test drive/ dealer advice
Discussion
hey guys
i'm seriously thinking of defecting from the lotus forum, let me explain, i have an elise and have had for about 5 years now ( it's been my first car, long story involving the length of time i was at medical school, anyway) so i'm looking to replace it with something bigger, faster etc. Since i want somehting fun, convertible and with character ( i'm sorry, i've driven the boxster, it's slow and so dull, have you any idea how much coffee i'd need to keep awake while driving it) so naturally, i've been going down the TVR route since there is nothing else that comes close.
I love the way the tuscan looks, it's always been one of those, wow cars, and have never been that impressed with the pictures of the tamora, although it looks so much better in the flesh. My budget i guess is around the low to mid 30s but i could stretch it if necessary, and you'd think it was such a simple thing to do. The problem is this, i've been to two TVR dealers both who seem to say opposites, one who says coming from an elise, i should get a tamora as the handling is closer to the elise and the tuscan is more gt, and the other saying the exact opposite.
Now everybody says, try them and see which one you like, so i phones up one of the dealers, who on the phone was great, i was going mid week, and we'd try out the cars etc, well after 3 days of them phoning me up and saying there's something wrong with the demonstrator ( i know character cars have problems, but this is not a good way to convince me to buy) i ended up having the test drive on s saturday, which they put me in a tuscan, drove just long enough so i was beginning to feel comfortable in it, then came back, there was no, ok, now we need to go out in the tamora to compare, and i guess the real problem is this, after such a short period and with no comparison, how can you tell? i know all new cars have bugs, and i know the speed six takes time to run in, but is really smart to have a car that the driver doesn't know, that you can't take above so many revs, it's not my car, it's more power than i'm used to, and a different handling characteristic and most importantly, it's not my car, so i tend to be careful with it, meaning it takes longer to relax and decide if it's the car i want.
Maybe i'm naive, but i think it's a lot of money to spend on a car that i still don't know if it's the right model, based on 5 minutes driving. Maybe they didn't think i was a serious buyer, and i must say after the experience all i knew that i didn't know before was that yes it was good, but i didn't feel as if i'd done more then drive around the car park and still didn't know if it was the right model. The result was if anything it discouraged me and question if that's how keen they were to have me as a customer, what was it going to be like when i came back with a problem. maybe you're meant to go and flog the hell out of it, but it's not my car, and i don't know it.
so my ( rather long winded question is) can anyone recommend a dealer in the south who will spend the time to get this right, i see it as, sell me the wrong car, and i'll never buy tvr again, do it right, and i'll probably never buy anything else. I guess the question boils down to, is there a dealer who can convince me that yes it's worth spending 30k for it and that the 3 times the serving cost is worth it ( trust me it won't take much to convince me, i just need pushing over the edge)
what is the difference between the handling of the tuscan and tamora ( oh i've never done a track/airfield day, i may consider doing some just to learn to use it properly but that's not my reason to get one, i just want somehting that i can drive that puts a huge grin on my face and feels exciting to get in to every time) i want a more sporty than gt handling?
what is it that went wrong with the speed six engines, is it cured and why do two dealers put the cause down to two different things?
with the elise, having suffered at the hands of a dealer when it come to servicing ( multiple very expensive attempts to fix the same problem, they failed, diagnosed and fixed first time by lakeside engineering and generally treated badly by the main dealer, maybe i wasn't rich enough for them, i don't think they liked selling the elise) how good are the main dealers? are there independents and how good are they? what i love about lakeside engineering is they drive the cars and love them themselves so easily diagnose any problems
sorry i've gone on so long, but i need help
i'm seriously thinking of defecting from the lotus forum, let me explain, i have an elise and have had for about 5 years now ( it's been my first car, long story involving the length of time i was at medical school, anyway) so i'm looking to replace it with something bigger, faster etc. Since i want somehting fun, convertible and with character ( i'm sorry, i've driven the boxster, it's slow and so dull, have you any idea how much coffee i'd need to keep awake while driving it) so naturally, i've been going down the TVR route since there is nothing else that comes close.
I love the way the tuscan looks, it's always been one of those, wow cars, and have never been that impressed with the pictures of the tamora, although it looks so much better in the flesh. My budget i guess is around the low to mid 30s but i could stretch it if necessary, and you'd think it was such a simple thing to do. The problem is this, i've been to two TVR dealers both who seem to say opposites, one who says coming from an elise, i should get a tamora as the handling is closer to the elise and the tuscan is more gt, and the other saying the exact opposite.
Now everybody says, try them and see which one you like, so i phones up one of the dealers, who on the phone was great, i was going mid week, and we'd try out the cars etc, well after 3 days of them phoning me up and saying there's something wrong with the demonstrator ( i know character cars have problems, but this is not a good way to convince me to buy) i ended up having the test drive on s saturday, which they put me in a tuscan, drove just long enough so i was beginning to feel comfortable in it, then came back, there was no, ok, now we need to go out in the tamora to compare, and i guess the real problem is this, after such a short period and with no comparison, how can you tell? i know all new cars have bugs, and i know the speed six takes time to run in, but is really smart to have a car that the driver doesn't know, that you can't take above so many revs, it's not my car, it's more power than i'm used to, and a different handling characteristic and most importantly, it's not my car, so i tend to be careful with it, meaning it takes longer to relax and decide if it's the car i want.
Maybe i'm naive, but i think it's a lot of money to spend on a car that i still don't know if it's the right model, based on 5 minutes driving. Maybe they didn't think i was a serious buyer, and i must say after the experience all i knew that i didn't know before was that yes it was good, but i didn't feel as if i'd done more then drive around the car park and still didn't know if it was the right model. The result was if anything it discouraged me and question if that's how keen they were to have me as a customer, what was it going to be like when i came back with a problem. maybe you're meant to go and flog the hell out of it, but it's not my car, and i don't know it.
so my ( rather long winded question is) can anyone recommend a dealer in the south who will spend the time to get this right, i see it as, sell me the wrong car, and i'll never buy tvr again, do it right, and i'll probably never buy anything else. I guess the question boils down to, is there a dealer who can convince me that yes it's worth spending 30k for it and that the 3 times the serving cost is worth it ( trust me it won't take much to convince me, i just need pushing over the edge)
what is the difference between the handling of the tuscan and tamora ( oh i've never done a track/airfield day, i may consider doing some just to learn to use it properly but that's not my reason to get one, i just want somehting that i can drive that puts a huge grin on my face and feels exciting to get in to every time) i want a more sporty than gt handling?
what is it that went wrong with the speed six engines, is it cured and why do two dealers put the cause down to two different things?
with the elise, having suffered at the hands of a dealer when it come to servicing ( multiple very expensive attempts to fix the same problem, they failed, diagnosed and fixed first time by lakeside engineering and generally treated badly by the main dealer, maybe i wasn't rich enough for them, i don't think they liked selling the elise) how good are the main dealers? are there independents and how good are they? what i love about lakeside engineering is they drive the cars and love them themselves so easily diagnose any problems
sorry i've gone on so long, but i need help
I've had similar experiences with dealers. They just don't seem very encouraging to get you out in the actual cars for any length of time, or heaven forbid, compare a couple of different ones. I guess it'a a case of:
a) miles on these cars cost 'em quite a lot of money and
b) they have enough people come in and put the money straight down or after a v short test drive because:
i) they are not enthusiasts & just buy on looks,
ii) there is no real similar competition at the price.
Maf
a) miles on these cars cost 'em quite a lot of money and
b) they have enough people come in and put the money straight down or after a v short test drive because:
i) they are not enthusiasts & just buy on looks,
ii) there is no real similar competition at the price.
Maf
Although I had quite a short first test drive, my dealer did take me out for longer the second time when I was coming to a final decision.
Also, I found it helpful to discuss the criteria that I needed in the car with the dealer. I was able to convince myself I could use the Tamora as an every day car, and the dealer's stunt driver was able to demonstrate the peformance...
Steve
Also, I found it helpful to discuss the criteria that I needed in the car with the dealer. I was able to convince myself I could use the Tamora as an every day car, and the dealer's stunt driver was able to demonstrate the peformance...
Steve
When I went out for test drives in various cars I was looking to buy, I must have had about half an hour in each of an Elise, M3, Boxster S, 996, Cerbera (S6 and V8), Tuscan, the three TVRs back to back. I guess I took some time off work (4 days straight), booked ahead and went in the middle of the week so it wasn't busy. In my (limited) experience, go for the TVR dealers that wear trainers and fleeces rather than suits.
Cheers,
Andy.
P.S. The Porsche dealer was a right pain to deal with, the others weren't. TVR were the least bothered to "sell" me the car - just go out and see if you like it!
Cheers,
Andy.
P.S. The Porsche dealer was a right pain to deal with, the others weren't. TVR were the least bothered to "sell" me the car - just go out and see if you like it!
I would highly recommend Castle TVR in North Essex. I too only got about 15mins for a test drive but thats only because it was a saturday and they were busy but they offered further test drives if I wanted them. I found them to be very client focused and not pushy at all.
The proof is in the amount of time they worked with me to get my spec right and if you want a interesting test drive I guess you could do no better then go out with Michael Caine...the TVR Factory Le Man driver based at Castle
Alan.
The proof is in the amount of time they worked with me to get my spec right and if you want a interesting test drive I guess you could do no better then go out with Michael Caine...the TVR Factory Le Man driver based at Castle
Alan.
Well, I came out of a Boxster and test drove a Tuscan for 1.5hrs and then had nightmares about how I was going kill myself. Went for 2nd 1.5hrs test drive - still not totally sure as soo diff from easy Bosxter. Then salesman came to my house with a Tamora and immediately I knew I liked the drive better than the Tuscan - more even, due to the electronic steering. I now have a Tuscan born Oct 2002 with Tamora steering and it's lovely! Only drawback is steering fluids under main bonnet not service flap. I was never 'sold' a car or pushed. I was bowled over by service from dealer and indeed the personal service from Blackpool when liasing with me about the steering. The T350 has a similar steering drive too but I just love the looks of the Tuscan. I've got the best of both worlds. The dealer - Walldonway in Larkfield nr Maidstone although the actual salesman sadly has moved on. Hope this helps.
>> Edited by lady topaz on Sunday 27th April 19:24
>> Edited by lady topaz on Sunday 27th April 19:24
Interesting post from Lady-T. The total chassis/steering feel of the Tamora/T350 is different (and way better) than the standard Tuscan - BUT - and I think this is the biggest factor with cars like TVR, the Tamora just doesn't do it on the aesthetics front (sorry Tamora owners) - the Tuscan is just so unlike anything else. If the steering makes that much diff, it's worth '000's.
Having previously thought Alf_Essex's colour choice was a tad questionable, I saw it at Snetterton the other weekend & thought it was sensational - Tuscan in bold and italic if you KWIM.
Moving from Elise, there will be a whole set of other experiences from TVR ownership +ve & -ve - go with your heart.
Having previously thought Alf_Essex's colour choice was a tad questionable, I saw it at Snetterton the other weekend & thought it was sensational - Tuscan in bold and italic if you KWIM.
Moving from Elise, there will be a whole set of other experiences from TVR ownership +ve & -ve - go with your heart.
Hi Piquet,
Also had an elise for 3 1/2 years, changed to a Tamora last Novemeber. Still miss the Elise alot (handling) but the Tamora offers lots more on so many other fronts. I too had a rather short test drive at Hawthorns but they were very helpful and professional. However I ended up buying the car from Christopher Neil who offered £2000 more on trade in for my elise plus the Tamora was £3000 cheaper than anywhere down South. Plus they chucked in an extra 2 years warranty. I also had my car looked after at lakeside by Max and Tim, would be more than happy to meet up and we can play with the tamora for 1/2 an hour (in the dry), email to my profile. Steve
Also had an elise for 3 1/2 years, changed to a Tamora last Novemeber. Still miss the Elise alot (handling) but the Tamora offers lots more on so many other fronts. I too had a rather short test drive at Hawthorns but they were very helpful and professional. However I ended up buying the car from Christopher Neil who offered £2000 more on trade in for my elise plus the Tamora was £3000 cheaper than anywhere down South. Plus they chucked in an extra 2 years warranty. I also had my car looked after at lakeside by Max and Tim, would be more than happy to meet up and we can play with the tamora for 1/2 an hour (in the dry), email to my profile. Steve
"Piquet" - particularly good username! 
I had an Elise from 98 to 02, and an Exige for the last year.
I'm also looking to get a TVR, but as an addition to the Exige rather than a replacement.
I would say that whichever TVR you get let's face it, you are going to miss the Elise's handling. If that's your thing then I'd keep the Elise. For me a TVR works best as a more GT-ish type of car anyway which is why I'm looking at the Tuscan myself.
If you're going to get a TVE then get the most TVR-ish one I say.
Mark
I had an Elise from 98 to 02, and an Exige for the last year.
I'm also looking to get a TVR, but as an addition to the Exige rather than a replacement.
I would say that whichever TVR you get let's face it, you are going to miss the Elise's handling. If that's your thing then I'd keep the Elise. For me a TVR works best as a more GT-ish type of car anyway which is why I'm looking at the Tuscan myself.
If you're going to get a TVE then get the most TVR-ish one I say.
Mark
I bought a Chim from David Hendry Cars in Malmesbury 3-4 wks ago. They let me take the car on a couple of occasions for 1/2hr+ and were great to talk to. I don't know what experiences other people have had, but I was impressed and paid up.
The only downer was an unwillingness to budge on price. I guess that comes from confidence in knowing people want what you have for sale.
...and BTW, the car's great!
The only downer was an unwillingness to budge on price. I guess that comes from confidence in knowing people want what you have for sale.
...and BTW, the car's great!
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