Discussion
Hi people,
Ive been sending a few messages on the TVR owners club site under the name of Smudger (name taken on PH). Anyway after years of bikes the blade had to go and after much soul searching have decided on an S.
Im about to buy the grey one in the classifieds (leighton buzzard) advertised as a S3. However its got the S3 straight dash design but different switches in the centre, round ones that turn left and right, it was registered in August 1990. Is this car an S3 ?
S Club heaven is in the diary so meet you all then.
Cheers, BB, Smudger, Gary whatever!!
Ive been sending a few messages on the TVR owners club site under the name of Smudger (name taken on PH). Anyway after years of bikes the blade had to go and after much soul searching have decided on an S.
Im about to buy the grey one in the classifieds (leighton buzzard) advertised as a S3. However its got the S3 straight dash design but different switches in the centre, round ones that turn left and right, it was registered in August 1990. Is this car an S3 ?
S Club heaven is in the diary so meet you all then.
Cheers, BB, Smudger, Gary whatever!!
Well I replied to your question and it seems to have disappeared!
Take 2:-
No 2 TVR's are aver the same, and I'm guessing that the car you're looking at is an early S3.
If TVR had some old switches left then they would use them - really its nothing to worry about.
Check the chassis VERY carefully - and beware that you can't see all of it so you could still end up with a bill in the future.
Check out http://www.tvrsseries.com and welcome to the forum, I'm a member of the TVR Car Club too but you'll find there's much more activity on this forum.
Chris
Take 2:-
No 2 TVR's are aver the same, and I'm guessing that the car you're looking at is an early S3.
If TVR had some old switches left then they would use them - really its nothing to worry about.
Check the chassis VERY carefully - and beware that you can't see all of it so you could still end up with a bill in the future.
Check out http://www.tvrsseries.com and welcome to the forum, I'm a member of the TVR Car Club too but you'll find there's much more activity on this forum.
Chris
- edited to say looked at it on the classifieds - nice looking car.
Edited by Barkychoc on Tuesday 6th May 20:50
Chris,
Thanks for that.
Im getting the car on a ramp friday to poke about with a screwdriver?
Ive driven the car and its great, infact noiser and quicker than I expected coming from Bikes.
Well spotted the hood is a little tatty but Im not that bothered as its gonna be my summer toy. However is it possible to get a replacement hood or have it retrimmed (next year cause im skint now)
Cheers Gary
Thanks for that.
Im getting the car on a ramp friday to poke about with a screwdriver?
Ive driven the car and its great, infact noiser and quicker than I expected coming from Bikes.
Well spotted the hood is a little tatty but Im not that bothered as its gonna be my summer toy. However is it possible to get a replacement hood or have it retrimmed (next year cause im skint now)
Cheers Gary
As Chris said. Also, many cars have had all sorts of replacements done, some many years ago. This adds to the variety. My S2 had a 'walnut' dash which was curved, many are now covered in leather, some S2s have the straight dash.
I believe the doors are more of a give away as they are longer thereby giving better access.
I believe the doors are more of a give away as they are longer thereby giving better access.
You can get a replacement hood - I think fitted you are looking at the thick end of £500.
My hood is well tatty too - and I'm not bothered.
Well that would also be because my car is in bits all over the garage floor and due to a few recent health issues I am not allowed to drive until the DVLA make their mind up whether they are going to let me drive or not.
Some Renovo hood reviver / renovator whatever its called will spruce the hood up a bit. Its a tenner I think.
Even Dave_M can apply it successfully so it must be easy eh Dave?
Chris
My hood is well tatty too - and I'm not bothered.
Well that would also be because my car is in bits all over the garage floor and due to a few recent health issues I am not allowed to drive until the DVLA make their mind up whether they are going to let me drive or not.
Some Renovo hood reviver / renovator whatever its called will spruce the hood up a bit. Its a tenner I think.
Even Dave_M can apply it successfully so it must be easy eh Dave?
Chris
Chris,
Just read the get well thread, although we have only just said hello I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery, you are clearly well respected on here, thanks for the info on the hood Im sure i will get round to cleaning it, but right now im itching to get behind the wheel.
Mark, ohps Dave (sorry) thanks for joining in. Its definatly busier on here than the tvr club site. Ive seen the picture of the longer doors.
Can either of you give me a guesstimate of the differance in lenghts?
I know Im being a stupid newby but the car is advertised as an S3 and I want to get what I pay for. Ive just done the HPI check and its all genuine and clear, hope Ive found a goodun ?
Gary
Just read the get well thread, although we have only just said hello I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery, you are clearly well respected on here, thanks for the info on the hood Im sure i will get round to cleaning it, but right now im itching to get behind the wheel.
Mark, ohps Dave (sorry) thanks for joining in. Its definatly busier on here than the tvr club site. Ive seen the picture of the longer doors.
Can either of you give me a guesstimate of the differance in lenghts?
I know Im being a stupid newby but the car is advertised as an S3 and I want to get what I pay for. Ive just done the HPI check and its all genuine and clear, hope Ive found a goodun ?
Gary
Edited by barclayboy on Tuesday 6th May 21:26
Barkychoc said:
Some Renovo hood reviver / renovator whatever its called will spruce the hood up a bit. Its a tenner I think.
Even Dave_M can apply it successfully so it must be easy eh Dave?
Even Dave_M can apply it successfully so it must be easy eh Dave?
Yes, mine took 2 coats but looked good as a result and if I can do it....
You must cover it in one go though, or you get a line mark. Sadly, it's rather more than £10 but a kit will do a couple of coats, maybe twice, so enough for some time.
I don't know the lenght of the doors, but they are visibly longer. It's not the main part that's different but the front part in front of the window (I hpe that makes some sense).
Hi Gary,
It's an S3 for sure. According to the 'Bible' (Steve Heath's masterwork - get a copy!), the S3 differed by doors lengthened by about 4 inches, electrical boot release instead of a mechanical one (a real pain, in my opinion! - I've got both on mine now!), completely new dashboard, electric windows/mirrors as standard, and driving lights as standard (the latter is incorrect - many S3s like yours and mine don't have them). There are quite a few other minor differences between one S3 and another, like the switches for example.
Have fun!
Graham
It's an S3 for sure. According to the 'Bible' (Steve Heath's masterwork - get a copy!), the S3 differed by doors lengthened by about 4 inches, electrical boot release instead of a mechanical one (a real pain, in my opinion! - I've got both on mine now!), completely new dashboard, electric windows/mirrors as standard, and driving lights as standard (the latter is incorrect - many S3s like yours and mine don't have them). There are quite a few other minor differences between one S3 and another, like the switches for example.
Have fun!
Graham
Hi Gary 
Those are defo S3 doors - my S2 doors are 3 to 4 inches shorter. Looks a nice car from the ad.
I was quoted "about £350" for a new hood by AR Pound in Baldock last year. Didn't bother though cos roof is never on!
Great to see that you're coming to S Club. Add your name here and you can claim the honour of being the 50th on the list
http://www.pistonheads.com/calendar/event.asp?i=34...
Cheers,
Longers
Those are defo S3 doors - my S2 doors are 3 to 4 inches shorter. Looks a nice car from the ad.
I was quoted "about £350" for a new hood by AR Pound in Baldock last year. Didn't bother though cos roof is never on!
Great to see that you're coming to S Club. Add your name here and you can claim the honour of being the 50th on the list
http://www.pistonheads.com/calendar/event.asp?i=34...
Cheers,
Longers
Hi all,
Didnt, think I get so much response. Thankyou all.
The advise is invaluable, I have learnt that no 2 TVR's are the same but am now convinced my potential car is an S3.
Progress so far, price agreed, HPI check done and clear, as part of the deal the current owner is giving the car a new MOT tommorrow. Its on my mate's ramp on Friday. If all goes well money will then change hands and my first drive will be getting from Leighton Buzzard back to my home near Norwich. hope the weather forcast is correct.
While remaining cautious I cant wait
cheers Gary
Didnt, think I get so much response. Thankyou all.
The advise is invaluable, I have learnt that no 2 TVR's are the same but am now convinced my potential car is an S3.
Progress so far, price agreed, HPI check done and clear, as part of the deal the current owner is giving the car a new MOT tommorrow. Its on my mate's ramp on Friday. If all goes well money will then change hands and my first drive will be getting from Leighton Buzzard back to my home near Norwich. hope the weather forcast is correct.
While remaining cautious I cant wait
cheers Gary
barclayboy said:
If all goes well money will then change hands and my first drive will be getting from Leighton Buzzard back to my home near Norwich.
I think that grey is the best colour for the S... but then I'm biased.... and I live near Norwich. 
If all goes well and you do pick it up then I'd be most interested to see how it performs compared to my old lump.
Jed
Edit: Meant to say that my S3 also has the rotary switches.
Edited by Jed-S on Wednesday 7th May 22:28
Hi again all.
Pleased to report ive taken the plunge. Im now the very proud owner of an S3.
After all the concerns the car got me home trouble free and I enjoyed a great drive around the Norfolk Coast on Saturday.
Jed if you want to meet up locally, that would be great. I live in Old Catton just outside Norwich.
Fantastic
Pleased to report ive taken the plunge. Im now the very proud owner of an S3.
After all the concerns the car got me home trouble free and I enjoyed a great drive around the Norfolk Coast on Saturday.
Jed if you want to meet up locally, that would be great. I live in Old Catton just outside Norwich.
Fantastic
EXCELLENT. Sure you'll enjoy it.
I was considering going to see this car a while back. I remember the owner telling me the fresh engine is producing around 200-220bhp
Go careful on those roundabouts, I once ended up facing the wrong way, luckily the road was clear but since then I have realised to get the best, safetly, out of the car it more of a "point and squirt" technique!
Have fun
I was considering going to see this car a while back. I remember the owner telling me the fresh engine is producing around 200-220bhp
Go careful on those roundabouts, I once ended up facing the wrong way, luckily the road was clear but since then I have realised to get the best, safetly, out of the car it more of a "point and squirt" technique!
Have fun
barclayboy said:
Hi again all.
Pleased to report ive taken the plunge. Im now the very proud owner of an S3.
After all the concerns the car got me home trouble free and I enjoyed a great drive around the Norfolk Coast on Saturday.
Fantastic
Well done and when you get the hang of the car, if your suspension is good and your tyres are good then dont worry about the handling. mine sticks to the road like brownstuff on a blanket !Pleased to report ive taken the plunge. Im now the very proud owner of an S3.
After all the concerns the car got me home trouble free and I enjoyed a great drive around the Norfolk Coast on Saturday.
Fantastic
Its always worth being cautious on wet roads in town of course...
have fun
K
soon will be the day though.
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