Tamora Disappointment

[rjben]

Went down to Mole Valley on Saturday to take a look and spotted their Tamora demonstrator. I have to admit that I was nothing less than disappointed. The general appearance of the car was OK but I really couldn’t get to grips with that rear diffuser. What really shocked me was the build quality. The roof was ill fitting and the seals around the roof hoop / door looked awful. The carpets had frayed seams and to top it off the black bonnet vent and front spoiler had over-sprayed onto the adjoining silver bodywork. I only spent 5 minutes with the car and I don’t know what I would have found on closer inspection. The sales man informed me that this was the 4th car off the line which would explain the quality issues and offered me an ‘airfix’ kit analogy which seemed to infer that build quality would get better.

I chose not to by a Tuscan when they first appeared due to initial quality fears and I now feel exactly the same about the Tamora. Come on TVR, these are demonstrators; they reflect your ability to produce a quality car. I’ll be spending my 35K on the 2nd hand 4.5 Cerbera, it may not drive as well as a Tamora but at least it still looks good and appears to built to a higher standard.

I hope that I’ve seen a bad example (there should be no such thing for a demonstrator!) and that the new Tamora owners out there are happy with their vehicles………………..

Regards,

Rob

[richb]

quote:Went down to Mole Valley on Saturday to take a look and spotted their Tamora demonstrator...

I chose not to by a Tuscan when they first appeared due to initial quality fears and I now feel exactly the same about the Tamora. ...

I’ll be spending my 35K on the 2nd hand 4.5 Cerbera

What TVR do you currently drive Rob? All the Tamora owners on this list are delighted with their new cars? Rich...

[angusfaldo]

Rob

I think you've seen a bad one.

I watched two Tamoras being delivered to Kings in Warwick for customers. They were immaculate, and that's before all the PDI work. Having had reservations about the car after seeing it in the press I was blown away by the difference in build quality with the older models (I have a 96 Griff).

I'd suggest going back to see a fully sorted Tamora and I'd put up money that you'll be imporessed.

Of course the rear diffuser - well that's a different matter...

AF

[flasher]

Well Rob, mine is brilliant thanks. The build quality puts my old Cerbera to shame. I drove it all weekend in the snow and rain and it didn't leak at all. If you don't like it fair enough. The build quality on the one you saw sounds shocking but beleive me the three or four finished ones I have seen have been very good.

The rule here is the same for buying any sports car- buy the one you like best...

Please lets not start a Tamora bashing thread again. You had better get used to looking at the back end as it is all my Cerbera driving mate saw all weekend as he slithered around in the rain and my car stuck like sh*t to a blanket!!!

By all means go and buy a cerb, I loved my one when I had it , it was awesome

[rjben]

Please don’t get me wrong; I certainly don’t want to start Tamora bashing. I loved the concept at the motor show and have followed its development with excitement and acknowledge the cars superiority as recognised by EVO etc. I’m happy that my experience seems to be a one off, but I think you all have to acknowledge that I could well have been new to TVR and this could well have tarnished my experience. The point I’m trying to make is that this car should not be on the forecourt, TVR should be conscious of their market image and should be trying to rectify their previous poor publicity and gain notoriety for quality, not shoddy workmanship.

I don’t have a TVR at the moment, I sold my 97 chimp 500 in November. I have experience of driving a 98 4.2 Cerby which I found a dam sight more rapid than my chimp, with steering that felt much more precise, almost edgy. What comparisons can you make between chimp, Cerby 4.5 and Tamora handling? I’m drawn to the general shape / style / noise of a 4.5, but if Tamora handling is that much better, then maybe I should get a test drive.

Regards,

Rob

[sixspeed]

I mentioned the same thing when I had a go in MV's demonstrator. There seemed to be an awful lot of wind noise from the window seals, and the general fit and finish seemed a bit crude.

As with the early Tuscan's however, I'm sure it was just down to being an early car, and that the build quality will be (has?) improved.

Anyway, despite the trim finish quality, it still didn't take away the fact that the car felt excellent to drive!


-andy-

[MEMSDesign]

I don't get why early cars (demonstrators) would be allowed out the factory doors if they were anything other than spot on. The whole point of a demonstrator is surely to make a good impression?

>> Edited by MEMSDesign on Monday 25th February 11:01

[nubbin]

The car you saw, rjben, must be a lemon. Mine is spot on, with good trim and finish, no rattles, everything works, it's even warm with the heater on! It goes lke a greyhound with a firework up it's arse, and corners like the tyres are velcro'ed to the road. It's utterly brilliant, and well worth the money for the undiluted entertainment it brings. One interesting thing is that although people look at it, they don't seem too interested - I get the impression that it is such an unusual sight, that people can't work out what it is, and are still wondering by the time the rear badge has long since disappeared over the horizon (about 3 seconds!) Get one, it will be money well spent.

