Sagaris/TVR info

[Chuckuk]

Hi everyone,

Been going through the site recently looking for answers about TVR's, specifically the Sagaris. I'm totally new to these cars so I'll apologise in advance for questions that I'm sure have been asked before.

Reliability, heard a lot of horror stories about TVR's, have things changed now? I plan on doing 30000 miles in 3 yrs, will it hold together?

Warranty, is the 3yr 36000mile a good one, what does it cover? Do they quibble over items that could fall into the grey area, clutch for example?

Residuals, as a daily drive would 30000miles in 3yrs kill the resale price of the car? looking around most of the 2nd hand cars seem low mileage.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[alloypearltam]

Chuck,

The important thing when buying a TVR is that you buy with your eyes open. Yes there have been problems with engine reliability but data on the latest spec cars is very limited.

There has been a thread about how many engines have need rebuilds and in the main it appears that the majority of cars are pre 2003 models and at a gues predominantly Tuscans (Someone will correct me if I am wrong).

We have bought a brand new Tamora and we are intending to do between 12K and 20K miles a year in it. Most of the people in the know whom I have spoken with suggest that the best thing I can do is drive the thing, not let it sit on the driveway looking pretty.

So far our car has been driven on the worst roads imaginable and we are very impressed at how the car does not squeek or rattle. Indeed at the present time when our car goes back for its 1K service all the dealer needs to do other than the service is adjust the sensitivity of the alarm.

With reference to the 3 year warranty, I don't have any actual paperwork for it, but as I understand the situation, the warranty covers engine and mechanicals for 3 yrs (not 100% on the mechanicals bit) but everything else is 12 months.

TVR have launched a used car warranty which should help with the residuals but only time will tell. As for residuals who knows????? I have been very badly bitten by 2 prestige german cars and have taken the view that a TVR cannot be really any worse.

[Kurgen_]

alloypearltam said:

As for residuals who knows????? I have been very badly bitten by 2 prestige german cars...

Know the feeling.!

Dealer spread margins on used high end cars, esp 911s, are huge, these days.

I have found to my cost, that a dealer spread on a 60-70k car is about £10k. In other words you pay £65k for a 911, the next week you sell it back to dealer, he offers £55k.

My GT3 was £68k from an OPC, although I paid less than this, tried to sell it back to same dealer after 3 months, best offer was £52k.

Rob

[lundinoir]

alloypearltam said:

So far our car has been driven on the worst roads imaginable and we are very impressed at how the car does not squeek or rattle. Indeed at the present time when our car goes back for its 1K service all the dealer needs to do other than the service is adjust the sensitivity of the alarm.

Wow! You have been extremely lucky with your TVR. I have had two pages of snags when i brought my car in for it's 1000 mile service. 200 miles further and I have another page full of snags that will hopefully be sorted next week.

Mine also squeeks and rattles like mad...

[sideways mostly]

8000 miles since March in a T350c
No problems other than a loose battery connection and a rattle from the rear window-both sorted at 1000 miles. Been a very satisfying 7000 miles since.

[alloypearltam]

lundinoir said:

alloypearltam said: So far our car has been driven on the worst roads imaginable and we are very impressed at how the car does not squeek or rattle. Indeed at the present time when our car goes back for its 1K service all the dealer needs to do other than the service is adjust the sensitivity of the alarm. Wow! You have been extremely lucky with your TVR. I have had two pages of snags when i brought my car in for it's 1000 mile service. 200 miles further and I have another page full of snags that will hopefully be sorted next week. Mine also squeeks and rattles like mad...

Well to put things into context. I have been to see a client tonight in our new shape A Class. When I got home I decided to go and pick up the chinese in the Tam because the wing mirrors and intermittent wipe are up the spout on the A Class. I am not under any illusion that there will not problems at the end of the day it is a handbuilt car, but I do feel that people should understand that although there will be problem cars, not every TVR is poor.

Edited to say I also forgot to say that the new A Class's Tyre Pressure Monitor System is also knackered.

>> Edited by alloypearltam on Thursday 29th September 21:02

[lundinoir]

alloypearltam said:

I am not under any illusion that there will not problems at the end of the day it is a handbuilt car, but I do feel that people should understand that although there will be problem cars, not every TVR is poor.

I agree and have never said that every TVR is poor. I personally think TVR are brilliant and their cars are some of the most unique cars currently in production.

As for Mercedes I've had nothing but headaches in the past with Daimler Chrylser and their cars and will never deal with that company again.

[alloypearltam]

lundinoir said:

alloypearltam said: I am not under any illusion that there will not problems at the end of the day it is a handbuilt car, but I do feel that people should understand that although there will be problem cars, not every TVR is poor. I agree and have never said that every TVR is poor. I personally think TVR are brilliant and their cars are some of the most unique cars currently in production. As for Mercedes I've had nothing but headaches in the past with Daimler Chrylser and their cars and will never deal with that company again.

Sorry if you thought if you thought I was suggesting you had, I didn't meant to What I am trying to get at is that there has been a lot of history on PH where people have suggested that TVR's are poor.

I know what you mean about Mercedes and I don't think we will have another one. Even the C Class we p/x'd for the Tamora had problems (1 of which they couldn't fix was poore fuel consumption, a software update would fix it but was only going to be available at some point in the future).

[TSS]

Chuckuk said:

Residuals, as a daily drive would 30000miles in 3yrs kill the resale price of the car? looking around most of the 2nd hand cars seem low mileage.

I did 33,000 miles in 2.5 years in my Tuscan. It sold immediately to the first person that saw it, and I got a pretty reasonable price.

I put this down to 2 things. First it was in a good colour combination, not boring, but not too wacky either. Secondly, I kept a meticulous history with the car, with absolutely every service/maintenance receipt and piece of documentation. A comprehensive history file showing that the car has been maintained with no expense spared will certainly help when it come sot resale.

Personally I’d prefer to buy a 2nd hand car that’s been used and had all the niggles fixed than one that’s spent it’s life in a garage with problems yet to appear.

[bosscerbera]

TSS said:

Personally I’d prefer to buy a 2nd hand car that’s been used and had all the niggles fixed than one that’s spent it’s life in a garage with problems yet to appear.

Wise words mate!