Discussion
Ok so I've been an avid TVR fan for many many years now and am finally thinking of getting one. Been looking at few on here and have a budget of around £12k to spend, thing is I would really prefer a 98 or later model and ideally a 4.5 or 5.0
I know the RV8's are more reliable and dont cost as much to fix as the cerbs but my only question is this.
I use the car daily to commute to the station but thats only about 6 miles and takes no more than 10 maybe 15mins max, wkends are the usual going out etc so I can easily do 50-100 miles.
The type r is very reliable and one that I can drive to the limit easily.
What are your thoughts on the TVR for that type of daily use, is it enough to get warmed up and cooled down properly or do i need to add another 15 mins on to my journey each day :-)
I know the RV8's are more reliable and dont cost as much to fix as the cerbs but my only question is this.
I use the car daily to commute to the station but thats only about 6 miles and takes no more than 10 maybe 15mins max, wkends are the usual going out etc so I can easily do 50-100 miles.
The type r is very reliable and one that I can drive to the limit easily.
What are your thoughts on the TVR for that type of daily use, is it enough to get warmed up and cooled down properly or do i need to add another 15 mins on to my journey each day :-)
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
(but, a TVR is not a Honda...things will fall off)
More often than not it'll be little annoying things like (in my case) the Temp gauge having a mind of its own, rubber trim on the end of the door coming off.... that type of thing.
I went from a Honda Civic 1.6 ESi to a Griffith 500, a huge jump in performance and you learn a lot about driving V. quickly..
The Griffith was also my only car and a daily driver. I never had any major mechanical problems with it, that said you do have to keep on top of servicing every 6000 miles and any other maintenance which will be expensive compared to a Honda but surely this is out weighed by the noise and the drive
Take your time looking, get yourself a good example and you'll love it!!
G
I went from a Griff 500 to an Integra Type-R DC2 and don't regret it at all. Once you've got the big power thing out of your system, you'll realise how much better the Honda is. Even the RV8-engined TVRs cost a packet to run if you look after them properly. Spend a bit more and get an S2000 or an NSX; you won't regret it.
Alex said:
Even the RV8-engined TVRs cost a packet to run if you look after them properly. Spend a bit more and get an S2000 or an NSX; you won't regret it.
Not really considering the power you get, and the sheer joy each time the car is driven, which is different IMHO to an S2000 (not driven an NSX).
In a similar boat here. I'm driving an Integra Type R, have been doing for 2 years now, and am itching for a change. The Honda is very accomplished, and I've enjoyed tracking it, but my yearning for more umph and rwd is weighing heavily on mind and heart! Having been a TVR fan since my boyhood experiance of seeing the Griff show car at the NEC, i've always had a thing for them. I can afford to buy an early Chim, and am reasonable with spanners. It sounds as though with a mindful approach these bruisers of the automotive world are an exciting everyday proposition. The Integra has 6000 mile services afterall, 3000 if you are regularly bashing the limiter of 8750rpm on track. Once I have done my Nurburgring trip, I will look further into the TVR world.
900T-R said:
Arguably a VW Golf 1.4GL is a better car than, say, a Series 1 E-Type, too - but as for the quality of the experience...
Couldn't agree more,I had a very rapid Scoobie GTB and an 928S4 when I had my previous Chim.Guess what I couldnt wait to get behind the wheel of for the sheer event.
joesnow said:
In a similar boat here. I'm driving an Integra Type R, have been doing for 2 years now, and am itching for a change. The Honda is very accomplished, and I've enjoyed tracking it, but my yearning for more umph and rwd is weighing heavily on mind and heart! Having been a TVR fan since my boyhood experiance of seeing the Griff show car at the NEC, i've always had a thing for them. I can afford to buy an early Chim, and am reasonable with spanners. It sounds as though with a mindful approach these bruisers of the automotive world are an exciting everyday proposition. The Integra has 6000 mile services afterall, 3000 if you are regularly bashing the limiter of 8750rpm on track. Once I have done my Nurburgring trip, I will look further into the TVR world.
In two years I've done 41,000 miles, around 30 trackdays and 50 laps of the 'Ring in my 'Teg and it has cost me buttons. In 3 years and the same mileage my Griff cost me around £8,000 in servicing and maintenance (not forgetting £18k in depreciation, but you will avoid this if you buy an early Chim).
Blimey Alex that's a lot of teg miles. Seeing as the teg has similar service intervals to the Griff, what were the extra expenses?
Integra is a great car, but what do i replace it with? other than a strapping Chim, i'd look at an thirsty RX7, a slightly posey E36 M3Evo or a too expensive Monaro - any ideas? Who knows, I may hang on to the integra a bit longer, i've just bought a oem exhaust to replace the Fujitsubo to make it better on the motorway. When you are really motoring it is a very enjoyable car to hustle.
I'd like to experiance a TVR whilst I have the enthusiasm and means to do so. I am looking at houses, and am concerned that the price of running such a car with become increasingly expensive in the current political climate making it unjustifiable in future. A Chimaera is the best way of me doing that at present.
Integra is a great car, but what do i replace it with? other than a strapping Chim, i'd look at an thirsty RX7, a slightly posey E36 M3Evo or a too expensive Monaro - any ideas? Who knows, I may hang on to the integra a bit longer, i've just bought a oem exhaust to replace the Fujitsubo to make it better on the motorway. When you are really motoring it is a very enjoyable car to hustle.
I'd like to experiance a TVR whilst I have the enthusiasm and means to do so. I am looking at houses, and am concerned that the price of running such a car with become increasingly expensive in the current political climate making it unjustifiable in future. A Chimaera is the best way of me doing that at present.
Edited by joesnow on Tuesday 3rd April 15:45
I used to own a Civic Type R before I found my TVR Chimaera 5.0L
The reason I got rid of the type R was because it was to easy to drive and i became bored of it.
I always wanted a TVR found that I could get one so I went and got one.
I use mine every day, and it never lets me down. It was the best thing i ever did was to buy my Chim.
By the way I only do short distance to work every day about 3 - 4 miles and more millage at the weekends.
Funny enough the insurance is cheaper on my TVR than it was on my type R
Go on..... buy one you will not regret it. As long as you dont mind some niggly issues and no where near the build quality of a Jap car.
The reason I got rid of the type R was because it was to easy to drive and i became bored of it.
I always wanted a TVR found that I could get one so I went and got one.
I use mine every day, and it never lets me down. It was the best thing i ever did was to buy my Chim.
By the way I only do short distance to work every day about 3 - 4 miles and more millage at the weekends.
Funny enough the insurance is cheaper on my TVR than it was on my type R
Go on..... buy one you will not regret it. As long as you dont mind some niggly issues and no where near the build quality of a Jap car.
i moved from a Type R (integra) to a TVR and do a short commute (10 minutes)
Apart from a few problems in 2 years (hot start, alarm/dopor lock shorting out failing and its on the garage now) which i always forgive her
Type Rs are great - easy to drive - just point and shoot and they never go wrong - which i great but if you want a bit of edge and to live a little - take the rough with the smooth (and there is more smooth than rough) - go for it...its was a great move - tons of smiles.
Apart from a few problems in 2 years (hot start, alarm/dopor lock shorting out failing and its on the garage now) which i always forgive her
Type Rs are great - easy to drive - just point and shoot and they never go wrong - which i great but if you want a bit of edge and to live a little - take the rough with the smooth (and there is more smooth than rough) - go for it...its was a great move - tons of smiles.
I regularly drive both a Chimaera and a CTR, but really only use the latter when more than 2 seats are a requirement. They are such completely different cars. The CTR is good, reasonably swift and even fun on twisty roads, but ultimately it's a souped up shopping car (in my opinion). It doesn't have a smooth power delivery - there's next to nothing until just before 6000-ish revs, so you have to keep it in the 6000 to 8000 rev range to move swiftly - it's not a torquey engine. And being a 4 cyl it just sounds whizzy, like a washing machine on spin. On the other hand it's fairly economical if you drive normally, it's easy to drive without any effort and the servicing bills are next to nothing. But I don't find myself looking forward to driving it, there's no sense of occasion. The TVR, however, never fails to put a grin on my face. There's power across the rev range, the V8 just sounds superb and I often don't bother with the stereo, the roof comes off, then there's just the way it looks, you can't get out without looking back at it. And the interior is simply leagues ahead of anything Japanese, it's just a very pleasant place to be. Downsides are heavy clutch and steering, which makes it tiring in London traffic, and servicing bills - I just had a quote for £860 + VAT for my next regular service. Obviously if you go to a good independent it will be cheaper, and even less if you have the facilities and time to do it yourself. Reliability is a contentious topic but mine has been completely reliable, no breakdowns and only minor electrical niggles (the heater fan currently doesn't work!) and a persistent power steering fluid leak.
Not sure about short daily commutes, don't use it for that as a taxi is cheaper than the kengestion charge, but the popular view is that you shouldn't put your foot down before the engine gets up to temperature, which it won't in a 10 minute commute so I'm sure it will handle a daily commute just fine, but you won't be able to push it (well you can, but you shouldn't). Thus if I'm just popping to the shop or if we're out with our daughter, I'll take the CTR. Otherwise it's the Tiv. So I say have both, commute in the Honda and save the Tiv for weekends!
Not sure about short daily commutes, don't use it for that as a taxi is cheaper than the kengestion charge, but the popular view is that you shouldn't put your foot down before the engine gets up to temperature, which it won't in a 10 minute commute so I'm sure it will handle a daily commute just fine, but you won't be able to push it (well you can, but you shouldn't). Thus if I'm just popping to the shop or if we're out with our daughter, I'll take the CTR. Otherwise it's the Tiv. So I say have both, commute in the Honda and save the Tiv for weekends!
I drive both a Type R and a chim, my son works away so I am forced
to drive his Type R to keep the thing working,
(the things you have to do for your kids)
The type R is a fantastic car with a great engine,
but at the end of the day it is just a civic,
Fast yes reliable absolutely, but where it fails IMO is
in as was stated above is the driving experience
It may be an idea to go to one or two of the local TVR meetings
and if your lucky someone may give you run out in one.
even as a passenger its addictive.
normal warnings apply... you will come back wanting one and
your face will ache from the grin,
That's what happened to me.
Phil
to drive his Type R to keep the thing working,
(the things you have to do for your kids)
The type R is a fantastic car with a great engine,
but at the end of the day it is just a civic,
Fast yes reliable absolutely, but where it fails IMO is
in as was stated above is the driving experience
It may be an idea to go to one or two of the local TVR meetings
and if your lucky someone may give you run out in one.
even as a passenger its addictive.
normal warnings apply... you will come back wanting one and
your face will ache from the grin,
That's what happened to me.
Phil
I echo previous comments. Had the use of a TEG R and done several track days in it, very accomplished too, and owned a Chim 500 for past 15 months. A totally different ownership prospect, both excel in diffferent areas, i personally wouldn't move from one to another, keep both if you can afford to.
FWIW i like the S2000, a friend having just bought one it was ultimately a very dull but worthy experience, a great all rounder for daily reliable use, but not a Chim, then i wouldn't use my Chim everyday (not thats its ever let me down yet).
The golf e-type analogy makes the srongest point
FWIW i like the S2000, a friend having just bought one it was ultimately a very dull but worthy experience, a great all rounder for daily reliable use, but not a Chim, then i wouldn't use my Chim everyday (not thats its ever let me down yet).
The golf e-type analogy makes the srongest point
Thanks for all the comments, the main issue was really to see if the short journey time would be a problem. Unfortunatley I cant have both so its going to be a tough one as I do love the practicality of the type r but seriously want the thrills of the tvr.
Looks like I'm going to have to start looking hard to get one for the summer.
Will keep you posted and thanks for all the replys!
Looks like I'm going to have to start looking hard to get one for the summer.
Will keep you posted and thanks for all the replys!
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