Defending the Speed 6
Discussion
Right time for me to make a few points.
1) There seems to be a feeling among many V8 Cerbera owners that the Speed6 is somehow the poor relation, even to the extent tat a car that I love has been described as a 'complete Lemon'.
2) Mostly the criticism refers to the engine, so does that mean that Tuscans, Tamoras, T350Cs are 'complete Lemons' too?
3) The Speed 6 Cerbera has advatages over the V8 cars for many people, indeed all contemporary roadtests preferred the Speed 6 over the V8 cars. The reasons for this were: a) Better Engine refinement b) Better Engine sound c) Steering slightly lower geared meaning that you do not have to make constant steering corrections d) More compliant ride (but hardly soft)
4) The performance on paper is slightly less, but is more than enough for the road, and the engine was designed with a rising torque curve and has a great power delivery. In any case the cars have 350Hp which is the same as the 4.2V8, and by all accounts the 4.5V8 does not in reality have much more pover. The speed 6 engine actually has more torque than the 4.2V8.
5) I use my car every day and have no other car for me the Speed 6 is perfect.
6)The engine in my car had an upgrade at 17000 miles, although it had not actually failed, since then it has been perfect and now has 29000 miles on. It has just been serviced and the engine has no problems, I believe that the engine has now been srted and will give no further trouble, the minor problems it did have are common to all Cerberas.
So come on the Speed 6 is a different animal but IMHO is just as good if not better than the V8 cars, which incidentally are hardly a byword for reliability.
I realise that this is a long post but I am quite upset about this issue. Right Ill duck for cover for a couple of hours.
Ocean1
1) There seems to be a feeling among many V8 Cerbera owners that the Speed6 is somehow the poor relation, even to the extent tat a car that I love has been described as a 'complete Lemon'.
2) Mostly the criticism refers to the engine, so does that mean that Tuscans, Tamoras, T350Cs are 'complete Lemons' too?
3) The Speed 6 Cerbera has advatages over the V8 cars for many people, indeed all contemporary roadtests preferred the Speed 6 over the V8 cars. The reasons for this were: a) Better Engine refinement b) Better Engine sound c) Steering slightly lower geared meaning that you do not have to make constant steering corrections d) More compliant ride (but hardly soft)
4) The performance on paper is slightly less, but is more than enough for the road, and the engine was designed with a rising torque curve and has a great power delivery. In any case the cars have 350Hp which is the same as the 4.2V8, and by all accounts the 4.5V8 does not in reality have much more pover. The speed 6 engine actually has more torque than the 4.2V8.
5) I use my car every day and have no other car for me the Speed 6 is perfect.
6)The engine in my car had an upgrade at 17000 miles, although it had not actually failed, since then it has been perfect and now has 29000 miles on. It has just been serviced and the engine has no problems, I believe that the engine has now been srted and will give no further trouble, the minor problems it did have are common to all Cerberas.
So come on the Speed 6 is a different animal but IMHO is just as good if not better than the V8 cars, which incidentally are hardly a byword for reliability.
I realise that this is a long post but I am quite upset about this issue. Right Ill duck for cover for a couple of hours.
Ocean1
I've now done 19,000 miles in my Speed 6, purchased 4 years ago, without the need for an engine rebuild / replacement.
Yes, I have had a fair number of issues with my car, and recognise that being able to swallow £3k of maintenance bills in a year (not necessarily every year)is critical for a successful relationship with a Cerbera. However, all of these issues appear, from the threads on this web-site over the last three years, to be common to all Cerberas, regardless of the number of cylinders.
Yes, some Speed 6 engines have needed to be replaced. Mine, and I'm sure many others, haven't needed to be and appear to be running just as well as V8s.
I don't think that there is a need to defend the 6 - but there is a need for a more balanced perspective on this web-site: after all, the 6 is the future of TVR...
Yes, I have had a fair number of issues with my car, and recognise that being able to swallow £3k of maintenance bills in a year (not necessarily every year)is critical for a successful relationship with a Cerbera. However, all of these issues appear, from the threads on this web-site over the last three years, to be common to all Cerberas, regardless of the number of cylinders.
Yes, some Speed 6 engines have needed to be replaced. Mine, and I'm sure many others, haven't needed to be and appear to be running just as well as V8s.
I don't think that there is a need to defend the 6 - but there is a need for a more balanced perspective on this web-site: after all, the 6 is the future of TVR...
