Newbie needs advice...

[Dash Riprock]

Having lurked around here for the last 6 months, I'm now facing the decision of wether or not to dip my toe into the TVR pool... but I've got some pretty fundamental questions that I need to consider first before I dive in.

So bare with me while I fill you in on the background...

I've always wanted a TVR, ever since the very first day I got to pass my driving test, Iwas in my way to Harrogate and this black Griff roared up in front of me
So, am now looking to buy something like a Cerbie, Griff or a Tuscan... but it has to meet a number of requirement...

1) I live in North London so there's security concerns, and I park it on the street? I've already had my Merc nicked.. but in general are TVR's too conspicuous?
2) Is there a problem with catching doors on kerbs..the camber to the gutter round our way is ridiculous?
3) I drive about 14K a year for work, and this is going to be my daily commute... I've concerns about reliability and maintenance costs (I've heard it's going to cost me between 3-6K per year to keep the thing on the road.
4)At some times, it's going need to fit a girlfriend in the front and a lab in the back or on the shelf, and weekend luggage... what's best to do this?
5) I've already got a Ducati 900 Monster, and (don't laugh a Ford Explorer) so I'm reasonably careful on the roads when needs must, but it it a good idea to ween myself on something else before I go the whole hog? (from the man who went from a 50cc scooter to a 900 cc roadbike?)
6) Do I buy second hand and save a bucketload, or wait and buy new when they launch to 3 year warranty?

Over to you lot then?

[jimothy]

Dash Riprock said:

4)At some times, it's going need to fit a girlfriend in the front and a lab in the back or on the shelf, and weekend luggage... what's best to do this?

If by Lab you mean a Labrador, then you can get dog harnesses - I've seen a Griff with a dog on the parcel shelf in a harness.

[Dash Riprock]

Cool, I was going to buy it flying goggles.... but a harness is probabaly better.

[PetrolTed]

1) I live in North London so there's security concerns, and I park it on the street? I've already had my Merc nicked.. but in general are TVR's too conspicuous?

Not too many get nicked as their value on the black market is negligible.


2) Is there a problem with catching doors on kerbs..the camber to the gutter round our way is ridiculous?

Yes, this can happen.


3) I drive about 14K a year for work, and this is going to be my daily commute... I've concerns about reliability and maintenance costs (I've heard it's going to cost me between 3-6K per year to keep the thing on the road.

Depending what model you buy, this is possible but servicing is never 'cheap' in the mainstream sense of the word. Running a good Chimaera for that sort of mileage would be the best value I suspect.


4)At some times, it's going need to fit a girlfriend in the front and a lab in the back or on the shelf, and weekend luggage... what's best to do this?

Depends how much you value your dog's life. I don't know of a secure way of accomodating a dog.

5) I've already got a Ducati 900 Monster, and (don't laugh a Ford Explorer) so I'm reasonably careful on the roads when needs must, but it it a good idea to ween myself on something else before I go the whole hog? (from the man who went from a 50cc scooter to a 900 cc roadbike?)

Be sensible and there's no reason you shouldn't embrace TVR ownership straight away.


6) Do I buy second hand and save a bucketload, or wait and buy new when they launch to 3 year warranty?

Probably plenty of opinions on this

[cerbagriff]

Buy second hand, if all your reasons are right, why pay out list price for a new one when in fact in may cases, one thats been run in and all the problems sorted is the only real choice. You can save the 'bucket load' and buy a private three year warranty!