V8S - a daily runaround ?
Discussion
Without the benefit of a unlimited wallet and insufficient budget to run 3 cars (apparently the wife needs a car), am I kidding myself that I can run and maintain a V8S for daily use (20 miles round trip to work). Would a nice S3 be a much safer (cheaper) bet?Any figures from V8S owners ?
Can't comment on a V8S, but my S3 works well as an everyday car, which I also use for business. In terms of fuel consumption, the V6 will obviously be better than the V8, and I think the Ford engine's probably easier to maintain as well.
At the end of the day, I guess it's going to depend what you're setting your monthly budget at!
At the end of the day, I guess it's going to depend what you're setting your monthly budget at!
20 miles is long enough to get it warmed up nicely and the car will benefit from these daily trips. I would budget around 20 mpg commuting with the occasional blast. What better way to clear your mind from a day in the office than a drive home in one of the best sports cars ever made!
GreenV8S said: 20 miles is long enough to get it warmed up nicely and the car will benefit from these daily trips. I would budget around 20 mpg commuting with the occasional blast. What better way to clear your mind from a day in the office than a drive home in one of the best sports cars ever made!
Couldn't agree more..
Use mine (S3) everyday for work, to and from various places where I work and only a few minor niggles. Saab half its age used to cost twice as much. Only thing I've noticed of late is that despite the mileage remaining the same, my fuel consumption is significantly higher of late.. 
I'm also getting a suntan for the 1st time ever.. V8 is more powerful, but the V6 is good enough for having a lot of fun. IIRC someone around here has swapped a Griff for an S, £ for £ more fun in the S I think..
use my V8S every day .. the V8 is much easier to drive than the V6 models also .. I spend about 70 quid a week on fuel though ouch! car's got 87k miles on it and never misses a beat, gets a regular thrashing, but it's just as happy to trundle at tickover in top gear!
I say go for it!!!!
I say go for it!!!!
Don't really think the V6 or V8 thing should hang anyone up, any of the S series will put the pleasure back into driving, have not grinned so much in years.
I run an S3 but use a seat diesel for those non sunny days. Wouldn't hesitate to use the S for a daily drive, rain or shine barring the distance, I really think Gordon Brown gets enough of my money already!
Get one 6 or 8 cylinders and you'll have a great time...
I run an S3 but use a seat diesel for those non sunny days. Wouldn't hesitate to use the S for a daily drive, rain or shine barring the distance, I really think Gordon Brown gets enough of my money already!
Get one 6 or 8 cylinders and you'll have a great time...
Just to go against the recent onslaught of exuberance for a second ...
In my experience you can use them as daily transport but if you want to keep on top of every little thing and not let them deteriorate you will have to either spend a lot of your time on your car or a fair bit of money with specialists.
If view the car as a hobby and you are really keen on the car and you are handy with the spanners and you have a garage in which to wield said spanners in the darker months then yes. If you view the car as cool and fun transport and don't own a torque wrench then I'd give it a miss.
I'm sure this will provoke a reaction but I'm just telling it like it is from my 2 years with an S3 (and no garage big enough for it) which I've just sold due to a lack of time (conflicts with the amount of time my daughter would appear to require).
I must admit though that I miss it a hell of a lot and really don't know what to do with my weekends any more.
Mark
>> Edited by dern on Tuesday 10th June 13:53
... In my experience you can use them as daily transport but if you want to keep on top of every little thing and not let them deteriorate you will have to either spend a lot of your time on your car or a fair bit of money with specialists.
If view the car as a hobby and you are really keen on the car and you are handy with the spanners and you have a garage in which to wield said spanners in the darker months then yes. If you view the car as cool and fun transport and don't own a torque wrench then I'd give it a miss.
I'm sure this will provoke a reaction but I'm just telling it like it is from my 2 years with an S3 (and no garage big enough for it) which I've just sold due to a lack of time (conflicts with the amount of time my daughter would appear to require).
I must admit though that I miss it a hell of a lot and really don't know what to do with my weekends any more.
Mark
>> Edited by dern on Tuesday 10th June 13:53
All in all a positive post regarding the long term use and enjoyment of this particular TVR type. Perhaps if Mr Wheeler is reading this he'd like to let some of the contributers to this thread 'test' out his latest models to find the niggles and not get too publicly blown up about them!
Bags a T400R (a 5 year test should be fine!)
Bags a T400R (a 5 year test should be fine!)
