Porsche v TVR - a comparison

[Martin Hunt]

All,

There seems to be some great debate about the merits of Porsches and TVRs at the moment.

The way I sum it up to a friend of mine who is a porsche driver, I'm a TVR driver is:-

Porsche are great cars and have a wealth of experience in making such cars, when they 1st started they also experienced reliability problems (Well documented on any Porsche site) they spent many years perfecting the production of a quality reliable vehicle.

TVR are in that early stage, yes they have been around for many years but they have only really entered the production cars scenario in the last 15 - 20 years. therefore they have around 20 - 30 years of development, construction and quality knowledge to catch up on.

The problems encountered today are more publicly available through forums such as Pistonheads(Good job too Ted) and the customers desire for quality is far more noticable (not including the enthusiast) this is why people still believe that TVRs have problems ( I would assume that 80% of TVRs never have a major problem in their life.

Therefore in my humble opinion both manufacturers warrant there fare share of praise and critisism, but my god if TVRs are like this now, imagine what they will be like when they match the quality of Porsche (Sorry TVR head speaking)

Martin
Cerbera Speed 6 S 922 OPO

[Marshy]

The thing that is often forgotten though is the fact that, for the raw performance ("grunt") you get, TVRs, especially in Tamora/Chimaera/Griffith form, are good value for money. This does imply that there will be a trade-off of some sort.

When you look at second hand prices, the bang for buck quotient goes way up.

I think that does excuse some infelicities (but lets NOT get going about the specifics), however, it doesn't excuse the incredibly poor dealer service that some have experienced.

[bennno]

This is ultimately going to end in tears so I will summarise the legal arguement to compress the time this needs to run for (and in doing so prevent upset to Piston ted)

TVR Anorak - 'Porsche, boring, slow, expensive, engine in wrong place, not individual, not exciting, german, hitler car, souped up beetle etc'

Porsche Anorak - 'TVR,unreliable, kit car, depreciation, crude, lack of heritage / pedigree'

Joe Public / Car enthusiast - 'TVR and Porsche with Ferrari make the most exciting sportscars in the world'

I go along with 3 thank God we have a choice, lets not start another argumentative thread.

Bennno

[flasher]

benno

Agreed!!

(except your 996's electrics were acting the goat today on the way to Autosport!! )

although, soaking me with the jetwash wasn't really a fair response to my p*ss taking!!

My tack on this one is the same as most fair minded people. Porkers are great cars, they don't really appeal to me but I still appreciate them. TVR's are my bag, I love them but I wish they were more "trustworthy" and as cheap to service as a Porker.

Edited by flasher on Saturday 12th January 18:03

[hazy]

Would it be imflammatory to mention THAT Cerbera trouncing the opposition (a 996 Turbo) on an airstrip in that Clarkson video a couple of years back??

Mind you if they had had to do it ten times on the bounce it may have been a different story.....

[flasher]

quote:

quote:
Would it be imflammatory to mention THAT Cerbera trouncing the opposition (a 996 Turbo) on an airstrip in that Clarkson video a couple of years back??

Mind you if they had had to do it ten times on the bounce it may have been a different story.....

I think if you look at the Video you will find that it was a 993 not a 996, pedantic perhaps but 996 is significantly different!

Benno

Yes benno. this is the same video that you used to persuade me to get a Cerbera??

Now you have own a Porker (albeit with electrical problems) you seek to move the goalposts???

Come on mate. admit it. the TVR stirs your loins, but the Porker is the sensible choice.....

[christof]

Yep, we know it all Benno, the 996 is best of all.

I'm getting bored and it's time to sleep now...

[hazy]

quote:

pedantic perhaps but 996 is significantly different!

Benno

BEN! Please refrain from using large words like pedantic. Me and Walter (see TAILSLIDES) hav'nt got a clue what they mean! Is it like pedestrian i.e. quite slow?

Your 996 is undoubtedly a very fine car but why are you always sniffing around TVR forums? How many Porker owners have you had contact with recently?

Edited by hazy on Sunday 13th January 07:55

[Lee77]

Benno

you can contact me I'm a 996 onwer too , used to have a Cerbera SS as well and live in Berks I remember speaking to you on the phone when I had my SS

[bennno]

Hazy,

PLEASE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT MY FIRST MAIL.

YOU ARE MISTAKEN PISTONHEADS IS NOT A TVR FORUM, IT IS FOR SPORTSCAR ENTHUSIASTS.

I CAN AFFORD EITHER AND THEREFORE APPRECIATE BOTH TVR AND PORSCHE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE QUALITIES.

YOU MAY START TO APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCES WHEN YOU LOOSE YOUR CERBY TO THE FACTORY FOR A 4 MONTH ENGINE REBUILD AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE.

Benno

[r-bin]

quit the "caps locking" okay?

[bennno]

excellent input r-bin

Benno

[McNab]

r-bin, if he wants to lock his caps that's up to him, okay?

[r-bin]

hmm getting a bit touchy I guess?? LEAVING YOUR CAPS ON IS VERY IRRITATING TO READ!



Edited by r-bin on Sunday 13th January 13:24

[bennno]

r-bin, another excellent observation

bennno

[flasher]

YEAH BENNO, QUIT USING CAPS LOCK.

You were doing OK Ben before you trotted out the "back to the factory for re-build" statement. This isn't happening so much now, so please stop bringing it up.

And I thought this wasn't going to turn into a slanging match....

[griffchris]

I'm with r-bin on this one.
Unfortunately I have to talk out loud when reading, so when you caps lock I end up shouting at myself staring at the computer screen.The girlfriend is becoming worried.

[r-bin]

hehe thanks Bennno, just use the caps lock if you want to (although it can be irri)i dont want to have a conversation like elemchuwkee had in the ugliest car topic with you.

now shall we quit this arguing?
--peace--

Edited by r-bin on Sunday 13th January 15:20

[NoisyGriff]

I never understand this argument.
Surley they are completely different.
The Boxster is lovely, but nothing like a TVR. ok, so they are both open and rear wheel drive. Other than that, they are totally different.
Why doesn't the argument include the Z3, the Honda 2000, the XK8, the TT or the SLK?
Because none of them is like a TVR other than in appearance.
Porsches are aimed predominantly at the US market, where customers want a good looking, fast car. But it must also be reliable, quiet, safe and have loads of labelled bits. TVR's are different. If you buy a TVR wanting quiet and safe, you are a mug.
I love my Griff and my mate loves his Porker. That's why I didn't buy a Boxster and he didn't buy a TVR.
Simple.

[hazy]

Ben..... sorry if I have upset you, but there's NO NEED TO SHOUT! Thank you for correcting me in that this is a sportscar forum......the title of "General TVR stuff and gossip" lead me to believe that this was a forum dedicated to all things TVR! Really confused now about the forum headlined "Cerbera". Whats all that about then?????

Just chill Dude, just playin with you, 996's are awesome, I just can't afford one! Still, that Cerby on the Clarkson vid did wreck that Porker good an proper ay?