Are 2 seats enough?
Discussion
Hi All,
Firstly, I've been snooping around the topics for some time now and I have to say that it's great to have something like this with such wealth of information so easily accessible - so thanks
Ever since I was bustled into the passenger seat of a cerb back at the NEC a long time ago I have been a TVR addict (Dad was in the driver seat!). Although at that age, aswell as the curvaciousness, it was the inside and particularly the carpets(?) that amazed me most - I swear they were an inch deep! Only later did I realise that the soft be-carpeted shiny curvy thing also breathed fire!
I am now in the happy position of seriously considering buying my first TVR and will hopefully do so in the next two months. Although, I have never owned a two seater before (chimaera) and am used to the practicality of my four seater. There lies my question...
How many of you own only a TVR and how many have a 'sensible' 4 seater as well? For those with just the 2 seats were there any disadvantages when you swapped? I don't have any kids to worry about but I am still thinking of keeping two cars, to ferry friends around, IKEA, trips away involving luggage... Are these things I would need to forget about? Obviously one car will be far less taxing on my wallet!
Finally, how do TVRs bear up to being used everyday? (10-20 miles/wkday, obviously more at the weekend)
Cheers loads
Jon
Firstly, I've been snooping around the topics for some time now and I have to say that it's great to have something like this with such wealth of information so easily accessible - so thanks
Ever since I was bustled into the passenger seat of a cerb back at the NEC a long time ago I have been a TVR addict (Dad was in the driver seat!). Although at that age, aswell as the curvaciousness, it was the inside and particularly the carpets(?) that amazed me most - I swear they were an inch deep! Only later did I realise that the soft be-carpeted shiny curvy thing also breathed fire!
I am now in the happy position of seriously considering buying my first TVR and will hopefully do so in the next two months. Although, I have never owned a two seater before (chimaera) and am used to the practicality of my four seater. There lies my question...
How many of you own only a TVR and how many have a 'sensible' 4 seater as well? For those with just the 2 seats were there any disadvantages when you swapped? I don't have any kids to worry about but I am still thinking of keeping two cars, to ferry friends around, IKEA, trips away involving luggage... Are these things I would need to forget about? Obviously one car will be far less taxing on my wallet!
Finally, how do TVRs bear up to being used everyday? (10-20 miles/wkday, obviously more at the weekend)
Cheers loads
Jon
....go on, you know you want to! How old are you..?
How much NCB do you have..?
Can you store both cars..?
Can you afford to run both..TVR's can be costly?
Personally.. I've got an estate for all the Cr@p stuff, my missus has a coupe 2+2(just) and for fun I've got the TVR...(2nd car - classic policy full NCB etc etc.)
How much NCB do you have..?
Can you store both cars..?
Can you afford to run both..TVR's can be costly?
Personally.. I've got an estate for all the Cr@p stuff, my missus has a coupe 2+2(just) and for fun I've got the TVR...(2nd car - classic policy full NCB etc etc.)
I am 27, 3yrs no claims. When I buy the TVR I will have it garaged and keep the (less interesting) other car on the road.
Insurance is a pain though as I can only use my no claims for one car which will then double my insurance for my current car. Wimbledon, according to every company I have spoken to, is seemingly not a car friendly place!
As far as running costs go I am aiming to buy a car with a nice dealer/TVR warranty and already have a little put aside for new tyres/servicing etc.
V tempted just go with the 2 seats and see how it goes...I'm not sure I can resist for much longer! Maybe get a nice fiesta for winter 2004(!) or, I wish, a 440R! - can you really get 4 people in those?
(And it's got to be lidless for the summer)
Insurance is a pain though as I can only use my no claims for one car which will then double my insurance for my current car. Wimbledon, according to every company I have spoken to, is seemingly not a car friendly place!
As far as running costs go I am aiming to buy a car with a nice dealer/TVR warranty and already have a little put aside for new tyres/servicing etc.
V tempted just go with the 2 seats and see how it goes...I'm not sure I can resist for much longer! Maybe get a nice fiesta for winter 2004(!) or, I wish, a 440R! - can you really get 4 people in those?
(And it's got to be lidless for the summer)
In comparison with a lot of 2 seaters, the Chim is like an estate car! I had an MX-5 before, and the boot in one of those is tiny.
The boot in the Chim is pretty big and there's plenty of room on the back shelf. Unless you're trying to move wardrobes every weekend, you should be fine.
My GF does have a 4 seater, but it's very rare that we use it over the Chim. Apart from at the moment, as she's in the body shop
at the moment having a nose job! (The Chim, not the GF )
I went from a 4 seater to the MX-5, and that was doable (although I did have a boot rack).
The biggest problem with a Chim is that you always want to drive everywhere, and if there's more than 2 of you......problem! (It's amazing how many excuses you come up with, just so that you can drive as well!)
But it does mean that you don't become the local taxi service with your mates! Unless you're showing off, of course!
The boot in the Chim is pretty big and there's plenty of room on the back shelf. Unless you're trying to move wardrobes every weekend, you should be fine.
My GF does have a 4 seater, but it's very rare that we use it over the Chim. Apart from at the moment, as she's in the body shop
at the moment having a nose job! (The Chim, not the GF ) I went from a 4 seater to the MX-5, and that was doable (although I did have a boot rack).
The biggest problem with a Chim is that you always want to drive everywhere, and if there's more than 2 of you......problem! (It's amazing how many excuses you come up with, just so that you can drive as well!)
But it does mean that you don't become the local taxi service with your mates! Unless you're showing off, of course!
longjon said:
Insurance is a pain though as I can only use my no claims for one car which will then double my insurance for my current car. Wimbledon, according to every company I have spoken to, is seemingly not a car friendly place!
Try Tooting. Just down the road and it's even worse. If you want to see how much storage there really is in a Chim, drop me a line and we can hook up. You can contact me via my profile.
They really are the most amazing cars. We did Le Surrey Run and had plenty of space for luggage, food, 2 cases of champagne and various TVR neccessities and barely had to use the space behind the seats. Gave me an idea of what lowered suspension would look like. Like the car isn't low enough already...
Rob
Chim:
Luggage space: Enough for a 3 week trip around Europe.
People space: Enough for you and woman- tell your friends you are not a taxi.
I tried the "two car" method a few times and it seemed to cost more: Two lots of insurance, two lots of servicing, two lots of tyres, two lots of road tax, but most importantly, two lots of depreciation. Also the trouble is, when you're driving the shed you miss the TVR so much it ruins your day. If you need to move something big, you can usually find a mate who'll do a swap for the day or failing that, hire a van.
Get one. You won't regret it!
(TVR,.. not a van!)
Luggage space: Enough for a 3 week trip around Europe.
People space: Enough for you and woman- tell your friends you are not a taxi.
I tried the "two car" method a few times and it seemed to cost more: Two lots of insurance, two lots of servicing, two lots of tyres, two lots of road tax, but most importantly, two lots of depreciation. Also the trouble is, when you're driving the shed you miss the TVR so much it ruins your day. If you need to move something big, you can usually find a mate who'll do a swap for the day or failing that, hire a van.
Get one. You won't regret it!
(TVR,.. not a van!) I had a mark 1 MR2 as my only car for nearly 5 years. By comparison the Griffith is very practical.
Although I do run a second car (Skoda) to reduce costs. With dirt cheap insurance, cheap road tax, cheap servicing/parts and averaging over 40mpg it easily saves me money over using the TVR everday. The insurance and road tax together work out less than one Griff service (average cost).
blueeyes - it depends on what car you buy. If you buy a bit of a banger that has done most of it's depreciation then it can work out massively cheaper. If you buy something for over about 3K then you could be right.
I have found that driving a banger that is not worth very much can have it's compensations. You don't care were you park it, who's going to nick it, and any damage is going to cost the other person more that it will you ('cos you don't repair it apart from paint to stop rust). You can also drive it clsoe too it's limits without endangering your license very much. I put my previous "banger" in a ditch due to ice once - got out, checked it was driveable, shrugged, got in and drove away. If it had been the TVR I'd have been inconsoleable.
>> Edited by icamm on Monday 26th January 17:57
Although I do run a second car (Skoda) to reduce costs. With dirt cheap insurance, cheap road tax, cheap servicing/parts and averaging over 40mpg it easily saves me money over using the TVR everday. The insurance and road tax together work out less than one Griff service (average cost).
blueeyes - it depends on what car you buy. If you buy a bit of a banger that has done most of it's depreciation then it can work out massively cheaper. If you buy something for over about 3K then you could be right.
I have found that driving a banger that is not worth very much can have it's compensations. You don't care were you park it, who's going to nick it, and any damage is going to cost the other person more that it will you ('cos you don't repair it apart from paint to stop rust). You can also drive it clsoe too it's limits without endangering your license very much. I put my previous "banger" in a ditch due to ice once - got out, checked it was driveable, shrugged, got in and drove away. If it had been the TVR I'd have been inconsoleable.
>> Edited by icamm on Monday 26th January 17:57
.Mark said:
You can get 4 golf bags full of clubs in the boot of a Chim easily.
2 seats are fine, just go for it!
4 bags in a 2 seater? What were the others doing riding push bikes? Or is the range of clubs needed for your game?
Havent played for years, but thats about the size of it isnt it? Couldnt think of a better way to put it really...
Alternatively, its big enough to get a fat bird in!
My Chimaera is my daily driver (40 miles a day approx - sorry Joolz!). Not too clever on petrol though and you need to be careful in nose to tail traffic as the clutch is on the heavy side but I would definitely not give up that sound for the quiet and comfort of a eurobox. 
The Tuscan is actually a better daily driver IMHO, much easier to do the round town slow stuff as the travel on the accelerator is so nicely laid out. Nice and easy for the first quarter and mental for the rest
Anyway Get yourself a TVR you know in your heart it is what you neeeed!
Ace-T
Edited to add - we just have the 2 TVRs and an MG. Sensible cars, us?! I know, we are
>> Edited by Ace-T on Monday 26th January 23:28
The Tuscan is actually a better daily driver IMHO, much easier to do the round town slow stuff as the travel on the accelerator is so nicely laid out. Nice and easy for the first quarter and mental for the rest
Anyway Get yourself a TVR you know in your heart it is what you neeeed!
Ace-T
Edited to add - we just have the 2 TVRs and an MG. Sensible cars, us?! I know, we are
>> Edited by Ace-T on Monday 26th January 23:28
I quite easily got the bodies (dismembered naturally) of both sets of neighbours in the back of mine, + a spade and a back of quick-lime (thanks to Joe Pesci for the tip).
That will teach them to complain it was a "bit noisy".
Car parking is much easier now as well.
>> Edited by N17 TVR on Tuesday 27th January 09:09
That will teach them to complain it was a "bit noisy".
Car parking is much easier now as well.
>> Edited by N17 TVR on Tuesday 27th January 09:09
oh, I get you... to take them to the tip... Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff