TVR. List of things that go wrong.
Discussion
Hiya.
Was wondering if anyone knows of a good website or can post a list of things to look for when buying a second hand TVR Chimera or Griff ?
Want to know all the standard problems and what is done to fix them and how mcuh they cost etc etc etc.
Want to get into the TVR thing but wnat to go in with eyes wide open and not later with the wallet wide open.
Cheers
Sam
Was wondering if anyone knows of a good website or can post a list of things to look for when buying a second hand TVR Chimera or Griff ?
Want to know all the standard problems and what is done to fix them and how mcuh they cost etc etc etc.
Want to get into the TVR thing but wnat to go in with eyes wide open and not later with the wallet wide open.
Cheers
Sam
It's www.joospeed.net although Joolz has put his contact details up on the site and it doesn't appear to have links to the old TVR info.
Contrary to popular belief, the things that generally go wrong with TVRs are actually quite normal. Especially when you consider why they are problems:
1) Heat / overheat - Fibreglass bodies are great and easy to repair, but they hold the heat in. Steel is much better for heat diserpation than GRP so always check the rad, pipes, temp gauge, fans etc.
2) Electrics - again GRP is excellent for bodies, but there is no real earth for the electrics! Therefore the car wiring has to be double wired for power and a central earth. Therefore check everything works (and I mean everything!) - nightmare to sort out as it can be difficult to locate problems.
3) Things that wear out - tryes, clutch, brakes and suspension. Obvious really, but consider the power and how they are driven. As a result the normal things that wear out will wear out faster. If they have been repaired, replaced or changed then great. But think about tyres every 10K if you are lucky and a clutch (depending on use) every 30-50K miles. As for suspension then think 40K for a re-fresh of the brushes etc.
Other than that everything is obvious. White / blue smoke from exhaust - walk away. Cream crackered body - walk away. Incomplete service history - walk away. The usual things that you would do with a car that can hit 150 and 0-100 in around 12.....
Cheers,
Paul
(Chimaera 4.0HC - with windscreen wiper and mirror problems - self inflicted though)
1) Heat / overheat - Fibreglass bodies are great and easy to repair, but they hold the heat in. Steel is much better for heat diserpation than GRP so always check the rad, pipes, temp gauge, fans etc.
2) Electrics - again GRP is excellent for bodies, but there is no real earth for the electrics! Therefore the car wiring has to be double wired for power and a central earth. Therefore check everything works (and I mean everything!) - nightmare to sort out as it can be difficult to locate problems.
3) Things that wear out - tryes, clutch, brakes and suspension. Obvious really, but consider the power and how they are driven. As a result the normal things that wear out will wear out faster. If they have been repaired, replaced or changed then great. But think about tyres every 10K if you are lucky and a clutch (depending on use) every 30-50K miles. As for suspension then think 40K for a re-fresh of the brushes etc.
Other than that everything is obvious. White / blue smoke from exhaust - walk away. Cream crackered body - walk away. Incomplete service history - walk away. The usual things that you would do with a car that can hit 150 and 0-100 in around 12.....
Cheers,
Paul
(Chimaera 4.0HC - with windscreen wiper and mirror problems - self inflicted though)
Marshy,
I know - I am now looking at 1 1/2 months old! Still, mechanically the car is totally sound (famous last words), but there are a couple of cosmetics that need sorting out:
1) Leather on seats cracked - get the stuff to sort this out.
2) Interior grubby - again, a nice clean will sort this out.
3) Mirror loose - well broken now, but will be replaced
4) Windscreen wipers - seems to be an electrical fault and easily fixed
5) Stone chips on front - common problem
6) Headlights - replace with decent bulbs
Other than that, everything works. All the electrics, engine runs nice with no overheating and still returns something like 22 - 26 MPG. I dont mind sorting out the small things, but I would cry if I had to deal with engine rebuilds, suspension re-gig and the like - I recon that something like £500 will sort out the bits and make a nice reliable car....
Well thats the theory anyway.
Cheers,
Paul
I know - I am now looking at 1 1/2 months old! Still, mechanically the car is totally sound (famous last words), but there are a couple of cosmetics that need sorting out:
1) Leather on seats cracked - get the stuff to sort this out.
2) Interior grubby - again, a nice clean will sort this out.
3) Mirror loose - well broken now, but will be replaced
4) Windscreen wipers - seems to be an electrical fault and easily fixed
5) Stone chips on front - common problem
6) Headlights - replace with decent bulbs
Other than that, everything works. All the electrics, engine runs nice with no overheating and still returns something like 22 - 26 MPG. I dont mind sorting out the small things, but I would cry if I had to deal with engine rebuilds, suspension re-gig and the like - I recon that something like £500 will sort out the bits and make a nice reliable car....
Well thats the theory anyway.
Cheers,
Paul
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