Newbie seeks advice
Discussion
Greetings all,
I've been looking on your Forum for about a week and feel it is about time to say hello! Until I found this Forum I was going to buy a converted Land Rover Series II with a V8 and Range Rover diffs after being totally let down by my last car, an Audi S3. I'll never buy a modern, uninvolving, uninspiring and expensive car again. So, you now get the gist, I want to get back to 'involving' motoring - the sound of an engine, stuff to tinker with, a grin factor, even feeling uncomfortable, cold, sore but living the dream! I think the TVR is for me.
I do have a few questions though chaps.
I found one recently, an S2, spoke to the bloke and it appears he has put new Jaguar seats into the thing because he is only 5'2". Now, I'm 6'2" and he says there is a 3" lift on it - if I want to source the original seats how difficult/expensive could this be?
Also, needs a respray. He says he was quoted £600 but that's mates rates and considering I live inside the M25 I imagine we're talking £1,200?
With these two things is it even worth driving the 210 mile round trip to have a look? It is cheap. Let's see if you know which one I've been looking at?!
Anyway, that's about it so far. Great Forum and keep up the good work!
I've been looking on your Forum for about a week and feel it is about time to say hello! Until I found this Forum I was going to buy a converted Land Rover Series II with a V8 and Range Rover diffs after being totally let down by my last car, an Audi S3. I'll never buy a modern, uninvolving, uninspiring and expensive car again. So, you now get the gist, I want to get back to 'involving' motoring - the sound of an engine, stuff to tinker with, a grin factor, even feeling uncomfortable, cold, sore but living the dream! I think the TVR is for me.
I do have a few questions though chaps.
I found one recently, an S2, spoke to the bloke and it appears he has put new Jaguar seats into the thing because he is only 5'2". Now, I'm 6'2" and he says there is a 3" lift on it - if I want to source the original seats how difficult/expensive could this be?
Also, needs a respray. He says he was quoted £600 but that's mates rates and considering I live inside the M25 I imagine we're talking £1,200?
With these two things is it even worth driving the 210 mile round trip to have a look? It is cheap. Let's see if you know which one I've been looking at?!
Anyway, that's about it so far. Great Forum and keep up the good work!
Hi Siglet
Welcome to the forum!!
Well if your are going to buy as S then polish up your smile, you'll be using it a lot
Have you looked at any of the S series cars in the classifieds on Pistonheads? How does the price of the one you have details of compare? If you have looked around the forum no doubt you will have seen that the single most important thing to consider is the state of the chassis. Please get that checked before you commit, if the present owner is an enthusiast there should be some form of service history.
Whereabouts is the car its possible that someone on here would be prepared to check if out informally for a
Welcome to the forum!!
Well if your are going to buy as S then polish up your smile, you'll be using it a lot
Have you looked at any of the S series cars in the classifieds on Pistonheads? How does the price of the one you have details of compare? If you have looked around the forum no doubt you will have seen that the single most important thing to consider is the state of the chassis. Please get that checked before you commit, if the present owner is an enthusiast there should be some form of service history.
Whereabouts is the car its possible that someone on here would be prepared to check if out informally for a
210 miles isnt so far if the price reflects the need for respray and replacement seats? (I did 1,500km for my last purchase)
Replacement seats do come up for sale now and then, and the Chimeara ones will fit as well. Try someone like Bell Hill garage who are TVR breakers as they may well have some in stock.
6ft 2 wont be a problem with the right seats.
Replacement seats do come up for sale now and then, and the Chimeara ones will fit as well. Try someone like Bell Hill garage who are TVR breakers as they may well have some in stock.
6ft 2 wont be a problem with the right seats.
I can vouch for the original seats - I'm 6 foot 3 and fit in easily.
Purchase price isn't everything - if you aren't handy with spanners and a welder it can get expensive if you buy the wrong car.
As already been said look at the chassis, check out Colins site http://www.tvrsseries.com and look at the buyers guide.
The biggest problem with the chassis is that the bits that dissolve are nigh on impossible to see.
Question the owner as much as looking at the car - and try to determine if it has ever had the outriggers replaced (the tubes down the sides of the car from behind the front wheel to in front of the rear wheel.
We are a very friendly bunch on here, please ask as many questions as you like, and even post / email some pictures if you want a second opinion.
Purchase price isn't everything - if you aren't handy with spanners and a welder it can get expensive if you buy the wrong car.
As already been said look at the chassis, check out Colins site http://www.tvrsseries.com and look at the buyers guide.
The biggest problem with the chassis is that the bits that dissolve are nigh on impossible to see.
Question the owner as much as looking at the car - and try to determine if it has ever had the outriggers replaced (the tubes down the sides of the car from behind the front wheel to in front of the rear wheel.
We are a very friendly bunch on here, please ask as many questions as you like, and even post / email some pictures if you want a second opinion.
- Edited to say if you give some details of the car it might be known to someone on this forum.
Edited by Barkychoc on Wednesday 27th February 09:23
Griffith seats also fit. Keep an eye on the PH classifieds or ebay - Griff, Chimaera and S seats are sometimes there and even if they need repair etc might be worth considering.
Respray will be more expensive than £1200 I expect. I recently had mine resprayed at mates rates and it was more than that. Remember that the prep time for fibreglass takes a long time and is worth doing properly.
As Barkychoc has said ask lots of questions before setting out to view and even then be prepared to look at several cos they're all very different due to their age and what bits have or have not already been replaced, upgraded etc. If you're still not sure someone like Rib Ingleby might be able to help you (he makes a living out of sourcing/inspecting potential TVR purchases for people).
Good luck with the search.
Longers
Respray will be more expensive than £1200 I expect. I recently had mine resprayed at mates rates and it was more than that. Remember that the prep time for fibreglass takes a long time and is worth doing properly.
As Barkychoc has said ask lots of questions before setting out to view and even then be prepared to look at several cos they're all very different due to their age and what bits have or have not already been replaced, upgraded etc. If you're still not sure someone like Rib Ingleby might be able to help you (he makes a living out of sourcing/inspecting potential TVR purchases for people).
Good luck with the search.
Longers
Well thanks for all the quick replies! I thought I'd got used to decent response over at the Land Rover Owner's Forum but this is spooky 
I'm down near Twickenham if that helps? Yeah, I'd definitely be up for someone taking me for a ride or even just having a look at their car if anyone is nearby...I would of course be prepared to buy the beer!
Funnily enough, I've realised there used to be an S series around the corner from me (Mica Blue) that someone might know? I might go and have a look and see if it is still there and drop my number behind the wiper.
You've probably twigged that the one I've been looking at is on autotrader. He's a mechanic apparently and in his 50's and says he's done all the work himself - new pads, shoes, recon cylinder head etc... but when I mentioned the outriggers and chassis he wasn't clued up as to the importance of this
I don't know what you think now? It still is very cheap!!
In terms of budget, well I'm still fighting with my half Scottishness! I don't want a banger that I have to spend ages fixing up. I want to be able to drive the thing and make rolling improvements as I go along. So, I guess £3,500 to £4,000 is the price I would be looking at? There are a few for sale in the classifieds so I would be interested.
One thing, is the 2.8 significantly/noticeably slower than the 2.9? I still can't get over how cool the interiors look in all of the pictures I've seen - really cheesy grin creeps over my face!
Cheers
I'm down near Twickenham if that helps? Yeah, I'd definitely be up for someone taking me for a ride or even just having a look at their car if anyone is nearby...I would of course be prepared to buy the beer!
Funnily enough, I've realised there used to be an S series around the corner from me (Mica Blue) that someone might know? I might go and have a look and see if it is still there and drop my number behind the wiper.
You've probably twigged that the one I've been looking at is on autotrader. He's a mechanic apparently and in his 50's and says he's done all the work himself - new pads, shoes, recon cylinder head etc... but when I mentioned the outriggers and chassis he wasn't clued up as to the importance of this
I don't know what you think now? It still is very cheap!!
In terms of budget, well I'm still fighting with my half Scottishness! I don't want a banger that I have to spend ages fixing up. I want to be able to drive the thing and make rolling improvements as I go along. So, I guess £3,500 to £4,000 is the price I would be looking at? There are a few for sale in the classifieds so I would be interested.
One thing, is the 2.8 significantly/noticeably slower than the 2.9? I still can't get over how cool the interiors look in all of the pictures I've seen - really cheesy grin creeps over my face!
Cheers
Edited by The Stiglet on Wednesday 27th February 13:57
He dumped them because they had too much wear apparently and he couldn't touch the pedals without putting bigger seats in. Oh, did I mentioned he has some pedal extensions he fitted - he says they will come off in 10 mins, just a block he has added or something!! I mean I know I am quite tall but is 5'3" really so small you have to do all of that?
I'm 5' 8" and I have the seat about two clicks back to be comfortable for the clutch. So I can imagine that someone 5" shorter might find the seat too far back even at the furthest forward setting.
Good on the man for going to the trouble in order to drive the car, instead of just buying something else.
Good on the man for going to the trouble in order to drive the car, instead of just buying something else.
Respray prices - I've just been to Option 1 (Ibelieve they have a good reputation?? Can any one confirm or deny) and they have given me a price for a super duper job - 2 months in their shop all panels off and evem polished underneath with a g'tee that cracks wont reappear for a £3500 plus VAT (£612) 
.
Any suggestions for a more reasonably priced job in the west midlands or is this it?
plus VAT (£612) .Any suggestions for a more reasonably priced job in the west midlands or is this it?
Gerald-TVR said:
Respray prices - I've just been to Option 1 (Ibelieve they have a good reputation?? Can any one confirm or deny) and they have given me a price for a super duper job - 2 months in their shop all panels off and evem polished underneath with a g'tee that cracks wont reappear for a £3500 plus VAT (£612) .
Any suggestions for a more reasonably priced job in the west midlands or is this it?
Not used them myself but I've heard Option1 recommended several times. When I checked a couple of places last year £3-4k was about what I was being quoted. I got mine done by a mates mate who's got a mate who knows someone that works at a company in the motorsport industry (customers are A1 GP cars, WRC cars etc) and they did mine for me. plus VAT (£612) .Any suggestions for a more reasonably priced job in the west midlands or is this it?
When spending that kind of money I'd happily travel for a good job (hey, what's a little bit extra for a train ticket home in the overall cost?!) and know that Webbs near Bristol are also highly recommended.
Might be worth asking the question in the General TVR forum...?
Just remembered there's some V8S seats in the classifieds - think these are being sold by Steve Cox who has turned his V8S into a racer.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/300492.htm
£350.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/300492.htm
£350.
£3,500 PLUS VAT 
There goes the house then 
That is way out of my budget and really it all seems pointless when I can buy a better car with all the original bits for a little bit more £s. So, thanks for all your comments on this but it is definitely a no no for that one.
Anyone seen the grey one in classifieds from Blackpool? That looks more like my thing. Phoned the guy but he didn't pick up...will try again later tonight to find out more...
There goes the house then That is way out of my budget and really it all seems pointless when I can buy a better car with all the original bits for a little bit more £s. So, thanks for all your comments on this but it is definitely a no no for that one.
Anyone seen the grey one in classifieds from Blackpool? That looks more like my thing. Phoned the guy but he didn't pick up...will try again later tonight to find out more...
Gerald-TVR, contact schimg on the TVRCC forum, he is WM RO and may know someone to suggest for paint jobs in the area (I still can't find the parts catalogue from RT
).
Stiglet, £600 sounds very cheap and I'm not sure what you would get for that. Again, worth making contact with TVRCC region to a) look at cars and b) ask around for names of sprayers etc.
A mechanic friend of mine prefers the 2.9 over the 2.8 as it is a more modern design, has more power and delivers it better (I wouldn't know if that's true as I never even know which end of a spanner to hit a screw in straight with).
Anyhow, welcome and well done for making a great choice.
Dave
).Stiglet, £600 sounds very cheap and I'm not sure what you would get for that. Again, worth making contact with TVRCC region to a) look at cars and b) ask around for names of sprayers etc.
A mechanic friend of mine prefers the 2.9 over the 2.8 as it is a more modern design, has more power and delivers it better (I wouldn't know if that's true as I never even know which end of a spanner to hit a screw in straight with).
Anyhow, welcome and well done for making a great choice.
Dave
ketvrin said:
Did I imagine or am I right in saying that the pedal box of the S3 is wider as well? people over 6 feet tend to have large feet (at least...
) so this might be an issue worth considering too ?
Still, if the right car came up, it would be worth considering surgery
K
Interesting I've never heard that before - if its true then S3 is the one to go for - my V8S only just has enough room for my size 11's - if I wear wide shoes one side of the shoe touches the RHS of the footwell and the left side of my shoe just catches the brake pedal. With trainers / narrower shoes I don't have a problem. ) so this might be an issue worth considering too ?Still, if the right car came up, it would be worth considering surgery
K
You know what they say about big feet. Big shoes!
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 28th February 17:00
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