To non-UK-residing TVR owners
Discussion
This message is particulary adressed to owners of TVR-engined TVRs (Cerbera, Tuscan, Tamora)
Could you please tell us:
1) Where you live
2) Where you get your car serviced: official TVR dealer or other
3) If your engine has required going back to Blackpool; if so if it took ages to get sorted
4) anything else that may be worth noticing
On the whole, do you think owning a TVR out of the UK is far from "impossible" or not?
In advance, thank you for answering!
>>> Edited by Thom on Wednesday 13th November 20:58
Could you please tell us:
1) Where you live
2) Where you get your car serviced: official TVR dealer or other
3) If your engine has required going back to Blackpool; if so if it took ages to get sorted
4) anything else that may be worth noticing
On the whole, do you think owning a TVR out of the UK is far from "impossible" or not?
In advance, thank you for answering!
>>> Edited by Thom on Wednesday 13th November 20:58
.
Depends a bit where you live, I suppose. There is a good dealer near Ghent in Belgium. Services Tuscans & Cerbs, and is a full TVR-recognised dealer. He was involved with the 24-hr Speed Six as well, I think. There's a dealer near Rotterdam in Holland but I'm not sure they can deal with non-Rover engines.
Furthermore, there are apparently a couple of dealers in Germany who also do Cerbs (and Tuscans?). So, again, depends how far you want to drive. Don't know about any French dealers who do this... If Belgium or Germany are too far, maybe you'd be best off having your car serviced at the UK dealer closest to Dover?? Contrarily, apparently there are UK owners who go to the Belgian dealer for service (LOADS cheaper than official UK dealers).
>> Edited by mmertens on Thursday 14th November 00:57
Furthermore, there are apparently a couple of dealers in Germany who also do Cerbs (and Tuscans?). So, again, depends how far you want to drive. Don't know about any French dealers who do this... If Belgium or Germany are too far, maybe you'd be best off having your car serviced at the UK dealer closest to Dover?? Contrarily, apparently there are UK owners who go to the Belgian dealer for service (LOADS cheaper than official UK dealers).
>> Edited by mmertens on Thursday 14th November 00:57
Only of limited use since ours is a 4.0 Griff.
We live in Monaco and brought the car out a couple of years ago. We have a TVR dealer in Cannes (so can also do TVR-engined models) who is very good. For parts, I get them mail-ordered from UK dealers or whoever. Easy, quick and cheap. (E.g. currently have a set of ACT replacement hoses on the way ready for the next service in the new year).
For really tricky/expensive things I've though about flying out the UK non-TVR but excellent mechanic from where we used to live who used to "do" the car. He is unbeatable and cheap. With cheap flights to Nice its realistic! So far, though, there's been no need.
Hope this helps.
We live in Monaco and brought the car out a couple of years ago. We have a TVR dealer in Cannes (so can also do TVR-engined models) who is very good. For parts, I get them mail-ordered from UK dealers or whoever. Easy, quick and cheap. (E.g. currently have a set of ACT replacement hoses on the way ready for the next service in the new year).
For really tricky/expensive things I've though about flying out the UK non-TVR but excellent mechanic from where we used to live who used to "do" the car. He is unbeatable and cheap. With cheap flights to Nice its realistic! So far, though, there's been no need.
Hope this helps.
I have got a Chimaera (just sold a couple of weeks ago)
in Belgium, and haven't experienced any problems for
maintenance or parts. MF Cars in Ghent do a great job,
and like mmertens said, have experience in Tuscans and
Cerberas because they have some British customers.
I ordered a LHD Tuscan, which will hopefully arrive
in January next year, and I am quite sure that they will do again a good job when something goes wrong...
in Belgium, and haven't experienced any problems for
maintenance or parts. MF Cars in Ghent do a great job,
and like mmertens said, have experience in Tuscans and
Cerberas because they have some British customers.
I ordered a LHD Tuscan, which will hopefully arrive
in January next year, and I am quite sure that they will do again a good job when something goes wrong...
Service in Holland is very good since Nimag (distributor and dealer) handles my Griff (and all other models) very well. They have some experience with Tuscans (Graham's Rosie) and a few Cerbera's. Better ask Graham but I think overall they are as good (or even better) than a good UK dealer.
Hi Thom,
1) Lugano, southern part of Switzerland (75 km north from Milan)
2) Official Swiss dealer for regular servicing (i.e., 6000 miles intervals); I do on my own some regular maintenance between services such as all kind of checks (buy the “bible”), fluid changes, greasing… (and all other things that serve as a good excuse to spend some additional time with the car during the bad weather periods)
3) The main dealer (unfortunately 250 km from where I leave) is able to handle any engine problems – by the way, they are (also) specializing in engine tuning
4) Be ready to get your hands dirty – TVR needs some more attention and love than “vulgar” German machines (no offence) – mais c’est ce qui fait tout leur charme
Ciao, Ozren
1) Lugano, southern part of Switzerland (75 km north from Milan)
2) Official Swiss dealer for regular servicing (i.e., 6000 miles intervals); I do on my own some regular maintenance between services such as all kind of checks (buy the “bible”), fluid changes, greasing… (and all other things that serve as a good excuse to spend some additional time with the car during the bad weather periods)
3) The main dealer (unfortunately 250 km from where I leave) is able to handle any engine problems – by the way, they are (also) specializing in engine tuning
4) Be ready to get your hands dirty – TVR needs some more attention and love than “vulgar” German machines (no offence) – mais c’est ce qui fait tout leur charme
Ciao, Ozren
Forgot to add – whilst mine is Rover based Griffith 500 (1998) and you focus on TVR AJP6 engines, unless you really have bad luck and face major engine problems, taking care of “small imperfections” (e.g. re-glue the carpet, sort out all sort of strange noises, change the seals, declare war on rust, re-seal (that is: seal with more care) some parts in the engine bay…) seems to be the preferred “passe-temps” of all TVR owners.
But all this will be more than offset by the driving pleasure
Cheers, Ozren
But all this will be more than offset by the driving pleasure
Cheers, Ozren
I have had two Griff 500s,(english spec) and now a Tamora in Germany. I am just south of Heidelberg.
For the Griffs I used official TVR dealer British Sports Cars at Hagen- about 180 miles from where I live.
He seemed to be very competent-no complaints.
For major engine work outside of warranty I used a local guy who very quickly learnt about the Rover V8 -particularly the 5.2litre one with Motec/ACT kit I had in the last Griff. He is very good.
For the Tamora I now have trouble-a long list of items inc engine that the official German dealer cannot and is not prepared to tackle- no experience with speed six and Tamora. It is therefore being transported back to the UK-high costs and discussions with TVR underway from an unhappy customer. (Although when it does go the Tamora is far and away the best TVR I have had. As already posted it appears to have serious street cred in Germany as a one off exotic. Far more positive comments from Germans than with the Griffs).
For the Griffs I used official TVR dealer British Sports Cars at Hagen- about 180 miles from where I live.
He seemed to be very competent-no complaints.
For major engine work outside of warranty I used a local guy who very quickly learnt about the Rover V8 -particularly the 5.2litre one with Motec/ACT kit I had in the last Griff. He is very good.
For the Tamora I now have trouble-a long list of items inc engine that the official German dealer cannot and is not prepared to tackle- no experience with speed six and Tamora. It is therefore being transported back to the UK-high costs and discussions with TVR underway from an unhappy customer. (Although when it does go the Tamora is far and away the best TVR I have had. As already posted it appears to have serious street cred in Germany as a one off exotic. Far more positive comments from Germans than with the Griffs).
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