Noobie question - S-series reliabillity?
Discussion
Hi,
thinking of buying a cheap S-series (hopefully an S3 but more likely an S1 or S2). What are these cars like for reliabillity? I have a budget of max £5K & Im looknig for a weekend car that is reliable & wont have to be in the garage once a month.
Sacrilegious I know, but my alternative is an MX-5 cos its massively reliable and fun to chuck around but obviously hasnt got the status, performance or looks of the S3...
Help!
CHeers,
Lee
thinking of buying a cheap S-series (hopefully an S3 but more likely an S1 or S2). What are these cars like for reliabillity? I have a budget of max £5K & Im looknig for a weekend car that is reliable & wont have to be in the garage once a month.
Sacrilegious I know, but my alternative is an MX-5 cos its massively reliable and fun to chuck around but obviously hasnt got the status, performance or looks of the S3...
Help!
CHeers,
Lee
Afternoon and welcome to the S forums 
I've had my S3 for about 2 months now and so far (fingers crossed) it's been great in terms of reliability. All the issues I have had have been electrical, mostly down to loose wiring or bad connections. The electrical system can be a bit of pig but nothing a bit of bodging won't sort out. Like you, mine is a second car, the beauty of which is that you can take it apart of an evening, knowing that it doesn't need to go back together to get you to work in the morning!
Most fixes and repairs can be done at home as long as you are familiar with which end of a spanner is which. I'd reccomend getting a copy of the S Bible by Steve Heath before you start looking for a car though. Above all else, buy the best chassis you can afford and look at a few cars to get an idea of what is good and what is naff. Probably the biggest cost an S owner will have to incur (unless they're unfortunate enough to wreck their engine) is a body off restoration for a rotten chassis.
Oh and be careful hanging around here, these chaps have a knack of convincing you to buy with all their stories of roof off blasts and overrun pops and bangs
Ended up costing me a few thousand pounds - worth every penny though. See you on the road. 
I've had my S3 for about 2 months now and so far (fingers crossed) it's been great in terms of reliability. All the issues I have had have been electrical, mostly down to loose wiring or bad connections. The electrical system can be a bit of pig but nothing a bit of bodging won't sort out. Like you, mine is a second car, the beauty of which is that you can take it apart of an evening, knowing that it doesn't need to go back together to get you to work in the morning!
Most fixes and repairs can be done at home as long as you are familiar with which end of a spanner is which. I'd reccomend getting a copy of the S Bible by Steve Heath before you start looking for a car though. Above all else, buy the best chassis you can afford and look at a few cars to get an idea of what is good and what is naff. Probably the biggest cost an S owner will have to incur (unless they're unfortunate enough to wreck their engine) is a body off restoration for a rotten chassis.
Oh and be careful hanging around here, these chaps have a knack of convincing you to buy with all their stories of roof off blasts and overrun pops and bangs
Ended up costing me a few thousand pounds - worth every penny though. See you on the road. 
Firstly welcome to the S fold we are a friendly bunch and I hope you choose the right car for you?
As for reliability, they are never going to be as reliable as an MX5 for sure? BUT I have owned an S2 and a V8S and they have both been VERY reliable with only end of life items going like alternator, HT leads, coil etc....... Other than that in over two years I have had no issues? As long as you are prepared to get your hands dirty and look after it, you will love it even when the little things go wrong? The smiles per gallon are more than any car I have ever driven and I have driven and owned a lot of good cars?? Frankly with an MX5 there will ALWAYS be that "What should I get next" as you will never be satisfied, with the S you will never want to let it go.......! I bought an S2 as a stop gap after we had a child and had to sell an 8 month old Boxster S as I was looking for a Grif, the S proved so much fun I bought a V8S and a Grif is not needed?? As a FUN second car, I can honestly say they cannot be beaten, enjoy........!
IMHO
Mike
As for reliability, they are never going to be as reliable as an MX5 for sure? BUT I have owned an S2 and a V8S and they have both been VERY reliable with only end of life items going like alternator, HT leads, coil etc....... Other than that in over two years I have had no issues? As long as you are prepared to get your hands dirty and look after it, you will love it even when the little things go wrong? The smiles per gallon are more than any car I have ever driven and I have driven and owned a lot of good cars?? Frankly with an MX5 there will ALWAYS be that "What should I get next" as you will never be satisfied, with the S you will never want to let it go.......! I bought an S2 as a stop gap after we had a child and had to sell an 8 month old Boxster S as I was looking for a Grif, the S proved so much fun I bought a V8S and a Grif is not needed?? As a FUN second car, I can honestly say they cannot be beaten, enjoy........!
IMHO
Mike
Don`t sit here talking about it, get out there and start looking at some nice examples!
seriously though, I had an mx5 as a second car before I bought my S2, the mazda is seriously reliable, starts every time, and the handling is superb, but after a year it became very boring, and underpowered.
the S on the other hand is a different class altogether, the noise, the leather interior, the looks, it`s 90% ford parts, so cheap and easy, unlike the mazda, did I mention the noise, oh and drive an mx5 through a tunnel, it will sound like a baby wet fart wrapped in a sleeping bag 100yards away,
where as the tvr will,
well I`m not going to tell you, get out there and get one, you`ll get more grins per mile than any other motor!!!
seriously though, I had an mx5 as a second car before I bought my S2, the mazda is seriously reliable, starts every time, and the handling is superb, but after a year it became very boring, and underpowered.
the S on the other hand is a different class altogether, the noise, the leather interior, the looks, it`s 90% ford parts, so cheap and easy, unlike the mazda, did I mention the noise, oh and drive an mx5 through a tunnel, it will sound like a baby wet fart wrapped in a sleeping bag 100yards away,
where as the tvr will, well I`m not going to tell you, get out there and get one, you`ll get more grins per mile than any other motor!!! My S2 was relentlessly reliable, it just needed regular welding on the exhaust (too mean to replace it!) and new CV joints from time to time. The V8S was similarly reliable but cost more to service, up to the point where I started modifying it. Obviously the reliability took a bit of a dive at that point, and the running costs started an upwards spiral ... 
