hello everybody need some insurance help!!
Discussion
newbie round these parts, some may know me off the tt forum. 
right, basically i'm after a Tamora. i love em to bits.
problem. i'm 24 with less than a years experience and zero no claims.
however, it does get better soonish. in may i will (hopefully) have my one years no claims. in june i turn 25 and in July i will have had my licence for a year.
but i want a tamora now, because as summer approaches presumabley the prices will hike up.
so who do i go to and when do i do it? (dont say when i'm 30...) are there specialist TVR insurers who somehow charge less than other major insurers? has anyone been in a similar position to me?
all advice very welcom
right, basically i'm after a Tamora. i love em to bits.
problem. i'm 24 with less than a years experience and zero no claims.
however, it does get better soonish. in may i will (hopefully) have my one years no claims. in june i turn 25 and in July i will have had my licence for a year.
but i want a tamora now, because as summer approaches presumabley the prices will hike up.
so who do i go to and when do i do it? (dont say when i'm 30...) are there specialist TVR insurers who somehow charge less than other major insurers? has anyone been in a similar position to me?
all advice very welcom
Hiya 
If you want my honest opinion, I would get an old MX5/MGF (even the insurance for those will be sky-high for you with hardly any, if no NCB for a couple of years), these cars will introduce you gently into RWD sport scars. You cannot drive TVRs like any other normal car, it will bite and maybe kill you (or someone else one day due to lack of experience.
I can only say that getting a Tamora with only a years driving experience is not wise, and the insurance will be extremely prohibitive to say the least, if you can find someone to insure you in the first instance. I simply cannot recommend a TVR to someone with little experience in driving - it is a recipe for disaster.
>> Edited by chris watton on Thursday 2nd March 19:07
If you want my honest opinion, I would get an old MX5/MGF (even the insurance for those will be sky-high for you with hardly any, if no NCB for a couple of years), these cars will introduce you gently into RWD sport scars. You cannot drive TVRs like any other normal car, it will bite and maybe kill you (or someone else one day due to lack of experience.
I can only say that getting a Tamora with only a years driving experience is not wise, and the insurance will be extremely prohibitive to say the least, if you can find someone to insure you in the first instance. I simply cannot recommend a TVR to someone with little experience in driving - it is a recipe for disaster.
>> Edited by chris watton on Thursday 2nd March 19:07
yeah I agree with all the above. Im 28 with full no claims had loads of rear wheel drive experience with 450 bhp supra and 550 bhp skyline gts-t but when I wanted to insure a T350 this didnt count most companies said I needed at least 1 year TVR experience. I managed to get insured through need2insure, may be they can help.
thanks for the advice, already drving a TT and actually find it quite slow!! and completely uninvolving... lol (this is the bit where people find me a bit doolally) drove a Z4 for a week and did get caught napping on a corner as the back end popped round the corner before i did (with the police conceniently watching...but not noticing fortunately) i do think this incident had more to do with a runflat tyre than any real speed or loss of control though.
i take all the warnings on board. i suppose i'm just gonna have to wait. i know myself that i'd be cautious in a TVR until i felt i had better understood its power.
i think i may take a dive into the deep end this summer when all the things tilt into my favour insurance-wise.
the crazy thing is there is bugger all dfference between me driving a 180bhp TT and a 380bhp TVR, the insurance quotes are similar and you as well have more value.
as my driving instructor said when i mentioned the TT: "it goes as fast if you push the pedal harder." he had no qualms about me getting a turbo-charged sports car as a first car because he knew he had taught me to be responsible in a car. i think and i hope am at least that...though try and convince an insurance company..ahem money grabbing barrrrstards....
i take all the warnings on board. i suppose i'm just gonna have to wait. i know myself that i'd be cautious in a TVR until i felt i had better understood its power.
i think i may take a dive into the deep end this summer when all the things tilt into my favour insurance-wise.
the crazy thing is there is bugger all dfference between me driving a 180bhp TT and a 380bhp TVR, the insurance quotes are similar and you as well have more value.
as my driving instructor said when i mentioned the TT: "it goes as fast if you push the pedal harder." he had no qualms about me getting a turbo-charged sports car as a first car because he knew he had taught me to be responsible in a car. i think and i hope am at least that...though try and convince an insurance company..ahem money grabbing barrrrstards....
Join the TVR Car Club and check out the insurers who advertise in the magazine - they're all pretty good really. Naturally some won't touch you as they see you as a liability (whether you are or not the odds are against you).
I suggest you spend the next few months learning all the there is to know so that when you come to buy you all fuly armed and forwarned :-)
At your age a test drive might be tricky. Ever even been in a TVR? Get along to a club/area meet and blag a spin to whet your appetite
There are younger people than you on this forum with TVRs - post in one of the General TVR sections and see if you get any answers from them on hints and tips, and dealers who will give you the time of day (expect more "you're too young" flak). How about selling the TT now and buying an MGF or MX5 for a few months to get the RWD thing in your head? Buy a ragtop now and you should be able to minimise your loss in a few months - plus the girls love an MX5.
T/. (yes, I'M the one from the TT Forum)
I suggest you spend the next few months learning all the there is to know so that when you come to buy you all fuly armed and forwarned :-)
At your age a test drive might be tricky. Ever even been in a TVR? Get along to a club/area meet and blag a spin to whet your appetite
There are younger people than you on this forum with TVRs - post in one of the General TVR sections and see if you get any answers from them on hints and tips, and dealers who will give you the time of day (expect more "you're too young" flak). How about selling the TT now and buying an MGF or MX5 for a few months to get the RWD thing in your head? Buy a ragtop now and you should be able to minimise your loss in a few months - plus the girls love an MX5.
T/. (yes, I'M the one from the TT Forum)
ha ha, hey mate. i was just about to respond and accuse a few people of being....OLD and f'ing MISERABLE!!!!!!!! urgh.
at the moment the missus is really tied to the TT, she loves it. as do i, it has a perculiar attraction i dont think you'd find in many cars. a mix of herbie-like character and an turbo-inspired edginess.
even though i'd love to get rwd experience i think i'd rather do it in my mums honda jazz stuck in reverse than an MG or "hairdresser alert" MX-5.
i've just been a bit impatient and already seen a Tamora i really like (it is hard to find a body colour and interior combo that works)
me and patience are sworn enemies. life is too short to piss around!
>> Edited by g-boy on Thursday 2nd March 21:20
>> Edited by g-boy on Thursday 2nd March 21:21
at the moment the missus is really tied to the TT, she loves it. as do i, it has a perculiar attraction i dont think you'd find in many cars. a mix of herbie-like character and an turbo-inspired edginess.
even though i'd love to get rwd experience i think i'd rather do it in my mums honda jazz stuck in reverse than an MG or "hairdresser alert" MX-5.
i've just been a bit impatient and already seen a Tamora i really like (it is hard to find a body colour and interior combo that works)
me and patience are sworn enemies. life is too short to piss around!
>> Edited by g-boy on Thursday 2nd March 21:20
>> Edited by g-boy on Thursday 2nd March 21:21
well mate weve all got to start somewhere, but an MX5 ? This is not good! My advice if you are used to a TT is a 350Z first stop as the lively rear end is a bit of a learning curve. Nothing will prepare you for the amount of traction and hence lack of traction at times a modern TVR can invoke. If you are used to riding a performance motorcycle well, this will help. As for the rear wheel drive thing, the people on the forum are accurate in the respect and hence experience that a TVR requires.I hope you realise your dream, but I would sooner know you for 10 years having owned one for five than have heard about you having owned one for a few months not to be able to buy another.
I have a T350C having owned many rear wheel drive cars. A 350z is a good start and can be progressively tuned (induction + exhaust) to 300bhp when you get used to it. Also hold money well if you purchase second hand.
Hope this helps and not trying to be condescending.
Bob
>> Edited by bobd on Thursday 2nd March 23:11
I have a T350C having owned many rear wheel drive cars. A 350z is a good start and can be progressively tuned (induction + exhaust) to 300bhp when you get used to it. Also hold money well if you purchase second hand.
Hope this helps and not trying to be condescending.
Bob
>> Edited by bobd on Thursday 2nd March 23:11
Ever thought of entering the TVR world by buying a 'classic' TVR like wedge ? Older car, some are really stylish IMO, uniqueness, ticks the TVR box for future insurance quotes, older car = cheaper insurance, certainly a lot cheaper to buy. Just a thought, look further afield. Strangely when I get older I may go to classic..
I am sure others will either agree or think I am mad.
Steven
I am sure others will either agree or think I am mad.
Steven
I can speak from first hand experience here.
I am now 26 and bought a Tamora in Dec 04 not long after turning 25 (same issues with insurance as you are experiencing, although I had been driving since I was 17).
However, listen very carefully to the words of warning on this forum. This was my first RWD high performance car and I managed to stick it in a ditch within a week of ownership. Luckily nobody hurt (only my pride and a bit of bodywork), but they can just suddenly decide to bite you if you're not experienced with such levels of power.
But if you have made your mind up and or going to go for it I found that elephant were by far the best for insurance. I got a range of quote from £2,500 upto about £12k!! but elephant came in at about £1,500 but with a high excess.
Hope this helps.
I am now 26 and bought a Tamora in Dec 04 not long after turning 25 (same issues with insurance as you are experiencing, although I had been driving since I was 17).
However, listen very carefully to the words of warning on this forum. This was my first RWD high performance car and I managed to stick it in a ditch within a week of ownership. Luckily nobody hurt (only my pride and a bit of bodywork), but they can just suddenly decide to bite you if you're not experienced with such levels of power.
But if you have made your mind up and or going to go for it I found that elephant were by far the best for insurance. I got a range of quote from £2,500 upto about £12k!! but elephant came in at about £1,500 but with a high excess.
Hope this helps.
my first griff at 24
Had been driving for 7 years,
was very cautious,
put it backwards in a ditch within 3 days
zero experience in rear wheel drive car, let alone one only weiging a tonne...
I'm Old and miserable now, maybe... but i think if you get one, you do sound overconfident, you'd be dead/car stuffed within a year.
B
Had been driving for 7 years,
was very cautious,
put it backwards in a ditch within 3 days
zero experience in rear wheel drive car, let alone one only weiging a tonne...
I'm Old and miserable now, maybe... but i think if you get one, you do sound overconfident, you'd be dead/car stuffed within a year.
B
bjwoods said:
my first griff at 24
Had been driving for 7 years,
was very cautious,
put it backwards in a ditch within 3 days
zero experience in rear wheel drive car, let alone one only weiging a tonne...
I'm Old and miserable now, maybe... but i think if you get one, you do sound overconfident, you'd be dead/car stuffed within a year.
B
It's not the age that's so much the prob, it's the 'I've only got less than a year's experience and I want a Tamora' bit thats frightening.
I had the same problem as you with insurance. Practically no-one would give me a quote, even those listed with the TVRCC. I was 23 when I got my S last year. In the end I got 2 quotes (out of 24 attempts) but it wasn't cheap. I run the S as a second car so I hate to think what I'd be paying if it weren't restricted to 6000 miles per year.
I think your best bet would be to start out with an S or a Wedge (or possibly a 4.0 Chim) to 'get your eye in'. Give it a year, build a bit of TVR experience and go back to the insurers once you've passed the magic 25 and have a bit of no-claims under your belt.
I think your best bet would be to start out with an S or a Wedge (or possibly a 4.0 Chim) to 'get your eye in'. Give it a year, build a bit of TVR experience and go back to the insurers once you've passed the magic 25 and have a bit of no-claims under your belt.
Agree with ceecee.
Bought my T350 when I was 24 - insurance was not a great problem despite the fact I had recently lost all my no claims due to a theft. I am with Elephant and it costs around £1200 fully comp - I think the fact that I have the use of another car helps reduce the premium and also my job title seem to bring it down (I have a flexible role so tried a number of different job titles).
HOWEVER - I had been driving for 7 years when I got the T350 and I was still not prepared for all that power (especially in bad weather). I was cautious to start with and took things easy but the very first time I stopped giving the car my full attention the back end stepped out and I was lucky not to have an accident. Over a year on I have a much better idea of the car's limits AND my own.
I strongly recommend you sit it out another year and get something less extreme to get some more experience. It doesn't have to be an MX-5 though!
Edited to say: If you ignore me and others here and get the car (as I ignored everyone who told me not to buy my T350) please for god's sake TAKE IT EASY. It is very easy to get it wrong and end up hurt or dead how ever good a driver you are.
>> Edited by guymarks on Friday 3rd March 11:02
>> Edited by guymarks on Friday 3rd March 11:41
Bought my T350 when I was 24 - insurance was not a great problem despite the fact I had recently lost all my no claims due to a theft. I am with Elephant and it costs around £1200 fully comp - I think the fact that I have the use of another car helps reduce the premium and also my job title seem to bring it down (I have a flexible role so tried a number of different job titles).
HOWEVER - I had been driving for 7 years when I got the T350 and I was still not prepared for all that power (especially in bad weather). I was cautious to start with and took things easy but the very first time I stopped giving the car my full attention the back end stepped out and I was lucky not to have an accident. Over a year on I have a much better idea of the car's limits AND my own.
I strongly recommend you sit it out another year and get something less extreme to get some more experience. It doesn't have to be an MX-5 though!
Edited to say: If you ignore me and others here and get the car (as I ignored everyone who told me not to buy my T350) please for god's sake TAKE IT EASY. It is very easy to get it wrong and end up hurt or dead how ever good a driver you are.
>> Edited by guymarks on Friday 3rd March 11:02
>> Edited by guymarks on Friday 3rd March 11:41
thanks for all the quick replies.
its amazing what response you get, from 'go for it!' to 'you'll be dead in a ditch'...
i think i may have to wait until i have all the 'ones' ticked, ie. year long licence, year NCB etc etc
the great thing about an older car like a Griffith is that the relative low value of the car means the premium will always be less. i think i might stick to my original plan and buy a Griffith over the summer (even if selling it in September will be a struggle). the only problem i have with this is that almost everyone says the newer models are easier to drive and control than the older cars like the Grif and Cerb.
so isnt what some are saying slightly contradictory? i mean i could 'learn' in a car that is actually harder to get used, even faster and more brutal and breaks down more often than the newer models which are more driver-friendly?
what do people think on this? Griffith or Tamora as more suitable intro to TVR?
i do like the idea of trying RWD in the 350Z but the roadster prices are still too high for me, and i dont particularly want the coupe during the summer.
its amazing what response you get, from 'go for it!' to 'you'll be dead in a ditch'...
i think i may have to wait until i have all the 'ones' ticked, ie. year long licence, year NCB etc etc
the great thing about an older car like a Griffith is that the relative low value of the car means the premium will always be less. i think i might stick to my original plan and buy a Griffith over the summer (even if selling it in September will be a struggle). the only problem i have with this is that almost everyone says the newer models are easier to drive and control than the older cars like the Grif and Cerb.
so isnt what some are saying slightly contradictory? i mean i could 'learn' in a car that is actually harder to get used, even faster and more brutal and breaks down more often than the newer models which are more driver-friendly?
what do people think on this? Griffith or Tamora as more suitable intro to TVR?
i do like the idea of trying RWD in the 350Z but the roadster prices are still too high for me, and i dont particularly want the coupe during the summer.
I think the main issue is lack of experience, not just with rear wheel drive, but just driving in general..... Insurance is going to be very expensive, and for good reason! I wouldn't expect it to magically come down either once you're 25 etc. There's no issues at all with having a TVR at 24, as long as you know what to do with it. There's a MASSIVE difference between driving a high powered, lightweight, rear wheel drive car with no driver aids than their is to driving a mid powered, heavy, 4 wheel drive car that has more letters after its name than Stephen Hawking......
I remember how I used to drive within a year after my licencse, if I'd done it in a TVR I don't think I'd be here now!..
The 350Z route is a good option (and not just because thats what I did) although if you say they're a little pricey I'm a bit concerned you haven't done your sums properly on the Tamora? Servicing costs etc will be much higher.
However having said all the don't do it things, I've got one, T350, (not over the hill yet at 30) and it's bloody great! However I do think the Elise, 350Z was a good build up to it.
If you do get one, treat it with respect and don't drive it like the TT!!..........
I remember how I used to drive within a year after my licencse, if I'd done it in a TVR I don't think I'd be here now!..
The 350Z route is a good option (and not just because thats what I did) although if you say they're a little pricey I'm a bit concerned you haven't done your sums properly on the Tamora? Servicing costs etc will be much higher.
However having said all the don't do it things, I've got one, T350, (not over the hill yet at 30) and it's bloody great! However I do think the Elise, 350Z was a good build up to it.
If you do get one, treat it with respect and don't drive it like the TT!!..........
Gassing Station | Tamora, T350 & Sagaris | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff