Discussion
Hi all,
my 1st post on here, I'm looking at possibly buying a TVR within the next year or so and I'm after advice as top what TVR to purchase.
A bit of background on myself, I'm not what I would call a full PH'er, but have always held an interest in most things automotive, appreciating the engineering behind some of these vehicles.I'm not adverse to getting my hands dirty, and do, when time allows enjoy getting under a bonnet or wheel arch etc.
This will be my 1st performance car purchase, the only cars I've driven before this that could be considered performance vehicles, being a 2.8i Capri, and Porsche 911 (996 I think) very briefly,
I have admired TVR's since before I started driving, but never had the opportunity to get one. Now I have more time and cash on my hands.
I'm not a racer, only ever done a Silverstone single seater day, but I'm prepared to get some coaching on driving these vehicles, which I know I will need to drive a TVR safely and with confidence and I intend to drive it during the summer and garaged in the winter.
I spent some time at Bespoke Performance in Ware the other day who I found very helpful, and their best salesman turned out to be a customer.
I have an Interest in the Tuscan MK1, which would be my 1st choice, but was pointed towards a Tamora as possibly my 1st TVR, as the Tuscan is demanding car to drive.
So could I ask you folks for your thoughts, and dealers you would recommend who you've enjoyed dealing with, as i'm sure their's plenty of people out there ready to rip me off.
Finally I will be looking at spending up to 20K ish.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice.
my 1st post on here, I'm looking at possibly buying a TVR within the next year or so and I'm after advice as top what TVR to purchase.
A bit of background on myself, I'm not what I would call a full PH'er, but have always held an interest in most things automotive, appreciating the engineering behind some of these vehicles.I'm not adverse to getting my hands dirty, and do, when time allows enjoy getting under a bonnet or wheel arch etc.
This will be my 1st performance car purchase, the only cars I've driven before this that could be considered performance vehicles, being a 2.8i Capri, and Porsche 911 (996 I think) very briefly,
I have admired TVR's since before I started driving, but never had the opportunity to get one. Now I have more time and cash on my hands.
I'm not a racer, only ever done a Silverstone single seater day, but I'm prepared to get some coaching on driving these vehicles, which I know I will need to drive a TVR safely and with confidence and I intend to drive it during the summer and garaged in the winter.
I spent some time at Bespoke Performance in Ware the other day who I found very helpful, and their best salesman turned out to be a customer.
I have an Interest in the Tuscan MK1, which would be my 1st choice, but was pointed towards a Tamora as possibly my 1st TVR, as the Tuscan is demanding car to drive.
So could I ask you folks for your thoughts, and dealers you would recommend who you've enjoyed dealing with, as i'm sure their's plenty of people out there ready to rip me off.
Finally I will be looking at spending up to 20K ish.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice.
Hi, welcome to pistonheads.
I was like you in 2007 and decided to buy a Tuscan mk1. Like you also i'd had limited experience owning / driving high performance cars. While the Tuscan was absolutely fantastic and I loved it to bits, there were occasions when I just felt the car was just too much for me to handle as an introduction to the wonderful world of TVR's.
So, I eventually traded it in for a T350c, which was much more driveable for me, but just like the Tuscan was an awesome occasion every time I drove it.............
Unfortunately my work / financial circumstances changed so I needed to sell the T350.
I am now in a position to once again buy another TVR. Because of my previous foray I would be more than happy to jump straight into a Tuscan 2 (current favourite) but finding the right car is more important.
Advice: spend loads of time reading threads on here and subsequently asking plenty of questions. Also, go to your local TVR meeting. Everyone will be very friendly and more than happy to chat about their p&j, and some will be quite happy to take you for a ride out to give you passenger experiences in them. All of the above will help you along the way to deciding which TVR is right for you.
There will be countless others along shortly to further assist your selection process.
Nev
I was like you in 2007 and decided to buy a Tuscan mk1. Like you also i'd had limited experience owning / driving high performance cars. While the Tuscan was absolutely fantastic and I loved it to bits, there were occasions when I just felt the car was just too much for me to handle as an introduction to the wonderful world of TVR's.
So, I eventually traded it in for a T350c, which was much more driveable for me, but just like the Tuscan was an awesome occasion every time I drove it.............
Unfortunately my work / financial circumstances changed so I needed to sell the T350.
I am now in a position to once again buy another TVR. Because of my previous foray I would be more than happy to jump straight into a Tuscan 2 (current favourite) but finding the right car is more important.
