Is it safe to come back yet?

[r400c]

Having sold my Chimaera 500 a couple of years ago, I decided that i just couldn't trust a Speed 6 engine and defected to a Caterham R400. I won't lie, it was awesome, but I know am very keen to perhaps return to the fold and buy a T350 ...

I've just read some of the same horror stories as before, but in general, are the newer Speed 6 cars more reliable than before? Open minded discussion without Ted having to lock the thread would be most appreciated!

[Pies]

New cars now have a 3 year 36k mile warranty for entire car

[Dookie]

Ah another one.... The grass is always greener. But at the end of the day, Just misses the real power.

[nubbin]

At some point, there will have to be a change in attitude with regard to the doom-sayers. You could go on for ever, wanting a TVR, but worrying about reliability. The 3 year warranty makes a TVR purchase as safe an option as any other highly-tuned sports car.

I would say that now is probably a better time to buy a new TVR than at any other time in the company's history, as the engine problems are sorted, quality control is the company's main area of endeavour, and you have a warranty.

Go for it, is my advice.

[mongoose]

r400c said:

are the ewer Speed 6 cars more reliable than before?

id say yes,definately,particularly scince 2002.though to say that all the problems are sorted would be crazy as only time will tell,and tvr wont say whats changed specifically,so you draw your own conclusions.the new 3 year warranty is a great move on the companys part to re-assure you,but judging by the posts on ph from owners whove bought a car this year,the quality control is still poor imo.i still have my deposit down on a new tuscan 's',but wont be getting one just yet if at all.i want some proof that things are significantly better first,and that will take time.besides,im having too much fun with the griff for now,scince i got rid of the tuscan,and the fun is what its all about for me,i dont want the worry i had with the speed six again.

>> Edited by mongoose on Monday 21st March 18:16

[blueyes]

r400c said:

are the newer Speed 6 cars more reliable than before?

Before when?

T350c- 03 car- 24k miles, no engine problems.

[r400c]

Interested in improvements since about 2002 really.

I need something slightly more practical than my R400 but something that I can still track and I need something that does not need constant attention ... My short list is now down to a T350, a Noble M12 GTO3, an Exige S2 or an M3 - 4 very different solutions. Budget about £35k.

I'm worried that an Exige is too slow, an M3 too ordinary, a good Noble beyond my budget and a T350 - well the subject of this thread!

[unrepentant]

03 Tuscan 14k no engine problems whatsoever - car was an absolute dream - build quality excellent - fantastic performance, looks etc... - never understood what all the S6 fuss was about.

Just taken delivery of a Tuscan 2. Seems the same except better. (Still running in tho).


If I were you I'd wait another 10 years or so until you can be absolutely 100% certain that everything is cast iron guaranteed never to break.

In the meantime the rest of us can be

[R400C]

Point taken! I will go and look at a few T350s this weekend ...