Discussion
I know I’m years behind the original post on this but ... I have owned a Griffith 500 and a Tamora and loved them both, the latter especially. This year totally out of the blue I inherited a 1995 MG RV8 in BRG with 20k on the clock.
It has been a joy! If you judge your cars by numbers 0-60 blah blah then either rethink, or jog on.
The RV8 is all about feelings. It feels plenty fast if the right bit of road comes along and 100mph comes up very easily but the overriding sensation is suddenly one of not being in a rush. I really like it. It’s quite tactile, no power steering, lots of foibles to grow familiar with but really quite liveable. The downsides are plentiful but fairly standard for a classic. And much of the car is still in the classic era despite being 1995. Eg Forget waterproof! So mostly forget winter or wet weather driving. Forget modern damping composure and effortless (dull) progress. You have to concentrate and remember there’s a live rear axle and no abs. Don’t worry about rear drums as with the light weight and decent front discs the stopping power on a dry road is impressive.
The body tub is galvanised thank goodness but the chassis and suspension are not, so careful there. The front suspension has about an inch of travel before you reach rubber bump stops (assistors) and it gets a bit bouncy.
The interior is lovely, all burr elm and cream leather. Just ignore the nasty plastic steering column.
I’ve had both clutch cylinders fail, and chose to refresh the springs and dampers whilst replacing the front rubber bump stops. Generally it has been reliable in an old school way, and I would recommend it heartily as a fun second car. I find the looks entertaining. From some angles it seems muscular and well judged, from others a nasty plastic bolt-on job. But people seem to love it.
With values strong, I anticipate braking even over maybe 5-10 years despite classic maintenance.
Enjoy.
It has been a joy! If you judge your cars by numbers 0-60 blah blah then either rethink, or jog on.
The RV8 is all about feelings. It feels plenty fast if the right bit of road comes along and 100mph comes up very easily but the overriding sensation is suddenly one of not being in a rush. I really like it. It’s quite tactile, no power steering, lots of foibles to grow familiar with but really quite liveable. The downsides are plentiful but fairly standard for a classic. And much of the car is still in the classic era despite being 1995. Eg Forget waterproof! So mostly forget winter or wet weather driving. Forget modern damping composure and effortless (dull) progress. You have to concentrate and remember there’s a live rear axle and no abs. Don’t worry about rear drums as with the light weight and decent front discs the stopping power on a dry road is impressive.
The body tub is galvanised thank goodness but the chassis and suspension are not, so careful there. The front suspension has about an inch of travel before you reach rubber bump stops (assistors) and it gets a bit bouncy.
The interior is lovely, all burr elm and cream leather. Just ignore the nasty plastic steering column.
I’ve had both clutch cylinders fail, and chose to refresh the springs and dampers whilst replacing the front rubber bump stops. Generally it has been reliable in an old school way, and I would recommend it heartily as a fun second car. I find the looks entertaining. From some angles it seems muscular and well judged, from others a nasty plastic bolt-on job. But people seem to love it.
With values strong, I anticipate braking even over maybe 5-10 years despite classic maintenance.
Enjoy.
Edited by RedbaronFJR on Tuesday 16th October 04:24
I don't have an RV8.... (but I did test drive one on release back in the early 90's.)
However, I do have an MGB V8 and a TVR Chimaera. I've had the MG for 34 years and the TVR for 6. I fancied something a little more exciting than the MG six years ago and for reasons I won't go into here, TVR's came into my world. Suddenly the TVR floated my boat but after owning the MG for so long I couldn't bear to part with it. So I ended up with both - and yes, I'm still married!
So the differences. They're huge and both cars tick entirely different boxes for many reasons. Most of it has all been said on these pages but the strange thing is that TVR ownership (together with the fraternity, which simply can't be beaten, just look at the volume of TVR posts on here, compared to the 'quiet' MG pages. Says it all) has made me appreciate the MG far more for what it is.
The MG (even with the 3.5 Rover V8 engine) will never set the world alight. But it is a great car for long distance cruising and simply burbling around the streets. Acceleration is respectable but not alarming. But it has the engine the B should always have had. And it's a real classic and starts many conversations.
