Taking a peek into the money pit
Discussion
OK, after more than 6 years of reading this site I've decided to ignore the fact that signing up will probably result in me spending all my free time here and make a posting. Every year I go through the excrutiating 'should-I-shouldn't-I?' exercise of trying to decide whether I should buy a TVR. In the end the stories about other people's financial/mechanical disasters always win the argument, the summer comes to an end and I remain TVRless. Will this year be different? Is my mid-life crisis serious enough yet? Well that is going to be up to you guys.
I've done the hot hatch, 4wd turbo nutter things before and now I actually quite enjoy just cruisin' around. I do enjoy the odd squeeze of the loud pedal, but mostly I just like being in a nice environment watching the world go by as I make steady progress. I do not need the fastest car on the planet, nor do I really need one that is good for trackdays. What I do need, however, is reliability and 'acceptable' running costs.
Most TVRs are getting on a bit now and the variations in price seem to be due to mileage and condition as much as age. As a result the number of options has increased significantly since I first started looking. Despite this, I've narrowed my choice down to 3 cars: a Griffith 500, Tamora or T350. The choice has been made on looks, size, price and in the case of the Griff, residuals.
So here's my question. Given a moderately flexible budget of £20k, would I be better buying a Griff, getting it resprayed, retrimmed and tightened up under the bonnet or should I go for one of the SP6 cars and shell out for an immediate full engine rebuild to give 'total' peace of mind? I get more excited about a Tamora or T350 than I do by the Griff although the Griff feels a safer bet wrt reliability and possibly residuals. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't really want to get a 'starter TVR' like an old Chimera as it just adds extra expense in the long run, but if someone can put up a strong argument then I would be prepared to listen.
Please someone convince me that I can have a the great looking, great sounding TVR that I've always wanted without the need to be followed everywhere by an AA/RAC chase car.
I've done the hot hatch, 4wd turbo nutter things before and now I actually quite enjoy just cruisin' around. I do enjoy the odd squeeze of the loud pedal, but mostly I just like being in a nice environment watching the world go by as I make steady progress. I do not need the fastest car on the planet, nor do I really need one that is good for trackdays. What I do need, however, is reliability and 'acceptable' running costs.
Most TVRs are getting on a bit now and the variations in price seem to be due to mileage and condition as much as age. As a result the number of options has increased significantly since I first started looking. Despite this, I've narrowed my choice down to 3 cars: a Griffith 500, Tamora or T350. The choice has been made on looks, size, price and in the case of the Griff, residuals.
So here's my question. Given a moderately flexible budget of £20k, would I be better buying a Griff, getting it resprayed, retrimmed and tightened up under the bonnet or should I go for one of the SP6 cars and shell out for an immediate full engine rebuild to give 'total' peace of mind? I get more excited about a Tamora or T350 than I do by the Griff although the Griff feels a safer bet wrt reliability and possibly residuals. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't really want to get a 'starter TVR' like an old Chimera as it just adds extra expense in the long run, but if someone can put up a strong argument then I would be prepared to listen.
Please someone convince me that I can have a the great looking, great sounding TVR that I've always wanted without the need to be followed everywhere by an AA/RAC chase car.
SonicHedgeHog said:
I just like being in a nice environment watching the world go by as I make steady progress. I do not need the fastest car on the planet, nor do I really need one that is good for trackdays. What I do need, however, is reliability and 'acceptable' running costs.
Sounds like you need a well sorted 4 litre Chim to me. The others that you've mentioned are screaming nutters of cars that will cost you the earth & depreciate. A good £8k ish Chim will be cheap to run & I can't see them ever getting any lower in price. The Rover engined cars are more reliable that the rest. Good luck whatever you get. 
These cars are all about the excitement; no real place for a 'head' decision, here. Drive a Tamora and a T350 and see which you would rather be in. Don't get an immediate rebuild - yes, some owners have had nightmares, but some have been issue-free. Just remember to keep some money aside in case you do need it later.
And, welcome!
And, welcome!
SonicHedgeHog said:
In the end the stories about other people's financial/mechanical disasters always win the argument, the summer comes to an end and I remain TVRless.
You usually find on forums like PH that only the bad news is presented. People come on here for help with their faults and problems. I suspect you will find that many many people drive around in TVRs without having any serious problems. There are a few gotchas (outriggers for example) that affect us all but if you know about them and avoid the dogs no reason why you shouldnt have many years of relatively cheap motoring no mater what you choose.I bought my chim 4 years ago and budgeted £1k a year . First 3 years I spent significantly less, this year I've spent £2.5k but not all the work was strictly necessary (new shocks as I wanted them, removal of precats together make up about £1k of that)
Griff, Tamora are open top motoring, T350 not unless you go for the T but then only 2 roof panels come out.
Not much in it between late Griff and early Tamora/T350 age wise now.
V8's are pretty bullet proof, S6 maybe hit and miss but post 2003 the problems should be sorted.
Always buy on condition.
What is your running budget, what will you use it for, and what sort of mileage are you looking at as this may influence your decision.
You need to go to a local TVR meet and talk to owners, have a look around. I'm sure you could get a spin in each to see what you think. Drive a few if you can and get a feel for which is best. Once you narrow it down you can then decide on colour options but the more flexible you are the more ikely you'll find one you want.
Good luck with the search and you won't regret it as they get into your blood. Great VFM and the owners (in the main anyhow) are down to earth and friendly.
FFG
Not much in it between late Griff and early Tamora/T350 age wise now.
V8's are pretty bullet proof, S6 maybe hit and miss but post 2003 the problems should be sorted.
Always buy on condition.
What is your running budget, what will you use it for, and what sort of mileage are you looking at as this may influence your decision.
You need to go to a local TVR meet and talk to owners, have a look around. I'm sure you could get a spin in each to see what you think. Drive a few if you can and get a feel for which is best. Once you narrow it down you can then decide on colour options but the more flexible you are the more ikely you'll find one you want.
Good luck with the search and you won't regret it as they get into your blood. Great VFM and the owners (in the main anyhow) are down to earth and friendly.
FFG
Personally, the dynamics of the newer TVR's are light years ahead of the older ones. I have a very well sorted Chim (Nitrons, Powerflex brushes, proper geo setup etc), and thought it was good.... then I got the Sag. Difference is night and day....
Shame the Sag doesn't have the V8 sound...
Shame the Sag doesn't have the V8 sound...
From your description of what you're after it has to be a Griff. Lazy low down torque with a great turn of speed when you want it and sound track to die for with fantastic styling. Seems to fit the bill perfectly and with that budget you could do any remedial work or up-grades you need/want.
Welcome to the forum by the way. Now start scratching that itch
Welcome to the forum by the way. Now start scratching that itch
Ive recently been in a similar situation as you, with a simialr budget.
Ive owned a wonderful Griff for several years & unfortunately managed to kill the poor thing in France last year, as a result I found myself looking for another Griff or a Tamora....or maybe a Cerbera.
I loved the Tamora, & the Cerb, but my heart went for a really clean & well sorted Griff which looks like its just rolled off the production line
Which ever way you go you will get a great car with your budget, but I would suggest if you buy a Tam dont spend money on a rebuild straight away, keep it in the bank untill you really need it as you might find there is no need to spend your money at this stage.
Come to a meet & chat with the owners, blag a few rides & see what you think, & drive a Griff & Tamora back to back before you make your final decision.
Either way you'll enjoy it, & if you buy the right car you will be pleasantly suprised what good value for money TVRs can be.
Nick
Ive owned a wonderful Griff for several years & unfortunately managed to kill the poor thing in France last year, as a result I found myself looking for another Griff or a Tamora....or maybe a Cerbera.
I loved the Tamora, & the Cerb, but my heart went for a really clean & well sorted Griff which looks like its just rolled off the production line
Which ever way you go you will get a great car with your budget, but I would suggest if you buy a Tam dont spend money on a rebuild straight away, keep it in the bank untill you really need it as you might find there is no need to spend your money at this stage.
Come to a meet & chat with the owners, blag a few rides & see what you think, & drive a Griff & Tamora back to back before you make your final decision.
Either way you'll enjoy it, & if you buy the right car you will be pleasantly suprised what good value for money TVRs can be.
Nick
Thanks for the replies chaps. This would be our third, well techincally fourth, car (don't ask) so I don't really need to worry about excessive running costs. Unless we did a long driving holiday we'd probably only be doing 3000 miles per year in the Trev so maintenance should be as low as TVR maintenance can be. I tend to agree with everyone that the Griff is the way to go. It was really only the low prices and lighter clutch that got me sniffing around the SP6 cars. I think a 30-40,000 mile Griff for about £12k ish plus a £2.5k repray and wheel refurb and a grand's worth of fresh cow will suit me down to the ground.
At the risk of massive thread creep (may as well start as I plan to go on) I am staggered no one has come up with a TVR replacement. The new Marcos should have been that car, but wasn't, Noble is getting carried away with a car that's too expensive and too extreme, Morgan is too expensive and wierd, Lotuses are too much of a fair-weather track day car and all the mainstream stuff is, well, too mainstream. How hard can it be to drop the Corvette engine into a great looking car with a sorted chassis and finish it off with a nice curvy, leather interior. Surely someone can do that for 40 grand? That Russian is a total dipstick!
