VXT to Tamora?
Discussion
Hey all,
First post!!!
Right, there maybe a few of you that know me already from other motoring forums... ;)
I've currently got an 04 reg VX220 Turbo and have got to the 8 month itch with it. Have always wanted a TVR, Tuscan in particular but despite being able to afford one of the early ones now I cannot stomach the thought of the cost of an inevitable engine rebuild. I've been keeping an eye on Tamora prices and they are now at a level that I should be able to afford (around the £25k mark), and I think it would be the more sensible buy. After looking through this forum I can't find any stories of rebuilds that I know of from Tuscan owners
The last nail in the coffin for the VX was going down to Dream Machines on saturday where I drove their Tamora demonstrator. In fact as they were short staffed they let me out it in it on my own!! My god it sounded good, and that was on a standard exhaust, with the roof up! Fast as well, I kept on running out of road in 2nd gear and I only got one of the shift lights on! They have a lovely blue one in but it's a little out of my (potential) price range
My plan is to spend £1000 on a small car that will cost me pennies to run and put about 7k a year on the Tamora, as I'm currently putting about 15k on the VX. I'll be looking to get the Tam from a TVR dealer as I'm a bit paranoid and need a decent warranty. Does anyone have experience of their warranties and if they are any good? For instance if the worst should happen and the engine goes pop it will be covered? And am I right in my searching in that Tams are much much better and unlikely to go bang? I've also read that servicing should be about £500 for the first and £750 for the second, is this about right?
If all goes well I should be looking for one at the beginning of August
I'm dead excited, I tell thee!!
First post!!!
Right, there maybe a few of you that know me already from other motoring forums... ;)
I've currently got an 04 reg VX220 Turbo and have got to the 8 month itch with it. Have always wanted a TVR, Tuscan in particular but despite being able to afford one of the early ones now I cannot stomach the thought of the cost of an inevitable engine rebuild. I've been keeping an eye on Tamora prices and they are now at a level that I should be able to afford (around the £25k mark), and I think it would be the more sensible buy. After looking through this forum I can't find any stories of rebuilds that I know of from Tuscan owners
The last nail in the coffin for the VX was going down to Dream Machines on saturday where I drove their Tamora demonstrator. In fact as they were short staffed they let me out it in it on my own!! My god it sounded good, and that was on a standard exhaust, with the roof up! Fast as well, I kept on running out of road in 2nd gear and I only got one of the shift lights on! They have a lovely blue one in but it's a little out of my (potential) price range
My plan is to spend £1000 on a small car that will cost me pennies to run and put about 7k a year on the Tamora, as I'm currently putting about 15k on the VX. I'll be looking to get the Tam from a TVR dealer as I'm a bit paranoid and need a decent warranty. Does anyone have experience of their warranties and if they are any good? For instance if the worst should happen and the engine goes pop it will be covered? And am I right in my searching in that Tams are much much better and unlikely to go bang? I've also read that servicing should be about £500 for the first and £750 for the second, is this about right?
If all goes well I should be looking for one at the beginning of August
I'm dead excited, I tell thee!!
Hi Turbo 
I have always loved the VX220 Turbo, great little cars, and, on paper, as fast as a Tam! But, I would assume the VX doesn't have the noise and outright oomph of a straight six
Personally, I would first go to a reputable dealer, (Silverstone, Penninsula, TMS, TVR Centre), and see what they have, as it would be safer initially to buy from any one of those, as they will come with a warranty. However, huge saving could be made by looking on P/H classifides, and then purchasing a private warranty, and still be quids in, but you need to look over each car very carefully and ask a lot of questions about it.
You are about spot on for servicing prices, but remember that the tyres used are very grippy, but soft, so last between 8-10K miles.
I haven't heard of a lot of reports about the 3.6 going pop, but it can happen, especially if the car hasn't been looked after (ie-no mechanical empathy when starting the car!)
Most of us have had a few 'niggles', but nothing, on the whole, major, and nothing that has stopped our enjoyment of the car
On the whole, the Tamoras do seem to be relatively reliable, mine has, and I know most of the other Tammers on here would say the same! Never ever skimp on the services, if you keep on top of niggles, it should never let you down. It will also love doing at least 7K miles a year.
I have always loved the VX220 Turbo, great little cars, and, on paper, as fast as a Tam! But, I would assume the VX doesn't have the noise and outright oomph of a straight six
Personally, I would first go to a reputable dealer, (Silverstone, Penninsula, TMS, TVR Centre), and see what they have, as it would be safer initially to buy from any one of those, as they will come with a warranty. However, huge saving could be made by looking on P/H classifides, and then purchasing a private warranty, and still be quids in, but you need to look over each car very carefully and ask a lot of questions about it.
