The Porsche goes tomorrow!
Discussion
Well the day has arrived - I have just p/xd my 54 plate 996 C2 with 40k miles from new for a late 2006 TVR T350C!!!!
Yes I know what most of you are going to say and yes there is no doubt that the TVRs are not as well nailed together as a Porsche - well most anyway as I have seen several really suspect ones in my latest search for a replacement.
I have been looking for ages for either a 996 GT3 or a 997 Carrera 2 S with a budget of up to £30k for a 997 and £35k for the GT3.
996 GT3's are just too much money for the year and now looked outdated by the 997 model.
I was close on a couple of GT3's but the history on one was poor and on another they could not find the first two years of it's history!!!!! I walked away from both as they retailed at between £32 and £35k - and yes they are still for sale, one even put the price up.
The 997 search was even more frustrating - low mileage ones seemed to be rather rare and the 54/55 plated cars over priced in terms of what the dealer wanted and what they would give me for mine. I had one very clean 54 plate 45k miles 997 C2 retailing at just under £27k - he wanted my car plus £12 grand - yes I know it's the newer model (same plate as mine) but that was just taking the p***!!! He still has the car for sale. This happened at least eight times. So I gave up in the end and only one of the cars has subsequently been sold. I have previously owned a TVR before - for five years in fact - and had very little go wrong with the car and when it did it was not expensive to fix. So I have taken the plunge after being very well treated by a great dealer who actually said that my car was a great example and then offered my a strong p/x price. He has fitted new tyres all round - 6 months tax - a 12 months warranty (no comments please) - two new shock absorbers - a full MOT and a reg number change at no cost! Now that's what I call service. He is a TVR specialist but also deals in BMW's - Porsche's and Range Rovers etc.
Hope to be able to go for a 997 GT3 in a couple of years.
Cheers
Steve
Yes I know what most of you are going to say and yes there is no doubt that the TVRs are not as well nailed together as a Porsche - well most anyway as I have seen several really suspect ones in my latest search for a replacement.
I have been looking for ages for either a 996 GT3 or a 997 Carrera 2 S with a budget of up to £30k for a 997 and £35k for the GT3.
996 GT3's are just too much money for the year and now looked outdated by the 997 model.
I was close on a couple of GT3's but the history on one was poor and on another they could not find the first two years of it's history!!!!! I walked away from both as they retailed at between £32 and £35k - and yes they are still for sale, one even put the price up.
The 997 search was even more frustrating - low mileage ones seemed to be rather rare and the 54/55 plated cars over priced in terms of what the dealer wanted and what they would give me for mine. I had one very clean 54 plate 45k miles 997 C2 retailing at just under £27k - he wanted my car plus £12 grand - yes I know it's the newer model (same plate as mine) but that was just taking the p***!!! He still has the car for sale. This happened at least eight times. So I gave up in the end and only one of the cars has subsequently been sold. I have previously owned a TVR before - for five years in fact - and had very little go wrong with the car and when it did it was not expensive to fix. So I have taken the plunge after being very well treated by a great dealer who actually said that my car was a great example and then offered my a strong p/x price. He has fitted new tyres all round - 6 months tax - a 12 months warranty (no comments please) - two new shock absorbers - a full MOT and a reg number change at no cost! Now that's what I call service. He is a TVR specialist but also deals in BMW's - Porsche's and Range Rovers etc.
Hope to be able to go for a 997 GT3 in a couple of years.
Cheers
Steve
RudeDog said:
Good luck to you Steve. I'd love a TVR too.
Regarding Porsche and their reliability. I've experienced nothing that makes me think they are very good in the last two years of Cayman S ownership. In fact, my Cayman S has been the least reliable car I have ever owned.
Hi again - I've just seen your car and it looks great - they do look good in black - mine was met black too.Regarding Porsche and their reliability. I've experienced nothing that makes me think they are very good in the last two years of Cayman S ownership. In fact, my Cayman S has been the least reliable car I have ever owned.
Steve
I might do once I've sorted out a house move (I'll be killed if I spend more money on cars before the house move!). I'll also have access to a more sensible car too then.
I do love the Cayman but its not what I'd call a reliable car. Its certainly not as reliable as I thought it would be when I bought it. It runs fine and pretty always has but annoying things keep needing fixing and it always costs a ridiculous amount. Nearly £500 for a window regulator this week!!!
Thanks for the compliments on the car. Its actually Midnight Blue, not Black. I did set out looking for a Black one but when I came across the Midnight Blue one I now own, I changed my preference. Its difficult to tell the difference in the pictures but up close the Midnight Blue is a beautiful colour.
I do love the Cayman but its not what I'd call a reliable car. Its certainly not as reliable as I thought it would be when I bought it. It runs fine and pretty always has but annoying things keep needing fixing and it always costs a ridiculous amount. Nearly £500 for a window regulator this week!!!
Thanks for the compliments on the car. Its actually Midnight Blue, not Black. I did set out looking for a Black one but when I came across the Midnight Blue one I now own, I changed my preference. Its difficult to tell the difference in the pictures but up close the Midnight Blue is a beautiful colour.
Hi - Steve - well it looks a great car.
I know what you mean about the house issue, been there etc.
Picked the Tiv up today - whew what a car.
996/T350 different as chalk and cheese. To be honest it felt rather intimidating to start with what with the tiny gear change and the amazing noise.
Anyway love it - but felt sad at leaving me Porka behind lol
Cheers
Steve
I know what you mean about the house issue, been there etc.
Picked the Tiv up today - whew what a car.
996/T350 different as chalk and cheese. To be honest it felt rather intimidating to start with what with the tiny gear change and the amazing noise.
Anyway love it - but felt sad at leaving me Porka behind lol
Cheers
Steve
I went from a Sagaris to a 997 and if TVR had continued to make cars would still have one, but unfortunately as long as the spoilt Russian owns it that isn't going to happen.
Don't believe all the unreliability crap you read about. There are good and bad of every make. Yes the Porsche is more useable but the TVR is truly an occasion.
Don't believe all the unreliability crap you read about. There are good and bad of every make. Yes the Porsche is more useable but the TVR is truly an occasion.
mr sagman said:
You wont go far wrong with a late T350, Just warm her up gently, look after her properly and she will offer you many smiles per mile, You will absolutely love her, hope she's got a sports exhaust.
Yes she has all of the latest mods plus a lovely and load sports exhaust!!!!Cheers
Steve
I came from a Tuscan to a 996 turbo and not overly keen to go back.
Dont get me wrong, the tuscan was an awesome car to drive but ultimately, back in the day, TVR clearly used some chocolate parts to build that speed 6 and when mine was rebuilt at 12k (before I owned the car) they obviously used the same chocolate as by 24k it needed another rebuild.
That said she was an early one with an early rebuild, I do believe the much later rebuilds have most of the problems solved... if I could have got into a sag with a TVR power rebuild then I would have no worries about rebuilds.
Ultimately that's why I went for a 996TT, the 996 IMS/RMS issues scared me away from any non turbo variant.
The only TVR I think I would go back to now is either a sorted out sag or a clean cerb.
Dont get me wrong, the tuscan was an awesome car to drive but ultimately, back in the day, TVR clearly used some chocolate parts to build that speed 6 and when mine was rebuilt at 12k (before I owned the car) they obviously used the same chocolate as by 24k it needed another rebuild.
That said she was an early one with an early rebuild, I do believe the much later rebuilds have most of the problems solved... if I could have got into a sag with a TVR power rebuild then I would have no worries about rebuilds.
Ultimately that's why I went for a 996TT, the 996 IMS/RMS issues scared me away from any non turbo variant.
The only TVR I think I would go back to now is either a sorted out sag or a clean cerb.
I've had several 911's, 944, 968 etc and I loved them all.
But to be honest, see my original post, - I was sick of dealers trying to rip me off!!!
Most of them are just not worth bothering with!! One main Jaguar dealership (no names) offered me a p/x that would have left him with close to a £10k mark up just on my car via one of his branded retailers never mind the profit on the car I was looking at!
I found this dealer called Tony Gilbert and what a refreshing change.
He deals mainly in TVRs but also has other marques including BMW's, Porsche's and even Range Rovers - top bloke and we haggled for a deal. He is one of the few dealers to actually say what a great example my 996 was.
We get a deal done, both parties happy.
Cheers
Steve
But to be honest, see my original post, - I was sick of dealers trying to rip me off!!!
Most of them are just not worth bothering with!! One main Jaguar dealership (no names) offered me a p/x that would have left him with close to a £10k mark up just on my car via one of his branded retailers never mind the profit on the car I was looking at!
I found this dealer called Tony Gilbert and what a refreshing change.
He deals mainly in TVRs but also has other marques including BMW's, Porsche's and even Range Rovers - top bloke and we haggled for a deal. He is one of the few dealers to actually say what a great example my 996 was.
We get a deal done, both parties happy.
Cheers
Steve
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