Reliable TVR's
Discussion
Knock on wood, I have always been happy with my TVR's, except for the one I started out with (a 3000M) but there I just got what I paid for. I have not owned one with a TVR-manufactured engine though. In all my talks with dealers they seem to be more happy with the Ford and Rover based cars. Reliability is often linked to standard components, but then again, performance isn't...
Apart from a couple of niggly problems just after I bought it....Destroyed Diff, and a worn camshaft, my SEAC has been very reliable (touch wood).
I took it to Le Mans last year, and toured round Devon / Cornwall, without any problems. The only time it misbehaved was during the cold spell, when the temp went up to 110. After 20 mins of cooling, it restarted with no problems. Not sure how much longer it'll remain reliable though; as I'm taking it sprinting this year.
As on the other thread, my Chimaera has been as reliable as any other car I've owned (better than some!) and I love the whole TVR thing! A few minor niggles, but NEVER left stranded. I can't think of a time when I had so much fun driving, and I can't wait to get the roof off again! They are GREAT cars, with no riders on that statement. Are TVR still suffering from the poor reputation left behind my the wedges, who were, I'm sure even wedge owners will admit, less robust than the more modern cars, and particularly prone to electrical problems? PLEASE NOTE - this is not a criticism of wedges, just a thought about how difficult it is to shed a reputation for unreliability.
Edited by fourwheeldrift on Monday 5th February 11:24 
I thought they were pretty much bullet proof ! 
I have a 3 year old Cerbera 4.5 which I bought 5 months ago. It now has 9000 miles on the clock. I have had to send it back to the sports car (not TVR) dealer every month for a week each time. Some faults have been fixed, many have not. Faults at present include - no clutch: faulty clutch slave cylinder, water leaks into the saloon - doesn't everones, steaming from the header tank in slow traffic (may be sorted out now), water in the rear light. I am currently driving my 13 year old 180,000 mile Jaguar XJ40 (which I used to think was unreliable)on a limited mileage classic insurance. I have done 1250 miles already while the TVR has been unavailable. I have a warranty with Warranty Holdings and I am now trying to use TVR dealers to sort out the problems. Conclusion - probably the most unreliable car I have driven (Skoda included) however, what a drive. I will win in the end. It will become an every day car when I have got it sorted out. In the meantime as enthusiasts, I think we should all give our support to TVR and Team Central in their time of need and stop all the bickering if we want to carry on with the undoubted enjoyment these quirky cars give.
Whoever you take your car to (and if they haven't fixed the water in to the saloon and I take it you mean the water into the footwells) then tell them to look at the rubber seals in the bulkhead which the assorted cables and steering column go through. They will then find the rubber has perished and will change them.
Adding the line "so why didn't you find this yourselves?"
There's a moral here somewhere....oh yes, here it is - Use a genuinely good TVR garage not a "sports car" garage, they would have F**K all knowledge of what needs to be done and if you had used a TVR garage you would have found your "problems" sorted a long time ago.
Edited by fourwheeldrift on Saturday 17th February 18:51
The leaks have been conventional - brake fluid container seal & bolts but also one part under the back engine bay cover where the paint had gone and where the water actually soaked through the glass fibre. I think I have sorted that one. The most difficult one now is the REAR right footwell. There is no water on the seats sides or front. I believe it is coming through the centre tunnel low down somehow. I would be interested if anyone has any ideas. The reason for taking it back to the dealer is that I suspect that Warranty Holdings will not deal with problems of this sort, but as I stated before I am going through TVR dealers now. Incidentally has anyone got a rear light resealed under a Warranty Holdings warranty?
quote:Edited by jeffa on Sunday 18th February 14:33
Whoever you take your car to (and if they haven't fixed the water in to the saloon and I take it you mean the water into the footwells) then tell them to look at the rubber seals in the bulkhead which the assorted cables and steering column go through. They will then find the rubber has perished and will change them. Adding the line "so why didn't you find this yourselves?" There's a moral here somewhere....oh yes, here it is - Use a genuinely good TVR garage not a "sports car" garage, they would have F**K all knowledge of what needs to be done and if you had used a TVR garage you would have found your "problems" sorted a long time ago.
quote:Is it damp on the sides of the footwell or just the floor? If the sides are also damp it could be a bad door seal. I don't see how a problem with the centre tunnel could allow water into the rear footwell unless it, or the floor has been damaged (and it would have to be big!), on the road or on a trackday. Do you know the history of your car?
The most difficult one now is the REAR right footwell. There is no water on the seats sides or front. I believe it is coming through the centre tunnel low down somehow.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff