Longer TVR warranty?
Author
Discussion

bjwoods

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

301 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all
I'm a long term TVR owner (nearly 10 years)
I've been tempted to buy a tuscan for some time now, maybe now a T350T.

BUT, I've been put off by the 'perception' of reliability issues with the S6 engine. As I would keep the car for at least 4 years, potentially expensive year 3-4 engine issues have put me off doing this. General discussion with a number of TVR Griff/Chim owner car club memebers would reinforce this perception.

Please let us NOT recover whether or not the S6 engine is reliable in this thread, I said PERCEPTION of.

If TVR were to extend their warranty (if only engine/gearbox) to 3 years, would this tempt any of you existing Chim/Griff/etc owners into trading up?

It would tempt me,
plus,
I think this would help the resale/depreciation of the new range of TVR's (all own engine now), which is also a factor of not buying, painful 1-2 year depreciation of cars only covering 6-12k miles on average.


I'm not knocking TVR goodwill at all -
IN fact they have contributed to do work and a respray of my front end, due to a manufacturing paint defect, it only appeared in year 3 of griff ownership, sorted it out on 4th birthday, picking it up tomorrow.

But for the engine I would like the reasurance of a warranty rather than good will.


SO - If a new TVR had a 3 year engine/drivetrain warranty, would it tempt you to trade in?

B

griff2be

5,103 posts

284 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all
It would certainly help - I loved driving the Tamora but just can't rid myself of nagging doubts about engine rebuild costs - no matter how unfair that might be.

bjwoods

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

301 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all
It came to mind, because my wife's Peugeot dealer spotted a problem on the drivers door hinge (quite expensive) and just said better book that in for some warranty work - now 2 years 9 months old

I think 3 years is quite common now ?
Didn't Hyundai stir it recently with 5 year warranties, I wonder if any other manufacturer will respond?

B

>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 22 November 17:53

phib

4,513 posts

276 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all
I am afraid not it would have to be longer ( not likely I know) I tend to buy TVR's had 4 now when they are about 18 months to 2 years old (missing some of the depreciation hopefully).
I then tend to keep them 2 years so when I sell them they are about 4/5 years old, now having had 3 Chimaera's the only issue has been a reversing light switch and a leakiy pwr steering hose.
However I bought a late 500 earlier this year because I just could bring myself to risk the engine rebuilds etc etc (having had a cerbie sp6) however at the time I really wanted a Tuscan.
The real shame is that when I seel the 500 (if I do ) I will probably not have another TVR due to the engine choice unless things drastically change !!!!!!!!!

Leadfoot

1,910 posts

298 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all
Of course it would help. I'm in this situation myself, own a Griff & have a deposit down for a T350 but now having engine reliability nerves.

Maf

282 posts

301 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all
How much extra is it to extend the warranty anyway?

simpo one

89,623 posts

282 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all
I would never buy a new car of any type, for reasons of depreciation. With TVR in mind, brand new ones, even if the engine is sound, do seem to suffer from assorted niggles. I'm happy to let the first owner get these sorted out (even if it's done under warranty, it's still hassle)- then get a better deal. With the money I save, I reckon on being able to afford to fix any hiccups that might occur.

Warranties schwarranties, IMHO!

donatien

1,113 posts

275 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
quotequote all

simpo one said:With TVR in mind, brand new ones, even if the engine is sound, do seem to suffer from assorted niggles. I'm happy to let the first owner get these sorted out


Couldn't agree more, but watch for "good" (dealers words) cars that have sat around for ages without a sale. When I looked for a Griff early last year a certain TVR official dealer had what seemed a nice example up for sale, I saw it and didn't buy it. It has just been sold some 18 months later. It was and still is a low mileage example and no-one wanted it until now? Wonder why......

If a TVR has higher miles on it and a service history then in my mind is preferable to a newer one with the next big problem around the corner.

DT

apeebles

267 posts

301 months

Saturday 23rd November 2002
quotequote all
Well TVR are now doing 2 year warranties on some of the cars. I have just sold my Tuscan S(I hope!) and the new owner still has a years manufacturers warranty left. But I am in agreement that longer warranties should be available. Even if they limit that to 3 yr/36K miles it would be better than nothing and it would cover the majority of TVR's (Grabs coat!)

simpo one

89,623 posts

282 months

Saturday 23rd November 2002
quotequote all
But the longer the warranty period, the greater the chnace of the warranty company having to pay out, and so the greater the new cost of the car. It's a money-go-round, carefully calculated by 'automotive actuaries' to ensure they make a profit (which I don't blame them for). And if they make a profit, you lose. It comes down to 'How lucky do you feel?'

bjwoods

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

301 months

Monday 25th November 2002
quotequote all
Interesting chat with a new dealer at the weekend.
Shall we say some things 'might' be negotiable if you are a serious buyer! Stress the 'might'

Besides the above. Hell a choice between a 2 year unlimited warranty or a 3 or 4 year (6k a year - FSH TVR) drivetrain warranty would keep most current TVR owners happy.

I agree generally about not buying NEW of any car for depeciation reasons. The exception is TVR are low volume so a more personal/unusual colour/interior scheme would be pretty near impossible to find 2nd hand. Me, I like dark blue metallics! (or silver now)

B

>> Edited by bjwoods on Monday 25th November 09:21

p7ulg

1,052 posts

300 months

Monday 25th November 2002
quotequote all

simpo one said: I would never buy a new car of any type, for reasons of depreciation. With TVR in mind, brand new ones, even if the engine is sound, do seem to suffer from assorted niggles. I'm happy to let the first owner get these sorted out (even if it's done under warranty, it's still hassle)- then get a better deal. With the money I save, I reckon on being able to afford to fix any hiccups that might occur.


Warranties schwarranties, IMHO!


Having owned both brand new vehicles and secondhand ones I would agree with Simpo. While it is very nice to collect a brand new car, no matter what make, initial depreciation is collosal.As far as TVRs are concerned they are usually that pampered it is easy enough to buy a nice secondhand one stick your own number plate on and apart from the speedo reading its can easily pass as a new car!