Fallen back in Love with TVR !!!

[Tuscan Rat]

Right that itch is back, and it’s all thanks to a Porsche !!

Since my loved Tuscan met the great Phoenix in the sky a few years back I have never really thought about owning another TVR. This all changed a few days back when I test drove a Carrera S 997, 911 (or however the numbers are written). I got out of the car and just walked away without even looking back. There was no spark or flair in the drive, it was like driving a BMW 530d estate at work !!!!. For those that know me, know my driving CV, I gave the Porker a quality A road test drive but compared to the TVR experience, I was bored. These feelings were backed up yesterday when I sew the Porker line up next to the TVR line up at Dunsfold....

Right I think my feelings are now clear so......

Thoughts on this, there are a few Tuscans floating around with a price tag just above the 10k price tag. Would you buy one of these with a 20k budget and drop it off at someone like racing green and ask them to rebuild the engine from the off ??

Any other TVR specialists you would use and is this an unreasonable budget ??

[nrick]

Hi

I bought a Cat C with just that thought. Paid just under of 10k for it, few jobs to do, no rebuilt, no history, but all there. In fact it drove perfectly and still does. Then I could do what I like with it. Done about 4k now and it has cost me some tyres (thanks Blueg33) and fuel. I have chosen to do some maintenance items (plugs/coil/leads) and the only breakdown (although not technically a breakdown as I drove home) has been a throttle cable.

Options

Paint or wrap (1k+)
Interior (2k)
engine 4.0/4.3/4.5 fff 3yr warranty, 100k guarantee's (£2k +)
Suspension (Gaz golds)/Nitrons/Racing Reds) £600+
Clutch £1000
New Carpets (£800)


With that budget you could build the car you want and have all that, well that is my theory anyway. It would also be almost new. If you do the work yourself then it is really really good value, and there is not a car in the world that makes you feel like that for the money.

In fact my 520d msport goes back at the end of the month, great car but I hate it. What do you replace it with M5/M6 try getting one of those with a 100k warranty on the engine for that sort of money, and the gearbox is a little high maintenance. Porsche? Ferrari? Maserati? Bentley? So I am looking at a speed six cerbera (need a few more seats), and the Tuscan for me, happy days.....

All just my thoughts....

[Gazzab]

nrick said:

Options

Paint or wrap (1k+)
Interior (2k)
engine 4.0/4.3/4.5 fff 3yr warranty, 100k guarantee's (£2k +)
Suspension (Gaz golds)/Nitrons/Racing Reds) £600+
Clutch £1000
New Carpets (£800)

Paint is normally £1K plus just for front end stone chips?
Engine is likely to be nearer £8K for the options mentioned PLUS ancillaries that will likely need replacing when engine is out eg water rails etc.

[blueg33]

I wouldnt bother with a rebuild until in breaks (some haven't broken yet so you could be lucky), then I would go for a TVR Power 4.3 rebuild which costs about £8k and comes with a 100k warranty.

I think they all need stuff doing and a wish list can be as long as you want. My wish list would quite quickly make it to £10k if a garage was doing the work.

4.3 upgrade £8k
Interior retrim £2k
Nitrons £1k
PAS rebuild £700
Flip bonnet conversion £800
Better sound system £500

damn it, I have blown the budget before I allow for routine consumables like

Clutch £800
Brake discs and pads £800
Electrical faults (there are bound to be some) £200
Throttle cable £100 fitted
Engine mounts £?

Cost is tempered slightly by selling bits I dont need - thanks nrick

[tonys]

I wouldn't bother with a rebuild unless it needed it; depends how far you want to take preventative maintenance I guess. However, I can understand why a TVR instead of a Porsche

[nrick]

Gazzab said:

Paint is normally £1K plus just for front end stone chips?
Engine is likely to be nearer £8K for the options mentioned PLUS ancillaries that will likely need replacing when engine is out eg water rails etc.

I had the front of mine down in Rosso Red Pearl (a real bh) for £300 including taking it apart and putting it back together. The service bonnet had to be re-laminated and was a bh, still only £300. Wheels £200. You can wrap for £800-£1500.

8k for a rebuild that might or might not need doing. If you do it yourself (and yes it is possible then you wouldn't spend 8k). If you take it to a garage then I have heard of people spending upwards of 13k. You can buy a rebuilt head for 2k+vat fully built up or you can do what I did and buy one for £800 and follow the online guide

I am not saying it is for everyone, but there are options!

Blueg33, you only need to ask!

PS Just got a clutch for £30 (some fingers missing but plenty of material on it!)

[nrick]

blueg33 said:

I wouldnt bother with a rebuild until in breaks (some haven't broken yet so you could be lucky), then I would go for a TVR Power 4.3 rebuild which costs about £8k and comes with a 100k warranty.

I think they all need stuff doing and a wish list can be as long as you want. My wish list would quite quickly make it to £10k if a garage was doing the work.

4.3 upgrade £8k (Agreed or a 4.2 Str8six)
Interior retrim £2k (Carpets £150 if you do it yourself and they are better, teaching myself upholstery )
Nitrons £1k (£300 Gaz golds on ebay, £100 for geo)
PAS rebuild £700
Flip bonnet conversion £800 Why
Better sound system £500 ( £200)

damn it, I have blown the budget before I allow for routine consumables like

Clutch £800 (Agreed)
Brake discs and pads £800 (Working on that one)
Electrical faults (there are bound to be some) £200 (Heater ECU?)
Throttle cable £100 fitted (£30 from me
Engine mounts £?

Cost is tempered slightly by selling bits I dont need - thanks nrick

[blueg33]

nrick said:

blueg33 said:

I wouldnt bother with a rebuild until in breaks (some haven't broken yet so you could be lucky), then I would go for a TVR Power 4.3 rebuild which costs about £8k and comes with a 100k warranty.

I think they all need stuff doing and a wish list can be as long as you want. My wish list would quite quickly make it to £10k if a garage was doing the work.

4.3 upgrade £8k (Agreed or a 4.2 Str8six)
Interior retrim £2k (Carpets £150 if you do it yourself and they are better, teaching myself upholstery )
Nitrons £1k (£300 Gaz golds on ebay, £100 for geo)
PAS rebuild £700
Flip bonnet conversion £800 Why
Better sound system £500 ( £200)

damn it, I have blown the budget before I allow for routine consumables like

Clutch £800 (Agreed)
Brake discs and pads £800 (Working on that one)
Electrical faults (there are bound to be some) £200 (Heater ECU?)
Throttle cable £100 fitted (£30 from me
Engine mounts £?

Cost is tempered slightly by selling bits I dont need - thanks nrick

Flip bonnet, because the bolt on one is PITA when you are on your own or at kwik fit for aircon refresh

[nrick]

blueg33 said:

Flip bonnet, because the bolt on one is PITA when you are on your own or at kwik fit for aircon refresh

Good point, take the aircon out, saps power and adds to the number of things that can go wrong! I'm getting quite good at taking it on and off! Even put some brackets on the wall for it!

[dvs_dave]

nrick said:

blueg33 said:

Flip bonnet, because the bolt on one is PITA when you are on your own or at kwik fit for aircon refresh

Good point, take the aircon out, saps power and adds to the number of things that can go wrong! I'm getting quite good at taking it on and off! Even put some brackets on the wall for it!

You'd actually go to the hassle of removing the AC and foregoing the comfort it provides? It's just about as simple an AC system (i.e not much to go wrong) as you can get and they don't have a reputation for unreliability at all.

[blueg33]

nrick said:

Good point, take the aircon out, saps power and adds to the number of things that can go wrong! I'm getting quite good at taking it on and off! Even put some brackets on the wall for it!

Warm but wet day, roof on then you get stuck in a traffic jam, with the heat soak air con is a godsend.

[Targarama]

blueg33 said:

Warm but wet day, roof on then you get stuck in a traffic jam, with the heat soak air con is a godsend.

This. How much power do you think it saps, esp when it is turned off and not even engaged. TVRs don't exactly lack power anyway.

[nrick]

I can't think of many race cars with ac?

Dave/blueg33. In my car it looks like it was removed (with my air box ) at some time, so the question is would I put it back in, the answer is no. If I was touring France then maybe I would consider it. I very rarely put the rear screen in, but have had the roof on a couple of times. Never missed ac in it, well not yet....

[Tuscan Rat]

Thanks for some great ideas !!

As for the AC question, it was a God send on mine one year after getting caught in the biggest dump of rain ever on route to Le Mans !! All the Tiv drivers pulling over with wet cars after braving it for a bit to long with roofs off. After that AC on full to clear the window !!!

Also I don't think anybody drives a TVR on a road that would notice the power difference when the AC is on or off !!

[John D.]

nrick said:

I can't think of many race cars with ac?

I think there is actually a GT series where it is compulsory for all cars believe it or not.

[Oggs]

Great to hear mate but....... is this toy going to replace the bike??

[blueg33]

nrick said:

I can't think of many race cars with ac?

Dave/blueg33. In my car it looks like it was removed (with my air box ) at some time, so the question is would I put it back in, the answer is no. If I was touring France then maybe I would consider it. I very rarely put the rear screen in, but have had the roof on a couple of times. Never missed ac in it, well not yet....

Neill

If I didn't have aircon I wouldn't fit it, but as I have its nice if it works and it does help even with roof off and screen out when sat in baking sun in a traffic jam (Cheltenham in April )

Quite a few closed cockpit le mans cars have aircon as there is a max cabin temp rule.

Nick

[Tuscan Rat]

Oggs said:

Great to hear mate but....... is this toy going to replace the bike??

Not sure mate, waiting to see what I get from the insurance company re being knocked off my bike. I'm still off work and wandering the internet is a dangerous place when your bored. We were looking for a Porker to replace the Type R as a toy and as above never really realised how boring they were. Anyway we ended up with a rather sexy white S2000. However thats her toy...When the VFR goes I need to decide..BMW GS..or do I get another TVR !!!!

[chevy-stu]

blueg33 said:

Neill

If I didn't have aircon I wouldn't fit it, but as I have its nice if it works and it does help even with roof off and screen out when sat in baking sun in a traffic jam (Cheltenham in April )

Quite a few closed cockpit le mans cars have aircon as there is a max cabin temp rule.

Nick

i was at Le Mans a couple of years ago and I'm sure one of the cars got disqualified for too high a cabin temperature....

[nrick]

John D. said:

I think there is actually a GT series where it is compulsory for all cars believe it or not.

What has the world come to