TVR Reliability - the bottom line?
Discussion
Its been disucssed before, but I still dont quite grasp what is behind the general TVR reliability problems.
Just what is it that makes general TVR electrics less reliable than most other cars? They are not overly complex, and what of other parts like quper motors, starter motors, and all the other bits and bobs we are always ordering? Surely quality components are not hard to source in the pre-production and design phases?
Im asking tentatively, and not having a pop either, I just dont get it. Lets also leave engine debates out of this thread. In the last few months & 2 local meets we have had (half dozen people each meet) someone broke down on the way to one, someone else broke down during another hoon of ours. Yet another person broke down on the way to a recent meet. In our small group I can think of 3 of us who have "broken down" twice each, in the last 8 weeks!
Then, the various niggles. Admitedly Im still bedding in my 1998 cerbera, but Ive been back to the dealer half a dozen times in 2 months, and with 2 TVRs have had 15 garage visits in 8 months.
Sorry to be so long winded, I wouldnt drive anything but TVR
but just what is it that causes so many of the niggling faults that many of us seem to be plagued with, when other cheaper non performance marques manufacturer cars with bits and bobs (not talking engines here) seem so reliable compared?
Just what is it that makes general TVR electrics less reliable than most other cars? They are not overly complex, and what of other parts like quper motors, starter motors, and all the other bits and bobs we are always ordering? Surely quality components are not hard to source in the pre-production and design phases?
Im asking tentatively, and not having a pop either, I just dont get it. Lets also leave engine debates out of this thread. In the last few months & 2 local meets we have had (half dozen people each meet) someone broke down on the way to one, someone else broke down during another hoon of ours. Yet another person broke down on the way to a recent meet. In our small group I can think of 3 of us who have "broken down" twice each, in the last 8 weeks!
Then, the various niggles. Admitedly Im still bedding in my 1998 cerbera, but Ive been back to the dealer half a dozen times in 2 months, and with 2 TVRs have had 15 garage visits in 8 months.
Sorry to be so long winded, I wouldnt drive anything but TVR
but just what is it that causes so many of the niggling faults that many of us seem to be plagued with, when other cheaper non performance marques manufacturer cars with bits and bobs (not talking engines here) seem so reliable compared?ncs said:Ive had this and that (and then the other, and then some!) already sorted on my cerb under warranty. If something isnt 100% Ill have it fixed immediately (as should everyone, and I believe most everyone does!) ... I forgot to mention that other PHers agree I have been unlucky with endless niggles, but a little money and old is replaced with new, no loss of value here mate, nothing can compete with TVR on the fun factor side of things, there just isnt anything like it (etc blah blah)
Well done Rob - you've just devalued everybodys car by £5k 
Nick
Bringing us back to the origional question. Why? Its not rocket science, why so many niggles, even for those who arnt plagued? Praps if TVR were a 10 year old company I wouldnt be asking.
If I stand alone then Ill do so with a grin. Love it, and having gone through lots of niggles on 2 TIV's most of them are probably (touch wood) sorted.
If I may venture a theory - I think its because TVR's in the past have suffered from some thoughtless design. Stuff that a decent engineer would have spotted perhaps, but somehow TVR did'nt.
I think one of the main examples of this is heat. A lot of TVR's build up a great deal of heat under the bonnet, and from what I have seen some key components are not heat shielded as well as they ought to be, or not enough thought has been given to airflow in the basic design of the cars.
Things like wiring looms, components like starter motors and such like, all seem to get a major roasting at high temperatures. This can lead to trouble over the short and the long term.
Its just a theory anyway..
And if this is the case, then the future looks promising. Smolenski has, I gather, been intensively weather testing TVR's in extreme heat and extreme cold to improve reliability.
Worryingly, I don't think TVR has ever bothered to do this before. So hopefully the Russian's arrival will bring improvements.
I think one of the main examples of this is heat. A lot of TVR's build up a great deal of heat under the bonnet, and from what I have seen some key components are not heat shielded as well as they ought to be, or not enough thought has been given to airflow in the basic design of the cars.
Things like wiring looms, components like starter motors and such like, all seem to get a major roasting at high temperatures. This can lead to trouble over the short and the long term.
Its just a theory anyway..
And if this is the case, then the future looks promising. Smolenski has, I gather, been intensively weather testing TVR's in extreme heat and extreme cold to improve reliability.
Worryingly, I don't think TVR has ever bothered to do this before. So hopefully the Russian's arrival will bring improvements.
Speak for yourself Bob
The TVR has been 'less' reliable than my Audi but that was a brand new car and it still had miscellaneous faults it had to go back for.
The TVR has been 'more' reliable than the Alfa, much more reliable than the Punto but less reliable than a 16 year old Golf I had a good few years ago. Got a German v. Italian theme going here.
It's like any other club/forum. You tend to hear more bad than good. How many threads start off saying 'Went for a drive today, nothing broke'.
It's the same when I go out flying, you hear about the guy who nearly ended up in the tree or whos wing had a big collapse, not the guy who had an hours flying then landed and drove home.
For the record mine has been through a few big fuses, a slave cylinder, a regulator and I think thats it really. The slave went not long after I bought the car when it went from 5k miles in 3 years to 1.5k miles in a month.
And... no I don't have rose tinted glasses, there is more scope for problems due to the hand built nature of the cars but I think lack of use contributes greatly to many of the problems.
i'm off outside to hug some big wooden tree trunks now
The TVR has been 'less' reliable than my Audi but that was a brand new car and it still had miscellaneous faults it had to go back for.
The TVR has been 'more' reliable than the Alfa, much more reliable than the Punto but less reliable than a 16 year old Golf I had a good few years ago. Got a German v. Italian theme going here.
It's like any other club/forum. You tend to hear more bad than good. How many threads start off saying 'Went for a drive today, nothing broke'.
It's the same when I go out flying, you hear about the guy who nearly ended up in the tree or whos wing had a big collapse, not the guy who had an hours flying then landed and drove home.
For the record mine has been through a few big fuses, a slave cylinder, a regulator and I think thats it really. The slave went not long after I bought the car when it went from 5k miles in 3 years to 1.5k miles in a month.
And... no I don't have rose tinted glasses, there is more scope for problems due to the hand built nature of the cars but I think lack of use contributes greatly to many of the problems.
i'm off outside to hug some big wooden tree trunks now
Perhaps part of the answer is in TVR's ability to produce a car with supercar performance at a fraction of the price.
Im sure we've all had issues, but I know a guy who has just returned his brand new 6 series BMW & demanded a replacement car. (Which he got). TVR are not the only ones who have these problems.
We all know the reputation these cars have amongst non TVR owners, walk into any pub & ask the local expert whos mate had one - whilst his mark 2 Cortina sits rusting in the car park
Theres a whole lot of people who have many trouble free miles in their TVR's - they just tend not to shout about it, which is a shame.
Nick
Im sure we've all had issues, but I know a guy who has just returned his brand new 6 series BMW & demanded a replacement car. (Which he got). TVR are not the only ones who have these problems.
We all know the reputation these cars have amongst non TVR owners, walk into any pub & ask the local expert whos mate had one - whilst his mark 2 Cortina sits rusting in the car park
Theres a whole lot of people who have many trouble free miles in their TVR's - they just tend not to shout about it, which is a shame.
Nick
I wonder if it's that many people use their TVRs as second cars, thereby not driving them as much. I know that won't account for every problem or breakdown, but taken as a statistical whole I'd be surprised if that didn't play some part.
For instance, I just saw a Chimaera for sale, R reg, which had done just 7000 miles. That's the equivalent of going for one 20 mile drive a week for seven years! A tank of petrol would last 2.5 months. I'm sure it's been cared for but I wouldn't touch it personally. I also hear of people garaging them for the winter. I'm certainly not having a pop, and I can understand why given how terrified I was driving in the snow - but surely that can't be good for them?
I've been lucky never to have a dud car (so far) but I think that it helps that I've only ever had one car and so it was necessarily used regularly, not just for a burn at the weekend.
My £0.02.
For instance, I just saw a Chimaera for sale, R reg, which had done just 7000 miles. That's the equivalent of going for one 20 mile drive a week for seven years! A tank of petrol would last 2.5 months. I'm sure it's been cared for but I wouldn't touch it personally. I also hear of people garaging them for the winter. I'm certainly not having a pop, and I can understand why given how terrified I was driving in the snow - but surely that can't be good for them?
I've been lucky never to have a dud car (so far) but I think that it helps that I've only ever had one car and so it was necessarily used regularly, not just for a burn at the weekend.
My £0.02.
Since buying my Chim 3 weeks ago I've put over 1000 miles on the clock.
So I reckon either mine will love me for driving it regularly, or it will hate me and punish me with lots of problems.
Personally, I reckon it will be the former.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that mass produced cars are any more reliable. Apart from certain celebrated Japanese manufacturers, most Euroboxes don't make the top ten when it comes to reliability. The Audi TT I had before the Chim, in 4 months of ownership (thats how fast it became a liability) I had LOADS of problems with it, including a new timing chain and exhaust at 35000 miles!
So I reckon either mine will love me for driving it regularly, or it will hate me and punish me with lots of problems.
Personally, I reckon it will be the former.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that mass produced cars are any more reliable. Apart from certain celebrated Japanese manufacturers, most Euroboxes don't make the top ten when it comes to reliability. The Audi TT I had before the Chim, in 4 months of ownership (thats how fast it became a liability) I had LOADS of problems with it, including a new timing chain and exhaust at 35000 miles!
I'd tend to agree with Topstuff, heat & water are the root of a lot of problems. In fairness to TVR they have caused similar problems to mainstream maufacturers - even LR started to heat shield engine bay components as the engine grew, and tin worm has caused plenty of problems to many marques.
I honestly believe much can be done to alleviate some of these minor problems
I am a great advocate of ceramic coated manifolds - they have reduced my engine bay temps dramatically, so I'm sure the payback will be very quick due to enhanced component longevity (apart from the gain in comfort).
A little care greasing and sealing electrical connections helps with the common electrical gremlins, a jar of vaseline goes a long way (and costs a lot less than wd40!).
I honestly believe much can be done to alleviate some of these minor problems
I am a great advocate of ceramic coated manifolds - they have reduced my engine bay temps dramatically, so I'm sure the payback will be very quick due to enhanced component longevity (apart from the gain in comfort).
A little care greasing and sealing electrical connections helps with the common electrical gremlins, a jar of vaseline goes a long way (and costs a lot less than wd40!).
parrot of doom said:
Don't make the mistake of thinking that mass produced cars are any more reliable.
EVERY car is more reliable than my Tiv, even a Lada Niva.
3 Months ownership (1 month abroad, so actually just 2 months used):
- 5 breakdowns
- 4 visits to the garage
- 2 times trailer (RAC told me that I used up my breakdown cover after 2 months of membership)
- smaller niggles, like things falling of, getting stuck etc. which I could sort myself.
If now people tell me Tivs are reliable and they are great everyday runners and blahblahblah, I just laugh at them.
>> Edited by ChimBungee on Monday 14th March 08:51
4 TVRs, 25-30k average in each, no breakdowns. 
ChimBungee said:
If now people tell me Tivs are reliable and they are great everyday runners and blahblahblah, I just laugh at them.
So when someone tells you that THEIR car is reliable you automatically assume they are telling a lie and that you are right - they all break down all the time? And then you laugh at them?
I bet you have a lot of good freinds in TVR circles
My RV8 had many problems, alternator, coil, alarm, imobilisor, (caps leads etc, if they count) and many electrics gremlins. I told the TVR bashers the components were not TVR components, and that TVRs were as realiable as any car. But after the usual 3-weekly breakdowns, 8 months later I, in my not-very-knowlegable way am merely questioning why they occured in the first place.
