new member, advice please.
Discussion
Hi all, i am thinking of buying my first TVR and have a few questions. i am looking at the S3C or Chimaera or a Wedge. my worries are that i use my car maybe twice a week totaling about 50 miles, my car will have to sit outside on the drive all year round in snow, rain and maybe even sun! i have heard of probs with water ingress, damp, and poor starting, with this in mind am i being foolish by selling my ultra reliable & dry BMW convertible to buy a TVR or can a TVR be used as i am intending? is this a silly time of year to be considering a TVR? i have always wanted one and now prices are looking favourable. i really want a Chim but i think a wedge or S3 is more likely, is a wedge more like a Chim or a S3? as said i drive a BMW at present and i think the S3 might be a bit raw and wonder if the wedge would feel a bit more like a road car. many thanks for any help or advice, Gary
I recently sold my E46 330ci sport and bought a Tuscan. Best thing i ever did, i now enjoy driving again.
Having driven the Tuscan 35 miles in the ice this morning I can also say its better than the BM in bad conditions, you know the TVR is going to try to slide but it does it in a much more controlled manor. The Bm was ust unpredictable
Having driven the Tuscan 35 miles in the ice this morning I can also say its better than the BM in bad conditions, you know the TVR is going to try to slide but it does it in a much more controlled manor. The Bm was ust unpredictable
beemer328 said:
thanks for the reply, i have heard outdoor covers can damage paintwork, did you have any probs with this?
When mine is outside it has a 4 layer cover that is soft on the inside to not scratch the paint. A decent cover will set you back upwards of £150 but is well worth it if you keep it outside 24/7 I've gone from a Wedge 280i to a Chimaera 400 and now with a Tuscan, each of which spend their time outside in all weather.
The Wedge leaked at the back so the boot tended to fill up. Regular clearing of "drain pipes" wouls minimise problems. She was always reliable
My Chimaera never leaked and always reliable.
My Tuscan leaks a bit at the front which I understand is sortable but I havnt got round to it yet. I have a battery issue with the Tuscan (leaving in airport carparks for exteneded periods. Otherwise, all have been reliable and fun.
All have been daily drives as aposed to once or twice per week so I guess a trickle charger will be a good bet.
The Wedge leaked at the back so the boot tended to fill up. Regular clearing of "drain pipes" wouls minimise problems. She was always reliable
My Chimaera never leaked and always reliable.
My Tuscan leaks a bit at the front which I understand is sortable but I havnt got round to it yet. I have a battery issue with the Tuscan (leaving in airport carparks for exteneded periods. Otherwise, all have been reliable and fun.
All have been daily drives as aposed to once or twice per week so I guess a trickle charger will be a good bet.
I personally wouldn't buy one unless you have access to undercover parking. Even a car-port or one of those metal-framed tent like things that you can store cars in. Do you have space for either?
As for choices, I can't comment on what non-Wedges are like to own, but Wedges tend to be loud and fairly raw. For all year round use, demisting can be a nightmare with the roof up, which is why I tend to keep it down if its only raining lightly. Once the interior gets wet, that just compounds the misting up problem with the roof up. If I were going to use one on a regular work-day basis, I would invest in an electric coolant heater. I put a Kenlowe unit in our 350i when it was our only car for 7 years (although we didn't need it for work / commuting).
I'd also be concerned about putting a cover on a wet / dirty car - unless you're plannig to wash and dry it after each use before wrapping it up.
Sorry to sound a bit negative, but I think coming from a Beemer might be a bit of a culture shock.
7.
As for choices, I can't comment on what non-Wedges are like to own, but Wedges tend to be loud and fairly raw. For all year round use, demisting can be a nightmare with the roof up, which is why I tend to keep it down if its only raining lightly. Once the interior gets wet, that just compounds the misting up problem with the roof up. If I were going to use one on a regular work-day basis, I would invest in an electric coolant heater. I put a Kenlowe unit in our 350i when it was our only car for 7 years (although we didn't need it for work / commuting).
I'd also be concerned about putting a cover on a wet / dirty car - unless you're plannig to wash and dry it after each use before wrapping it up.
Sorry to sound a bit negative, but I think coming from a Beemer might be a bit of a culture shock.
7.
I'd agree that coming from a BMW to a Wedge would be a 'bit of a culture shock' you would only need to go for a test drive/ride to realise the gap between todays mass production saloon to a raw (even at the time) '80s sportscar.
A Chimaera would be less of a shock but still a very different car to the BMW.
With regatds to the car sitting outside my Griff lived outside for 18 months and after a few leaks were sorted it was watertight and I never covered it apart from using a Leven hood cover on really cold days and in very heavy rain.
A Chimaera would be less of a shock but still a very different car to the BMW.
With regatds to the car sitting outside my Griff lived outside for 18 months and after a few leaks were sorted it was watertight and I never covered it apart from using a Leven hood cover on really cold days and in very heavy rain.
My Chimaera lives outside in all weathers. I have a cover I put on to help prevent water ingress. However as it was my main car, sometimes I was a little lazy.
Did have a water leak because the sides of the roof had started to split but easily fixed and has been fine since. And now I do make sure the cover goes back on.
You do have to ensure the inside of the cover does stay clean from debris, otherwise there is a risk, no matter how good the cover is, of damaging the paintwork.
I used mine as my only car for the first year of ownership and found it a great car to drive, always turns head and is reliable.
Before i got mine I'd heard all the horror stories, but decided I'd take 'The Risk' - And what a risk to take. It's fantastic. Go for it and have some fun
Did have a water leak because the sides of the roof had started to split but easily fixed and has been fine since. And now I do make sure the cover goes back on.
You do have to ensure the inside of the cover does stay clean from debris, otherwise there is a risk, no matter how good the cover is, of damaging the paintwork.
I used mine as my only car for the first year of ownership and found it a great car to drive, always turns head and is reliable.
Before i got mine I'd heard all the horror stories, but decided I'd take 'The Risk' - And what a risk to take. It's fantastic. Go for it and have some fun
Many thanks to all of you, you have been very helpfull. In the past i have had yank cars and streetrods so i do appreciate how different a TVR might be and after all your comments i think i will take the plunge, only problem now is wich model to go for, i think this one will be decided by what comes up for sale. thanks again guys. Gary
I've got a E36 328 coupe, a Chim450 and a Tuscan....if you can afford it...keep the 328 aswell as buying Chim.. besides the extra running costs , you won't get very much for the 328 if you sell it . Although a few people do use TVRs as everyday cars, the chassis construction doesn't really lend itself to salty winter roads and you'll find some really knackered examples. My 328 is 10 years out and the underneath is still perfect without any treatment. Driving wise I think there is a fair ammount of similiarity with the Chim, both like hanging the back end out, but at least with the Chim you don't have to turn the ABS/TC off to get off a slippery patch. Compared to a BMW you'll find a Chim boot enormous.
PS I think it was Autocar that did a comparison of a BMW 328 coupe and Chimaera in 1998, so they must have thought they were in the same area...certainly price wise at the time they were in the £30k region.
PS I think it was Autocar that did a comparison of a BMW 328 coupe and Chimaera in 1998, so they must have thought they were in the same area...certainly price wise at the time they were in the £30k region.
Edited by glow worm on Saturday 13th December 13:53
I have Beemer (330D) and Wedge (400SE).
Totally different in every respect, but both great for their intended purpose.
After 4 years and 3 Wedges, opening the garage door, keys in hand, anticipating awakening the beast lurking within, is still a thrill. Admiring looks and nice comments wherever you go, and an addictive soundtrack.
Wedges vary greatly, depending on (usually adjustable) suspension set-up, brakes fitted, etc, but the ones I've driven have been very comfortable and responsive, only rough roads needing to be avoided.
Try one or two, but don't blame me.
Totally different in every respect, but both great for their intended purpose.
After 4 years and 3 Wedges, opening the garage door, keys in hand, anticipating awakening the beast lurking within, is still a thrill. Admiring looks and nice comments wherever you go, and an addictive soundtrack.
Wedges vary greatly, depending on (usually adjustable) suspension set-up, brakes fitted, etc, but the ones I've driven have been very comfortable and responsive, only rough roads needing to be avoided.
Try one or two, but don't blame me.
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