TVR Engines: What's the Truth?
Discussion
I drive my Tamora 3 miles each morning/evening and alway keep it to 2500rpm. It can be a pain because that's only 50mph in 4th but put in 5th and the revs drop and the engine labours!
No real problem because once the longer journeys come and the water/oil warms up it's all worthwhile!
If some of the engine problems are blamed on people's misuse then I can't understand it? TVRs are generally bought by enthusiasts who treat their cars as the handbooks recommend?
Cheers......... Andrew
No real problem because once the longer journeys come and the water/oil warms up it's all worthwhile!
If some of the engine problems are blamed on people's misuse then I can't understand it? TVRs are generally bought by enthusiasts who treat their cars as the handbooks recommend?
Cheers......... Andrew
quote:
If some of the engine problems are blamed on people's misuse then I can't understand it? TVRs are generally bought by enthusiasts who treat their cars as the handbooks recommend?
Cheers......... Andrew
I dont think we are specifically pointing fingers here, it is just that the modern expectation is that you can just get in and drive - which isnt true for all high-power sports car (hence comment earlier about Porker Turbos!). I think that the spread of TVR ownership now covers a number of different types of owner.... Enthusiasts and ones that have had TVRs before, but it is the new owners that have maybe come from BMW or Porsche that are in for a bit of a shock. You need to treat them with care thats all....
Oh, and I double stress - this is not pointing fingers here. It is entirely possible that the owners who do care for their SP6 engines suffered at the hands of the "finger followers" and not because they didnt let the engines warm up.... just want to make sure...
Cheers,
Paul
What a top question to have asked...I was about to ask the same thing...honest.
I'm virtually ready to make the leap to a Tuscan, as my garage extending is now under way, and have had worries about what its going to cost me after I've paid for it.
Its refreshing to hear that it all depends on how the owner treats the machine, rather than the usual poor design, bad components etc.
However, as I'm buying secondhand, there's no way of proving that the previous owner treated it with care (re. warm up). Any other tips, or things to look for to give me comfort that its been treated well???
For all you Tuscan owners (in particular), how about sending in a figure for how much the car has cost you, for fixing stuff that was not 'included in the warranty', and including what month and year of the car. That way, it may be possible to see the (hopefully) reduction in running costs on the newer machines.
Steve (in need of a TVR)
I'm virtually ready to make the leap to a Tuscan, as my garage extending is now under way, and have had worries about what its going to cost me after I've paid for it.
Its refreshing to hear that it all depends on how the owner treats the machine, rather than the usual poor design, bad components etc.
However, as I'm buying secondhand, there's no way of proving that the previous owner treated it with care (re. warm up). Any other tips, or things to look for to give me comfort that its been treated well???
For all you Tuscan owners (in particular), how about sending in a figure for how much the car has cost you, for fixing stuff that was not 'included in the warranty', and including what month and year of the car. That way, it may be possible to see the (hopefully) reduction in running costs on the newer machines.
Steve (in need of a TVR)
Steve,
I dont own a SP6 car so cant comment directly, but the number of people that say "buy the latest one you can" doesnt bear remembering. Even dealers say that you should try and steer away from W reg ones and go for X as the oldest to look at.... seems that the trade seems to know something that we dont and therefore sometime around the plate change everything was sorted.
To be honest this goes for just about any car, but seeing as the technical "issues" have been sorted out now then it is probably a good move to go for newer rather than older....
Other than that cant really help - though feedback from PH, Tuscan owners and dealers indicate that running costs are not that bad. Other than the odd exception they are pretty predictable. Only problem being that you must take it to a dealer for the moment, so new and you would be daft to take it out of the dealer network yet....
Cheers,
Paul
I dont own a SP6 car so cant comment directly, but the number of people that say "buy the latest one you can" doesnt bear remembering. Even dealers say that you should try and steer away from W reg ones and go for X as the oldest to look at.... seems that the trade seems to know something that we dont and therefore sometime around the plate change everything was sorted.
To be honest this goes for just about any car, but seeing as the technical "issues" have been sorted out now then it is probably a good move to go for newer rather than older....
Other than that cant really help - though feedback from PH, Tuscan owners and dealers indicate that running costs are not that bad. Other than the odd exception they are pretty predictable. Only problem being that you must take it to a dealer for the moment, so new and you would be daft to take it out of the dealer network yet....
Cheers,
Paul
I can comment as a Cerb S6 owner who has had a rebuild. I never took my car over 2500 rpm until up to temperature eg 75 degrees and then keep it under 3500 rpm until oil is nice and warm. This is what I have always done with my TVR's BUT i still needed a rebuild! I also know a lot of people on the Tuscan list who have had rebuilds and they also always warmed up the engine before giving it some. I agree that perhaps some of the newer owners of TVR's may not adhere to the warm up procedures but most TVR enthusiast owners that I know always do and a LOT have had rebuilds. Running the engine over 2500 rpm from cold is NOT good but I don't think it is a factor for the rebuilds. I have heard from a good source that John Ravenscroft will run a S6 engine at 4,500 rpm from cold on a test bed without thinking twice. Now I dont believe that this is good but he is the designer and he should know.
I firmly believe that the rebuilds have been down to 2 things:
a) Initial Head Design which has now been changed
b) Faulty parts eg Finger Followers
I have the redesigned S6 head and have not had any problems since. My first rebuild was at 5000 miles and I am now at 11K with no problems and a superb engine.
Kris
I firmly believe that the rebuilds have been down to 2 things:
a) Initial Head Design which has now been changed
b) Faulty parts eg Finger Followers
I have the redesigned S6 head and have not had any problems since. My first rebuild was at 5000 miles and I am now at 11K with no problems and a superb engine.
Kris
Another point. The change from W reg to X reg has no significant engine changes. If a dealer says steer away from a W reg S6 he will be talking about the Tuscan not the engine. The engine was run for a number of years in the Cerb before the Tuscan was even released. The first Tuscans were not built as well as the newer ones but most older ones would have had any mods added to bring it up to spec. Any engine that has been rebuilt would be rebuilt to the latest spec.
What mods would they be??
What does 'the latest switch gear' actually mean? Please feel free to laugh big time if I'm completely wrong, but does it relate to leaking window fittings messing with the door mounted switches???
How I can tell if the 'suspension changes' have been done?
Are there any tell tale signs that will tell me its had all the latest mods, whatever they may be...is there a list available that I can use as a checklist? I know this may sound daft, but its a lot of dosh to spend, so I need as much info as possible to make (hopefully) an informed decision as to which one to buy and which ones to not buy.
PS Anyone willing to share with us how much they have had to spend on non-warranty probs...I'd really like to get a feel for an amount to budget for, as I don't quite know how much 'reasonable running costs' actually means.
Thanks,
Steve - all advice gratefully received, as long as its not bugger off or stop asking annoying questions.
What does 'the latest switch gear' actually mean? Please feel free to laugh big time if I'm completely wrong, but does it relate to leaking window fittings messing with the door mounted switches???
How I can tell if the 'suspension changes' have been done?
Are there any tell tale signs that will tell me its had all the latest mods, whatever they may be...is there a list available that I can use as a checklist? I know this may sound daft, but its a lot of dosh to spend, so I need as much info as possible to make (hopefully) an informed decision as to which one to buy and which ones to not buy.
PS Anyone willing to share with us how much they have had to spend on non-warranty probs...I'd really like to get a feel for an amount to budget for, as I don't quite know how much 'reasonable running costs' actually means.
Thanks,
Steve - all advice gratefully received, as long as its not bugger off or stop asking annoying questions.
quote:
Another point. The change from W reg to X reg has no significant engine changes. If a dealer says steer away from a W reg S6 he will be talking about the Tuscan not the engine. The engine was run for a number of years in the Cerb before the Tuscan was even released. The first Tuscans were not built as well as the newer ones but most older ones would have had any mods added to bring it up to spec. Any engine that has been rebuilt would be rebuilt to the latest spec.
Sorry I should have qualified that a little - yes, sorry not referring to the engine - which according to lots of people is much better now. Was referring to the build standard of a Tuscan as a whole. The recent ones that I have seen are significantly better than earlier ones (but again its the same with other cars too!).
Sorry if it was confusing...
Cheers,
Paul
quote:
Got to say that mine is fabulous. The engine is still running wonderfully after 5600 miles. Just booked in for it's first service at TMS and been told it will be £550 inclusive of VAT. If it's any more than that I will let you know.
Flash, does that include any valve work? If so, it seems qiute reasonable. Let me know, I could always arrange for James to collect mine...
Second Tuscan, 20k miles, has just sent me a postcard from Blackpool after 2 weeks and another 3 to go, engine out job.
Each time it has a spell away (usually only the odd day, but quite often) I dig out the FOR SALE sign but always forgive and forget when it gets back.
Buy one, just don't expect Germanic perfection.
Each time it has a spell away (usually only the odd day, but quite often) I dig out the FOR SALE sign but always forgive and forget when it gets back.
Buy one, just don't expect Germanic perfection.
)My Cerbera Speed 6 in in for it's 3rd engine rebuild in seven months.
I too treat it with extreme care when 1st starting, and found that until the problem with the finger followers happened again the engine was solid, smooth and very rebliable.
I have bee assured from Blackpool that the engines are now sorted and am expectig mine back in the next week or so.
I have no qualms about getting a Tuscan or a Tamora next time, as I feel that the engine is more refined and more robust than the V8s, IMO, having owned a V8 Chimera before, which was lovely, it was just to lumpy for me and my driving abilities.
The speed six is an awesome angine and aas long as you take care of it it will take care of you.
I too treat it with extreme care when 1st starting, and found that until the problem with the finger followers happened again the engine was solid, smooth and very rebliable.
I have bee assured from Blackpool that the engines are now sorted and am expectig mine back in the next week or so.
I have no qualms about getting a Tuscan or a Tamora next time, as I feel that the engine is more refined and more robust than the V8s, IMO, having owned a V8 Chimera before, which was lovely, it was just to lumpy for me and my driving abilities.
The speed six is an awesome angine and aas long as you take care of it it will take care of you.
Me and the kids (one at a time, of course!) often have a bit of a laugh, checking the fuel guage - it varies from 3-15 litres left in the tank, depending on how hard we're cornering, or up/down hills. Yes richb, as gb says, the multi-function display gives oil pressure/temp, water temp, fuel left in litres, max. speed and revs, all sorts of stuff. Very comprehensive, and the dislay has several screens to scroll through, with loads of warning messages, such as which door is open, lights on, engine stuff (so far unused!!), as well as the adjustments for display brightness, and the levels at which each change up light comes on. Top stuff!! By the way, Andrew, flasher, I definitely have software version v5.8, so I guess my mileage is geniune.
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