Praps it is due to excessive heat then, plus a little more vibration than the average car. I will say again though, that nothing could put me off the marque, and compared to some other TVR owners its fair to say that until now, Ive had more niggles than most.
I take some comfort in believing whatever car I own will eventually be 100% sorted.
Praps it is due to excessive heat then, plus a little more vibration than the average car. I will say again though, that nothing could put me off the marque, and compared to some other TVR owners its fair to say that until now, Ive had more niggles than most.
I take some comfort in believing whatever car I own will eventually be 100% sorted.
Ours is just getting old... 91k miles on a 96 Griff 500 and the bushes are beginning to rattle, all the bolts need tightening up etc.
It's had 2 days of being sick in our 6 months of ownership (It's used as a daily driver) - once because the altenator got damp in a very heavy rain storm and once because the clutch master cylinder seals got tired.
There have been minor niggles such as leaking PAS and leaky coolant hoses, but these haven't stopped it running and it's exactly what you expect from a well used (and loved) sportscar.
Of course, it's not as reliable as my Impreza - 3 years of constant abuse and no breakdowns. (going to find a large piece of wood now!!)
The bottom line is that you should do the maintainance - Go the extra mile and leave nothing to chance.
It's had 2 days of being sick in our 6 months of ownership (It's used as a daily driver) - once because the altenator got damp in a very heavy rain storm and once because the clutch master cylinder seals got tired.
There have been minor niggles such as leaking PAS and leaky coolant hoses, but these haven't stopped it running and it's exactly what you expect from a well used (and loved) sportscar.
Of course, it's not as reliable as my Impreza - 3 years of constant abuse and no breakdowns. (going to find a large piece of wood now!!)
The bottom line is that you should do the maintainance - Go the extra mile and leave nothing to chance.
Have you tried to build a car?
I did when I was in my late teens. Took a kit from Dutton, shoehorned in a Triumph Spitfire engine, built my own wiring loom, butchered other cars for parts and tried to assemble a fun Lotus 7 type car.
Despite all the love and attention lavished on this thing there were still many problems. The wiring into the ignition switch would sometime short out. There was insufficient space under the car for the exhaust and the heat would burn the passenger's arse (
) and I could go on for another week about the niggles. But it was fun.
My point is that there was so much new territory involved and no multimillion pound research budget to iron out the issues. When you buy into a TVR you buy into the same environment. Some people say "why should you put up with it? After all it is 40/50/60k car". I guess the answer is that you odn't have to put up with it. Go buy something else!
>> Edited by angusfaldo on Monday 14th March 10:08
I did when I was in my late teens. Took a kit from Dutton, shoehorned in a Triumph Spitfire engine, built my own wiring loom, butchered other cars for parts and tried to assemble a fun Lotus 7 type car.
Despite all the love and attention lavished on this thing there were still many problems. The wiring into the ignition switch would sometime short out. There was insufficient space under the car for the exhaust and the heat would burn the passenger's arse (
) and I could go on for another week about the niggles. But it was fun. My point is that there was so much new territory involved and no multimillion pound research budget to iron out the issues. When you buy into a TVR you buy into the same environment. Some people say "why should you put up with it? After all it is 40/50/60k car". I guess the answer is that you odn't have to put up with it. Go buy something else!
>> Edited by angusfaldo on Monday 14th March 10:08
I've had the Griff for about 8 months and it's been totally reliable (so far).
Interestingly, when I read these type of posts it always worries me that there's a problem waiting to happen. As such, I won't even drive the Tiv without taking amobile phone and my RAC card. So far, I've not needed either!
Interestingly, when I read these type of posts it always worries me that there's a problem waiting to happen. As such, I won't even drive the Tiv without taking amobile phone and my RAC card. So far, I've not needed either!
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