Looking at a Tamora
Looking at a Tamora
Author
Discussion

Happy Monkey

Original Poster:

88 posts

244 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
A friend of mine is looking at buying a Tamora, 02 plate probably, I wondered if you could help with any advice on what to look out for, I have a Chim 450 at the moment so have educated him about chassis condition, but I am still a bit of a newbie. Any advice would be appreciated, engine, electrics etc - I think he's got the bug after a few runs out in the chim (and the boxster S can't keep up)!!!

RedSpike66

2,343 posts

242 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
02-plate... Speed6 engine..... so......
- has it had an engine re-build ?
- is it due, or in need of, a rebuild ?
- is it serviced to schedule and looks well looked after ?
- ask the owner 'How do you drive it from cold?'

Other things prob mileage related, like clutch (25k-ish I've been told), brake discs.
Look at several, dont worry about travelling around...

When he finds one, get him to ask on here who's owned it, knows any history etc.

All things I'll do next time i buy one!!



nubbin.

9,071 posts

308 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
RedSpike66 said:
02-plate... Speed6 engine..... so......
- has it had an engine re-build ?
- is it due, or in need of, a rebuild ?
- is it serviced to schedule and looks well looked after ?
- ask the owner 'How do you drive it from cold?'

Other things prob mileage related, like clutch (25k-ish I've been told), brake discs.
Look at several, dont worry about travelling around...

When he finds one, get him to ask on here who's owned it, knows any history etc.

All things I'll do next time i buy one!!





I'm not being picky, but...

most of what you're saying is second hand, apocryphal stuff, and not written on tablets of stone. The rebuild issue is what it is - mainly PH generated, and has become an apparent immutable law of TVR - "S6? Needs a rebuild."

Clutches - AP Racing twin plate - if treated right, no problem as they are fully engineered for the power available - they're not town cars though!

I DO agree with your assertion that each car must be looked at as an individual machine - because that's how they get built! There are some rules-of-thumb, but no rules.

RedSpike66

2,343 posts

242 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
Thanks for that.....
For other imbeciles like me.....
Apocrypha - from the Greek word meaning "those having been hidden away" - are texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned.

You are, in fact, spot on when referring to my position, because I have been a TVR owner for less than 2 months, but was simply trying to be helpful with the things that I was 'advised' to be 'wary' of - Apocrypha - precisely, but I feel still relevant..... FYI, my T350 currently 11,500 miles, no rebuild, and runs sweet as a nut!!

For some interesting facts, See 'Devils Advocate' summary on page 3 of this thread.... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=3&f=152&t=343036&h=0

J_S_G

6,177 posts

280 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
nubbin. said:
RedSpike66 said:
02-plate... Speed6 engine..... so......
- has it had an engine re-build ?
- is it due, or in need of, a rebuild ?
- is it serviced to schedule and looks well looked after ?
- ask the owner 'How do you drive it from cold?'

Other things prob mileage related, like clutch (25k-ish I've been told), brake discs.
Look at several, dont worry about travelling around...

When he finds one, get him to ask on here who's owned it, knows any history etc.

All things I'll do next time i buy one!!





I'm not being picky, but...

most of what you're saying is second hand, apocryphal stuff, and not written on tablets of stone. The rebuild issue is what it is - mainly PH generated, and has become an apparent immutable law of TVR - "S6? Needs a rebuild."

Clutches - AP Racing twin plate - if treated right, no problem as they are fully engineered for the power available - they're not town cars though!

I DO agree with your assertion that each car must be looked at as an individual machine - because that's how they get built! There are some rules-of-thumb, but no rules.

Sorry nubbin, got to agree with RedSpike on a fair amount of that. On average the clutch slave cylinder will have gone by 25k, or be due it... whilst the clutch itself isn't bad, the way it's been used in the car isn't so hot. Being a 3.6, the engine's less likely to suffer from problems, but there are still a fair few issues with the design & build of it. If it's done 20k+, check to see if it's started burning oil out of the exhaust to see if the valve guides are on their way out for starters.

I'd check for all the obvious, then go STRAIGHT out and get the third party wear-and-tear warranty on it. Just think of it as the car costing £1500 more.