2013 time to upgrade....
Discussion
Well as some of you know I have been hankering after a change on the TVR front so its now time! 
Although my car is well sorted and has had all the really worthwhile mods done i feel the need, the need for more cubic capacity! So the old girl will be advertised shortly.
Now the thing is with £12k +/- to spend where would you go for another TVR? Wait for bigger Wedge, or go curvy with some good 450 and 500 Chims about or even a BV Griff!
I have recently looked at a good V8S but it did not do it for me and was a bit tight for me to shoe horn myself into.
I am not keen to go down the Sp6 or AJP route as I like my RV8's and rag tops!
So what would you guys do?
Chris
Although my car is well sorted and has had all the really worthwhile mods done i feel the need, the need for more cubic capacity! So the old girl will be advertised shortly.
Now the thing is with £12k +/- to spend where would you go for another TVR? Wait for bigger Wedge, or go curvy with some good 450 and 500 Chims about or even a BV Griff!
I have recently looked at a good V8S but it did not do it for me and was a bit tight for me to shoe horn myself into.
I am not keen to go down the Sp6 or AJP route as I like my RV8's and rag tops!
So what would you guys do?
Chris
In my opinion your best bet is to buy either a 450SE or a SEAC. Both of these keep their value well and have the maximum fun factor. The SEAC however is well overpriced and not value for money at the moment and probably never will be, but the 450SE is still within reach and you do get more for your money. The fun factor and running costs would be equivalent to that of the SEAC. Having said all that, if you can afford a SEAC then get one, if you can find one, otherwise soon they will be well out of reach financially.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
Chris
It's what you like is best!
A Big Bad Wedge there are a couple for sale at present.
From experience a 450 is nicer than a 5.0 Chim but that's a personel pref
A BF Griff or a 5.0 are nice cars it's down to the look's on that one! They have never got my attention!
So realy the best advice is, if you are not in a hurry look and take you time before you buy!
Andy
It's what you like is best!
A Big Bad Wedge there are a couple for sale at present.
From experience a 450 is nicer than a 5.0 Chim but that's a personel pref
A BF Griff or a 5.0 are nice cars it's down to the look's on that one! They have never got my attention!
So realy the best advice is, if you are not in a hurry look and take you time before you buy!
Andy
ElvisWedgely said:
In my opinion your best bet is to buy either a 450SE or a SEAC. Both of these keep their value well and have the maximum fun factor. The SEAC however is well overpriced and not value for money at the moment and probably never will be, but the 450SE is still within reach and you do get more for your money. The fun factor and running costs would be equivalent to that of the SEAC. Having said all that, if you can afford a SEAC then get one, if you can find one, otherwise soon they will be well out of reach financially.
Tony. TCB.
Now Tony I have both and can see why the SEAC is more than a 450SE they are like chalk and chesse to drive and then there's the look!Tony. TCB.
But if Chris wants a 450SE Jimbo's is a good one and there is another one for sale on PH at present!
Andy
Oh... Forgot to say, don't even think of the Chim and as for the Grif, if you've never had one before try it out first as neither did it for me. I find them, impractical, claustrophobic, and unattractive. No offence to the owners of these cars intended, that is just my opinion.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
Thanks so far guys... well the V8S was slightly cramped for me and the doors were narrower although I have to say the power delivery on the car I looked at was excellent. I have driven a 400 pre cat Griff a couple of years ago and it was ok but as you say it did not seem to get the same attention as the Wedges. I will be contacting Jim about his, the blue one on PH's although a good price, will need a lot of work to bring it back to life and to the standard I would want.
The hunt begins!!
Chris
The hunt begins!!
Chris
Hi Chris..It will be a shame once your wedge is gone..I normally hear it at least once a week and on an open road..Its got to be one of the best sounding wedges i have heard to date, It's loud but has an awesome resonance..An unmistakable "sweet rumble"..In an ideal world i would snap yours up as i know its a well sorted wedge so for you to find something similar its going to have to be a bit special ..Or seriously well sorted..Whatever you do..Please dont go all curvy on us...Cheers...Ziga
My first TVR was a well sorted Chimaera 400. Admittedly not a 450 or 500, but I prefer my 350 Wedge. The Chim was slightly more cramped for the driver and the passenger has to endure the battery in the footwell, a stupid idea, making it almost unbearable for them on long journeys. It could be re-located to the boot, but then you'd lose space for trips away. The Chim engine was awkward to work on. It's pushed tight under the bulkhead (as is the Griff for that matter) - not a problem if you send the car off for servicing, etc, but if you DIY, it's a real consideration.
If I was in the market for a change of TVR, I'd have a bigger Wedge, no question. Rarer, better sounding, more head turning, and most importantly, you'd wear a much bigger smile than you would if you had a Chim or Griff.
If I was in the market for a change of TVR, I'd have a bigger Wedge, no question. Rarer, better sounding, more head turning, and most importantly, you'd wear a much bigger smile than you would if you had a Chim or Griff.
Edited by NaCl on Thursday 27th December 13:14
Stick one of these in yours....Mind you the pictures small..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-5LTR-V8-COMPLETE-TUR...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-5LTR-V8-COMPLETE-TUR...
Re the 4.6 upgrade i have spoken to a few places about this possibility in the past. V8D for example quoted me a mild 4.6 without clutch for around 4k and any fuelling / mods issues would be on top of that if needed! This is a route i have considered but will need a bit more research
Jack Valiant said:
Its the engine of choice for me thats for sure, but to be honest sorting out the gearbox, drive train electonics and not to mention all the fabrication needed to shoe horn it in you could easily add another £6-8k. That puts you in another car territory so the search continues!
I once drove a 4ltr Chimp expecting something a bit more spectacular than my Wedge which had Efi before I went the carb route suffice to say that my car felt a bit quicker. The DIY thing is certainly another point to consider. I wouldn't take my car to a garage these days for anything that needed fixing as Wedges are very much easy to work on.If you can afford it - buy the engine and convert to a 4.6 and keep it simple to run by using an Edelbrock Carb/Mallory Ignition setup a much more reliable combination that the old Lucas Efi offering IMO. I don't believe the fabrication would be an issue and provided your gearbox, prop and diff are all ok it Should be case of out with old engine and in with the new. Whilst everything is out you can upgrade your clutch to a beefier type used on the 5ltr.
But then again - Jimbo's 450SE looks very nice too...
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