What should I do?
Discussion
I'm thinking of changing my Boxster for a T350C and I need some help/advice. Hope I've come to the right place 
I've been a big fan of TVRs since the days of the 450SEAC and have "nearly" bought 2 S3s and a Chimera in the past few years, but it always came back to the old reliability story. Having looked at one wreck of a Chim too many I ended up in Porsche-land. Now the Porsche is great (a lot better than you'll all probably admit in here and a fantastic-handling car) but I'm after something a bit more, well, brutal! And so I find myself back with Trevor...
But having browsed through the forum for the past week or so I can't help notice the number of engine rebuilds that have taken place (admittedly mainly Tuscans) on the Speed 6 - and the pi$$-poor 6 months warranty offered by the factory on them
. Is the story really that bad? I really want a T350C, but not if it's going to sit in some workshop most of it's life. It would be my daily driver and I do about 12000 miles/year so I really wouldn't want to spend most of my life driving a Nissan Micra hire car.
Also, I phoned my local Tiv dealer up and he said that if I ordered now I would have a car by September. Now, being used to waiting for a year to take delivery for a Porsche I can only assume that depreciation is going to be "significant".
Let the comments roll...
I've been a big fan of TVRs since the days of the 450SEAC and have "nearly" bought 2 S3s and a Chimera in the past few years, but it always came back to the old reliability story. Having looked at one wreck of a Chim too many I ended up in Porsche-land. Now the Porsche is great (a lot better than you'll all probably admit in here and a fantastic-handling car) but I'm after something a bit more, well, brutal! And so I find myself back with Trevor...
But having browsed through the forum for the past week or so I can't help notice the number of engine rebuilds that have taken place (admittedly mainly Tuscans) on the Speed 6 - and the pi$$-poor 6 months warranty offered by the factory on them
. Is the story really that bad? I really want a T350C, but not if it's going to sit in some workshop most of it's life. It would be my daily driver and I do about 12000 miles/year so I really wouldn't want to spend most of my life driving a Nissan Micra hire car. Also, I phoned my local Tiv dealer up and he said that if I ordered now I would have a car by September. Now, being used to waiting for a year to take delivery for a Porsche I can only assume that depreciation is going to be "significant".
Let the comments roll...
arwebs - I think you'll find reliability is a lot better than it used to be and depreciation well, specialist market - if you know where to sell you'll not lose as much as you think....
I'll give you an example ot two:
Bought a V8s back in 1992 for £18000 - lot of money then. Sold it in 1995 for ... wait for it £18500.
Got an early 4.2 Cerb having ordered at the motor show in '94 and got the guaranteed price incl extras of £33700. When I took delivery in Nov 96 the cars were selling at £37000+ due to to price rises etc.
Still worth almost 2/3 of the price I paid (against a new T350T order).
Now there's no way to determine exact figures for loss over 3 years and since the late 90's cars of this type have had a tendency to depreciate more. However I think the demand for T350's will boost their residual values in the long run.
If you're not sure about the investment and reliability still concerns you, wait a while and see what appears on the 2nd hand market - there's a few out there all ready....
Best of luck ...
Tivster
I'll give you an example ot two:
Bought a V8s back in 1992 for £18000 - lot of money then. Sold it in 1995 for ... wait for it £18500.
Got an early 4.2 Cerb having ordered at the motor show in '94 and got the guaranteed price incl extras of £33700. When I took delivery in Nov 96 the cars were selling at £37000+ due to to price rises etc.
Still worth almost 2/3 of the price I paid (against a new T350T order).
Now there's no way to determine exact figures for loss over 3 years and since the late 90's cars of this type have had a tendency to depreciate more. However I think the demand for T350's will boost their residual values in the long run.
If you're not sure about the investment and reliability still concerns you, wait a while and see what appears on the 2nd hand market - there's a few out there all ready....
Best of luck ...
Tivster
Had a Boxster for four years then faced exactly the same dilemma as you and ended up going for a Tamora. Its my first TVR and I had some initial concerns after hearing the usual horror stories, especially as this is my only car so needs to reliably manage the daily commute, but I'm happy to say that I've had no significant problems at all.
Loved the Boxster but just doesn't compare to the unadulterated grin factor of a Tiv. As the man from Nike said, "Just do it"
Loved the Boxster but just doesn't compare to the unadulterated grin factor of a Tiv. As the man from Nike said, "Just do it"
Andy,
For an everyday driver I would stick with Porsche if I were you. I just don't think that percentage wise enough cars are near trouble free in order to take the risk. I have owned three TVR's and there is no way on planet earth I would have considered using any as daily drivers. Depreciation wise mine have lost about 15% per annum after 2 - 3 years of ownership. If you try and trade a TVR against another brand then this figure increases dramatically.
Frostie
>> Edited by frostie on Thursday 5th June 22:02
For an everyday driver I would stick with Porsche if I were you. I just don't think that percentage wise enough cars are near trouble free in order to take the risk. I have owned three TVR's and there is no way on planet earth I would have considered using any as daily drivers. Depreciation wise mine have lost about 15% per annum after 2 - 3 years of ownership. If you try and trade a TVR against another brand then this figure increases dramatically.
Frostie
>> Edited by frostie on Thursday 5th June 22:02
I don't see any problems really, go for it. You have a two year warranty on the engine and one year on the car not six months. I don't think you will lose anymore money than on any other car, infact probably less...
And as far as I know most of the engine problems seem to have been sorted now, I haven't heard of many problems on the 3.6 engine....
And as far as I know most of the engine problems seem to have been sorted now, I haven't heard of many problems on the 3.6 engine....
flasher said: I don't see any problems really, go for it. You have a two year warranty on the engine and one year on the car not six months. quote]
True on a new car, some members though have been given 6 months warranty on engine rebuilds, so maybe this is what was being alluded to? i.e. if it goes back in for a rebuild and goes pop 6 months and 1 day later, you could be in trouble. But as Flasher says the 3.6 engines are now having less and less problems, so daily commute of 250 miles a week should be fine. Servicing costs though maybe.... service every 6k miles and they are not charged at you local Ford rates either !!
When will people stop this TVRs cannot be driven every day rubbish? I drove my Griff everyday for years without major problems, now I drive the cerbera every day without problems. Yes they cost a bit more to run than a eurobarge but they are a lot more fun.
There were plenty off horror stories with the early speed six engine, but from what I can gather (and I do lurk on the Tamora and T350 forums) these problems are no longer an issue.
The only thing I would worry about is depreciation, however if you got a T350 and sold it within a couple of years I think you would fare quite well.
D.
There were plenty off horror stories with the early speed six engine, but from what I can gather (and I do lurk on the Tamora and T350 forums) these problems are no longer an issue.
The only thing I would worry about is depreciation, however if you got a T350 and sold it within a couple of years I think you would fare quite well.
D.
There's loads of stuff around the forums on unreliability of Speed 6 engines as you have found. However the problem only affected a limited number of cars and TVR have seemingly cleared the issues.
I went through the same dilemma as yourself when changing from my reliable Griff to the Tuscan and still decided to go for it. I got a good warranty from a dealer I trusted took the plung and I love it.
I have heard of very few Tamora/T350 engine issues and before that there were few Cerbera Speed 6 issues. It just seemed to be some year 2000/2001 Tuscans. Also with a T350 you'll have the lions share of the 2 year manufacturers warranty to play with if you decide against brand new...
DC
I went through the same dilemma as yourself when changing from my reliable Griff to the Tuscan and still decided to go for it. I got a good warranty from a dealer I trusted took the plung and I love it.
I have heard of very few Tamora/T350 engine issues and before that there were few Cerbera Speed 6 issues. It just seemed to be some year 2000/2001 Tuscans. Also with a T350 you'll have the lions share of the 2 year manufacturers warranty to play with if you decide against brand new...
DC
As far as reliability is concerned, I think the engine problems are done with. My Tamora has 10800 miles on it, all hassle free, except the valves needed new shims as they got a bit noisy, and this was done as part of the two year engine warranty.
alt on this forum, has the second production Tamora off the line, and uses it as his daily driver, and I understand has had no problems.
The best thing to do with TVR is to buy one that's at least 6 months old, preferably a year, to lessen the effect of initial depreciation, and most niggly trim issues are sorted (the main source of trouble in newer cars).
They can be daily drivers, with one or two small compromises, and the latter cars are a hoot at the weekend! (Well, they all are, but it's a newer model you're after)
alt on this forum, has the second production Tamora off the line, and uses it as his daily driver, and I understand has had no problems.
The best thing to do with TVR is to buy one that's at least 6 months old, preferably a year, to lessen the effect of initial depreciation, and most niggly trim issues are sorted (the main source of trouble in newer cars).
They can be daily drivers, with one or two small compromises, and the latter cars are a hoot at the weekend! (Well, they all are, but it's a newer model you're after)
swilly said: I have noticed TVR depreciation in general is more to do with the body colour and interior colour combination and condition and less to do with age and mileage.
Don't think i agree with this one either. If you have specced your car in an outrageous colour combo then sure enough someone like minded will want it when you've finished with it, providing the colour scheme works.
mike
aka cerbera8
t350c said: If you have specced your car in an outrageous colour combo then sure enough someone like minded will want it when you've finished with it, providing the colour scheme works.
Good point - it's just noticeable that some colours hang around a bit longer because they are an acquired taste.
Oh and some colours (especially yellows IMHO) never come across very well in pictures and on the screen. But see them in the flesh......
nubbin said: As far as reliability is concerned, I think the engine problems are done with. My Tamora has 10800 miles on it, all hassle free, except the valves needed new shims as they got a bit noisy, and this was done as part of the two year engine warranty.
alt on this forum, has the second production Tamora off the line, and uses it as his daily driver, and I understand has had no problems.
The best thing to do with TVR is to buy one that's at least 6 months old, preferably a year, to lessen the effect of initial depreciation, and most niggly trim issues are sorted (the main source of trouble in newer cars).
They can be daily drivers, with one or two small compromises, and the latter cars are a hoot at the weekend! (Well, they all are, but it's a newer model you're after)
yeah, but who knows how it would be running with say 13,000 miles on the clock, eh nubbin??
Bennno
>> Edited by bennno on Friday 6th June 14:09
Thanks all for the comments - I feel a little easier now! I suppose my biggest worry then would be the depreciation as in two years I'd have done around 25000 miles but most others around would be on less than 10000.
When anyone gets round to selling their 6 month old T350C - give me a shout.
Cheers
Andy
When anyone gets round to selling their 6 month old T350C - give me a shout.
Cheers
Andy
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