Use a TVR daily?
Discussion
Hello,
I'm sure this question has been done to death but couldn't find what I'm after on the search function.
I already have a Chimaera 4.0 that I bought to use as a Summer / fine weather car. I bought the car earlier in the year and have stored it away in my garage for the winter. I've only managed to do about 1500 miles in it. I bought it as a good entry point to TVR ownership after a couple of Porsches.
What I'm considering doing is selling my daily drive (BMW 330 Convertible) and the Chimaera next year, and replacing with one TVR to use daily - either a really mint Chimaera or a Tuscan. I only commute 3 miles each way in to work, which seems a waste in the BMW - I should really cycle it. I won't put a massive amount of miles on the car, but it would encourage me to take the long way home most days I'm sure.
Would anyone recommend replacing these two cars with one TVR? My worry is that I'd get frustrated using one every day. Also, my garage is at my place of work, so really the car would live on my drive (but could be put away in really bad weather). I've sometimes found my Chimaera roof lets in water when left out in the rain - would a newer / better condition Chimaera still suffer from this? Provided I get a good one and look after it, would the car suffer being used to commute yet still be taken out for long drives?
Interested to hear any thoughts or opinions.
I'm sure this question has been done to death but couldn't find what I'm after on the search function.
I already have a Chimaera 4.0 that I bought to use as a Summer / fine weather car. I bought the car earlier in the year and have stored it away in my garage for the winter. I've only managed to do about 1500 miles in it. I bought it as a good entry point to TVR ownership after a couple of Porsches.
What I'm considering doing is selling my daily drive (BMW 330 Convertible) and the Chimaera next year, and replacing with one TVR to use daily - either a really mint Chimaera or a Tuscan. I only commute 3 miles each way in to work, which seems a waste in the BMW - I should really cycle it. I won't put a massive amount of miles on the car, but it would encourage me to take the long way home most days I'm sure.
Would anyone recommend replacing these two cars with one TVR? My worry is that I'd get frustrated using one every day. Also, my garage is at my place of work, so really the car would live on my drive (but could be put away in really bad weather). I've sometimes found my Chimaera roof lets in water when left out in the rain - would a newer / better condition Chimaera still suffer from this? Provided I get a good one and look after it, would the car suffer being used to commute yet still be taken out for long drives?
Interested to hear any thoughts or opinions.
From various postings over the years all models have been driven on a daily basis in one place or another.
On my part, the Sagaris has been driven pretty much everywhere, day in day out, to and from work and tours etc.
The Tuscan 2 'vert was the same, alternating with the Sagaris.
More regular driving and the less issues arise, or more accurately get dealt with quickly.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
On my part, the Sagaris has been driven pretty much everywhere, day in day out, to and from work and tours etc.
The Tuscan 2 'vert was the same, alternating with the Sagaris.
More regular driving and the less issues arise, or more accurately get dealt with quickly.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I ran mine as my company car from 99 to 03. Left it parked outside at the side of the road, left in in dark car parks and in rain, snow and ice.
If anything it was happier then than when it became a garage queen.
The paint will get stone chips, the doors will freeze in winter you'll use loads of tyres and fuel, but its worth it i loved driving it back then. So much so when ive finished putting it back together im going to use it much more for work and play.
Keep the roof proofed and an eye on the seals and they dont leak more than any other vert
G
If anything it was happier then than when it became a garage queen.
The paint will get stone chips, the doors will freeze in winter you'll use loads of tyres and fuel, but its worth it i loved driving it back then. So much so when ive finished putting it back together im going to use it much more for work and play.
Keep the roof proofed and an eye on the seals and they dont leak more than any other vert
G
I think it's the issue of leaking that worries me - based purely on the roof of my own, which fits fine but probably needs the seals replacing to ensure the care is totally water tight. I'm guessing the hard top on the Tuscan might be better than a full soft top like on the Chim?
What about just running the car for the short commute - I know that isn't ideal in terms of letting the engine get up to temp, but if I'm gentle with it will that be ok?
What about just running the car for the short commute - I know that isn't ideal in terms of letting the engine get up to temp, but if I'm gentle with it will that be ok?
BDM said:
Duno about anyone else but my tuscan was far from water tight and the condensation inside in the winter was tough along with demisting the rear screen.
I personally wouldn't have a Tuscan as a daily drive through the winter.
I personally wouldn't have a Tuscan as a daily drive through the winter.I personally wouldn't have a Tuscan as a daily drive through the winter.
I had the Tuscan plus a daily driver but most of the time found myself taking the Tuscan. What I did find though was driving it every day too the special feeling away slightly and the tiny problems/tvr glitches became more annoying as time went on. Stopped driving it as much as and it was back to being a special occasion with nothing bothering me.
It also took a good 10-15 minutes of driving in winter for the engine to become anything close to warm so I was constantly watching the revs and speed every drive. If you are only driving 3 miles, it won't be close to warmed up.
Roy C said:
I imagine a 3 mile commute will not be kind to any car* 
That's the real killer IMHO.
(*unless it's electric)
...That's what I was going to say. So, find a 5-10 mile route to work!!That's the real killer IMHO.
(*unless it's electric)
Without a doubt, they are better for being used. Rotating parts keep the seals supple, electrics are exercised...and as one poster mentioned, niggles are sorted on a regular basis.
Nick
Driving it every day for only 3 miles each way will not do the engine any favours.
You'll be warming the engine, but only slightly - and this will be enough for condensation to form and accumulate in the oil but not enough for the water to be driven out of the oil. Your oil will therefore accumulate increasing amounts of water.
To a certain extent you could mitigate against this by changing the oil - at least every 3,000 miles and possibly even more frequently than that. In fact, if you're only using it for a 3-mile commute then you'll barely be doing 1500 miles in a year - so your oil will be changed at your annual service anyway.
Can you give it a long hard drive every weekend? That would help.
I also agree with the comment that anything you do every day becomes a bit ordinary - even driving a TVR. There are days when I'm simply not in a TVR mood, and I'm glad I've got another car to most of my commuting in.
Also, it's very useful having a larger, less "special" car that you can use for taking stuff to the dump, or carting bags of manure from the garden centre, etc etc.
You'll be warming the engine, but only slightly - and this will be enough for condensation to form and accumulate in the oil but not enough for the water to be driven out of the oil. Your oil will therefore accumulate increasing amounts of water.
To a certain extent you could mitigate against this by changing the oil - at least every 3,000 miles and possibly even more frequently than that. In fact, if you're only using it for a 3-mile commute then you'll barely be doing 1500 miles in a year - so your oil will be changed at your annual service anyway.
Can you give it a long hard drive every weekend? That would help.
I also agree with the comment that anything you do every day becomes a bit ordinary - even driving a TVR. There are days when I'm simply not in a TVR mood, and I'm glad I've got another car to most of my commuting in.
Also, it's very useful having a larger, less "special" car that you can use for taking stuff to the dump, or carting bags of manure from the garden centre, etc etc.
I use my Tuscan as a daily. School run and commute. Prob about 5 miles each way. But when you add in all the other small trips, pub, shops etc, plus longer weekend hoons I'm soon up to about 5000-6000 miles a year. Which is perfect for the annual service. Car hasn't skipped a beat and potters around town at low revs very comfortably. Roof does leek a little but I garage mine at night and bought a car canopy for when parked at work. New seals should sort any leeks but I've not bothered. It does only just get warmed up on the commute but this is not a problem as the traffic and speed limits on those type of roads doesn't require me to go over 2500 revs anyway. The odd longer hoon has kept my oil perfect, still clear and golden when the service is due. I love driving it every day and have not stopped smiling, I definitely have not got bored of it. It does get more attention as a daily as you are always popping somewhere and parking it up.
My advice is just do it. At the end of the day if you find it doesn't work for you then you can sell it. It will probably have gone up in value anyway so what have you got to lose. Just shop around and get a good one though. Try to get one with low mileage, recent new clutch, suspension upgrade and of course a good quality engine rebuild. Good luck
My advice is just do it. At the end of the day if you find it doesn't work for you then you can sell it. It will probably have gone up in value anyway so what have you got to lose. Just shop around and get a good one though. Try to get one with low mileage, recent new clutch, suspension upgrade and of course a good quality engine rebuild. Good luck
nawarne said:
Roy C said:
I imagine a 3 mile commute will not be kind to any car*
That's the real killer IMHO.
(*unless it's electric)
...That's what I was going to say. So, find a 5-10 mile route to work!!That's the real killer IMHO.
(*unless it's electric)
Without a doubt, they are better for being used. Rotating parts keep the seals supple, electrics are exercised...and as one poster mentioned, niggles are sorted on a regular basis.
Nick
What's your commute like, Olly? If you live in rural area with plenty of nice B-roads to provide a long way to work then it might be worth thinking about. If you live in suburbia and don't exceed 30mph at any point then it's probably not worth the hassle, regardless of warm up concerns. I speak from experience. You also need to think about things like security at the other end (probably only a concern if you work in a dodgy area to be fair, but again, I speak from experience!)
Simple answer I guess is give it a go. If after a couple of trips you find it's getting damp or that you're frustrated by having to spend the entire journey at warm up revs then there's your answer.
And as for car choice. I'd love a Speed Six, but if someone asked me to suggest a TVR for everyday use my first response would be a Chimaera 400.
I ran my Chimaera 450 as a daily for two years and 32500 miles. It was water tight, so no issues there, but in the end I fell out of love with it. It was great some of the time, and a real pain the other half.
Personally, I wouldn't do it - sell the Beemer and buy a cheap and cheerful runaround.
Personally, I wouldn't do it - sell the Beemer and buy a cheap and cheerful runaround.
I used my T350c 365 days for a year but ...
It did take that special feeling away - as it's now the everyday car
Servicing did cost a lot
Just check out the forums - TVR's do have a lot of accidents in Winter
normally loosing it on a roundabout.
Winter tyres would probably make a huge difference.
It did take that special feeling away - as it's now the everyday car
Servicing did cost a lot
Just check out the forums - TVR's do have a lot of accidents in Winter
normally loosing it on a roundabout.
Winter tyres would probably make a huge difference.
I've started trying to use my Griff 500 at least two days a week, and any journey that I'm not taking my dogs out. I would say it is running better for being used, rather than laid up for weeks. Also, I don't know if anyone else has read about modern fuels "going off", but mine seems to be better for having regular fresh fuel put in.
75% of engine wear is supposed to be caused on the warm up cycle and 3 miles is not going to do the engine any good or the cats etc as it will be running on the choke cycle and rich the whole journey. I use my Cerbera to commute the 10mins to work approx 5 miles a few times a week and it is warmed through by the time I get there but the fuel consumption is savage doing this type of driving.
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