A year in the life of an S - Farewell Friend

[slamm]

Well, it's been a great year of S3 ownership for me and my S but the time has come to part company.

I've accepted a deposit on the car and the new owner will be picking her up next Tuesday.

I've decided to take my faithful friend out for one last run tomorrow (I have the day off) with the roof down, ever hopeful that this will not be my last taste of TVR ownership.

The car and the people I've met as a result of the tiv have been fantastic.

I know that the new owner will look after her and will be on just like I was when I bought her.

From this point forward you'll be seeing me in a BRG MGC GT until I can save the money to get my next motor.

Mel

>>> Edited by slamm on Tuesday 7th September 14:54

[Pies]

Mel i can honestly say i didn't think you've owned the "S" for a year,

I assume your still get a TVR fix in an "S" albeit a Tuscan "S"

[Podie]

Looks like I'm parting company with mine on Sunday…

[Pies]

Mel did you park the car there

[Podie]

Pies said:

Mel did you park the car there

[HarryW]

Pies said:

Mel did you park the car there

must have followed your example Mr Pies





H

>> Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 7th September 22:24

>> Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 7th September 22:25

[Pies]

Touche

[slamm]

Oh well, at least parking the old girl is one less thing I'll need to worry about. Took her out for the last time yesterday - had a great time. Though did have to do a spot of parallel parking and my arms hurt today!

[slamm]

She's gone.

Saw her being driven off into the distance last night. It was really hard saying goodbye - harder than I thought especially as I don't expect to be getting another TVR imminently....

Toby - her new owner is a top chap and hopefully will stop lurking and announce himself soon on PH!!

You'll still see me around at the Mid Essex meets slavering over other tivs and I hope to return to TVR ownership in the not too distant future.

Mel

[Tripps]

slamm said:

Saw her being driven off into the distance last night. It was really hard saying goodbye - harder than I thought especially as I don't expect to be getting another TVR imminently....

Any tips on how best to cope when the day comes for my long goodbye next week, I'm hoping a drive the day before will help...

Kind of like taking your dog for a long walk before having her put down

[slamm]

Tripps said:

Any tips on how best to cope when the day comes for my long goodbye next week, I'm hoping a drive the day before will help...

Well, I took the car out for one last blast on a really sunny day with the top down a week before the new owner came to pick it up. It was on that day that I mentally said goodbye and had started to come to terms with the prospect of not having the tiv anymore.

However, yesterday, I took all my stuff out of the car and prepared her for the collection that started to bring home what it was going to be like being TVRless.

I don't have any tips, other than making sure that the car is ready to go with minimum fuss when the new owner turns up to collect it. I also had my boyfriend with me for moral support, plus Toby - the new owner is a great guy and I know the car will be well looked after.

All in all, nothing will stop you from feeling gutted. This was my first ever sportscar - a true british beast of a car - it had to be wrestled when driven but was fantastic fun. I don't regret selling it, but I guess I know it won't be the last TVR I own .

Good luck with next week. All the best.

Mel

[Tripps]

slamm said:

However, yesterday, I took all my stuff out of the car and prepared her for the collection that started to bring home what it was going to be like being TVRless.

Did that about six weeks ago during "the big clean", so hopefully I'm halfway there now.

Is there anywhere I can get counselling for the trauma?

[slamm]

Tripps said:

Is there anywhere I can get counselling for the trauma?

Yeah - the nearest TVR dealer!

[Tripps]

slamm said:

Tripps said: Is there anywhere I can get counselling for the trauma? Yeah - the nearest TVR dealer!

Damn, I'm looking at one 200 miles away

[TobyS3]

Thought it was about time I stopped lurking and said hello now i'm a new a TVR owner!!

I bought Mel's S3 and picked it up on Tuesday (BIG thanks to Mel for being so great, I promise to look after it ). I haven't stopped grinning ever since I saw it, and have just had the longest week of my life waiting to picking it up!

I've just been driving about for the last 2 days, please tell me this feeling doesn't go!


If anyone has any suggestions about the following I would appreciate it greatly...

- Thinking of putting a audible alarm in in addition to the immobiliser, is there anywhere in particular I should be going (I live in W.London) or will any place do?

- It hasn't had a stereo for a while for one reason or another, is there any difficulty with installing a standard unit or will I need some professional help?!

Anyhow, best go as I need to go and sit in it some more!

[Tripps]

TobyS3 said:

Thought it was about time I stopped lurking and said hello now i'm a new a TVR owner!! I bought Mel's S3 and picked it up on Tuesday (BIG thanks to Mel for being so great, I promise to look after it ). I haven't stopped grinning ever since I saw it, and have just had the longest week of my life waiting to picking it up!

Welcome to the fray Toby, once you've started here sit back and watch the time slipping through your fingers while chatting with friends

TobyS3 said:

I've just been driving about for the last 2 days, please tell me this feeling doesn't go!

No it doesn't - I feel sick knowing that I have less than a week of it left and I've one proper drive left, but its good to see new owners taking the mantle and inheriting our grins

TobyS3 said:

Thinking of putting a audible alarm in in addition to the immobiliser, is there anywhere in particular I should be going (I live in W.London) or will any place do?

Do a search on here as in theory any alarm fitter could do it, however check they've worked on TVRs before as the electrics are just a little quirky.

Might be you have an old alarm in there also, mine has two fitted, the first was left in when the 2nd fitted. I presume the older systems could not be replaced or parts were no longer made, then the 2nd was piggy-backed on top.

TobyS3 said:

It hasn't had a stereo for a while for one reason or another, is there any difficulty with installing a standard unit or will I need some professional help?!

Its a pretty easy job to do yourself. I found that mine came with the fittings for the previously fitted Pioneer unit, rather than the generic ISO blocks. Halfrauds or a car hi-fi shop can provide you with the blocks which you can wire in easily enough, then you can just buy an adapter for your brand of stereo and its a simple plug-and-play affair.

If getting your stereo fited by experts (or if you know what you're doing) provide it power on ignition, not straight from the battery, so as to avoid power drainage when the stereo is sitting there doing the flashy flight fandango most seem to do these days.

When I fitted mine I found two battery feeds, although one should have been ignition, I think it was wired in wrong at the ignition barrel

If you're no confident, I'd suggest going to a hi-fi / alarm place and getting them done at the same time. While they're fiddling with the electrics you could also ask for a direct battery feed for the stereo which might be cleaner than the standard feed which I'd imagine would go via the wiring loom.

[V8 Kieran]

TobyS3 said:

- It hasn't had a stereo for a while for one reason or another, is there any difficulty with installing a standard unit or will I need some professional help?!

Only reasons I can think for a stereo:
a) fill up ugly hole
b) so you can listen to music whilst washing/polishing

Any other time, radio is superfluous: can't hear the thing over the roar of the S/S exhausts, and who'd want to - much prefer TVR FM!

I have a head unit and CD changer that came with mine - if a buyer asked me what they were like, I honestly couldn't say: only tried once!

[Tripps]

Never use mine for short or fun journies, but I find I need them for longer runs, especially for the traffic announcements if I don't take the TrafficMaster.

[TobyS3]

Cheers for the advice!

I promise I'll only use the stereo while polishing!!

The car's definately had an alarm previously as there are still sensors on the dash. Guess I need an electrician to see whats still working before buying a whole new alarm.

Not sure i'm up for the whole electrical thing just yet, I better get an idea of how she works before tinkering!

>> Edited by TobyS3 on Friday 17th September 11:05

>> Edited by TobyS3 on Friday 17th September 11:06

[Tripps]

TobyS3 said:

Not sure i'm up for the whole electrical thing just yet, I better get an idea of how she works before tinkering!

Whereabouts in West London are you, G&M Autos in Ravenscourt Park could look after you.

As I recall they fitted the alarm for the previous owner and are a TVR registered independent.