V6 or V8 ?

[PYNEY]

hi all

hope to come back to tvr soon !
i've been looking at various s models on the classifieds and wondered whether
i should be looking at a V6 or V8 model ? does it matter
has anyone had both , what are your opinions , whats easier to live with

thanks keith

[Dave_M]

I had an S2 at the same time as a V8S.

Each is great and I wish I still had the S2!

My S2 was louder, it felt quicker (but clearly wasn't). Either is good

[The Lukas]

In real terms, there isn't much between performance of the two. You need to start modifying aspects of the V8 setup to get the best out of it.

But saying that, I'd probably go for a V8 if I were to but again (and could afford the premium), simply because I've already had a V6 (and it's been fantastic! The sound is amazing, and quite unique, especially when you take into acount how many cars use the Rover V8.

[V8Smith]

I've had an S2 and a V8S they are both great cars, the V6 feels quick as it's a little rougher around the edges.... But to say there isn't much difference in performance is absolute rubbish. The V6 is a bit of a screamer which I liked, but the V8S is so much stronger in every way, so much quicker, especially mid range, and it is the easiest to live with day to day as the later cars got better, longer doors, better built etc....

Whichever you choose you will love it like no other car... I now have a 997C2S cab which is superb in every way, but I want to buy back my old V8S one day as I loved it so much...

Enjoy one of the best cars on the road buy one as soon as you can they are fun fun fun....

IMHO

[The Lukas]

V8Smith said:

But to say there isn't much difference in performance is absolute rubbish.

On paper there is quite difference. But I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that stated power figures for the V6 were more accurate then the V8. There is still a difference, but as much as the numbers suggest. Plus real world performance, the gap will be smaller. I can also say, after driving two 4.0 Chimaeras, I wasn't overcome with the performance.

[phillpot]

The Lukas said:

after driving two 4.0 Chimaeras, I wasn't overcome with the performance.

They must have been "dogs" then, the extra power and torque from mine is extremely obvious, especially if roads are a damp (or perhaps my 2.9 S is knared)

[Dave_M]

There is noticeable difference in performance.

However, what that means to the individual will depend on how they drive (and of course each car is different).

The V6 feels so quick though, perhaps quicker than it should and that may account for the perception

[V8Smith]

The Lukas said:

V8Smith said:

But to say there isn't much difference in performance is absolute rubbish.

On paper there is quite difference. But I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that stated power figures for the V6 were more accurate then the V8. There is still a difference, but as much as the numbers suggest. Plus real world performance, the gap will be smaller. I can also say, after driving two 4.0 Chimaeras, I wasn't overcome with the performance.

Fair comment, but you said in the 'real world' there isnt much difference in performance, in the real world its the mid range punch that matters and there is a massive difference in torque / performance. Having had both and driven them daily I can honestly say the V6S felt as quick because it was rogher, but in reality it wasnt close as mid range punch in the V8 sees it pull much harder, which is where you need it in the 'real world' as how many of us do standing starts...... Your point about the Chims is also valid, the problem with the Chimaera/Griff etc is that they are better built and thus dont feel as fast as they actually are which is the reason I bought the V8S in the first place. When I had the V6S going out on a run with the newer V8 TVRs I really struggled to stay anywhere near them... in the V8S I could keep up quite easily and was actually quicker than a Chim 400/450 because the S is lighter...

IMHO

[Chris71]

phillpot said:

The Lukas said:

after driving two 4.0 Chimaeras, I wasn't overcome with the performance.

They must have been "dogs" then, the extra power and torque from mine is extremely obvious, especially if roads are a damp (or perhaps my 2.9 S is knared)

Have to say I was surprised how well my old S3 would stick to the back of Chimaera 400s in a straight line. They were quicker but not by much. The guy I sold it to had owned a Chim beforehand and was quite shocked at the performance of mine when I took him out, but there again it was known to be a particularly healthy V6S.

If I come back to S ownership (and I'm tempted, hence the lurking) then a V8 would seem like the obvious choice because I haven't done it yet. Plus the extra chassis work (bracing and bigger brakes IIRC?) and a limited slip diff (unlike the open unit on my non-catalyst S3) would be handy.

Are the V8s any more hassle to maintain? I appreciate this is a slightly irrelevant question, but is there much difference in touring economy?

I guess one factor is the rarity of the V8S. That's a good thing if you've already found a minter, but it restricts your choice heavily if you're new to the market. V6s (and indeed the Wedge/Grimaera V8s) are far easier to come by.

