Everyday driver, living on the drive ?
Discussion
Currently have a 996 and there are good and bad with it, always fancied but never had the balls to buy a TVR. I want a car to take me 12 miles each way to work, mon to fri, to be entertaining, to feel 'special', and to be capable on track.
Seems to me a Tuscan meets most requirements, but living outside and getting me to work everyday (to be honest a few missed mornings are not a problem) realistic or not ?
Other cars under consideration, Z4M, 370Z, SL500, Boxter, 997, but I just think a Tuscan would feel more 'special'
opinions ?
Seems to me a Tuscan meets most requirements, but living outside and getting me to work everyday (to be honest a few missed mornings are not a problem) realistic or not ?
Other cars under consideration, Z4M, 370Z, SL500, Boxter, 997, but I just think a Tuscan would feel more 'special'
opinions ?
From sitting on the drive overnight, to driving 12 miles to work, the engine fluids etc. will never get properly warmed up, and the Speed6 engine is not the smoothest from cold (well not from -10 that is).
Ironically, the thing is you'd end up taking detours either on the way there, or on th eway back, or both, so you can experience it more and enjoy it more.
Ironically, the thing is you'd end up taking detours either on the way there, or on th eway back, or both, so you can experience it more and enjoy it more.
It will need a longer run to get properly warmed up and they do need to be warmed up before you have a play
Mine was fine overnight outside at -3 or -4 last friday night, but in my ownership that was the first time.
You will need to make sure you get a car that doesnt leak, but you can usually spot the leaky ones by staining on carpets or the internal trim around the rear window etc.
Its much more of an event than a 996 IMO, but that is partially because the 996 feels like a fast company car the Tuscan feels more special. But a fast company car has its benefits especially when doing short hops and parking outside in all weathers.
Mine was fine overnight outside at -3 or -4 last friday night, but in my ownership that was the first time.
You will need to make sure you get a car that doesnt leak, but you can usually spot the leaky ones by staining on carpets or the internal trim around the rear window etc.
Its much more of an event than a 996 IMO, but that is partially because the 996 feels like a fast company car the Tuscan feels more special. But a fast company car has its benefits especially when doing short hops and parking outside in all weathers.
My TVRs have all lived outside and been used very frequently. You need some sort of cover really, or, as other poster says, 100% confidence that the one ur buying doesn't leak. So long as you behave yourself, no worse to drive in all the rubbish UK weather than any other car.... just remember you have no ABS and no TC !!
I've never had a Porsche, but I'm so glad I've got into TVR ownership - once the good weather comes and you drive it how it is intended, you'll be glad you joined us !!!
I've never had a Porsche, but I'm so glad I've got into TVR ownership - once the good weather comes and you drive it how it is intended, you'll be glad you joined us !!!
Oh, and the windows don't drop down quick enough when it's been -10 all night
The biggest concern would be leaks. TVRs in general can leak in through a lot of obscure places and as such it can be quite labour intensive to chase every last leak down and solve it. Combined with the fact that a lot of TVRs are only taken out in dry conditions and garaged the rest of the time, chances are there'll be a lot of potentially leaky cars out there. That said, its not going to get any worse than a bit of carpet staining and eventually a damp smell (TVRs smell quite "old" anyway).
I'd be more concerned about the chassis at this time of year, particularly now the gritters have shot their load on our roads.
PS - I generally drive the Cerbera when the mood takes me, as opposed to the weather forecast. The behaviour of the car has been exemplary in all conditions that have been thrown at it; they're no more scary in poor conditions than a normal car, providing you're smooth and steady with the throttle.
I'd be more concerned about the chassis at this time of year, particularly now the gritters have shot their load on our roads.
PS - I generally drive the Cerbera when the mood takes me, as opposed to the weather forecast. The behaviour of the car has been exemplary in all conditions that have been thrown at it; they're no more scary in poor conditions than a normal car, providing you're smooth and steady with the throttle.
Mine spent the first 6 years of my ownership as an everyday car living outside. I did similar, or shorter, commutes in heavy traffic. The only negative in that time was the stop-start driving shortens the clutch life a bit, as it's harder on the release fingers. Other than that no real issues. It leaks a little bit at the front corner of the drivers window but only in heavy rain and, as the floor is fibreglass not steel, the only real impact is damage to the carpets. Get out with the roof off and heater on and it soon dries out.
Corpulent Tosser said:
I was concerned about a TVR living on the drive, seems it is not uncommon that is good.
Thanks for the info guys, just need to look for a good one.
Reflex purple is the fastest regardless of which model you go for. (just ignore those that say other colours are faster, they are wrong Thanks for the info guys, just need to look for a good one.
)I had my Tuscan on the drive as a daily for just over a year and a half - no problems other than one cold morning it had a flat battery (could have happened to any car and to be fair i knew the battery was at least 6 years old). Managed to bump start it as I lived on a hill and put a new one on so no problems.
Used it in the rain, ice (yes as dangerous as you may think) a little snow and of course those brilliant drives in the summer. They dont like standing water so be careful there but other than that couldnt fault it.
My commute then was cira 6 - 8 miles all the way in stop / start traffic rarely getting above 30mph apart from one straight section of by-pass. Didnt have to touch the clutch and to add, it had never had a rebuild but did have a new clutch a few thousand miles before I bought it. From a TVR meet a met a guy who worked on my car when it was new. I doubted this at first but he could even remember the address as it went to a guy who lived in a flat so it had never been in a garage in its life, only covered up outside and he used it as a daily.
Did it leak on the driveway? No. Did it leak when it was raining? A little yes but having 9 years in the motor trade i havent come across a single convertible that hasnt leaked with heavy rain, BMW and Mercedes included so i wasnt bothered.
As a daily driver I never became bored of the commute to work and as others have said, you end up taking the long road back in any case. If you thinking about it ... get one. With the way they hold their money you can run it for a year and get your money back. I truly believe that the more you use these cars the better they are and the less you run the risk of things going wrong / drying out. I miss mine with a passion and only sold it to fund my house deposit.....
In the past I have had a 350z, 330ci, new shape TT, a Merc CLK and have drove many prestige / performance cars through my previous career in the motor trade and everything somehow falls short of the TVR
Used it in the rain, ice (yes as dangerous as you may think) a little snow and of course those brilliant drives in the summer. They dont like standing water so be careful there but other than that couldnt fault it.
My commute then was cira 6 - 8 miles all the way in stop / start traffic rarely getting above 30mph apart from one straight section of by-pass. Didnt have to touch the clutch and to add, it had never had a rebuild but did have a new clutch a few thousand miles before I bought it. From a TVR meet a met a guy who worked on my car when it was new. I doubted this at first but he could even remember the address as it went to a guy who lived in a flat so it had never been in a garage in its life, only covered up outside and he used it as a daily.
Did it leak on the driveway? No. Did it leak when it was raining? A little yes but having 9 years in the motor trade i havent come across a single convertible that hasnt leaked with heavy rain, BMW and Mercedes included so i wasnt bothered.
As a daily driver I never became bored of the commute to work and as others have said, you end up taking the long road back in any case. If you thinking about it ... get one. With the way they hold their money you can run it for a year and get your money back. I truly believe that the more you use these cars the better they are and the less you run the risk of things going wrong / drying out. I miss mine with a passion and only sold it to fund my house deposit.....
In the past I have had a 350z, 330ci, new shape TT, a Merc CLK and have drove many prestige / performance cars through my previous career in the motor trade and everything somehow falls short of the TVR
My Wedge was a daily and lived outside. Very reliable etc. Boot used to fill up with water. Used it as my daily for a 6 month contract in Switzerland from November to May and no problems.
1st Chimaera lived outside and daily driver. Used half cover but never leaked anyway. Used to drive back and too England to Germany, very reliable and great fun and lots of friendly comments.
1st Tuscan bought unseen
Spent a fortune sorting it out but then.......Oh my god what a car. Lived outside, daily drive, England to Germany, holidays in France bla bla bla, great experience and sadly missed when I killed her.
2nd Tuscan wonderful. lives outside with half or full cover. Very reliable. Driven as daily as possible and tons of friendly comments all over with trips to Germany, France, Spain....... Broke down in France this year with burned out ECU. Now sorted again and I love this car.
Just bought my second Chimaera which will take over the trips to Germany. Got it very cheep so a few basics to sort out like clutch, diff, etc. Already love it. and yes, will live outside all year round.
1st Chimaera lived outside and daily driver. Used half cover but never leaked anyway. Used to drive back and too England to Germany, very reliable and great fun and lots of friendly comments.
1st Tuscan bought unseen
Spent a fortune sorting it out but then.......Oh my god what a car. Lived outside, daily drive, England to Germany, holidays in France bla bla bla, great experience and sadly missed when I killed her.2nd Tuscan wonderful. lives outside with half or full cover. Very reliable. Driven as daily as possible and tons of friendly comments all over with trips to Germany, France, Spain....... Broke down in France this year with burned out ECU. Now sorted again and I love this car.
Just bought my second Chimaera which will take over the trips to Germany. Got it very cheep so a few basics to sort out like clutch, diff, etc. Already love it. and yes, will live outside all year round.
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