Just bought TVR S2
Discussion
Bought a lovely S2 at the end of the summer and love it. Unmarked British Racing Green paintwork, walnut dash, S3 alloys and stainless exhaust. 64000 miles with comprehensive TVRSH and receipts for all the work that has been carried out including the new exhaust, rear trailing arms and new roof.
Good points - the looks, the beautiful noise, the feeling of driving a pure british sportscar and the relative practicality of the car.
Bad points - not many really. Mine seems to bottom out on A roads over certain imperfections of the road surface. Sounds as though the exhaust mounting bolts, about 1 inch proud, are to blame.
A few things I would love any answers/advice on:
1. Is it normal for the car to scrape like this? All shocks/suspension seems fine.
2. Is there a good garage to get servicing done in the Southampton area?
3. I don't feel as though I am getting the full 170bhp from my mill. Obviously a few ponies will have been sent to pasture over the years but with a low ish mileage on the car it should still be fine. I tend not to rev much above 4500 rpm as, although the engine feels like it will, it becomes slightly more breathless.
Apart from these minor points I am really pleased with the S2 and look forward to the summer when I don't have to wear 14 layers of clothes to keep warm!
Good points - the looks, the beautiful noise, the feeling of driving a pure british sportscar and the relative practicality of the car.
Bad points - not many really. Mine seems to bottom out on A roads over certain imperfections of the road surface. Sounds as though the exhaust mounting bolts, about 1 inch proud, are to blame.
A few things I would love any answers/advice on:
1. Is it normal for the car to scrape like this? All shocks/suspension seems fine.
2. Is there a good garage to get servicing done in the Southampton area?
3. I don't feel as though I am getting the full 170bhp from my mill. Obviously a few ponies will have been sent to pasture over the years but with a low ish mileage on the car it should still be fine. I tend not to rev much above 4500 rpm as, although the engine feels like it will, it becomes slightly more breathless.
Apart from these minor points I am really pleased with the S2 and look forward to the summer when I don't have to wear 14 layers of clothes to keep warm!
I also bought an S2 in the summer, and intend to drive it throughout the winter, with the top down of course!
My advise would be to find a specialist in your area, dealers are great but a specialist would be cheaper. Remember most of the parts are Ford, so a service shouldn't cost you the earth.
Mine is going in, in the new year for a full service, power boost valve and new throttle linkage..I have been told they make a good improvement to the overall acceleration, especially mid-range.
My advise would be to find a specialist in your area, dealers are great but a specialist would be cheaper. Remember most of the parts are Ford, so a service shouldn't cost you the earth.
Mine is going in, in the new year for a full service, power boost valve and new throttle linkage..I have been told they make a good improvement to the overall acceleration, especially mid-range.
jungliegod said:
A few things I would love any answers/advice on:
1. Is it normal for the car to scrape like this? All shocks/suspension seems fine.
2. Is there a good garage to get servicing done in the Southampton area?
3. I don't feel as though I am getting the full 170bhp from my mill. Obviously a few ponies will have been sent to pasture over the years but with a low ish mileage on the car it should still be fine. I tend not to rev much above 4500 rpm as, although the engine feels like it will, it becomes slightly more breathless.
Apart from these minor points I am really pleased with the S2 and look forward to the summer when I don't have to wear 14 layers of clothes to keep warm!
Firstly welcome to the S fold you certainly wont regret your purchase no matter what goes wrong!!!
Its quite normal for the S cars to bottom out but its of course best to check the shock settings etc! A simple check is to try and open the bonnet and if you cant connect the bonnet stay to hold it open before it hits the ground its too low! As for the southampton area someone else will answer that one. The power issue, I would reccommend a rolling road session and remap this should highlight any shortcomings you may have! Some have gone for a rechip with very good results I am sure one of the V6 boys who have done this such as Dave Bridge will tell you more about it!
Look forward to seeing you at a meet especially next years national meet and if you want to join the Xmas raffle at the top of this page, just put your name down.
Later
Mike
another local S owner, fantastic !, where abouts in Southampton are you ?
As to getting your S2 serviced just take it to Austec as they are by far the best in the localish area !..
See www.austec.co.uk
Austec will put your car on their rolling road and your soon find out if your getting full power out of it... If not then they will be able to tell you what's wrong etc.
Also have a look at, as like me you may find this is the best way sort the under power problems
www.pistonheads.com/tvr/s/default.asp?storyId=7562
Unfortunately scraping the exhaust is fairly normal, I just avoid anywhere that has speed bumps. I think I have around 3-4 inchs clearance under my S. One thing to check though would be the exhaust clamps, where the font pipes join the main box, mine were bolted downwards which gave me even less clearance so I loosened them turned them 90 degress and bolted them up from the sides.
Trev
As to getting your S2 serviced just take it to Austec as they are by far the best in the localish area !..
See www.austec.co.uk
Austec will put your car on their rolling road and your soon find out if your getting full power out of it... If not then they will be able to tell you what's wrong etc.
Also have a look at, as like me you may find this is the best way sort the under power problems
www.pistonheads.com/tvr/s/default.asp?storyId=7562
Unfortunately scraping the exhaust is fairly normal, I just avoid anywhere that has speed bumps. I think I have around 3-4 inchs clearance under my S. One thing to check though would be the exhaust clamps, where the font pipes join the main box, mine were bolted downwards which gave me even less clearance so I loosened them turned them 90 degress and bolted them up from the sides.
Trev
Welcome, you won't regret your choice.
On the power front, it's very unlikely that you are getting anywhere near 170bhp.
If you look back to the Podie thread, you are probably getting closer to 150bhp, some people say the original power figures were a bit optomistic but with the Mark Adams chip and a re-map, you will probably find another 20bhp and similar torque.
Some of us are putting hotter cams in as well but to date no figures have ben posted as far as I'm aware.
Good Hooning
By the way, my S3 has adjustable AVO's and only bottoms out on high ramps/bumps
>> Edited by bugsy on Saturday 20th November 15:02
On the power front, it's very unlikely that you are getting anywhere near 170bhp.
If you look back to the Podie thread, you are probably getting closer to 150bhp, some people say the original power figures were a bit optomistic but with the Mark Adams chip and a re-map, you will probably find another 20bhp and similar torque.
Some of us are putting hotter cams in as well but to date no figures have ben posted as far as I'm aware.
Good Hooning
By the way, my S3 has adjustable AVO's and only bottoms out on high ramps/bumps
>> Edited by bugsy on Saturday 20th November 15:02
Hi
I have a high mile S2 and have recently had the Austec Unichip fitted, i'm now running 170Hp but with a lovely 224 lb/ft of torque. The chip is basically a re-write of the ECU that controls mixture, the main bit is fueling.
If she feels breathless at 4000 rpm then it may be a fuel issue. FYI mine was running about 160Hp & 175 lb/ft before the chip but its more about drivability & spread of power than the overall numbers increase
Scraping exhaust - you'll get used to the phrase "they all do that"
enjoy
I have a high mile S2 and have recently had the Austec Unichip fitted, i'm now running 170Hp but with a lovely 224 lb/ft of torque. The chip is basically a re-write of the ECU that controls mixture, the main bit is fueling.
If she feels breathless at 4000 rpm then it may be a fuel issue. FYI mine was running about 160Hp & 175 lb/ft before the chip but its more about drivability & spread of power than the overall numbers increase
Scraping exhaust - you'll get used to the phrase "they all do that"
enjoy
bugsy said:169bhp (203.5 lb ft torque) unmodified as measured by Austec rolling road session
On the power front, it's very unlikely that you are getting anywhere near 170bhp. If you look back to the Podie thread, you are probably getting closer to 150bhp, some people say the original power figures were a bit optomistic but with the Mark Adams chip and a re-map, you will probably find another 20bhp and similar torque.
Some of us are putting hotter cams in as well but to date no figures have ben posted as far as I'm aware.
Good Hooning
By the way, my S3 has adjustable AVO's and only bottoms out on high ramps/bumps
>> Edited by bugsy on Saturday 20th November 15:02
Oh, and welcome!
Ps. Got AVO's on my S3 too, 1000% improvement compared the knackered originals.
>> Edited by page3 on Sunday 21st November 00:00
S2 Giles said:
Scraping exhaust - you'll get used to the phrase "they all do that"
they all do that!
Breathless, could be running lean they are prone to do that. A cost effective alternative to a full remapping is a 'Power Boost Valve' really does make an improvement to the driveability, smoother acceleration and faster throttle response. About 80 quid - twenty mins to fit (DIY).
Welcome.
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