[PYNEY]

hi all

thankyou for all your helpful comments !

i'm still not quite sure which model to go for the V8s seems my best bet more power and nice sound but dearer to buy

i've been to see a V6 today and was dissapointed with the engine sound ?
it didn't have that tvr rumble sound i was expecting it has really put me off the V6
is this typical of most V6 models , or could there have been a problem with the car i was looking at it was a bit of a dog

cheers keith

[clarenceboddiger]

Go for the V8, or like me you'll just wish you had later. IMHO

[dougc]

PYNEY said:

hi all

thankyou for all your helpful comments !

i'm still not quite sure which model to go for the V8s seems my best bet more power and nice sound but dearer to buy

i've been to see a V6 today and was dissapointed with the engine sound ?
it didn't have that tvr rumble sound i was expecting it has really put me off the V6
is this typical of most V6 models , or could there have been a problem with the car i was looking at it was a bit of a dog

cheers keith

Not typical of mine!

That said, it has been tinkered with.

When I first bought mine it had knackered cats, perforated manifolds and a standard (read: old) exhaust.

Lots of stainless and a decat later, I prefer it to the V8. Its a right little screamer...

Edited by dougc on Thursday 29th July 21:40

[orange_dodo]

PYNEY said:

hi all

thankyou for all your helpful comments !

i'm still not quite sure which model to go for the V8s seems my best bet more power and nice sound but dearer to buy

i've been to see a V6 today and was dissapointed with the engine sound ?
it didn't have that tvr rumble sound i was expecting it has really put me off the V6
is this typical of most V6 models , or could there have been a problem with the car i was looking at it was a bit of a dog

cheers keith

The V6s vary massively in how they sound. I have a loud throaty one, Steve j (apparently) has one that will make your ears bleed(!) and others can sound not too different to a Sierra with the same engine. Have a listen to a few more before you decide.

On the power front I have never driven a V8S but I do sometimes wish mine had a little more go. More than enough to scare yourself in the corners though. It is very 'raw' so feels much faster than it really is. Saying that my other car is a 1.1 Hyundai so anything would feel faster than that!

If your ever near Southampton come and hear mine

[Chris71]

PYNEY said:

i've been to see a V6 today and was dissapointed with the engine sound ?

Really? The thing that struck me when I heard an V6S start up for the first time (in a nice echoey lock up garage) was how great it sounded. You'd swear most of them were running an extra couple of cylinders, because they tend to sound rather V8 like - just with a slightly racier hard-edged note to them, rather than the somewhat lazier woofle of a standard RV8 car.

It's obviously a personal thing, but I seriously considered a 400SE (V8 wedge) before I bought my old S3 and one of the things that swung it was I reckoned the S sounded better. It may be you saw a less sonorous, but I'm quite surprised they exist. If anything the blood and thunder soundtrack on mine was actually a bit over the top for something that was 'only' Porsche Boxster sort of pace.

Coincidentally, there's a very cheap and allegedly well maintained V8S just appeared in the PH classifieds. If you really can get a good one for barely more than £5k it'd certainly be something to think about compared to a decent S3 for more or less the same amount.

[Dave_M]

They are all different. My S2 was very loud indeed, louder than my V8S (and that has a completely empty system).

IMO, most V6s have a lovely sound that implies far greater power, performance and presence than you might expect.

(I'm going to talk myself into another S at this rate)

However, my Cerbera is somewhat louder if that's what you like

[techbotics]

clarenceboddiger said:

Go for the V8, or like me you'll just wish you had later. IMHO

I've had that thought

[techbotics]

clarenceboddiger said:

Go for the V8, or like me you'll just wish you had later. IMHO

I've had that thought

[Barkychoc]

As you know I've rebuilt my car including the engine, there was nothing major wrong with it but now its rebuilt with rebore, new cam etc there is no comparison to the performance before - it was quick before but now it really is mental - and it isn't run in yet so I am still taking it easy.

I think a lot of V8's out there probably have tired cams by now.

[mannik]

Probably not going to add so much, but have owned a S3C and now a V8S. As confirmed here, I also think the S3C was louder. Performance wise, you notice the torque of the V8S. I tried a number of V8S before I bought and they were all different in there performance, quite notably I thought.

In terms of economy, if I drove the S3C sensibly on the motorway, it returned 30mpg. The V8S returns less. Especially with a heavy right foot, in which I see around 20mpg.

Since the shocks and dampers need replacing on mine, I cannot comment so much on the handling, but with the V8S, driving in the wet is a difference experience.

If I was to buy and the budget was there; I would go for the V8S. But look around and try many before deciding. Whatever you decide, unless you are looking to pay 10K for a car, then there will always we something that will need fixing due to wear i.e. clutch, gearbox etc

Whatever you decide it has to be the best performance/looks per pound and with the support on here you cannot go wrong.

[PYNEY]

hi all

i've done it ! bought a 1992 S3C cant wait to pick her up

cheers keith

Edited by PYNEY on Sunday 1st August 18:48