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Although this thread has been covered many times I feel I have to ressurect it.Why must people keep harping on about TVR reliability.I was having a conversation with someone when the subject moved to cars.When I replied I drove a Cerbera the other person asked me if it had broken down yet! When I asked him what he drove he told me a Fiat Coupe ( we all know that Fiat stands for Fix It Again Tomorrow).Having owned TVRs since 1983 I have never broken down in one.Yes they have had their problems but so did a Jaguar and a BMW that cost me £30 K each and many other prestige cars I have owned.
I have had problems with my Griff - but the only one I could put down to unreliablility is perhaps the radiator leaking. You don't get rads going in 3 years on 'normal' cars. Possibly also the speedo sticking - they all do that, sir.
Most of the other stuff I have had problems with has been down to really poor workmanship by a dealer(s) - causing problem after problem by not doing things right first time and causing consequential problems. These included not servicing the car but stamping the book, leaving the pullies on the front of the engine loose (the resulting vibration buggered the camshaft), leaving the inlet manifold bolts loose when the cam was done (resulted in water leak), not checking the rocker arms when cam was done (one failed almost immediately afterwards), leaving a jubilee clip fouling the serpentine belt after changing the rad etc etc.
The car has never broken down and should now be in superb shape.
However I have spent ages on the phone hassling and arguing, and the car has been off the road for about 10 weeks in 8 months of ownership (again I stress that this is mainly down to the dealer). So when colleagues ask me how the TVR is running and I say 'its back with the dealer' - they think 'TVR = unreliable' no matter what I say about the car itself being good, its just the dealer........
Most of the other stuff I have had problems with has been down to really poor workmanship by a dealer(s) - causing problem after problem by not doing things right first time and causing consequential problems. These included not servicing the car but stamping the book, leaving the pullies on the front of the engine loose (the resulting vibration buggered the camshaft), leaving the inlet manifold bolts loose when the cam was done (resulted in water leak), not checking the rocker arms when cam was done (one failed almost immediately afterwards), leaving a jubilee clip fouling the serpentine belt after changing the rad etc etc.
The car has never broken down and should now be in superb shape.
However I have spent ages on the phone hassling and arguing, and the car has been off the road for about 10 weeks in 8 months of ownership (again I stress that this is mainly down to the dealer). So when colleagues ask me how the TVR is running and I say 'its back with the dealer' - they think 'TVR = unreliable' no matter what I say about the car itself being good, its just the dealer........
I think part of the problems with cars being off the road for extended periods is that a lot of Dealers know that TVRs are second and third cars! Its not just TVR dealers,we have a Mercedes sprinter which has been off the road for 3 months awaiting an engine! We have a replacement vehicle and the dealer is not getting hassled by us.Just the way of the world now, I am afraid.
Thinking about it my BMW M roadster had more problems than the Griff:
In two years it had (under warranty):
gearbox
fuel tank mounts
shock absorber mounts
shock absorber
battery
immobiliser unit
new Tracker unit battery
drivers seat mounts and frame
roof fabric twice
entire new roof inc frame
complete set of alloys (dealer refurb them before I bought it and paint peeled off)
2 instrument dials (condensation)
new VANOS unit (>£2,000!)
complete door mirror (mount corroded)
door mirror heated glass
It was returned to me once with a scrape on the wheel arch. Another time it had a dent in the bonnet. The best one was when the boot had 2" of water in it after they replaced the roof. I had to remove the CD changer and pour water out of it. The dealer said 'How do we know the CD changer was working when you brought the car in' - but changed tack after I asked if they thought that was a sensible route to take under the circumstances...
It only broke down twice though (wouldn't start) - once was the battery had gone and the other when the Tracker battery had failed which then drained the main battery. The BMW Emergency Service man blew the immobilser when jump starting the car....
I've come to the conclusion that all cars are relaible, except the ones connected with me....
In two years it had (under warranty):
gearbox
fuel tank mounts
shock absorber mounts
shock absorber
battery
immobiliser unit
new Tracker unit battery
drivers seat mounts and frame
roof fabric twice
entire new roof inc frame
complete set of alloys (dealer refurb them before I bought it and paint peeled off)
2 instrument dials (condensation)
new VANOS unit (>£2,000!)
complete door mirror (mount corroded)
door mirror heated glass
It was returned to me once with a scrape on the wheel arch. Another time it had a dent in the bonnet. The best one was when the boot had 2" of water in it after they replaced the roof. I had to remove the CD changer and pour water out of it. The dealer said 'How do we know the CD changer was working when you brought the car in' - but changed tack after I asked if they thought that was a sensible route to take under the circumstances...
It only broke down twice though (wouldn't start) - once was the battery had gone and the other when the Tracker battery had failed which then drained the main battery. The BMW Emergency Service man blew the immobilser when jump starting the car....
I've come to the conclusion that all cars are relaible, except the ones connected with me....
griff2be said: Thinking about it my BMW M roadster had more problems than the Griff:
In two years it had (under warranty):
gearbox
fuel tank mounts
shock absorber mounts
shock absorber
battery
immobiliser unit
new Tracker unit battery
drivers seat mounts and frame
roof fabric twice
entire new roof inc frame
complete set of alloys (dealer refurb them before I bought it and paint peeled off)
2 instrument dials (condensation)
new VANOS unit (>£2,000!)
complete door mirror (mount corroded)
door mirror heated glass
It was returned to me once with a scrape on the wheel arch. Another time it had a dent in the bonnet. The best one was when the boot had 2" of water in it after they replaced the roof. I had to remove the CD changer and pour water out of it. The dealer said 'How do we know the CD changer was working when you brought the car in' - but changed tack after I asked if they thought that was a sensible route to take under the circumstances...
It only broke down twice though (wouldn't start) - once was the battery had gone and the other when the Tracker battery had failed which then drained the main battery. The BMW Emergency Service man blew the immobilser when jump starting the car....
I've come to the conclusion that all cars are relaible, except the ones connected with me....
And did anyone remark on how unreliable your BMW was?
OK, I’ve only had my Chim for a little under a year and covered under 5000 miles in it, but I have had nothing go wrong other than the mirror glass falling out which cost me nothing to repair.
I’ve probably with hindsight driven it a little *too* gingerly, no track days or hard A road driving, just the usual level of summer use and a bit less in the more inclement weather.
I have a service due in the new year and as my car was bought from Mole Valley and had a list of replacement items as long as your arm fitted before I bought it, I am not expecting a massive bill from the independent I shall take it to.
TVRs are no more or less reliable than any other car IMO.
I’ve probably with hindsight driven it a little *too* gingerly, no track days or hard A road driving, just the usual level of summer use and a bit less in the more inclement weather.
I have a service due in the new year and as my car was bought from Mole Valley and had a list of replacement items as long as your arm fitted before I bought it, I am not expecting a massive bill from the independent I shall take it to.
TVRs are no more or less reliable than any other car IMO.
In the past year my BMW has been off the road 5 times, cooling fan twice, entire traction control/abs, climate control and electric seats and lights.
In the same time frame ZERO faults with the TVR (Chimaera 450) and more miles on the clock (40,000 TVR vs. 12,000 new BMW).
Chimaeras and Griffs seem to be very reliable!
In the same time frame ZERO faults with the TVR (Chimaera 450) and more miles on the clock (40,000 TVR vs. 12,000 new BMW).
Chimaeras and Griffs seem to be very reliable!
Grif2be said...
"Most of the other stuff I have had problems with has been down to really poor workmanship by a dealer(s) - causing problem after problem by not doing things right first time and causing consequential problems. "
Spot on!
The cars I have owned have had a few faults, which I don't mind, but I do mind when taking it back again and again for the same fault or problem later caused by uncorrected fault. Especially if the dealer is a long way away...
A friend of mine had a very nearly new Alfa 3.0 GTV 6 V reg.
It ran spot on.
One day, it didn't turn over when he turned the key.
Got towed to the local Alfa dealer for repair.
They reckoned it was primarily knackered valves, and would take 2 weeks.
Took over a month.
When he got it back, lots of bolts in the engine bay loose, eg exhaust manifolds, sump, air flow meter etc...
Air flow meter fell out whilst driving it.
Got that repaired.
Then oil from sump leaked onto clutch.
New clutch.
Drove away from garage, on the way home gearbox started whining.
They hadn't put ANY oil in the gearbox.
Knackered gearbox.
Tried fixing it.
Couldn't.
Got a new gearbox.
Wrong sort. (5 speed, instead of 6).
Got another new gearbox.
Couldn't select reverse.
Redone.
Couldn't select 1st or reverse.
Redone.
It was off the road 10 months out of 12, and ran like crap, all because of 1 initial problem.
So he got rid of it.
"Most of the other stuff I have had problems with has been down to really poor workmanship by a dealer(s) - causing problem after problem by not doing things right first time and causing consequential problems. "
Spot on!
The cars I have owned have had a few faults, which I don't mind, but I do mind when taking it back again and again for the same fault or problem later caused by uncorrected fault. Especially if the dealer is a long way away...
A friend of mine had a very nearly new Alfa 3.0 GTV 6 V reg.
It ran spot on.
One day, it didn't turn over when he turned the key.
Got towed to the local Alfa dealer for repair.
They reckoned it was primarily knackered valves, and would take 2 weeks.
Took over a month.
When he got it back, lots of bolts in the engine bay loose, eg exhaust manifolds, sump, air flow meter etc...
Air flow meter fell out whilst driving it.
Got that repaired.
Then oil from sump leaked onto clutch.
New clutch.
Drove away from garage, on the way home gearbox started whining.
They hadn't put ANY oil in the gearbox.
Knackered gearbox.
Tried fixing it.
Couldn't.
Got a new gearbox.
Wrong sort. (5 speed, instead of 6).
Got another new gearbox.
Couldn't select reverse.
Redone.
Couldn't select 1st or reverse.
Redone.
It was off the road 10 months out of 12, and ran like crap, all because of 1 initial problem.
So he got rid of it.
I sent my newly aquired '98 Griff went back for a few niggles to be sorted and my reaction was a shrug of the shoulders and 'well, it is a TVR'.
Now, I'm not fussed, I'm on my second Griff and this is the first problem I've had, so top marks for reliability for me, but I know of a few folks with Tuscan horror stories. (You only need to read the threads).
My concern is that if TVR are going for the PCP and high level company car users with the Tuscan, which they seem to be, are they prepared for the person who thinks 'I'll skip the Boxster and go for a Tuscan', because they most certainly won't shrug their shoulders and say 'well, that's TVR for you' when their throttle cable snaps, and these are the sort of folks who will say 'has it gone wrong yet' and get on our wicks!
I'm happy to stand up and say that I missed the queue where they were handing out the brain cells that linked cars to common sense and went to the queue to get second helpings of the need for speed brain cells. But I get a bit nervous about the TVR reputation when I see one more M3 being traded in for a Tuscan. I'd love to welcome another convert but part of me thinks that the Tuscan will be back, and what you or I may think of as niggles will be another unreliable TVR to be talked about at the office party....
I'm a cheerful sod... I'm off to listen to some Leonard Cohen
DC
Now, I'm not fussed, I'm on my second Griff and this is the first problem I've had, so top marks for reliability for me, but I know of a few folks with Tuscan horror stories. (You only need to read the threads).
My concern is that if TVR are going for the PCP and high level company car users with the Tuscan, which they seem to be, are they prepared for the person who thinks 'I'll skip the Boxster and go for a Tuscan', because they most certainly won't shrug their shoulders and say 'well, that's TVR for you' when their throttle cable snaps, and these are the sort of folks who will say 'has it gone wrong yet' and get on our wicks!
I'm happy to stand up and say that I missed the queue where they were handing out the brain cells that linked cars to common sense and went to the queue to get second helpings of the need for speed brain cells. But I get a bit nervous about the TVR reputation when I see one more M3 being traded in for a Tuscan. I'd love to welcome another convert but part of me thinks that the Tuscan will be back, and what you or I may think of as niggles will be another unreliable TVR to be talked about at the office party....
I'm a cheerful sod... I'm off to listen to some Leonard Cohen
DC
I've had 2 BMW 735,s and 1 750. Both have been far more unreliable that my Chim 500 from new. I don't believe any other car maker with this type of power output can stand up and fly for reliability. Best thing I ever did was to by a TVR, buckets of fun and no one else can match your pleasure.
Thanks for all the replies. I was just getting a bit peed off with all the negative threads about reliability.There seems to be alot of BMW stories,which I can add my own, a car people would associate with being well built and reliable.The truth of the matter is that the majority of people would love to own a TVR but because they cannot have one they have to belittle them.Unfortunately this theory does not cover TVR owners who seem to want to harp on about the most minor faults.Granted the cars are not perfect but how many things in life are.
>> Edited by p7ulg on Thursday 21st November 11:59
>> Edited by p7ulg on Thursday 21st November 11:59
[quoteUnfortunately this theory does not cover TVR owners who seem to want to harp on about the most minor faults.Granted the cars are not perfect but how many things in life are.
I assume this was the bracket that you were putting me in yesterday shortly before starting this thread. I am sorry I seem to have led you to such frustration.
One of the main reasons I found (find) PH so helpful is that its an opportunity to speak with a large amount of people that run unusual vehicles spread all around the country who have often experienced the same or similar problems at some stage and can point you to the answers. Unlike other makes, I cannot ring up the local garage and tell them the problem and ask their advice. They have no idea when it comes to my car because its unusual (and thats one of the nicest things about it).
I do get peeved by general public perception of TVR's being unreliable and, whilst i dont let it wind me up, I strongly advocate against this. Like you, I believe them to be just as reliable as most cars, and certainly those that are low production handbuilt cars.
PH is not public perception. Most PH'ers are intelligent car enthusiasts who know for themselves whether TVR's are reliable, whether they prefer the handling of a Boxster S over a Tamora etc etc. By general posts seeking guidance when something breaks, I dont care who reads it within PH - less so than if I was chatting to a non-TVR owner bloke down the pub. I wouldnt want him to get the impression that they were unreliable because they are not.
On the point you previously made re when I come to sell the car (maybe that should be "if") then I will be honest with any potential purchaser anyway as I would expect transparancy if it were me. The reality of it is, anything needs doing it gets done professionally and not skimped on because I am afraid of posting and tipping people off that I have had the occasional problem.
Some people have unreliable TVR's from new. They moan. You would moan too. Your BMW's were crap - you moaned. Good for you, why should you accept sub standard goods. There are bad ones that come out occasionally, and this is true of any manufacturer. If you ask me, the problem is mainly not having your eyes open when you go into buying the car in the first place. If you are expecting 100% reliability, build quality etc, what the feck are you doing buying a low production hand built car!!
I see lots that post on here when their car has gone wrong or developed a problem. This isnt a whinge - its because PH is a great community for sharing this sort of thing and often helping you solve the problem from experienced people that have already been there. Whilst I feel I have built up some friends on PH, its main help to me still is for information on my car. And most of that will relate how to fix things. I wont bother to post and say - "everything is functioning fine today" because I dont see the point. You get what I am saying............
Apologies if I seem to have taken any of this personally - but I feel your thread was directly sparked by my post.
I assume this was the bracket that you were putting me in yesterday shortly before starting this thread. I am sorry I seem to have led you to such frustration.
One of the main reasons I found (find) PH so helpful is that its an opportunity to speak with a large amount of people that run unusual vehicles spread all around the country who have often experienced the same or similar problems at some stage and can point you to the answers. Unlike other makes, I cannot ring up the local garage and tell them the problem and ask their advice. They have no idea when it comes to my car because its unusual (and thats one of the nicest things about it).
I do get peeved by general public perception of TVR's being unreliable and, whilst i dont let it wind me up, I strongly advocate against this. Like you, I believe them to be just as reliable as most cars, and certainly those that are low production handbuilt cars.
PH is not public perception. Most PH'ers are intelligent car enthusiasts who know for themselves whether TVR's are reliable, whether they prefer the handling of a Boxster S over a Tamora etc etc. By general posts seeking guidance when something breaks, I dont care who reads it within PH - less so than if I was chatting to a non-TVR owner bloke down the pub. I wouldnt want him to get the impression that they were unreliable because they are not.
On the point you previously made re when I come to sell the car (maybe that should be "if") then I will be honest with any potential purchaser anyway as I would expect transparancy if it were me. The reality of it is, anything needs doing it gets done professionally and not skimped on because I am afraid of posting and tipping people off that I have had the occasional problem.
Some people have unreliable TVR's from new. They moan. You would moan too. Your BMW's were crap - you moaned. Good for you, why should you accept sub standard goods. There are bad ones that come out occasionally, and this is true of any manufacturer. If you ask me, the problem is mainly not having your eyes open when you go into buying the car in the first place. If you are expecting 100% reliability, build quality etc, what the feck are you doing buying a low production hand built car!!
I see lots that post on here when their car has gone wrong or developed a problem. This isnt a whinge - its because PH is a great community for sharing this sort of thing and often helping you solve the problem from experienced people that have already been there. Whilst I feel I have built up some friends on PH, its main help to me still is for information on my car. And most of that will relate how to fix things. I wont bother to post and say - "everything is functioning fine today" because I dont see the point. You get what I am saying............
Apologies if I seem to have taken any of this personally - but I feel your thread was directly sparked by my post.
Years ago I had a Porsche 924 Turbo (nice car) it cost a lot to maintain and at around 60k the Turbo needed a re-build costing £600+ so I decided to replace it. Got a 944 (bit boring by comparison) which cost even more to maintain than the 924 Turbo, I was really pissed off when the heater matrix sprang a leak and I found a puddle of blue water sloshing around the passenger footwell, cost a bundle to replace and the pale carpets were never the same! I could argue that my Griff is more reliable than my 2 x Porsches but who would believe me... 
Rich...
Rich...
My Chim has been 90% reliable except for a spell of electrical gremlins largely due to the fuse box getting wet - The car had, until recently, been kept outside and used every day.
I traded in a Xantia diesel for my Chim and can tell you all the level of reliability on the Xantia was no better - brake discs after 35000, central locking not locking - several times. Each time back to the dealer and no courtesy car. The Tiv has been back to Peninsula and each time a courtesy car and fixed within 24hours foc.
I traded in a Xantia diesel for my Chim and can tell you all the level of reliability on the Xantia was no better - brake discs after 35000, central locking not locking - several times. Each time back to the dealer and no courtesy car. The Tiv has been back to Peninsula and each time a courtesy car and fixed within 24hours foc.
RichB said: Years ago I had a Porsche 924 Turbo (nice car) it cost a lot to maintain and at around 60k the Turbo needed a re-build costing £600+ so I decided to replace it.
Years ago I owned a 924 Turbo, too. It consumed money like it was going out of fashion. New rear disks, new exhaust manifold, new injectors, new ECU, chronic fuel leaks, delaminating screen, new shockers. The last six months I owned it I spent about £4K on repairs. Then it needed a new turbo and/or a head rebuild at £600 each, so I sold it. I've only owned a TVR (a '97 Chimaera 450) a few months, but so far, so good!
No Schnozz the post was not directed at you.But putting threads on like "I broke down this morning" does not help.If you go over to the Ferrari,lamborghini,Maserati forum you will be hard pushed to find an owner talking about the faults on his car.We all know that the majority of Italian supercars are far from reliable, and I can't believe that none of the members have problems.Maybe TVR owners are just honest and down to earth.So lets not belittle our cars and put words into other peoples mouths.
There are a lot more TVR owners on here than Ferrari etc which may account for the higher no of problems reported.
Almost always when TVR owners share experiences of problems with each other there is a 'wouldn't change it for any other car' feel to the posts, and long may that continue.
Almost always when TVR owners share experiences of problems with each other there is a 'wouldn't change it for any other car' feel to the posts, and long may that continue.
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