Discussion
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=251521&f=13&h=0
I'd be interested in reading an equally unbiased opinion from owners of the Italian exotica
I'd be interested in reading an equally unbiased opinion from owners of the Italian exotica
Not exactly what you asked for, but a bit of the other side of the coin...
I owned a Tuscan for a little under a year, and although I loved the car and driving it, the feeling of running the gauntlet every time I was more than half an hour away from a main dealer got too much. Whilst repairing the niggles on my car with washers, velcro and araldite, kept B&Q in the money for a while, as well as my Saturday afternoons, after a year I had had enough.
Even with a warranty I think I paid about £10,000 for the ownership for a year, as well as about 9 trips for repairs, and that was *without* the fact that i was lucky enough to have an early Tuscan which did not need to have its engine rebuilt at a cost of £5000 *yet*.
All in all I was glad to get rid. I got rid for a good cause, and stuck my money in the bank. I have since been saving for the last year to get a 360 or 550 in cash and get a good warranty with it. From what I put into the TVR I worked out I could have run the 360 or 550 for less each year, and that was the fiscally incredible fact which put the last nail in the coffin.
Each to his own though. I was tempted last month to buy another Tuscan as they have gone cheap now just for the meantime, but I couldnt make myself go through the same experience again and so have kept my eyes on the bigger prize!
I owned a Tuscan for a little under a year, and although I loved the car and driving it, the feeling of running the gauntlet every time I was more than half an hour away from a main dealer got too much. Whilst repairing the niggles on my car with washers, velcro and araldite, kept B&Q in the money for a while, as well as my Saturday afternoons, after a year I had had enough.
Even with a warranty I think I paid about £10,000 for the ownership for a year, as well as about 9 trips for repairs, and that was *without* the fact that i was lucky enough to have an early Tuscan which did not need to have its engine rebuilt at a cost of £5000 *yet*.
All in all I was glad to get rid. I got rid for a good cause, and stuck my money in the bank. I have since been saving for the last year to get a 360 or 550 in cash and get a good warranty with it. From what I put into the TVR I worked out I could have run the 360 or 550 for less each year, and that was the fiscally incredible fact which put the last nail in the coffin.
Each to his own though. I was tempted last month to buy another Tuscan as they have gone cheap now just for the meantime, but I couldnt make myself go through the same experience again and so have kept my eyes on the bigger prize!
LOL @ £5k for a service.
Owned an early 355B and Griffith 500. Both nice cars but the 355 handled much better, the Griff was ok too though......and yes, it broke down (only once - minor electrical fault).
Both marques have gone off my radar now until a used 430 can be bought for a good price and I'm no fan of the styling but it sounds a great drive. Meanwhile, I'd rather be in a Gallardo, 996GT3/GT2/Turbo or 997S.
Owned an early 355B and Griffith 500. Both nice cars but the 355 handled much better, the Griff was ok too though......and yes, it broke down (only once - minor electrical fault).
Both marques have gone off my radar now until a used 430 can be bought for a good price and I'm no fan of the styling but it sounds a great drive. Meanwhile, I'd rather be in a Gallardo, 996GT3/GT2/Turbo or 997S.
For me its not about which one has the cheapest servicing, is the best handling, fastest to 60 highest top speed or any of that. Its all about what i want to buy i.e. buying with the heart not with the head.
I bought the 3200 after first seeing one in the late 90s at the top of a multi storey in windsor (might actually have ended up buy that actual car...who knows!) Liked it so much I wanted a rag top so got a 4200 spider. in truth if i had the cash I'd have a db9 volante or 360/430 spider. They just tickly my fancy. I could have bought a 911, any tvr (new), an M3 cab etc etc most of which will out perform the masers. But you know what I just don't want one ! I'm sure when I do get an aston or fezza spider they won't be the best handling, most reliable, cheapest etc and some poeple wlll proabably think I'm a t
t in a bright red ferrari convertible but I don't care. I just want one.
Does that answer the question?
Dave
p.s. I do want and will get soon a cobra rep, just gotta sort the garage out first.
p.p.s. Its a bit like wanting to shag the bird out of the IT crowd - don't know wny just do!
I bought the 3200 after first seeing one in the late 90s at the top of a multi storey in windsor (might actually have ended up buy that actual car...who knows!) Liked it so much I wanted a rag top so got a 4200 spider. in truth if i had the cash I'd have a db9 volante or 360/430 spider. They just tickly my fancy. I could have bought a 911, any tvr (new), an M3 cab etc etc most of which will out perform the masers. But you know what I just don't want one ! I'm sure when I do get an aston or fezza spider they won't be the best handling, most reliable, cheapest etc and some poeple wlll proabably think I'm a t
t in a bright red ferrari convertible but I don't care. I just want one. Does that answer the question?
Dave
p.s. I do want and will get soon a cobra rep, just gotta sort the garage out first.
p.p.s. Its a bit like wanting to shag the bird out of the IT crowd - don't know wny just do!
Ive had two TVRs one T350 and one Tuscan,i now have a 360 F1,the T350 i sent back and got my money back,it had 42 things wrong with it!!! The Tuscan i sold last year and like the other guy said i was scared to go any distance in it in case it broke down,i was gonna do the Europe gumball in it but i didnt want to have to have a breakdown truck follow me,it seems to me that a lot of people comment on here that have not owned both,i have.
The build on a ferrari is far better than a tvr,it handles better, it puts the power down better,its safer,i know there a lot more money,but you do get what you pay for,and lets face it if you have a problem with a ferrari they aint gonna say thing like (water in the footwell "yeah they all do that" after you have just spent £40,i dont thing so.
The build on a ferrari is far better than a tvr,it handles better, it puts the power down better,its safer,i know there a lot more money,but you do get what you pay for,and lets face it if you have a problem with a ferrari they aint gonna say thing like (water in the footwell "yeah they all do that" after you have just spent £40,i dont thing so.
Had a TVR Tamora for around 1 1/2 years and like one of the other guys on here spent around £8k on it in that time AND it had a warranty. Was a nightmare, got stuck 200 miles from home when the windscreen blowers decided to pack up when it was -5 outside. Reversed into a wall at night when the reverse light decided to turn itself off mid-reversing....oh I could go on. So got a new Exige, great fun but now compfortable enough as an every day so have just got a Mazza 4200 spyder, best of all worlds in my opinion. Thougt about the Porsche, M3 etc but too commmon. I always liked the TVR as you didn't see many of them. Just my opinion of course.
Porsche is a lot about buying with the head. They are superb motor cars, very quick and very reliable.
Both Ferrari & TVR are all about buying with the heart.
I had a fantastic Griffith 500 - I took it down to the Costa del Sol and back no problem. Trip of a lifetime.
I then had a beautiful yellow 348 Spider - I also took that down to Nerja - again, no problems and a great feeling.
I now have, for the moment, a lovely 3.2 Carrera. It's great, but I don't really have the same desire to drive it down to Nerja just for the hell of it.
I would also love a Tuscan, they are gorgeous, but I just daren't risk it until I can be sure the engines are clear of gremlins.
So, I have had three great great cars in the last 3-4 years ... and nothing comes even close to the Ferrari for sheer pleasure of driving and ownership. The sight, the sound, the handling, the heritage. I miss it terribly.
Just my random thoughts
Both Ferrari & TVR are all about buying with the heart.
I had a fantastic Griffith 500 - I took it down to the Costa del Sol and back no problem. Trip of a lifetime.
I then had a beautiful yellow 348 Spider - I also took that down to Nerja - again, no problems and a great feeling.
I now have, for the moment, a lovely 3.2 Carrera. It's great, but I don't really have the same desire to drive it down to Nerja just for the hell of it.
I would also love a Tuscan, they are gorgeous, but I just daren't risk it until I can be sure the engines are clear of gremlins.
So, I have had three great great cars in the last 3-4 years ... and nothing comes even close to the Ferrari for sheer pleasure of driving and ownership. The sight, the sound, the handling, the heritage. I miss it terribly.
Just my random thoughts
I agree with your comments completely. Several friends have an assortment of Boxsters and Carrera. There is no doubting they are brilliant cars but they just don't get my hear pounding. I would love a Ferrari but had to get something I could leave at the train station on a daily basis. I think one of your trips is on the cards.
r5cer said:
I think one of your trips is on the cards.
Do it Stephen. The first trip I did in the Griff, as I went right down through Spain and over the Pyrenees, and it was my first proper road trip still remains the best experience of my life (marriage and daughter excepted).
Alternatively, come on EuroHoon with us down the Alps to monaco in September
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