Getting the jitters......
Discussion
From reading many of the TVR threads on this forum it would seem that I'm not exactly alone in feeling a little nervous at the prospect of buying my first TVR. So much so, that I've been looking into alternatives for similar money. The trouble is I keep coming back to TVR's.
I will be looking to buy sometime in the new year, so have a while more to consider my options. I can afford the initial purchase, but with such a big question mark over the running costs (if anything major goes wrong) it leaves me wondering if it is such a good idea. The "Has Anyone Ever Bought a Lemon?" thread on the Griff forum really sewed the seeds of doubt.
Any words of wisdom to help me in my dilemma?
I will be looking to buy sometime in the new year, so have a while more to consider my options. I can afford the initial purchase, but with such a big question mark over the running costs (if anything major goes wrong) it leaves me wondering if it is such a good idea. The "Has Anyone Ever Bought a Lemon?" thread on the Griff forum really sewed the seeds of doubt.
Any words of wisdom to help me in my dilemma?
Buy the griff you won't be sorry,
How many threads can you find about poor griffs,not many i bet,and when you think most peoploe dont report "my griff running fine"
Add it all up and the griff is no better or worse than many sports with respect to repair /maintainance costs.
For an example pop into the elise forum and your find "Bonce" has recently spent abour £2k on one service and it's not exceptional either.
Id buy one tomorrow if i could afford insurance
How many threads can you find about poor griffs,not many i bet,and when you think most peoploe dont report "my griff running fine"
Add it all up and the griff is no better or worse than many sports with respect to repair /maintainance costs.
For an example pop into the elise forum and your find "Bonce" has recently spent abour £2k on one service and it's not exceptional either.
Id buy one tomorrow if i could afford insurance
Don't be put off by the negative threads. If you want one, get one. You could enlist the help of Rob Ingleby or James Agger (do a search and you'll find plenty of threads with them in) to help you locate a good 'un.
Although I haven't got a TVR at the moment, the two I did have were superb - the Griff especially. Sure people have problems, but you mostly get the negative stuff posted here and in my experience, together with the many TVR owners I know, they are more reliable than a lot of people would have you believe.
Good luck
Although I haven't got a TVR at the moment, the two I did have were superb - the Griff especially. Sure people have problems, but you mostly get the negative stuff posted here and in my experience, together with the many TVR owners I know, they are more reliable than a lot of people would have you believe.
Good luck
I really really wanted a Griff but ended up bottling it and compromising with a chimaera. The result? Within 8 months, I'd sold the Chimaera and bought a Griff.
If you're worried, spend the money and get it properly inspected by someone who really knows what typical niggles they have. Don't go AA or RAC - they won't know what sort of things go wrong, where cracks typically appear etc. You can never be 100% sure what the future will bring, but you can sway the balance of probabilities in your direction.
If you're worried, spend the money and get it properly inspected by someone who really knows what typical niggles they have. Don't go AA or RAC - they won't know what sort of things go wrong, where cracks typically appear etc. You can never be 100% sure what the future will bring, but you can sway the balance of probabilities in your direction.
rude girl said:
IIf you're worried, spend the money and get it properly inspected by someone who really knows what typical niggles they have. Don't go AA or RAC - they won't know what sort of things go wrong, where cracks typically appear etc.
My experience of having assorted "specialist" vehicles inspected by the RAC over some years contradicts this. The bloke who looked at my TVR seemed to be entirely familiar with TVR foibles.
Don't be too put off by all the things that you read on PH.
Certainly don't ignore them, use the information in the right context and it will serve you well.
Remember that people post questions when they have a problem. It is rare for people to simply post a message called "No problems", but I am sure that there are many who could if they wanted to!
I took the plunge recently and am now the proud owner of a 99T Chimaera 4.0.
I had it inspected, twice (just to be sure).
I just came back from an hours drive. No reason, just wanted to go for a drive.
Still grinning.
If it develops a fault tomorrow, then I'll get it fixed - period. For sure at sometime during my ownership that's going to happen, I'm prepared for it, I'm even expecting it.
I bought mine with my heart not my head (otherwise I would have bought a Boxster or something else with no character), but I did buy it with my eyes wide open.
The best advice seems to be keep it well serviced, and DRIVE IT - TVR's don't like to be kept for weeks on end in the garage.
Go for it!
Simon
Certainly don't ignore them, use the information in the right context and it will serve you well.
Remember that people post questions when they have a problem. It is rare for people to simply post a message called "No problems", but I am sure that there are many who could if they wanted to!
I took the plunge recently and am now the proud owner of a 99T Chimaera 4.0.
I had it inspected, twice (just to be sure).
I just came back from an hours drive. No reason, just wanted to go for a drive.
Still grinning.
If it develops a fault tomorrow, then I'll get it fixed - period. For sure at sometime during my ownership that's going to happen, I'm prepared for it, I'm even expecting it.
I bought mine with my heart not my head (otherwise I would have bought a Boxster or something else with no character), but I did buy it with my eyes wide open.
The best advice seems to be keep it well serviced, and DRIVE IT - TVR's don't like to be kept for weeks on end in the garage.
Go for it!
Simon
If you weary of buying privately most of the independents such as James Agger and Fernhurst really do know their stuff and invariably will only buy in stock that they like the look of, i.e. it will be good. Or get Rob Ingleby to find one and check it out for you. All of these guys can really help you get on the first rung of the ladder regardless of what model you are looking for.
Plus you will probably be able to get them to service it as part of the deal so you don't have to worry about it for 12mths/6000miles. Plus they sell all their cars with a 12month warranty and will help out where possible. Mainly because they, and nearly everyone else on here, will know that you will be coming back for years to come buying more TVRs.
Look at loads and drive a loads if you need to and you will not regret it. Nothing else compares.
>> Edited by aaandy on Friday 26th September 14:28
Plus you will probably be able to get them to service it as part of the deal so you don't have to worry about it for 12mths/6000miles. Plus they sell all their cars with a 12month warranty and will help out where possible. Mainly because they, and nearly everyone else on here, will know that you will be coming back for years to come buying more TVRs.
Look at loads and drive a loads if you need to and you will not regret it. Nothing else compares.
>> Edited by aaandy on Friday 26th September 14:28
Couldn't agree more with all the above, especially Simon.
When I bought (about 2 months ago) I made sure I picked a budget that didn't involve me making any changes to the rest of my life. I used it all up, but I know that if life gets really expensive there's a lot I can do to cut costs in the rest of my life (like laying off the beer/fags a bit).
That said, I've had (almost) no problems and am looking forward to the weekend in a way that I never would with another car.
Yes, they go wrong. But most people don't get anything happening, and a lot of stuff that does go wrong can be fixed pretty cheaply. Even those that do get problems don't usually have many of them.
Go with your heart, you won't regret it.
(And at the end of the day you can always bail out later at relatively low cost if things start going really pear shaped.)
When I bought (about 2 months ago) I made sure I picked a budget that didn't involve me making any changes to the rest of my life. I used it all up, but I know that if life gets really expensive there's a lot I can do to cut costs in the rest of my life (like laying off the beer/fags a bit).
That said, I've had (almost) no problems and am looking forward to the weekend in a way that I never would with another car.
Yes, they go wrong. But most people don't get anything happening, and a lot of stuff that does go wrong can be fixed pretty cheaply. Even those that do get problems don't usually have many of them.
Go with your heart, you won't regret it. (And at the end of the day you can always bail out later at relatively low cost if things start going really pear shaped.)
You are on this earth for on average 82 years.
Every day people wind us up, we pay too much tax and have to suffer all sorts of halfwits. The world is in a mess, children are starving, disease is rife.
If you do nothing else to cheer you up after all the shit you put up with everyday it should be to buy a TVR...
Every day people wind us up, we pay too much tax and have to suffer all sorts of halfwits. The world is in a mess, children are starving, disease is rife.
If you do nothing else to cheer you up after all the shit you put up with everyday it should be to buy a TVR...
.I'll get burned for this, but you could try a Honda S2000. I know, I know, its not British, it doesn't make a nice noise and its not as fast in a straight line. It it much cheaper to run, and if driven properly as fast as any Griff on a twisty road. Dont believe me?, have a look at the comments from previous TVR owners...
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151817
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151817
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