Advice: spend loads of time reading threads on here and subsequently asking plenty of questions. Also, go to your local TVR meeting. Everyone will be very friendly and more than happy to chat about their p&j, and some will be quite happy to take you for a ride out to give you passenger experiences in them. All of the above will help you along the way to deciding which TVR is right for you.
There will be countless others along shortly to further assist your selection process.
Nev
Hello 
I bought my first in January this year and am loving it so far. I went for a Cerbera as I wanted the option of carrying my young daughters.
I received a lot of advice, almost all of it well meaning but the volume and diversity did mean that some advice conflicted.
TVRs are expensive cars to own compared to some others - that's actually not because the car explodes every Tuesday as some will have you believe but because servicing is expensive (as with most performance cars) and you'll be talking to other owners a lot which is what really does the financial damage. TVR owners have a rather brilliant outlook on their cars, generally speaking, as they're always appraising how well it drives and being talked in to maintenance or upgrades which cost a fair bit to keep the car driving as-new. In short, the cars are mostly pampered but in mechanical terms as opposed to just polished every weekend.
With some marques the owners just expect them to work and when things wear and the car slackens and gets all sloppy they just buy another car. The older cars are all knackered and the list of things to get it up to standard would cost a lot. TVR owners tend to change things when they're past their best, and/or blitz the car with a body-off chassis restoration and end up replacing everything else whilst it's easy to get at - you know, to save money later on?
Firstly, I love this about TVR owners. You can keep tinkering to make your car better and the other owners don't think you're an idiot. Secondly, it's hard to find a TVR on the market which hasn't had at least some parts replaced or upgraded so the size of the heap that you buy can vary a lot. You could land anywhere between buying an absolute nail of a car and buying something that is genuinely better than it was new.
As for which to choose? Many will rightly point out that from the AJP8 Cerbera and onwards the running costs took a hike as everything from then on had TVR's own engines inside. In addition, they started adding more of their own electronics etc which when added together tended towards increasing the performance to genuine supercar territory and increasing the complexity a bit. All AJP8 and Speed Six cars cost more to service than Rover V8 cars. Much of the advice going is that new owners may wish to start with a Chimaera as an entry-level TVR with entry-level running costs and entry-level potential issues.
My personal conclusion, and not one I'd "recommend" to anyone as such was that if I was going to spend a lot of money and time on a car, it needed to be the one I really wanted. I went for a Cerbera.
The press wrote that new Tuscans were very edgey cars which unsettled easily. Any TVR is a very easy car to crash if you don't treat it with respect. It's true that TVR appeared to get a lot of the Tuscan set-up a bit wrong. It needs to be remembered from above though that many Tuscan owners over the years have spent a small fortune on suspension parts and experimenting with geometries. The cars are far better understood now and the later Tuscan 2s did drive much better - and Tuscan 1 owners have in many cases copied Tuscan 2 set-ups.
There are many Tuscan Mk1s out there which do drive pretty much as well as any other TVR. It's all in the car's history and how that particular one drives now IMO. Buying a car known on here or through TVRCC as a "good one" should ease your mind a bit.
Sorry for the length of post!
I bought my first in January this year and am loving it so far. I went for a Cerbera as I wanted the option of carrying my young daughters.
I received a lot of advice, almost all of it well meaning but the volume and diversity did mean that some advice conflicted.
TVRs are expensive cars to own compared to some others - that's actually not because the car explodes every Tuesday as some will have you believe but because servicing is expensive (as with most performance cars) and you'll be talking to other owners a lot which is what really does the financial damage. TVR owners have a rather brilliant outlook on their cars, generally speaking, as they're always appraising how well it drives and being talked in to maintenance or upgrades which cost a fair bit to keep the car driving as-new. In short, the cars are mostly pampered but in mechanical terms as opposed to just polished every weekend.
With some marques the owners just expect them to work and when things wear and the car slackens and gets all sloppy they just buy another car. The older cars are all knackered and the list of things to get it up to standard would cost a lot. TVR owners tend to change things when they're past their best, and/or blitz the car with a body-off chassis restoration and end up replacing everything else whilst it's easy to get at - you know, to save money later on?
Firstly, I love this about TVR owners. You can keep tinkering to make your car better and the other owners don't think you're an idiot. Secondly, it's hard to find a TVR on the market which hasn't had at least some parts replaced or upgraded so the size of the heap that you buy can vary a lot. You could land anywhere between buying an absolute nail of a car and buying something that is genuinely better than it was new.
As for which to choose? Many will rightly point out that from the AJP8 Cerbera and onwards the running costs took a hike as everything from then on had TVR's own engines inside. In addition, they started adding more of their own electronics etc which when added together tended towards increasing the performance to genuine supercar territory and increasing the complexity a bit. All AJP8 and Speed Six cars cost more to service than Rover V8 cars. Much of the advice going is that new owners may wish to start with a Chimaera as an entry-level TVR with entry-level running costs and entry-level potential issues.
My personal conclusion, and not one I'd "recommend" to anyone as such was that if I was going to spend a lot of money and time on a car, it needed to be the one I really wanted. I went for a Cerbera.
The press wrote that new Tuscans were very edgey cars which unsettled easily. Any TVR is a very easy car to crash if you don't treat it with respect. It's true that TVR appeared to get a lot of the Tuscan set-up a bit wrong. It needs to be remembered from above though that many Tuscan owners over the years have spent a small fortune on suspension parts and experimenting with geometries. The cars are far better understood now and the later Tuscan 2s did drive much better - and Tuscan 1 owners have in many cases copied Tuscan 2 set-ups.
There are many Tuscan Mk1s out there which do drive pretty much as well as any other TVR. It's all in the car's history and how that particular one drives now IMO. Buying a car known on here or through TVRCC as a "good one" should ease your mind a bit.
Sorry for the length of post!
I am new to the TVR game too and asked the same questions as yourself. I was inundated with advice and comments and as said above, a lot can be conflicting.
I started out thinking a Cerbera would be my choice, then moved towards a Chimaera and after a lot of faffing about decided on a restoration job on a battered and unloved Cerbera. I spoke with 4 dealers and visited one for a good look around. Hexham Horseless let me play in all the different models so that was an excellent way to get a feel for them. Bespoke Performance were extremely helpful and obliging. The rest, I am sorry to say were rubbish. And one is a big name in TVR too.
This was the thread I started and may help you.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I started out thinking a Cerbera would be my choice, then moved towards a Chimaera and after a lot of faffing about decided on a restoration job on a battered and unloved Cerbera. I spoke with 4 dealers and visited one for a good look around. Hexham Horseless let me play in all the different models so that was an excellent way to get a feel for them. Bespoke Performance were extremely helpful and obliging. The rest, I am sorry to say were rubbish. And one is a big name in TVR too.
This was the thread I started and may help you.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Do what I did - buy the first one you see.
Or don't do that, research it properly, find out what the issues are, what the risks are and loiter on PH for the next year, make it be known that you live in Herts and would welcome the chance to come to a local TVR meeting or two, and then get to see the various cars and make your decision on what car you want to buy, knowing what the things are to look out for. Good luck
Or don't do that, research it properly, find out what the issues are, what the risks are and loiter on PH for the next year, make it be known that you live in Herts and would welcome the chance to come to a local TVR meeting or two, and then get to see the various cars and make your decision on what car you want to buy, knowing what the things are to look out for. Good luck
Hi John
I was in a similar situation and looked at lots of different cars, through lots of different dealers and in the end I bought a Tamora from Bespoke.
They have been top guys to deal with and have attended to a few 'niggles' without fuss..... And the car is epic :-)
I see your in Herts so mail me if you want to have a run out and a look round my car, or pop along to one of the Herts meets, they are a really friendly group with a range of cars, and I'm sure they would be happy to answer any of your questions.
Good luck with your search.
Matt
I was in a similar situation and looked at lots of different cars, through lots of different dealers and in the end I bought a Tamora from Bespoke.
They have been top guys to deal with and have attended to a few 'niggles' without fuss..... And the car is epic :-)
I see your in Herts so mail me if you want to have a run out and a look round my car, or pop along to one of the Herts meets, they are a really friendly group with a range of cars, and I'm sure they would be happy to answer any of your questions.
Good luck with your search.
Matt
Thanks for responses so far.
Open top motoring is something I want, very tempting to purchase the first one I see, but my garage isn't ready yet, some junk and bikes to get rid of, then prep floor to reduce dust.
Some interesting comments I will take on board, however I am still tempted by the MK1 Tuscan.
One question Did any of the MK 1's come with air cond?
Geoff good talking to you the other day very informative and you gave me plenty of food for thought. Got me looking in the right direction.
Anyone have any recommended dealers in the south east?
Open top motoring is something I want, very tempting to purchase the first one I see, but my garage isn't ready yet, some junk and bikes to get rid of, then prep floor to reduce dust.
Some interesting comments I will take on board, however I am still tempted by the MK1 Tuscan.
One question Did any of the MK 1's come with air cond?
Geoff good talking to you the other day very informative and you gave me plenty of food for thought. Got me looking in the right direction.
Anyone have any recommended dealers in the south east?
buy my Cerbera. Its totally sorted and cheap as chips according to the others in the Cerb forum. It will only go as fast as you want it to and looks beautiful. I cant post a link but its silver with black wheels and inside your budget! :-)
a grand spent last month. totally sorted.
Otherwise totally up to you, why not start with a 12-15k chim and go from there...
personally I dont like the Tuscan, but purely personal taste. The T350 is sublime if you get a nice one. ( targa)
a grand spent last month. totally sorted.
Otherwise totally up to you, why not start with a 12-15k chim and go from there...
personally I dont like the Tuscan, but purely personal taste. The T350 is sublime if you get a nice one. ( targa)
started with a 4.0 chim ...loved it to bits and would have kept it if i could , but swapped into a T350t...and will never part with it..
go and drive a few , get to a few meets, check out service ££££.... and buy with your .. heart.
after driving them for a while the £££ side of ownership becomes insignificant ...
go and drive a few , get to a few meets, check out service ££££.... and buy with your .. heart.
after driving them for a while the £££ side of ownership becomes insignificant ...
My Heart is saying MK1 Tuscan, although I have still been looking/investigating Tamora's and T350's.
Hoping to get along to one of the local meets this month,
but does anyone know anything about this one,
http://www.centraltvr.com/classifieds/car/Tuscan/
the price makes it tempting to go for a look, knowing that I will probably have to sprnd more.
I've contacted them for more info on History and Mods and some additional photo's,
but if anyone has any views I would apprecite hearing them.
Hoping to get along to one of the local meets this month,
but does anyone know anything about this one,
http://www.centraltvr.com/classifieds/car/Tuscan/
the price makes it tempting to go for a look, knowing that I will probably have to sprnd more.
I've contacted them for more info on History and Mods and some additional photo's,
but if anyone has any views I would apprecite hearing them.
John, my MkI has air con.
My personal experience of buying a TVR. I looked around for ages, visited several dealers, David Gerald, HHC and TMS. Over several years my view changed from an old M series through to a Griff 500. I set up a dedicated bank account and started trickling funds into it. I had about £11K sat there burning a hole in my pocket when I started to get serious and look at what was about. I drove different cars, Taimar, Chimaera, Wedge, Griff. I originally wanted to get enough cash together for a secondhand TVR and to walk into a dealership and say 'Gimme THAT car'. That was just before I drove a Tuscan and all of that planning went out of the window. I ended up borrowing £31,000 on a new Tuscan, then sending it to the factory to have air con fitted as an after market option (+£2k)
The car is far more capable than my driving will ever be and not what I set out to own.
That was ten years ago and I still have the same car and it's still bloody marvelous.
My personal experience of buying a TVR. I looked around for ages, visited several dealers, David Gerald, HHC and TMS. Over several years my view changed from an old M series through to a Griff 500. I set up a dedicated bank account and started trickling funds into it. I had about £11K sat there burning a hole in my pocket when I started to get serious and look at what was about. I drove different cars, Taimar, Chimaera, Wedge, Griff. I originally wanted to get enough cash together for a secondhand TVR and to walk into a dealership and say 'Gimme THAT car'. That was just before I drove a Tuscan and all of that planning went out of the window. I ended up borrowing £31,000 on a new Tuscan, then sending it to the factory to have air con fitted as an after market option (+£2k)
The car is far more capable than my driving will ever be and not what I set out to own.
That was ten years ago and I still have the same car and it's still bloody marvelous.
Hey i thought id add my 2p worth.
My mk1 has air con but i have never used it, if its warm enough the roof is off!
Can i suggest you in a highly biased way towards a Mk1 S Tuscan.
S cars are much rarer (and sometimes copied) but incorporate much better suspension geometery,slightly more BHP, a shorter ratio box (read 100ish in 2nd!!) and much bigger 322mm AP Brakes. All in all gives a much better overall package.
S's are fairly easy to spot in that the back end is completely different to a normal tuscan, the indicators are built into the back panel of the car instead of hanging in the back window, it has a little wing and a front splitter.
The downsides, well being rare they are very hard to find and only come up for sale occasionally and this also means they cost more but will maintain strong resales in the future.Oh and your in luck at the moment, as long as you like blue!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
My mk1 has air con but i have never used it, if its warm enough the roof is off!
Can i suggest you in a highly biased way towards a Mk1 S Tuscan.
S cars are much rarer (and sometimes copied) but incorporate much better suspension geometery,slightly more BHP, a shorter ratio box (read 100ish in 2nd!!) and much bigger 322mm AP Brakes. All in all gives a much better overall package.
S's are fairly easy to spot in that the back end is completely different to a normal tuscan, the indicators are built into the back panel of the car instead of hanging in the back window, it has a little wing and a front splitter.
The downsides, well being rare they are very hard to find and only come up for sale occasionally and this also means they cost more but will maintain strong resales in the future.Oh and your in luck at the moment, as long as you like blue!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
MATTYBOY said:
Hi John
I was in a similar situation and looked at lots of different cars, through lots of different dealers and in the end I bought a Tamora from Bespoke.
They have been top guys to deal with and have attended to a few 'niggles' without fuss..... And the car is epic :-)
I see your in Herts so mail me if you want to have a run out and a look round my car, or pop along to one of the Herts meets, they are a really friendly group with a range of cars, and I'm sure they would be happy to answer any of your questions.
Good luck with your search.
Matt
Great people! I was in a similar situation and looked at lots of different cars, through lots of different dealers and in the end I bought a Tamora from Bespoke.
They have been top guys to deal with and have attended to a few 'niggles' without fuss..... And the car is epic :-)
I see your in Herts so mail me if you want to have a run out and a look round my car, or pop along to one of the Herts meets, they are a really friendly group with a range of cars, and I'm sure they would be happy to answer any of your questions.
Good luck with your search.
Matt
Good range of cars - except for any Sags...
The one that is owned by the person who usually goes to the meet is always "elsewhere"
Happy to take you out in an Evora however
Edited by alex_gray255 on Saturday 5th October 11:21
jjlnl said:
My Heart is saying MK1 Tuscan, although I have still been looking/investigating Tamora's and T350's.
Hoping to get along to one of the local meets this month,
but does anyone know anything about this one,
http://www.centraltvr.com/classifieds/car/Tuscan/
the price makes it tempting to go for a look, knowing that I will probably have to sprnd more.
I've contacted them for more info on History and Mods and some additional photo's,
but if anyone has any views I would apprecite hearing them.
There was a thread on that one not so long ago, chap went to see it. IIRC the chassis wasn't in the best nick and the car was a little tired.Hoping to get along to one of the local meets this month,
but does anyone know anything about this one,
http://www.centraltvr.com/classifieds/car/Tuscan/
the price makes it tempting to go for a look, knowing that I will probably have to sprnd more.
I've contacted them for more info on History and Mods and some additional photo's,
but if anyone has any views I would apprecite hearing them.
ETA - thread is here - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I was in the same position as you when I was looking for my first TVR. I loved the Cerbera and the TUscan but everyone was telling me to play safe and get a chimera or a Griffith. I looked and drove a few and yes they were nice a few were real dogs but It wetted my appetite for a TVR. Next up I looked at a few Cerberas all AJPs and one was ok but the interior clour scheme was hoffific blue/green combo yuk. Then I looked at a Tuscan, it was stunning and drove the best of all the other cars I had been in. I bought it there and then. I had it 3 years no real issues and looking back I was glad I jumped in and got the car I really wanted a TUSCAN.
I am now in a Cerbera but I loved the Tuscan experience, removable hard top roof, FAST and one of the best looking cars out there.
If your heart is set on a Tuscan -Get one there only as fast as you make them, buy well and enjoy.
Or get a Cerbera I love it, It looks fantastic and has rear seats for my young kids which is the reason I moved from the Tuscan. It is a better alround car IMO but there is not much between them either way you will be well pleased Im sure, but buy the RIGHT one do not be rushed.
I am now in a Cerbera but I loved the Tuscan experience, removable hard top roof, FAST and one of the best looking cars out there.
If your heart is set on a Tuscan -Get one there only as fast as you make them, buy well and enjoy.
Or get a Cerbera I love it, It looks fantastic and has rear seats for my young kids which is the reason I moved from the Tuscan. It is a better alround car IMO but there is not much between them either way you will be well pleased Im sure, but buy the RIGHT one do not be rushed.
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