Running Costs / swap from TVR

[ZippyTT]

Due to an up coming new arrival I am thinking about selling my TVR T350t. I am looking at Elise R's at a replacement hoping the running costs will be less, but still be great to drive.

Has anybody gone this way and how does the driving experience compare?

Comments welcome.

[Bebee]

From a Griff 500 to an Elise SC, Loti is best car for me. Lower running costs, with a great drive to boot! I drove the 'R' first, then an SC.

[bordseye]

never had a TVR so cant comment on the saving. But I do have an R ( 3 years now) and the running costs are very low. Fuel consumption about 30/32 mpg, tyres about 10k back and maybe 20k front. Servicing is routine oil change and little more - cost depends on whether you diy or dealer. Otherwise totally reliable - and I am picky.

[edp190]

Interested to hear why you are moving to an Elise as im thinking about going the other way.

[John D.]

edp190 said:

Interested to hear why you are moving to an Elise as im thinking about going the other way.

Expecting a baby (judging by the first post )

[Chimjunkie]

edp190 said:

Interested to hear why you are moving to an Elise as im thinking about going the other way.

I'm afraid the only solution is to have both!

An Elise is just the ultimate driving experience in terms of one-to-one with the car and road, with enough practicality to be called a car and not a track toy.

However, the TVR is nothing like as electric to drive, but boy does it provoke emotion and adrenaline! I cant really afford to keep both my TVR and Lotus, but since I have modified the TVR about a far as practical to handle am going to part with it and continue to modify the hell out of the Elise!

Enjoy both

[justin220]

I've had an Exige and a T350, the only winner for me is the T350. The Exige is good on track, and the feel of the car is better, but it's just not a TVR.

You'll miss the noise, the power, the comfort.

[limpsfield]

Click on my profile to see running costs for my 2005 111R.

They are very cheap I think for what you get, and relatively hassle free.

[Mr Fix It]

Much cheaper servicing costs.

[Pum]

I just went from Grif 500 to SC Honda Elise this year. I can't live without big torque/bhp grunt, so 111R and regular SC Elise were out. The SC Honda gives the Elise exactly the grunt I feel it should have, and allows me to let my Grif go without missing the grunt. Down side is smaller boot (the Grif boot is really quite useful), more difficult to get in/out, and less "luxurious" interior. Up side is everything else.

Fuel economy on any Elise/Exige should be good compared to TVR - I get over 30 mpg on general use. Servicing I guess should be similar. Maintenance similar, but more down to whether the vehicle is particularly troublesome or not.

Edited by Pum on Monday 25th October 11:50

[village idiot]

i've has 3 elises and a tvr... totally different driving experiences (you 'wear' the elise, whereas you 'hang on' to the TVR)... but the elise should be stacks cheaper to run than the tiv.

my advice is to go for it... better to have ticked the tvr and lotus box than just the tvr box.. so many cars, so few years to be squeeze them in before a brown toyota corolla looks appealing.

[Chimjunkie]

village idiot said:

you 'wear' the elise, whereas you 'hang on' to the TVR

Very well put!!

[ZippyTT]

Thanks for all your input chaps.

Looks like an Elise is on the cards.

[chevronb37]

If it's any help my old Peugeot has cost me twice as much to run as my Elise this year. I've got a 111R and it's been faultless to date. I've not driven a TVR and I'm sure they're utterly brutal but a Lotus is a delightful thing to spend time in. Best of luck with your search.

[purpleperil]

Went from a T350c to an Elise 111R. Missed the grunt of the TVR so slapped an SC on the Elise - sorted and never looked back - do it!

[Shnozz]

village idiot said:

you 'wear' the elise, whereas you 'hang on' to the TVR

Alex has it spot on with that quote.

Scalpel -v- Sledgehammer

Running costs I've chucked a fair few quid at both marques over the years to be fair, but the Loti have definately been the cheaper to run, certainly in a day to day sense rather than just comparing the costs of repairs. That said, SP6 repair costs far outweigh those of the RV8 & V6 colognes.