Discussion
Hi all,
Newbie here. Am finding myself with a rather pleasurable problem of having £35k in the bank and trying to decide what new car to go for. I have worked my way gently up the sports car ladder MX5 -> VX220 -> S2000 and am ready to make my next purchase. I have test driven the T350 and (ahem) the Evo VIII, but can't really bear the looks of the evo. Someone suggested to me that if I am looking at 2nd hand - which I am - I should consider the Cerbera too. I want to be able to use the car as an every day vehicle and don't currently have any plans to get out on the track in it. What do we all think? Any other cars I should consider? I would also welcome advice on particular things to look out for when buying TVRs second-hand.
Thanks
SS
Newbie here. Am finding myself with a rather pleasurable problem of having £35k in the bank and trying to decide what new car to go for. I have worked my way gently up the sports car ladder MX5 -> VX220 -> S2000 and am ready to make my next purchase. I have test driven the T350 and (ahem) the Evo VIII, but can't really bear the looks of the evo. Someone suggested to me that if I am looking at 2nd hand - which I am - I should consider the Cerbera too. I want to be able to use the car as an every day vehicle and don't currently have any plans to get out on the track in it. What do we all think? Any other cars I should consider? I would also welcome advice on particular things to look out for when buying TVRs second-hand.
Thanks
SS
Now I know I am probably going to seem really biased (as a Tuscan owner) but I can't recommend it enough as a great car that will put a huge smile on your face, especially if you are going to use it every day. And you'll get change from that lovely £35k!
I have had mine since May and it is my only car and I do probably about 15000ish mile a year. They have their niggles but I don't think that it outweighs the positives.
As far as buying advice goes - history, history, history. Don't be worried about buying one that has been back to the factory for an engine re-build. In fact IMHO, I would probably only buy one that has had the rebuild. Try as many cars as possible as they canm all feel a little different. If you are looking for a proper Tuscan buying guide I suggest you do a search under the Tuscan forum as I am pretty sure that someone has actually produced one....
Happy hunting, what a great position you've found yourself in.
Eve
I have had mine since May and it is my only car and I do probably about 15000ish mile a year. They have their niggles but I don't think that it outweighs the positives.
As far as buying advice goes - history, history, history. Don't be worried about buying one that has been back to the factory for an engine re-build. In fact IMHO, I would probably only buy one that has had the rebuild. Try as many cars as possible as they canm all feel a little different. If you are looking for a proper Tuscan buying guide I suggest you do a search under the Tuscan forum as I am pretty sure that someone has actually produced one....
Happy hunting, what a great position you've found yourself in.
Eve
Go try some - meet some owners - take your time.
I ran a Griff as an everyday car for over three years. Whilst I now have a Tusacn I might not recommend it as an only car.
Whatever you go for (and especially SP6) the words "history", "history" and "history" will stand you in good stead.
I ran a Griff as an everyday car for over three years. Whilst I now have a Tusacn I might not recommend it as an only car.
Whatever you go for (and especially SP6) the words "history", "history" and "history" will stand you in good stead.
Running any TVR, I don't care if it's RV8, AJP, or S6, as an everyday car is always going to be a risk.
I know some people will say they've never had a problem in the 3 weeks they've had the car
but one day, usually when you really need to get somewhere, it'll let you down, it might be something simple, it might not, it would be a very good idea to skim £2k off your budget to buy, and run a banger that can be called into service when your TVR decides it doesn't want to play, or when you know your going to be parking in a dodgy part of town
I'm currently running my Chimaera everyday, but I'll be happier when my backup motorbike is back in one piece, and I'm glad we have racegirls car to do the shopping in
I know some people will say they've never had a problem in the 3 weeks they've had the car
but one day, usually when you really need to get somewhere, it'll let you down, it might be something simple, it might not, it would be a very good idea to skim £2k off your budget to buy, and run a banger that can be called into service when your TVR decides it doesn't want to play, or when you know your going to be parking in a dodgy part of town I'm currently running my Chimaera everyday, but I'll be happier when my backup motorbike is back in one piece, and I'm glad we have racegirls car to do the shopping in
Ive had a Evo as an everyday car modied to 350ish BHP
great fun ...Now got the Tuscan fabulous car but handles totaly different the power is very raw but the looks and sound or awesome.
My advice on buying drive all the versions early models on 16" and 18" wheels plus the red rose and the new S aswell as checking the owners history ring the garage who maintained it
Good luck and enjoy !!! :O))
great fun ...Now got the Tuscan fabulous car but handles totaly different the power is very raw but the looks and sound or awesome.
My advice on buying drive all the versions early models on 16" and 18" wheels plus the red rose and the new S aswell as checking the owners history ring the garage who maintained it
Good luck and enjoy !!! :O))
Sussex_Scott said:
Hi all,
Newbie here. Am finding myself with a rather pleasurable problem of having £35k in the bank and trying to decide what new car to go for. I have worked my way gently up the sports car ladder MX5 -> VX220 -> S2000 and am ready to make my next purchase.
Hi - I recently made the change from S2000 to Tamora, primarily as I still wanted to have a convertible, and it is my only, and everyday, car. Had a beater for a while when running the Honda, but it's not just the acquisition cost - tax, insurance, and in may case, quite a bit of servicing, to drive a pile of shite - won't do again unless can afford quite a nice 2nd car, and all associated costs!
So far Tam has been ok to run daily - it does have niggles, and certain things just seem plain stupid in direct comparison to the Honda, but it's a very different type of car. Still happy with my choice so far
where abouts are you?
How about a trip to VW?Sussex_Scott said:
Hi all,
Newbie here. Am finding myself with a rather pleasurable problem of having £35k in the bank and trying to decide what new car to go for. .
Thanks
SS
I use mine every day and it's been fine.
Should have done about 24k when I sell it in a couple of months so I can give you lots of change from your 35k
Noble :
www.noblecars.com/new-noble-site/index.html
They even have a convertable ..
Yes - take a trip to Virginia Water on Sunday - a good change to talk to many owners !
>> Edited by rev-erend on Friday 22 October 14:39
www.noblecars.com/new-noble-site/index.html
They even have a convertable ..
Yes - take a trip to Virginia Water on Sunday - a good change to talk to many owners !
>> Edited by rev-erend on Friday 22 October 14:39
Wow, what a friendly bunch. Thanks a lot.
To the fella who asked where I am - Hove.
Am definitely gonna take my time and have some fun doing some test drives.
I know the production run of the T's is coming to it's conclusion and they are now being offered new with AC and 18 inchers as standard. Do we know if these last few will have been produced post our Russki friend implementing his new quality controls at the factory? ie could these last few turn out to be a rather smart bargain at 38.5k?
To the fella who asked where I am - Hove.
Am definitely gonna take my time and have some fun doing some test drives.
I know the production run of the T's is coming to it's conclusion and they are now being offered new with AC and 18 inchers as standard. Do we know if these last few will have been produced post our Russki friend implementing his new quality controls at the factory? ie could these last few turn out to be a rather smart bargain at 38.5k?
Sussex_Scott said:
I know the production run of the T's is coming to it's conclusion and they are now being offered new with AC and 18 inchers as standard. Do we know if these last few will have been produced post our Russki friend implementing his new quality controls at the factory? ie could these last few turn out to be a rather smart bargain at 38.5k?
I was at Dream Machines recently, and they told me they are seeing a marked difference in quality in the new TVRski's - whereas before they had a busy job on PDI, different story now, and the cars aren't coming back with the usual long list of faults to be remedied.
I think you should definitely stick with idea of getting a T350, as so far I'm the only Tamora I've seen around Brighton/Hove area
>> Edited by AlexRWD on Friday 22 October 17:13
I use the cerb as an everyday car & it's a nuisance. My main gripe is trying to plan routes with no speed bumps & entrances to car parks with steep gradients, what a nause.
Lack of handbrake for hill starting
General all round visibility,
People approaching & saying "nice car, you ugly b******d"
Not considered an M5 ?
Lack of handbrake for hill starting
General all round visibility,
People approaching & saying "nice car, you ugly b******d"
Not considered an M5 ?
Dear, dear!
And Russell - you forgot to mention taking it on the long route so that it can warm up, having to stop at filling stations so regularly and clean it and the times when it's dark and raining and you're so low down you're just at the right height to be dazzled by every Micra and Astra, and the fact that if you're a bit tired and a bit heavy-footed you'l be trying to enter a roundabout one day and the throttle will go down and you'll be sitting there wheelspinning and going nowhere and you never want to park in that particular space that's the only one available because the kurb is too high and if a simple thing like a bulb goes it might be a three hour job to get it right and you better be planning to check the tyres when they're cold because the least little variation is uncomfortable and then you must remember to check the oil every day and they've run out of Mobil at the local Halfrauds and petrol stations these days are fine if you want to buy a microwave a cup of coffee or a ready prepared three course meal but can you buy a can of oil and is it beyond the bounds of possibility that they might actually bother to stock a headlight bulb and the radio's crap when you want to hear something importnat and then you haven't got enough room to give two people a lift or carry the big box with the new lawnmower you just bought and teh turning circle is pretty useless and where everyone else and their mother can do a U-turn you're reduced to carrying out a nine or eleven point turn and god does the whole thing get dirty so quickly you can't believe the build up of brake dust mixed with other crud on those lovely wheels every time it's less than beautiful weather and you're only ever seen by fellow tivvers when you've got the roof on because you're utilising every last inch of the boot space to go to the tip or sainsburys but as soon as its that nice day and you take the roof off you get one mile down the motorway and theres another seventeen to go before the next exit the traffic all grinds to a halt for no explicable reason and the heavens open or worse still on the same trip you forgot to put sunblock on and the sun comes out and you've got nowhere to go for two hours and...........
....and breathe.......
What a bummer TVR ownership is - don't get one!
And Russell - you forgot to mention taking it on the long route so that it can warm up, having to stop at filling stations so regularly and clean it and the times when it's dark and raining and you're so low down you're just at the right height to be dazzled by every Micra and Astra, and the fact that if you're a bit tired and a bit heavy-footed you'l be trying to enter a roundabout one day and the throttle will go down and you'll be sitting there wheelspinning and going nowhere and you never want to park in that particular space that's the only one available because the kurb is too high and if a simple thing like a bulb goes it might be a three hour job to get it right and you better be planning to check the tyres when they're cold because the least little variation is uncomfortable and then you must remember to check the oil every day and they've run out of Mobil at the local Halfrauds and petrol stations these days are fine if you want to buy a microwave a cup of coffee or a ready prepared three course meal but can you buy a can of oil and is it beyond the bounds of possibility that they might actually bother to stock a headlight bulb and the radio's crap when you want to hear something importnat and then you haven't got enough room to give two people a lift or carry the big box with the new lawnmower you just bought and teh turning circle is pretty useless and where everyone else and their mother can do a U-turn you're reduced to carrying out a nine or eleven point turn and god does the whole thing get dirty so quickly you can't believe the build up of brake dust mixed with other crud on those lovely wheels every time it's less than beautiful weather and you're only ever seen by fellow tivvers when you've got the roof on because you're utilising every last inch of the boot space to go to the tip or sainsburys but as soon as its that nice day and you take the roof off you get one mile down the motorway and theres another seventeen to go before the next exit the traffic all grinds to a halt for no explicable reason and the heavens open or worse still on the same trip you forgot to put sunblock on and the sun comes out and you've got nowhere to go for two hours and...........
....and breathe.......
What a bummer TVR ownership is - don't get one!
Sussex_Scott said:
Hi all,
Newbie here. Am finding myself with a rather pleasurable problem of having £35k in the bank and trying to decide what new car to go for. I have worked my way gently up the sports car ladder MX5 -> VX220 -> S2000 and am ready to make my next purchase. I have test driven the T350 and (ahem) the Evo VIII, but can't really bear the looks of the evo. Someone suggested to me that if I am looking at 2nd hand - which I am - I should consider the Cerbera too. I want to be able to use the car as an every day vehicle and don't currently have any plans to get out on the track in it. What do we all think? Any other cars I should consider? I would also welcome advice on particular things to look out for when buying TVRs second-hand.
Thanks
SS
Coming from the cars you have and the fact you want to run it as an everyday car, quite possibly an only car.
Buy a Porsche.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE TVRs. I love MY TVR. There are people who successfully have a TVR as an everyday/only car. We tried it. Managed it for a good while - but in the end gave in and got a runner too.
And believe me we tried not to...
So going by what you've said: Buy a Porsche.
For the money you are talking about you can get a nice Boxster S. If you are trading in your S2K (a fine car) and adding £35K on top you could be talking a nice C4S or even an LHD Turbo.
If you go down the TVR route get a runner too. Really.
35k you say....
911 Turbo, post 95, 408 brake, 4 wheel drive (so if your a lesser mortal like me, you can actually use the power available)
I can feel my fingers slipping towards typing "cahoot" as I think.
I love the TVR, but I feel I'm always on edge, my transit van is more relaxing drive, come to think of it, the missus's 97 auto rover 114 is a better drive...
p.s. I still love the TVR
911 Turbo, post 95, 408 brake, 4 wheel drive (so if your a lesser mortal like me, you can actually use the power available)
I can feel my fingers slipping towards typing "cahoot" as I think.
I love the TVR, but I feel I'm always on edge, my transit van is more relaxing drive, come to think of it, the missus's 97 auto rover 114 is a better drive...
p.s. I still love the TVR
RUSSELLM said:
I love the TVR, but I feel I'm always on edge,
I know exactly how this feels! Had the griff majorly sideways whilst driving in a STRAIGHT line on the A23 near Gatwick earlier today. I was only trying to gingerly accelerate at part throttle in third, coming down the slip road!!!
Absolutely sh
t myself I did!!! Sussex_Scott said:
Hi all,
Newbie here. Am finding myself with a rather pleasurable problem of having £35k in the bank and trying to decide what new car to go for. I have worked my way gently up the sports car ladder MX5 -> VX220 -> S2000 and am ready to make my next purchase. I have test driven the T350 and (ahem) the Evo VIII, but can't really bear the looks of the evo. Someone suggested to me that if I am looking at 2nd hand - which I am - I should consider the Cerbera too. I want to be able to use the car as an every day vehicle and don't currently have any plans to get out on the track in it. What do we all think? Any other cars I should consider? I would also welcome advice on particular things to look out for when buying TVRs second-hand.
Thanks
SS
Been there lad, in fact I am there right now!
I went Mx5 - MGTF (with a few older mg/healeys in the garage at home).
Dont buy a TVR new, it is just a waste of money. Seriously, stand in the shower, turn it on cold and rip up £50 notes. That way you can pretend you just picked up your new Tiv from Blackpool in the middle of winter.
Save the cash and buy a late yr Grif for £10k less. Buy a runabout with the spare cash.
Next option. 911 Turbo II 3.6. £30-2k buys a very nice Turbo II 3.6. Use the spare cash for a runabout.
Option 4. Maserati 3200 for £28- £25k. Depreciation has really given these cars a kicking and they are an absolute bargain at the prices you can get them for now.
Last option. Ferrari 512BB - £35k. Get a grand somewhere else and buy a runabout.
I was Option 3 bound till the accident this summer and forced a financial re-appraisal. I considered option 2 (very seriously) as I did option 3. In the end however, Im a Blackpool boy and I grew up with Griffs rumbling around me. Ive gone for a Grif, not borrowing any money and having a diesel Fiesta as my runabout.
Oh and an Evo???? What the
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