Can anyone beat this?

[caduceus]

I know it may seem weird celebrating TVR reliability when my gearbox has just gone , but I've had a relaTIVely () good time of TVR ownership:

Approaching 3 years, 3 TVRs and only a leaky rad (griff) and gearbox failure (Cerb).

Up till 2 days ago, I have never had reason to call out the AA/RAC whilst in a TVR.
I believe that is down to having alot of mechanical sympathy for cars, and spending time giving them the TLC they deserve.

Its human nature, unfortunately, for most folk to comment only when things go wrong. But I'd love to hear anyone else who's had a pretty trouble free track record.

In the current climate, I know I'd rather hear more positive stories about the marque that I am supremely confident is here to stay.

[snorky]

Chim owned for 3+ years and only had ign amp failure that caused us to come back on the lorry....cost £34 to repair...now carry a spare.

[nubbin]

Fuel gauge sender failed on my Chimaera so I ran out of petrol - that was 6 years ago. The electrical connector on the fuel pump relay shorted out in 2005, so I was left with no fuel pressure - stranded in Germany! And the fan switch failed which caused overheating on my previous Tamora in 2003. So 3 silly little electrical connector failures in nearly 8 years - no mechanical problems whatsoever in 3 cars and nearly 70,000 miles in total. Not bad.

[TOV1E]

Had 5 tvrs, 2 chims and 3 tuscan (s) over 76,000 miles in them and the only problem was 100 amp fuse in one of the chims, and slave cylinder in the 2002 tuscan, and all these cars have done track days, all they need is tlc.

[jon h]

Had a griff for 7 years. In that time, other than routine servicing, I lost some gears due to the failure of a plastic clip in the gear linkage. £160.00 to fix, and the throttle cable snapped. Fixed it with bits round my mates (where I was heading at the time) garage. Took 45 minutes. Had to replace the "bodge" properly as my wife would not trust it, but frankly it was way better than OE! Other than that, just routine servicing each spring and a couple of winter chassis "scrape, paint & waxoyl" sessions. Naturally there were consumables uses such as tyres, disks etc, oh, and some bodywork following a spin at Mallory Park, but hardly the car's fault.

I have now had a Cerb for 18 months and as yet, nothing major, but it does take more fettling to keep it sorted. Clutch fluid escaped a couple of months back, so may be up for a slave cylinder, but level has stayed up since I re-filled.

Ammusingly, when I got he Griff, I purchased RAC membership which I have never head before, just in case. Since then I have had to call on their services twice, but in both cases for my daily driver, a Saab, which are, allegedly, very reliable!

Jon H

[redleicester]

Three Tivs, about 3 years of combined ownership and around 32,000 miles:

1998 Chimaera 400 - blew its waterpump gasket on David Geralds forecourt the day I started hunting for a Cerbera. I put it down to the car sulking that I didn't want her anymore. 12000m in 12 months.

1996 Cerbera 4.2 - Spent a fortune getting the car into good fettle, but in terms of breakdowns, nope. Failed damper required full Nitron treatment, and failed dipped beam require a few short lengths of thicker wire to be soldered to the lamp box. 12000 in 11 months

1999 Chimaera 450 - First TVR to ever try and strand me - blew both fan fuses and relays on London Thunder, thankfully caught it in time and just had to chug out of London stopping frequently to let her cool down until the traffic cleared sufficiently to make quick enough progress to keep her cool. 8000 miles so far in 6 months.

In all, considering their hand-built heritage and performace per pound, I don't feel I have anything much to moan about. One chuffed bunny.

[998R]

5 years with a 4.3 griffith and just one leak in the radiator - but then I did it a huge disservice by writing it off. 7 months with a Cerbera and all going fine, though I think that may be down to Ian at TorqueRVT.

[pr350]

Nearly 4 years with a 350I and the only thing I have had go wrong is a snapped throttle cable - AA man fixed it roadside in about 20 minutes and the replacement has been as good as gold.

Doesn't stop me worrying though

Paul

[Derek Smith]

I did some research for an article on Chims in 2004. I've not got the details to hand so the figures are as rememberd but in essence it is accurate. Out of 17 cars:

Averages:

Owned for 3.5 years.

4500 pa.

14 cars: no problems or work completed outside of normal servicing periods. No major replacements or problems. Never broke down.

One car: lots of minor problems, mainly electrical. Still no replacement of any major mechanical part. The only car without a full service history. Also, quite cheap as a 'bit scruffy' when bought. Loved the car though. Left stranded once.

One car: (this might have been a Griff) major problems with body/chassis. Had been in an accident and repairs not carried out professionally. Had to have front end replaced and work on chassis. Very expensive. (Other than that, very reliable.) Chap very pleased with the car after repair althoug paid twice as much as car was worth. Said would buy another but, I would assume, he'd have it checked out thoroughly before parting with his hard earned. Was not a Cat D or similar.

One car: lots of niggling but irritating problems and one major part replaced. Car ate batteries. One per year or more. Forever breaking down, at least three times, once in foreign climes. Car had full service history and regularly serviced. However, chap was professional and only used car two or three times a year. Hated the car, although 'great fun the few times I drove it without breaking down' and bought a Boxster. It seems everyone (including me) told him a Tiv needs regular running.

Of the drivers who took their cars out in rain (only about half sadly) most complained of minor water leaks. Those who had attempted to solve the problem failed.

I've had my Chim for 14 months. One problem, electrical, which has been solved by staff at Racing Green at no cost. See forthcoming Sprint for details.

Derek

[chassis 33]

The only issue I've had on either of the Chim's I've driven on the road is the hot start issue. Strangely, the racer (which was one of the road cars) starts on the button no matter how hot things get in a race.

I say this often, you look after a car, it will look after you.

Regards
Iain

[lazyitus]

chassis 33 said:

I say this often, you look after a car, it will look after you.

OY ! Thats my motto !

Edited by lazyitus on Friday 15th December 11:58

[red rose]

2001 Tuscan RR. 36 000 miles (bought in 2002 with 2k miles).
Couple of track days, lots of European trips, used almost every day. It has never broken down, or left me stranded.

Apart from stuff associated with the engine mods and normal service and replacement costs the only issues have been :

- pod and heater (fixed under warranty)
- one rear window clip
- loose gear lever
- battery
- diff mounting bush
- rear shocks
- oil pressure sender (x2)
- clutch
- failed bearing in the diff
- side light bulb

Total (non service) costs are about £2300 (or £1200 if you consider the clutch, shocks and battery to be consumables) !

[caduceus]

998R said:

5 years with a 4.3 griffith and just one leak in the radiator

Those 4.3s are the mutts are'nt they

chassis 33 said:

I say this often, you look after a car, it will look after you.

My sentiments exactly.

[lasertam]

9 years of ownership:

Chim (for 8 years) and let me down twice, broken throttle cable and brake faliure (scarry stuff that one!) Did also have a knackered battery, but that one is my fault, and it was in my garage so doesnt count!

Tam for just over a year. Throttle cable again...

So one the whole, pretty dam reliable I would say.

[Nuggs]

2 years and 20,000 miles of Chim ownership and the only difficulty I had was the hot start issue ONCE (before fitting the Mod Wise kit).

Other than that it's just been consumables...

All in all, I'm VERY pleased and impressed with the reliability of my Tiv, oh

[barreti]

2 years with a 4.3 Griffith and the car has only really needed a new clutch - and even that failed on the drive the day after returning from Le Mans.
It was recovered to the garage but I'm fairly sure it has so much torque I could have driven it there without the clutch!

Oh, and ..
One of the nylon gear lever bush thingys. Sorted by me for about £10
Both front wishbones. About £75 (are these consumables? )
New stainless exhaust manifolds £ but only because I wasn't happy repairing a cracked one.

I tinker with the car constantly and I too am a firm believer this keeps the costs and failures to a minimum.

[Corky57]

Owned Griffith 500 for 4 years, done 32k, 54k on clock, only issues, new radiator, fuel pump and rebuilt diff. Pretty good by any standard, very sad about production ceasing.