The TVR however is damn quick!! A 450 with a factory quoted 0-60 acceleration of 4.7 seconds. That's probably pushing it a little, even when it was new but it's flipping rapid when pushed. It's road manners are pretty good (well, certainly the way I drive it) and it feels planted at just about any speed, legal or illegal. (Track of course,
which is something else I would never have done in the MG.)
I have two mates with RV8s, one I've driven, one I haven't. The one I've driven felt a lot like my MGB V8. (shouldn't come as a great surprise, I guess.) Again, a great tourer with 'adequate' performance. If you like them, you like them (I do) and if you don't, give the TVR some serious consideration.
Oh and don't listen to all the reliability crap about TVRs. Buy a properly looked aftr example and simply drive it. That and regular maintenance will keep a big fat grin on your face.
You pays your money and you takes your choice. Good luck.
However, I do have an MGB V8 and a TVR Chimaera. I've had the MG for 34 years and the TVR for 6. I fancied something a little more exciting than the MG six years ago and for reasons I won't go into here, TVR's came into my world. Suddenly the TVR floated my boat but after owning the MG for so long I couldn't bear to part with it. So I ended up with both - and yes, I'm still married!
So the differences. They're huge and both cars tick entirely different boxes for many reasons. Most of it has all been said on these pages but the strange thing is that TVR ownership (together with the fraternity, which simply can't be beaten, just look at the volume of TVR posts on here, compared to the 'quiet' MG pages. Says it all) has made me appreciate the MG far more for what it is.
The MG (even with the 3.5 Rover V8 engine) will never set the world alight. But it is a great car for long distance cruising and simply burbling around the streets. Acceleration is respectable but not alarming. But it has the engine the B should always have had. And it's a real classic and starts many conversations.
The TVR however is damn quick!! A 450 with a factory quoted 0-60 acceleration of 4.7 seconds. That's probably pushing it a little, even when it was new but it's flipping rapid when pushed. It's road manners are pretty good (well, certainly the way I drive it) and it feels planted at just about any speed, legal or illegal. (Track of course,
which is something else I would never have done in the MG.)I have two mates with RV8s, one I've driven, one I haven't. The one I've driven felt a lot like my MGB V8. (shouldn't come as a great surprise, I guess.) Again, a great tourer with 'adequate' performance. If you like them, you like them (I do) and if you don't, give the TVR some serious consideration.
Oh and don't listen to all the reliability crap about TVRs. Buy a properly looked aftr example and simply drive it. That and regular maintenance will keep a big fat grin on your face.
You pays your money and you takes your choice. Good luck.
Rv8, solid and sound. Chassis upgrades for v8, r380 box, quaife atb centre std.
sort shocks and suspension, tickle engine and youll keep up with a fibreglass tvr.
Everyone makes ssumptioms on std factory car re dynamics and performance.
Great rust resistant base with adequate driveline to modify.
Im running a 500+hp 5litre through factory driveline(cr mo fly and brass button clutch) modified wishbones for neg camber and caster change,custom bilsteins(have used clive wheatley spax specials and theyre great as is he), neg camber rear axle and some other tweaks, ap 4 pots, and bigger springs in front, sticky tyres and cage to tighten up chassis torsional twist.
Beats 911's and wrx, skylines etc at hillclimbs. Is a hoot on twisty rds and reliable so far.
Depends if you want to mod or just drive.
sort shocks and suspension, tickle engine and youll keep up with a fibreglass tvr.
Everyone makes ssumptioms on std factory car re dynamics and performance.
Great rust resistant base with adequate driveline to modify.
Im running a 500+hp 5litre through factory driveline(cr mo fly and brass button clutch) modified wishbones for neg camber and caster change,custom bilsteins(have used clive wheatley spax specials and theyre great as is he), neg camber rear axle and some other tweaks, ap 4 pots, and bigger springs in front, sticky tyres and cage to tighten up chassis torsional twist.
Beats 911's and wrx, skylines etc at hillclimbs. Is a hoot on twisty rds and reliable so far.
Depends if you want to mod or just drive.
Gassing Station | MG | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff