What is it worth??
Discussion
Hi peeps..Wondering how much id get for my pile of junk..As im seriously considering giving up on the idea of ever owning a TVR.
It just sits outside under a cover which is slowly rubbing the paint off...I cant drive it..Its probably one of the worst condition ones on here,Ive spent more money in 6 months than ive ever spent on a car and it still needs a massive amount spent on it,Ive had to walk every where i go so what is the point of owning a car that costs a fortune to run and maintain if i cant use the b
d..I know jack about mechanics or electrics..I dont have a garage..I dont have a job..and all it does is depress me..When people say "nice car mate" i feel like telling them to fk off..I think i made a big mistake kidding myself it would all be worth it..Ive seen a similar one for sale for the last 3 Months which is in much better nick than mine and he cant sell it and its up for £3.5k...So going by that standard id be lucky to get what i paid for it..Perhaps i should of done more research and maybe wouldnt of bought such a pile of st,I appreciate all the help you guys have given me but at the end of the day its been a non productive investment and it doesnt even make me smile anymore...Cheers..A very sad Ziga.
It just sits outside under a cover which is slowly rubbing the paint off...I cant drive it..Its probably one of the worst condition ones on here,Ive spent more money in 6 months than ive ever spent on a car and it still needs a massive amount spent on it,Ive had to walk every where i go so what is the point of owning a car that costs a fortune to run and maintain if i cant use the b
d..I know jack about mechanics or electrics..I dont have a garage..I dont have a job..and all it does is depress me..When people say "nice car mate" i feel like telling them to fk off..I think i made a big mistake kidding myself it would all be worth it..Ive seen a similar one for sale for the last 3 Months which is in much better nick than mine and he cant sell it and its up for £3.5k...So going by that standard id be lucky to get what i paid for it..Perhaps i should of done more research and maybe wouldnt of bought such a pile of st,I appreciate all the help you guys have given me but at the end of the day its been a non productive investment and it doesnt even make me smile anymore...Cheers..A very sad Ziga.I feel for you Mark, my 350i has needed attention most weekends and the list of jobs to do always seems to grow instead of get shorter!
I'll never get my time or money back either, but on those occasions driving down a good road when it's running half decently it kind of makes good sense again.
I suppose it's part of the deal of owning an old (hand built, low volume British sports) car.
I'm sure it will be better when the nicer weather gets here...?
I'll never get my time or money back either, but on those occasions driving down a good road when it's running half decently it kind of makes good sense again.
I suppose it's part of the deal of owning an old (hand built, low volume British sports) car.
I'm sure it will be better when the nicer weather gets here...?
Hello mate..No..Just the same ole st ones..To be honest id be embarrassed to put the roof down cos then people would see the pooey chewed up interior thats falling apart..
In reality id probably spend a fortune getting the rolling chassis sorted and the interior done and then the st under powered restricted crap engine will probably seize..That wouldnt be so bad if it was tuneable but no they made sure of that..If it was a V8 with a good chassis and crap interior i wouldnt be so bothered but its like all my previous crap cars..They Sound fast but are slower than a sloath taking a st..
t ones..To be honest id be embarrassed to put the roof down cos then people would see the pooey chewed up interior thats falling apart..In reality id probably spend a fortune getting the rolling chassis sorted and the interior done and then the s
t under powered restricted crap engine will probably seize..That wouldnt be so bad if it was tuneable but no they made sure of that..If it was a V8 with a good chassis and crap interior i wouldnt be so bothered but its like all my previous crap cars..They Sound fast but are slower than a sloath taking a st..Mark
Stick at it, yes wedges can be annoying,if i had a quid for everytime i have thought about chucking it all in i would be able to buy a italian number or something along those lines.
But you know what i would do, i would go back out and buy another wedge, because all in all nothing gives me more pleasure than burbuling along the road, roof down, listening to the best note there is.
Rob
Stick at it, yes wedges can be annoying,if i had a quid for everytime i have thought about chucking it all in i would be able to buy a italian number or something along those lines.
But you know what i would do, i would go back out and buy another wedge, because all in all nothing gives me more pleasure than burbuling along the road, roof down, listening to the best note there is.
Rob
Cheers for the support guys but most of you have V8s and i have a pooey 2.8i capri thats not even a 2.8.. more like a 2.1, My old 2.0ltr rover was quicker..try and pull a wheel spin in mine and it cuts out..whoopie..loads of fun..I have cracked 2.3 cortina manifolds that dont leak yet(just a matter of time)..wouldnt of been as bad if they had used the 2.8 manifolds, At least i could of whacked a turbo on it..But other than spending a small fortune on trying to tune an un-tuneable engine or a 2.9 conversion or possibly a V8 then im just ending up with an un saleable pile of junk...Iam seriously considering the can of shells finest option..Ziga
A 2.8i is only 30bhp or so less than a 350I, so don't be too hard on it, and besides the 2.8 engine sounds great as well.
I loved my Capri 2.8I, I still miss it now.
Lots of modern cars are quicker, better on fuel, more reliable etc., but do you really want a Vauxhall Astra or similar..?
I often look at mine and all the bits dangling off it, and so do my laughing mates, but hey, how good is when you tell people "I own a TVR!"
If it's not too depressing for you, give us a list of the problems that are stopping you using it and see what advice we can give you..?
I loved my Capri 2.8I, I still miss it now.
Lots of modern cars are quicker, better on fuel, more reliable etc., but do you really want a Vauxhall Astra or similar..?
I often look at mine and all the bits dangling off it, and so do my laughing mates, but hey, how good is when you tell people "I own a TVR!"
If it's not too depressing for you, give us a list of the problems that are stopping you using it and see what advice we can give you..?
The first TVR I ever got to touch was owned by a friend - a white 2.8 Tasmin with red leather interior. It sounded fantastic, it looked like it was doing 100 when it was standing still. It was such a sexy looking car I can still remember how envious I was as it popped and banged when on over run.
You own a part of history, yep its got a Capri engine and a heavy fiber glass body - its unrealiable and in todays terms not that quick. But, when it was launched it was fast and furious, there were better engineered and faster cars on the market but none with the same soul and none, which people remember with such reverence.
So, you still have some issues - the one thing you can count on is the help and support of people like those on this forum.
You could always sell (but not until the spring or summer) but what would you get instead with such character? The standard 350i is not that much faster and prone to as many niggles. The only other option is a modern car or another marque and would either be that much better?
You own a part of history, yep its got a Capri engine and a heavy fiber glass body - its unrealiable and in todays terms not that quick. But, when it was launched it was fast and furious, there were better engineered and faster cars on the market but none with the same soul and none, which people remember with such reverence.
So, you still have some issues - the one thing you can count on is the help and support of people like those on this forum.
You could always sell (but not until the spring or summer) but what would you get instead with such character? The standard 350i is not that much faster and prone to as many niggles. The only other option is a modern car or another marque and would either be that much better?
Cheers chaps..I know what you say is right and maybe iam being too hard on it again but ive run out of money for the time being...The things that are wrong have been posted up but here goes,,I know some arent as bad as im thinking.
UJs need doing.(clonking when i take foot off clutch or de-accelerate)
Rear brakes are low and handbrake non exsistent.
Bent suspension mount.
Tie arm bushes badly fitted and needs re-fitting and adjusting
Caster on front wheels need doing and rear wheels need alignment.
Cracked passenger side manifold.Although its not leaking yet.
Small oil leak that looks like its from gearbox or sump.(gearbox has oil all over it)
Still loosing water somewhere but no obvious signs.(expansion tank empties itself)
The body at the rear creaks when i turn the steering wheel to full lock.
I still only have one headlight working properly..Although i can wind it up.
I have about an inch and a half of play in the steering...Left to right.
I have about an inch of play in the steering up and down.
I have no stop plate on the clutch cable so it moves in and out the hole when i depress the pedal.
The car cuts out if im turning left from a standstill unless im really gentle on the pedal.
I can still smell petrol coming from the pipe behind me.
The heater cable has snapped...
The Fan only works on fast setting..
The hood needs re-trimming and a new window.
The interior is a mess..Seats..carpet..Console..Dash..all needs doing.
Wheels need refurbing as they leak.
These are all the known faults but im sure there are some unknown...I just never wanted a car that needs total restoring but have ended up with one..I used to flick through the classic mags not wanting to touch such cars with a barge pole..Maybe im just a little fed up at the moment..Cheers..Ziga
UJs need doing.(clonking when i take foot off clutch or de-accelerate)
Rear brakes are low and handbrake non exsistent.
Bent suspension mount.
Tie arm bushes badly fitted and needs re-fitting and adjusting
Caster on front wheels need doing and rear wheels need alignment.
Cracked passenger side manifold.Although its not leaking yet.
Small oil leak that looks like its from gearbox or sump.(gearbox has oil all over it)
Still loosing water somewhere but no obvious signs.(expansion tank empties itself)
The body at the rear creaks when i turn the steering wheel to full lock.
I still only have one headlight working properly..Although i can wind it up.
I have about an inch and a half of play in the steering...Left to right.
I have about an inch of play in the steering up and down.
I have no stop plate on the clutch cable so it moves in and out the hole when i depress the pedal.
The car cuts out if im turning left from a standstill unless im really gentle on the pedal.
I can still smell petrol coming from the pipe behind me.
The heater cable has snapped...
The Fan only works on fast setting..
The hood needs re-trimming and a new window.
The interior is a mess..Seats..carpet..Console..Dash..all needs doing.
Wheels need refurbing as they leak.
These are all the known faults but im sure there are some unknown...I just never wanted a car that needs total restoring but have ended up with one..I used to flick through the classic mags not wanting to touch such cars with a barge pole..Maybe im just a little fed up at the moment..Cheers..Ziga
TVRs are a fking pain in the arse sometimes.
If you don't like the one you've got, sell it and buy another one with the looks/engine you want in it.
I wanted a Chimaera, so ended up buying an unseen engine less 350i Wedge from ebay
which I 'improved' by fitting an engine, getting it MOTed, sorting out lots of niggles and making it to Le Mans and back 
It was far, far from perfect though.
Then by chance the right Chimaera came up after 1.5 years of Wedgedom (read that as 'bargain') and the Wedge went up for sale, only to find out via a prospective buyer that the car was a CAT C (the moral here is to always do a check before buying
) I had to drop the price of the Wedge to reflect the skeletons in the cupboard! It sold within two weeks no issues. (Well a V8 Wedge for £1750 was never going to hang about was it )
Probably no help to you, but just trying to say don't loose faith in TVR, just hang tight, do what ever needs doing just to keep it drivable, enjoy it and keep an eye on the classifieds
king pain in the arse sometimes.If you don't like the one you've got, sell it and buy another one with the looks/engine you want in it.
I wanted a Chimaera, so ended up buying an unseen engine less 350i Wedge from ebay
which I 'improved' by fitting an engine, getting it MOTed, sorting out lots of niggles and making it to Le Mans and back It was far, far from perfect though.Then by chance the right Chimaera came up after 1.5 years of Wedgedom (read that as 'bargain') and the Wedge went up for sale, only to find out via a prospective buyer that the car was a CAT C (the moral here is to always do a check before buying
) I had to drop the price of the Wedge to reflect the skeletons in the cupboard! It sold within two weeks no issues. (Well a V8 Wedge for £1750 was never going to hang about was it )Probably no help to you, but just trying to say don't loose faith in TVR, just hang tight, do what ever needs doing just to keep it drivable, enjoy it and keep an eye on the classifieds
mrzigazaga said:
Cheers chaps..I know what you say is right and maybe iam being too hard on it again but ive run out of money for the time being...The things that are wrong have been posted up but here goes,,I know some arent as bad as im thinking.
I just never wanted a car that needs total restoring but have ended up with one..I used to flick through the classic mags not wanting to touch such cars with a barge pole..Maybe im just a little fed up at the moment..Cheers..Ziga
I can relate to a lot of that, and to several items on your list!I just never wanted a car that needs total restoring but have ended up with one..I used to flick through the classic mags not wanting to touch such cars with a barge pole..Maybe im just a little fed up at the moment..Cheers..Ziga
I paid what now seems over the odds for mine (£2,750), and it really needs just about everything re-doing that I haven't already done!
They can get you down at times, you aren't alone.
But just go and stand by it and look at it...
Now, would you want to go outside just to have a look at a reliable, dependable, non-time consuming, cheap to run Mondeo!?
Where abouts in south London are you Mark?
Someone needs to go and give Mark a hug. 
I'd leave it in the garage for a couple of weeks and take time to pause for breath.
Meanwhile re-aquaint yourself with all those old mates who know all about cars, and maybe get them to help sort out the nuts and bolts (easily fixed) issues.
Most important is getting it through an MOT, then you can sell it on to someone who can sort out the interior and other cosmetics.
THEN you can start having a look at a few V8s, because I think you'll be happier with one, and hopefully you'll know what to look for. Even the 350 when running right is a quick car by any standards.
Don't desert us though. There's lots of good people here who've been through a lot of what you're experiencing and come out of it much better men.
I'd leave it in the garage for a couple of weeks and take time to pause for breath.
Meanwhile re-aquaint yourself with all those old mates who know all about cars, and maybe get them to help sort out the nuts and bolts (easily fixed) issues.
Most important is getting it through an MOT, then you can sell it on to someone who can sort out the interior and other cosmetics.
THEN you can start having a look at a few V8s, because I think you'll be happier with one, and hopefully you'll know what to look for. Even the 350 when running right is a quick car by any standards.
Don't desert us though. There's lots of good people here who've been through a lot of what you're experiencing and come out of it much better men.
MArk, your problem is that you think everyone else knows about the problems you're having. They don't. They see an old TVR and they think, jammy git, wish I had one of those. They don't think, "Aha, an old TVR; bet the manifold's cracked, the fan switch is dicky and the UJs are grumbling".
My Tasmin had a crack in the LH manifold: I V-ed it with a grinder and welded it up. In theory welding cast iron is a black art but in that application all you're doing is packing a crack, you're not welding up the girders at Ironbridge.
The UJs are a bit of a grease-monkey job but not expensive. The fan is so feeble that the slow speed isn't worth having. The pod motor's a dodgy connection, blown diode, something simple, you just need to find it. Patience and determination, not a fat chequebook, will fix most of your woes.
You're right of course: the V6 is seen as less valuable than the V8 and selling it for what you see as a price worth having would take time, but meanwhile spend time and as little money as possible using it as a learning aid. That way, when you come to poke around a 350i you'll have an idea what you're looking at, be able to weigh-up pros and cons of any work that needs doing and be in a position to haggle with the seller.
If you think that there's safety in buying a modern tin box instead, youre wrong. When they break the parts are as least as expensive as those on a Wedge: you have to have catalytic converters at whatever they cost, if the engine management falls on its ar53 you can't fix it with a multimeter and one failed balljoint usually means a £200 lower arm rather than the £12 TVR version. Wheel-bearings at £90 a pop aren't unusual (plus the hassle to change them - hydraulic presses and so on!) My mother's Stilo keeps telling her to stop the engine 'cos the airbags have failed (why would you?). My dad's Megane has to have the engine taken out to change the cambelt. I know, because I tried to do it in-situ. In fact you can't even change the front lamps on the Megane without having to break off the clips that hold the bumper on, and then going to Renault for some new ones. Bloody ludicrous.
I paid about £6250 for my 390SE ten years ago and all the service costs in that time add up to about £2500. The car's probably worth £3000.
If I'd spent six grand on a Eurobox back then, would it be worth three K now? I doubt it. Would annual service costs be £250? I suspect not.
My Tasmin had a crack in the LH manifold: I V-ed it with a grinder and welded it up. In theory welding cast iron is a black art but in that application all you're doing is packing a crack, you're not welding up the girders at Ironbridge.
The UJs are a bit of a grease-monkey job but not expensive. The fan is so feeble that the slow speed isn't worth having. The pod motor's a dodgy connection, blown diode, something simple, you just need to find it. Patience and determination, not a fat chequebook, will fix most of your woes.
You're right of course: the V6 is seen as less valuable than the V8 and selling it for what you see as a price worth having would take time, but meanwhile spend time and as little money as possible using it as a learning aid. That way, when you come to poke around a 350i you'll have an idea what you're looking at, be able to weigh-up pros and cons of any work that needs doing and be in a position to haggle with the seller.
If you think that there's safety in buying a modern tin box instead, youre wrong. When they break the parts are as least as expensive as those on a Wedge: you have to have catalytic converters at whatever they cost, if the engine management falls on its ar53 you can't fix it with a multimeter and one failed balljoint usually means a £200 lower arm rather than the £12 TVR version. Wheel-bearings at £90 a pop aren't unusual (plus the hassle to change them - hydraulic presses and so on!) My mother's Stilo keeps telling her to stop the engine 'cos the airbags have failed (why would you?). My dad's Megane has to have the engine taken out to change the cambelt. I know, because I tried to do it in-situ. In fact you can't even change the front lamps on the Megane without having to break off the clips that hold the bumper on, and then going to Renault for some new ones. Bloody ludicrous.
I paid about £6250 for my 390SE ten years ago and all the service costs in that time add up to about £2500. The car's probably worth £3000.
If I'd spent six grand on a Eurobox back then, would it be worth three K now? I doubt it. Would annual service costs be £250? I suspect not.
Edited by Wedg1e on Monday 7th February 00:07
mrzigazaga said:
UJs need doing.(clonking when i take foot off clutch or de-accelerate)
4 UJ's are not so expensive, 1/2 a day to fit.mrzigazaga said:
Rear brakes are low and handbrake non exsistent.
Replacement std pad <£10.00 and adjust the handbrake.mrzigazaga said:
Bent suspension mount.
Saw your post - some heat and straighten maybe some re-enforcement.mrzigazaga said:
Tie arm bushes badly fitted and needs re-fitting and adjusting
Refit and get geometry set up.mrzigazaga said:
Caster on front wheels need doing and rear wheels need alignment.
See above.mrzigazaga said:
Cracked passenger side manifold.Although its not leaking yet.
Not leaking - live with it for now.mrzigazaga said:
Small oil leak that looks like its from gearbox or sump.(gearbox has oil all over it)
Its a 25 year old car, allow a little oil leakage, your chassis wont rust!mrzigazaga said:
Still loosing water somewhere but no obvious signs.(expansion tank empties itself)
Your car is an early car so relies on the header tank in the radiator alone, consider retrofitting a 2.8 capri style expansion tank, it can be plumbed to self bleed.mrzigazaga said:
The body at the rear creaks when i turn the steering wheel to full lock.
Loosen body mounting and spray with silicone spray.mrzigazaga said:
I still only have one headlight working properly..Although i can wind it up.
Investigation required, but TVR electrics are not rocket science, a fix should be relatively simple/cheap. mrzigazaga said:
I have about an inch and a half of play in the steering...Left to right.
Sounds like the bulkhead bush has failed/missing, their inexpensive.mrzigazaga said:
I have about an inch of play in the steering up and down.
See above.mrzigazaga said:
I have no stop plate on the clutch cable so it moves in and out the hole when i depress the pedal.
Don't quite understand, return spring at pedal box missing?mrzigazaga said:
The car cuts out if im turning left from a standstill unless im really gentle on the pedal.
Investigation required.mrzigazaga said:
I can still smell petrol coming from the pipe behind me.
Bottle it and sell it, I love the smell of petrol.mrzigazaga said:
The heater cable has snapped...
Replace the inner cable, there very cheap.mrzigazaga said:
The Fan only works on fast setting..
Either there is a problem with the ballast resistor or the switch, either way not a big job.mrzigazaga said:
The hood needs re-trimming and a new window.
have it re trimmed at your leisure, you can't see it whilst your driving alfresco.mrzigazaga said:
The interior is a mess..Seats..carpet..Console..Dash..all needs doing.
Replace seats at leisure (cheaper than a re trim) and try making up the other parts yourself using the original as rough patterns.mrzigazaga said:
Wheels need refurbing as they leak.
Have your local tyre Indy squeeze the tyres and clean up the rims/tyre beads and have them refitted/or replace with aftermarket wheel, sell your originals to fund.What ever you decide to do don't loose heart, sell it as a project you will get nothing, sell it as a running car that requires some cosmetics you will get more. Your choice, but if you decide to sell more money would mean a better next car.
Chin up!
Chris.
Mark, all part of the enjoyment pal, the moaning and fixing make it all worthwhile when all the heads are turning on a sunny afternoon with the roof down and the pops and bangs. By the way the 280 is not that much slower than the 350 as i had trouble keeping up with domoniques (sir eatalot's) on a run out at the bbwf in 2008.
Keep the chin up sonner its all worth it in the end.
Keep the chin up sonner its all worth it in the end.
all the things you listed arent major jobs. they are definately time-consuming and if you can´t do everything yoursleves this will end in a bottomless pit.
the 280models are quite reliable if they got "some" attention throughout their live.
i dont know what you paid for it (i guess too much?), but it seems that your car must have been neglected over years. and i´m quite sure that the former owner was aware about most (all?) of the problems.
do you know how long he owned it?
considering that 280models come up for sale relatively often and usually not very expensive...i would buy another one instead investing in this car.
you should be able to find a reliable one for 1500 to 2000pound. but, you can buy one for 3500,-pound and also end with a basketcase, the other one which should be a basketcase, i mean pricewise, may turn out as a good one.
the problem with these cars is that they dont have a high "value", which means the investment is never returned.
if you keep your eyes open and dont hurry with buying the first one you might find a bargain...but this may take several months or even more.
the 280models are quite reliable if they got "some" attention throughout their live.
i dont know what you paid for it (i guess too much?), but it seems that your car must have been neglected over years. and i´m quite sure that the former owner was aware about most (all?) of the problems.
do you know how long he owned it?
considering that 280models come up for sale relatively often and usually not very expensive...i would buy another one instead investing in this car.
you should be able to find a reliable one for 1500 to 2000pound. but, you can buy one for 3500,-pound and also end with a basketcase, the other one which should be a basketcase, i mean pricewise, may turn out as a good one.
the problem with these cars is that they dont have a high "value", which means the investment is never returned.
if you keep your eyes open and dont hurry with buying the first one you might find a bargain...but this may take several months or even more.
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff