Best entry level TVR
Discussion
What do you reckon is the best entry level TVR, must be sub-£10k (preferably by some margin) and capable of being fixed with a hammer.
V6 S?
V8 S?
Chimera?
Wedge
?
This is to a certain extent pipe dreaming to be fair, I've just bought a kit car so will be quite a while before my next purchase. But, it's very 'full on' and it's reminded me how much fun a raw RWD sportscar can be. It pushes all the buttons that my capable but oh-so-civilised mk1 MX5 didn't. The only problem is it has no roof (at all) no windscreen to speak of and no luggage space. Just thinking ahead to when I have a little more NCB and a few more quid to spend and wondering if Blackpool's finest could generate the same shock and awe, but with a decent hood and some space in the boot. Not a serious what car thread!!
V6 S?
V8 S?
Chimera?
Wedge
?This is to a certain extent pipe dreaming to be fair, I've just bought a kit car so will be quite a while before my next purchase. But, it's very 'full on' and it's reminded me how much fun a raw RWD sportscar can be. It pushes all the buttons that my capable but oh-so-civilised mk1 MX5 didn't. The only problem is it has no roof (at all) no windscreen to speak of and no luggage space. Just thinking ahead to when I have a little more NCB and a few more quid to spend and wondering if Blackpool's finest could generate the same shock and awe, but with a decent hood and some space in the boot. Not a serious what car thread!!
I think you underestimate what I'm comparing it to.
My current car has no roof and no boot. I'm after something which vaguely keeps the rain out and can hold a tent in the back for LeMans, not a people carrier
Even a windscreen would be a step up in comfort and IIRC it's been a long time since a TVR was made without one of those.
My current car has no roof and no boot. I'm after something which vaguely keeps the rain out and can hold a tent in the back for LeMans, not a people carrier
Even a windscreen would be a step up in comfort and IIRC it's been a long time since a TVR was made without one of those.
NCB may not be an issue as these models all attract 'classic' insurance which is generally cheap.
I guess you can get each of those models for <10k. They would all be great fun, personally I would suggest having a go in each to see which you feel is most fun (local TVR CC perhaps?). Good luck, buy one you know it makes sense!
I guess you can get each of those models for <10k. They would all be great fun, personally I would suggest having a go in each to see which you feel is most fun (local TVR CC perhaps?). Good luck, buy one you know it makes sense!
Tonto said:
900T-R said:
I'm biased, but I have to say Chimaera. Not the most capable TVR ever, but IMHO the most sorted all round (and that includes build quality).
And you can carry shed loads of stuff in the mahoosive boot.
May not be such a good thing for me after all, though, as I'm such a disorganised person. 
On the subject of boots, I can get stuff in the Wedge boot and put the lid on top, or vertical, I don't have to remove everything to put the lid up
Nothing wrong with a wedge either. Whilst I am biased, best try to get a sample or flavor of them all. Visit a meet or two and have a proper shufty at them.
No cats on Wedges either, one of the loudest out the factory...... Though there are a few of the others around without.
Nothing wrong with a wedge either. Whilst I am biased, best try to get a sample or flavor of them all. Visit a meet or two and have a proper shufty at them.
No cats on Wedges either, one of the loudest out the factory...... Though there are a few of the others around without.
Chris71 said:
What sort of prices are Chimeras and V8S's these days? I've looked in wedges (V6 and V8) and V6 S's quite seriously, but the V8S and Chimera have been out of my grasp.
Look through the classifieds on here for a best sense of the prices. I would suggest you spend the time while you are playing with your kit car to find out as much as you can on your preferred TVRs; go to local meets, talk to owners, have a good look around the cars, and drive as many as you can. You will find that even two versions of the same model will be quite different. When you buy, be swayed more by the condition of the car (especially the chassis) than your heart.I went from a chuckable but underpowered MX5 to a V6S, then on to a Griff (seemingly lacking from your list).
I can say that for a raw seat of the pants style of drive go for the S, the Griff is much more sorted and refined. For boot space it has to be the Chimaera but the others have a reasonable boot. Ignore what they say about not being weatherproof. Neither of mine leak.
