they don't all go wrong!!
Discussion
Just thought I would psot a thread for all those secret piston head lurkers who may be thinking of buying a S Series.
Reading a lot of the forums recently a lot of people have been asking for remedies for problems... it isn't always like this!! ....
I have had my S since June 04 and have had no issues with running TP or otherwise etc.
In the summer all the reviews are of great runs out etc and I think this time of year is when people lay up the cars and get down to some home servicing.
On the whole the cars are reliable and don't cause may reliability issues.
Well thats is just my opinion in case new people were looking and lurking
Reading a lot of the forums recently a lot of people have been asking for remedies for problems... it isn't always like this!! ....
I have had my S since June 04 and have had no issues with running TP or otherwise etc.
In the summer all the reviews are of great runs out etc and I think this time of year is when people lay up the cars and get down to some home servicing.
On the whole the cars are reliable and don't cause may reliability issues.
Well thats is just my opinion in case new people were looking and lurking
Seconded.
The only problem I have had was a flat battery which needed replacement. Other than that all the work has been to improve the car.
She has never missed a beat. Thankfully no TP on the S1 which appears to be the achilles heel of the later engine.
It appears that for the extra buck spent, Chims and Griffs are no more reliable.
Got to say this is true most people tend to post when there is a problem but never when its running sweet!! I have had no problems with my car apart from the usual end of life items such as coil, alternator etc and after a check up on Thursday I am told its a cracking car, bring on the summer
Mike
Mike
I seem to drive my S almost twice the annual milage of any of my previous cars (and I know others here do a lot more than I do) - and its been the most reliable by far of all of them.
As long as you remember it is a 10+ year old car and that it needs looking after - exactly like any old car does you shouldn't be disappointed.
Had a wonderful 1500 miles of trouble free motoring round Scotland (and western isles) shortly after getting the S. Taken it to France no problems at all. Shortly off for 10 days (and first track day) in Spain. If it fails on me now its all YOUR fault 
Its sitting outside my office window glaring at me as I'm on here not driving it 
(edited because its EARLY ok)
>> Edited by page3 on Sunday 6th March 09:23
As long as you remember it is a 10+ year old car and that it needs looking after - exactly like any old car does you shouldn't be disappointed.
Had a wonderful 1500 miles of trouble free motoring round Scotland (and western isles) shortly after getting the S. Taken it to France no problems at all. Shortly off for 10 days (and first track day) in Spain. If it fails on me now its all YOUR fault Its sitting outside my office window glaring at me as I'm on here not driving it (edited because its EARLY ok)
>> Edited by page3 on Sunday 6th March 09:23
[quote=Hoover33]Mike Did you take it to Austec.....?????? /quote]
Hi Steve,
Yes was at Austec on Thursday had a good day, Mark Adams is such a nice guy and helpful, also got to meet Tim Lamont from ACT who popped in with some very tasty new Carbon trumpets!!
Very pleased with the results and the performance and strength throughout the rev range is very strong. The power was 231bhp and 260lb ft of torque. The most significant part though was the very flat torque curve having 235+lb ft of torque from 2,200rpm right through to 5,250rpm so no need to change down as much as there is now plenty power in all gears! The car started with only 202bhp and 180Lb ft of torque which is low, I am told, due to worn lobes on the camshaft, so this will be the next job albeit a big one! The power after TVR-power did the mods to the engine some years ago was 240bhp so it should improve by at least 20-30bhp with this work done so looking forward to that! All in all very pleased with how the car performs for now and if it does improve after the camshaft is replaced (will probably have a few other mods whilst it is out) then I will be a very happy man
Mike
Hi Steve,
Yes was at Austec on Thursday had a good day, Mark Adams is such a nice guy and helpful, also got to meet Tim Lamont from ACT who popped in with some very tasty new Carbon trumpets!!
Very pleased with the results and the performance and strength throughout the rev range is very strong. The power was 231bhp and 260lb ft of torque. The most significant part though was the very flat torque curve having 235+lb ft of torque from 2,200rpm right through to 5,250rpm so no need to change down as much as there is now plenty power in all gears! The car started with only 202bhp and 180Lb ft of torque which is low, I am told, due to worn lobes on the camshaft, so this will be the next job albeit a big one! The power after TVR-power did the mods to the engine some years ago was 240bhp so it should improve by at least 20-30bhp with this work done so looking forward to that! All in all very pleased with how the car performs for now and if it does improve after the camshaft is replaced (will probably have a few other mods whilst it is out) then I will be a very happy man
Mike
Nothing to do with the blower I took it off, although I am now confused as to whether it works or not!! At AMD rolling road, with the blower, I managed 220bhp and 209lb ft of torque only 7 months ago! Now without the blower I get 202bhp and 180 lb ft of torque.....at Austec??? 
That seems to be a big difference between rolling roads even though I know they are not calibrated??? So have Austec given me a low figure to make improvements look better, who knows. All I know is the car pulls much much better in every gear and feels faster!! I am going to try to pop in next week to have a quick test with the blower to check!
It was tested after the work was done by TVR-power and they recorded 340bhp so there is power loss from somewhere and most probably worn camshaft lobes I am told. I will probably go for the TVR-power drive in drive out package, but that will have to wait until the house is sorted as I need to spend at least £50K on it this year
Later
Mike
That seems to be a big difference between rolling roads even though I know they are not calibrated??? So have Austec given me a low figure to make improvements look better, who knows. All I know is the car pulls much much better in every gear and feels faster!! I am going to try to pop in next week to have a quick test with the blower to check! It was tested after the work was done by TVR-power and they recorded 340bhp so there is power loss from somewhere and most probably worn camshaft lobes I am told. I will probably go for the TVR-power drive in drive out package, but that will have to wait until the house is sorted as I need to spend at least £50K on it this year
Later
Mike
Podie said:
Never had any problems with mine... didn't let me down once.
Hence why I put "apart from the end of life items" ......like HT leads?
Which you expect to go wrong after 12 years! Apart from those few bits its been a dream! Might be at the meet on Sunday, what time do you meet at the White Hart?? Assuming no other end of life items go
Mike
I have had my S3 since October 2000 and since then I have replaced one set rear brake shoes, one set of HT leads (the one from the coil to the distributor broke where it bends at a rightangle) and one battery. I think this is excellent for a car approaching its 15th birthday. I'm taking it on a TVRCC organised tour to Germany and Austria in May and have every confidence in the car.
Podie said:
Never had any problems with mine... didn't let me down once.
Neither has mine
I bought the S as a weekender and something I could 'tinker' with. When it developed a running fault, it would have been easy to give it to a garage, relieve my wallet of £200 and get it sorted. But where's the fun or satisfaction in that ? I admit it is easier to adopt this attitude when the S is not your daily drive.
IMO its well worth owners sharing the problems they have experienced and the steps taken to alleviate those problems - it serves as useful reference to the rest of us and shouldn't be taken as an indication of unreliability of the model.
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