Thinking of buying a Tamora

[philhoward]

I am seriously thinking of buyinga Tamora. Are there any know faults/things to look for?

Also what are the average running costs per year (insurance for a 46 year old with clean licence, servicing, tax running costs etc). I estimate to do less than 3000 miles per year.

Is it advisable to buy from a garage or privately?

Thanks in advance for your help

Phil

Edited by philhoward on Sunday 27th June 19:26

[SomersetWestie]

Hi Phil..... I reckon you'll get a lot of knowledgable responses here but for my part, now being about 6 weeks into my first TVR, I've loved every second of the Tamora ! Trying to find something with as much character, grunt and noise with a soft top wasn't a difficult decision for me. I guess as it was my first and having spent months looking into the possibilities of various models, I felt safer buying from a dealer so went the the awesomely good Racing Green Cars who were fantastic right from the off.

So...... 6 weeks in and apart from the odd very minor thing, she's running amazing well and is more than I could have ever dreamed of. Having had a company car for many years and a Westfield recently on a classic insurance, my policy for the Tam is pretty good at £329 for the year with a 3000 mile limit, or £429 with 5K. This is through Manning UK, also very helpful and efficient.

Not really sure about running costs etc yet so would be keen to know what other peeps have to say about that ! Mine's just had the 12K service and all important tappets done by RG prior to collection.

Good luck with the search !

[Jim_w]

Hi Phil,

Usual stuff really. Make sure there is a full service history from a TVR dealer and check the intervals. Basically if low milage car should have a 6000 mile service and 12000 mile service alternate years. I bought (T350) privately but made sure the owner has a good knowledge of TVRs, warm up (do a search on warm up) etc. Take for a long test drive and have a look underneath for corrosion especially around the outriggers where they meet the wheelarches (should be clean and waxoyled). Check garage floor for oil/clutch fluid leaks. Try and drive a few to get a feel for what a good one feels like. Check all the electrics work and the aircon if fitted. Check the clutch - ensure all gears engage easily and tha the biting point is not at the extreme of clutch pedal travel. Stone chips are inevitable but some paints are easier (and less expensive) to sort than others (again search on here for all the stuff about paint types).

If buying privately you can save quite a few quid - if unsure you can ask a local TVR specialist to check the car over ( they offered to do this free for me because they will want your servicing) or you can ask an independant to check the car over for you (advertised in the TVR mags etc).

I spent ages agonising about whether I should take the plunge but haven't regretted it for a moment. Also don't get overly concerned about the Speed 6 engine - if it has been warmed up properly should be OK and if it has done a few miles even better - it really is a great motor.

I'm sure the tamora guys can give you model specifics but T350 pretty similar. Realistically servicing is £400-700/yr depending on 6000 or 12000 and whether tappets need doing and there is always the odd extra that needs sorting - tax is cheap compared to high volumes production cars with similar performance because of its PLG ( I think..) designation.

Just go for it - you will enjoy.

Cheers

Jim

Edited by Jim_w on Monday 28th June 22:19

[Targarama]

Budget £2k a year for running costs + insurance & tax.

If you're mechanically knowledgeable and know a good specialist to inspect a prospective purchase then there is no problem buying privately. Also remember, many owners are either on Pistonheads or the TVRCC forum to ask about a car's history (join the TVRCC btw, cheaper insurance if nothing else). Otherwise, there is no harm in buying from a dealer, you pay a little more buy get their backup if things go wrong.

Oh, and tread very carefully with recent model TVRs that are sat at dealers outside the TVR community - potential for lots of sales guys or whoever to take them for a 'quick spin' and thrash the pants off them when cold, which is one of the worst things for the Speed Six engine.

[jev]

Jim_w said:

I spent ages agonising about whether I should take the plunge but haven't regretted it for a moment.

...

Just go for it - you will enjoy.

Pretty much all the advice on this thread seems spot on although my servicing costs are a little higher than that quoted (but not much). If you get a service under £1000 (including all the additional stuff that needs doing) you are doing well.

[ALT]

jev said:

If you get a service under £1000 (including all the additional stuff that needs doing) you are doing well.

Really? You think?

http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/servicing/

[Zippee]

ALT said:

jev said:

If you get a service under £1000 (including all the additional stuff that needs doing) you are doing well.

Really? You think?

http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/servicing/

He says including all the little bits that need doing. Mines just had a 12k inc tappets, price of £615. Total cost of service just over a grand - Ferodo pads, uprated brake fluid, engine mount, p/s belt, thermostat, ECU temp sender, diagnostics etc. It all adds up.

[ALT]

Zippee said:

He says including all the little bits that need doing. Mines just had a 12k inc tappets, price of £615. Total cost of service just over a grand - Ferodo pads, uprated brake fluid, engine mount, p/s belt, thermostat, ECU temp sender, diagnostics etc. It all adds up.

I know exactly what he said. I'm just saying that not all services have to include a load of extras. I've had many services that don't and some that do...

[Mr M]

I must concur. A service with my Tivs has always just been a service and no extras. Perhaps I've just been lucky.

[Targarama]

Mr M said:

I must concur. A service with my Tivs has always just been a service and no extras. Perhaps I've just been lucky.

There are jobs you can put off, and many owners seem to. But you're saying you've never had extras for brake pads, replacement of an engine mount, changing a fuel line or radiator hose? You must do a lot of work yourself or drive the sheddiest TVRs on the road.

I see you owned a Cerbera - now I know you're telling porky pies

[Tumbler]

Just had 6000 mile service, 7 litres of Mobile oil, new wiper blades, new exhaust mount and time spent tracing and fixing a slight fuel leak for a little over £500 with Castle TVR.

[philhoward]

Many thanks for your comments so far.

I have heard a lot of conflicting opinions about the six cylinder engines. How reliable are they, and how easy is it to get spares/repairs if required?

What is the average lifespan of these engines before major work is required?

Phil

[Targarama]

The engines are pretty reliable in my experience, but you do get Friday afternoon cars. Everything is available for rebuilds/work - see the TVR Power website for an example of options.

Remember, you only hear about problems on forums. I owned a BMW Z4 for a bit last year, crikey their forum is full of problems!

[After_Shock]

Targarama said:

The engines are pretty reliable in my experience, but you do get Friday afternoon cars. Everything is available for rebuilds/work - see the TVR Power website for an example of options.

Remember, you only hear about problems on forums. I owned a BMW Z4 for a bit last year, crikey their forum is full of problems!

Agree with the above ref Z4's, a mate got one recently and had a good few issues with it so far!

[Mr M]

There are jobs you can put off, and many owners seem to. But you're saying you've never had extras for brake pads, replacement of an engine mount, changing a fuel line or radiator hose? You must do a lot of work yourself or drive the sheddiest TVRs on the road.

I see you owned a Cerbera - now I know you're telling porky pies
[/quote]

> You must do a lot of work yourself or drive the sheddiest TVRs on the road.

Look deal with it. You're just jealous.

[OatSy]

Targarama said:

Mr M said:

I must concur. A service with my Tivs has always just been a service and no extras. Perhaps I've just been lucky.

There are jobs you can put off, and many owners seem to. But you're saying you've never had extras for brake pads, replacement of an engine mount, changing a fuel line or radiator hose? You must do a lot of work yourself or drive the sheddiest TVRs on the road.

I see you owned a Cerbera - now I know you're telling porky pies

I'm with MR M, only extra with a service/MOT has been an oil tank seal in over 4 years of ownership, and mines not a shed but I would do a lot myself if something needed doing outside of when a service or MOT is due.

[Targarama]

OatSy said:

Targarama said:

Mr M said:

I must concur. A service with my Tivs has always just been a service and no extras. Perhaps I've just been lucky.

There are jobs you can put off, and many owners seem to. But you're saying you've never had extras for brake pads, replacement of an engine mount, changing a fuel line or radiator hose? You must do a lot of work yourself or drive the sheddiest TVRs on the road.

I see you owned a Cerbera - now I know you're telling porky pies

I'm with MR M, only extra with a service/MOT has been an oil tank seal in over 4 years of ownership, and mines not a shed but I would do a lot myself if something needed doing outside of when a service or MOT is due.

I know Mr M is kidding/doing stuff himself, but where are you getting you car serviced? Kwik Fit?

[Mr M]

> I know Mr M is kidding/doing stuff himself

If I could I probably would.. I feel a song coming on. No perhaps not that one.

You need to go to the place of honest and qaulity car servicing... where the fields are green (brown in the winter) and sheep are unseen.

[Mattt]

I was thinking...

I saw last night that Kwik Fit are offering free replacement pads etc if you get them done there - has anyone tried this with a Tiv or Exotic? Nothing else done there, and watch them like a hawk I imagine - but probably works out quite cheap!!

I wouldn't have thought that cheap pattern parts are available so they'd have to use the real AP versions?

Edited by Mattt on Wednesday 30th June 19:04

[OatSy]

Targarama said:

OatSy said:

Targarama said:

Mr M said:

I must concur. A service with my Tivs has always just been a service and no extras. Perhaps I've just been lucky.

There are jobs you can put off, and many owners seem to. But you're saying you've never had extras for brake pads, replacement of an engine mount, changing a fuel line or radiator hose? You must do a lot of work yourself or drive the sheddiest TVRs on the road.

I see you owned a Cerbera - now I know you're telling porky pies

I'm with MR M, only extra with a service/MOT has been an oil tank seal in over 4 years of ownership, and mines not a shed but I would do a lot myself if something needed doing outside of when a service or MOT is due.

I know Mr M is kidding/doing stuff himself, but where are you getting you car serviced? Kwik Fit?

Mine has been serviced at TorqueRVT and Drivestyle, MOT'd with Drivestyle and a Local garage, Owner known to me. I guess you must have a "Friday" Car

I have restored cars and motorbikes so very handy with the spanners, but not had to do anything except cosmetic stuff, change a battery, and get the car ready for storage every winter. Oh I forgot I put the aftermarket exhaust on myself.

Something to note too is that it has no service history while it was registered to TVR (first 18 Months) It will have had some stuff done by them while in their care but nothing recorded. It was a press car/show car so the attention to detail & reliability will have been more than a standard build I guess.

Edited by OatSy on Thursday 1st July 07:13

Edited by OatSy on Thursday 1st July 07:23