The order of my TVR ownership has been S2, 4.0L Chimaera, S2 and now current S2.
For everyday car Chim wins for comfort / refinement. For 2nd car for weekend smiles S wins easily. Easy / cheap to maintain and much more involving than the Chim. A mate of mine test drove a Chim at the weekend and thought it uninvolving and not as exciting as my previous standard (what standard means with a TVR ) S2 - the current one has had a few mods so isn't really fair to compare.
I was in a mates Tiger Cat E1 (no windscreen!) on Sunday and drove the TVR back home from his place so can really appreciate the difference between the 2 styles of cars you are comparing.
Chim does have more storage but I used my 1st S as my everyday car. Pack carefully and I've always had plenty of space for everything I've needed at Le Mans. Also just done 1200 mile to/from Nurburgring in comfort!
And remember to allow some of your budget for when things go wrong! Another mate learnt the hard way that for cheap Chim money, which may have problems lurking, you can get a well sorted S.
Longers
For everyday car Chim wins for comfort / refinement. For 2nd car for weekend smiles S wins easily. Easy / cheap to maintain and much more involving than the Chim. A mate of mine test drove a Chim at the weekend and thought it uninvolving and not as exciting as my previous standard (what standard means with a TVR
) S2 - the current one has had a few mods so isn't really fair to compare. I was in a mates Tiger Cat E1 (no windscreen!) on Sunday and drove the TVR back home from his place so can really appreciate the difference between the 2 styles of cars you are comparing.
Chim does have more storage but I used my 1st S as my everyday car. Pack carefully and I've always had plenty of space for everything I've needed at Le Mans. Also just done 1200 mile to/from Nurburgring in comfort!
And remember to allow some of your budget for when things go wrong! Another mate learnt the hard way that for cheap Chim money, which may have problems lurking, you can get a well sorted S.
Longers
Hi guys,
The reason for the absence of the Grifith on my list was simply price - I may be wrong, but I thought they were significantly more than the others (sort of £15k+)
It's tough to convey exactly what I want. My Sylva is very dramatic and in some respects quite crude to drive, but it's undeniably involving. To be honest I'm totally happy with that until I need to leave it out on the street (with no doors!) or it looks like it might rain (with no roof) or I need to fit stuff in (with no boot) Plus the girlfriend refuses to get in it, but that might be a mixed blessing
I'd like something marginally more practical, but without losing the shock and awe! Also, I've never quite been able to decide whether TVR's muscle car image simply requires a sensible competent driver or whether they're downright scary! Obviously a n-hundred horsepower V8 and rear wheel drive are going to get exciting, but how much warning do you get of impending doom? I've heard the S's are comparitively docile (the only TVR I have any experience of is an ancient M series and that was friendly enough!) but I don't know if the folklore surrounding the V8 cars is justified or if it's just one too many numpties pushing their limits? Whilst I'd like something that's exciting and perhaps a little challenging, I wouldn't want anything that's downright nervous if that makes sense?
The reason for the absence of the Grifith on my list was simply price - I may be wrong, but I thought they were significantly more than the others (sort of £15k+)
It's tough to convey exactly what I want. My Sylva is very dramatic and in some respects quite crude to drive, but it's undeniably involving. To be honest I'm totally happy with that until I need to leave it out on the street (with no doors!) or it looks like it might rain (with no roof) or I need to fit stuff in (with no boot) Plus the girlfriend refuses to get in it, but that might be a mixed blessing
I'd like something marginally more practical, but without losing the shock and awe! Also, I've never quite been able to decide whether TVR's muscle car image simply requires a sensible competent driver or whether they're downright scary! Obviously a n-hundred horsepower V8 and rear wheel drive are going to get exciting, but how much warning do you get of impending doom? I've heard the S's are comparitively docile (the only TVR I have any experience of is an ancient M series and that was friendly enough!) but I don't know if the folklore surrounding the V8 cars is justified or if it's just one too many numpties pushing their limits? Whilst I'd like something that's exciting and perhaps a little challenging, I wouldn't want anything that's downright nervous if that makes sense?
I think rubbish in, rubbish out? Drive mine all weathers and even in the snow. Just take it easy at first, get used to it. I have found that tyres can also make a big difference. One well known brand let go on a very gentle accelerate from 30 to 40, had me 45 degree sideways up a B road. Binned them and bought another brand and absolutely superb in the wet. 100% confidence with them.
PS, went from a 1600 to 3500 and managed it fine.
PS, went from a 1600 to 3500 and managed it fine.
[quote=TVRleigh(BBWR)]Im sure you can find a 400SE for less than 10K there a lot of very sorted out currently for sale, hence the >10K price. but these are better than they left the factory.
Also its a lot easier to work on the Engine on a Wedge. plus you get the great sound and wedge Grin.
[/quote]
I meant a 400SE plus supercharging etc. would go over £10K, though I reckon an SE would be a better long term buy (biased me? ). You can also see cars coming up with 4.6L engines already fitted which often seem to go for less or no more than a 'pure' car.
PS. The 350i was sold earlier this year so I am not still trying to sell it to you Chris
Also its a lot easier to work on the Engine on a Wedge. plus you get the great sound and wedge Grin.
[/quote]
I meant a 400SE plus supercharging etc. would go over £10K, though I reckon an SE would be a better long term buy (biased me?
). You can also see cars coming up with 4.6L engines already fitted which often seem to go for less or no more than a 'pure' car.PS. The 350i was sold earlier this year so I am not still trying to sell it to you Chris
Chris71 said:
Obviously a n-hundred horsepower V8 and rear wheel drive are going to get exciting, but how much warning do you get of impending doom? I've heard the S's are comparitively docile (the only TVR I have any experience of is an ancient M series and that was friendly enough!) but I don't know if the folklore surrounding the V8 cars is justified or if it's just one too many numpties pushing their limits? Whilst I'd like something that's exciting and perhaps a little challenging, I wouldn't want anything that's downright nervous if that makes sense?
Maybe ask that question in the S forum and see what response you get?A TVR my first proper sportscar. Yes, I had a "moment" in my first one but that was in the wet, coming off of a roundabout and could be put down to inexperience I suppose
Since then by treating them with respect I've not had any problems, even when driving as everyday car. As long as it's got decent tyres and suspension etc is all nicely set up you'll be fine and find it nicely balanced.Edited by Longers on Wednesday 26th September 16:42
I had this same situation a couple of years ago. I decided on a S series S2 or S3 . I went up and down the country and looked at over 10 cars . In the end but most where rubbish or had been listed for damage. In the end i threw a few more £ at the problem and got a Chim , in the condition i wanted .
It was a good choice as i needed to spend next to nothing on the car, instead of a car that need things doing to it . I then spent very little on it and sold it for almost the same as i bought it for 14 months later .
This is the only advise i can give you , i am x trade myself and buy with my head rather than my heart. If i had found good complete S series ,body , chassis , paint , interior , mechanical ,i would have bought ,but these are quite old cars now and at the price can fall into the wrong hands ( as Chims may do). The biggest problem with them is chassis .
There are a lot more Chimaera's to choose from which means its more likely to find a good one at the right price without having to go to the other side of the world to view .
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/251197.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/232557.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/178667.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/203714.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/189108.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/189108.htm
It was a good choice as i needed to spend next to nothing on the car, instead of a car that need things doing to it . I then spent very little on it and sold it for almost the same as i bought it for 14 months later .
This is the only advise i can give you , i am x trade myself and buy with my head rather than my heart. If i had found good complete S series ,body , chassis , paint , interior , mechanical ,i would have bought ,but these are quite old cars now and at the price can fall into the wrong hands ( as Chims may do). The biggest problem with them is chassis .
There are a lot more Chimaera's to choose from which means its more likely to find a good one at the right price without having to go to the other side of the world to view .
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/251197.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/232557.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/178667.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/203714.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/189108.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/189108.htm
Edited by Rum Runner on Wednesday 26th September 17:50
Edited by Rum Runner on Wednesday 26th September 17:51
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