Thinking of buying an S3...
Discussion
SOLID CHASSIS ! ! !
Outriggers (the tubes that runs along under the cills) notorious for rust, unless its really bad you can't see it as it starts along the top of the tube so IMHO you want proof been repaired competantly or allow for in price. not particularly expensive to repair if able yourself but time consuming so not cheap done professionally.
Not normally this visible, body has been lifted about 3"
And this is what I cut off
Don't let this put you off, they are cracking little cars, nothing to touch them for the money.
Plenty smiles to the gallon . . . Gauranteed !
Outriggers (the tubes that runs along under the cills) notorious for rust, unless its really bad you can't see it as it starts along the top of the tube so IMHO you want proof been repaired competantly or allow for in price. not particularly expensive to repair if able yourself but time consuming so not cheap done professionally.
Not normally this visible, body has been lifted about 3"
And this is what I cut off
Don't let this put you off, they are cracking little cars, nothing to touch them for the money.
Plenty smiles to the gallon . . . Gauranteed !
Hi Chris / Phillpot,
I've been reading through the articles on tvrseries website, shame you can't see any of the content on th tvrcc website (perhaps they should have guest access which allows access to FAQs and such like - or have I missed this?
)
Having previously owned many Scimitars I am more than familiar with outriggers and rusting chassis in general...
I like the idea of an S3 as the 2.9 engine is probably more like the old 3.0 Essex engines I had in my Scimmies. And the 5 speed box will certainly be a bonus over the old 4 speed boxes in the Scimmies!
Anything else I should be looking for (besides oil pressure of 50+psi after warming the engine up)?
Cheers
Dave
I've been reading through the articles on tvrseries website, shame you can't see any of the content on th tvrcc website (perhaps they should have guest access which allows access to FAQs and such like - or have I missed this?
)Having previously owned many Scimitars I am more than familiar with outriggers and rusting chassis in general...
I like the idea of an S3 as the 2.9 engine is probably more like the old 3.0 Essex engines I had in my Scimmies. And the 5 speed box will certainly be a bonus over the old 4 speed boxes in the Scimmies!
Anything else I should be looking for (besides oil pressure of 50+psi after warming the engine up)?
Cheers
Dave
Hi Nobby
I live in neath, you are welcome to come around and have a look, there's a S3 tucked away in my garage, not finished at the moment though.Undergone a full body off before I bought her,I just had to put it all back together.Seems like it's taking forever though i've had her since march.I joined the TVR club back in April thinking that if I did need help with the technical and mechanical stuff the TVR Club and its forum would help,to be perfectly honest since joining Pistonheads this is the first place I come.The boys on here are extremely helpful and their experience is invaluable. I'm not knocking the TVR club as the magazine and discounts you can obtain are great but there seems to be less people on that Forum, on here you can get your answers within minutes.
Looked for at digging yourself a hole smiley couldn't find one. ooops!
Regards Neil
I live in neath, you are welcome to come around and have a look, there's a S3 tucked away in my garage, not finished at the moment though.Undergone a full body off before I bought her,I just had to put it all back together.Seems like it's taking forever though i've had her since march.I joined the TVR club back in April thinking that if I did need help with the technical and mechanical stuff the TVR Club and its forum would help,to be perfectly honest since joining Pistonheads this is the first place I come.The boys on here are extremely helpful and their experience is invaluable. I'm not knocking the TVR club as the magazine and discounts you can obtain are great but there seems to be less people on that Forum, on here you can get your answers within minutes.
Looked for at digging yourself a hole smiley couldn't find one. ooops!
Regards Neil
Nobby6 said:
Anything else I should be looking for (besides oil pressure of 50+psi after warming the engine up)?
Cheers
Dave
It depends on what you are looking for and how much work you are willing to undertake... A good one, will look good and well cared for and visa versa. I dont think there will be many good ones that look rough. If you see a lot of corrosion when you lift the bonnet then beware or accept you are starting a "project"... the chassis is mentioned above but look out for rotten trailing arms and fuel tank and fuel tank carriers too. If it looks neglected then you will probably need new engine mounts (pig of a job) suspension bushes etc etc...Cheers
Dave
Just make sure you get what you pay for. You'll not regret buying a good-un.
Caveat Emptor...
K
If you're handy with a spanner I wouldn't get too worried about the oily bits - they are stock granada / sierra so you can pick up a complete engine for peanuts, though engine failures are rare. The gearbox can suffer a little but this should be obvious on a test drive, and the diff is sierra too.
Brakes are all stock sierra, in fact most bits are off something else.
I'm sure you also realised there is a 3.9 litre V8 version of the S - don't discount one of these there have been 2 or 3 that have changed hands recently very cheap, though they might need a bit more work than a similar price V6.
Classic insurance difference between the V6 / V8 is about a tenner.
Brakes are all stock sierra, in fact most bits are off something else.
I'm sure you also realised there is a 3.9 litre V8 version of the S - don't discount one of these there have been 2 or 3 that have changed hands recently very cheap, though they might need a bit more work than a similar price V6.
Classic insurance difference between the V6 / V8 is about a tenner.
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