Hey and welcome.
I had my S1 since Jan and apart from upgrades and a service when i bought its never ever let me down. The only problem I have is getting in and out being 6'5 and in hindsight would of been better off with an s2/ s3. actually no scratch that. the s1 is the best car I ever owned and I will never trade it and I will drive it til im 110!!
I had my S1 since Jan and apart from upgrades and a service when i bought its never ever let me down. The only problem I have is getting in and out being 6'5 and in hindsight would of been better off with an s2/ s3. actually no scratch that. the s1 is the best car I ever owned and I will never trade it and I will drive it til im 110!!
Probably two of the Most reliable cars I have owned. Ford engine & ford running gear and if all goes t!ts up, you can get everything you need to sort it out very cheaply too (i.e a whole engine for £150odd from a donor Capri/Sierra)
Get on with it*, you won't regret it
Cheers,
Matt
*Always buy wisely though.. a reliable model does not make every one a reliable car.
Get on with it*, you won't regret it
Cheers,
Matt
*Always buy wisely though.. a reliable model does not make every one a reliable car.
Like Clive, I had an MX-5 before the S. I drove it for five years and it was a great car. Amazing reliability and superbly chuckable handling but...
It was underpwoered and Clive described the noise very succinctly. It always left me wanting more. Two months ago I sold it and got an S3. Still fantastic handling although it hasn't got power steering so it takes a bit of geting used to but the exhaust note is something else and its got power to kick you in the back at 100 mph (apparently
). Reliability? Can't say after two months but so far its been no problem.
Don't spend too long lurking round here otherwise you won't have a choice - everyone'll convince you!!!
At least no-one'll think youre a hairdresser!
>> Edited by profstoff on Thursday 25th August 15:52
It was underpwoered and Clive described the noise very succinctly. It always left me wanting more. Two months ago I sold it and got an S3. Still fantastic handling although it hasn't got power steering so it takes a bit of geting used to but the exhaust note is something else and its got power to kick you in the back at 100 mph (apparently
). Reliability? Can't say after two months but so far its been no problem. Don't spend too long lurking round here otherwise you won't have a choice - everyone'll convince you!!!
At least no-one'll think youre a hairdresser!
>> Edited by profstoff on Thursday 25th August 15:52
Buy one!
I've had my S3 for 5 years and it has been totally reliable. It now has 82000 miles on the clock and does not use oil. It successfully completed a 2300 mile trip to Austria in May including enthusiastic driving up and down several mountain passes. No break downs, no problems, no oil needed, lots of smiles! Also very comfortable - longest journey 405 miles in a day and I am 6'5" tall.
I would agree with previous posts about making sure you get a sound chassis. I bought mine privately but had it checked out by a TVR garage before purchase - £75 well spent. This included HPI check.
You won't regret it. And let's face it if you were to have second thoughts good TVRs are always in demand.
I've had my S3 for 5 years and it has been totally reliable. It now has 82000 miles on the clock and does not use oil. It successfully completed a 2300 mile trip to Austria in May including enthusiastic driving up and down several mountain passes. No break downs, no problems, no oil needed, lots of smiles! Also very comfortable - longest journey 405 miles in a day and I am 6'5" tall.
I would agree with previous posts about making sure you get a sound chassis. I bought mine privately but had it checked out by a TVR garage before purchase - £75 well spent. This included HPI check.
You won't regret it. And let's face it if you were to have second thoughts good TVRs are always in demand.
All of the above.
Read the Buyers guides on the s-series web. Follow it and you won't go too far wrong.
www.tvrsseries.com/
Read the Buyers guides on the s-series web. Follow it and you won't go too far wrong.
www.tvrsseries.com/
Go on, you know it makes sense.
The only time my S1 has let me down was when I ran it out of petrol
. This caused it to burn out the fuel pump relay.
I have got a new sender now though..
Make sure you get one which has been well looked after, it will save you a lot in the long run!!
The only time my S1 has let me down was when I ran it out of petrol
. This caused it to burn out the fuel pump relay. I have got a new sender now though
.. Make sure you get one which has been well looked after, it will save you a lot in the long run!!
My S3 was very reliable only falling prey to a blown water hose and a degrading coil in 2 years and xx 000 of miles in 18 months. Much more reliable than my Griff on which a number of things have gone wrong before the first service. The S covered 90 000 odd miles and the Griff has just hit 30 odd.
My S3c was solid and reliable... did quite a few miles in it, and it never let me down.
Had the odd minor problem (leaking water pump gasket) but pretty much anyone can change a water pump (garages, no me!).
As M@H says - do it.
As for the MX5 - cracking cars too.
Is now a good time to say I jump started the old man's Boxster with my Chimaera last week...?
Had the odd minor problem (leaking water pump gasket) but pretty much anyone can change a water pump (garages, no me!).
As M@H says - do it.
As for the MX5 - cracking cars too.
S2 Giles said:
I know its an old post, but
I had to jump start my wifes MX5 with my S2 the other week !!!
hee heeeeee
Is now a good time to say I jump started the old man's Boxster with my Chimaera last week...?
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff