TVR reliability ?
Discussion
Hi guys,
Have often thought about maybe getting a TVR at some stage but have been somewhat put off by the reliability issue, is it really as bad as the reputation proceeds it ?
A while ago i was very seriously thinking over getting a TVR Tuscan but the rumours of spending more time in the workshop rather than on the road made me change my mind.
As theres quite a few TVR owners on here what is the truth?
Cheers
Gurj
Have often thought about maybe getting a TVR at some stage but have been somewhat put off by the reliability issue, is it really as bad as the reputation proceeds it ?
A while ago i was very seriously thinking over getting a TVR Tuscan but the rumours of spending more time in the workshop rather than on the road made me change my mind.
As theres quite a few TVR owners on here what is the truth?
Cheers
Gurj
I went into ownership with my eyes very open. Basically i had the car 19 months done 11k and had only one major issue and a few niggles. One was a faulty ecu and immoboliser that caused the car to shutdwon, easily fixed. The others were minor issues e.g bonnet rubbing or window seals not right, all easily fixed.
My friend at the sametime as me bought a second hand boxster, in the last 12 months his car has been off the road 6 times, with all sorts of failures e.g electrical, clutch/gearbox and many more.
To be honest his words, were he went for a porsche because of the perceived reliability but to be honest a tvr would probably have better!
So dont led anyone tell you they are unreliable other than fellow owners! If I had £1 for every person at work that tells me they are unreliable, I would be extremely rich. Needless to say only one of them owns a tvr, and as he says it works 99.999% of the time and in my game (IT) thats considered pretty reliable.
My friend at the sametime as me bought a second hand boxster, in the last 12 months his car has been off the road 6 times, with all sorts of failures e.g electrical, clutch/gearbox and many more.
To be honest his words, were he went for a porsche because of the perceived reliability but to be honest a tvr would probably have better!
So dont led anyone tell you they are unreliable other than fellow owners! If I had £1 for every person at work that tells me they are unreliable, I would be extremely rich. Needless to say only one of them owns a tvr, and as he says it works 99.999% of the time and in my game (IT) thats considered pretty reliable.
Hmmmm sounds interesting ?
I own a rx7 at the moment and you hear horror stories about these but mine has been quite good for reliability so far (touches wood).
If i was to get a Tuscan it would be along the second hand rail and would be under £20K price limit, so possibly one not very fresh and low mileage, a chap at work has a TVR chimera (spelling) and has vowed to sell after most of last year it was in the wrkshop for one reason or another.
Probably wouldn't get one until next year but very interested to see your views as owners.
I own a rx7 at the moment and you hear horror stories about these but mine has been quite good for reliability so far (touches wood).
If i was to get a Tuscan it would be along the second hand rail and would be under £20K price limit, so possibly one not very fresh and low mileage, a chap at work has a TVR chimera (spelling) and has vowed to sell after most of last year it was in the wrkshop for one reason or another.
Probably wouldn't get one until next year but very interested to see your views as owners.
Buying a second-hand car is always a bit of a lottery. Some cars have good reputations and some cars bad but that says nothing about the individual car that you buy. Having said that, reading the forums on here gives a good impression on how reliable the models are and you will see lots of posts from owners that have plenty of trouble-free miles.
But then you also get the numpties who, when they discover what make of car you drive, say, "TVR, aren't they unreliable?"
But then you also get the numpties who, when they discover what make of car you drive, say, "TVR, aren't they unreliable?"
Join the TVR owners club and get along to as many regional meetings as you can.Talk to anyone who will listen and then draw your own conclusions.. Dont, and i mean DONT !! ever listen to the tin box brigade... Most of them know about as much about TVR`s as i do about quantum physics.!!.... Buy a car from a club member if you can find one.That way you should have some reasonable history to check up on.... At the end of the day you pays your money, you takes your chances.. Any sports car can be a risk, but what the hell !!! The good days will out weigh any bad ones.. Just dont spend all your budget on the car . Keep a couple of thou back for the inevitable bits you want to do and if possible a little more for the unforeseen. Had mine 12 months, done 6000miles and i still get a buz everytime i start her up... Nearly spring as well
.Let the good times roll
.Let the good times rollFirst had an S3, now drive a Chimaera - have driven every day for three years - NEVER broken down. As well as said above, TVR/unreliability gossips aren't helped by those who only drive once a week on sunny days etc. Stick anything in a cold/damp garage for 90% of its life... even an inert carbon rod would break down!
....which also makes you think about the adverts saying "never been driven wet - always garaged - very low mileage - yada yada..." this is a good thing? The cars need to be driven. Drive them well (and often) and they will reward you my friend!
....which also makes you think about the adverts saying "never been driven wet - always garaged - very low mileage - yada yada..." this is a good thing? The cars need to be driven. Drive them well (and often) and they will reward you my friend!
Had my Griff for about 18 months and 8,000 miles. No breakdowns. Was advised to get the radiator and engine mounts changed at a service (not too expensive) but otherwise no issues.
