Should I buy a 's'
Discussion
Hi - opinion varies a bit on this and condition is clearly a major factor, especially for chassis, outriggers and trailing arms. Suggest projects 3.5k or less. Usable and average 4.5k to 5.5k. Top 6k-8k (poss higher for exceptional). V8s tend toncarry a premium possibly chuck on another 4-5k onto these figures. Always creates a debate but prices do appear to have lifted slowly.. Usually a few in ads. If you find one, mightbe worth asking here if they know itand can comment. Pete
Again - huge debate and depends what you are looking for. I've had both and like both. The V6 was a lot of fun, eager and thrashable, loads of pops and bangs - insanely good value for a sports car. A V8 is also fun, but not so thrashable. For me they "feel" different. The v8 feels more tourer and planted. The v6 just wants to be caned!. V8s could be considered slightly easier for parts as most Rover V8 parts generally available. The ONLY thing that annoyed me on my S2 was the shorter doors (which changed to longer ones on the S3) because i'm so tall. I also used to hit my downpipes more on the V6 as they usually go under the engine down the centre, whereas the V8 Pipes don't seem to suffer in the same way due to their arrangement.
There is a question of subtly different looks too. The V8s have the lower foglight and the bonnet arrangement just a bit curvier if your into aesthethic stuff.
Personally, if I had the cash and more importantly space - I'd have one of each (there a few guys on here who have done that)
It really is that fine a line for most of us.
MPG clearly better on the V6 but you don't generally buy a TVR with fuel economy in mind, as you'll well know!
There is a question of subtly different looks too. The V8s have the lower foglight and the bonnet arrangement just a bit curvier if your into aesthethic stuff.
Personally, if I had the cash and more importantly space - I'd have one of each (there a few guys on here who have done that)
It really is that fine a line for most of us.
MPG clearly better on the V6 but you don't generally buy a TVR with fuel economy in mind, as you'll well know!
I think you'd have to drive one to find out Benny 
Are you looking for a toy to fettle, or do you want a good running example,
Is it for occasional drives or do you want to be able to use it regularly.
All those things will dictate what you should expect to pay,,
If your after a V8 it's not going to be a cheap car to buy or maintain,
The S2 is a fantastic car for the money and with the 2.9 engine it's pretty bullet proof if maintained and driven properly,
If your on a budget then these are the perfect Tvr to own I reckon, your still in the fold, it's still exactly a Tvr and sounds and goes more than fast enough,,
If you want to tour then the V8 is the one for me,, it's just so effortless at 80mph,,
Sadly in my view the S cars are grossly under valued and looked down on for far to long,, it's times coming,
Nothing out there looks much like it,, my S was really well built and very reliable for the time I had it.
If I was constrained to a budget I'd instantly go back to the S cars simply because they are great value and you'll get a lot of car for your money.
It's clear to see on here that S owners are as passionate as any Tvr group and the cars are understood and maintained to the highest levels,, no reason why you can't buy a really good car off an honest owner and get on driving it as it should be.
Good luck getting back in the fold.
Al
Are you looking for a toy to fettle, or do you want a good running example,
Is it for occasional drives or do you want to be able to use it regularly.
All those things will dictate what you should expect to pay,,
If your after a V8 it's not going to be a cheap car to buy or maintain,
The S2 is a fantastic car for the money and with the 2.9 engine it's pretty bullet proof if maintained and driven properly,
If your on a budget then these are the perfect Tvr to own I reckon, your still in the fold, it's still exactly a Tvr and sounds and goes more than fast enough,,
If you want to tour then the V8 is the one for me,, it's just so effortless at 80mph,,
Sadly in my view the S cars are grossly under valued and looked down on for far to long,, it's times coming,
Nothing out there looks much like it,, my S was really well built and very reliable for the time I had it.
If I was constrained to a budget I'd instantly go back to the S cars simply because they are great value and you'll get a lot of car for your money.
It's clear to see on here that S owners are as passionate as any Tvr group and the cars are understood and maintained to the highest levels,, no reason why you can't buy a really good car off an honest owner and get on driving it as it should be.
Good luck getting back in the fold.
Al
benny4x said:
Thanks for that quite fancy a v8! Are they worth the extra cash?
The rarity of the V8S dictates the sell price is typically in line with a Chimaera in similar condition.If you must have a V8S your fist challenge will be finding one, the V8S' low production numbers immediately translates to a significant lack of choice, and that limits things a lot. Choose the far more common Chimaera and a world of choice is opened up to you, this makes finding your perfect car a much much easier exercise.
Also don't lose sight of the fact the Chimaera was TVR's design evolution of the S model, there's no doubt their approach was to remove as many of the S model limitations as possible which meant a clean sheet (for TVR) approach to the design.
Everything from the suspension to the chassis design to the overall ergonomics and practicality of the S model was looked at and improved, the S had been a very successful model for TVR but Peter Wheeler already had an engine that could easily overwhelm its chassis & rear suspension design. Overall by 1990 the S was very much starting to show its age, the addition of the 4.0 litre V8 in the V8S was really just a stop gap while the TVR readied the Griffith and more specifically the Chimaera for production.
TVR needed something that gave their faithful S buyers the next step up, but they also needed a car that would appeal to a type of buyer that would never have previously considered the TVR brand. The new car needed to be a more complete and finished product that could handle the power of the bigger capacity Rover V8 engines coming out of the newly formed Tuscan Challenge race series.
Indeed what you see with the Griff & Chimaera was a chassis directly evolved from TVR's experience on the track, remove the roll cage from a Tuscan race car and what you're left with is very much a Chimaera/Griff chassis and that's big step on from an S chassis with its trailing arm rear suspension arrangement which really was the limiting factor in how much power you could safely give the S model.
Don't get me wrong the S models are charming in their own right, but if you must have a V8 engine {and who could blame you for that?} you've really got to love the looks to seek out the stop gap V8S when you could easily have the choice of any number of the improved Chimaera model, and for more or less the same money.
thanks al,
I was thinking on a chim too but don't think I could stretch to one on my budget but I now coming round to thinking the 's' is better looking anyway!!
I'm looking for a nice example (not perfect) I don't mind doing the odd things and improvements but don't want any major work or expense. and it would be just for jollies on high days and fine days
I was thinking on a chim too but don't think I could stretch to one on my budget but I now coming round to thinking the 's' is better looking anyway!!
I'm looking for a nice example (not perfect) I don't mind doing the odd things and improvements but don't want any major work or expense. and it would be just for jollies on high days and fine days
I think the deciding factor between V6 and V8 will be your gut versus your wallet. The V8 TVRs are quite a different experience to the V6 ones but they do cost more to buy and more to run. I think my bills for fuel, consumables, servicing etc jumped by about 50% when I went from an S2 to a V8S. Whichever you decide to go for, I suggest that buying a TVR in good structural and mechanical condition is far more important than buying the model/colour you fell in love with. If this is your first TVR I strongly recommend you go to your local TVR car club regional meeting and look for an experienced owner to come with you to look the car over without the rose tinted glasses. It's very easy to get carried away by the glorious exhaust note and neck-snapping acceleration - they all have that, but you need to make sure it doesn't also come with a rotten chassis or mechanical / electrical problems.
benny4x said:
thanks al,
but I'm now coming round to thinking the 's' is better looking anyway!!
Benny - In that case, your already in the S Club my friend. Don't think you'll get much of a disagreement to that statement on this forum. I also happen to agree with you - the S lines looks cleaner and purer, particularly with the "KAM tail" style rear. Massive respect to Green V8s but I don't recollect my costs going up by 50% when buying the V8 from the S2, but then mine doesn't have anywhere near the same level of engine jewellery as Green V8s monster. Yep the Griff and Chim are more modern and undoubtedly more competent, but its interesting how many lament their "S's" too. but I'm now coming round to thinking the 's' is better looking anyway!!
I love most TVR's but I think the restraint of the S looks is also part of its attraction.
People do say the V8S is rare, but it certainly feels like there are a heck of lot more than the quoted 38 or so on the DVLA website - on here alone there are over 70, and there have been quite a few for sale over the last year or two. Just a case of waiting patiently in the wings - or you could get a V6 while your waiting!
mikeock64]hemee said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-V8S-S-Series-4-0-Rov...
[/quote Sold now. Good price. But often the pics don't show the true condition.
When you say good price, do you mean it was good value or the owner got a good price for it?[/quote Sold now. Good price. But often the pics don't show the true condition.
If this story helps you at all, I went the other way. From a 4.5 ltr Chim to an S4
The V8 is a wonderful beast, but if you enjoy a raw driving experience, powering through the bends and revving the engine hard. The V6 is fantastic. And you are having great thrills and working hard at reasonable speeds.
The S4 has the wider track that the V8 has which makes it more planted than the earlier S's.
There's a V8 for sale on the TVR CC website.
Good luck in your search and go for it !!!
The V8 is a wonderful beast, but if you enjoy a raw driving experience, powering through the bends and revving the engine hard. The V6 is fantastic. And you are having great thrills and working hard at reasonable speeds.
The S4 has the wider track that the V8 has which makes it more planted than the earlier S's.
There's a V8 for sale on the TVR CC website.
Good luck in your search and go for it !!!
V8S said:
When you say good price, do you mean it was good value or the owner got a good price for it?
New owner got a good deal. IMHO.As to the OP, why stop at 1? They are great little cars. Brilliant vale - compared to later TVRs and other marques. The Wedges seem to give more bang for your buck - solid, clean 350i can be had for £6k - but they have their own 'issues'.
A part of me is dissapointed to miss out on the blue V8S but I hope it has bought someone new into 'the fold'. Besides, I have my eyes on a V8S I'm sure no one else knows about.
I think they are both great.
I've never liked the Chims lines, its the weakest looking of all TVRs for me.
Given the choice, if i had £7k or less, its a v6 S. Doors on the S2 and 1 only matter if you have big feet and short legs
If I had £10k - £15, V8S
If I had £15-£20 i'd be after a griffith or tamora
Bank on spending a grand a year on maintenance and improvement and you won't go far wrong, unless you've got major issues and saved some cash when you bought it.
Buy out of season and from a difficult to get to place......or be a skilled buyer, or both :-)
I've never liked the Chims lines, its the weakest looking of all TVRs for me.
Given the choice, if i had £7k or less, its a v6 S. Doors on the S2 and 1 only matter if you have big feet and short legs
If I had £10k - £15, V8S
If I had £15-£20 i'd be after a griffith or tamora
Bank on spending a grand a year on maintenance and improvement and you won't go far wrong, unless you've got major issues and saved some cash when you bought it.
Buy out of season and from a difficult to get to place......or be a skilled buyer, or both :-)
mk1fan said:
New owner got a good deal. IMHO.
As to the OP, why stop at 1? They are great little cars. Brilliant vale - compared to later TVRs and other marques. The Wedges seem to give more bang for your buck - solid, clean 350i can be had for £6k - but they have their own 'issues'.
A part of me is dissapointed to miss out on the blue V8S but I hope it has bought someone new into 'the fold'. Besides, I have my eyes on a V8S I'm sure no one else knows about.
Ah. I've been out of the loop for a while, and there's so few V8s that come up for sale that it's hard to gauge current prices.As to the OP, why stop at 1? They are great little cars. Brilliant vale - compared to later TVRs and other marques. The Wedges seem to give more bang for your buck - solid, clean 350i can be had for £6k - but they have their own 'issues'.
A part of me is dissapointed to miss out on the blue V8S but I hope it has bought someone new into 'the fold'. Besides, I have my eyes on a V8S I'm sure no one else knows about.
I like to keep an eye out just in case I want to sell mine one day.
As far as I can see, prices have risen. That is good news.
To answer your question with a question. How handy are you at fixing old cars? The T-cars are quite well supported by specialists but you could end up spending an awful lot of money on garage bills while so-called "technicians" try to trouble shoot any problems you might will experience.
If you understand old cars and what makes them go, and not go, the the answer is a resounding YES. But if you're not sure, then maybe think about something a little more "maintenance-lite".
Good luck with what ever you chose to do and follow the advice above.
If you understand old cars and what makes them go, and not go, the the answer is a resounding YES. But if you're not sure, then maybe think about something a little more "maintenance-lite".
Good luck with what ever you chose to do and follow the advice above.
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