Thinking about a TVR

[asbi]

All,
I am new to this group being a current Porsche owner (964 C2. I have a strong desire (nothing to do with the current weather) to get a soft-top, principal criteria that it would need to be faster than my C2, be well put together and not be a Boxster.

I have been thinking about either a Griff (which I fondly remember from a when a mate had one in the early 90s) or a Tuscan convertible. Car would need to be low miles and mint, are there many around in top nick?

Thoughts? I am pretty anal about cars and am probably a very good example of a typical Porsche owner, would I be able to live with a TVR? I drove a Chimaera and couldn't handle the general feel (sloppiness) of it compared to the Porsche, does the Tuscan have a more cohesive feel?

Thanks in advance,
Kevin.

[lazyitus]

My gut instinct - NO

You know if a TVR is for you. If you don't have an unconditional like for the marque, a TVR is probably not for you.

[ncs]

If you didnt like the Chim then I dont see you falling in love with a Griffith - they are basically the same car under the skin, but the Griff is a little harder

Any TVR is going to be so very different from your Porsche, but the Tuscan is probably closer to what you are driving now.

Nick

[ATG]

Mint and low mileage are not words you'd associate with a prospective Griff/Chim purchaser TBH. You might have been driving a Chim on knackered shocks, or it could be that the feel of these cars isn't right for you fullstop (the later versions of the Griff and Chim being mechanically identical). They are never going to handle like an Elise, but similarly the difference btwn a badly set up car on knackered shock and a car that has had spring rates, shocks and geometry set up for your driving style is enormous. The question is do you want a car that is always going to be a bit of an on-going project? That is half the fun for many Griff and Chim owners. If you want something straight out the box which is damn nearly perfect, then you probably need to look elsewhere.

[asbi]

Thanks for the responses so far. Interesting point about the Chim, it was a low mileage car that seemed well damped but maybe was just a poor example. I will try and get a drive in a couple of cars since is probably the only way of answering what is a very subjective question.

As regards an ongoing "project", I am more then prepared for this having owned two 964s which although Porsches are by no means perfect!

Btw, didn't mean to be impolite in describing the Chim, it just felt like that,
Thanks,
Kevin.

[dnb]

There's a lot of variance between different examples of the same model. Low milage is also not a good indication of car condition.

I've had less problems with my 97k mile Griffith (ignoring my self-inflicted ones!!) than some people have had with their "low milage" examples... Maybe mine is the exception? By sloppiness, I presume you mean handling wise? I've not found the Griff to be sloppy at all. Then again, the car has done sufficient miles to basically be running on new suspension again.

I was lucky enough to drive a new Tuscan 2 not too long ago, and it does represent a significant increase in quality over my Griff. The slightly longer wheelbase makes it more comfortable and I believe it would handle better when pushed hard - it certainly surprised me at "sane" speeds. (It's hard to test these things when the owner is in the passenger seat trying to sell you a new TVR )

[rpa.janwell]

Don't test drive a Sagaris. You'll buy one. It'll cost you. But you'll love every minute.

[dnb]

I did drive a Sagaris on the same day as the Tuscan 2. I thought it a much better drive for a whole lot of reasons...

Fortunately, I've since driven a well set up Cerbera 4.5, so this has saved me the better part of £25k. I didn't think the Sagaris could match insanity possible in that Cerbera.

[jagdpanther]

lazyitus said:

My gut instinct - NO

You know if a TVR is for you. If you don't have an unconditional like for the marque, a TVR is probably not for you.

Its not the run of the mill car nor is it the run of the mill decision....Im pretty sure most TVR owners are mad or eccentric

Like the nutty professor with a lead foot

[BLUETHUNDER]

lazyitus said:

My gut instinct - NO

You know if a TVR is for you. If you don't have an unconditional like for the marque, a TVR is probably not for you.

I couldnt have put it better.

[rpa.janwell]

dnb said:

I did drive a Sagaris on the same day as the Tuscan 2. I thought it a much better drive for a whole lot of reasons...

Fortunately, I've since driven a well set up Cerbera 4.5, so this has saved me the better part of £25k. I didn't think the Sagaris could match insanity possible in that Cerbera.

Read some of the threads re Nurburgring experiences with the Sagaris - was there a month ago and still hyped!!

[Rum Runner]

One thing to remember, every car is very different , there are many sloppy Chims out there , so you may well have driven one of those . I would suggest trying a few .

[DJC]

dnb said:

I did drive a Sagaris on the same day as the Tuscan 2. I thought it a much better drive for a whole lot of reasons...

Fortunately, I've since driven a well set up Cerbera 4.5, so this has saved me the better part of £25k. I didn't think the Sagaris could match insanity possible in that Cerbera.

Correct. A Sagaris doesnt match the insanity factor the Cerby, its just quicker. You can cut that any which way you like it, but a Sagaris is quicker and better set up. Lacks the drama factor of Cerby insanity and replaces it with a " me, did I just do that?" factor. Now Ive been told about the "works" changes to the steering set up, can make the Sagaris even faster, get rid of ome of the woolyness, get the feeling back in the steering and make it less nervous to boot

I fully intend reversing David Vivian's opinion of Sagaris v Noble pace across country

[Wildfire]

BLUETHUNDER said:

lazyitus said:

My gut instinct - NO

You know if a TVR is for you. If you don't have an unconditional like for the marque, a TVR is probably not for you.

I couldnt have put it better.

If you are concerned with reliability, and are "anal about your cars" a TVR is not for you. The niggles will drive you crazy and you will end up hating it. There is no real comparison between a 964 and Chim/Griff, totally different. The maintainence that you will either have to do yourself or pay to have done will also drive you up the wall. My father is a life long Porsche fan, and owned a 964 C4. He likes the Griff, just not to drive in it. The noise, comfort, and engineering just isn't there. So TBH I don't think a TVR is for you. You need to have a strong desire of "Wow! I really want one of those!!" Not "I fancy a change, how about a TVR?" otherwise you'll grow tired of it really quickly and it will have you tearing your hair out.

[asbi]

I take your point, however I have spent around £5k in bits and pieces (oil pipes, flywheel, clutch etc) on the 964 in the past 2 years and am prepared for the maint hassles (potential) of a tvr.

Despite the comments thus far I am still keen to try a couple and see how I feel, maybe it's a post 40 menopausal thing but I just love the shape of the Tuscan and want to try something a little wilder than the 911,
Thanks,
Kevin.

[jagdpanther]

Saying that, he has at least thought about a TVR where as most people would just plump for something else given all the rumours about TVR

Test drive as many different Tivs as you can, you will know which car is for you when you feel it deep within your soul

Good luck