Should I shouldn't I - TVR v M3
Discussion
So browsing the classifieds at lunchtime I found this beauty https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I was all set on buying an e92 M3 but my heart tells me I should get the TVR and my head says get the M3 with a year AUC warranty.
Does anyone know this particular car? Am I mad to be considering the TVR, I love the cars but I'm concerned it'll be ruinous.
I was all set on buying an e92 M3 but my heart tells me I should get the TVR and my head says get the M3 with a year AUC warranty.
Does anyone know this particular car? Am I mad to be considering the TVR, I love the cars but I'm concerned it'll be ruinous.
m4tti said:
It’s all good fun till this sort of thing happens. Is this just a weekend car. If so it doesn’t really matter.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Yes mainly we have another car in the household and I commute via train to work so the car would be at home but not garaged which is another worry. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Andy_mr2sc said:
What is your car ownership history and what type of use would you put the car too?
I went from a Tuscan (owned for five years, total eight years of tvr ownership) to an E92 M3 ESS Supercharged with 625hp and sold it, six weeks later. It hurt me to do so as on paper it ticked every box but when I'd got over the power rush it was a very boring car unless you were going well in to three figures. If I drove a lot of european miles it would be amazing but as a Sunday morning hoon car it just wasn't exciting enough. It also had the trait of the standard car where nothing happened until 6k rpm so unless you are using the higher revs you may as well have a 330d with the same toys, better mpg and more bottom end grunt.
On the plus side it won't break down like the tvr will, (and ignore what everyone tells you, it will break down) you will feel much more refreshed when you reach your destination and the M logo courtesy light in the bottom of the door is the coolest thing you will ever see.
I now have a 430hp VXR220 that is quicker than both, has amazing grip and handling and also doesn't break down.
Car history is mainly hot hatches I currently have a leased Scirroco R. I had a company car - e92 M3 back in 2012 when they were new. My dad is retired motor trade so basic jobs should be fine as I'm handy(ish) with a spanner and he can help me out or has a lot of connections. I went from a Tuscan (owned for five years, total eight years of tvr ownership) to an E92 M3 ESS Supercharged with 625hp and sold it, six weeks later. It hurt me to do so as on paper it ticked every box but when I'd got over the power rush it was a very boring car unless you were going well in to three figures. If I drove a lot of european miles it would be amazing but as a Sunday morning hoon car it just wasn't exciting enough. It also had the trait of the standard car where nothing happened until 6k rpm so unless you are using the higher revs you may as well have a 330d with the same toys, better mpg and more bottom end grunt.
On the plus side it won't break down like the tvr will, (and ignore what everyone tells you, it will break down) you will feel much more refreshed when you reach your destination and the M logo courtesy light in the bottom of the door is the coolest thing you will ever see.
I now have a 430hp VXR220 that is quicker than both, has amazing grip and handling and also doesn't break down.
TBH the M3 would be a compromise I do want something raw loud and ridiculous but the associated TVR tax and breakdowns do worry me. I considered C63's and the M3 and both didn't tick all of the boxes, but I had decided to settle until reading the classifieds this afternoon. The car will be used mainly at weekends and be pottering about doing menial tasks with the regular blast for fun.
robsco said:
If you have another mode of travel for the boring commute and this car is solely for fun then you’d be mad not to buy the TVR. If it all goes wrong then it really isn’t the end of the world... you’d lose no more fixing a TVR than you would losing through depreciation in a newish M3. I had R72EAN as it happens, so the car you’re looking at was supplied by Henley Heritage. One thing to note, that car doesn’t have air con - it wouldn’t bother me but most people swear not to buy a TVR without it.
We do have another car and my commute is by train so the TVR would be used 2-3 times a week for shorts trips and the rest of the time would purely be for fun.Juddder said:
I have a Cerbera and a 911 C4S so I think a pretty good comparison of the type of cars you are looking at, and they're quite different in my head
The Cerbera is a great car to have, and blindingly fast, but there's always something to do with it
Not necessarily an expensive something mind you, but it could always do with the (*examples) window seals being redone, or to fit the new ECU debug from Ade etc.
Many of the guys on here go the whole hog and do a body off restoration, or an LS engine swap, or something like that. Myself I'm kind of happy as it is so it's just basic maintenance and driving.
The only big things I have done were shocks, which I had Str8Six fit and align for me, and the starter motor, which I did myself but in hindsight should have definitely had someone better fit as it's a pig of a job to do!
