another thought!!!
Discussion
why is it that tvr owners put up with mechanical and electrical problems. which if u read these threads happens on an almost daily basis. if my tvr breaks down. or leaks. or just plain annoys. its a case of well its a hand built brittish sports car. if the russians can build ladas more reliable why cant tvr surely were giving them an excuse not to improve!!sod it im gonna buy a lada. oh that was just a joke before u have a go at me like you did old dex.dex if u read this think long and hard mate u can still find a nice lada and save yourself the grief. by the way my car hasent broken down for 10 weeks why? cause i aint used it. just a thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TVR owners put up with their annoyances because, for most people, the benefits of owning one far far far outweigh the costs.
There is not another car on the planet that sounds even close. They all have their own individual appeal and they are all marvellous.
Buy a Viper or a Ferrari or anything else thats a bit stressed most of the time and they have problems.
The reason you read so many TVR problems here is because this forum, in the majority, is contributed too, and for that matter run by, TVR owners.
As for Lada's inmproving, they didnt, thats why you cant buy one any more.
Matt.
There is not another car on the planet that sounds even close. They all have their own individual appeal and they are all marvellous.
Buy a Viper or a Ferrari or anything else thats a bit stressed most of the time and they have problems.
The reason you read so many TVR problems here is because this forum, in the majority, is contributed too, and for that matter run by, TVR owners.
As for Lada's inmproving, they didnt, thats why you cant buy one any more.
Matt.
MATT. uve jusr given tvr another reason not to improve!! my gsxr 1000 is electonicaly limited to 186 mph (300kmph) does 0 to 60 in under 3 secs does it use oil ? does it suffer any mech or elec probs? has it ever even blown a bloody bulb. NO IT HASNT. niether have any of the 18 new bikes ive had since 1992 performance should not come with such a price tag attached. every one seems to assume because its hand built its good enough it is not period!! hand built should mean better surely. maybe the bike/ car comparison aint fair but we are talking high perfomance machinery are we not.
quote:You're right a DB7 Vantage should cost the same as a Clio !
performance should not come with such a price tag attached.
quote:What's not fair comparison is mass production Vs. bespoke hand made. Unfortunately, as far as mechanics is concerned, hand built cannot mean better quality. This is all about economies of scale, and there must be at least 20 GSXR built for every TVR...
hand built should mean better surely. maybe the bike/ car comparison aint fair but we are talking high perfomance machinery are we not.
Apart from the over publicised Speed6 problem most cars are fine. Most of the problems reported here are about starter motor, otter switch, damp footwell, etc. It certainly isn't pleasant but I'd rather know TVR are spending money improving handling, design and engines as a priority.
A GSXR 1000 is a suzuki fast as f**k bike
Also I agree that hand built shouldn't mean that we have to suffer loads of problems, don't get me wrong I wouldn't get rid of my Chimaera for anything other than another TVR, but look at Aston Martin true they have a price tag a fair bit more than the TVR but they rarely go wrong!!!!
Anyway I might be sad but when I bought my TVR everyone I knew said don't it will go wrong they are nothing but problems, but I actually quite looked forward to all that. Its a sort of challenge part of ownership!! I mean if they didn't ever go wrong what would we talk about!!! I have had mine a few months now, use it everyday and apart from going through a flood duh!!, Its been great. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone.
>> Edited by RCA on Tuesday 12th February 19:21
Also I agree that hand built shouldn't mean that we have to suffer loads of problems, don't get me wrong I wouldn't get rid of my Chimaera for anything other than another TVR, but look at Aston Martin true they have a price tag a fair bit more than the TVR but they rarely go wrong!!!!
Anyway I might be sad but when I bought my TVR everyone I knew said don't it will go wrong they are nothing but problems, but I actually quite looked forward to all that. Its a sort of challenge part of ownership!! I mean if they didn't ever go wrong what would we talk about!!! I have had mine a few months now, use it everyday and apart from going through a flood duh!!, Its been great. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone.
>> Edited by RCA on Tuesday 12th February 19:21
quote:
why is it that tvr owners put up with mechanical and electrical problems. which if u read these threads happens on an almost daily basis
Based on?