A friend of mine has owned TVR's for about the last 4 years (4lt Chim, 5lt Chim, now a T350) and all have been great. Hopefully in the near future i'll be able to go for one of the new breed.
When looking for mine I was told to seriously consider higher mileage ones as they have been driven which is the best way to look after them. Just make sure the price is right.
A friend of mine has owned TVR's for about the last 4 years (4lt Chim, 5lt Chim, now a T350) and all have been great. Hopefully in the near future i'll be able to go for one of the new breed.
When looking for mine I was told to seriously consider higher mileage ones as they have been driven which is the best way to look after them. Just make sure the price is right.
The cars do just fine. My Grif 4.3 I replace the battery and starter motor and er...that was it. Both consumables...esp after 10+yrs!
My new Sagaris is currently in for her 6k service, so far Ive had the speed sensor go blink on me in foul weather that a quick 2hr over lunch visit to HHC fixed for me under warranty and a leak in a coolant pipe. Dream Machines (my dealer) arranged a pick up via the RAC from work that day and returned it to me the next day at work, again sorted under warranty. At the 6k service Im having the rear 1/4 windows rebonded in again as an issue we identified at pick up and they said I could wait till the 6k or have it done anytime I wanted to bring it in. It wasnt a biggie so happily waited till the 6k. So the cpl of niggles I have had were sorted immediately and at little or no inconvenience to me and at no cost.
My new Sagaris is currently in for her 6k service, so far Ive had the speed sensor go blink on me in foul weather that a quick 2hr over lunch visit to HHC fixed for me under warranty and a leak in a coolant pipe. Dream Machines (my dealer) arranged a pick up via the RAC from work that day and returned it to me the next day at work, again sorted under warranty. At the 6k service Im having the rear 1/4 windows rebonded in again as an issue we identified at pick up and they said I could wait till the 6k or have it done anytime I wanted to bring it in. It wasnt a biggie so happily waited till the 6k. So the cpl of niggles I have had were sorted immediately and at little or no inconvenience to me and at no cost.
Get some proper advice about what you're looking for when you buy. And set your expectations - there are some things that might go wrong that you need to be ready for, and they need a different level of maintenance than a diesel volkswagen for instance.
Saying that, I'm on my second, Mr Rude's on his second, my sister's on her second, and my ex is on his third. And I wouldn't try and put you off owning one
Saying that, I'm on my second, Mr Rude's on his second, my sister's on her second, and my ex is on his third. And I wouldn't try and put you off owning one
They are not as fragile as their street rep would have it.You get the occasional niggle from time to time.Mines a T350 on 9k and only problems I have had are a pin hole in the radiator and the passenger door sulking.This may have been due to my daughters propensity to slam the damn thing.
With your budget and the target of an early Tuscan there are potential problems with the engine if you are unlucky so the prudent thing to do is either put some of your money aside to allow for this potential or get the extended TVR warranty for which the car will need an inspection and anything dodgy corrected at your cost-or its a negotiation point with the seller. You then you have peace of mind. The warranty can be extended to wear and tear but obviously this costs.
Whichever way you go don't buy an early Tuscan and keep your fingers crossed as a warranty method-there is no such thing as cheap high performance!
Have fun-they are wonderfull soulfull machines,tough as old boots where it counts and the TVR community is one of the friedliest there is.
With your budget and the target of an early Tuscan there are potential problems with the engine if you are unlucky so the prudent thing to do is either put some of your money aside to allow for this potential or get the extended TVR warranty for which the car will need an inspection and anything dodgy corrected at your cost-or its a negotiation point with the seller. You then you have peace of mind. The warranty can be extended to wear and tear but obviously this costs.
Whichever way you go don't buy an early Tuscan and keep your fingers crossed as a warranty method-there is no such thing as cheap high performance!
Have fun-they are wonderfull soulfull machines,tough as old boots where it counts and the TVR community is one of the friedliest there is.
sideways mostly said:
Whichever way you go don't buy an early Tuscan and keep your fingers crossed as a warranty method-there is no such thing as cheap high performance!
Good advice. I've had 2 Tuscans and no major probs but if you think you can buy a Tuscan for £20k and not have to spend on it I would be careful. A major service is £1k, a minor one £500, without any "extras". And if your engine does need any serious work.............
They are brilliant cars and I love mine to death but I would not use my last few quid to buy one and hope that nothing goes wrong.
I think the general opinion is that new cars (a bit better since TVR started testing) are generally more unreliable. This is due to not spending the time in development like porsche etc, but this is also why you can buy a car with supercar performance for half the price of the equivalent car, so its a trade off? What you do get though is a car with character and a smile everytime you drive. Most cars get the odd niggle, but thats it, believe me any little niggles that may arise are forgotten once you turn the key....
Ive had two TVRs and both have been very reliable, like any second hand car, find a good one and you will be OK.
Enjoy
Mike
Ive had two TVRs and both have been very reliable, like any second hand car, find a good one and you will be OK.
Enjoy
Mike
unrepentant said:
Whichever way you go don't buy an early Tuscan and keep your fingers crossed as a warranty method-there is no such thing as cheap high performance!
Good advice. I've had 2 Tuscans and no major probs but if you think you can buy a Tuscan for £20k and not have to spend on it I would be careful. A major service is £1k, a minor one £500, without any "extras". And if your engine does need any serious work.............
They are brilliant cars and I love mine to death but I would not use my last few quid to buy one and hope that nothing goes wrong.
Excellent advise mate, thats what i was thinking you see, no point just buying one and and hoping for the best !!!
unrepentant said:
Whichever way you go don't buy an early Tuscan and keep your fingers crossed as a warranty method-there is no such thing as cheap high performance!
Good advice. I've had 2 Tuscans and no major probs but if you think you can buy a Tuscan for £20k and not have to spend on it I would be careful. A major service is £1k, a minor one £500, without any "extras". And if your engine does need any serious work.............
They are brilliant cars and I love mine to death but I would not use my last few quid to buy one and hope that nothing goes wrong.
Depending where you live and who does your servicing.
TVR make horrible cars. They have no TC/ABS/Airbags, they stink of fibreglass, are incredibly hot inside all the time, make a racket, drink super unleaded faster than Oli Reed , have moments when they won't start hot, won't start cold, won't start at all. Misfire, leak, won't unlock, won't lock, seatbelts have a mind of their own, as do indicators, wipers, brake lights depending on model.
Then again, there is nothing, nothing at all which gives you that YEEEEHAAA grin like a TVR. Nothing, but nothing will turn heads like a TVR, and nothing but nothing will ever come close in automotive terms. You will love it and hate it in equal measure but you will only ever remember the good bits.
Above all, if you buy a Tuscan, make sure you get a water tight warranty with it. Don't assume an engine rebuild in the last 3k miles will mean it will be fine for the next 50k and budget at least 2/3k a year for servicing, tyres and upgrades. Budget for between 15/22 mpg no matter how you drive.
Get someone who knows about TVRs to go with you to look and don't take you mate with the unlucky Chimaera - he's biased against
Good luck.
p.s. no, absolutely no spoilers/skirts/ricer crap allowed on a TVR
The advice above all seems pretty spot on to me. The poor reputation that TVRs seem to attract is often unjustified. Admittedly, some owners have had serious issues, but so have some owners of every other marque. And remember, you just can't run a performance car cheaply. (I live in a 500 year old house, and it's the upkeep that's expensive, more so than the initial purchase.)
In my own personal experience, I've done about 25,000 miles in various TVRs and I've had nothing really serious go wrong. I've had niggles, of course, but they're all relatively easy to rectify, and over the years I've had more serious troubles from my Range Rovers, MGs, Jaguars, Mercedes and Audis than I've ever had from my TVRs.
In summary, all cars suffer problems and TVRs are no exception. And because TVRs are hand-crafted, each car inevitably has its own personal quirks and individual character; some drivers find this annoying and think of it as a fault, which adds to TVR's notoriety, others (like me) just accept it and actually find it quite charming. And as with any performance car, you do need to budget for the running costs.
Practicality and objectivity aside, I'd just say 'do it'! I spent years deliberating, and now wish I'd just done it straight away; they bring me so much pleasure and are actually the very reason I love to drive.
In my own personal experience, I've done about 25,000 miles in various TVRs and I've had nothing really serious go wrong. I've had niggles, of course, but they're all relatively easy to rectify, and over the years I've had more serious troubles from my Range Rovers, MGs, Jaguars, Mercedes and Audis than I've ever had from my TVRs.
In summary, all cars suffer problems and TVRs are no exception. And because TVRs are hand-crafted, each car inevitably has its own personal quirks and individual character; some drivers find this annoying and think of it as a fault, which adds to TVR's notoriety, others (like me) just accept it and actually find it quite charming. And as with any performance car, you do need to budget for the running costs.
Practicality and objectivity aside, I'd just say 'do it'! I spent years deliberating, and now wish I'd just done it straight away; they bring me so much pleasure and are actually the very reason I love to drive.
Great feedback guys,
For me its either the TVR Tuscan or the Noble M12 GTO that gain interest, speed wise i currently own the Dragon Rx7 in the "users rides" section which at full boost makes 460bhp so quite used to the power coverage and control aspect.
I have quite a bit of patience but not bottomless pockets so this may be a issue with the TVR ?
Does the Noble come with too many drawbacks also ?
For me its either the TVR Tuscan or the Noble M12 GTO that gain interest, speed wise i currently own the Dragon Rx7 in the "users rides" section which at full boost makes 460bhp so quite used to the power coverage and control aspect.
I have quite a bit of patience but not bottomless pockets so this may be a issue with the TVR ?
Does the Noble come with too many drawbacks also ?
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