Flirting with an S3 V6

[BHo]

Hi!

Couple of quick questions:

Will 5k get me a tidy S3? I could stretch to 6k for the right car. Happy to spend a few weekend doing somw tlc.

Is it wise as a daily driver (viseral nature aside)? I've read mileage is less important than condition but is 132k too much?

And lastly is the TVR S Series Essential buyers guide worth getting?

[v8s4me]

BHo said:

Hi! Couple of quick questions:- Will 5k get me a tidy S3? I could stretch to 6k for the right car. Happy to spend a few weekend doing some tlc.

Should do, especially at this time of year. THIS ONE failed to reach its reserve with bidding ending at £5,100 and THIS ONE at £6,500ono has been listed for at least two months. That probably tells you where prices are at the moment.

BHo said:

- Is it wise as a daily driver (visceral nature aside)? I've read mileage is less important than condition but is 132k too much?...

Daily driver? some are used that way but as with any old car, it will need regular tinkering to keep it reliable. Electrical issues are the most common cause of unreliability so in cold/damp weather any problems will be magnified.

Mileage vs condition? - it's all down to the individual car but the most important factor is the condition of the chassis. You can find a high mileage car with a solid chassis and a low mileage one with lots of rot. Engines and transmissions are pretty bullet proof if they have been looked after.

BHo said:

- And lastly is the TVR S Series Essential buyers guide worth getting?

Now come on, that's four questions but the answer is "yes" The more information you can get on these cars the better.

Good luck

[BHo]

Thanks mate, appreciate the quick response!

[Fefeu52]

Mileage is not a problem at all. Mine is 135k. The most important point is the chassis condition.

I couldn't call that car a "Daily driver". During the warm season, If there is no rain at the forecast, I use it every day.... but I'm a road warrior My colleagues think I'm an alien....

The real question is : Are you a an handyman ? If the answer is "yes", GO, it's a fantastic car for the value, mechanics is cheap and easy compare to contemporary sports cars with the same performances. That's right, engine and gearbox are simple and indestructible. Drive trains are simple and efficient. The exhaust symphony.... my god. You can believe me, the flat six noise is just a crap compare to the Cologne noise with the TVR exhaust.

If the answer is "no", Find another car, more classical, well known by mechanics who will work on it. There is always some little things to repair. Easy to do and cheap, but that take times, and time is money when you pay someone else to work on your car. A service every year is not enough. My car previous owner was a people like that... thinking a service in the cheap garage every 2 years was enough.... and the car was really in very bad conditions when I bought it.

[BHo]

Thanks Fefeu52, and yes definately handy and always worked on my own cars, its the best bit!

[jwigglesworth]

Mine is only serviced yearly but Mat Smith does a cracking job and alerts me to anything that he spots so it can be done. Granted though it's not a daily user so less wear and tear maybe

[v8s4me]

When THIS ONE came up I predicted £3K. Seems like someone agreed with me

[phillpot]

BHo said:

Hi!
Will 5k get me a tidy S3?

The way prices are falling 5k will get you a Tuscan/Tamora/T350 soon


Any car getting on for 30 years old is not going to be an ideal "daily drive". Keep the S for fun and get an old Golf or whatever for a grand/1500 quid to bomb around in.


Used my S as a daily (58mile round trip to work) for about a month, in the Winter. While I had no issues with reliability, a noisey little soft top sports car with heavy steering and poor de-mist system does not make for a relaxing drive to work at 5 in the morning!

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 24th November 09:42

[Bercilac]

Personally I would have no qualms using an S as a daily driver. I've done that with several 40 year old MGs in the past, including a 60 mile round trip in a 1972 MG Midget five days a week. It was more reliable when I used it every day than when it sat in the garage doing nothing.

Having just completed a body off total rebuild of a 280s the mechanical bits are simple and rugged. They are very easy to work on. Even easier than a Midget!

I know folk worry about the electrics but on my car those are very simple, and all Ford parts so cheap to fix - just check those earths.

For a daily driver I would do an oil change every 6k or 12 months, coolant and brake fluid flush and change every other year (I'm using ATE Super Blue which is now yellow) and plugs, air filter gearbox and diff oil every four years if I was looking at doing say 12k a year.

All of that is easy DIY and none of the parts are expensive. For example, a pair of front discs and pads for my 407 Coupe are £120, but for the TVR they are £35 including VAT and delivery.

The important thing is to fix things as and when they break, don't let them build up into a massive list. Go for it!

[v8s4me]

I reckon for your £6K budget you could get a half decent 'S' to pamper and tinker with and one of THESE for some cheap all weather fun and drive to work. The 4-cyl ones make more sense though.
These little coupes are great value, if you don't mind having a roof