Will it break?
Discussion
Just after some info really...am currently pottering around in a integra type r and am thinking about getting some thing different. Just wondering how reliable TVRs are?
It'll be my only car, so it really does need to start every day. Am aware that parts will be expensive, but on average how much does a TVR cost to run??
I like the look of the cerbera, but am a bit worried about how quickly they've depreciated. Would a Tuscan be a better(more reliable) buy??
It'll be my only car, so it really does need to start every day. Am aware that parts will be expensive, but on average how much does a TVR cost to run??
I like the look of the cerbera, but am a bit worried about how quickly they've depreciated. Would a Tuscan be a better(more reliable) buy??
gangzoom said:
Just after some info really...am currently pottering around in a integra type r and am thinking about getting some thing different. Just wondering how reliable TVRs are?
It'll be my only car, so it really does need to start every day. Am aware that parts will be expensive, but on average how much does a TVR cost to run??
I like the look of the cerbera, but am a bit worried about how quickly they've depreciated. Would a Tuscan be a better(more reliable) buy??
It'll be my only car, so it really does need to start every day. Am aware that parts will be expensive, but on average how much does a TVR cost to run??
I like the look of the cerbera, but am a bit worried about how quickly they've depreciated. Would a Tuscan be a better(more reliable) buy??
Any TVR will be less reliable than a typical 'Teg, and probably by a long way.
As for starting every day, I have been lucky - three TVR's and none ever failed to start, not did they fail to get me to my destination.
Take a look at my profile for some running costs.
IMHO, the reliability & running costs stakes go something like this (worst first):
1. Cerbera (except S6). Strong engine prone to occasional very expensive failure and too many electrics.
2. Cerbera S6. Electrics and S6 engine (see S6 forum).
3. Any other S6 TVR.
4. Chimaera / Griffith
5. Any other TVR.
For the top three, I would budget at least 3k/year, maybe a bit more for the Cerbs, and anything with an S6 could cost you double that with an engine failure. And if you are doing more than 8 - 10k then you could need more £.
Get a good Chim / Griff and it will cost you peanuts in comparison, but a poor one will make running an S6 look cheap.
How many miles do you do?
How much are you thinking of spending?
What is it doesn't start every day (because it may well not)?
More importantly, do you want a TVR, or do you just like the look of them?
Depreciation is only an issue if you are buying from a dealer or a 23ishK plus car. ?Becomes a bigger issue at 30K plus and is a killer at 40K plus.
The previous post doesnt tie in with my experiences of running costs of TVRs.
All of the range(s) can be expensive to run and maintain.
The Cerb is unlikely to be more expensive that a T350 , Tuscan etc..... In fact I would suggest that the most expensive would be the Cerb S6 ie earliest cars to get the S6 engine and complicated electrics etc...
Allow 2 - 3K a year for running costs for less than 8K pa miles. If you start doing lots of miles then you could potentially double that !
Do work yourself, use indies, shop around etc.. then you can knock money off the running costs.
The previous post doesnt tie in with my experiences of running costs of TVRs.
All of the range(s) can be expensive to run and maintain.
The Cerb is unlikely to be more expensive that a T350 , Tuscan etc..... In fact I would suggest that the most expensive would be the Cerb S6 ie earliest cars to get the S6 engine and complicated electrics etc...
Allow 2 - 3K a year for running costs for less than 8K pa miles. If you start doing lots of miles then you could potentially double that !
Do work yourself, use indies, shop around etc.. then you can knock money off the running costs.
I had a Chimaera for 3 & half years and it lived outside and was my only car, it never let me down just had minor cheap things go wrong, i did 12k every year and in cost peanuts to run.
I have now had a Cerbera S6 for 5 & half years, i used every day for the first 2 years, engine broke 3 times but never left me in the middle of no where, and it still started even though it broke, it cost double the Chimp over a year to run but not really bothered due to the fun it has given me, OH and the clutch went, but all in all everything else has been spot on.
Don't know how muh the engine re-builds cost as i didn't pay for them.
I have now had a Cerbera S6 for 5 & half years, i used every day for the first 2 years, engine broke 3 times but never left me in the middle of no where, and it still started even though it broke, it cost double the Chimp over a year to run but not really bothered due to the fun it has given me, OH and the clutch went, but all in all everything else has been spot on.
Don't know how muh the engine re-builds cost as i didn't pay for them.
Ive always wanted a TVR but didnt think i could afford one, was actually looking for a 350Z for about 15-20K.
I commute to work so i do need something which will run most days.3K a year running costs dont sound too bad, but is that in one service, or do i expect to be constant taking the car back to the dealers for constant repairs?
Iam quite tempted to for a sub 15K chimera and just see how it goes...but i dont want to spend 15K on a car only to find out ill need to spend another 5K on repairs!!
oh yeah do TVRs roofs leak
I commute to work so i do need something which will run most days.3K a year running costs dont sound too bad, but is that in one service, or do i expect to be constant taking the car back to the dealers for constant repairs?
Iam quite tempted to for a sub 15K chimera and just see how it goes...but i dont want to spend 15K on a car only to find out ill need to spend another 5K on repairs!!
oh yeah do TVRs roofs leak
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 8th July 17:57
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 8th July 18:00
gangzoom said:
Ive always wanted a TVR but didnt think i could afford one, was actually looking for a 350Z for about 15-20K.
I commute to work so i do need something which will run most days.3K a year running costs dont sound too bad, but is that in one service, or do i expect to be constant taking the car back to the dealers for constant repairs?
Iam quite tempted to for a sub 15K chimera and just see how it goes...but i dont want to spend 15K on a car only to find out ill need to spend another 5K on repairs!!
oh yeah do TVRs roofs leak
I commute to work so i do need something which will run most days.3K a year running costs dont sound too bad, but is that in one service, or do i expect to be constant taking the car back to the dealers for constant repairs?
Iam quite tempted to for a sub 15K chimera and just see how it goes...but i dont want to spend 15K on a car only to find out ill need to spend another 5K on repairs!!
oh yeah do TVRs roofs leak
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 8th July 17:57
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 8th July 18:00
gangzoom said:
Ive always wanted a TVR but didnt think i could afford one, was actually looking for a 350Z for about 15-20K.
I commute to work so i do need something which will run most days.3K a year running costs dont sound too bad, but is that in one service, or do i expect to be constant taking the car back to the dealers for constant repairs?
Iam quite tempted to for a sub 15K chimera and just see how it goes...but i dont want to spend 15K on a car only to find out ill need to spend another 5K on repairs!!
oh yeah do TVRs roofs leak
I commute to work so i do need something which will run most days.3K a year running costs dont sound too bad, but is that in one service, or do i expect to be constant taking the car back to the dealers for constant repairs?
Iam quite tempted to for a sub 15K chimera and just see how it goes...but i dont want to spend 15K on a car only to find out ill need to spend another 5K on repairs!!
oh yeah do TVRs roofs leak
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 8th July 17:57
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 8th July 18:00
THey need serving every 6K at roughly £400 depending where you go for a chim, the roof doesn't leak if looked after, bit of fabsil and dry as a bone.
Basically condition is key not milage/age so much make sure you do your homework and dont buy the first you see. So long as it has full service history and has been used reasonably frequently then you should be fine, the problem is if they sit round unused for months on end or are not serviced when they should be.
Both mine had to put up with wind, rain and snow, living out side and took everything in there stride, if it did leak it was not going to go rusty.
I aggree that a well used car will give less trouble than one with very low mileage, more damage can be done with it been stood for long periods than been used regular. (my view)
I aggree that a well used car will give less trouble than one with very low mileage, more damage can be done with it been stood for long periods than been used regular. (my view)
I had a 95 Chim for 18 months & spent 6k on it - but it never broke down, I now have a 53 Tuscan S & for 11 months it never even saw a garage - it has never broke down & has cost less than 1500 quid in 14 months of ownership...
Coming from a Honda Integra, I reckon you need a later TVR & to get a good S6 engine you need a late 2003 model or newer - but then you'll need to spend 25k+... the rewards are miles ahead of any Honda!
Good Luck!
Coming from a Honda Integra, I reckon you need a later TVR & to get a good S6 engine you need a late 2003 model or newer - but then you'll need to spend 25k+... the rewards are miles ahead of any Honda!
Good Luck!
I have had a Chim now for 9 months, apart from sorting out the stuff wrong with it because it had been standing around fo 3 years I've had no probs. I use it everyday and have done 7000 miles in the last 6 months.
It did leak till I treated the roof now its OK.
£12000 R reg 4.0 so far I have spent £2000 including a full service and rear suspension where it had rusted up.
It did leak till I treated the roof now its OK.
£12000 R reg 4.0 so far I have spent £2000 including a full service and rear suspension where it had rusted up.
I traded a Honda Prelude vtec for a Chimaera 400. Used the car everyday for commuting to work. It was great. Different power delivery to the VTEC, but way faster - low revving with lots of torque. Different driving experience too. However, they do need to be properly maintained and it can be steep. I did 40k miles in my Chim over 2.5 years with services coming in at 4-600 quid + extra bits (ie. the service when I had to get my shocks/springs replaced came in at around 2k). After 1 year I had to go out and get a shed car to take some of the strain off my wallet! As far as reliability goes, I had an alternator fail (tho I could hear it failing for about 1000 miles) so was hardly caught out. Also had starter motor wire come undun which stranded me on the drive. And a big fuse. It never leaked though despite living on the drive.
If you want something revvy then you'll need a S6 or AJP8 engine. My 4.5 Cerb is slightly more like the honda engines in that it comes more alive at high revs. But its in some other plane really - at 3k rpm its fast - up at 6k+ its intimidating to the point of scary and having the sort of acceleration you're used to at 30mph when you're doing 100 is outrageous. It seems a bit more fragile than my Chimaera, but its such an amazing event to drive it, I don't care
Just glad to have the mundano as well.
I would say then, get a used TVR if you want a used TVR. Don't get it if you demand it to be completely bullet proof like a new Honda or Porsche & if really paranoid about breakdowns, get a cheap mundano as a backup/snowday/listen-to-the-radio-in-the-morning-car & TVR for all other times (just don't leave it parked for weeks on end cos you can't afford to service it & expect it to be fine - they don't like it).
Now, go forth and test drive...
If you want something revvy then you'll need a S6 or AJP8 engine. My 4.5 Cerb is slightly more like the honda engines in that it comes more alive at high revs. But its in some other plane really - at 3k rpm its fast - up at 6k+ its intimidating to the point of scary and having the sort of acceleration you're used to at 30mph when you're doing 100 is outrageous. It seems a bit more fragile than my Chimaera, but its such an amazing event to drive it, I don't care
Just glad to have the mundano as well. I would say then, get a used TVR if you want a used TVR. Don't get it if you demand it to be completely bullet proof like a new Honda or Porsche & if really paranoid about breakdowns, get a cheap mundano as a backup/snowday/listen-to-the-radio-in-the-morning-car & TVR for all other times (just don't leave it parked for weeks on end cos you can't afford to service it & expect it to be fine - they don't like it).
Now, go forth and test drive...
I've had CHimaera 4.0HS, 350i, 400SE, Cerbera 4.5 and now Tuscan S since 1997 (all used daily upto the Tuscan S - due to now being close enough to walk to work!). Only faults I've had are a sticky brake calliper on the Chimaera, a faulty fan thermostat on the Cerb and a intermittent speed sensor fault on the TuscanS.
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