Is there a modern equivalent to a TVR?

[white_goodman]

I was a big fan of TVR in my early 20s (not so much the wedge-shaped cars but the Peter Wheeler-era ones) and they seem to have a following on PH. For me, nothing else for the money came close in terms of the wild looks and performance. The power outputs aren't that high by today's standards but they were bloody quick because they weighed so little. How did they fail? Was it not offering a decent warranty (did you even get one?) or the unreliability of the speed six engine? Or was the market just too limited? I don't think they ever got them approved for sale in the USA for instance or was the lack of safety features such as ABS, traction control and airbags just too uncompromising for some?

By rights, Bond should have probably driven a TVR, as the Aston, gorgeous as they are seem to have become the choice of professional footballers and "media" types. Would Bond's endorsement have saved them? A Tuscan did of course feature in the Hollywood movie "Swordfish". Not a bad action movie and a stunning looking car in some great chase sequences but unfortunately scuppered by a September 2001 theatre release! Who could have known?

The driving god that I wish I was would certainly drive a TVR! A new TVR hasn't rolled off the production line for nearly 10 years though. Is there anything else vaguely similar that has filled the gap or will they ever come back?

Aston Martin? Gorgeous but no, for reasons given above.
Lotus? Too delicate (more like a British Porsche without the hideous SUVs and Panamera).
F-Type? Too heavy and luxury-orientated.
Morgan? Too old fashioned.
Something American perhaps? Too big and heavy.

What do the people that bought TVRs when they were still being made drive now (or are they just restoring old ones)?

[kambites]

I think the problem is that it's actually rather expensive to mass produce a powerful, lightweight car properly.

The Corvette is probably about as close as you'll get?

[Major Fallout]

Probably a Morgan a v8 one.

[balls-out]

the days of simple cars are probably over. PW appeared reluctant to even fit power steering, let alone the nanny controls that are expected now.

[Jon1967x]

Footballers drive Bentleys not Astons

Astons also don't smell of glue, and don't break down, but a lot of TVR owners are moving across to Astons. A V12 Manual Vantage (only available second hand now) would be a grown up version of a TVR albeit a fair bit heavier and more expensive.

[kambites]

balls-out said:

the days of simple cars appear to be fast ending. PW appeared reluctant to even fit power steering, let alone the nanny controls that are expected now.

Well EU type approval now requires a number of electronic driver aids (ABS and stability control, if I recall correctly) so only cars sold in small enough volumes to not need type approval can avoid them. I think things like Caterhams and Ginettas will continue to be built without them for a while.

[vtecyo]

SLS?

Admittedly slightly more expensive..

[R11ysf]

Jon1967x said:

Astons also don't smell of glue, and don't break down, but a lot of TVR owners are moving across to Astons. A V12 Manual Vantage (only available second hand now) would be a grown up version of a TVR albeit a fair bit heavier and more expensive.

Interesting, you don't list a TVR in your car history so are all the breakdowns you talk of your "mate down the pub". I've owned mine 5 years, it doesn't smell of glue and it has only broken down once when a hose let go and I turned if off.

Or is this just going to turn in to another TVR bashing thread by people who haven't owned them?

OP to answer your question, the final cars that were coming off the production line we brilliant cars. Tuscan convertibles, Mk'3' Tuscans and the Sagaris. The Russian in charge made some decent cars but didn't know how to run a company but in the right hands it could have been a success. You only have to look at the prices of late Tuscans and Sagaris' to see what people think of them. Mine has gone up every year since I bought it.

The speed 6 engine is a great engine. Docile at low revs and mental at high. It can also be rebuilt with 100,000 mile warranties now the early problems have been ironed out.

The next set of TVR's should be good as it has now been bought by someone who appears to talk little but aim to get it right, quite unlike the Russian of the last 4 years of his ownership, with new cars constantly promised and never delivered.

OP I do understand what you mean though. The 911 is the 'city taxi' in London and it seems that if you think you are too cool for a 911 then you buy a V8 Vantage. A friend bought one and I told him it won't be special as everyone buys them with their first bonus cheque, even if you don't like cars. He bought one and upon parking it found 4 more in his building car park! The only thing that peaks my interest to change is a 458 spider but that is a lot more money for no more usable performance.

The attention TVRs got and get is amazing because they look so mental. PW's hatred of nanny state interventions like traction control, ABS and, let's face it, any crash protection! meant the cars could look as crazy as they do with no compromise. Sadly there is nothing out there that fills the gap, but honourable mentions must go to the Ariel Atom, KTM and the crazier Morgans.

[paranoid airbag]

There's a slight conflation of questions - Bond was never into sports cars. GT cars only "made sense" (I doubt they did even in the 60s really) because a car that was actually capable of long distances at speed was still a challenge that required a specialised chassis. An M5 touring is more than sufficient today.

Best equivalent to a TVR? AMV12, cobra replica, corvette, or an MX-5 with a V8 transplant. As others have said it's difficult to get <1200 kgs mass produced with a big engine, and the assumption is if you have money for fuel and tax you have the money, and need, for cutting-edge electronics.

[Lordbenny]

I don't know about 'modern equivalent' but you can still get a V8 Westfield from the factory...or go down the 2nd hand route. Might be a bit of a handle for your average TVR owner though!

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/w...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/w...

[RWA441]

R11ysf said:

Jon1967x said:

Astons also don't smell of glue, and don't break down, but a lot of TVR owners are moving across to Astons. A V12 Manual Vantage (only available second hand now) would be a grown up version of a TVR albeit a fair bit heavier and more expensive.

Interesting, you don't list a TVR in your car history so are all the breakdowns you talk of your "mate down the pub". I've owned mine 5 years, it doesn't smell of glue and it has only broken down once when a hose let go and I turned if off.

Or is this just going to turn in to another TVR bashing thread by people who haven't owned them?

OP to answer your question, the final cars that were coming off the production line we brilliant cars. Tuscan convertibles, Mk'3' Tuscans and the Sagaris. The Russian in charge made some decent cars but didn't know how to run a company but in the right hands it could have been a success. You only have to look at the prices of late Tuscans and Sagaris' to see what people think of them. Mine has gone up every year since I bought it.

The speed 6 engine is a great engine. Docile at low revs and mental at high. It can also be rebuilt with 100,000 mile warranties now the early problems have been ironed out.

The next set of TVR's should be good as it has now been bought by someone who appears to talk little but aim to get it right, quite unlike the Russian of the last 4 years of his ownership, with new cars constantly promised and never delivered.

OP I do understand what you mean though. The 911 is the 'city taxi' in London and it seems that if you think you are too cool for a 911 then you buy a V8 Vantage. A friend bought one and I told him it won't be special as everyone buys them with their first bonus cheque, even if you don't like cars. He bought one and upon parking it found 4 more in his building car park! The only thing that peaks my interest to change is a 458 spider but that is a lot more money for no more usable performance.

The attention TVRs got and get is amazing because they look so mental. PW's hatred of nanny state interventions like traction control, ABS and, let's face it, any crash protection! meant the cars could look as crazy as they do with no compromise. Sadly there is nothing out there that fills the gap, but honourable mentions must go to the Ariel Atom, KTM and the crazier Morgans.

It's the default response of someone who's never owned, driven or probably sat in one! They must smell of glue as top gear say so! Of the six I've had, including doing over 100k in total in them I think I had one breakdown. It was luckily on my drive and was my fault as I'd flooded it. I think they're an acquired taste but once you 'get' the brand it gets right under your skin and nothing else comes close for the money. I've tried a fair few different cars over the years and always go back to TVR's!

[hondansx]

Not knocking TVRs at all, love them, but it's absolute balls to make out as if they're built like tanks! In comparison to modern, mass produced cars, they are kit cars. As such, they aren't going to be as reliable; it would be impossible. Deal. With. It.

Back on topic, i'd say a Corvette too.

[loose cannon]

Jon1967x said:

Footballers drive Bentleys not Astons

Astons also don't smell of glue, and don't break down, but a lot of TVR owners are moving across to Astons. A V12 Manual Vantage (only available second hand now) would be a grown up version of a TVR albeit a fair bit heavier and more expensive.

Hmm Aston's don't break down ? Well my pub source tells me they regularly do, In fact if it has any slight Britishness it will break down, in fact you should really only buy German and more to the point vag if you don't ever want to break down ,
Then after you have woken up from your dilutions you will realise that all machinery goes wrong at some point
And if you ever get chance to fix cars or lorrys or vans for a living ,you will realise
They all go tits up at some point but you keep living the dream
I think the only replacement for a tvr is to buy another tvr
Oh and they are so easy to fix by the way &#128515;

[Jon1967x]

RWA441 said:

R11ysf said:

Jon1967x said:

Astons also don't smell of glue, and don't break down, but a lot of TVR owners are moving across to Astons. A V12 Manual Vantage (only available second hand now) would be a grown up version of a TVR albeit a fair bit heavier and more expensive.

Interesting, you don't list a TVR in your car history so are all the breakdowns you talk of your "mate down the pub". I've owned mine 5 years, it doesn't smell of glue and it has only broken down once when a hose let go and I turned if off.

Or is this just going to turn in to another TVR bashing thread by people who haven't owned them?

OP to answer your question, the final cars that were coming off the production line we brilliant cars. Tuscan convertibles, Mk'3' Tuscans and the Sagaris. The Russian in charge made some decent cars but didn't know how to run a company but in the right hands it could have been a success. You only have to look at the prices of late Tuscans and Sagaris' to see what people think of them. Mine has gone up every year since I bought it.

The speed 6 engine is a great engine. Docile at low revs and mental at high. It can also be rebuilt with 100,000 mile warranties now the early problems have been ironed out.

The next set of TVR's should be good as it has now been bought by someone who appears to talk little but aim to get it right, quite unlike the Russian of the last 4 years of his ownership, with new cars constantly promised and never delivered.

OP I do understand what you mean though. The 911 is the 'city taxi' in London and it seems that if you think you are too cool for a 911 then you buy a V8 Vantage. A friend bought one and I told him it won't be special as everyone buys them with their first bonus cheque, even if you don't like cars. He bought one and upon parking it found 4 more in his building car park! The only thing that peaks my interest to change is a 458 spider but that is a lot more money for no more usable performance.

The attention TVRs got and get is amazing because they look so mental. PW's hatred of nanny state interventions like traction control, ABS and, let's face it, any crash protection! meant the cars could look as crazy as they do with no compromise. Sadly there is nothing out there that fills the gap, but honourable mentions must go to the Ariel Atom, KTM and the crazier Morgans.

It's the default response of someone who's never owned, driven or probably sat in one! They must smell of glue as top gear say so! Of the six I've had, including doing over 100k in total in them I think I had one breakdown. It was luckily on my drive and was my fault as I'd flooded it. I think they're an acquired taste but once you 'get' the brand it gets right under your skin and nothing else comes close for the money. I've tried a fair few different cars over the years and always go back to TVR's!

I'll take the comment on the glue (although the one I test drove did) but the reliability was in response to the OPs comment about the unreliability of the engine. I didn't say TVRs did.. I said Astons don't. Astons have many niggles, but breaking down is generally not one of them unless the owner has aftermarket modifications.

[TA14]

Jon1967x said:

I didn't say TVRs did.. I said Astons don't. Astons have many niggles, but breaking down is generally not one of them unless the owner has aftermarket modifications.

That's not the impression you get on here generally.

[Jon1967x]

TA14 said:

Jon1967x said:

I didn't say TVRs did.. I said Astons don't. Astons have many niggles, but breaking down is generally not one of them unless the owner has aftermarket modifications.

That's not the impression you get on here generally.

If you spent any time in the AM area you'd see its hardly ever discussed. Trim bits fall off, paint bubbles, tracking needs doing, clutch life of 15k, rubbish dealers, battery going flat because someones not driven it for a several weeks and locked themselves out. Breakdowns - nope.

[J4CKO]

Is that bloke who bought it meant to be making new ones ?

Other than that, just walking and then launching yourself into a ditch periodically should do

[TVRJAS]

hondansx said:

Not knocking TVRs at all, love them, but it's absolute balls to make out as if they're built like tanks! In comparison to modern, mass produced cars, they are kit cars. As such, they aren't going to be as reliable; it would be impossible. Deal. With. It.

Sorry but how do I have to deal with it when I'm on TVR number three and have never had a breakdown.

So to me it's far more reliable than many of my other cars have been.A Peugeot 309gti I purchased new in 1988 was being recovered with less than 500 miles on the clock. Six or Seven more times recovered in the two years I owned it before throwing the keys at the service department saying I never what to see the thing again. Also a Nissan recently left me on the side of the road having to walk a couple of miles back to the house to get the TVR out the garage.

So it's very difficult hearing views like yours and all the others that slag them off when I've never broke down,and being in the club these are words said by most(But not all) Their getting on in age now so driving a 15-20 year old car you should expect to replace things,if you can't except this factor then you don't buy a car of this age.. simples

There are bad ones out there as with any car,if you carry out regular maintenance and use them they are as reliable as any car.The Glue smell is complete rubbish,as said out of three owned I've never had a hint of glue smell,believe what you read if that's how you go about things.

As to an alternative I think the Aston DB9 Vantage would be a good call or save a bit of money and from what I have read choosing the better car a Jaguar XKR (I like both) I was having a look at the Aston forum a couple of months ago and stumbled on a thread that had many TVR owners that had changed over to the Aston. If I got the urge and changed my Chimaera for another car it would be a Tuscan.

[kambites]

You can't judge the reliability of a brand from a sample size of three. You need to have experience of hundreds of cars to get a meaningful statistical sample.

[TVRJAS]

kambites said:

You can't judge the reliability of a brand from a sample size of three. You need to have experience of hundreds of cars to get a meaningful statistical sample.

Did you not read the bit about me being in the club... I have met and spoke to hundreds of TVR owners who all say the same thing.

So maybe I have been lucky,or was I just unlucky having a brand new car be the biggest pile of poop I have purchased.

As it's being pointed out,do you really think TVR's are the only car to have faults.. £120k of GT3 answers that question.. Lambo's how many of those up in flames.

EDITED

Also as mentioned by other members let's not turn this into bash TVR

Edited by TVRJAS on Wednesday 3rd December 19:01