Some Questions about S ownership..
Discussion
I have now sold the mazda and set the missus up with a nice shopping car now i need something myself. As we spent more on the shopping cart than intended i no longer can afford a chimaera and would like to consider an S as an alternative as i would still like a proper sportscar rather than one of those jap things. I was hoping some of your guys could help me out with some questions...
With 9K should i go for a top condition S3 or should i wait to see if i can pick up a v8s later ?
Does anyone use their S on a daily basis and how realiable has it been ?
What should i budget for servicing pa ?
Do they all leak in the rain ?
What sort of mpg should i expect to get ?
What should i look out for ?
Cheers
Ian
With 9K should i go for a top condition S3 or should i wait to see if i can pick up a v8s later ?
Does anyone use their S on a daily basis and how realiable has it been ?
What should i budget for servicing pa ?
Do they all leak in the rain ?
What sort of mpg should i expect to get ?
What should i look out for ?
Cheers
Ian
quote:Which do you like best? Which can you afford to run? I wouldn't spend 9k on an s3 though.
With 9K should i go for a top condition S3 or should i wait to see if i can pick up a v8s later ?
quote:There's reliable and there's reliable. I use mine day to day and trust it but would be a fool to assume nothing went wrong as it's an older car. It hasn't left me stranded anywhere but I have had to do odd jobs such as radiator and water pump - the secret is spotting when these things are about to fail and fixing them before they leave you stuck in the middle of nowhere. Mine was off the road for 2 months this year because I was fixing synchro on 4th and fitting a new clutch - a long time off the road but I wasn't in a hurry and I did it myself.
Does anyone use their S on a daily basis and how realiable has it been ?
quote:500 for 2 6000 mile services I guess.
What should i budget for servicing pa ?
quote:Yes but you can improve things a lot as I have with new roof seals and by re-waterproofing the roof. You'll have a job, as with any convertible, getting it absolutely water tight if you drive it daily through really heavy rain.
Do they all leak in the rain ?
quote:25ish
What sort of mpg should i expect to get ?
quote:Black helicopters. Rust on the outriggers and a lack of waxoyl (whatever) on the chassis showing a general lack of maintenance.
What should i look out for ?
Regards,
Mark
I did 24000 in my S2 in 18 months, its hadn’t been used much before I got it so I had to sort some bits on it, but most was general car stuff that goes, rad, brake pads etc. only major job on mine was the exhaust manifolds.
£9000 should get you an immaculate car, remember to some by for maintenance etc.
£9000 should get you an immaculate car, remember to some by for maintenance etc.
You are unlikely to find a V8S that isnt a dog for £9k. Due to production numbers, these cars are really now appealing to those you like their rarity and style as an alternative to a Chim or Griff, rather than a cheaper option. Values seem to have remained static and some later year Chims/Griffs are now comanding less than V8S's. Therefore, I would think it would be a long time before your money buys a decent V8S.
I personally would not spend 9k on an S, although this would buy a top example. There are lots of very good examples around for £6k - £8k and you can leave some money in your back pocket to either personalise the car, get anything to A1, or just leave in your sky rocket for maintenance.
I would echo what has already been said, dont expect it to have 100% german reliability. It will be between 14 and 9 years old. However, its a Ford lump under there and I havent heard of many complaining of regular reliability problems.
Personally, I have had my S3 since April. I love her to bits. Its required the odd bit of TLC on weekends (and I am mechanically incompetent) just fiddled around with bits etc. The only mechanical thing to go wrong was the throttle cable snapped - £15 to replace. She does leak - and I still havent found out where! - but the roof is completely watertight (especially as it now gets a regular waterseal covering).
Its my everyday car and gets left outside. I have not looked back. However, its true what they say in that TVRs are very addictive. I only have room to park one car but if I can get away without getting something more practical, a Griff will be on my shopping list in a couple of years. Sod it, if I need something more practical then a cerb ............
I personally would not spend 9k on an S, although this would buy a top example. There are lots of very good examples around for £6k - £8k and you can leave some money in your back pocket to either personalise the car, get anything to A1, or just leave in your sky rocket for maintenance.
I would echo what has already been said, dont expect it to have 100% german reliability. It will be between 14 and 9 years old. However, its a Ford lump under there and I havent heard of many complaining of regular reliability problems.
Personally, I have had my S3 since April. I love her to bits. Its required the odd bit of TLC on weekends (and I am mechanically incompetent) just fiddled around with bits etc. The only mechanical thing to go wrong was the throttle cable snapped - £15 to replace. She does leak - and I still havent found out where! - but the roof is completely watertight (especially as it now gets a regular waterseal covering).
