3000M white/ brown novice advice please
Discussion
Hi new to TVR interest.... have been reading thread re French chap and 3000m purchase notice long standing ad for yorkshire based white/ brown private &7995 still on 'car and classic cars for sale' not mentioned....i did go to see this car early Sept both vehicle and owner seemed pretty good however i already have mgbgt and a mainstream motor and it seems classic tvrs cost a lot more to run.... or is that an illusion ?
Am still tempted though as winter approaches think prepared to accept nearer £7.3 k, any advice appreciated or has any one else seen the car...it drove well and does look as good as the pic.(which I dont know how to load up on here sorry)
Am still tempted though as winter approaches think prepared to accept nearer £7.3 k, any advice appreciated or has any one else seen the car...it drove well and does look as good as the pic.(which I dont know how to load up on here sorry)
Firstly , welcome to the forum.
Re whether TVRs are more expensive to run than MGBs, I would say that a well maintained TVR is no more expensive to run than a well maintained MGB. They both occasionally have electrical issues and bits wearing out. M series bits are no more expensive than MG bits in my experience.
If its a goodun, with no chassis rust issues I would grab it.
Not a great fan of 70s brown myself, but it is a really evocative colour scheme
Re whether TVRs are more expensive to run than MGBs, I would say that a well maintained TVR is no more expensive to run than a well maintained MGB. They both occasionally have electrical issues and bits wearing out. M series bits are no more expensive than MG bits in my experience.
If its a goodun, with no chassis rust issues I would grab it.
Not a great fan of 70s brown myself, but it is a really evocative colour scheme
Hi, I think that one has gone. It was probably a good one, and for that money it will sell quickly. These cars are rare, only 600 odd ever made so that means you have to be quick, .......and lucky! They are only as expensive to run as you wish to spend on them. routine maintenance is very inexpensive, I have had my Taimar for seven years, and since recomisioning it, it has cost no more than a couple of hundred per year ever since and I use it most days. Stuff like exhaust systems, manifolds ,suspension wishbones and uprights and petrol tanks are pricy, as they are bespoke items, but most of the rest are proprietary components, and so are relatively cheap. Chassis are the big one, but a car in your price range should have a good one, and a stainless exhaust, ect. Get one that has been done,and you will enjoy years of pleasure, but be quick! ........And decicive!
Clive.
Clive.
Thanks guys "i used to be decisive but now am not so sure" etc... main stumbling blocks were passenger door not closing properly,dodgy ammeter (and a fear we might get stranded on test)incrediblt stiff clutch which i could still feel ligaments behind left knee two days later, and prob most significantly private sale price a couple of grand over practical classics price guide (says £6k max in sept mag)....i think anyway he had some interest from germany.
Also I do not have a garage and I did not want to adopt the cliche grp- body- so no- rust- illusion ....bearing in mind the mgb gt i own is worth abt 3 grand max! Looked great in and out though & at aged 58 am happy with seventies brown stripe... its my era chaps
Maybe a les expensive 1600M though more my cup of tea? Or does a 3000m do more than 22 mpg advised? Thanks
Also I do not have a garage and I did not want to adopt the cliche grp- body- so no- rust- illusion ....bearing in mind the mgb gt i own is worth abt 3 grand max! Looked great in and out though & at aged 58 am happy with seventies brown stripe... its my era chaps
Maybe a les expensive 1600M though more my cup of tea? Or does a 3000m do more than 22 mpg advised? Thanks
I really would not set much store by the practical classics price guide in this instance. They are prob OK for things like escorts and midgets, but for more specialist cars, that don't come up quite so often, they don't really have the info.
I would not be too worried by small faults,, which in general will be cheap to fix, if possibly a little time consuming. I probably wouldnt even be too bothered by some drop in the doors. As i understand it, door fit was never perfect, and worn hinges are fixable. As already said, the chassis is the biggie. Most mechanicals are relatively simple to sort.
I would not be too worried by small faults,, which in general will be cheap to fix, if possibly a little time consuming. I probably wouldnt even be too bothered by some drop in the doors. As i understand it, door fit was never perfect, and worn hinges are fixable. As already said, the chassis is the biggie. Most mechanicals are relatively simple to sort.
They have been going up in price lately due mostly to their popularity in Europe, so, these days, 6 grand won't get you a good'un unless you are lucky. One would expect work to do for that price. You get used to the cluch, and changing gear behind you! My Taimar does better than 22 MPG I think!
1600Ms are even more scarce, and I do not think they are much cheaper, ether to run or maintain. I use my Taimar all year and in the winter months it gets wet, inside! I removed the soggy footwell carpets a few years ago, and have never replaced them, I just mop up the puddles!, but BECAUSE it has a GRP shell, it does not matter, Blackpool bathtubs! I think they have been described. The chassis on these are pretty good, mine is original and still perfect, it has had no repairs but I do waxoyl it every year.
1600Ms are even more scarce, and I do not think they are much cheaper, ether to run or maintain. I use my Taimar all year and in the winter months it gets wet, inside! I removed the soggy footwell carpets a few years ago, and have never replaced them, I just mop up the puddles!, but BECAUSE it has a GRP shell, it does not matter, Blackpool bathtubs! I think they have been described. The chassis on these are pretty good, mine is original and still perfect, it has had no repairs but I do waxoyl it every year.
A standard 3000M (standard tune engine with 38DGAS and four speed box) will give about 22mpg around town and 25-27 on a long run, you may see more if you are a super economical driver but what's the fun in that!!!
As the mods are applied it gets a bit of a drink habit.
A 1600M will see better mpg circa 35 on a long run, however as soon as you start upping the power on a 1600 crossflow then it's mpg figures plumment, and a 1600M with the same sort of power as as a 3000M will probably be doing a similar mpg to the 3000M and not have the benefit of the fat wodge of torque that comes with the bigger engine.
As the mods are applied it gets a bit of a drink habit.
A 1600M will see better mpg circa 35 on a long run, however as soon as you start upping the power on a 1600 crossflow then it's mpg figures plumment, and a 1600M with the same sort of power as as a 3000M will probably be doing a similar mpg to the 3000M and not have the benefit of the fat wodge of torque that comes with the bigger engine.
and there's definately FUN in that!That's debatable, one car will go through with a dab of oppo, the other will run true!!!
Having driven one of the ex-Chris Meek lightweight 1600M's on the road, and comparing it to my modified Taimar, a) I really missed the torque and b) you really had to be buzzing the race-tuned crossflow to get any power of it!!!
For road driving I would take the bigger engined car everytime.....
now in a Vixen...that's different......
Having driven one of the ex-Chris Meek lightweight 1600M's on the road, and comparing it to my modified Taimar, a) I really missed the torque and b) you really had to be buzzing the race-tuned crossflow to get any power of it!!!
For road driving I would take the bigger engined car everytime.....
now in a Vixen...that's different......
stockpie said:
Hi new to TVR interest.... have been reading thread re French chap and 3000m purchase
Just to clarify, that should be "British chap in France" ! You don't know your luck living in the UK as far as cars are concerned : 99.9% of cars here are boring Peugeots, Citroens, Renaults. Any "interesting" cars tend to be vastly overpriced and/or in a terrible state, and you have to pay a fortune for the V5C... the last time I saw a TVR in France was at least 5 years ago.ok, end of rant, now have you thought about the red 3200M advertised on PH? I've been in touch with the seller, and he seems like a sound guy with a sound car, but seems he's not willing to deal on the price, but might be fine for you?
Sorry my felow englishman- albeit -abroad, but point now taken, funnily enough i did e mail the notts red and black owner today, cant quite grasp why one is £5.2 k and the Hudderfield one nearly a third more...unfortunately i much prefer the white/ brown combo - just call me odd.
As a matter of interest I wonder how many tvr classic owners don't kep their motors garaged, which would be the case with me. Although a cover on the mgb gt seems to have done it no harm on my driveway over the last 3 years.....regularly used and all that.
Cheers, Chris
As a matter of interest I wonder how many tvr classic owners don't kep their motors garaged, which would be the case with me. Although a cover on the mgb gt seems to have done it no harm on my driveway over the last 3 years.....regularly used and all that.
Cheers, Chris
Hi There
I guess that those that are Selling price there cars at what they think they are worth and those that are buying pay what they think what it is worth to them.
Really its not rocket science.
It looks like most pre 80s cars have gone up about 20 per cent in the last 18 months and may continue up as interest increases in the Mark.
Compared to other marks Triumph and MG Jag and Porch etc they have been very much undervalued concidering the numbers built and will probably continue that way.
Remember when these cars where launched these where the cars they where compared to in the motoring press and look at the prices of some of those cars now and they are no where near as rare.
I do feel that the Red Car is fairly priced and in 18 months will look like a bargain.
Although i have not seen it the pictures show a fairly usable car that could be just used and enjoyed or fully restored depending on what you want from classic TVR ownership.
Please dont buy on colour as condition and price are far more important.
Great Cars Great Club and Great bunch of owners out there so just jump in and join the Family
Andrew
I guess that those that are Selling price there cars at what they think they are worth and those that are buying pay what they think what it is worth to them.
Really its not rocket science.
It looks like most pre 80s cars have gone up about 20 per cent in the last 18 months and may continue up as interest increases in the Mark.
Compared to other marks Triumph and MG Jag and Porch etc they have been very much undervalued concidering the numbers built and will probably continue that way.
Remember when these cars where launched these where the cars they where compared to in the motoring press and look at the prices of some of those cars now and they are no where near as rare.
I do feel that the Red Car is fairly priced and in 18 months will look like a bargain.
Although i have not seen it the pictures show a fairly usable car that could be just used and enjoyed or fully restored depending on what you want from classic TVR ownership.
Please dont buy on colour as condition and price are far more important.
Great Cars Great Club and Great bunch of owners out there so just jump in and join the Family
Andrew
About the lack of garage: this is unfortunately my case too, I intend to use a cover if and when I get a TVR, but micro blistering seems to be a common problem. I have a '99 Triumph Speed Triple with a plastic tank which I had repainted, the bike then lived outside in all weathers for several years and then I stored it outside for one winter under a breathable cover and ended up with a 4" oval patch of micro blistering after a freeze. Maybe an outdoor carcoon would be a better idea.
Please don't laugh, but my daily driver is a Smart (10 years old, 110,000km and still going strong) and I have to admit that when driving to work today I was very glad of its heated seats, effective heater & blower and the fact that it's fully waterproof. When I get a TVR I plan (perhaps naively) to use it as my daily ride, but I have to say that with the cold weather coming on my resolve to buy one is starting to wither a bit and I'm pondering leaving it until March/April as I suspect I would not use it much over the winter period. As I have learnt in the past "use it or lose it", when it comes to using the car again after being laid up for a period, all sorts of things seem to suddenly go wrong when they worked perfectly before.
Please don't laugh, but my daily driver is a Smart (10 years old, 110,000km and still going strong) and I have to admit that when driving to work today I was very glad of its heated seats, effective heater & blower and the fact that it's fully waterproof. When I get a TVR I plan (perhaps naively) to use it as my daily ride, but I have to say that with the cold weather coming on my resolve to buy one is starting to wither a bit and I'm pondering leaving it until March/April as I suspect I would not use it much over the winter period. As I have learnt in the past "use it or lose it", when it comes to using the car again after being laid up for a period, all sorts of things seem to suddenly go wrong when they worked perfectly before.
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