RE: blackmonday's TVR Tuscan (3995cc)
Discussion
DDB335: I hate to think of a transatlantic colleague who wants a Brit car but can't get one. Have you tried www.tvr-mads.co.uk? According to their advert in Sprint, they do new LHD TVRs for export, and second-hand ones. Maybe also try TVRCC North America; the guy is Marshall Moore, tvrccna@cox.net.
Let me know how you get on.
Let me know how you get on.
As interesting as this car looks, I can't believe the horrible build quality. A car built in 2001, at the price of 45,000, and the passenger door won't open? Wipers not working? Reverse light fails to come on? Maybe there is a reason for TVR not exporting their vehicles. Regardless of how fast these cars are, even taking into mind I too am an auto buff, its incredible that someone would pay this much money to have a car that breaks the minute its delivered.
I owned a 1995 Lotus Esprit S4S, and when the turbo needed to be rebuilt, and timing belt replaced at 11,000 miles (17,600k/m) I thought it was a damned joke. I'm not sure I would even bother buying a car from a company that; A: Doesn't want me to have their products, and B: Can't seem to build a car worthy of its tag. I guess these cars are like vintage Jags......Nice to look at as long as its not in my driveway.
David D.
I owned a 1995 Lotus Esprit S4S, and when the turbo needed to be rebuilt, and timing belt replaced at 11,000 miles (17,600k/m) I thought it was a damned joke. I'm not sure I would even bother buying a car from a company that; A: Doesn't want me to have their products, and B: Can't seem to build a car worthy of its tag. I guess these cars are like vintage Jags......Nice to look at as long as its not in my driveway.
David D.
David,
I'm not sure it's fair to tar all TVRs with the same brush!
I am a real Tiv enthusiast (I don't own one, but desperately want one), worship the damn things! And I will not even try and deny that the build quality of most TVR's leaves too much to be desired, even for a hand-built car!
But, it seems Peter Wheeler is finally listening to the grumbles of TVR Devotees and he is doing something about the Quality (Finally!) and the Tamora's and Tuscans that are rolling out of the factory at the moment have a stunning build quality. You just need to ask the likes of Flasher, Nubbin, nad gb13690 (or whatever it is), they have been flashing around in Tamora's for a few months now and won't shut up (and quite rightly so!
) about the build quality!
All hand-built cars around the world suffer niggles, some it seems, even from the same production line, suffer a few more than others!
As for Tuscan's and Tamora's in the US, give TVR time to reach and sustain an acceptable standard of quality, then watch them flood the market!
I'm not sure it's fair to tar all TVRs with the same brush!
I am a real Tiv enthusiast (I don't own one, but desperately want one), worship the damn things! And I will not even try and deny that the build quality of most TVR's leaves too much to be desired, even for a hand-built car!
But, it seems Peter Wheeler is finally listening to the grumbles of TVR Devotees and he is doing something about the Quality (Finally!) and the Tamora's and Tuscans that are rolling out of the factory at the moment have a stunning build quality. You just need to ask the likes of Flasher, Nubbin, nad gb13690 (or whatever it is), they have been flashing around in Tamora's for a few months now and won't shut up (and quite rightly so!
) about the build quality! All hand-built cars around the world suffer niggles, some it seems, even from the same production line, suffer a few more than others!
As for Tuscan's and Tamora's in the US, give TVR time to reach and sustain an acceptable standard of quality, then watch them flood the market!
"All hand-built cars around the world suffer niggles, some it seems, even from the same production line, suffer a few more than others!"
My Chrysler Voyager - less hand-built, but American Quality Product - suffered only of minor niggles compared to a Tuscan, I guess.
500 km Turbo replaced
23.000 km Engine rebuilt 1st
29.000 km Gearbox replaced
50.000 km Windowlift failed to close/replaced
happened 500km away at -15°C
61.000 km Engine rebuilt 2nd
95.000 km Engine rebuilt 3rd
More or less small niggles not to mention!
Good thing, all done under Guarantee, but quite a hassle.
That is the story of my latest Voy only.
Forgot much about the last ones, but similar stories, especially the first one that needed the 5th gearbox by 90.000 km or the 3rd one that had its 3rd Turbo after 50.000km.
And my Chrysler Jeep Cherokee killed its drive-train
after 25.000km, was kept 3 months! for repair and I finally haven´t seen it any more, was forced to by another one, because they couldn´t sort it.
I´m sure that TVR would easily match
that high quality standard set by ie. Chrysler.
My next workhorse is a TVR-Shooting Brake.
No offence against American Cars,
but out of 7 US Cars I sadly picked 7 monday-cars.
My Chrysler Voyager - less hand-built, but American Quality Product - suffered only of minor niggles compared to a Tuscan, I guess.
500 km Turbo replaced
23.000 km Engine rebuilt 1st
29.000 km Gearbox replaced
50.000 km Windowlift failed to close/replaced
happened 500km away at -15°C
61.000 km Engine rebuilt 2nd
95.000 km Engine rebuilt 3rd
More or less small niggles not to mention!
Good thing, all done under Guarantee, but quite a hassle.
That is the story of my latest Voy only.
Forgot much about the last ones, but similar stories, especially the first one that needed the 5th gearbox by 90.000 km or the 3rd one that had its 3rd Turbo after 50.000km.
And my Chrysler Jeep Cherokee killed its drive-train
after 25.000km, was kept 3 months! for repair and I finally haven´t seen it any more, was forced to by another one, because they couldn´t sort it.
I´m sure that TVR would easily match
that high quality standard set by ie. Chrysler.
My next workhorse is a TVR-Shooting Brake.
No offence against American Cars,
but out of 7 US Cars I sadly picked 7 monday-cars.
Not to come across as a complete pessimist, but TVR has been making cars for many years, correct? Its ridiculous that a car look and drive like this, yet holds up to Diamler Chrysler standards! While reading comments posted by a Cerbera Speed Six owner, he gives detailed instructions on his daily starting and running procedures for the car. Now my Berlinetta is just a weekend toy, but 3-5 minutes of idling will get the temperature and engine speed in check.
To stir the water a bit, Dodge Viper can be had here for 70-80K, put out 450hp (I believe Euro Vipers are detuned) and pull low 12s in the quarter, with 4 second 0-60mph times. Yet, even though it too is a Chrysler product, the cars are fairly reliable, and tackle point A to B without racecar like precautions.
I remember reading a while back, that TVR is desperately trying to keep the cars in the UK, and I know that these cars cannot be DOT or EPA certified here in the US. Either way, what I have read about the machines has killed my interest in them. There are just too many other options, and they provide a much better all around package.
David D.
To stir the water a bit, Dodge Viper can be had here for 70-80K, put out 450hp (I believe Euro Vipers are detuned) and pull low 12s in the quarter, with 4 second 0-60mph times. Yet, even though it too is a Chrysler product, the cars are fairly reliable, and tackle point A to B without racecar like precautions.
I remember reading a while back, that TVR is desperately trying to keep the cars in the UK, and I know that these cars cannot be DOT or EPA certified here in the US. Either way, what I have read about the machines has killed my interest in them. There are just too many other options, and they provide a much better all around package.
David D.
Oh dear!
Let's not start another TVR vs Dodge Viper debate pleeeasee!
For the record my 3 year old Chimaera (in which I have just returned from the annual "run to the sun" in Newquay (nice Tuscan whoever you were by the way)) has not let me down once. Not even a blistering hot Bank Holiday Saturday (and the attendant queues of traffic on the A30) could throw a spanner in the works.
It will take TVR some time to rid itself of the reliability concerns that have blighted it over the years. I too was intitially a little nervous about trading up to a Tamora or Tuscan. I now fully intend to (bank manager willing) after hearing nothing but praise about these recent models.
David : get yourself behind a Tuscan or a Tamora somehow and I can guarantee you won't want to drive another sports car (least not this side of $200K)!!
Rumours are that it won't be too long before TVR try and storm the US market again...
Let's not start another TVR vs Dodge Viper debate pleeeasee!
For the record my 3 year old Chimaera (in which I have just returned from the annual "run to the sun" in Newquay (nice Tuscan whoever you were by the way)) has not let me down once. Not even a blistering hot Bank Holiday Saturday (and the attendant queues of traffic on the A30) could throw a spanner in the works.
It will take TVR some time to rid itself of the reliability concerns that have blighted it over the years. I too was intitially a little nervous about trading up to a Tamora or Tuscan. I now fully intend to (bank manager willing) after hearing nothing but praise about these recent models.
David : get yourself behind a Tuscan or a Tamora somehow and I can guarantee you won't want to drive another sports car (least not this side of $200K)!!
Rumours are that it won't be too long before TVR try and storm the US market again...
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