If you're refering to my post then I did omit to mention that I tried to use it as an everyday car and failed because of lack of maintenance time (edited to add: because of the arrival of my daughter 9 months in to my time with the car) and lack of a garage to work in in the winter. I took it off the road last summer for over a month while I spent weekends getting the engine/gearbox out and back in to recon the gearbox and this winter I got so p*ssed off with the sh*te windscreen wipers (please don't mention rainex
mikes3 said: All in all a positive post regarding the long term use and enjoyment of this particular TVR type.
) that I bought an old vaux carlton to get to work in. All in all I would say it was a favourable experience and I did absolutely love the car but I personally never found the performance aspect to be worth the amount of time (albeit enjoyable) spent on the car.
I'm now in two completely difference minds what to do next... one says get some jap bonkers car (mr2 turbo - don't like big cars) which I can rely on to get me to work all the time and not take up all my spare time keeping it tip top or say borrocks to that and get a westfield and thus keeping all the bits I loved about the s3 but with more performance and keeping the carlton just in case it all goes t*ts up.
Choosing cars is a complex and emotive business isn't it?
Regards,
Mark
BTW, People seem to be asking a hell of a lot for their S's these days? Are they selling at those prices? I paid 7800 for my S3 2 years ago with 78k on the clock and sold it a couple of weeks ago for 6550 with 84k on the clock. He seemed very happy with what he got (it was in good condition imo) but I didn't get enough enquiries to make me think I should have asked for more money. The prices on autotrader are even more bananas though.
>> Edited by dern on Tuesday 10th June 15:34
I guess there is a bit of the sun shine factor going on at the moment, even more confusing when you look at Chim prices which don't seem to be getting a summer boost!
Regards the performance of the S it is a bit of a funny explaining that the biggest kick I get out of the car is the look, the sound and pleasure of ownership.
I believe that they can go like a whiff of weasels whatsits, but to be honest, unless you take it on a track you're not going to get loads out of it. Like all cars, Tivs or otherwise is a bit dumb to try to get to the limit on the roads (unless you're in a micra of course!).
Regards the performance of the S it is a bit of a funny explaining that the biggest kick I get out of the car is the look, the sound and pleasure of ownership.
I believe that they can go like a whiff of weasels whatsits, but to be honest, unless you take it on a track you're not going to get loads out of it. Like all cars, Tivs or otherwise is a bit dumb to try to get to the limit on the roads (unless you're in a micra of course!).
Cool
Regards the performance of the S it is a bit of a funny explaining that the biggest kick I get out of the car is the look, the sound and pleasure of ownership.
I guess we've all got our own requirements and limits.
I believe that they can go like a whiff of weasels whatsits, but to be honest, unless you take it on a track you're not going to get loads out of it. Like all cars, Tivs or otherwise is a bit dumb to try to get to the limit on the roads (unless you're in a micra of course!).
Anyway, glad everyone is enjoying their cars.
Regards,
Mark
Ren Dao uses his daily (but see his recent thread). When he gets back off holiday (tomorrow?), he might have a few words...pretty much all good, except his recent severe, desperate, missfirtune at the hands of some absolute w*nker who ought to be strung up and given two black eyes...
Black! Black!
Ahem. Sorry.
Black! Black!
Ahem. Sorry.
any S car will probably appreciate being driven every day - fuel economy - erm maybe 22mpg - that lets you give it some twice a day, once going to work and once coming back .
Trust me though if you buy one you will fall in love with it and any rational thought will be off out the window.
Missing mine so much (attempted theft repairs)its embarrasing, sulking round the house and calander watching, just waiting on its return.
. Trust me though if you buy one you will fall in love with it and any rational thought will be off out the window.
Missing mine so much (attempted theft repairs)its embarrasing, sulking round the house and calander watching, just waiting on its return.
I can sympathise Ren. The 4 weeks while mine was off being repaired really dragged (particularly at the wheel of a diesel Astra!). It wasn't helped by the return date being put back a couple of times, but that was quickly forgotten once the S was back!
Ren Dao said:Missing mine so much (attempted theft repairs)its embarrasing, sulking round the house and calander watching, just waiting on its return.
Hope the time travels with wings and not on hands and knees!
I can sympathise Ren. The 4 weeks while mine was off being repaired really dragged (particularly at the wheel of a diesel Astra!). It wasn't helped by the return date being put back a couple of times, but that was quickly forgotten once the S was back!
Hope the time travels with wings and not on hands and knees!
Its a bitch aint it !!
Hope the time travels with wings and not on hands and knees!
Its a bitch aint it !!
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