To TVR or not to TVR

[scoobydriver]

I'm moving to the E Yorks countryside and my Impreza will become much more of a daily driver than it is right now. So I'm thinking of getting a different kind of car for weekend trips, day-out jaunts and the odd track day. The thing is that the Scoob is such a capable car (lightweight Japanese-market-only spec C, 400bhp upgrade, fast road/racing suspension, 285bhp per tonne) that something like a Caterham 1.6 or MX-5 just isn't going to cut it.

I'm specifically after something with 2 seats, rear drive, no roof and enough of a boot/luggage rack to hold a weekend bag. I also want something a 'bit different', not just to join the massed hoards of Elise drivers. So my current shortlist is a Westfield SEight, super- or turbo-charged S2000 or Tuscan S. If I said I had been planning to buy an Ariel Atom but decided against it because it was £10k over my budget (which £20-22k) and doesn't have anywhere even to store a change of underwear that should give you an idea of what floats my boat.

So the questions are: how have your TVR ownership experiences been? What do you think of the Tuscan over other TVR models? What should I be looking for if I go and buy one?

TIA

[Don]

The Tuscan looks utterly awesome and drives beautifully IIRC the test drive I had.

Sounds good - but I prefer the V8 soundtrack of our Chimaera personally.

Now - you will hear a great deal about the Speed Six engine. Bear in mind that some of what you hear really is true. I'm sure owners will be along with details of intervals between rebuilds and what vintage engine to look out for.

Our TVR Power made V8 Rover based engine is almost at 60,000 miles and has run perfectly from day one until now. Except when the HT leads fall off. Which they do. From time to time...

[Don]

Oh...we've had our Chimaera for more than ten years. In that time plenty has gone wrong and we've been stranded once or twice. They do require more fettling than some cars.

But nor are they crap like some would make out! In the same ten years it has spent the vast majority of it's time working!

And it sounds awesome. And it looks awesome. It's a hoot to drive and on sunny days the top comes off. There's nothing quite like it - people really do turn and stare: I'm told in the Tuscan this is very common.

Enjoy - but bear in mind maintenance. They like to be looked after.

[rigga]

Also have a tuned scoobie..... Griff makes it very boring by comparision.

[scoobydriver]

Possibly worth mentioning that I also have a 1990 Mini Cooper with John Cooper Works 'S Pack'. Great fun car but one that hasn't gone for more than three weeks without developing some kind of fault (usually related to the fix applied to the last thing to go wrong). Fettling I don't mind ... but regular engine rebuilds sounds a bit more than fettling.

[justyr]

No question - TVR it. You live once, and even if it's a fleeting partnership at least you can say you tried it. (prices are quite stable).
I have owned a PPP WRX, and 3 TVRs, V8's and S6's now on a Tuscan S. The Scoob is a better A and B road car, but not alot beats the road presence of a TVR/Tuscan.
But - be careful: as you may be aware you cannot lob a rwd light sportscar around like you would the 4wd Scoob. Scary moments in TVRs are not the same as scary moments in other cars, IMO. They are much more serious, and need applied respect.
J

[.Mark]

[redacted]

[Druid]

Paul, whatever your choice you'll have the best roads to drive on!

[citizen smith]

As a weekend drivers car, for pure roof off driving, you can,t go far wrong with a well set-up Tamora. Its size is more suitable for the narrow twisty stuff in your area. The Tuscan is a tad too long.

For noise and sheer grunt try the 5 litre Griff. Its got limited boot space but will carry a weekend bag, with the roof down and Targa section stored in the boot.

Perhaps an answere would be to visit a dealer like Drive Style and do back to back tests, then decide which you prefer.

The only thing that you can be sure of is, which ever TVR you decide to buy, it will make you smile the moment you drive it, unlike those euroboxes!

[TVRMARKUB]

From your list go for the Tuscan S, get engine looked over, upgrade the dampers/springs, get car set up properly, and you will never want a ricer again.

[Chris71]

I would say get a TVR but you'll find that a suitably well-specced Caterham will happily dispatch a Scooby round a track. Mine has virtually the same power-to-weight ratio as the Spec C you mentioned and it's only a baby with a relatively modest 1.6 K-Series. My old TVR (admittedly also the baby of the range - an S3) wouldn't see which way it went at full chat.

The reason I'd still say to go for a TVR is it will feel vastly quicker when you're pressing on, it will have more sense of occasion even when you're just pootling along and it's rather more usable given a roof, boot etc.

[redeye]

i drove a scooby before buying my old chim 4lt, scooby handels far better round the bends ,goes well looks good, chim drives fab,looks the nuts ,but best of all sounds the dogs theres nothing like it,o yer allso go like stink.
ive now got a 4.2 cerb my mate who came to buy it with me said "it sounds like your being chased by a thunder storm"
a V8 it must be.

[Grey Ghost]

Firstly congratulations for winning the "biggest lurker" award for 2 posts in 58 months

With your budget you are going to be able to buy pretty much whatever Tuscan or V8 powered TVR takes your fancy. There are horror stories about the speed 6 engine but they are usually blown (excuse the pun ) out of all proportion compared to the happy owners out there.

My suggestion would be to try out a few of differing age, engine, style etc and then see if you really fancy a TVR. Then speak to one of the TVR garages that do engine rebuilds (TVR Power, STR8SIX etc) and see what they can locate/provide. With the Speed 6 you are likely to be able to get one with a rebuilt and warranted engine. With a V8 you will get a fine car that should be sufficient for your needs without blowing a major chunk of your total budget. With either if you buy without an engine rebuild you should have enough in a "fighting fund" to cover this issue if it ever surfaces.

Make the most of the good weather and get out and drive a few

[glow worm]

A Tuscan is a suberb car, with your budget you should be able to get a late good condition MK1..not enough for a 2005/6 Mk2.... biased but a Tuscan 'S' Convertible is the dogs..but outside your price bracket.

Make sure you don't over spend what you can afford, Tuscans are expensive to maintain and be prepared to get hit by big bills ..my new clutch at 15.5k miles was £800 (and that was cheap). But they're worth every penny for the smiles

[SimoV8]

To TVR - nothing quite like one.

As for which one - how about the 4.5 Big Valve Griff that is in the classifieds and just had £2k knocked off?

[Trainspotter]

I'd say a Tuscan S is what you want, but then mine is in the classifieds

I had a Griff 500 before the Tuscan and it was a great car. However, it doesn't come close to the handling, braking and performance of the 'S'.

Since my Dad has driven the Tuscan, he keeps finding faults with his Griff 500 to justify selling it and buying mine.

Which ever TVR you decide to buy it will be smiles every mile

Jez

[TVRMARKUB]

Trainspotter said:

I had a Griff 500 before the Tuscan and it was a great car. However, it doesn't come close to the handling, braking and performance of the 'S'.

performance over a ton yeah the Griff won't come close to a mk 1 S but handling and braking, ermmmmm.

Edited by TVRMARKUB on Monday 2nd August 20:13

[scoobydriver]

Grey Ghost said:

Firstly congratulations for winning the "biggest lurker" award for 2 posts in 58 months

Why, thank you

Good advice there Grey Ghost.

@glow worm ... my budget isn't set in stone, its just what I initially identified as what I'd be happy to spend but I'm the kind of person who will always be prepared to spend a bit more if that makes a big difference. What would you reckon a good early Tuscan S Mk2 convertible would go for and what do you think makes it a better bet? If its £25k and its a much better car then the money's not really a problem. Once we get up to £30k though I'd find it hard not to try to convince my wife that we can always strap a picnic basket or suitcase to the side of an Atom!

In other words, this isn't a money-no-object buy but equally I'm not financially constrained until we start hitting the upper 30s... which would definitely be an Atom and a few year's worth of track days.

[Trainspotter]

TVRMARKUB said:

Trainspotter said:

I had a Griff 500 before the Tuscan and it was a great car. However, it doesn't come close to the handling, braking and performance of the 'S'.

performance over a ton yeah the Griff won't come close to a mk 1 S but handling and braking, ermmmmm.

Edited by TVRMARKUB on Monday 2nd August 20:13

Well to be fair it was a slightly unfair comparison, because the Griff was on stock suspension and the Tuscan has Nitrons. But anything to make the Tuscan appear the better option

[TVRMARKUB]

Trainspotter said:

TVRMARKUB said:

Trainspotter said:

I had a Griff 500 before the Tuscan and it was a great car. However, it doesn't come close to the handling, braking and performance of the 'S'.

performance over a ton yeah the Griff won't come close to a mk 1 S but handling and braking, ermmmmm.

Edited by TVRMARKUB on Monday 2nd August 20:13

Well to be fair it was a slightly unfair comparison, because the Griff was on stock suspension and the Tuscan has Nitrons. But anything to make the Tuscan appear the better option

A good Tuscan mk1 S with Nitrons and decent set up, yes please.

though that 4.5BV Griff also on Nitrons, yes yes please

if only I had some more garage space


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1855562.htm

Edited by TVRMARKUB on Monday 2nd August 21:08