Sagaris ownership experience?
Discussion
Hi,
I am currently researching the Sag as a potential weekend toy. I wonder if any current Sag owners out there would mind posting their experiences on the following?
1 - How tail happy is the car in the wet? Are you generally happy using it through the winter?
2 - The clearance at the front looks pretty low. How often do you end up scraping going over speed bumps?
3 - Same as above for multi-storey car parks, I would imagine its totally unusable?
4 - Whats the general level of cost for servicing like?
5 - Average MPG?
Thank you!
I am currently researching the Sag as a potential weekend toy. I wonder if any current Sag owners out there would mind posting their experiences on the following?
1 - How tail happy is the car in the wet? Are you generally happy using it through the winter?
2 - The clearance at the front looks pretty low. How often do you end up scraping going over speed bumps?
3 - Same as above for multi-storey car parks, I would imagine its totally unusable?
4 - Whats the general level of cost for servicing like?
5 - Average MPG?
Thank you!
1- No more tail happy than any other powerfull rear wheel drive car, rarely use in the Winter.
2- Doesn't scrape unless a particularly savage speed bump.
3- Multi-storey car parks have never been a problem (so far!).
4- 6000mile service=350+vat 12000mile=650+vat.
5- Don't ever worry what MPG.
2- Doesn't scrape unless a particularly savage speed bump.
3- Multi-storey car parks have never been a problem (so far!).
4- 6000mile service=350+vat 12000mile=650+vat.
5- Don't ever worry what MPG.
1 - Just the same as any powerful rear driven car - winter use it sometimes
2 - Speed bumps try and go over them at a slight angle, if it scrapes who cares, I have some paint shield under the splitter to protect it
3 - Never tried
4 - around the £350 - £600
5 - Average MPG? who cares!
Edited by geordieexpat on Monday 24th August 16:10
1 - Putting ~380bhp into the rear's of any car will make it tail happy if you plant the right foot. In the wet I avoid accelerating hard but you can get good grip if you know where the limit is.. My Sag' gets as much use in the winter as summer, however I try to avoid the ultra wet days for cleaning reasons (still in Ireland it probably see's more rain than sun 
)
2 - Not as much as I orginally felt it would. There's only once I had to stop driving through a housing estate because they had stupid sleeping policement (> 10cm at stupid angle). Any other time its because the roads are poor (ie. back country roads approaching speed limit means any major road undulations can cause her to bottom out) - never had issues elsewhere.
3 - Hmm.. depends on the angle of entry and turning circle required, I generally avoid them because I would never park it in public car park!
4 - total cost last year was £800 (full 12k service) and ~£800 this year (new clutch (80% paid for by warranty), 6k service and two sensors). This also depends on the area and garage.
5 - No idea
I enjoy it but I`ve heard some will get 28mph on motorways, i enjoy the pop's and bang's too much!
The experience is far more immeasurable than you can imagine, every drive is an event and even after 18 months I still grin like a kid when sitting in it
)2 - Not as much as I orginally felt it would. There's only once I had to stop driving through a housing estate because they had stupid sleeping policement (> 10cm at stupid angle). Any other time its because the roads are poor (ie. back country roads approaching speed limit means any major road undulations can cause her to bottom out) - never had issues elsewhere.
3 - Hmm.. depends on the angle of entry and turning circle required, I generally avoid them because I would never park it in public car park!
4 - total cost last year was £800 (full 12k service) and ~£800 this year (new clutch (80% paid for by warranty), 6k service and two sensors). This also depends on the area and garage.
5 - No idea
I enjoy it but I`ve heard some will get 28mph on motorways, i enjoy the pop's and bang's too much!The experience is far more immeasurable than you can imagine, every drive is an event and even after 18 months I still grin like a kid when sitting in it
Haphazard said:
1 - How tail happy is the car in the wet? Are you generally happy using it through the winter?
I've not had any issues in the wet if you drive to the conditions. I had a couple of 944 Turbo's that were far more unpredictable. I've used in all conditions except significant snow (would act like a snow plough)Haphazard said:
2 - The clearance at the front looks pretty low. How often do you end up scraping going over speed bumps?
Yes it is low. I had mine raised by the dealer as high as it would go at TVR Centre. No issues since.Haphazard said:
3 - Same as above for multi-storey car parks, I would imagine its totally unusable?
No problems so far (4 years)Haphazard said:
4 - Whats the general level of cost for servicing like?
I firmly believe in regular servicing by a proven garage - it will save you money in the long run. Probably cost me ~£1K pa including regular wax oiling every year.Haphazard said:
5 - Average MPG?
Low to mid 20's If it had a rebuild from a respected dealer with warranty remaining money at the side for a rebuild is not needed although a little bit of spare cash just incase is always good, As for buying one with no rebuild I would leave 5-10k spare just incase it went pop and I wanted to upgrade, Early S6 engines had problems with fingers that faile.
By 05 the engines had early issues resloved (not all) but it seems that with out TLC and incorrect warm up procedure they are fragile and more than likely to go pop alot sooner than your average engine. You want one thats been looked after thats for sure unless your planning for a rebuild. Once rebuilt I think the engines tend to run alot more than 15,000miles before needed another rebuild
By 05 the engines had early issues resloved (not all) but it seems that with out TLC and incorrect warm up procedure they are fragile and more than likely to go pop alot sooner than your average engine. You want one thats been looked after thats for sure unless your planning for a rebuild. Once rebuilt I think the engines tend to run alot more than 15,000miles before needed another rebuild
Edited by crimbo on Tuesday 25th August 23:30
This topic keeps coming up.
Yes, many early S6 engines have needed a rebuild. But very few post 2004/5 S6 engines have needed it, meaning very few Sagaris engines (only 2 or 3 as reported on here) have needed a rebuild.
A few owners have rebuilt to get the ultimate performance as well, but not because of reliability.
Yes, many early S6 engines have needed a rebuild. But very few post 2004/5 S6 engines have needed it, meaning very few Sagaris engines (only 2 or 3 as reported on here) have needed a rebuild.
A few owners have rebuilt to get the ultimate performance as well, but not because of reliability.
The thing that just keep's poping into my head about the T350's is it all just seems to good to be true...
To summarise,
2k a year maintenence,
Posibility of an engine rebuild 20-30k,(which for how long it'll take me to rack up this sort of milege, aint bad)
Decent car for around 20k!
It all just sound's too good to be true, for a car that'll pretty much hold it's own against anything else this side of 100k...am i missing something?????
To summarise,
2k a year maintenence,
Posibility of an engine rebuild 20-30k,(which for how long it'll take me to rack up this sort of milege, aint bad)
Decent car for around 20k!
It all just sound's too good to be true, for a car that'll pretty much hold it's own against anything else this side of 100k...am i missing something?????
CapR225 said:
The thing that just keep's poping into my head about the T350's is it all just seems to good to be true...
To summarise,
2k a year maintenence,
Posibility of an engine rebuild 20-30k,(which for how long it'll take me to rack up this sort of milege, aint bad)
Decent car for around 20k!
It all just sound's too good to be true, for a car that'll pretty much hold it's own against anything else this side of 100k...am i missing something?????
Well if you can afford the 5-8k for a rebuild that will last you 3years at least under warranty, want a raw original car then your not missing anything, straight line wise they are fast because of power/weight but cornering is dependent on how good/brave/risky the driver is. I think I would struggle to keep up with sub 300bhp cars on anything other than a straight.To summarise,
2k a year maintenence,
Posibility of an engine rebuild 20-30k,(which for how long it'll take me to rack up this sort of milege, aint bad)
Decent car for around 20k!
It all just sound's too good to be true, for a car that'll pretty much hold it's own against anything else this side of 100k...am i missing something?????
I find a TVR apealing because its raw, its an event, I like the fact I could not drive it a ten tenths, I like the fact it crackles and pops on the over run, they look stunning and they just make me grin and feel good when I see one come past.
In a strage way I like them because they have there faults, they are not perfect but hey, that makes you apprichiate it more when its all going well, Things that tend to be perfect become boring very soon and lack charisma and charm. For some reason I've always favoured an underdog.
my 2003 t350 engine had 60k on the clock when it was rebuilt and even then all the tolerances were in a servicable condition when the engine was stripped down. Main engine bearing had only slight wear. Timing chains were a little worn as well. Reason for the rebuild was to increase cc and the spec.
I've done about 6 tours of Spain in my Sag and often check the fuel consumption - usually about 27MPG including a trackday
My spoiler has a few scratches on the bottom - but it's actually the nose which is lower.
I'm careful in the wet, mine's well set up and you'd have to provoke it to lose the back - remember that with a comparatively short wheelbase it will snap faster than say a Tuscan
When I was thinking about a Sag I had a long chat with 'Gaffer' about engine specs, rebuilds etc and was advised not to worry. My spies also tell me that power rebuilds are pretty much to 05 spec and the cars don't come back.
If you look after them when cold I expect them to look after you....
My spoiler has a few scratches on the bottom - but it's actually the nose which is lower.
I'm careful in the wet, mine's well set up and you'd have to provoke it to lose the back - remember that with a comparatively short wheelbase it will snap faster than say a Tuscan
When I was thinking about a Sag I had a long chat with 'Gaffer' about engine specs, rebuilds etc and was advised not to worry. My spies also tell me that power rebuilds are pretty much to 05 spec and the cars don't come back.
If you look after them when cold I expect them to look after you....
Jasper Gilder said:
I've done about 6 tours of Spain in my Sag and often check the fuel consumption - usually about 27MPG including a trackday
My spoiler has a few scratches on the bottom - but it's actually the nose which is lower.
I'm careful in the wet, mine's well set up and you'd have to provoke it to lose the back - remember that with a comparatively short wheelbase it will snap faster than say a Tuscan
When I was thinking about a Sag I had a long chat with 'Gaffer' about engine specs, rebuilds etc and was advised not to worry. My spies also tell me that power rebuilds are pretty much to 05 spec and the cars don't come back.
If you look after them when cold I expect them to look after you....
But then you've never been above 5000 rpm, Jasper. My spoiler has a few scratches on the bottom - but it's actually the nose which is lower.
I'm careful in the wet, mine's well set up and you'd have to provoke it to lose the back - remember that with a comparatively short wheelbase it will snap faster than say a Tuscan
When I was thinking about a Sag I had a long chat with 'Gaffer' about engine specs, rebuilds etc and was advised not to worry. My spies also tell me that power rebuilds are pretty much to 05 spec and the cars don't come back.
If you look after them when cold I expect them to look after you....
BTW: the wheelbase is the same as the Tuscan, isn't it?
sorry animal, i meant bhp per £! obviously this is the most important thing.
I'm fully aware that you'll never get performance and build quality at this price, but it does seem a small price to pay for a car with there performance and looks, IMO the T350 is the best looking car out there... bar maybe a 911.
As Smithyl said,I also heard that alot of engine rebuilds are down to performance requirements and not major failures!
I'm fully aware that you'll never get performance and build quality at this price, but it does seem a small price to pay for a car with there performance and looks, IMO the T350 is the best looking car out there... bar maybe a 911.
As Smithyl said,I also heard that alot of engine rebuilds are down to performance requirements and not major failures!
we dont have ours anymore (well it was my girlfriends car most of the time) - we did 32K miles in 3 years in it, daily driver:
1 - How tail happy is the car in the wet? Are you generally happy using it through the winter?
Fine if you respect it, and have good car control skills (you can drive RWD, and are not 20 years old getting out of a 1.4 Corsa or such like LOL )
2 - The clearance at the front looks pretty low. How often do you end up scraping going over speed bumps?
Fine over legal speed bumps, ramp angles in multi-storeys can be challenging, the front got damage a few times over 3 years
3 - Same as above for multi-storey car parks, I would imagine its totally unusable?
depends, some are worse than others
4 - Whats the general level of cost for servicing like?
depends where you go, could be £400 to £1400 every 6k miles depending on tappets needing do, the odd set of brake pads etc. I will say though, over 3 years/30K miles, the Sagaris cost 2x as much to run over the same 30K miles as my Vantage, but then of course the service intervals on the Vantage are 10K miles, and a service on that is £500 at a specialist, no tappets etc to do.
5 - Average MPG
mmmm...tricky to say, probably somewhere between 20 and 25Mpg for mixed road use
1 - How tail happy is the car in the wet? Are you generally happy using it through the winter?
Fine if you respect it, and have good car control skills (you can drive RWD, and are not 20 years old getting out of a 1.4 Corsa or such like LOL )
2 - The clearance at the front looks pretty low. How often do you end up scraping going over speed bumps?
Fine over legal speed bumps, ramp angles in multi-storeys can be challenging, the front got damage a few times over 3 years
3 - Same as above for multi-storey car parks, I would imagine its totally unusable?
depends, some are worse than others
4 - Whats the general level of cost for servicing like?
depends where you go, could be £400 to £1400 every 6k miles depending on tappets needing do, the odd set of brake pads etc. I will say though, over 3 years/30K miles, the Sagaris cost 2x as much to run over the same 30K miles as my Vantage, but then of course the service intervals on the Vantage are 10K miles, and a service on that is £500 at a specialist, no tappets etc to do.
5 - Average MPG
mmmm...tricky to say, probably somewhere between 20 and 25Mpg for mixed road use
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