TVRs - are they 'reliable'?
Discussion
I know this has probably been done to death in here and the word 'reliability' is enough to get peoples' goats...buuuuuut, in your experience would you consider a Tiv to be reliable?
1) Has you car ever let you down (either break down or non start)?
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to TVR ownership so I'd really like to hear the good and the bad to see if it bears any resemblance to my preconceptions.
TIA
1) Has you car ever let you down (either break down or non start)?
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to TVR ownership so I'd really like to hear the good and the bad to see if it bears any resemblance to my preconceptions.
TIA
Mine's been fantastic. Only had one problem with it which was an electrical gremlin which went away as quick as it appeared and never came back.
Granted I don't use mine as a daily driver - I've covered 7,500 miles in about 18 months.
1) Wouldn't start as Immobilser wasn't disarming properly. Had a play with the wiring and it started straight away.
2)Nope. General running costs for my S are no more than £500-£600 per year as long as you don't mind tinkering with stuff yourself and you don't have a penchant for stainless steel exhaust components and unneccessary upgrades (which I do
)
3)Since I've only had one, I'd say 7,500
ETA - Cost not including insurance....
Granted I don't use mine as a daily driver - I've covered 7,500 miles in about 18 months.
1) Wouldn't start as Immobilser wasn't disarming properly. Had a play with the wiring and it started straight away.
2)Nope. General running costs for my S are no more than £500-£600 per year as long as you don't mind tinkering with stuff yourself and you don't have a penchant for stainless steel exhaust components and unneccessary upgrades (which I do
) 3)Since I've only had one, I'd say 7,500
ETA - Cost not including insurance....
Edited by dougc on Monday 4th December 11:04
Carrera2 said:
I know this has probably been done to death in here and the word 'reliability' is enough to get peoples' goats...buuuuuut, in your experience would you consider a Tiv to be reliable?
1) Has you car ever let you down (either break down or non start)?
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to TVR ownership so I'd really like to hear the good and the bad to see if it bears any resemblance to my preconceptions.
TIA
1) Has you car ever let you down (either break down or non start)?
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to TVR ownership so I'd really like to hear the good and the bad to see if it bears any resemblance to my preconceptions.
TIA
1) Yes. A number of times.
2) Yes. 2K a year to do about a thousand miles very annoying.
3) Not enough.
OK so it sounds like I'm grumbling and I am. But if you are used to a Porsche and want or expect a TVR to be like that don't even think about getting one. There really aren't enough specialists around - so if you get a problem you can be weeks about getting it fixed. Two recurring problems kept our car off the road for MONTHS this year.
Having said this:
1) The sound of the car makes me laugh every time I start it. Small children spontaeneously burst into tears. Things like that.
2) When it works it is absolutely brilliant fun. It goes like stink and handles apallingly - a recipe for some serious entertainment!
3) They look fantastic.
Mine's a Chimaera, BTW. Owners of more recent cars may have different stories to tell. Some people have had cars they claim were bullet-proof reliable
errr, how long did you own it then? I've had mine eight years now!Just swopped from a Chimaera 400 to a 500 so answers based on my last car.
1) Yes. Faulty ecu. Proved a bugger to trace so a few components needlessly bought and installed before the cause was identified. Failed again after £600 'repair' (not happy). No subsequent problems though.
2) No, not as an everyday car as mine was. Certainly not the cheapest car in the world but Kias and cars with names rhyming with pingpong just don't do it for me.
3) I covered about 14,000 miles over two years. The car was eight years old when I got it so the few minor faults were to be expected.
1) Yes. Faulty ecu. Proved a bugger to trace so a few components needlessly bought and installed before the cause was identified. Failed again after £600 'repair' (not happy). No subsequent problems though.
2) No, not as an everyday car as mine was. Certainly not the cheapest car in the world but Kias and cars with names rhyming with pingpong just don't do it for me.
3) I covered about 14,000 miles over two years. The car was eight years old when I got it so the few minor faults were to be expected.
Had my Chimaera over 4 years and it has never broken down, nor failed to start no matter what the weather and despite being kept outside (although in a sheltered area). It's done 46k miles, of which I've done 34k. Used every weekend in all weathers, has been driven to Italy and back twice without a hiccup.
Had some minor annoyances such as a slow power steering leak that my local dealer seems unable to fix and a couple of rattles at speed, but that's it.. most annoying thing is probably having to change the headlight bulbs, they're a little inaccessible but that doesn't happen too often..
For me, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Service interval is 6k though, so if you go to a dealer each time (as I do, for convenience) that can get pricey. Independents cheaper, DIY cheaper still.
Had some minor annoyances such as a slow power steering leak that my local dealer seems unable to fix and a couple of rattles at speed, but that's it.. most annoying thing is probably having to change the headlight bulbs, they're a little inaccessible
but that doesn't happen too often.. For me, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Service interval is 6k though, so if you go to a dealer each time (as I do, for convenience) that can get pricey. Independents cheaper, DIY cheaper still.
hotwheels. said:
Apart from £6k on an engine rebuild/mods, it has never not started and never let me down. Owned just over 2 yrs now, and loving it. There are minor niggles with most TVRs, but the plus points far outweigh the minuses. Test drive one and you'll be hooked.
Similar experience to Hotwheels, on my second tvr and over three years ownership. On the whole running costs have been less than my Audi's through main dealership servicing.
Had mine 10 years from new. I had a few problems with cam followers in the first year which turned out to be a loose oil pickup in the sump, oil starvation on acceleration led to two sets of unpumped followers and a noisy top end - all fixed on warranty. About four years in the coil packed up and it ran like a dog until the coil was changed. Then early this year my engine needed a rebuild (26k miles) after the engine mount melted and split, air intake ripped off filter and large foreign objects were hoovered up. Even with bent valves, dropped liners, cracked pistons, and blown head gaskets the engine kept running, and I really only became aware of the problem when the top pulley chewed through the swirl pot neck and all the coolant went AWOL in a cloud of steam.
Reliable? Pretty damn near unstoppable if you ask me.
Reliable? Pretty damn near unstoppable if you ask me.
I have an 02 Tamora. It has done 21000 miles.
Problems I've had so far:
1) Power steering problem. Had a new power steering mechanism fitted. This happened when I first purchased it, so work was done under warranty.
2) Oil pressure sender unit. New unit fitted. Cost me £150.
3) Clutch problem - In the garage now being repaired.
I would love to use it on a daily basis but can't because I'm working away from home during the week
. My last service coast me £600 and I had the tappets adjusted aswell.
I have had the following has tems fitted to my Tamora:
1) 4 x 18" Sider Alloys + Toyo tyres £1500
.
2) JP Sports Exhaust system £600.
Summing up about reliability - Don't worry about it, the enjoyment of owning and driving a TVR far out weight the niggly little problems you get with a TVR.
I'm glad I own one and have never regreted it. London Thunder made me realise just how special it is to be part of the TVR family.
Problems I've had so far:
1) Power steering problem. Had a new power steering mechanism fitted. This happened when I first purchased it, so work was done under warranty.
2) Oil pressure sender unit. New unit fitted. Cost me £150.
3) Clutch problem - In the garage now being repaired.
I would love to use it on a daily basis but can't because I'm working away from home during the week
. My last service coast me £600 and I had the tappets adjusted aswell. I have had the following has tems fitted to my Tamora:
1) 4 x 18" Sider Alloys + Toyo tyres £1500
. 2) JP Sports Exhaust system £600
. Summing up about reliability - Don't worry about it, the enjoyment of owning and driving a TVR far out weight the niggly little problems you get with a TVR.
I'm glad I own one and have never regreted it. London Thunder made me realise just how special it is to be part of the TVR family.
Owned my V8s for 7 years, done 85,000 miles in it since then as daily driver. Let me down twice. The battery died after only 9 years in the car 
and then the alternator gave up the ghost in sympathy 18 months later.
I didn't have a fuel gauge due to sender failure for 2 years which led to some self-inflicted hard-shoulder moments.............
It does seem to eat camshafts every 30,000 miles and has to be serviced twice a year or every 6,000 miles but I wouldn't give it up for the world. At full chat it sounds like a low flying Spitfire with a ripped manifold
Makes the journey to work a pleasure.
Gatwick to Hull in sub 2 1/2 hours Christmas Day returned 8 mpg
and then the alternator gave up the ghost in sympathy 18 months later. I didn't have a fuel gauge due to sender failure for 2 years which led to some self-inflicted hard-shoulder moments.............
It does seem to eat camshafts every 30,000 miles and has to be serviced twice a year or every 6,000 miles but I wouldn't give it up for the world. At full chat it sounds like a low flying Spitfire with a ripped manifold
Makes the journey to work a pleasure. Gatwick to Hull in sub 2 1/2 hours Christmas Day returned 8 mpg
1) Has you car ever let you down (either break down or non start)?
No
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
Only the unexpected expense of new cam - insurance, servicing & consumables are acceptable for type of car
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
The only problem was the cam replacement. I've done about 7k in the last 10 months & no problems other than that one.
No
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
Only the unexpected expense of new cam - insurance, servicing & consumables are acceptable for type of car
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
The only problem was the cam replacement. I've done about 7k in the last 10 months & no problems other than that one.
Carrera2 said:
I know this has probably been done to death in here and the word 'reliability' is enough to get peoples' goats...buuuuuut, in your experience would you consider a Tiv to be reliable?
1) Has you car ever let you down (either break down or non start)?
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to TVR ownership so I'd really like to hear the good and the bad to see if it bears any resemblance to my preconceptions.
TIA
I've had three TVRs, two Griffiths and a Cerbera, total nearly 5 years of ownership. 1) Has you car ever let you down (either break down or non start)?
2) Are running costs hard to justify?
3) How many miles do you get between problems?
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to TVR ownership so I'd really like to hear the good and the bad to see if it bears any resemblance to my preconceptions.
TIA
1) Yes, accelerator cable snapped on one of the Griffs, the other Griff used to suffer from 'when hot i'm not going to start' syndrome - meant I had to wait for 10 mins at a petrol station a few times. The Cerb let me down once in nearly 4 years - I flattened the battery with my stereo in a traffic jam and it wouldn't start again when I stalled it
2) No, in my experience most of the costs were understandable/justifyable. But that's not to say they were cheap.
3) Must've done 30K in the Cerb, fewer in the Griffs - hard to give a figure, but I drove them all every day to/from work and i'd never go out *expecting* a failure.
All in all, my TVRs were exceptionally reliable. I had an M5 at the same time as the Cerb and, frankly, that was much more unreliable.
The fact is: if you parked up any car for weeks/months between outings you'd find it "unreliable". Too many TVRs are used as toys between periods of been laid up. If you treated a Mondeo/Mercedes/whatever the same way you'd encounter similar problems to those reported of TVRs.
Recurring theme in this thread is regular users reporting no problems. The "secret" of reliable TVR ownership is using them.
Recurring theme in this thread is regular users reporting no problems. The "secret" of reliable TVR ownership is using them.
Lets be honest here, the Chim / Griff models arent exactly rocket science are they? Why should a fairly basic design of chassis/running gear/engine/transmission be any more unreliable than anything else? My opinion is that there are a fair few out there which have been run on a shoestring, and this is a major contribution to the reliability issue. As long as you check the basics and make sure the car has been looked after reasonably well, there shouldnt be any issues.
hth
kim
hth
kim
On my third now, first two run as dialy drivers the third now relegated to the sorry position of being driven only four days a week or so due to the purchase of a family barge.
1st - 1998 Chimaera 400 - Water pump gasket blew on dealers forecourt in protest as she knew she was being sold for as a part-ex against:
2nd - 1996 Cerbera 4.2 - Never let me down. Clutch died when dealer was roadtesting it, not suprising as it was on the original clutch still at 34k...
3rd - 1999 Chimaera 450 - First TVR to ever let me down, overheated on me at London Thunder. Cause? Two blown fuses. Hardly something to write home about.
Other cars?
1999 Jaguar XK8 4.0 - £12.5k worth of warranty work in 10 months. Included complete new gearbox, off the road for 4.5 months out of 10. Glad to see the back of it.
1997 Audi A4 - chassis rusted badly, passenger door rusted right through, aircon failed, heater matrix failed, starter motor and alternator fialed twice.
2000 Saab 9-5 Aero saloon - original clutch master cylinder failed at 98k. I think I can forgive it that.
2004 Saab 9-3 Aero Cabrio - satnav failed, windows failed, seat motors failed, boot hinges siezed. Appalling for a brand new car.
So all in all, my TVRs have been the most reliable cars I have run. Remarkable given the performance and the hand-built nature. Cheap at the price I say.
Oh and yes, leave them in the garage and they'll want to stay there, take them out and play and they'll be happy as a sandboy.
1st - 1998 Chimaera 400 - Water pump gasket blew on dealers forecourt in protest as she knew she was being sold for as a part-ex against:
2nd - 1996 Cerbera 4.2 - Never let me down. Clutch died when dealer was roadtesting it, not suprising as it was on the original clutch still at 34k...
3rd - 1999 Chimaera 450 - First TVR to ever let me down, overheated on me at London Thunder. Cause? Two blown fuses. Hardly something to write home about.
Other cars?
1999 Jaguar XK8 4.0 - £12.5k worth of warranty work in 10 months. Included complete new gearbox, off the road for 4.5 months out of 10. Glad to see the back of it.
1997 Audi A4 - chassis rusted badly, passenger door rusted right through, aircon failed, heater matrix failed, starter motor and alternator fialed twice.
2000 Saab 9-5 Aero saloon - original clutch master cylinder failed at 98k. I think I can forgive it that.
2004 Saab 9-3 Aero Cabrio - satnav failed, windows failed, seat motors failed, boot hinges siezed. Appalling for a brand new car.
So all in all, my TVRs have been the most reliable cars I have run. Remarkable given the performance and the hand-built nature. Cheap at the price I say.
Oh and yes, leave them in the garage and they'll want to stay there, take them out and play and they'll be happy as a sandboy.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff