Redressing the balance!!
Discussion
Following my rant on the Chim forum about the value of the TVR Chimaera (or apparent lack!) I have been pondering why this is? These are 'classic' British sportscars that are a joy to drive and are relatively easy and cheap to fix???
I have concluded that it is the fault of this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a very active forum with lots of help and advise when things go a little 'pear shaped' but we leave ourselves open to the casual browser who is thinking of ownership and being put off by the TVRs mis-informed reputation of being unreliable with posts about shunting, hot start (not), blah, blah, etc., etc.
In order to 'redress the balance' I am proposing that everyone here on the TVR forum start topics on all other PH forums (Porsche, Merc, BMW, Honda, Toyota, whatever!!!!) asking questions about the cost of parts and servicing and how easy it would be to service yourself?
Maybe then we can demonstrate how good these cars are and 'relatively' (in relation the other marques) easy to own (Porsche 968 exhaust anyone £1920+!!)
Another rant over!!!
Apologies in advance!
I have concluded that it is the fault of this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a very active forum with lots of help and advise when things go a little 'pear shaped' but we leave ourselves open to the casual browser who is thinking of ownership and being put off by the TVRs mis-informed reputation of being unreliable with posts about shunting, hot start (not), blah, blah, etc., etc.
In order to 'redress the balance' I am proposing that everyone here on the TVR forum start topics on all other PH forums (Porsche, Merc, BMW, Honda, Toyota, whatever!!!!) asking questions about the cost of parts and servicing and how easy it would be to service yourself?
Maybe then we can demonstrate how good these cars are and 'relatively' (in relation the other marques) easy to own (Porsche 968 exhaust anyone £1920+!!)
Another rant over!!!
Apologies in advance!
The trouble is that Porsche and Ferrari owners will not admit to having problems. I am away now biking around Europe, and we have had to go to the BMW dealers in France because my mates BMW GS has developed a serious "knock" on start up. He even typed how to find the local dealer in his BMW sat nav and it took us straight there! My Triumph hasn't missed a beat in two thousand miles. Porsche,BMW and all the rest of them manage to keep these things quiet.
This forum actually encouraged me into buying our first TVR.
At the time one of very very few modern TVRs in Austria with almost no
local support for it.
With the generous help of the pistonheaders, I thought, it must be
doable and I was right.
Where else would you receive help in minutes being stranded
in the Spanish desert with a lost fanbelt and not knowing which way to
put the new serpentine fan belt?
No problem at all with pistonheaders support.
If people are put off buying a TVR because of pistonheads, they have not
done their homework anyway. You do not have to lift out the engines to
do a simple plug change (Porsche) or for the regularly cambelt change
(Ferrari). Do not worry, no cambelts on TVRs anyway.
If things go wrong, a TVR could cost you a lot of money, like any other car.
Even a modern soulless family car can cost you a fortune and will one day.
Why is it, that many Porsche and Ferrari owners hate it to go on tour
accompanied by TVRs. Not because TVRs are so bad, but they are often
embarrassed by their look and performance.
I think, the problem with used TVRs is, that there are not many to
choose from. And most of them are relatively cheap.
So some people now may be tempted to stretch to a TVR, but are not prepared
or willing to put the car right and spend the needed amount on it or
do half-hearted repairs only .
Then the very people come over and complain about TVR quality and
reliability.
The reason may be, that the prices for good TVRs are to low.
The prices for top condition Tuscans, Cerberas, T350s, Tams should
be close or above 40k.
As this is not the case people are hanging to their cars and
that is why there are nearly no high quality cars on the market to choose
from.
For example, compared to the amount they produced, there are a lot of Sagaris
on the market, maybe because it is worth selling for the owners.
Of course, I could be wrong.
At the time one of very very few modern TVRs in Austria with almost no
local support for it.
With the generous help of the pistonheaders, I thought, it must be
doable and I was right.
Where else would you receive help in minutes being stranded
in the Spanish desert with a lost fanbelt and not knowing which way to
put the new serpentine fan belt?
No problem at all with pistonheaders support.
If people are put off buying a TVR because of pistonheads, they have not
done their homework anyway. You do not have to lift out the engines to
do a simple plug change (Porsche) or for the regularly cambelt change
(Ferrari). Do not worry, no cambelts on TVRs anyway.
If things go wrong, a TVR could cost you a lot of money, like any other car.
Even a modern soulless family car can cost you a fortune and will one day.
Why is it, that many Porsche and Ferrari owners hate it to go on tour
accompanied by TVRs. Not because TVRs are so bad, but they are often
embarrassed by their look and performance.
I think, the problem with used TVRs is, that there are not many to
choose from. And most of them are relatively cheap.
So some people now may be tempted to stretch to a TVR, but are not prepared
or willing to put the car right and spend the needed amount on it or
do half-hearted repairs only .
Then the very people come over and complain about TVR quality and
reliability.
The reason may be, that the prices for good TVRs are to low.
The prices for top condition Tuscans, Cerberas, T350s, Tams should
be close or above 40k.
As this is not the case people are hanging to their cars and
that is why there are nearly no high quality cars on the market to choose
from.
For example, compared to the amount they produced, there are a lot of Sagaris
on the market, maybe because it is worth selling for the owners.
Of course, I could be wrong.
yknot said:
Following my rant on the Chim forum about the value of the TVR Chimaera (or apparent lack!) I have been pondering why this is? These are 'classic' British sportscars that are a joy to drive and are relatively easy and cheap to fix???
It's not that the Chim is a bad car, it's market forces; there are more Chims out there than any other TVR model. It is a buyers market and there are a lot of others for sale with which a potential buyer can make a price comparison.There's also a relatively small market for the cars too. You can buy an M3 and know that if a fault develops it's pretty straight forward to fix. With a TVR, first you have to identify whether the car was built to spec, then what donor the part came from, then try and find it, then check it hasn't been modded to fit, then check the wiring is correct..........
Now I don't mind thi, it's part of the attraction for me. I do not represent the mainstream though.
Now I don't mind thi, it's part of the attraction for me. I do not represent the mainstream though.
I'm regularly posting about doing long road trips to Southern France, Switzerland, Spain or Germany as a way of letting people know how good they are, friendly reception etc.
Trips have included my Tasmin, two Chimaera's and two Tuscan's.
By the way, I'm driving back from Germany in my Tuscan next week
Trips have included my Tasmin, two Chimaera's and two Tuscan's.
By the way, I'm driving back from Germany in my Tuscan next week
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