People who don't have problems don't write about them. I jumped in my V8S last night, turned the key, it started first time, all the electrics worked, I drove hope cross country 35 miles in 30 minutes (including the odd village etc) at about 10 mpg. This morning it started first turn of the key, all the electrics worked, it was dry and warm inside, came down the motorway listening to the radio and got about 25 mpg, watching the suicidal bikers getting blown across three lanes of traffic in torrrential rain. Big deal, nobody's interested in that kind of stuff - the only news you tend to get here is from people with problems. And since there are thousands of owners out there and Pistonheads is pretty much *the* place to ask for help, there's a fair bit of it. Which gives you a very unbalanced picture.
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
quote:
I drove hope cross country 35 miles in 30 minutes (including the odd village etc) at about 10 mpg.
10MPG!!!
Talk about deep pockets!!!!
Come on Pete, we all want to know (well, at least I do) What is the Current spec of your car???
In simple English for the uneducated!!!
Cheers
Stuart
quote:
10MPG!!!
Talk about deep pockets!!!!
Come on Pete, we all want to know (well, at least I do) What is the Current spec of your car???
In simple English for the uneducated!!!
Cheers
Stuart
Don't encourage me! In simple English, it's frighteningly fast
, with substantially modified engine, brakes, suspension and transmission. Engine is a nicely tuned 4.6 V8. I know it doesn't mean much to compare a massively modified car against an absolutely standard one, but to give you some indication of the performance, I worked out after the recent Cerbera Power Station day that it has better power-to-weight than some of the 4.5 Cerberas there. PLus lower gearing and more mid-range torque. Performance is good enough for the moment. Last night it was spinning the wheels at three figure speeds (kmh obviously).
Suspension roughly tripple the original spring rates with Nitron racing dampers, stiffened anti roll bar, bushes replaced or removed all round, various geometry changes. All new transmission: diff is made from unobtainium surface-treated with Kryptonite, half shafts are custom made for the car after I kept twisting the original ones in half, 'box, clutch, CVs etc all uprated. The brakes are the biggest 4 pot ones that will fit in the wheels (there is less than a 1mm gap between the caliper and the rim). Apart from that, the obvious race seat, 6-point harness, roll over bar and obligatory camera mount. Interior, bodywork and most of the chassis is standard. Think those are the major mods although of course there are hundreds of little ones too.
Cost wise - it would have been cheaper to buy the Cerbera!
But times like this when I'm faced with a 35 mile drive home cross country on deserted roads, I don't care about any of that and I just wonder whether I can get it below 10 mpg. My record so far is 0.5 MPG at Curborough!
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
Just for the record, as Peter correctly points out, there are reliable TVRs out there. Mine for one. Just done another 6000 miles (over 30k total), worst problem in that time a small and curable leak under Penny Mallory style, horizontal jet wash, weather conditions.
I guess I'm not the only one to say enough of this TVR bashing, it has been a bit tedious of late. Is this another thought, or just the same one again? If you don't think you can accept all aspects of ownership then fine, don't buy one, or sell yours or whatever, 'cause it's up to you. Just respect the fact that if someone does buy a TVR then it's their decision not yours. This is just my opinion, nothing more, I just hope to add a little balance to this debate.
Cheers,
Steve
>> Edited by Steve _T on Wednesday 13th February 00:07
>> Edited by Steve _T on Wednesday 13th February 00:08
>> Edited by Steve _T on Wednesday 13th February 00:10
I guess I'm not the only one to say enough of this TVR bashing, it has been a bit tedious of late. Is this another thought, or just the same one again? If you don't think you can accept all aspects of ownership then fine, don't buy one, or sell yours or whatever, 'cause it's up to you. Just respect the fact that if someone does buy a TVR then it's their decision not yours. This is just my opinion, nothing more, I just hope to add a little balance to this debate.
Cheers,
Steve
>> Edited by Steve _T on Wednesday 13th February 00:07
>> Edited by Steve _T on Wednesday 13th February 00:08
>> Edited by Steve _T on Wednesday 13th February 00:10
Just a quick point about Ladas. Unobtainable in the UK because they do not meet regulations on emissions or whatever, but, you can still buy them here in Hungary. I am running a Lada Niva 4x4 to take the dogs out and to get me to work through Budapest. It is 18 months old and cost me about £3,750 to buy last month. Yesterday I had the oils changed (including diffs and gearbox) and new front pads fitted. I supplied the oils and the bill for labour and new front pads came to a huge £11.50, the pads were about £3.50. The car is reliable but very basic, fine for my current needs. 
My wife will have a Peugeot 206 next month (when the insurance pays out for the stolen car) and I will have a 911 for fun, maybe this year maybe next dependent on cost of house renovation. I would love a TVR but is impossible here, the Rover dealer is a nightmare and nobody else would touch a V8, forget AJP engines, nowhere but the UK for proper maintenance of those.
My wife will have a Peugeot 206 next month (when the insurance pays out for the stolen car) and I will have a 911 for fun, maybe this year maybe next dependent on cost of house renovation. I would love a TVR but is impossible here, the Rover dealer is a nightmare and nobody else would touch a V8, forget AJP engines, nowhere but the UK for proper maintenance of those.Just my 2p
Almost 3 months into POS ownership and 4300 miles later what has happened:
- I have discovered a whole new world! Simply didn't know a car could be that much fun for an average driver;
- I went back to the garage once for a chassis waxoil and bits and bobs. All of this could have waited until the full service, but then... like many people here I want my car - this car I should say - to be mint !
- I had a problem once with a started motor, didn't panic for I immediately guessed what it was - thanks to all the knowledge accumulated here on PH
- Problems which implies calling the AA or RAC seem to be extremely rare, as for the rest of it, it is only bothering stuff which at time can also be a bit embarrassing. But wait, to me this is a PLUS ! Muppets posers are then less likely to buy this car as they would be ashamed to open up the bonnet whilst filling up very slowly at the petrol station to make the car will start after ! A price I am happy to pay for exclusivity and sheer enjoyment !
Regards
Almost 3 months into POS ownership and 4300 miles later what has happened:
- I have discovered a whole new world! Simply didn't know a car could be that much fun for an average driver;
- I went back to the garage once for a chassis waxoil and bits and bobs. All of this could have waited until the full service, but then... like many people here I want my car - this car I should say - to be mint !
- I had a problem once with a started motor, didn't panic for I immediately guessed what it was - thanks to all the knowledge accumulated here on PH
- Problems which implies calling the AA or RAC seem to be extremely rare, as for the rest of it, it is only bothering stuff which at time can also be a bit embarrassing. But wait, to me this is a PLUS ! Muppets posers are then less likely to buy this car as they would be ashamed to open up the bonnet whilst filling up very slowly at the petrol station to make the car will start after ! A price I am happy to pay for exclusivity and sheer enjoyment !
Regards
Good posting, Peter
Most of us have good, reliable TVRs whose reputation for unreliability is undeserved. The reliability issue has, to some extent, been encouraged by those looking for an excuse to not to have one and to justify their euroboxes.
I had heard these stories, and it made me unnecessarily apprehensive of TVRs.
R
Most of us have good, reliable TVRs whose reputation for unreliability is undeserved. The reliability issue has, to some extent, been encouraged by those looking for an excuse to not to have one and to justify their euroboxes.
I had heard these stories, and it made me unnecessarily apprehensive of TVRs.
R
quote:
Is the 1mm gap when the discs are hot or cold Pete?!
The gap between the calipers and the rim doesn't change when the discs heat up, but disc expansion was a definite factor in the installation. I had to leave enough gap between the outside of the disc and the caliper, to let the disc expand when it gets hot. It is surprising how much it expands, several mil. I've got the caliper as close to the disc as I can get away with, at the very hottest they've ever been the disc gently polished the inside of the caliper, but this is extremely rare (and self-correcting!). I have to keep the caliper as close to the disc as I can because the outside of the caliper is close to the rim. Although there's a fair old gap statically, under corning loads the rim gets close enough to the caliper to wipe the dirt off it - but it doesn't actually touch. The caliper is also positioned as far inboard as possible to get it into the wider section of the inside of the rim, interference with the wishbone has limited how far it can go in this direction though.
All in all, positioning the caliper has a fine juggling act. I doubt you could get a bigger disc in there!
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
JSG. i am not tvr bashing i own one dont i. i think it was a valid point or i wouldnt have posted it. i assure u im not ranting at anyone . as moving from thread to thread making comments i started the thread if you remember. GREENV8S. go and start your own thread on your jumped up tiver!
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