Serious wedge for an "S"

[Ren Dao]

After looking at the cars owned by you guys it makes me jealous. - What scares me is in the running costs column - £2000+ per year - is that whats needed to keep it on the road or are you all buying lots of fancy chrome and stuff. I really want an "S" but figures like this scare the CR*P out of me.

[Phil C]

Don't panic - it doesn't need to be that much. Course, like any car, it all depends upon how many miles you do, how much work you do yourself, how immaculate you want the car to be (remain) etc etc.

Mine's a 2nd car but gets used (not enough) - main costs are insurance ~220 per year, petrol (no idea, not the sort of car I'm going to count mpg on) one / two services per year.....

Some bits dirt cheap - like rear light holders / from Ford, front indicator lenses, discs/pads etcetc

Good luck!
Phil

[shnozz]

£2000+ per year - is that whats needed to keep it on the road or are you all buying lots of fancy chrome and stuff.

Thats Pete Humphries' tyre allowance

[Ren Dao]

Phil C said: Don't panic - it doesn't need to be that much. Course, like any car, it all depends upon how many miles you do, how much work you do yourself, how immaculate you want the car to be (remain) etc etc.

Mine's a 2nd car but gets used (not enough) - main costs are insurance ~220 per year, petrol (no idea, not the sort of car I'm going to count mpg on) one / two services per year.....

Some bits dirt cheap - like rear light holders / from Ford, front indicator lenses, discs/pads etcetc

Good luck!
Phil

Nice one Phil that's what I wanted to hear

[tvrmark]

£2,000 is not a bad est to run an S (or any car for that matter)
Lets brake it down
Insurance £300-£800+
Service £400 twice a year £800 (DIY saves a big wedge)
Tax £160
Tyres £200 mine last 18 months with a few trackdays
Repair costs ?
Upgrades ?
Petrol £400 guess

So if you use the car and don't do your own servicing it will easily cost £2K

Mark

[JSG]

I'm not sure how many need two services a year - depends on the mileage. Many TVRs are used as second cars and are on limited mileage policies, so do less than 6,000 miles. In this case they would only get one service per year (maybe with an oil change at 3,000 miles).

[rustoni]

JSG said: I'm not sure how many need two services a year - depends on the mileage. Many TVRs are used as second cars and are on limited mileage policies, so do less than 6,000 miles. In this case they would only get one service per year (maybe with an oil change at 3,000 miles).

I thought it was 6,000 miles or every 6 months which ever comes first regardless of use ? hence 2 services a year.

[jvaughan]

the cost of servicing is less than £400 a shot .. most independents these days will do you fixed price servicing for £200 - £250.
The V6 S's are good on fuel (compared to the V8's im basing my oppinion on) with High 20's or even low 30's easily obtainable.

The only hike in costs will be chassis problems, major engine / transmission problems or major mechanical failure.. ok so you might have some crazing on the body so what ? most mechanicals give warning before breaking ( wheel bearings etc)
you can easily run a TVR ( Older model S's / Wedges )etc on £1000 - £1500 per year if you shop around for parts / best deals etc.
There is a good source of infomation here on all models... tap into it.... happy motoring

[dern]

The only problem comes along if you have a few major failures in one year. In the past 12 months I've had a transmission failure, door hinge failure and now a complete exhaust system is required. I dread to think what this would cost to get done at a dealer/independant but all together it's cost me about £1300 doing the jobs myself. These are old cars and will need attention from time to time and I consider none of these things to be exceptionally unlucky. Having said that you could expect these and any similar jobs to appear on any car but if you leave them (door hinges, duff gearbox, etc) your car will get crappier and crappier over time so go in with your eyes open.

Regards,

Mark

[Ren Dao]

Many thanks to you all, got "The bible" today - good book or what? Busy reading dreaming and getting excited

[tvrmark]

I've owned my car for 7 years so I know want I'm talking about .

It will do about 20mpg around town 30mpg on a run.

I used to use the car every day and therefore 2 services a year. At the moment I do 5-6000 a year therefore I get by with one service.

Fixed price servicing from independents is advertised at between £2-300, but there is always something that needs to be done (or you what to be done). I don't think I've ever had a service done for under £400 usally a lot more, and that is with a well none independent.

I'm starting to do more work myself as it's is getting too expensive.

Mark

[shnozz]

Whilst a fairly new boy having only owned mine for a year, i would say 1500 - 1750 a year is about right. Mine hasnt had any major problems but I have spent this easily with minor bits and a major service (when I say minor bits, new springs, new wheel bearings, diff casing etc - ie no chassis damage or serious faults).

I am not that mechanically able but I do still end up undertaking a fair bit of minor bits myself, largely because the local expert is still some distance away and its a pain to take time off work to get it sorted. If you are capable and DIY then obviously the running costs will come down considerably. If not, I would say your estimate isnt too far off the mark.

:sitsherewaitingtobeflamed:

[tvrgaas]

shnozz said: (when I say minor bits, new springs, new wheel bearings, diff casing etc - ie no chassis damage or serious faults).

Ren, I think here we see the true S owner.
Hmm "new springs, new wheel bearings, diff casing" would in my book be serious, anything not in the 12,000 mile service schedule is serious, but as I said in the previous thread, in a 10+ year old car some things need restoring, check what has been done before you buy. However as most posts here are showing if it's not the above then it's something else, but you may be luck, or you spend the money on a nice new hood!

However as shnozz is saying, "the're only minor", 'I can handle it', as the S drug IS worth it.

I think what people are saying is go in with your eyes open, you are buying an affordable expensive sports car which needs to be serviced to keep on the road (in both senses!!!)

David

[shnozz]

tvrmark said: I've owned my car for 7 years so I know want I'm talking about .

It will do about 20mpg around town 30mpg on a run.

I used to use the car every day and therefore 2 services a year. At the moment I do 5-6000 a year therefore I get by with one service.

Fixed price servicing from independents is advertised at between £2-300, but there is always something that needs to be done (or you what to be done). I don't think I've ever had a service done for under £400 usally a lot more, and that is with a well none independent.

I'm starting to do more work myself as it's is getting too expensive.

Mark

actually, this whole "running costs" thread has started me thinking now. My comments below re running costs havent allowed a penny for the following:-

tax - 160
petrol - approx 2000 p.a.
insurance - 1200 p.a.

add running costs re services + renewed parts due to age and last year it would have cost me around 5000GBP

and believe me, my S isnt a dog but its not a concourse (sp?) example either that gets everything it wants

[shnozz]

tvrmark said: I've owned my car for 7 years so I know want I'm talking about .

It will do about 20mpg around town 30mpg on a run.

I used to use the car every day and therefore 2 services a year. At the moment I do 5-6000 a year therefore I get by with one service.

Fixed price servicing from independents is advertised at between £2-300, but there is always something that needs to be done (or you what to be done). I don't think I've ever had a service done for under £400 usally a lot more, and that is with a well none independent.

I'm starting to do more work myself as it's is getting too expensive.

Mark

actually, this whole "running costs" thread has started me thinking now. My comments below re running costs havent allowed a penny for the following:-

tax - 160
petrol - approx 2000 p.a.
insurance - 1200 p.a.

add running costs re services + renewed parts due to age and last year it would have cost me around 5000GBP

and believe me, my S isnt a dog but its not a concourse (sp?) example either that gets everything it wants

[JSG]

rustoni said:I thought it was 6,000 miles or every 6 months which ever comes first regardless of use ? hence 2 services a year.

Yes Ian, you're correct with 6,000 miles or 6 months. However with the majority of cars over 4 or 5 years old it seems to be accepted to move to 6,000 miles or 12 months - even main dealers seem to recomend this. All the cars I looked at with serv history were using 6,000 / 12 months.

[rustoni]

JSG said: Yes Ian, you're correct with 6,000 miles or 6 months. However with the majority of cars over 4 or 5 years old it seems to be accepted to move to 6,000 miles or 12 months - even main dealers seem to recomend this. All the cars I looked at with serv history were using 6,000 / 12 months.

Cheers JSG, that clears up the mystery of why when I brought my car the TMS sticker in the window said the car need servicing in 12 months or 6,000 miles thought it was a mistake....so got it done anyway but might adopt this in future with an oil change in between.

Ian