The Porsche on the other hand is much more how I would imagine the M3 to be.
There's no need to do anything with it and you can just drive whenever you fancy
It _is_ a little bit on the boring side I guess, but then I didn't buy the GT3 (*as they're crazy money and I think it a City!) but for a Sunday drive to Richmond it's perfect
The Cerbera on the other hand for a trip up to Silverstone or a blast to Goodwood is perfect and always an adventure - never boring that is to say the least!
Hope in some way that might help - a least for what you want to use it for
Thanks Judder that’s very interesting if you could only pick one which would it be? The Cerbera is a great car to have, and blindingly fast, but there's always something to do with it
Not necessarily an expensive something mind you, but it could always do with the (*examples) window seals being redone, or to fit the new ECU debug from Ade etc.
Many of the guys on here go the whole hog and do a body off restoration, or an LS engine swap, or something like that. Myself I'm kind of happy as it is so it's just basic maintenance and driving.
The only big things I have done were shocks, which I had Str8Six fit and align for me, and the starter motor, which I did myself but in hindsight should have definitely had someone better fit as it's a pig of a job to do!
The Porsche on the other hand is much more how I would imagine the M3 to be.
There's no need to do anything with it and you can just drive whenever you fancy
It _is_ a little bit on the boring side I guess, but then I didn't buy the GT3 (*as they're crazy money and I think it a City!) but for a Sunday drive to Richmond it's perfect
The Cerbera on the other hand for a trip up to Silverstone or a blast to Goodwood is perfect and always an adventure - never boring that is to say the least!
Hope in some way that might help - a least for what you want to use it for
PuffsBack said:
Let me assist you - my Cerb vs my mates M3
Oh and just to add I sold my E92 BMW to buy the Cerb - as the E92 was the biggest most unreliable piece of c**p (did more miles back and forth getting stuff fixed under warranty, took great delight in telling my BMW dealer I has sold the car to buy something more reliable - a TVR)
My mates E46 M3 was as reliable as clockwork though
Brilliant I’d love to have seen the dealers face. And has the Cerb been reliable? Oh and just to add I sold my E92 BMW to buy the Cerb - as the E92 was the biggest most unreliable piece of c**p (did more miles back and forth getting stuff fixed under warranty, took great delight in telling my BMW dealer I has sold the car to buy something more reliable - a TVR)
My mates E46 M3 was as reliable as clockwork though
Edited by PuffsBack on Tuesday 16th January 17:56
m4tti said:
People will disagree but in my opinion these cars need to be garaged.
The garage will also be warmer than outside when you need to do some fettling
I live in the north East close to the sea so I’m not scared of getting a little bit cold however that may effect the Cerb living outside in the cold sea air! The garage will also be warmer than outside when you need to do some fettling
PuffsBack said:
A Cerbera should be experienced - its probably the most eccentric of TVR's
I never read car manuals - with the Cerbera I had to read the manual to find the Hazard lights!!
The Sagaris feels normal in comparison
Haha I’ve never owned a car manual either sounds like the buying a TVR is like taking on a new hobby not just a car. I never read car manuals - with the Cerbera I had to read the manual to find the Hazard lights!!
The Sagaris feels normal in comparison
robsco said:
Basically, find yourself one that's had an engine rebuild, repaint, re-trim, chassis restoration, recent gearbox rebuild, clutch and completely re-wired and you're almost certainly guaranteed to be possibly as safe as houses.
This one is about as close as I can find. https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/... I need to organise going to see it, it's a 400-mile round trip. I really appreciate all the feedback guys very helpful. Next step is to test drive a couple of Cerbs, if I don't do it now I'm concerned I won't be able to in the future:
I'm going to arrange a drive of these two https://www.jamesagger.com/listings/1997-p-reg-tvr...
http://www.tvr-mads.co.uk/TVR848Y.html
I'm going to arrange a drive of these two https://www.jamesagger.com/listings/1997-p-reg-tvr...
http://www.tvr-mads.co.uk/TVR848Y.html
Mr Cerbera said:
.... and there you have it Stu, the entire, meaningful truth about Cerb ownership.
(It's not called a Madhouse for nuthin')
Haha I’ll fit right in as I can’t make my mind up at all. I’ve been speaking with the owner of this and was going to view it but the car has a few services missing recently which has put me off. https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...(It's not called a Madhouse for nuthin')
Anyone of you guys based in the north east? I really need to spend some more time with a Cerb and speak to an owner before I make my mind up for certain.
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