You can defend a speed six all you want, I have never owned one so can only comment based upon what I have read/ heard form ex-owners. The speed six has hit the V8 owning Cerberas hard. Many cars HAVE had issues, I dont know or care how many, but enough for there to be more amunition to the ignorant public to go TVR Bashing further.
I know of many long-term TVR owners who have owned several TVRs over the years that have been put off forever by owning speed six engined cars that have needed a rebuild, or three.
I do believe that they are getting better and im sure there must be a fair few out there without problems, fortunately, you seem to own one of them. Reliability and reputation aside - the speed six does seem to be a very good engine. It produces good bhp/torque and seems smoother in delivery than the V8s.
The fact is, the speed six has had problems and it will be a long time before people, like myself, will be convinced that they have been cured. They have done alot of damage to TVR which im sure most of the press are aware of but are keeping quiet. Indeed pretty much anyone who spends ten minuites on this site are aware of the problems.
As I said before, im sure they are getting better, the T350 and Tamora are cars that have brought TVR to a whole new level with handling to match the pace. If thier engines hold out as they have been doing recently, then they are bloody good value sports cars. The Tuscan was the TVR that took the hardest hit with S6 problems, yet it is still selling strong and is currently IMHO the face of TVR to the public.
There are lemons throughout the Cerbera range, V8 or S6, it doesnt matter. V8 owners dont tend to look down on the S6, they tend to feel angry at what the rebuilds do for TVR's reputation. The speed six is no lemon, its a good engine, its just had a hard life so far. If things are improving as I hope they are then im sure it will establish itself as a crucial part of TVR history. Afterall, the speed six is whats powering those stunning T400R's around Le Mans.
It will just take time for people to grow to trust them to be as reliable (or more so) than the V8's. I just get bored of people writing about how thier car has gone bang and its the worst built car in the world. I hope this will change over time.
Im starting to quite like the speed six, its becoming less problematic and in the T350 atleast, it sounds incredible with the standard exhaust. Give it time...
I know of many long-term TVR owners who have owned several TVRs over the years that have been put off forever by owning speed six engined cars that have needed a rebuild, or three.
I do believe that they are getting better and im sure there must be a fair few out there without problems, fortunately, you seem to own one of them. Reliability and reputation aside - the speed six does seem to be a very good engine. It produces good bhp/torque and seems smoother in delivery than the V8s.
The fact is, the speed six has had problems and it will be a long time before people, like myself, will be convinced that they have been cured. They have done alot of damage to TVR which im sure most of the press are aware of but are keeping quiet. Indeed pretty much anyone who spends ten minuites on this site are aware of the problems.
As I said before, im sure they are getting better, the T350 and Tamora are cars that have brought TVR to a whole new level with handling to match the pace. If thier engines hold out as they have been doing recently, then they are bloody good value sports cars. The Tuscan was the TVR that took the hardest hit with S6 problems, yet it is still selling strong and is currently IMHO the face of TVR to the public.
There are lemons throughout the Cerbera range, V8 or S6, it doesnt matter. V8 owners dont tend to look down on the S6, they tend to feel angry at what the rebuilds do for TVR's reputation. The speed six is no lemon, its a good engine, its just had a hard life so far. If things are improving as I hope they are then im sure it will establish itself as a crucial part of TVR history. Afterall, the speed six is whats powering those stunning T400R's around Le Mans.
It will just take time for people to grow to trust them to be as reliable (or more so) than the V8's. I just get bored of people writing about how thier car has gone bang and its the worst built car in the world. I hope this will change over time.
Im starting to quite like the speed six, its becoming less problematic and in the T350 atleast, it sounds incredible with the standard exhaust. Give it time...
Ok Let's turn this argument around: 
Other than smoothness (Lexus do some very smooth cars, you know), what is the advantage of an S6 over a V8? They give no more power than a decent 4.2, never mind a sorted 4.5, and the Russian roulette factor is there, whether yours happens to go bang or not. The six is longer & 35 lb heavier, screwing up the CofG, is no more economical, but IS cheaper to produce. Go TVR.
As for magazine reviewers, what about the stuff they vote Car of the Year? You thinking of getting a Multipla any day soon?!
Other than smoothness (Lexus do some very smooth cars, you know), what is the advantage of an S6 over a V8? They give no more power than a decent 4.2, never mind a sorted 4.5, and the Russian roulette factor is there, whether yours happens to go bang or not. The six is longer & 35 lb heavier, screwing up the CofG, is no more economical, but IS cheaper to produce. Go TVR. As for magazine reviewers, what about the stuff they vote Car of the Year? You thinking of getting a Multipla any day soon?!
I've just purchased a 2000 X Reg Speed Six. I did this for a number of reasons having test driven all three and done endless research on the TVR reliability. Firstly i've spent in excess of £3,000 last year in maintenance on my other car a BMW 740i, which needless to say has its own engine problems - namely with its alloy engine. If you love a car - a performance car running costs are inevitable. My reasons - a) I read about the speed six engine problems, which is why I chose a 2000 model, budget in mind - hoping that such problems had been ironed out by this time. b) The 4.2 I drove was a great car, not been looked after well, and had its stint of clutch and engine problems, but its value seemed to drop faster than the 4.5 and speed six so good value for money. So speed six or 4.5. c) My wife is going to drive the car as much as me and most of our driving is around town on 30-40 mph roads, traffic lights, hill starts etc... I Drove the 4.5, exilerating, especially its acceleration after 100 mph !, I wanted it, its holds its value well, and well I'm a man. My wife drove it and she preferred it. I then got straight into a speed six, and wow, the engine sounded barkier, and more instant, and 0-30-70 felt the same as the others. At 110 though I noticed the rev counter between 4000 and 5000 and with a view to maintaining the engine apart from a few burts to keep it alive now and again felt this was perhaps too high. But since the majority of driving will be in the speed limit (on the roads), this didn't seem to matter too much.
d) But most of all its not the simplest car to drive, heavy clutch, high biting point, getting the seat in the right position not to rip at the clutch, and I have to say the road handling on my works van gives me greater confidence, The Cerbera engine is fierce. I found that I was keeping the 4.5 in 1 st and 2nd gear for most of my drive !!, The Speed six was happy all the way through 3rd and 4th round the town. And the last thing I wanted to do was advertise my car by spinning it off the road on a roundabout (WOh the embarrassment). So FOR ME and my WIFE it was the speed six.
However If it was just me, and some track days it would have to be the 4.5. I just love V8's. All said and done though, they all look great, sound great, and are very, very fast. I felt what the hell. Its not the door seals, or gaffing electrics, poorly used clutch or any of the extras I'm paying for, Its that engine, and I've had my share of straight six, V six, and V8's from 3.5 to 5.8 litre. The TVR engine is just something Else !!
Let's Here it for TVR, cos lets face it - every proper sports or performance car costs a fortune to run, and even if I had the money to buy the Mclaren, Forget it, I havn't yet seen a Porsche, Ferrari, or like that turns as many heads as the TVR Cerbera, and that INCLUDES MINE. What other car can you hear 2 miles away, Speed Six, 4.2 or 4.5, what's the difference. TVR have built a car with 3 options for 3 different groups of people. (The speed Six - 2+2 for me my kids and my wife to enjoy), (The 4.2 for the V8 Cerbie Lover who doesn't want to spend as much but still get a fantastic car), and (The 4.5 for the GRRRRRRR Lovers).
d) But most of all its not the simplest car to drive, heavy clutch, high biting point, getting the seat in the right position not to rip at the clutch, and I have to say the road handling on my works van gives me greater confidence, The Cerbera engine is fierce. I found that I was keeping the 4.5 in 1 st and 2nd gear for most of my drive !!, The Speed six was happy all the way through 3rd and 4th round the town. And the last thing I wanted to do was advertise my car by spinning it off the road on a roundabout (WOh the embarrassment). So FOR ME and my WIFE it was the speed six.
However If it was just me, and some track days it would have to be the 4.5. I just love V8's. All said and done though, they all look great, sound great, and are very, very fast. I felt what the hell. Its not the door seals, or gaffing electrics, poorly used clutch or any of the extras I'm paying for, Its that engine, and I've had my share of straight six, V six, and V8's from 3.5 to 5.8 litre. The TVR engine is just something Else !!
Let's Here it for TVR, cos lets face it - every proper sports or performance car costs a fortune to run, and even if I had the money to buy the Mclaren, Forget it, I havn't yet seen a Porsche, Ferrari, or like that turns as many heads as the TVR Cerbera, and that INCLUDES MINE. What other car can you hear 2 miles away, Speed Six, 4.2 or 4.5, what's the difference. TVR have built a car with 3 options for 3 different groups of people. (The speed Six - 2+2 for me my kids and my wife to enjoy), (The 4.2 for the V8 Cerbie Lover who doesn't want to spend as much but still get a fantastic car), and (The 4.5 for the GRRRRRRR Lovers). Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff