Taking the Plunge
Discussion
Hi
New to the forum but have been browsing for a couple of days and amazed at the wealth of info and advice available here! So, thought I'd dip into that pool of knowledge if I may....
After a few years of non-TVR ownership I am planning to return to the fold. My previous car, bought new, was a much-cherished Chim 450 but this time I'm after a Cerbera Speed 6, having been smitten by a test drive a good 11 years ago!
Now the thing is, this car is going to be my main transport though we will have a back up as well. It won't be garaged and I intend to use it rain or shine. BUT - and I need to know this - will I need to spend my weekends under the bonnet? There's nothing I'd like more myself but my wife and 3 young children might disagree!
The Chim was pretty much faultless for 6 years, is the speed 6 reliable once rebuilt?
And are there any things I should look for/avoid - apart from the obvious. Eg I understand post-2001 a lot of niggles were sorted out and the trim/finish improved but something about dodgy powder-coating of the chassis?
I've got my eye on a 2001 number on the Austec website which has the Austec spec engine - any comments? Reliability and driveability are my main concerns - the standard car has plenty of performance thank you!
Cheers for any help and hopefully I'll be regular visitor soon.
Incidentally the TVR Power website apears to be down - have they expired?
New to the forum but have been browsing for a couple of days and amazed at the wealth of info and advice available here! So, thought I'd dip into that pool of knowledge if I may....
After a few years of non-TVR ownership I am planning to return to the fold. My previous car, bought new, was a much-cherished Chim 450 but this time I'm after a Cerbera Speed 6, having been smitten by a test drive a good 11 years ago!
Now the thing is, this car is going to be my main transport though we will have a back up as well. It won't be garaged and I intend to use it rain or shine. BUT - and I need to know this - will I need to spend my weekends under the bonnet? There's nothing I'd like more myself but my wife and 3 young children might disagree!
The Chim was pretty much faultless for 6 years, is the speed 6 reliable once rebuilt?
And are there any things I should look for/avoid - apart from the obvious. Eg I understand post-2001 a lot of niggles were sorted out and the trim/finish improved but something about dodgy powder-coating of the chassis?
I've got my eye on a 2001 number on the Austec website which has the Austec spec engine - any comments? Reliability and driveability are my main concerns - the standard car has plenty of performance thank you!
Cheers for any help and hopefully I'll be regular visitor soon.
Incidentally the TVR Power website apears to be down - have they expired?
A TVR generally is not a Volkswagen etc. Be prepared to habe more or less small issues constantly. It all depends on the car: You might have a good one or a bad one. A complete service history is recommended. Also engine rebuilds depend on who did it and what was done.
There are many threads on this place regarding reliability. Good luck!
There are many threads on this place regarding reliability. Good luck!
Thnaks for the help so far. Anyone know about this car?
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2180743.htm
Looks very tidy - not my favourite colour, prefer darker but looks great otherwise
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2180743.htm
Looks very tidy - not my favourite colour, prefer darker but looks great otherwise
I have owned a 2003 SP6 Cerb for the last 2 years, and It has been perfectly reliable, it has not broken down once, I have however had to do little jobs like replace a broken rear droplink, re-core the rediator and replace the break pads. Nothing difficult there. I have however replaced a lot of other items such as suspension, ball joints, upper and lower, and a lot of cosmetic work such as powdercoating the wheels, cam cover, anti-roll bar etc. These are things I have done as part of the ownership of the car by trying to improve what was already there.
If you can get one with a rebuild all the better but mine hasn't had one, 32K miles and it has just been serviced and was told it was fine no scoring on the cams and plenty of adjustment left on the shims and tappets. I have no regrets and expect to enjoy many more years with it.
If you can get one with a rebuild all the better but mine hasn't had one, 32K miles and it has just been serviced and was told it was fine no scoring on the cams and plenty of adjustment left on the shims and tappets. I have no regrets and expect to enjoy many more years with it.
Cheers. I like the look of the headlight conversion and I note TVR Power charge £1200 for the job. Can anyone who has had this done tell me what they think of it?
And is it best to get the chassis powder coated, painted or waxoiled?
I'm very tempted by the crystal topaz example but, once having checked it out of course, getting the headlights done and a full body-off respray to a darker colour, getting the chassis looked at at the same time.
Any thoughts? Does this car look a decent proposition or have I got my eyes closed to something?
And is it best to get the chassis powder coated, painted or waxoiled?
I'm very tempted by the crystal topaz example but, once having checked it out of course, getting the headlights done and a full body-off respray to a darker colour, getting the chassis looked at at the same time.
Any thoughts? Does this car look a decent proposition or have I got my eyes closed to something?
I would think carefully here...
The light conversion takes away orignality - but thats your call. I would get used to the car and the lines before changing it. And save your money for the expenses that will come.
Private cars are often the best cars ie better priced and direct contact with the owner/history. There are plenty of known cars on here. Ideally find a S6 (or a V8) with a recent rebuild (ie post 2005) and from Power or Str8six.
A respray ("body off") will cost you £5K I would guess (plus the light conversion).
Will the new colour match the internal colours.
Once the body is off and the engine is out I am sure you will find other items to attend to. So the £s may rise.
The chassis - once the body is off you will want to do a total chassis repair and paint. Look very carefully at this as powder coating an old chassis will simply rust again. You need to get rid of the rust and then use the right coatings and approach etc to preserve it properly.
The light conversion takes away orignality - but thats your call. I would get used to the car and the lines before changing it. And save your money for the expenses that will come.
Private cars are often the best cars ie better priced and direct contact with the owner/history. There are plenty of known cars on here. Ideally find a S6 (or a V8) with a recent rebuild (ie post 2005) and from Power or Str8six.
A respray ("body off") will cost you £5K I would guess (plus the light conversion).
Will the new colour match the internal colours.
Once the body is off and the engine is out I am sure you will find other items to attend to. So the £s may rise.
The chassis - once the body is off you will want to do a total chassis repair and paint. Look very carefully at this as powder coating an old chassis will simply rust again. You need to get rid of the rust and then use the right coatings and approach etc to preserve it properly.
Gazzab said:
I would think carefully here...
The light conversion takes away orignality - but thats your call. I would get used to the car and the lines before changing it. And save your money for the expenses that will come.
Private cars are often the best cars ie better priced and direct contact with the owner/history. There are plenty of known cars on here. Ideally find a S6 (or a V8) with a recent rebuild (ie post 2005) and from Power or Str8six.
A respray ("body off") will cost you £5K I would guess (plus the light conversion).
Will the new colour match the internal colours.
Once the body is off and the engine is out I am sure you will find other items to attend to. So the £s may rise.
The chassis - once the body is off you will want to do a total chassis repair and paint. Look very carefully at this as powder coating an old chassis will simply rust again. You need to get rid of the rust and then use the right coatings and approach etc to preserve it properly.
Wise words - thought these things myself but it helps to hear them from another source. Maybe better to wait for the right car rather than buying one and spending a fortune getting it how I want, however that could take a long time. I'm not in any particular hurry but don't want to search for ever for the non-existent perfect car.The light conversion takes away orignality - but thats your call. I would get used to the car and the lines before changing it. And save your money for the expenses that will come.
Private cars are often the best cars ie better priced and direct contact with the owner/history. There are plenty of known cars on here. Ideally find a S6 (or a V8) with a recent rebuild (ie post 2005) and from Power or Str8six.
A respray ("body off") will cost you £5K I would guess (plus the light conversion).
Will the new colour match the internal colours.
Once the body is off and the engine is out I am sure you will find other items to attend to. So the £s may rise.
The chassis - once the body is off you will want to do a total chassis repair and paint. Look very carefully at this as powder coating an old chassis will simply rust again. You need to get rid of the rust and then use the right coatings and approach etc to preserve it properly.
I'm trying to get a post-2001 car as I understand quite a few mods came in at that time, but I've yet to see many 02 cars and not one 03.
There is a dark coloured S6 in the ads section, a later one with a mulberry interior. Looks nice. The red interiors dont photo well but in the flesh (!) they look great. It has the later lights. Worth a butchers? Maybe ask him to take it to Str8Six for an engine and chassis etc inspection. If its clean then bobs your auntie.
Gazzab said:
There is a dark coloured S6 in the ads section, a later one with a mulberry interior. Looks nice. The red interiors dont photo well but in the flesh (!) they look great. It has the later lights. Worth a butchers? Maybe ask him to take it to Str8Six for an engine and chassis etc inspection. If its clean then bobs your auntie.
Yep, I've been tempted by that one though I couldn't live with the interior and would HAVE to replace most of that red leather - yuk! Cheaper than a respray mind.....My Chim had mulberry carpets but cream and biscuit leather - could replicate it I guess but wouldn't go with the black! Decisions, decisions...I've been sent the service history for the other one but no other history. It's done 1k miles in the last 3 years after nearly 10,000 a year initially...
Seriously the mulberry leather is fantastic in the flesh. The magnolia interiors are all too common and dull in comparison. You could break it up a little by getting the steering wheel done in black leather, maybe getting the instrument pod replaced with a carbon pod (Ridds has one in his), maybe get the seat back n squab and left elbow rest done in black....?
1K in 3 years isnt great for a TVR! That wouldnt appeal to me.
No bills for major work - again that wouldnt appeal to me.
I assume it wont have been serviced every year if its only doen 1K in 3 years - again that wouldnt appeal to me either.
That one sounds like it could potentially require some investment then!
1K in 3 years isnt great for a TVR! That wouldnt appeal to me.
No bills for major work - again that wouldnt appeal to me.
I assume it wont have been serviced every year if its only doen 1K in 3 years - again that wouldnt appeal to me either.
That one sounds like it could potentially require some investment then!
Gazzab said:
Seriously the mulberry leather is fantastic in the flesh. The magnolia interiors are all too common and dull in comparison. You could break it up a little by getting the steering wheel done in black leather, maybe getting the instrument pod replaced with a carbon pod (Ridds has one in his), maybe get the seat back n squab and left elbow rest done in black....?
1K in 3 years isnt great for a TVR! That wouldnt appeal to me.
No bills for major work - again that wouldnt appeal to me.
I assume it wont have been serviced every year if its only doen 1K in 3 years - again that wouldnt appeal to me either.
That one sounds like it could potentially require some investment then!
I'm going to go take a look at the one you mentioned - the other's lack of history is a concern. Maybe I'll like the red leather when I see it!1K in 3 years isnt great for a TVR! That wouldnt appeal to me.
No bills for major work - again that wouldnt appeal to me.
I assume it wont have been serviced every year if its only doen 1K in 3 years - again that wouldnt appeal to me either.
That one sounds like it could potentially require some investment then!
Bud have you thought of the yellow one up for sale that is owned by Markh1.This must be a good buy in my book,i did infact ask about this car when we first heard it may be up for sale but he was not ready to sell then.I would have bought the car as he has worked very hard on this motor,and from what people say it is a very worthy car.Just an idea bud;)
Sorry bud no not that one,its the one in Surry first one on the site.Would appear you want an s6,i did drive 2 of these and both were nice.I would suggest you try a v8 it cant hurt to have a go,they are as mental as you want em to be if you wanna trundle about around town then in my book they are fine,and if you wanna give it some beans thats fine too.
I'll take a look - the write up is impressive, not driven a 4.5 so should be useful for comparison at least. The clutch was always heavy on my Chim - a real pain in traffic - and was impressed with how light it was on the SP6 by comparison. And I just liked the engine and sound. So, given the SP6 was intended to be a bit softer all round I decided to go for one since I intend to use it as my main transport rain and shine.
That 4.5 is gorgeous though, has to be worth a look.
That 4.5 is gorgeous though, has to be worth a look.
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