Reliability of Tamora - help!
Discussion
Afternoon everyone - this is my first message!
I currently intend placing an order for a Tamora with the factory (I live less than 10 miles from Blackpool) at the end of this month. I really love the car and was completely smitten when I had a test drive a couple of months ago. However, after talking recently with a guy who has owned a Tamora for 3 months, and following his recommendation to visit PistonHeads and reading some of the issues over the last week or so, I'm having doubts about its reliability. (I've never owned a TVR before, by the way, but I'm well aware of their general reputation for reliability).
I must admit the principal reason for having a TVR is long distance touring in Scotland and Europe - 2000/3000 miles at a time. If there's only a 5% chance of a breakdown, I'm happy with this; however, if there's a 50% chance of a breakdown, this isn't good enough. I would appreciate some frank and honest views on i) what percentage of new Tamoras actually break down, ii) what percentage of new Tamoras need to be returned to dealers outside of the routine servicing. I was also a bit concerned of comments recently on the General TVR gassing station on the reliability of the Speed 6.
What's the general view? I'm aware of the issues that are posted on the website, but I'm not sure how widely they apply. Has the quality of Tamoras improved over recent months? Are there lots of Tamora owners who are satisfied out there?
Help!
I currently intend placing an order for a Tamora with the factory (I live less than 10 miles from Blackpool) at the end of this month. I really love the car and was completely smitten when I had a test drive a couple of months ago. However, after talking recently with a guy who has owned a Tamora for 3 months, and following his recommendation to visit PistonHeads and reading some of the issues over the last week or so, I'm having doubts about its reliability. (I've never owned a TVR before, by the way, but I'm well aware of their general reputation for reliability).
I must admit the principal reason for having a TVR is long distance touring in Scotland and Europe - 2000/3000 miles at a time. If there's only a 5% chance of a breakdown, I'm happy with this; however, if there's a 50% chance of a breakdown, this isn't good enough. I would appreciate some frank and honest views on i) what percentage of new Tamoras actually break down, ii) what percentage of new Tamoras need to be returned to dealers outside of the routine servicing. I was also a bit concerned of comments recently on the General TVR gassing station on the reliability of the Speed 6.
What's the general view? I'm aware of the issues that are posted on the website, but I'm not sure how widely they apply. Has the quality of Tamoras improved over recent months? Are there lots of Tamora owners who are satisfied out there?
Help!
Julian, I use my Tamora daily and have now done over 8000 miles without the slightest hint of engine problems.
Not sure how many Tamora owners are on Pistonheads but only 2 have reported problems (Dicky and HatchN). I realise that this is still 2 too many though!
As you live so close to the factory and will presumably get the servicing done at the factory I think you should go for it!
Cheers..... Andrew
Not sure how many Tamora owners are on Pistonheads but only 2 have reported problems (Dicky and HatchN). I realise that this is still 2 too many though!
As you live so close to the factory and will presumably get the servicing done at the factory I think you should go for it!
Cheers..... Andrew
Andrew, Many thanks for the quick response. I must admit I was beginning to feel nervous about the Tamora quality issues after reading PistonHeads as my partner is not as forgiving as me - my first car 20 years ago was a 14 year old MG Midget that gave me equal amounts of joy and pain, so I'm more used to the 'character' of a sports car than she is. However, a £40k car these days should not let you down too often.
The Speed 6 concerns may be more related to the other TVRs than the Tamora.
Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed.......
The Speed 6 concerns may be more related to the other TVRs than the Tamora.
Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed.......
Julian,
I echo Andrews comments. My Tamora has done 3000 miles so far and the engine is running like a dream. My general comments would be that you will get niggles, they are annoying, they shouldn't happen but it's bearable when you take the driving experience into account. Personally I think a lot of the issues are dealer related and since you are so close to the factory and will be using them it shouldn't be a problem. I have found the service department at the factory to be very good - I always call them for advice when I run into debates with dealers. IMO they seem to be the best first point of contact for any issues. Its amazing some of the c**p that delears come out with.
Frostie
I echo Andrews comments. My Tamora has done 3000 miles so far and the engine is running like a dream. My general comments would be that you will get niggles, they are annoying, they shouldn't happen but it's bearable when you take the driving experience into account. Personally I think a lot of the issues are dealer related and since you are so close to the factory and will be using them it shouldn't be a problem. I have found the service department at the factory to be very good - I always call them for advice when I run into debates with dealers. IMO they seem to be the best first point of contact for any issues. Its amazing some of the c**p that delears come out with.
Frostie
Julian
I have done almost 11,000 miles so far and only had a couple of silly niggles with the dashboard read-out.
It's by far the best TVR I have owned so far although my Cerbera and Griffith were very reliable and never let me down either.
Go for it. I don't think you will regret it.
I have done almost 11,000 miles so far and only had a couple of silly niggles with the dashboard read-out.
It's by far the best TVR I have owned so far although my Cerbera and Griffith were very reliable and never let me down either.
Go for it. I don't think you will regret it.
hi Julian. Read a load of this summer's Tamora threads - you'll soon gather that yes there are quite a lot of niggles but virtually no serious mechanical problems. Mine has never broken down, in fact it feels mechanically unburstable. Most of the other stuff is at worst irritating, besides you'll read that between us we've ironed most of them out ourselves. Go and buy one you'll never have another experience like it.....
Julian, I am another very happy Tamora owner. 6000 miles now with not a single hiccup. What you will find are:-
The usual trim niggles related to TVr's, but not as bad as previous models
Thin seats - get the lumbar support option
Thrashy valve gear noise - This is NORMAL -
Grumpy engine when cold - tends to stall - this goes off after 300 yards or so.
Keep the oil levels up. VERY important.
Wait until oil temp reaches at least 50oC before going over 3000revs - it takes a while in winter...
After the first few hundred miles, occassionally give it some extra revs to stop the bores "glazing".
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER labour the engine - i.e. high gear low revs/high load - that will hurt the engine big time.
Ignore the track day reports from mags - this is a road car, and as such is one of the best cars you could buy. Last year's EVO car of the year had the Tamora in 3rd. place - beaten by the Pagani Zonda and Lambo (if I remember correctly). They were full of praise for the car, and it didn't miss a beat over 3000 miles of track and road - that can't be bad, in the hands of journalists.
Get one - it's not a Boxster - but it is more fun, more characterful, faster, rarer, ah, just get it, man!!
The usual trim niggles related to TVr's, but not as bad as previous models
Thin seats - get the lumbar support option
Thrashy valve gear noise - This is NORMAL -
Grumpy engine when cold - tends to stall - this goes off after 300 yards or so.
Keep the oil levels up. VERY important.
Wait until oil temp reaches at least 50oC before going over 3000revs - it takes a while in winter...
After the first few hundred miles, occassionally give it some extra revs to stop the bores "glazing".
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER labour the engine - i.e. high gear low revs/high load - that will hurt the engine big time.
Ignore the track day reports from mags - this is a road car, and as such is one of the best cars you could buy. Last year's EVO car of the year had the Tamora in 3rd. place - beaten by the Pagani Zonda and Lambo (if I remember correctly). They were full of praise for the car, and it didn't miss a beat over 3000 miles of track and road - that can't be bad, in the hands of journalists.
Get one - it's not a Boxster - but it is more fun, more characterful, faster, rarer, ah, just get it, man!!
quote:Interesting point this - When I bought my Griff, I was given a couple of sheets of A4 written by Portfield about running in and general care of the car. In it they said not to rev over 2,500 ever when the car is cold and they reckon that's below 70deg. Now given that TVR don't seem to give very consistent running in advice could this be a problem with the less carfull owners? I have certainly seen/heard Tamora owners start they cars and immediatly rev the nuts off it! Rich...
Wait until oil temp reaches at least 50oC before going over 3000revs - it takes a while in winter...
I've found that 50o/3000 revs is about right - 2500 revs is a difficult area on the speed six, as it tends to slow you down, and need a change down, speed up, change up again. So I use 3000 revs as a marker - 50oC happily coincides with the display contrast clearing to visible figures, and I use this as a marker for revving!!
quote:Good point
Rich, Nubbin mentions oil temp which will always be less than the water temp which I assume you're talking about?
When my water reaches the 70C the oil's about 40C. Only at this point do I start going aver 2500rpm. This is normally after about 5 miles or so.
Cheers.... Andrew
well it is early on a Monday morning. Still was a bit painfull when I saw that guy rev the nuts off his tamora from cold!
Many thanks to all of you for the very helpful responses. I must admit I couldn't keep the grin off my face for ages after the test drive, so I can easily live with niggles for the sake of the driving experience.
My partner and I met a Tamora owner recently who had a problem with water leaking into the boot - several inches of the stuff. As we plan long touring trips (hence a boot full of clothes), this didn't impress my partner at all. This seems to be a one-off rather than a widespread problem, though. However, we're thinking of asking the factory to do a hose pipe test before taking delivery!
My partner and I met a Tamora owner recently who had a problem with water leaking into the boot - several inches of the stuff. As we plan long touring trips (hence a boot full of clothes), this didn't impress my partner at all. This seems to be a one-off rather than a widespread problem, though. However, we're thinking of asking the factory to do a hose pipe test before taking delivery!
I had a very interesting chat with the factory this morning about some of the niggles, seat belts in particular and the S6 engine.
I am waiting for the Tamora design manager to give me a call back re the belts so soon as I now the full story will let you know.
As for the S6 engines, the factory are sure all the initial documented problems are over and that many of the current issues may be as a result of the engines not being allowed to warm up, not be run in correctly etc etc in other words driver induced. I've yet to be convinced on this.
Also the recent blow up with journalists was caused by a change from 4th to 1st and the engine seeing 9,800 RPM.
Frostie
I am waiting for the Tamora design manager to give me a call back re the belts so soon as I now the full story will let you know.
As for the S6 engines, the factory are sure all the initial documented problems are over and that many of the current issues may be as a result of the engines not being allowed to warm up, not be run in correctly etc etc in other words driver induced. I've yet to be convinced on this.
Also the recent blow up with journalists was caused by a change from 4th to 1st and the engine seeing 9,800 RPM.
Frostie
quote:I wonder though? When I layed out £40k of my own money on what was a bit of an ambition of mine, I listen to what the dealer had to say about running and proper warming-up etc. The way I see some owners abuse thier engines makes me whince! Doesn't surprise me what the factory say one bit to be honest. Rich...
The factory are sure all the initial documented problems are over and that many of the current issues may be as a result of the engines not being allowed to warm up, not be run in correctly
quote:
Also the recent blow up with journalists was caused by a change from 4th to 1st and the engine seeing 9,800 RPM.
Frostie
no rev limiter on a Tamora then. I always let the car warm up and checked the oil religiously, but this can be worse news than just driving off!!!
Left sat there warming up the injection system puts more petrol in to the engine, this in turn can wash the cyllinder bores of oil and cause more wear ...
Bennno
quote:
I wonder though? When I layed out £40k of my own money on what was a bit of an ambition of mine, I listen to what the dealer had to say about running and proper warming-up etc. The way I see some owners abuse thier engines makes me whince! Doesn't surprise me what the factory say one bit to be honest. Rich...
The idiocy of some people never ceases to amaze me. I was working for Bell and Colvill back in the early 80s and they had developed a turbo conversion for the Alfa rwd cars. One customer bought one on a lease agreement and was specifically told to check the oil weekly or every 500 miles whichever came first because the turbo conversion caused some oil usage. Within 3 months (6000miles) the d
d had blown the engine, cause - absolutely no oil left in the engine. He had never checked it and said 'but all servicing is included in the lease'. 
quote:
ah...now the truth emerges. Idiots!
Keep us posted on the seat belt mods Frostie
Its a shame we cant programme our rev limiters to coincide with an oil temp trigger - v7.0 guys??
Btw mines just getting faster and faster, 2100 miles now, she wants to fly......
Still no answer on the seatbelts, but just been assured that someone will call me tomorrow. If as I expect I get no response then I will call the Vehicle Inspectorate and try and force a safety recall. Its about time they took this issue a bit more seriously
Based on your helpful replies and the results of other digging around, I've now ordered a Tamora from the factory for delivery in the Spring !!! The big grin on my face all day Saturday was only marginally affected by the simultaneous packing up on Saturday of i) the power steering on the MR2 and ii) the tumble dryer 
........such is life in the real world......
See you in the Spring in a proper car!!
!!! The big grin on my face all day Saturday was only marginally affected by the simultaneous packing up on Saturday of i) the power steering on the MR2 and ii) the tumble dryer ........such is life in the real world...... See you in the Spring in a proper car!!
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