trying to find decent s2- s3.

[thinbo 1]

hi, im new to the forum, and im looking for a decent s2 or 3 as ive finally convinced the missus that we need one!ive hankered after one of these for years.ive got a max of 4k to buy one,anyone know of one for sale thats not a lemon(moneypit)as the other half is dying to say i told you so already!i live on the wirral (north west area)and would appreciate any advice on what to look out for,as apart from changing oil and filters im not exactly a wizard with a spanner!
Thanks paul.

Edited by thinbo 1 on Sunday 15th August 12:22

[Lemonhead]

Hi Paul

My S3 has the body off with repairs carried out. If you want a trip over the border to North Wales you are welcome to view it. Im not far from Llangollen. I can point out exactly where the problems were!

Regards

Dylan

[TJC46]

Hi Paul and welcome to the forum. CHASSIS, CHASSIS, CHASSIS, see Tubbystu post about his car and chassis problems. Engines are ford v6 so pretty reliable. Im in warrington, i owned an S3 and now have a chimaera, if you need a seconed opion on any S series car you view, just email me thru pistonheads. Best advice is check out the classifieds on pistonheads, and in any case any car you are interested in post the details on this forum, someone may know all about the car etc, good luck in your search, Tom.

[Barkychoc]

Come on he might even take 4k

Got to be worth a look

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1912215.htm

[red tasman]

Hi Paul, I live on the Wirral, know a bit about tvr's in general. If you need a chat or a bit of advice contact me. Thanks, Roger.

[Chris71]

Look at the chassis, buy on condition and maybe consider getting an inspection carried out by a reputable TVR specialist if you're not too clued up mechanically.

Condition-for-condition the V6s basically get better as you go from S1-4, but the price increases too. In theory, if you're not worried about the last few horsepower and subtly improved limit-handling the earlier cars offer basically the same thing for noticeably lower prices. In reality the supply of cars and the variation in condition from one to another means you're best off looking at cars on an individual basis (rather than just S2s and 3s).

I'm far from an expert, but IIRC the differences are broadly:

S4C - extremely rare, as per the V8S but with a V6 in it
V8S - later 'panel' dash, longer doors, Rover V8, revised rear suspension geometry, limited slip diff, bonnet with a bulge but no vent, increased chassis bracing and improved brakes
S3C - later 'panel' dash, longer doors, 2.9 catalyst Cologne V6 with power and torque increase, revised rear suspension geometry and optional limited slip diff, some had V8-style bonnet with a bulge but no vent
S3 - later 'panel' dash, longer doors, 2.9 non-cat Cologne V6, revised rear suspension geometry, bonnet vent
S2 - curvy one piece dash, short doors, 2.9 non-cat Cologne V6 usually, original suspension geometry, bonnet vent
S1 - curvy one piece dash, short doors, 2.8 Cologne V6, original suspension geometry, bonnet vent

Some of the details are probably wrong, but it gives you an idea of the sort of evolution.

[thinbo 1]

Thanks for the info guys, and will definatley post details of any possible purchase,there,s a white s1 on ebay that has had a lot of work done to it,but he has also uprated the engine,different cams lightened fly wheel the list goes on, but was worried about what that would do to insurance!!will resist the urge to buy the first one i see ,patience is not one of my virtues.
thanks again and will take up the help offers.

[BountyHunter]

thinbo 1 said:

Thanks for the info guys, and will definatley post details of any possible purchase,there,s a white s1 on ebay that has had a lot of work done to it,but he has also uprated the engine,different cams lightened fly wheel the list goes on, but was worried about what that would do to insurance!!will resist the urge to buy the first one i see ,patience is not one of my virtues.

i saw that too, looks stunning
but its easy to write a list, id be wanting to see proof etc.
and yeah getting a quote before you buy is a good idea.

[Chris71]

thinbo 1 said:

Thanks for the info guys, and will definatley post details of any possible purchase,there,s a white s1 on ebay that has had a lot of work done to it,but he has also uprated the engine,different cams lightened fly wheel the list goes on, but was worried about what that would do to insurance!!will resist the urge to buy the first one i see ,patience is not one of my virtues.
thanks again and will take up the help offers.

Bear in mind that insurance is a doddle for the S-Series as most people will cover in on a classic policy.

In my mid 20s in a dodgy postcode with a recent claim I was paying less than £300pa.

Similarly, I'd expect most dedicated sports/classic insurers to be relatively sympathetic to modifications, but not all. You need to shop around. Try Hagerty, Flux, Footman James, CIC, Lancaster etc.

It is a good idea to see a few before you make the decision. They don't have to be for sale necesarily - maybe have a good look (particularly underneath) at a few PHers cars to start with. The thing I found was that condition varied HUGELY and often not in relation to price. I saw two S3s at the upper edge of the price range that were bags of nails and one conspicuously cheap S1 that was close to the best example of the lot.

[Roy C]

Chris71 said:

Try Hagerty,...

Haggerty no longer insure post-1981 TVRs.

[Chris71]

Roy C said:

Chris71 said:

Try Hagerty,...

Haggerty no longer insure post-1981 TVRs.

Doh! I should have remembered that one through personal experience...

To be fair though they cancelled my policy because of my age not the car's.

Anyway, my point is, speak to specialists. Direct Line or someone will quotes you thousands probably. A proper classic/sports car specialist will quote you hundreds (and not many of them). If you happen to be a more mature owner in a quiet part of the country you can probably get it down to a hundred and something quid. It makes owning a specialist car like a Tiv actually quite cost effective compared to a more mainstream performance car.

Probably stating the obvious there, but it's worth bearing in mind!

[GadgeS3C]

Don't assume insurance will be cheap, get some quotes. Some insurers seem to have decided post-1980 TVR's are more than a risk than they used to be.

Just bought an S3C and although I'm fairly mature (40's), only one non-fault claim (but pending) and several vehicles with full NCB (didn't have any I could use on the TVR) it still cost me the wrong side of £400 after a fair bit of shopping around.

Oh, that's garaged, no commuting and 3,000 miles limit too.

Loving the car though!

[Chris71]

GadgeS3C said:

Don't assume insurance will be cheap, get some quotes. Some insurers seem to have decided post-1980 TVR's are more than a risk than they used to be.

Just bought an S3C and although I'm fairly mature (40's), only one non-fault claim (but pending) and several vehicles with full NCB (didn't have any I could use on the TVR) it still cost me the wrong side of £400 after a fair bit of shopping around.

Oh, that's garaged, no commuting and 3,000 miles limit too.

Loving the car though!

Quite surprised at that. I thought I was about the highest risk profile going and my new policy only went up to about £300 when Hagerty turned me down. I'm now insuring a relatively high spec Caterham for comfortably under £400 on the same terms.

Anyway, the point still stands. However bad the specialists are the mainstream insurers will be far far worse. My original Hagerty quote was literally a tenth of what some mainstream performance insurers were quoting (I was under 25 at the time, but stil...)

[blues3]

Paid £117 fully comp, 3000 miles, garaged. Mind, I'm 57 and the insurers well understand mid-life crises ;-)

[GadgeS3C]

I was a bit surprised - I was expecting sub-£300. I was paying about £250 for my Westfield a little while ago, but that was with full NCB. Maybe I should have shopped around more but the first couple of quotes (Carole Nash & Flux) were nearer £600 so I was relieved to get something close to £400.

Mid-life crisis? - surely an S is more sensible than motorbikes and a Westfield? I thought I was getting old and boring buying something this sensible ;-)

[wanacoop]

Roy C said:

Chris71 said:

Try Hagerty,...

Haggerty no longer insure post-1981 TVRs.

Try Mannings, they are good with Trevor's, and very cheap, with free trackday cover thrown in.

[thinbo 1]

i have seen another car in auto trader reg no h367 ubv dark blue with 54000 miles on the clock th the car is in york, a bit past my price range but maybe he might haggle!all the electrics work supposedly and he reckons the chassis is solid(dont they all)new shocks steering rack suspension and brakes,so sounds promising, was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of this car??
cheers paul

[Barkychoc]

Don't be put off the V8 if you can find one at the right price - when I was looking I enquired about insurance and the difference between the V6 and V8 was a fiver.

[red tasman]

Did you go and see the one in York?

[thinbo 1]

yes ,i dragged the missus up there on sunday,told her it would be a day out?? anyway ,the car looked like stevie wonder had resprayed it!large stress cracks in the paint right across the bonnet,looked if someone had sat on it with runs in the paintwork all over the shop,also the chassis had so much cack on it couldnt tell what was corrosion and what wasnt also had a steering rack off a chimera as he said you cant get them for the s series any more,steering was a bit vague?roof was a bit frayed, made him a fair offer , but he wouldnt budge on price, in fact he put it up by a fiver from 4995 to 5000!!!so walked away, hey ho plenty more fish in the sea.theres 2 more in the classifieds on here, but there miles away, 1 in norfolk , and 1 in angus scotland, why are they always miles away!!!