general TVR advice
Discussion
Just wondered if anyone could offer me some advice. I have around 15k to spend on a car and have always loved tvr's and have been looking at 2002 tamora's around the 13k mark. I wanted to know how reliable they are. I commute 40 miles a day all motorway and I wondered if it would be suitable for this? I have never owned a TVR before as I am only 20 and can only get insured for less than £1500 when I am 21 in a few weeks. I have limited knowledge so just wanted to see if I was being realistic in using a TVR as a daily driver. If anyone uses there tvr as a daily driver I would greatly appreciate your input. I have looked at a more sensible alternative the z4m coupe but the TVR just excites me that bit more.many thanks in advance
What have you driven before?
A light, powerful, rear drive car with no driver aids is a big jump if you are coming from FWD for example.
As with all TVRs the purchase price isn't the end of the story, be confindent you can afford to fix those little problems that may arrive. I've seen bills of £600 for a single wire to be replaced.
With all that said, I can think of no better way to spend your cash.
A light, powerful, rear drive car with no driver aids is a big jump if you are coming from FWD for example.
As with all TVRs the purchase price isn't the end of the story, be confindent you can afford to fix those little problems that may arrive. I've seen bills of £600 for a single wire to be replaced.
With all that said, I can think of no better way to spend your cash.
I have driven bmw 330ci RWD, Audi tt quattro sport 4WD, z3m coupe RWD (no traction control)are the fastest cars I have had others have been Front wheel drive. I do realise what you are saying as I am young and have only had my license 3 years but I have been driving cars since I was 13 including a 200BHP locost kit car me and my dad built weighing only 600kg with no driver aids. I would just need to be careful in it. There is no way I would get into a new car and drive it like a nutter instantly, like quite a few people I know are like. Its reliability that worries me. But i do spend every last penny of my cash on cars. I am currently doing a student placement for a year which is why I am commuting. I am just thinking it maybe better to wait until my placement is over next October when I will be back at uni and only need the car at weekends. I have around 20k I could spend but I want some money for contingency and insurance on a tamora at 21 is going to be £1340 with admiral. Its just that sound!!!!!! makes me want one so bad. I think I will need to go to some meets and have a long chat with some different owners to build a bigger picture 
As said the service costs on a Speed six are high. Plus if they are not maintained they will bite you with a big bill.
The rule of thumb is to put back £1000 a year for service costs plus a bit more of any odds and sods. All the Tams have the 3.6 engine which is thought to be more reliable than the 4.0.
Personally if I was you I would be looking at a V8 Tiv something like a Chimera or Griff, you should be able to get a 5ltr one with out any issue and its still very very quick but a little lighter on the wallet when it comes to maintenance.
Also forget about the BMW as a point of reference, I thought the Tuscan would be pretty tame coming from a 400+ bhp Supra but its a whole different kettle of fish......much more fun
The rule of thumb is to put back £1000 a year for service costs plus a bit more of any odds and sods. All the Tams have the 3.6 engine which is thought to be more reliable than the 4.0.
Personally if I was you I would be looking at a V8 Tiv something like a Chimera or Griff, you should be able to get a 5ltr one with out any issue and its still very very quick but a little lighter on the wallet when it comes to maintenance.
Also forget about the BMW as a point of reference, I thought the Tuscan would be pretty tame coming from a 400+ bhp Supra but its a whole different kettle of fish......much more fun
As mentioned already by others I'd look at the Griffs and Chims instead. 13k is bottom of the barrel money for Tamoras and whilst there are good ones out there chances are you'll get burned.
The S6 is a good engine BUT with many caveats. They must be warmed through, properly serviced ON time and mileage as well as used regularly.
My last 2 services on my T350 have been over a grand each (I do about 10k a year), remember it's not just the engine that needs looking after. A clutch (£1100 ish including slave) will last 14-20k on average. Engine mounts are almost service items, valve clearances MUST be checked at least every 12k. They are fantastic cars and can be used daily but you have to remember they are not a normal, jump in, everyday car.
The S6 is a good engine BUT with many caveats. They must be warmed through, properly serviced ON time and mileage as well as used regularly.
My last 2 services on my T350 have been over a grand each (I do about 10k a year), remember it's not just the engine that needs looking after. A clutch (£1100 ish including slave) will last 14-20k on average. Engine mounts are almost service items, valve clearances MUST be checked at least every 12k. They are fantastic cars and can be used daily but you have to remember they are not a normal, jump in, everyday car.
My cheapest years servicing and repairs costs in a year (and have had 4 tvrs over a 13 year period) is about a grand. My biggest year is £10K. I have had plenty of £6K years too. My average is about £5K I think! Most peoples is nearer £2K to £3K I would guess. Lots have got away with less.
Zippee said:
The S6 is a good engine BUT with many caveats. They must be warmed through...
This is what put me off the Speed6's when I was looking at which TVR to buy as a daily driver...If I need to pop up the road at a moments notice, or am running late for work etc - I thought that an engine which requires warming-up in order to be in the "safe-zone" probably wasn't the ideal daily drive/primary car...
All IMO, and obviously I could be wrong - but as a daily drive, I decided the RV8 engine was a safer/more practical option...
HTH,
Dom
I've used TVR's everyday plenty of times. In fact it never fails to amaze me how many people say that you can't use this car everyday, or you can't use that car, etc.... most of it is a load of old pony spouted from someone who has never owned one.
The simple fact is that yes you can use a Tamora everyday and most of the time it will be ok. However, and this is from personal experience, the downsides are:-
It'll probably leak a bit in the rain, if not in the cabin, probably in the boot.
Hit standing water in it at speed (ie like a typical wet winter) and you'll have a problem.
Snow, Ice..... forget it.
Turning circles are crap, so multi-storey carparks can be a bit of a pain.
Stone chips..... TVR's are quite prone to them. Armourfend can be a wise and economical investment.
It will be expensive to run, fuel, servicing, tyres, etc...
A 2002 model is not going to have the strongest of engines, so only get one with a documented rebuild, or budget £5k ready for a rebuild!
In summer, stuck in traffic with betty swallocks and burning your hand on the gear-knob every gearchange isn't very pleasant.
But other than that, go for it
The simple fact is that yes you can use a Tamora everyday and most of the time it will be ok. However, and this is from personal experience, the downsides are:-
It'll probably leak a bit in the rain, if not in the cabin, probably in the boot.
Hit standing water in it at speed (ie like a typical wet winter) and you'll have a problem.
Snow, Ice..... forget it.
Turning circles are crap, so multi-storey carparks can be a bit of a pain.
Stone chips..... TVR's are quite prone to them. Armourfend can be a wise and economical investment.
It will be expensive to run, fuel, servicing, tyres, etc...
A 2002 model is not going to have the strongest of engines, so only get one with a documented rebuild, or budget £5k ready for a rebuild!
In summer, stuck in traffic with betty swallocks and burning your hand on the gear-knob every gearchange isn't very pleasant.
But other than that, go for it
because from what I have heard I need to keep 5k spare for maintenance. I can stretch to 22k on a car but would have nothing left over and I wanted to save some cash to invest in shares. the z4m I have lined up if I sell my car soon has a year warranty and is £18k with 30000 miles. There are so many cars I want to get through in the next two years I have a list of about 10 so would only keep whatever I get next for 3 months tops before another change. I would love to go all out on a t350 and hope in the months I had it it required nothing but I wouldnt want to not be able to afford repairs and maintenance if needed etc.....
because I like to try and make profit on my cars.I hate losing any money with leasing I would see it as this. Surely it would be very expensive and hard with insurance being only 20( well 21 in a few weeks)? every car I have owned so far I have made money on. I started with 4 grand from my parents when I was 17 and in 3 years I am up to around the 12-13 grand mark.now with the addition of selling my fishing equipment and doing well out of the stock market I have some more money to play with. I do keep thinking about getting a fiesta diesel for work as the money saved in fuel pays back insurance cost of having two cars. hmmm so much to think about. 996 911 is another car I am very tempted by. test drove one a month ago and was quite impressed just a bit bouncy at the front boxsters seem to drive better....
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