At the risk of massive thread creep (may as well start as I plan to go on) I am staggered no one has come up with a TVR replacement. The new Marcos should have been that car, but wasn't, Noble is getting carried away with a car that's too expensive and too extreme, Morgan is too expensive and wierd, Lotuses are too much of a fair-weather track day car and all the mainstream stuff is, well, too mainstream. How hard can it be to drop the Corvette engine into a great looking car with a sorted chassis and finish it off with a nice curvy, leather interior. Surely someone can do that for 40 grand? That Russian is a total dipstick!
Having had four TVR's over the years I would say go for a 5 Litre Chimaera as a good first TVR. They are pretty reliable and for noise and mid range torque (you mentioned enjoying cruising) you can put your foot down in 5th gear and outdrag a 911 from 80 mph upwards without changing down they are just all torque. Sure a Griff 500 is better looking but they are a bit twitchier on the twisties and are you willing to pay a 2-3k premium for a Griff over a Chim secondhand?
If you were lucky you could find a last off the line 2001 model Chim but these in 5 litre guise are rare. You would have plenty of money left and you should get a minter for 15k-17k in the current market.
Talk to some dealers like Fernhurst or James Agger and see what they think aswell.
I don't want to open a can of worms here but I have always believed that the 5 Litre Chim was the best all rounder and the easiest TVR to live with on a day to day basis. Just don't floor it in second or third unless it is bone dry..
If you were lucky you could find a last off the line 2001 model Chim but these in 5 litre guise are rare. You would have plenty of money left and you should get a minter for 15k-17k in the current market.
Talk to some dealers like Fernhurst or James Agger and see what they think aswell.
I don't want to open a can of worms here but I have always believed that the 5 Litre Chim was the best all rounder and the easiest TVR to live with on a day to day basis. Just don't floor it in second or third unless it is bone dry..
Edited by chim500nj on Friday 6th February 20:05
Your post is almost identical to the one I posted 4 years ago! I was desperate to buy a TVR but was terrified about reliability issues, Anyway I did take the plunge after studying the market for what seemed like an age, Found myself a cracking 4 litre griff which gave me 2.5 years of driving bliss! It was also 100% reliable, Only reson I traded it in was to get a sagaris which is simply incredible , and also been 100% reliable in the 19 months iv'e had it.
Moral of the story!! Do your research buy a good one and you will fall in love, guaranteed.
Moral of the story!! Do your research buy a good one and you will fall in love, guaranteed.
I tend to get carried away with all this stuff and if I'm not careful I'll end up talking myself into a Speed 12 Sagaris with full home cinema and hydrafoil. Actually reading what people are telling me suggests that I should spend the cash on getting the best possible car available rather than buying a leggy one and tarting it up a bit. Don't suppose anyone wants to sell a Griff LE for £15-20k? No? Thought not. Cheers.
Go for a Griff. Mechanical's are far more robust than any of the later cars in your price range. The Chimaera is the other option, but there are far more around so don't and won't hold their value so well.
Go for the best original condition Griff you can find - that will be a far better bet that trying to get a poorer condition one back to A1. You'll have to be patient but one will come up eventually and you'll have change from your 20K
Go for the best original condition Griff you can find - that will be a far better bet that trying to get a poorer condition one back to A1. You'll have to be patient but one will come up eventually and you'll have change from your 20K
bigdods said:
SonicHedgeHog said:
In the end the stories about other people's financial/mechanical disasters always win the argument, the summer comes to an end and I remain TVRless.
You usually find on forums like PH that only the bad news is presented. People come on here for help with their faults and problems. I suspect you will find that many many people drive around in TVRs without having any serious problems. There are a few gotchas (outriggers for example) that affect us all but if you know about them and avoid the dogs no reason why you shouldnt have many years of relatively cheap motoring no mater what you choose.I bought my chim 4 years ago and budgeted £1k a year . First 3 years I spent significantly less, this year I've spent £2.5k but not all the work was strictly necessary (new shocks as I wanted them, removal of precats together make up about £1k of that)
Get it serviced properly and timeously by an expert and you will reduce as many "unforseen" issues as possible. You will however probably end up spending your money on upgrades for it so don't expect to save too much, lol.
At present, my clutch has gone and these thing's happen, you just have to smile, cough up to get it fixed and then drive it again to forget about what you have just paid.
Can't give you advice on the options you have chosen since I have never owned any of them but i'm sure all of them will give you the thrill you are looking for.
grumbledoak said:
SonicHedgeHog said:
I get more excited about a Tamora or T350 than I do by the Griff...
s6boy said:
From your description of what you're after it has to be a Griff...
SonicHedgeHog said:
...and now I actually quite enjoy just cruisin' around. I do enjoy the odd squeeze of the loud pedal, but mostly I just like being in a nice environment watching the world go by as I make steady progress. I do not need the fastest car on the planet, nor do I really need one that is good for trackdays. What I do need, however, is reliability and 'acceptable' running costs.
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