cat Griffith.
Jimed on here ummed and ahhd for a while before he finally took the leap from his S to a Griffith (I think a ride in mine finally pushed him over the edge) and he hasn't regretted it.
Sorry if that wasn't the kind of 'sense' you you were after but I don't imagine you treally expected anyone to try and talk you out of spending the cash now did you?
But the V8S has rarity value, and a well sorted one could prove to be a better investment than maybe a Griff, but certainly better than a Chimeara, there seem to be some very cheap Chims about at the moment. Not that value is a consideration to me, I never intend to sell it; my son would dis-own me as he has his eye on inheriting it Jimed on here ummed and ahhd for a while before he finally took the leap from his S to a Griffith (I think a ride in mine finally pushed him over the edge) and he hasn't regretted it.
Sorry if that wasn't the kind of 'sense' you you were after but I don't imagine you treally expected anyone to try and talk you out of spending the cash now did you?

Oldred_V8S said:
But the V8S has rarity value, and a well sorted one could prove to be a better investment than maybe a Griff, but certainly better than a Chimeara, there seem to be some very cheap Chims about at the moment. Not that value is a consideration to me, I never intend to sell it; my son would dis-own me as he has his eye on inheriting it
I just had that exact same conversation with a friend of mine (rarity - not inheriting). Weirdly enough I've been asked to do my will and give one of my bikes to one friend, the TVR to another, my second bike to a third friend and the friend who wants the TVR has also asked if he can have the wife.... I think I need to check my brake lines every day before driving!Oldred_V8S said:
But the V8S has rarity value, and a well sorted one could prove to be a better investment than maybe a Griff, but certainly better than a Chimeara, there seem to be some very cheap Chims about at the moment. Not that value is a consideration to me, I never intend to sell it; my son would dis-own me as he has his eye on inheriting it
I take your point but I don't see a V8S ever being worth more than a Griffith of equal quality.I personally like the 'S' being rare & individual to other cars out there, you simply hardly see them on the road. The V8 'S' again is in this category of sports car which will along with the 'S' range go up in value however with part of that money you could end up with a extremely nice S1 and have the peace of mind knowing what has been done to it. Your V8 'S' or Griffith will cost you 10k to purchase plus monies to keep in good working order.
I had always wanted a TVR after seeing a Griffith and Chimaera. Apart from the usual noise, powah, looks etc it was partly because they were a bit different and more individual than some of the more obvious choices. I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered the S Series cars and they're relatively cheap prices (this was in 1997 when the prices of V6 S cars were regularly higher than current V8S prices!)
I too was lured by the V8 and eventually got a 4 year old chim which cost... a lot back then. Before spending such a big amount I thought long and hard about other makes / models but having something "a bit different" (i.e. not a porsche, lotus, etc) still appealed.
To the outside world all TVRs are "a but different" to the norm. However, from inside our TVR world the S is different to the norm. Ultimately your choice comes down to whether you want to pay for individuality and rarity. Personally I cannot wait until the day I have enough spare £s to get a Griff which will be nice to have until Mycroft has finished looking after "my" Tamora
First choice for you is do you want to spend the money? If you can comfortably say yes then go for a drive in a V8S, a Griff & a Chim to decide which you like best. But whatever you do, don't take those test drives until you know you are ready, willing and able to spend
I too was lured by the V8 and eventually got a 4 year old chim which cost... a lot back then. Before spending such a big amount I thought long and hard about other makes / models but having something "a bit different" (i.e. not a porsche, lotus, etc) still appealed.
To the outside world all TVRs are "a but different" to the norm. However, from inside our TVR world the S is different to the norm. Ultimately your choice comes down to whether you want to pay for individuality and rarity. Personally I cannot wait until the day I have enough spare £s to get a Griff which will be nice to have until Mycroft has finished looking after "my" Tamora

First choice for you is do you want to spend the money? If you can comfortably say yes then go for a drive in a V8S, a Griff & a Chim to decide which you like best. But whatever you do, don't take those test drives until you know you are ready, willing and able to spend

I originally wanted a Griff (13 years ago when I bought the S ) but couldn't afford one so 'settled' for the V8S. A couple of years back I was tempted to by a Griff to replace the S as there was a few more pennies in the bank and that itch was still there. I test drove a few, a well as some Chims, but to me they weren't as involving to drive. I much preferred my S so stuck with it and the itch has completely gone. Can't argue that the Griff is likely to have more of a 'classic' status but if you're buying the car to drive rather than an investment, don't automatically assume the later cars will give you more of a buzz.
I'll definitely need to test drive a Griff and Chimaera as one of the great things about the S is driver involvement and the feeling it evokes.
If I did get something a little "newer" then my wife could drive it too... not sure if that's a positive or negative. I keep describing the S as a "man's car" - more because of the lack of power steering, heavy clutch, marginal brakes, stiff door handles, stiff handbrake, etc, etc...
That's not in any way meant to suggest that ANY TVR is less than "manly" (nor in fact is it to suggest that women shouldn't get every bit as much fun out of one) but it's definitely been one of the excuses I use when someone can't even open the door LOL
If I did get something a little "newer" then my wife could drive it too... not sure if that's a positive or negative. I keep describing the S as a "man's car" - more because of the lack of power steering, heavy clutch, marginal brakes, stiff door handles, stiff handbrake, etc, etc...
That's not in any way meant to suggest that ANY TVR is less than "manly" (nor in fact is it to suggest that women shouldn't get every bit as much fun out of one) but it's definitely been one of the excuses I use when someone can't even open the door LOL
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
There's some good advice above.
Enjoy your holiday and when you are back, post a request for a meet and drive out in the TVRs you are considering and I would think there would be at least a few owners who would love to show off their cars to an interested fellow Tivver if you travel to them. And, they would probably like to go out in your S1.
There's some good advice above.
Enjoy your holiday and when you are back, post a request for a meet and drive out in the TVRs you are considering and I would think there would be at least a few owners who would love to show off their cars to an interested fellow Tivver if you travel to them. And, they would probably like to go out in your S1.
V8 GRF said:
gifdy said:
Good point. If you want a girl's car, best get a Chimeara 
If you don't then get a Griff 


- I'd like to point out that I've not actually seen Ann Widdecombe's rear end
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