[rjben]

OK, it would appear that I found a lemon! Does anybody out there have experience of both a Cerby and a Tamora? Is there much of a difference between a 4.2 and a 4.5? I like to drive but I don’t fancy myself as a driver. I used to rip around the black mountains in my chimp and considered it to be a competent car. Is there going to be that much of a difference between a Tamora and a 4.5?

Please see new thread in General............

Regards,

Rob


>> Edited by rjben on Monday 25th February 11:06

[PetrolTed]

4.2 versus 4.5 - with the latest cars, there's little difference. Others will argue the toss but basically you'll have to live with the car for some time and push it quite hard before you'll notice any differences.

Tamora vs Cerbera. Interesting one. I suspect that point to point the Tamora might be a quicker car as the the handling is far superior. Power wise there's not much in it either.

They will both make your Chimaera feel like an old bus

[.mark]

Nubbin, Flasher. I never made comment on the Tamaora before because I have only ever seen pictures on the net and they were of a red one - IMO All red cars should be banned.
But, I've just looked at your profiles and boy those cars really look the Mutts Nuts, I have to see one of these in the flesh soon!
The Tamora rocks if your pics are anything to go by!

[flasher]

Mark

cheers mate!!

Rob

I am lucky enough to have owned both a Cerb and a Tamora. Nothing ever prepares you for the power and sheer acceleration of a Cerbera and likewise the handling and grip of the Tamora. I was astounded at the weekend how well it went in the wet. I followed Andy (GB1360) in his Tamora and we weren't hanging about!! I would have never driven my Cerb like that in the wet and our friend who was following in his Cerb lost the back end of his car a couple of times trying to keep up!! I have no doubt in the dry he would be closer (if not infront) but come the twisty bits I know which car I would rather be in. So far the only thing which I'm not happy with is the wind noise, but given that the Tuscan is on it's third set of door rubbers and the Cerb it's second or third, I'm sure in time that will be sorted.
As I said before drive them all and pick what you like best is my golden rule!!

[rjben]

Cheers,

Thanks for the advice. I shall arrange a test drive ASAP!

Regards,

Rob

>> Edited by rjben on Monday 25th February 14:41

[singh]

Does the Tuscan not get a look in then? Since it's the one i want after my Chim. i just wondered why it had been ruled out all together, is it really out-gunned by the the tamora and cerbera?
I would have thought that the Tuscan would have been the closer comparison to the Cerb?
Anybody had good experience of both the Tuscan and cerb., is there a lot in it performance wise?

[vindaloo]

flasher,

Nice colour matey, best I've seen it in.

[rjben]

Singh,

I like the look, except for the interior, and handling of a Tuscan but my friends Tuscan paid around 8 non standard visits to TVR in 12 months. These ranged from new plenum & remap to undersized piston. I know that the Tuscans are supposed to be sorted know (I would hope so as the Tamora also uses the speed 6!) but I still can’t get around all the hardship he went through. Maybe this just emphasises my point about the quality of newly released models and perhaps underlies my sway towards a Cerbera.

[flasher]

quote:
flasher,

Nice colour matey, best I've seen it in.

Cheers mate, it looks even better in the flesh when you can see the reflex paint

Rob
I dont get you point about comparing the S6 with the AJP 8. They sorted the 8 out and I'm pretty sure they have sorted the 6 now. Maybe with them making it a bit less stressed by using the 3.6 in the Tamora will help. But remember, you do get a warranty if you buy a relatively new TVR and if you have problems, you should be able to make the dealer sort them out.....

[fish]

Had my Tuscan for 10,000 miles and getting on for 9mths.

Great no problems other than the odd niggle you would expect from such a highly tuned race machine. Still pulling grins when I drive it, although I want more power now!!!

And it's more practical than the Tamora - the boots a lot bigger

>> Edited by fish on Tuesday 26th February 11:37

[sixspeed]

I don't know about the 3.6 Speedsix being less "stressed"?

Yes, it is smaller, but it is still producing almost the same power as the original 4.0 (350bhp as opposed to 360bhp in the early Tuscans).

So in fact, from that, I'd say the engine is actually more stressed, as it producing almost the same power output but the capacity has been reduced.

Any comments?

-andy-

[thom]

Sixspeed,

IMO if TVR have reduced the capacity of the Speed six on the Tamora (and without losing too much power), it's only for the sake of reliability.
Why would you change the speed six engine:
-not enough power ? no
-to reduce producing costs? not by
modyfying an engine
-to improve usability and reliability? yes

(Sorry Flasher, please don't me down in flames )