Popping my TVR cherry!
Discussion
Hello everyone 
Just thought I'd share my first TVR experience with you all
My wife surprised me by hiring a lovely S2 for me as part of our anniversary 
It was actually supposed to be a TR6, but the chap turned up in a Dark Blue S2 instead, at which point the wife exclaimed "That's not the car I ordered!" Needless to say I was only too happy to have a Tivver to play with instead and managed to convince her that this was definitely the better option 
So, I had a quick look round the outside of the car - looked reasonable enough. It was a G reg - I knew it was a TVR, but not exactly which one. Later found out that it was an S2
- all looked pretty standard to my uneducated eyes. Climbed into the drivers seat...actually sort of wiggled and stuffed uncerimoniously is probably more accurate a description. Took the mat with me as well as I retrived it from the pedals under which my undignified entry had stuffed it. Very snug in the seat - but somehow felt right at home there - very much sitting 'in' rather than 'on'. Cabin was a bit tatty - suppose you'd expect that from a hire car though. Next thing I noticed was the fact it had done 120,000 miles! Probably explained the general feel of the car - a bit dog eared and clearly not used to much tlc at the hands of various rental drivers. Still, I was seriously looking forward to driving the thing!
Started her up and the first thing that assaulted my ears - wow! What a noise! Love the sound of big V engines! Couldn't resist giving it a wee blip - yummy!
So off we set a a sedate pace whilst I got used to the car. Gave it a quick squirt away from a roundabout - mmmmm - pokey! Noise just kept on getting better the further up the revs I went. Ohhh! This could become addictive! 
I'm now getting my first taste of what people see in these cars 
Always been an "interested observer" from afar - putting my window down whenever there was a TVR in the vicinity better to hear the lovey noise. And now, here was me - the master of that glorious note!
Anyway, we headed up into the lovely green parts of Scotland - a hotel booked for us ahead and lots of twisty roads between us and it. Fantasic!
Made the most of the drive up - roof down and travelling at sensible speeds in a car that was still a bit unfamiliar. Passed another S2 in red heading the other direction through Callander and got a wee wave which we returned - how nice! Got to the hotel in one piece - elated after the drive and ears still ringing! Only slight concern was that the fuel gauge seemed not to have moved...surely I must have used a wee bit of petrol by now?
Anyway, once the bags were all safely ensconced in the room I decided that I'd make the most of the 24 hours I had the car for and take it for a wee drive by myself (minus the portable speed limited found in the passenger seat
) The roads were pretty twisty and mostly single track with passing places, so my speed was fairly constrained anyway, but I made the most of it. Keeping the car in second and third and then using the torque to pull it out of the tighter corners, it all felt very fluid and a lot more intimate with the whole driving experience. Relished the chance to give it beans in second out of the tighter corners - the road I was on wound round the side of a mountain, with a loch on my other side (heading along the B829 towards Stronachlachar if anyone knows it) so the noise would echo off the mountain and across the water. Came across a couple of tourists camping in a small Forestry Commission section just off the main road - they must have heard what they thought was the four horsemen of the apocalypse approaching and rushed out of their motorhomes to check Beginning to get a bit dark now so decided to turn around and head back to the hotel, adventure over for today
Drive back the next day was another good 'un. Much more sense of occassion driving this beastie than any car I've driven before - and that includes the likes of 911 Turbos etc - something about it just expressed character so well. Reminded me of an old Alfa my dad has many moons ago
So regretfully, I did have to hand it back at the end of my 24hr stint - but as they say, every cloud has a silver lining - the experience has fired my interest and led me to this site! I've been having a browse through the forums, checking out the cars for sale and learning a bit more about the car and what I might be letting myself in for should I decide to take the plunge!
Anyway, I think I've probably gone on for long enough now - before I go I'd be interested to hear about your first TVR experience, and if there are any S owners in Central Scotland. Love to meet up with you and see what a decent one looks like etc.
Hope the rest of you all continue to enjoy your cars - you lucky people!
Cheers
Just thought I'd share my first TVR experience with you all
My wife surprised me by hiring a lovely S2 for me as part of our anniversary It was actually supposed to be a TR6, but the chap turned up in a Dark Blue S2 instead, at which point the wife exclaimed "That's not the car I ordered!" Needless to say I was only too happy to have a Tivver to play with instead and managed to convince her that this was definitely the better option So, I had a quick look round the outside of the car - looked reasonable enough. It was a G reg - I knew it was a TVR, but not exactly which one. Later found out that it was an S2
- all looked pretty standard to my uneducated eyes. Climbed into the drivers seat...actually sort of wiggled and stuffed uncerimoniously is probably more accurate a description. Took the mat with me as well as I retrived it from the pedals under which my undignified entry had stuffed it. Very snug in the seat - but somehow felt right at home there - very much sitting 'in' rather than 'on'. Cabin was a bit tatty - suppose you'd expect that from a hire car though. Next thing I noticed was the fact it had done 120,000 miles! Probably explained the general feel of the car - a bit dog eared and clearly not used to much tlc at the hands of various rental drivers. Still, I was seriously looking forward to driving the thing! Started her up and the first thing that assaulted my ears - wow! What a noise! Love the sound of big V engines! Couldn't resist giving it a wee blip - yummy!
So off we set a a sedate pace whilst I got used to the car. Gave it a quick squirt away from a roundabout - mmmmm - pokey! Noise just kept on getting better the further up the revs I went. Ohhh! This could become addictive! I'm now getting my first taste of what people see in these cars Always been an "interested observer" from afar - putting my window down whenever there was a TVR in the vicinity better to hear the lovey noise. And now, here was me - the master of that glorious note! Anyway, we headed up into the lovely green parts of Scotland - a hotel booked for us ahead and lots of twisty roads between us and it. Fantasic!
Made the most of the drive up - roof down and travelling at sensible speeds in a car that was still a bit unfamiliar. Passed another S2 in red heading the other direction through Callander and got a wee wave which we returned - how nice!
Got to the hotel in one piece - elated after the drive and ears still ringing! Only slight concern was that the fuel gauge seemed not to have moved...surely I must have used a wee bit of petrol by now? Anyway, once the bags were all safely ensconced in the room I decided that I'd make the most of the 24 hours I had the car for and take it for a wee drive by myself (minus the portable speed limited found in the passenger seat
) The roads were pretty twisty and mostly single track with passing places, so my speed was fairly constrained anyway, but I made the most of it. Keeping the car in second and third and then using the torque to pull it out of the tighter corners, it all felt very fluid and a lot more intimate with the whole driving experience. Relished the chance to give it beans in second out of the tighter corners - the road I was on wound round the side of a mountain, with a loch on my other side (heading along the B829 towards Stronachlachar if anyone knows it) so the noise would echo off the mountain and across the water. Came across a couple of tourists camping in a small Forestry Commission section just off the main road - they must have heard what they thought was the four horsemen of the apocalypse approaching and rushed out of their motorhomes to check Beginning to get a bit dark now so decided to turn around and head back to the hotel, adventure over for today Drive back the next day was another good 'un. Much more sense of occassion driving this beastie than any car I've driven before - and that includes the likes of 911 Turbos etc - something about it just expressed character so well. Reminded me of an old Alfa my dad has many moons ago
So regretfully, I did have to hand it back at the end of my 24hr stint - but as they say, every cloud has a silver lining - the experience has fired my interest and led me to this site! I've been having a browse through the forums, checking out the cars for sale and learning a bit more about the car and what I might be letting myself in for should I decide to take the plunge!
Anyway, I think I've probably gone on for long enough now - before I go I'd be interested to hear about your first TVR experience, and if there are any S owners in Central Scotland. Love to meet up with you and see what a decent one looks like etc.
Hope the rest of you all continue to enjoy your cars - you lucky people!
Cheers
I've been a TVR fanatic ever since the days of the big rumbling V8 wedges that used to make me prick my ears up back in my college days.
Anyhow, my MD (boss, not doctor) used to have an S3C that I used to lust after, and rush to the window for a better listen whenever I heard it start up. It was her company car and insured for any employees aged 30 or over to drive, so as soon as I hit the big three oh I asked whether I could borrow it. As it turned out, I ended up with it over a beautifully sunny bank holiday weekend, and I was well and truly smitten. Even my wife, who's not into cars and was completely disinterested before the weekend, was sad to see it go back.
Roll on a few years, and thanks to a change from a company car to a car allowance, and a bit of planning from my wife (bless her), I was able to realise the dream and buy an S3. The rest, as they say, is history (to end on a cliche!).
I don't think I need to spell out the moral of the story to you!
Anyhow, my MD (boss, not doctor) used to have an S3C that I used to lust after, and rush to the window for a better listen whenever I heard it start up. It was her company car and insured for any employees aged 30 or over to drive, so as soon as I hit the big three oh I asked whether I could borrow it. As it turned out, I ended up with it over a beautifully sunny bank holiday weekend, and I was well and truly smitten. Even my wife, who's not into cars and was completely disinterested before the weekend, was sad to see it go back.
Roll on a few years, and thanks to a change from a company car to a car allowance, and a bit of planning from my wife (bless her), I was able to realise the dream and buy an S3. The rest, as they say, is history (to end on a cliche!).
I don't think I need to spell out the moral of the story to you!
Glad you enjoyed the experience , as for travelling to find a car there are people out there who will do it for a fee. Personally I amongst others here used Rob Ingleby at www.findasportscar.com to do the leg work, highly recommended.
If you contact your local TVRCC (car club) organiser he may be aware of local club members who are selling or may just give you a blat out. You can find contact details on the TVRCC web site www.tvrcc.com
BTW it is very addictive, you may even come away with a Griff 500 before you know it.
Harry
, as for travelling to find a car there are people out there who will do it for a fee. Personally I amongst others here used Rob Ingleby at www.findasportscar.com to do the leg work, highly recommended. If you contact your local TVRCC (car club) organiser he may be aware of local club members who are selling or may just give you a blat out. You can find contact details on the TVRCC web site www.tvrcc.com
BTW it is very addictive, you may even come away with a Griff 500 before you know it
. Harry
The_Gza said:
Thanks guys
Liked Podies edited version
Regards getting one - I'm giving it serious consideration but it's not helped by the fact that the nearest one for sale on AutoTrader is 180 odd miles away
If you can afford it... do it. Had a few toys thrown out the pram at silly little things going wrong (bloody electric aerial!
), worry about it when it's parked up, and whether it's going to over heat (hasn't yet - even on Sunday!)... but the grin has yet to go. In fact, today was a really shitty day. So went and got the car, and went for a blast. Sunddenly the world doesn't seem so bad after all...
Go on! You only live once...!
The_Gza said:
I've been having a browse through the forums, checking out the cars for sale and learning a bit more about the car and what I might be letting myself in for should I decide to take the plunge!
Before you buy the car, buy the book:
www.t-v-r-services.co.uk/tvrbooks/s_book_1.html
Just go out and buy one. As soon as possible - I have - and never regretted a minute - mine is a leggy 105K mile 1990 S3 - which makes me grin everytime I drive it. The lovely thing about the S series is that onlookers also smile and enjoy them with you - even white van man in some cases - S's don't seem to promote the kind of envious (and unfortunate) 'lucky rich bastard' response that unfortunately some of the later cars do.....
I can also recommend Rob Ingleby......
I can also recommend Rob Ingleby......
after I picked mine up and brought it home, my face never hurt so much...:grin:
......and look at this forum....what a bunch of helpful guys...
why are you thinking about it, just go and do it. And its cheap performance motoring, only this sunday I heard an S owner, say that in 2 years of ownning one, he had spent more on a headlight cluster for his new Audi than on his S.....
brought my s1.5 a few weeks ago, I have such a big decision on work days...Citroen C5 or TVR it takes me all of 1 second to make my mind ..Citroen..no no TVR. I actually can't wait to go to work now, the drive in it is superb. My wife found me talking to it the other day..., divorce!! Get one, now. It took me too long to get one, all those waisted driving days..
Peter - I did have a wee looky see...looks lovely Is it black or just very dark metallic something?
The only reason I'm hesitating is that a) my current car (Clio Cup) is plenty quick enough..even quicker than the S2/3 I'd venture and b) costs me nothing to run. The easy option would be to keep it and continue to enjoy cheap motoring. Doesn't have the character of the TVR though...
If I were to go for an S, I'd need to buy another car for the daily grind to work and back
Haven't got a clue what I'd go for - I'd budget around £15k for the both of them which should allow me to get spend about £7/8k on each - should be enough for a pretty good S I'd have thought??
Is it black or just very dark metallic something? The only reason I'm hesitating is that a) my current car (Clio Cup) is plenty quick enough..even quicker than the S2/3 I'd venture and b) costs me nothing to run. The easy option would be to keep it and continue to enjoy cheap motoring. Doesn't have the character of the TVR though...
If I were to go for an S, I'd need to buy another car for the daily grind to work and back
Haven't got a clue what I'd go for - I'd budget around £15k for the both of them which should allow me to get spend about £7/8k on each - should be enough for a pretty good S I'd have thought??peter m said:The condition looks superb - you must be well chuffed!
After lots of effort, I have posted piccies of my new car up, but had no comments. Come on guys..... what do you think.
The_Gza said:Why?
If I were to go for an S, I'd need to buy another car for the daily grind to work and back
RichardR said:
Why?
I'd like to try and keep the S a bit special - for high days and holidays as it were
Plus, servicing bills would mount up doing the 20k a year that I average. Tried doing the commuting thing in my Scooby but got annoyed forking out money left right and centre to sit at 70-80 on the motorway and back every day.Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff