Are TVR's a dead loss?
Discussion
Hi all,
Now, don't take this the wrong way, but I have spent the last couple of days reading the various TVR forums and they don't make very pleasant reading.
Tale upon tale of unreliability problems, mostly to do with the engines, now I accept they are stunning looking motor cars, and I am not in the market for one (at the moment
)but if I was I would be thinking very long and hard.........
After all they are around 40k.
Am I being unfair????
Now, don't take this the wrong way, but I have spent the last couple of days reading the various TVR forums and they don't make very pleasant reading.
Tale upon tale of unreliability problems, mostly to do with the engines, now I accept they are stunning looking motor cars, and I am not in the market for one (at the moment
)but if I was I would be thinking very long and hard......... After all they are around 40k.
Am I being unfair????
Yep, dead loss - don't bother we've all heard how unreliable they are.
Mine never starts first time, never completes a journey without something falling off. Servicing is an arm and a leg every time, it fails the MOT every year without fail.
Nobody ever stares at us or waves, or smiles, nothing, not a jot of interest from 0 - 100 year olds.
Personally I wouldn't bother.
Mine never starts first time, never completes a journey without something falling off. Servicing is an arm and a leg every time, it fails the MOT every year without fail.
Nobody ever stares at us or waves, or smiles, nothing, not a jot of interest from 0 - 100 year olds.
Personally I wouldn't bother.
Comments on forums represent a self-selecting group and are therefore unreliable as a source of statistical conclusions. i.e. Most people only post about their TVR when they (think they) have a problem that needs fixing. This means that many posts will highlight problems.
This site is recognised as the unofficial TVR board by TVR oweners -
but everyone is welcome. Many other marques have sites that are specific to themselves on which problems are aired. Therefore you will see more about problems with TVRs here than about other cars.
Places that can reliably solve problems with TVRs are few and far between compared to other marques due to the small number of dealers and the relative rarity of the cars.
A relatively large number of TVRs (as opposed to other performance cars of similar performance) are owned by people who feel capable of performing surgery on their car, but they often seek advice before attempting it so as to avoid mistakes made by others.
That said, TVRs do go wrong. But it is rarely serious enough to stop you getting home, or even going out on the road.
Please note: all the above is based on personal opinion, received wisdom and a short period of TVR ownership, but I have met a lot of TVR owners.
This site is recognised as the unofficial TVR board by TVR oweners -
but everyone is welcome. Many other marques have sites that are specific to themselves on which problems are aired. Therefore you will see more about problems with TVRs here than about other cars. Places that can reliably solve problems with TVRs are few and far between compared to other marques due to the small number of dealers and the relative rarity of the cars.
A relatively large number of TVRs (as opposed to other performance cars of similar performance) are owned by people who feel capable of performing surgery on their car, but they often seek advice before attempting it so as to avoid mistakes made by others.
That said, TVRs do go wrong. But it is rarely serious enough to stop you getting home, or even going out on the road.
Please note: all the above is based on personal opinion, received wisdom and a short period of TVR ownership, but I have met a lot of TVR owners.
v8 Archie said:
Comments on forums represent a self-selecting group and are therefore unreliable as a source of statistical conclusions. i.e. Most people only post about their TVR when they (think they) have a problem that needs fixing. This means that many posts will highlight problems.
.............
Ah this is exactly the same but the other end of the spectrum to the likes of the JD power survey, it is self selecting but owners are asked to comment on their own cars. Some cars that are patently crap get good marks becuase the 'billy-no-mates I've bought a bag-of-shite but need to justify it' always subscribe to these type of poll's.
Back on topic, don't bother with a TVR unless you have balls made of steel, a wallet like a third world debt, an eskimo's distain for the cold wind and a very good sense of humour
. Harry
My 2 TVR's have been appalling ..... total waste of money .... the last 80,000 miles in 3yrs and several trackdays have been both trouble, tedious and generally a total loss.
In fact this week I have wheeled the ol' girl out to see whether it would get me to work and back, amazingly it has achieved this simple task 3 times this week already !!!!! I even ventured round the M25 in it last night and it made it ....
I loathe driving it, servicing has meant I do nothing else in life just so I can afford it. I've stopped eating so that I can afford Mobil 1 for it ...
My 1st TVR cost me £7000 (£33,000 short, apparently)..... I used it everyday for nearly 3yrs and I hated it, every second of it. The 55,000+ miles I did were a gut wrenching mix of anxiety and nerves, just waiting for it to blow up in a ball of steam and smoke .... The new one is no better (I have started to go grey) ...
I think my utter madness must be heriditory as my Dad used to have TVR's but recovered after significant persuasion at the time .... but sadly with age he has relapsed and bought a 4.5 Chimaera, nearer to the £40,000 mark .... must be senility...
My fate must be sealed to be a miserable TVR owner for many more years and continue the tragic cycle of loss of money (& hair), continuing stress, anxiety mixed with the not knowing whether I can ever accomplish the journey I set out upon.
Maybe I should stop driving it completely, try and 'sort my head out' and only drive my Polo......
I've even that when driving the TVR I have been caught smiling, which must be confirmation of my ever diminishing grip on the reality of my situation .... I realised this was getting serious, so last night I drove 150 miles to a special support group.
This special support group meets twice a month. I hadn't been for several months as I have moved from the area, but having used the car this week and caught myself smiling again I felt there was no choice and I went to see my friends at the Mid Kent TVR Car Club meeting at Hollingbourne ...
They welcomed me with open arms into the warm pub and held me for several hours until I had regained my total composure and on the drive I realised ........I am not mad ! Just far too enthusiastic.
I have committed (not been committed) to keeping the ol' girl and seeing whether we can work to gether on achieving journey's together. I will take small steps at first, doing journey's to work occasionally through the winter, and then when the weather warms up I will start to travel with other TVR owner's who understand my problem and will support me through (France and mainland Europe as well as ....) my continuing enthusiasm......
In fact this week I have wheeled the ol' girl out to see whether it would get me to work and back, amazingly it has achieved this simple task 3 times this week already !!!!! I even ventured round the M25 in it last night and it made it ....
I loathe driving it, servicing has meant I do nothing else in life just so I can afford it. I've stopped eating so that I can afford Mobil 1 for it ...
My 1st TVR cost me £7000 (£33,000 short, apparently)..... I used it everyday for nearly 3yrs and I hated it, every second of it. The 55,000+ miles I did were a gut wrenching mix of anxiety and nerves, just waiting for it to blow up in a ball of steam and smoke .... The new one is no better (I have started to go grey) ...
I think my utter madness must be heriditory as my Dad used to have TVR's but recovered after significant persuasion at the time .... but sadly with age he has relapsed and bought a 4.5 Chimaera, nearer to the £40,000 mark .... must be senility...
My fate must be sealed to be a miserable TVR owner for many more years and continue the tragic cycle of loss of money (& hair), continuing stress, anxiety mixed with the not knowing whether I can ever accomplish the journey I set out upon.
Maybe I should stop driving it completely, try and 'sort my head out' and only drive my Polo......
I've even that when driving the TVR I have been caught smiling, which must be confirmation of my ever diminishing grip on the reality of my situation .... I realised this was getting serious, so last night I drove 150 miles to a special support group.
This special support group meets twice a month. I hadn't been for several months as I have moved from the area, but having used the car this week and caught myself smiling again I felt there was no choice and I went to see my friends at the Mid Kent TVR Car Club meeting at Hollingbourne ...
They welcomed me with open arms into the warm pub and held me for several hours until I had regained my total composure and on the drive I realised ........I am not mad ! Just far too enthusiastic.
I have committed (not been committed) to keeping the ol' girl and seeing whether we can work to gether on achieving journey's together. I will take small steps at first, doing journey's to work occasionally through the winter, and then when the weather warms up I will start to travel with other TVR owner's who understand my problem and will support me through (France and mainland Europe as well as ....) my continuing enthusiasm......
I think it's a cost issue. There's no doubt there's fun in abundance and they put hairs on your arse, ooops chest. Big engine, light car, very basic, no gizmo's will yield a car for men with big, ney huge gonads. My question for debate is:
Is the performance a TVR yields worth £20k per testicle? If so can I cash in 1 of the aforementioned and have the car at half price.
Come on some oddball (teased remorsley at school) must need a spare unit, they don't come on the market very often. Anybody?
Signed Hue G Nads.
Is the performance a TVR yields worth £20k per testicle? If so can I cash in 1 of the aforementioned and have the car at half price.
Come on some oddball (teased remorsley at school) must need a spare unit, they don't come on the market very often. Anybody?
Signed Hue G Nads.
johno said:
My 2 TVR's have been appalling ..... total waste of money .... the last 80,000 miles in 3yrs and several trackdays have been both trouble, tedious and generally a total loss.
In fact this week I have wheeled the ol' girl out to see whether it would get me to work and back, amazingly it has achieved this simple task 3 times this week already !!!!! I even ventured round the M25 in it last night and it made it ....
I loathe driving it, servicing has meant I do nothing else in life just so I can afford it. I've stopped eating so that I can afford Mobil 1 for it ...
My 1st TVR cost me £7000 (£33,000 short, apparently)..... I used it everyday for nearly 3yrs and I hated it, every second of it. The 55,000+ miles I did were a gut wrenching mix of anxiety and nerves, just waiting for it to blow up in a ball of steam and smoke .... The new one is no better (I have started to go grey) ...
I think my utter madness must be heriditory as my Dad used to have TVR's but recovered after significant persuasion at the time .... but sadly with age he has relapsed and bought a 4.5 Chimaera, nearer to the £40,000 mark .... must be senility...
My fate must be sealed to be a miserable TVR owner for many more years and continue the tragic cycle of loss of money (& hair), continuing stress, anxiety mixed with the not knowing whether I can ever accomplish the journey I set out upon.
Maybe I should stop driving it completely, try and 'sort my head out' and only drive my Polo......
I've even that when driving the TVR I have been caught smiling, which must be confirmation of my ever diminishing grip on the reality of my situation .... I realised this was getting serious, so last night I drove 150 miles to a special support group.
This special support group meets twice a month. I hadn't been for several months as I have moved from the area, but having used the car this week and caught myself smiling again I felt there was no choice and I went to see my friends at the Mid Kent TVR Car Club meeting at Hollingbourne ...
They welcomed me with open arms into the warm pub and held me for several hours until I had regained my total composure and on the drive I realised ........I am not mad ! Just far too enthusiastic.
I have committed (not been committed) to keeping the ol' girl and seeing whether we can work to gether on achieving journey's together. I will take small steps at first, doing journey's to work occasionally through the winter, and then when the weather warms up I will start to travel with other TVR owner's who understand my problem and will support me through (France and mainland Europe as well as ....) my continuing enthusiasm......
RAOFPML 
and Ditto. 'S' and 'Griffth' both nothing but trouble. BB
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