You are about spot on for servicing prices, but remember that the tyres used are very grippy, but soft, so last between 8-10K miles.
I haven't heard of a lot of reports about the 3.6 going pop, but it can happen, especially if the car hasn't been looked after (ie-no mechanical empathy when starting the car!)
Most of us have had a few 'niggles', but nothing, on the whole, major, and nothing that has stopped our enjoyment of the car
On the whole, the Tamoras do seem to be relatively reliable, mine has, and I know most of the other Tammers on here would say the same! Never ever skimp on the services, if you keep on top of niggles, it should never let you down.
It will also love doing at least 7K miles a year. Well I am 12 months into ownership have have clocked 8026 miles. We have a £4k run around as a clio that we intend to keep forever. We have clocked 12k in that so I reckon we are quids in.
Spend as much as you can, and definately look at some other examples. I was at the TVR centre picking up fuses and spare bits for a run to france and they have quite a few. Ask for mark and tell him I sent you.
Then hurry up and join www.tvrtamora.com
Happy
regards
Simon
Spend as much as you can, and definately look at some other examples. I was at the TVR centre picking up fuses and spare bits for a run to france and they have quite a few. Ask for mark and tell him I sent you.
Then hurry up and join www.tvrtamora.com
Happy
regards
Simon
Turbo,
Do it, you won't regret it. I had some minor engine trouble at Christmas, but was sorted under the factory warranty. It puts a smile on mi face every time i get in it, worth every penny.
I to have a run around, (if you can call it that?)bought an Omega 3.0ltr estate with 120k on the clock to run around in for 1200 quid. The intention is to run it and run it until it goes bang.
Your Tam will need servicing ecery 6k miles so i keep my annual mileage to this, it is hard not to use it every day though.
Hilti.
Do it, you won't regret it. I had some minor engine trouble at Christmas, but was sorted under the factory warranty. It puts a smile on mi face every time i get in it, worth every penny.
I to have a run around, (if you can call it that?)bought an Omega 3.0ltr estate with 120k on the clock to run around in for 1200 quid. The intention is to run it and run it until it goes bang.
Your Tam will need servicing ecery 6k miles so i keep my annual mileage to this, it is hard not to use it every day though.
Hilti.
Cheers guys
Chris, must admit I have been tempted by the private cars on PH but am concerned about the warranties. Are there any reputable ones that people have had experience of on here?
Yep, 6-7k and 1 service per year is what I'll be aiming at. I'm used to changing rears every 10k with the VX
Chris, must admit I have been tempted by the private cars on PH but am concerned about the warranties. Are there any reputable ones that people have had experience of on here?
Yep, 6-7k and 1 service per year is what I'll be aiming at. I'm used to changing rears every 10k with the VX
TT,
I went from a VX to a T350 and had the same worries as you, but can honestly say I have not looked back once since making the change!
The TVR is obviously more expensive to run, but apart from a few minor niggles I have had nothing major to contend with and as others have pointed out, as long as you treat it properly you should have nothing to worry about.
I would say that if you can afford it then go for it....you only live once and im sure you will not regret it
I went from a VX to a T350 and had the same worries as you, but can honestly say I have not looked back once since making the change!
The TVR is obviously more expensive to run, but apart from a few minor niggles I have had nothing major to contend with and as others have pointed out, as long as you treat it properly you should have nothing to worry about.
I would say that if you can afford it then go for it....you only live once and im sure you will not regret it
TurboTomato said:
Cheers guys
Chris, must admit I have been tempted by the private cars on PH but am concerned about the warranties. Are there any reputable ones that people have had experience of on here?
Yep, 6-7k and 1 service per year is what I'll be aiming at. I'm used to changing rears every 10k with the VX
From what I have researched, the warranties are now very expensive for the cover you get, this year I decided to keep the money I would have spent on a warranty and save it for a 'rainy day'.
I initially set my mileage limit to 6K on the insurance, as I did with my Chim 450 I replaced the Tam with, however, I have enjoyed driving the Tam so much (10K miles now!), that I had to alter the mileage limitation to 12K per year! It's addictive!
I test drove a VX Turbo before buying the Tam, and overall was v impressed with the performance, ride and handling, but the Tamora engine is much more of a beast, the interior is a much nicer place to be, reasonable size boot, and definitely an easier prospect for more regular driving. I think DJC has previously compared the Tam to a Mondeo, so I really don't know if there was a major problem with the one he drove, or if he just didn't get the hang of using the gears and the full rev range, but rest assured, the Tamora performance is more than good enough to keep you well awake, and faster than most things on the road. Ride and handling are also v good.
As for the engines, it seems '03 models onwards don't seem to have had many problems, I've hardly seen any engine rebuild threads on here, mine being one of the few, which was an '02 at about 13,000 miles, but the warranty from DM covered most of the cost.
As for the engines, it seems '03 models onwards don't seem to have had many problems, I've hardly seen any engine rebuild threads on here, mine being one of the few, which was an '02 at about 13,000 miles, but the warranty from DM covered most of the cost.
Yes, DLC's view do seem to be an 'anomoly'! I have had a very long drive in a Tuscan S, and if I'm honest, there is very very little difference between the engine characteristics of that and my 3.6, there wasnt 'notibably' more grunt or torque at normal speeds, and it certainly didn't handle as well as the Tam, that's for sure! But most of the extra BHP is right up in the higher rev range, so I cannot understand why that perticular car 'handled like a Mondeo'!! The TuscanS was a barge compared to the compact little Tamora!
chris watton said:
Yes, DLC's view do seem to be an 'anomoly'! I have had a very long drive in a Tuscan S, and if I'm honest, there is very very little difference between the engine characteristics of that and my 3.6, there wasnt 'notibably' more grunt or torque at normal speeds, and it certainly didn't handle as well as the Tam, that's for sure! But most of the extra BHP is right up in the higher rev range, so I cannot understand why that perticular car 'handled like a Mondeo'!! The TuscanS was a barge compared to the compact little Tamora!
Becuase the damn thing bored me to tears! I could have sat resting my head on the window, closed my eyes, put my little fingertip on the top of the steering wheel and just twiddled it left and right. Would feel bugger all through the steering wheel...I have the same complaint on the Sagaris, this quick rack stuff destroys steering feel. The exhaust note is God awful and needs to have an aftermarket special put on it to get a decent sound out and the engine noise is pretty muted. You never get to feel any great wump of torque at any pt in the rev range and frankly there is just no damn drama to the car. Its like driving a Boxster. Its vanilla ice cream. If driving a Tamora makes you feel special, you must have all the personality of an accountant. Or a dead Bank Manager. No, better yet, a HR Director.
You guys all talk about how different TVR's and Lotus and other "small" sports cars are. Sorry, they arent to me. A sports car is a sports car. You drive it for the hit and rush. In that respect a Tamora is no different to an Elise or VX220 to me. Both are considerably better at being sports cars than the Tamora is. I suppose if you have a fat arse and a wife, then the Tamora is more practical, but if yer a single bloke it is a none argument. When I had the Mk1 MX5, I did the weekly shopping in it, I moved house in it, I toured Europe in it with enough luggage for 2.
Ill be an annomoly on here yes, but that is because I dont have a blind love for TVR and slavish devotion to my car. Out in the real motor world...well, frankly sales speak for themselves.
The guy wanted an opinion and he got mine. Whether or not anybody else agrees with it is entirely upto them. If it was my hard earned lad, it would go nowhere near a Tamora, there is just better kit out there for your money.
DJC said:
Becuase the damn thing bored me to tears! I could have sat resting my head on the window, closed my eyes, put my little fingertip on the top of the steering wheel and just twiddled it left and right. Would feel bugger all through the steering wheel...I have the same complaint on the Sagaris, this quick rack stuff destroys steering feel. The exhaust note is God awful and needs to have an aftermarket special put on it to get a decent sound out and the engine noise is pretty muted.
DJC, I think you are going to be really disappointed with your Sagaris then, as all reports seem to indicate it has "progressed" and is an easier car to drive than the Tam and T350, which obviously from your comments you will not see as progress, so you should be able to rest your head on the transmission tunnel, close your eyes and drive it with no contact whatsoever on the steering wheel. It also has basically the same engine, so doubtless you will also be very disappoitned with that.
I have to say from my own experience that you really are talking complete s**te, unless you only drove it at 5mph on a dead straight road, as you definitely need both hands on the steering wheel if going fast on any twisty stuff, a heck of a lot more than in any other car I have driven, VX220 included.
Maybe you should have got an Elise or Exige or VX220 instead?
AlexRWD said:
Becuase the damn thing bored me to tears! I could have sat resting my head on the window, closed my eyes, put my little fingertip on the top of the steering wheel and just twiddled it left and right. Would feel bugger all through the steering wheel...I have the same complaint on the Sagaris, this quick rack stuff destroys steering feel. The exhaust note is God awful and needs to have an aftermarket special put on it to get a decent sound out and the engine noise is pretty muted.
DJC, I think you are going to be really disappointed with your Sagaris then, as all reports seem to indicate it has "progressed" and is an easier car to drive than the Tam and T350, which obviously from your comments you will not see as progress, so you should be able to rest your head on the transmission tunnel, close your eyes and drive it with no contact whatsoever on the steering wheel. It also has basically the same engine, so doubtless you will also be very disappoitned with that.
I have to say from my own experience that you really are talking complete s**te, unless you only drove it at 5mph on a dead straight road, as you definitely need both hands on the steering wheel if going fast on any twisty stuff, a heck of a lot more than in any other car I have driven, VX220 included.
Maybe you should have got an Elise or Exige or VX220 instead?
Then you dont follow my posts lad. I suprised a good few ppl when I put my order for the Sagaris in...mostly because I had given it a good slating on several aspects. The noise isnt especially exciting on a standard 'Gris, but Im having mine sleeved which hardens it up properly. Yes, the steering is the same unit and is just as shite.
"Progressed" is bollox. The Sagaris feels a lot former and more planted as soon as 10mph is on the dash...or at least my arse certainly tells me it is. It sure as hell isnt easier to drive over a decent road, it is a lot more challenging because of what they have done to the rear suspension and aero's of the car, certainly at speed. It feels edgier at all speeds and there is always the thought lurking in your mind that performance in this is on a different level. It *makes* you think that.
The engine is growlier and it has more whack mid range and up top which is pretty discernable. It still has nothing like the character of a 4.3 RV8, but it at least sounds like a proper straight 6 again with the sleeved exhausts chiming in.
Thought long and hard about an Elise or VXR 220. Bought the Griff instead. Never been too interested in an Exige, Im not a track day type. In any sane world I wouldnt have replaced the Griff, and in many ways there is no good reason for me to have replaced it with a Sagaris, except one...it makes every single one of the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
So yeah, I bought the Sagaris for what I percieve is mind trip. Judging by the orders flying in for the Sagaris, its a trick that seems to be working on a lot of ppl.
DJC said:
Yes, DLC's view do seem to be an 'anomoly'! I have had a very long drive in a Tuscan S, and if I'm honest, there is very very little difference between the engine characteristics of that and my 3.6, there wasnt 'notibably' more grunt or torque at normal speeds, and it certainly didn't handle as well as the Tam, that's for sure! But most of the extra BHP is right up in the higher rev range, so I cannot understand why that perticular car 'handled like a Mondeo'!! The TuscanS was a barge compared to the compact little Tamora!
Becuase the damn thing bored me to tears! I could have sat resting my head on the window, closed my eyes, put my little fingertip on the top of the steering wheel and just twiddled it left and right. Would feel bugger all through the steering wheel...I have the same complaint on the Sagaris, this quick rack stuff destroys steering feel. The exhaust note is God awful and needs to have an aftermarket special put on it to get a decent sound out and the engine noise is pretty muted. You never get to feel any great wump of torque at any pt in the rev range and frankly there is just no damn drama to the car. Its like driving a Boxster. Its vanilla ice cream. If driving a Tamora makes you feel special, you must have all the personality of an accountant. Or a dead Bank Manager. No, better yet, a HR Director.
You guys all talk about how different TVR's and Lotus and other "small" sports cars are. Sorry, they arent to me. A sports car is a sports car. You drive it for the hit and rush. In that respect a Tamora is no different to an Elise or VX220 to me. Both are considerably better at being sports cars than the Tamora is. I suppose if you have a fat arse and a wife, then the Tamora is more practical, but if yer a single bloke it is a none argument. When I had the Mk1 MX5, I did the weekly shopping in it, I moved house in it, I toured Europe in it with enough luggage for 2.
Ill be an annomoly on here yes, but that is because I dont have a blind love for TVR and slavish devotion to my car. Out in the real motor world...well, frankly sales speak for themselves.
The guy wanted an opinion and he got mine. Whether or not anybody else agrees with it is entirely upto them. If it was my hard earned lad, it would go nowhere near a Tamora, there is just better kit out there for your money.
Well, that is your opinion and we would be wrong not to respect that
Daftlad said:
Well, that is your opinion and we would be wrong not to respect that
Regardless of most of it sounding like pretentious crap.
I suspect DJC, you don't know your ar5e from your elbow.... but then that's just my opinion.
>> Edited by daftlad on Friday 1st July 14:04
Not just your opinion
DJC - you do seem to come out with some clap at times and we rarely see a positive comment/thread from you. Of course some of us have rose tinted spectacles, but we also know TVRs are crap in some ways. Mondeos are crap in some ways too. We accept a bit of TVR bashing, we all do it from time to time. However, you ought to nip over to the Porsche forum if you want to constantly bash TVRs though.
Also, don't insult people the way you have been. It's not nice - especially saying I have the personality of a HR Manager. The cheek of it.
>> Edited by targarama on Friday 1st July 15:21
Also, don't insult people the way you have been. It's not nice - especially saying I have the personality of a HR Manager. The cheek of it.
>> Edited by targarama on Friday 1st July 15:21
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