TVR Speed 6 Servicing in France?

[Mr Heathen]

Hello,

I'm moving to France early next year, Haute-Loire region. I have been reliably informed that I may have some trouble getting a S6 engine serviced over there, which is rather disappointing to say the least.

I was just wondering if anyone might have any information to the contrary? Perhaps someone knows of an ex-TVR wizard who now runs a garage somewhere in the Dordogne? Bit of a long shot, I'm sure, but y'know, it's good to live in hope...

Cheers.

[SFM]

Hi, we are moving to france early next year as well!! about 6km from le bugue.
I, until 3 weeks ago, had a noble 3r, which I loved. But I realised that there was no way I could get servicing or spare parts in france, and so with a heavy heart I sold it and bought an M3 convertable, boring but reliable and easy to get serviced etc. Have you noticed that in southern france, they do not seem to be into their cars as much as we are in the uk, it seems rare to see a nice performance car, and when you do they are usually not on frnch plates. I suppose with all the beautiful country around they have better things to do. Good luck.

[Mr Heathen]

SFM said:

Hi, we are moving to france early next year as well!! about 6km from le bugue.
I, until 3 weeks ago, had a noble 3r, which I loved. But I realised that there was no way I could get servicing or spare parts in france, and so with a heavy heart I sold it and bought an M3 convertable, boring but reliable and easy to get serviced etc. Have you noticed that in southern france, they do not seem to be into their cars as much as we are in the uk, it seems rare to see a nice performance car, and when you do they are usually not on frnch plates. I suppose with all the beautiful country around they have better things to do. Good luck.

Hello SFM (named after the old hardcore band by any chance?), indeed you seem to have done the sensible thing there. (Un)fortunately I've never been sensible, just can't do it, so, I'm forging ahead with the plans to take a TVR... I have turned up a couple of places that service performance cars & one TVR specialist about 90 miles from where I'll be living, that'll do for me!

I know what you mean about the lack of nice motors, it seems so crazy when they have some of the best roads I've ever driven, you'd think they'd all be at it! Perhaps everybody is too busy drinking heavily & shooting at anything that moves to be bothered with cars?

We did stumble across a vintage & performance car show just outside of Limogues which is apparently held every August/September, there were lots of cracking motors out for that, quite a few Ferrari's, a couple of Lambo's & some other esoterica but we were on our way to view property so didn't have time to stop & dawdle. I'll definitely be there with bells on next year though, you can count on that...

All the best for your move, I hope it's as stress free as possible. I just had most of my stuff container-ed up, ready to go & I'm starting to reach full-on headless chicken mode right about now...

[penryar]

SFM said:

Hi, we are moving to france early next year as well!! about 6km from le bugue.

Is that Le Bugue Dept 24? If So I'm quite often over that way in the summer as I'm only down the road in Bergerac

[SFM]

Yep.... about 17miles N/E of bergerac, a little place called Paunat. Fed up with the M3 already, might look around for something more exciting, before we move.

[Electron]

Hi,

"vintage & performance car show just outside of Limoges ......"

If you've got any more info on this I'll buy you a beer there next year. We're across in the Correze

Also my local garage in St Privat is really good with most standard technology cars - I'd think about getting an earlier Rover V8 based TVR, getting a big service done over here once a year and get a local garage to do the interims ?

Cheers

Chris

[neil-f]

SFM said:

Have you noticed that in southern france, they do not seem to be into their cars as much as we are in the uk, it seems rare to see a nice performance car, and when you do they are usually not on frnch plates.

I have a place down in the Alps and you would be amazed at the amount of supercars around (in the summer months at least)as winter it is all Cayenne and RR Sports etc

[Mr Heathen]

Electron said:

Hi,

"vintage & performance car show just outside of Limoges ......"

If you've got any more info on this I'll buy you a beer there next year. We're across in the Correze

Also my local garage in St Privat is really good with most standard technology cars - I'd think about getting an earlier Rover V8 based TVR, getting a big service done over here once a year and get a local garage to do the interims ?

Cheers

Chris

Hi Electron,

Sorry for the tardy reply, I've been in transit & my computer has only just touched down en France.

The event is held in Creuse, I believe it starts in Bourganeuf & continues as a rally around the towns. I'm off to meet one of the organisers in a couple of weeks so I'll post again when I have all the details. Look forward to meeting you!

Cheers for now.

[rdjohn]

"I know what you mean about the lack of nice motors, it seems so crazy when they have some of the best roads I've ever driven, you'd think they'd all be at it! Perhaps everybody is too busy drinking heavily & shooting at anything that moves to be bothered with cars?

We did stumble across a vintage & performance car show just outside of Limogues which is apparently held every August/September, there were lots of cracking motors out for that, quite a few Ferrari's, a couple of Lambo's & some other esoterica but we were on our way to view property so didn't have time to stop & dawdle. I'll definitely be there with bells on next year though, you can count on that"

Would 400 Ferraris be enough? Try a visit to http://www.sportetcollection.info/ they also have a small section for TVRs as well. The French TVR club can be found here http://www.tvrcarclub-france.net/ I am sure you will find someone who can service it from the forum.

I really think that the French are very into their nice cars, they just don't do posing, for posing's sake. I suspect that French wealth tax may be to blame!

Edited by rdjohn on Monday 3rd March 21:39