Discussion
Original dampers are garbage. For the same price (or cheaper) you could have AVOs. Or for the same price (plus a little more) you could have Nitrons. Would really, REALLY recommend finding the extra couple of hundred quid for the switch to them - they totally transform the car.
I'd give Joolz a call, as he does three levels of kit - AVOs, Nitrons, and "something inbetween". So, for the same money as you'd pay for sh*tty TVR ones, you can have something decent (which'll increase resale value if nothing else). They really aren't just for track day enthusiasts, they make the care sooooo much more predictable and driveable.
I'd give Joolz a call, as he does three levels of kit - AVOs, Nitrons, and "something inbetween". So, for the same money as you'd pay for sh*tty TVR ones, you can have something decent (which'll increase resale value if nothing else). They really aren't just for track day enthusiasts, they make the care sooooo much more predictable and driveable.
So, £750. Plus labour, I assume?
Joolz's prices (for all four corners, including uprated springs)...
£700 for AVOs (inc. VAT)
£810 for his "intermediate" kit (inc. VAT)
£1,110 for the full Nitron kit (inc. VAT)
Fitting is £350 all in.
Personally, I'd opt for the middle kit if you're not wanting to fork out any additional money - the labour savings should hopefully make it cost about the same as getting the factory to replace the soggy cardboard that passes for standard dampers.
Even if you're just replacing the fronts, I'd go for uprated springs and dampers anyway... it's the front of the car that really provides the handling anyway - I'd say you'd get 60-70% of full benefit of the full conversion just by doing those two.
Joolz's prices (for all four corners, including uprated springs)...
£700 for AVOs (inc. VAT)
£810 for his "intermediate" kit (inc. VAT)
£1,110 for the full Nitron kit (inc. VAT)
Fitting is £350 all in.
Personally, I'd opt for the middle kit if you're not wanting to fork out any additional money - the labour savings should hopefully make it cost about the same as getting the factory to replace the soggy cardboard that passes for standard dampers.
Even if you're just replacing the fronts, I'd go for uprated springs and dampers anyway... it's the front of the car that really provides the handling anyway - I'd say you'd get 60-70% of full benefit of the full conversion just by doing those two.
As James says, the wise money would be to not purchase TVRs own efforts. You can get much better for around the same price and should be seen as an investment. No point in having a lovely rebuilt engine if the car is running on crap dampers. You may also find that going for better engineered ones, as well as improving drivability, will also mean that they can be rebuilt (revalved) when the time comes, instead of getting yet another set. Therefore, see it as a longer term investment that you can enjoy every time you drive the car, plus adds value to the car and even cuts future bills. The fact that many dampers are adjustable should not be seen as something just for track days, but meaning that the cars handling can be set to suit your tastes for style of driving, local road type and condition, local fast runs or comfortable long distance cruising.
BTW, a full set of fully adjustable Ohlins are probably the best that money can buy and would cost £3000 for a set! Nitrons will give you 95% of the benefit for just over 1/3 of the cost.
>> Edited by TUS 373 on Wednesday 13th April 13:27
BTW, a full set of fully adjustable Ohlins are probably the best that money can buy and would cost £3000 for a set! Nitrons will give you 95% of the benefit for just over 1/3 of the cost.
>> Edited by TUS 373 on Wednesday 13th April 13:27
Probably not - and they will tell you their dampers are fine! So long as there is no MOT imminent, just tell them not to do that part of the job or have a word with Jools at Joospeed to see if from his experience, you could send some dampers over to them (but I would get a quote and advice from Jools for doing everything).
I'm sure that you would (understandably) want to get everything fixed ASAP and get the car back though.
I'm sure that you would (understandably) want to get everything fixed ASAP and get the car back though.
Ive just had a set of Nitrons fitted. This was carried out by Top Cats Racing (01296 655109 Aylesbury, Bucks)
They also re-bushed and set the car up from scratch including corner weighting. I can honestly say that it has made the most unbelievable difference to the car. It is now planted, in fact it scares me to think how bad the handling was.
Cost was £1200:00 + VAT (parts and labour).
This is without question the best money I have spent on my Tuscan. Period.
They also re-bushed and set the car up from scratch including corner weighting. I can honestly say that it has made the most unbelievable difference to the car. It is now planted, in fact it scares me to think how bad the handling was.
Cost was £1200:00 + VAT (parts and labour).
This is without question the best money I have spent on my Tuscan. Period.
Apparently according to TVR the car is 'completely undriveable' which I find ironic as they have just test driven the car after refitting the engine. Funny thing is I had the car independantly checked for mechnical problems when I worked out the engine needed another rebuild and they did not find anything wrong with the dampers so the car was returned back to the factory without any other problems apart from the engine being screwed.
jkyle69 said:
Apparently according to TVR the car is 'completely undriveable' which I find ironic as they have just test driven the car after refitting the engine. Funny thing is I had the car independantly checked for mechnical problems when I worked out the engine needed another rebuild and they did not find anything wrong with the dampers so the car was returned back to the factory without any other problems apart from the engine being screwed.
Have you considered these - <a href="http://www.pistonheads.com/ads/detail.asp?i=36895&s=7">www.pistonheads.com/ads/detail.asp?i=36895&s=7</a>?
edited to fix the URL (thanks James!)
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Wednesday 13th April 13:58
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Wednesday 13th April 13:59
You'll need to remove the "?" off the end of that URL for it to work.
Would personally suggest possibly not buying second hand ones off a car that's already got one leaking, assuming that they were all originally fitted at the same time.
But that's just my opinion, and I'm known to be particularly wrong on occasion..
Would personally suggest possibly not buying second hand ones off a car that's already got one leaking, assuming that they were all originally fitted at the same time.
But that's just my opinion, and I'm known to be particularly wrong on occasion..
Well apparently after they test drove the car (allegedly all the way to Southport and back - if this is true then that is a round trip of nearly 80 miles) I would think that as they were driving the car and they failed it is their responsibility to fix it no questions asked as there was nothing wrong with the 
things when I had the car checked over.
things when I had the car checked over.I suppose you would have to prove there was nothing wrong beforehand (i.e. show them the report from the inspection you had done).
Even then, I'm not sure whether it would be good enough. There's probably a clause in the servicing contract which limits their liability.
It would appear that the best way to deal with TVR is to be friendly and reasonable, discuss the problem and why you feel it was caused by them and come to a mutually agreeable conclusion.
Ranting at them (and on here) is not likely to prove fruitful (from the experience shared by others).
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Wednesday 13th April 14:21
Even then, I'm not sure whether it would be good enough. There's probably a clause in the servicing contract which limits their liability.
It would appear that the best way to deal with TVR is to be friendly and reasonable, discuss the problem and why you feel it was caused by them and come to a mutually agreeable conclusion.
Ranting at them (and on here) is not likely to prove fruitful (from the experience shared by others).
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Wednesday 13th April 14:21
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