buying an s series

[benbrigadier]

Hi, i currently have an mgb roadster but i am looking to sell it to get something different as it is starting to rust. Is the s-series a good next move?? any pros and cons to getting one?? any feedback will be appreciated

thanks

Ben

[chippy wedge]

Must be the most popular question by far on this forum. If you do a search for say "buying an S" you should find loads of very helpful advice. If after you've read all the links you'll find you can start asking more specific questions. The general consensus seems to be see as many as you can - go to TVRCC club meets (check on their website for details of where and when) and some people use Rob Ingleby of www.findasportscar.co.uk - if like me you may not know what to look for he's an expert on TVR's and will check it out for you, HP check and give you a report so gives you piece of mind. I think you will find the S series one of the most enjoyable cars to drive and once you're bitten you will not wipe of the smile for years to come. Just ask my wife...Bought an S 2 months ago and can't keep her out of it!! Good luck if you do decide to go for it and whilst I may be biased I think you will enjoy it more than the MG.

[Podie]

www.tvrsseries.com

[chippy wedge]

Must be the most popular question by far on this forum. If you do a search for say "buying an S" you should find loads of very helpful advice. If after you've read all the links you'll find you can start asking more specific questions. The general consensus seems to be see as many as you can - go to TVRCC club meets (check on their website for details of where and when) and some people use Rob Ingleby of www.findasportscar.co.uk - if like me you may not know what to look for he's an expert on TVR's and will check it out for you, HP check and give you a report so gives you piece of mind. I think you will find the S series one of the most enjoyable cars to drive and once you're bitten you will not wipe of the smile for years to come. Just ask my wife...Bought an S 2 months ago and can't keep her out of it!! Good luck if you do decide to go for it and whilst I may be biased I think you will enjoy it more than the MG.

[Podie]

At the moment you're spoilt for choice in the PH classifieds…. Some very nice S's in there.

[kentishS2]

Podie said:

At the moment you're spoilt for choice in the PH classifieds…. Some very nice S's in there.

Not mine now, as I'm investigating a way to raise that exhaust.

The local authority have just said that we may have to take the gates and fencing down at our new house before we move in cos it doesn't fall in line with one of their fecking bylaws, this will spoil the appearence of the house and make it less private and cost money both for us and the seller but it's OK for the local authority to have poxy speed ramps that rip my exhaust off on the approach to our new house....bastards!

>> Edited by kentishS2 on Friday 30th July 13:59

[WildfireS3]

I complained and demanded an inquiary to the height of the speed humps down my road.

[stephen pook]

Kentish S2,

Seek the advice of a Chartered Surveyor or a Planning Consultant. You should be able to lodge a retrospective planning application. The Council must still give it consideration. If your application is unsuccesful you still have the right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate which you can do for free. Worth pursuing!If your house is a listed building then it becomes a bit more complicated but still worth seeking advice.

We have dealt with many such situations, but you'd be best to go to someone who is local to you.

Sorry for the thread hijack!!

regards,

Steve.

[kentishS2]

stephen pook said:

Kentish S2, Seek the advice of a Chartered Surveyor or a Planning Consultant. You should be able to lodge a retrospective planning application. The Council must still give it consideration. If your application is unsuccesful you still have the right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate which you can do for free. Worth pursuing!If your house is a listed building then it becomes a bit more complicated but still worth seeking advice. We have dealt with many such situations, but you'd be best to go to someone who is local to you. Sorry for the thread hijack!! regards, Steve.

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your advice, I spoke with a guy from the council earlier who was aware of our situation and he said that we'd probably have to remove because it is a conservation area but it will take us 8 weeks to find out.

The fact that the house is/was nice and private and contained behind a picket fence and 5 bar farm gate was one of the strong attractions when deciding to buy. We have agreed a figure with the vendor to compensate us should we have to remove it a few weeks after completion as we'll have to re-surface all or part of the drive when the posts come out and make remedial repairs to borders when the concrete post footings are removed. It's been like this for 3 years which is just 1 year short of the timeline where the council are unable to object.

What a complete waste of time and money, it really does seem rather ridiculous as none of the fence or gate obscures any view or visibility for driving safely and we are just one of 2 houses on this short stretch of roadway which is also a cul-de-sac. I checked and there is nothing to oppose us planting a nice 6 foot hedge to replace it, so that's what I'll be doing if the fence has to go!

IMHO, the fence and gates look far more attractive than the bloody speed ramps!

I shall also be measuring those speed ramps to see if they are within the limit of dimensions permissable.

[ukbob]

benbrigadier said:

Hi, i currently have an mgb roadster but i am looking to sell it to get something different.... Is the s-series a good next move?? any pros and cons to getting one??Ben

The girlfriend owned 2 spitfires, & had friends with roadsters, and I asked her the same question after getting my S - she agreed there just wasn't much comparison at all, and that the S was so much more exciting, fast, powerful, fun, engaging, got more admiring glances, sounded better, was more exciting to be in etc than any of the roadsters and spitfires she'd experienced in the past.

I was taken for a pootle over beachy head in a roadster I was considering last year, the car did nothing to excite me, and the ride was forgotten about before it was even over. It just wasn't for me, although I some people like them.

I was taken for a ride in a V8S a few weeks back, and was simply blown away! There just wasn't anything to compare. I bought it without hesitation. The ride is good, rattles yes but FAR less than the roadsters, looks and handles better, parts/repairs are cheap, the V8's and V6's both sound fantastic!

V6 www.designfishserver.com/tvr/Psychoberts_S3.avi
V8 www.designfishserver.com/tvr/v8s_start_1.avi

Pro's, Fun! Cons, you'll become a tvr nut and never want to drive anything else. So yes, very good next move!! Get one mate, sell the kids if you have to, you wont regret it!

[stephen pook]

Kentish S2,

I see the council's point but you are still entitled to the scheme being considered for planning approval if you wish to reinstate the gates etc after the remedial works.

Recently a freind of mine's parents were told the basement flat they rented would be subject to a closing order for various reasons. They tried to negotiate but the council were adamant. I arranged a meeting with the Environmental health officer at the sight to go through the issues at hand. I constructed an argument as to why the unit should not be subject to the order and they completely backed down and relented ( subject to some fairly minor works being carried out).

You may find that the Local Authority may be less heavy handed when they have to deal with your professional agent. No guarantees but certainly worth a some consideration.

Best of luck!

Steve.

[kentishs2]

Thanks Steve, again your advice is much appreciated.

We went over today and took some photographs for our records. It will be a fair amount of work and effort to remove them and make good the area after. We will push as much as we can to retain them. We also met with the neighbours who all said that they prefer it to be kept as it is.

If the decision is made that they have to go, I may keep all the posts in place as they don't constitute fencing on their own, then wait until a month or so after the site visit and then put it all back as it was.

Or .....

I read the deed of covenant and it doesn't specifically mention that gates are prohibited, only fencing so we may be able to retain these and just plant a bordering hedge if need be.

Any way ....fingers crossed!

Thanks again.

[benbrigadier]

thanks for the feeback everybody! i think my next stage is to actually drive one, my uncle has told me exactly the same thing that if i try one, i will buy one, so thats the next move!

thanks!