Discussion
Okay, I know this is going to be 'one of those' questions...
BUT
I really love TVR's - spending 4 years living around the corner from the Bispham factory will do that to a person...
However, I need to use my car for work - which includes quite a lot of 3~4am runs to Heathrow..
and I need a car that i can rely on to start and not break down..
Currently I have a Lexus, which is all well and good, but my heart is with a Cerbera/Tuscan, or perhaps a Chimera (working on the principal the RV8 is less laboured than the AJPV8 or S6).
So I would ask any TVR owners who use their car regularly, how much can you rely on them? Which models are the better?
Of course, perhaps I am just letting my heart rule my head, and I should accept that a TVR is just not the right choice for me..
BUT
I really love TVR's - spending 4 years living around the corner from the Bispham factory will do that to a person...
However, I need to use my car for work - which includes quite a lot of 3~4am runs to Heathrow..
and I need a car that i can rely on to start and not break down..
Currently I have a Lexus, which is all well and good, but my heart is with a Cerbera/Tuscan, or perhaps a Chimera (working on the principal the RV8 is less laboured than the AJPV8 or S6).
So I would ask any TVR owners who use their car regularly, how much can you rely on them? Which models are the better?
Of course, perhaps I am just letting my heart rule my head, and I should accept that a TVR is just not the right choice for me..
Yeah, I did search, as I expected, quite a few threads...
1. From them I amassed that some people have little or no issues, others have more...
2. Low mileage/stood cars will have more issues than used ones...
However, I could not find any reference to whether I'd be better off in a Tuscan than a Chimera etc..
So if anyone could shed some light on this, I would be grateful...
1. From them I amassed that some people have little or no issues, others have more...
2. Low mileage/stood cars will have more issues than used ones...
However, I could not find any reference to whether I'd be better off in a Tuscan than a Chimera etc..
So if anyone could shed some light on this, I would be grateful...
Running these cars daily seems to be better for the cars than not. For example I run my Griffith daily and so far (and I'm touching a biiiig piece of wood here!) I've had no major issues.
Running them "on sunny days" seems to be what causes the problems, as they don't like to be left about.
In terms of engine reliability, concensus would probably say the RV8 over the AJP V8 or the Speed 6. However a poorly maintained RV8 can easily be less reliable than a maticulously maintained Speed 6 for example.
You do hear more stories of Speed 6 unreliability than any others, but then you also hear that later ones are more reliable. I have no experience in the Speed 6 other than what I read on these forums, so use your judgement.
But if you're using it daily I'd be inclined to be directed to RV8 (in the Chimaera you mention, or the more superior Griffith (
)). It will be cheaper to run (servicing costs are recognised to be generally half that of the other models, give or take).
But, whichever you choose to get if you do, make sure you treat it properly - warm the engine up _fully_ before hoofing it, and stick to the service schedule.
Good luck,
Sy
Running them "on sunny days" seems to be what causes the problems, as they don't like to be left about.
In terms of engine reliability, concensus would probably say the RV8 over the AJP V8 or the Speed 6. However a poorly maintained RV8 can easily be less reliable than a maticulously maintained Speed 6 for example.
You do hear more stories of Speed 6 unreliability than any others, but then you also hear that later ones are more reliable. I have no experience in the Speed 6 other than what I read on these forums, so use your judgement.
But if you're using it daily I'd be inclined to be directed to RV8 (in the Chimaera you mention, or the more superior Griffith (
)). It will be cheaper to run (servicing costs are recognised to be generally half that of the other models, give or take). But, whichever you choose to get if you do, make sure you treat it properly - warm the engine up _fully_ before hoofing it, and stick to the service schedule.
Good luck,
Sy
A new car has the bonus of a warranty…
A second hand car from a dealer has the bonus of a warranty…
A private sale means you have to buy a warranty… but you can get them.
The Tuscan and Cerbs are very different to each other, and to the RV8 cars… despite what people say the only difference between the Griffith and Chimaera is the body - underneath they are the same car.
I suggest you get down to the local club meet and go and talk to people… go out in a few cars, then drive some...
A second hand car from a dealer has the bonus of a warranty…
A private sale means you have to buy a warranty… but you can get them.
The Tuscan and Cerbs are very different to each other, and to the RV8 cars… despite what people say the only difference between the Griffith and Chimaera is the body - underneath they are the same car.
I suggest you get down to the local club meet and go and talk to people… go out in a few cars, then drive some...
fidgits said:
Cheers for the info...
The Griffith is one of my first dream cars, but being older I thought perhaps a younger Chimera might be better.
I did look at my local TVR dealers stock, but I wasn't impressed by the people working there.
In terms of main dealers there are only two that I had a good experience with - Silverstone and Dream Machines* - although I've not been to EVERY main dealer..!
* - are they a main delaer?
In terms of used cars, Adrian Blyth - www.adrianblyth.co.uk/ - are a good bet, as is James Agger - www.jamesagger.com/
gingerprince said:
But if you're using it daily I'd be inclined to be directed to RV8 (in the Chimaera you mention, or the more superior Griffith (
Sy
Don't forget that if you went for a Griffith you'd also need to factor the cost of the medallion into your budget..
On that subject what budget will you have? This will really have a big influence on the car you decide to buy. General consensus is for at least 3k a year (excluding insurance and fuel) to run a Cerb - and about half this for a Chim/Griff.
Chims/Griffs start at anything from 10-20k, Cerbs start around the 15k mark through to 40k and the rest start minimum 20k.
Well, I'm not sure on the T's&C's of naming dealers, or if they were actually a main dealer (they also did Scoobys..)
As for the budget, well when I started looking, my trade-in value was about £10k, and I was probably looking at adding £10~£15k... However, now my car's value has done a belly flop, and looking at the annual running costs, perhaps £15~£18k would be a more realistic number.
As for the budget, well when I started looking, my trade-in value was about £10k, and I was probably looking at adding £10~£15k... However, now my car's value has done a belly flop, and looking at the annual running costs, perhaps £15~£18k would be a more realistic number.
dream machines homepage said:
Welcome to Dream Machines
The premier TVR and Lotus dealership for Kent and Sussex.
Don't daydream about owning the pinnacle of British sports cars,
just contact us to test drive one of our TVR or Lotus cars today!
The DreamMachines team have over 65 years of selling prestige cars.
We are only one of three independent TVR dealerships in the UK and have recently taken on the dealership for Lotus in the Kent and Sussex area.
Podie said:
Well, I'm not sure on the T's&C's of naming dealers, or if they were actually a main dealer (they also did Scoobys..)
There is a "no name and shame" policy for legal reasons... nothing to stop you saying who you have had a good experience with though.
Thats why I wasn't mentioning the 'name'...
My Tuscan was last used 6 weeks ago when the head gasket blew, when I collected it from the garagewhen this was repaired I drove back I almost immediately as 5th. gear was lost. Awaiting parts.....but work done under dealers warranty. Not very reliable really!
There, that looks better!
>> Edited by nubbin on Thursday 31st March 15:52
There, that looks better!
>> Edited by nubbin on Thursday 31st March 15:52
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