V8S in Autocar
Discussion
Tamoras are great. Very underrated. But the Exige is the better choice if you're looking to do regular trackdays. On the road, with the roof off, the Tamora is hours of fun.
There are now a number of really good options open to speed six owners in the event of problems. TVR power for one can rebuild your speed six to standard, 4.0S spec, 4.3 and now even up to 4.5 litres offering stupendous power and a 5 year warranty. But that would be much quicker than your Aston!
There are now a number of really good options open to speed six owners in the event of problems. TVR power for one can rebuild your speed six to standard, 4.0S spec, 4.3 and now even up to 4.5 litres offering stupendous power and a 5 year warranty. But that would be much quicker than your Aston!
The Pits said:
Tamoras are great. Very underrated. But the Exige is the better choice if you're looking to do regular trackdays. On the road, with the roof off, the Tamora is hours of fun.
There are now a number of really good options open to speed six owners in the event of problems. TVR power for one can rebuild your speed six to standard, 4.0S spec, 4.3 and now even up to 4.5 litres offering stupendous power and a 5 year warranty. But that would be much quicker than your Aston!
Trackdays aren't really my thing. It would be just for road use. I'm not fussed if it is quicker than the Aston, but it would be remaining standard - except for a de-cat exhaust There are now a number of really good options open to speed six owners in the event of problems. TVR power for one can rebuild your speed six to standard, 4.0S spec, 4.3 and now even up to 4.5 litres offering stupendous power and a 5 year warranty. But that would be much quicker than your Aston!
Not really into modding cars. To get the most out of Exige ownership I'd say trackdays were advised. It remains in my opinion the best drive to the trackday and back car you can buy, short of a money no object scenario.
You get more out of the Tamora in that case.
I don't consider what TVR Power do to the speed six to be 'modding' as such. If your speed six needs a head rebuild which, to be blunt, is likely at some stage if it hasn't been done already, it's a case of paying a bit more to have it rebuilt as a 4 litre or bigger. Few are able to resist that. The standard characteristics are maintained, reliability is much improved and you get a bit more all through the rev range for your money. I look at it as part of the joys of TVR ownership, the aftermarket support for these engines is now far better than the factory were offering when they were around. TVR never offered a 5 year warranty for one thing!
You get more out of the Tamora in that case.
I don't consider what TVR Power do to the speed six to be 'modding' as such. If your speed six needs a head rebuild which, to be blunt, is likely at some stage if it hasn't been done already, it's a case of paying a bit more to have it rebuilt as a 4 litre or bigger. Few are able to resist that. The standard characteristics are maintained, reliability is much improved and you get a bit more all through the rev range for your money. I look at it as part of the joys of TVR ownership, the aftermarket support for these engines is now far better than the factory were offering when they were around. TVR never offered a 5 year warranty for one thing!
George H said:
I'm edging towards the Tamora, but I just don't know why. The noise is just sublime 
but I've read a lot of horror stories about them! It also has a nicer interior, but it was 4 years older than the Exige.
The Lotus felt a bit cramped inside, and probably won't be as fast, or as useable.
I'm not sure if the Aston and TVR are a little bit too similar, so I might end up not using one of them. I would have to make sure it can fit in the garage too, don't fancy leaving that outside.
My view on TC is similar to yours. I've had it activated a couple of times, with the back end having a little wiggle when I accelerated out of a corner too early. It's nice to have that to fall back on, only takes one little mistake in the TVR I imagine, and I'm going through a hedge backwards.
I'll have wait until I have driven them both, and then decide in the new year
Agree on all those points George. The TVR is surprisingly small, it'll fit no problem. Just having the cross-over of two front engined rear drive tourers might be the only stumbling block, but they are very, very different! I bought my Esprit as the most polar opposite car to the Marcos, the Exige might work for you based on that. You'll definitely feel like driving one or the other, totally different cars. but I've read a lot of horror stories about them! It also has a nicer interior, but it was 4 years older than the Exige.The Lotus felt a bit cramped inside, and probably won't be as fast, or as useable.
I'm not sure if the Aston and TVR are a little bit too similar, so I might end up not using one of them. I would have to make sure it can fit in the garage too, don't fancy leaving that outside.
My view on TC is similar to yours. I've had it activated a couple of times, with the back end having a little wiggle when I accelerated out of a corner too early. It's nice to have that to fall back on, only takes one little mistake in the TVR I imagine, and I'm going through a hedge backwards.
I'll have wait until I have driven them both, and then decide in the new year
And of course, make sure you get an Exige that the roof comes off (S2). Looks like a proper supercar when taken off!
Tamora has a better reputation than the Tuscan and there will be plenty about with a rebuilt warranted engine. There isn't lot else that goes wrong, at a few year old all the gremlins will have been sorted. You are buying from a defunct manufacturer but the specialists are top notch.
yeti said:
Agree on all those points George. The TVR is surprisingly small, it'll fit no problem. Just having the cross-over of two front engined rear drive tourers might be the only stumbling block, but they are very, very different! I bought my Esprit as the most polar opposite car to the Marcos, the Exige might work for you based on that. You'll definitely feel like driving one or the other, totally different cars.
And of course, make sure you get an Exige that the roof comes off (S2). Looks like a proper supercar when taken off!
Tamora has a better reputation than the Tuscan and there will be plenty about with a rebuilt warranted engine. There isn't lot else that goes wrong, at a few year old all the gremlins will have been sorted. You are buying from a defunct manufacturer but the specialists are top notch.
They are quite different, I imagine the TVR is just brutal, whilst the Aston is quite refined. The Exige could work because it's a complete different car. It was a yellow S2 (06 plate I think) with a black stripe on it. It looked amazing, as you said, a proper little supercar. The only thing I would change are the wheels because I have a hatred for black alloys. The roof did come off, which I never even knew about, I always thought they were coupes, so a huge plus point for the Exige there And of course, make sure you get an Exige that the roof comes off (S2). Looks like a proper supercar when taken off!
Tamora has a better reputation than the Tuscan and there will be plenty about with a rebuilt warranted engine. There isn't lot else that goes wrong, at a few year old all the gremlins will have been sorted. You are buying from a defunct manufacturer but the specialists are top notch.
The Exige is also more reliable (apparently), as well as being cheaper to run and insure. Downsides are general usability, and quite awkward to get in to. They don't sound too bad either with a sports exhaust on them. Just no where near as good as the TVR.
The Tamora I looked at was an 02 plate in Viper blue, but it had only done 13.5k miles. Was in absolute mint condition, it's very clearly been loved.
It was a TVR/Lotus/Caterham specialist I went to, and they were brilliant, if I do buy one, it will definitely be from there
The Pits said:
To get the most out of Exige ownership I'd say trackdays were advised. It remains in my opinion the best drive to the trackday and back car you can buy, short of a money no object scenario.
You get more out of the Tamora in that case.
I don't consider what TVR Power do to the speed six to be 'modding' as such. If your speed six needs a head rebuild which, to be blunt, is likely at some stage if it hasn't been done already, it's a case of paying a bit more to have it rebuilt as a 4 litre or bigger. Few are able to resist that. The standard characteristics are maintained, reliability is much improved and you get a bit more all through the rev range for your money. I look at it as part of the joys of TVR ownership, the aftermarket support for these engines is now far better than the factory were offering when they were around. TVR never offered a 5 year warranty for one thing!
I see your point, but I would just keep everything to the original spec (bar the exhaust). Is the 4 litre Speed Six the same engine as used in the T350 Red Rose?You get more out of the Tamora in that case.
I don't consider what TVR Power do to the speed six to be 'modding' as such. If your speed six needs a head rebuild which, to be blunt, is likely at some stage if it hasn't been done already, it's a case of paying a bit more to have it rebuilt as a 4 litre or bigger. Few are able to resist that. The standard characteristics are maintained, reliability is much improved and you get a bit more all through the rev range for your money. I look at it as part of the joys of TVR ownership, the aftermarket support for these engines is now far better than the factory were offering when they were around. TVR never offered a 5 year warranty for one thing!
I'm edging over to the Exige slightly, but I will have to wait and see what it's like to drive, and if I can live with it.
I will definitely have a TVR one day though! I don't think there is a car out there that can match them for the money.
I've driven automated manuals for the last nine years, an M3, M3 CSL and an M5 and I've enjoyed them. I've never been a fan of automatics and when I was first testing Astons, I found the TT2 standard DB9 too tame. I've enjoyed driving the Rapide and Virage tough and the auto box in our new X5 is a revelation.
For my fun car though, I still prefer a manual. I had a manual M3 ten years ago that got stolen after a year and I went back to manuals in 2009 with my DB9. The manual box in the V12v is one of the delights of the car for me.
I've driven more cars with bad manual boxes than good ones, but a good one is a wonderful thing.
For my fun car though, I still prefer a manual. I had a manual M3 ten years ago that got stolen after a year and I went back to manuals in 2009 with my DB9. The manual box in the V12v is one of the delights of the car for me.
I've driven more cars with bad manual boxes than good ones, but a good one is a wonderful thing.
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