Its my everyday car and gets left outside. I have not looked back. However, its true what they say in that TVRs are very addictive. I only have room to park one car but if I can get away without getting something more practical, a Griff will be on my shopping list in a couple of years. Sod it, if I need something more practical then a cerb ............
You can get a very good late S3 for between 7k and 9k, prices have steadied, however I got just under 8k for my S3C last November as a trade in. Dealers will still want 9k to 10k for them with a warranty.
Great cars though, I still miss mine a bit. It never once let me down or leaked even in heavy rain, used to return about 23 to 28 mpg depending on how I drove it.
Buy on condition rather than age and a higher mileage with history is preferable to lower mileage without.
When I was looking you could'nt get a V8S worth looking at for less than 11k, as Phil says - they seem to be holding there value due to rarity, and to the fact that they are seen as an alternative to Griffs and Chims rather than an intermediate step. (Harry and JSG breathe sigh of relief).
My advice, get the best S3 you can afford and hang on to it.
>> Edited by JSG (moderator) on Wednesday 9th October 11:25
Great cars though, I still miss mine a bit. It never once let me down or leaked even in heavy rain, used to return about 23 to 28 mpg depending on how I drove it.
Buy on condition rather than age and a higher mileage with history is preferable to lower mileage without.
When I was looking you could'nt get a V8S worth looking at for less than 11k, as Phil says - they seem to be holding there value due to rarity, and to the fact that they are seen as an alternative to Griffs and Chims rather than an intermediate step. (Harry and JSG breathe sigh of relief).
My advice, get the best S3 you can afford and hang on to it.
>> Edited by JSG (moderator) on Wednesday 9th October 11:25
Ian.. are you piggybacking on Podies threads here mate ?? 
As you've seen me post elsewhere I would no way spend 9K on a V6S.. remember you're buying sportscar here not refinement and comfort
at around that money I'm sure you could find a V8S which in my mind would be a better use of the cash if buying for "sport"
Cheers
Matt.
Edited to include the following from classifieds for reference:
>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 9th October 11:33
As you've seen me post elsewhere I would no way spend 9K on a V6S.. remember you're buying sportscar here not refinement and comfort
at around that money I'm sure you could find a V8S which in my mind would be a better use of the cash if buying for "sport" Cheers
Matt.
Edited to include the following from classifieds for reference:
quote:
V8S 1992/J Over 28 days old
ref: 4526
74,000 miles. Dark silver/grey with half hide oxblood interior, FSH, 12 months M.O.T, 6 months tax, full file of old bills and mots, Private Plate , s/steel TVR kick plates, Heated Seats. Alarmed and has two Thatcham 2 immob's, always garaged, no track day use.
Bodywork and roof in good condition , OZ Racing alloys.
New alternator, battery, throttle cable and 2 brand new front tyres just fitted.
Engine has Mark Adam chip with Piper 270 cam = 170 AT WHEELS.
Review of the actual rolling road session that confirmed above can be viewed on PISTONHEADS under features, older features then titled Rolling Road.
Just had major service
Quick sale required so will consider offers around
£9250
Price: Offers around £9250
Contact: ROB [LUTON, BEDS, UK]
Phone: 01582 724908 after 6.30pm or 01727 794517 daytime
Email: CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME
>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 9th October 11:33
quote:
Ian.. are you piggybacking on Podies threads here mate ??
Felt guilty that i was riding shotgun on podie's post thought i'd better by brave and start me own one.
Thanks to everyone that has replied...certainly helped out, i think that next step is to take one for a spin and then get the bible.
Cheers
Ian
Podie, Rustoni,
You're doing the right thing. Read the bible and ask all the questions you have. Get rides from owners and go some club meets if you can, the Berkshire meet has had a few prospective owners over recent months who've been given advice, seats and drives up the road.
Don't know if the drives help though - when the wife of the last bloke I took out asked him what he though he could only say "fcuking hell" over and over again.
Just remember the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.
Cheers,
JSG.
You're doing the right thing. Read the bible and ask all the questions you have. Get rides from owners and go some club meets if you can, the Berkshire meet has had a few prospective owners over recent months who've been given advice, seats and drives up the road.
Don't know if the drives help though - when the wife of the last bloke I took out asked him what he though he could only say "fcuking hell" over and over again.
Just remember the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.
Cheers,
JSG.
here's to all the PH'ers who've helped in my little "quest"...!Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff