Discussion
I am leaning towards a V8S (especially the grey one in the classifieds at the moment).
But I need a little expert advice -
V8S as a daily driver ? (20 miles commute + weekend blasts)
V8S running costs ?
Fuel consumption ?
V8S without a garage to tuck it into ? (car cover ?)
Would this be a case of rain / snow / ice leave it at home ?
Im starting to think I need three cars....
But I need a little expert advice -
V8S as a daily driver ? (20 miles commute + weekend blasts)
V8S running costs ?
Fuel consumption ?
V8S without a garage to tuck it into ? (car cover ?)
Would this be a case of rain / snow / ice leave it at home ?
Im starting to think I need three cars....
Hmmm Check my profile and you'd be forgiven for thinking that I'm a little biased!
However my V8S is my main car so I can hopefully help you out.
I noticed the guy selling is looking to replace it with a S2000 or Leon Cupra two great cars with similar power on paper but nowhere near as much character. A V8S requires a bit more driver input and attention but equally makes every drive into an occasion in itself.
I happily slow down in really bad weather and let the more predictable FWD cars pass if they must - too many horror stories on this forum alone to risk losing my pride and joy through being overconfident.
Commuting and MPG? I know the car is set up well and therefore shouldn't be using unecessary fuel but I don't calculate the MPG. It can't be good but it's worth it.
Lastly I do cheat a bit, I have full use of a 406 diesel as a second car but only for biblical floods and carrying 4 people.
However my V8S is my main car so I can hopefully help you out.
I noticed the guy selling is looking to replace it with a S2000 or Leon Cupra two great cars with similar power on paper but nowhere near as much character. A V8S requires a bit more driver input and attention but equally makes every drive into an occasion in itself.
I happily slow down in really bad weather and let the more predictable FWD cars pass if they must - too many horror stories on this forum alone to risk losing my pride and joy through being overconfident.
Commuting and MPG? I know the car is set up well and therefore shouldn't be using unecessary fuel but I don't calculate the MPG. It can't be good but it's worth it.
Lastly I do cheat a bit, I have full use of a 406 diesel as a second car but only for biblical floods and carrying 4 people.
z_chromozone said:
Look at below 20 mpg on average. If you are doing high milage the Mark Adams chip may be worth a look, they claim you may be able to save 10% which could make a big difference ofver the year. I think I will invest soon if I have the funds.
Z
Below 20mpg!!! Wow, I get around 24 - 25 out of the Griff. I figured that the V8S would be a little better as it is lighter??
Wildfire said:
Look at below 20 mpg on average. If you are doing high milage the Mark Adams chip may be worth a look, they claim you may be able to save 10% which could make a big difference ofver the year. I think I will invest soon if I have the funds.
Z
Below 20mpg!!! Wow, I get around 24 - 25 out of the Griff. I figured that the V8S would be a little better as it is lighter??
I think it depends a lot on how you drive.
pies said:
Chris stop driving like Miss Daisy
mine lives outside 24/7 it starts first time,but you must get a leven cover GreenV8S uses his everyday
Mine gets used everyday, but gets put to bed under an argos cover which fits perfectly and is waterproof and breathable. It was about £30 I think.
gorvid said:
Mike - do you have any weather problems with the cover that you use ?
...and when you say you use it every day, how do you find the reliability and fuel consumption ?
The cover is perfect, it doesn't let rain in, keeps the frost off and hasn't blown off in the nasty winds we have been having. It fints nicely, and in my opinion does a great job.
The car has been faultless, apart from silly stuff like a loose wire to fuel pump, and early on, the radiator needed re-coring.
I use it day in day out in whatever weather along B roads and motorways.
Mine is an S3C so doesn't drink as much as the V8'S do, but I don't notice excessive consumption.
Spring will mean a full service, and full chassis check, it's important to do preventative maintenance with these things......
Saying that, I was nearly squashed by an HGV the other day, it didn't see me in the bad light on the motorway, mind you mine is a metallic pavement camouflage grey.
There's nothing better than getting the roof off at 6am on a frosty morning for a blat to work.
Sounds great, I had been thinking of waiting until I have a garage to put one in...
and I will have to use mine as a real car (as opposed to just a toy), but I may reconsider and just go for it!
At least depreciation will be fairly shallow - as long as I look after it..
What kind of service routine do you follow ??
and I will have to use mine as a real car (as opposed to just a toy), but I may reconsider and just go for it!
At least depreciation will be fairly shallow - as long as I look after it..
What kind of service routine do you follow ??
When it comes down to it, they are pretty robust, with the main bits being ford. Personally, an oil change every 3000 miles, then a full service every 6000, plugs etc etc.
It's important to keep an eye on the chassis, I completely stripped mine this spring, and painted it with 3 coats of red oxide, followed by 3 coats of hammerite, so it should be pretty strong for a while, but it wont stop me checking it, especially as I have used it through the winter, but have tried to wash it down underneath to rid the chassis of salt.
It's the same as everything really, preventative is better than reactive!!
Yes, mine is a little scruffy on the inside, it won't win any concours events, but that isn't why I bought it, I get so much pleasure from driving it that a few marks here and there can't be helped.
I would strongly recommend an S, if you buy wisely they will look after you.
It's important to keep an eye on the chassis, I completely stripped mine this spring, and painted it with 3 coats of red oxide, followed by 3 coats of hammerite, so it should be pretty strong for a while, but it wont stop me checking it, especially as I have used it through the winter, but have tried to wash it down underneath to rid the chassis of salt.
It's the same as everything really, preventative is better than reactive!!
Yes, mine is a little scruffy on the inside, it won't win any concours events, but that isn't why I bought it, I get so much pleasure from driving it that a few marks here and there can't be helped.
I would strongly recommend an S, if you buy wisely they will look after you.
Buy it, you won,t regret it. I get about 25 m.p.g. from mine when I drive it sensibly, will drop below 20 if you drive hard, but even then the fun factor makes it worthwhile.
As for driving in the wet, just be careful.
Mine is garaged, wouldn't like to keep it outside, but a good cover should help.
As for driving in the wet, just be careful.
Mine is garaged, wouldn't like to keep it outside, but a good cover should help.
I use mine everyday, and have done for six years. Its my only car and I do about 11,000 miles per annum.
You average between 20 + 25 mpg depending on driving mood/style and traffic volumes. If you try very hard you can get it under 15mpg !
I do now keep mine in a garage, but didn't for the first four years. Regular maintenence is the key. Weekly oil, water & tyre checks and 6000 miles or six months service without fail.
You have to realistically allow for up to £1,000 per year in additional servicing, maintenance, upgrades etc. If this is done on rolling schedule so waxoil once every three/four years, new tyres every 18 months etc it should keep nasty financial surprises at bay.
These cars are over 12 years old now so a lot of the components are toward the end of their expected design life, but most are readily available quickly and often cheaply from Ford or Rover suppliers.
Where else can you legally get this much fun for under £10 grand ?
>> Edited by tubbystu on Wednesday 7th December 14:08
You average between 20 + 25 mpg depending on driving mood/style and traffic volumes. If you try very hard you can get it under 15mpg !
I do now keep mine in a garage, but didn't for the first four years. Regular maintenence is the key. Weekly oil, water & tyre checks and 6000 miles or six months service without fail.
You have to realistically allow for up to £1,000 per year in additional servicing, maintenance, upgrades etc. If this is done on rolling schedule so waxoil once every three/four years, new tyres every 18 months etc it should keep nasty financial surprises at bay.
These cars are over 12 years old now so a lot of the components are toward the end of their expected design life, but most are readily available quickly and often cheaply from Ford or Rover suppliers.
Where else can you legally get this much fun for under £10 grand ?
>> Edited by tubbystu on Wednesday 7th December 14:08
gorvid said:
V8S as a daily driver ? (20 miles commute + weekend blasts)
V8S running costs ?
Fuel consumption ?
V8S without a garage to tuck it into ? (car cover ?)
Would this be a case of rain / snow / ice leave it at home ?
No on all counts I reckon, except the last. Enjoy the V8S on high days, holidays, sunny days, keep it garaged, if you can't afford the petrol bill don't ask, and all that kind of stuff. I had a briliant V8S (Mrs Blue Cerbera now owns it), the main reason hers looks so good is I treated mine the way I just described. Buy one anyhow and have fun.
Gorvid,
I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but I've had some experience of owning a couple of TVR's as my only car and as a second "toy" car......
My previous 2 TVR's were "semi everyday cars" i.e. half of the week (or more in the winter) I'd share a car to work with my girlfriend, but my current one is used as a "toy".
The classifieds at the moment have some good looking S2's & 3's for a couple of grand less than the V8's. If it was me I'd buy an V6 S for weekend / fun use and with the balance get a fiesta or something similar for everyday use - hang on, that's exactly what I've done this year!!
I feel I get more fun from my current S2 than I did from either of the others because I drive it when I want to and do not have the aggro of driving it everywhere in all conditions when I'm tired and want to get where I'm going in a more relaxed fashion.
For example, last week was a dry, bright, ccccold day so I took the roof off and went to work in the S and left the fiesta at home. The next day it was p!ss!ng down so I left the S behind.
It's true that a V8S will give you better performance than a V6 model, but the V6's are not exactly slow - it just depends on how much oooomph you want!!
I used car covers with my everyday TVR's for overnight trips away from the dry garage at home but I often got a soaking when putting it on or taking it off. If it was me it'd get on my nerves having to do it everyday in all weathers! And as I used to find when my TVR was my only car, waddya do when you go somewhere for an hour or so - put the cover on and off everytime or leave the car in the rain?
To those of you who use your S's everyday and use a car cover everyday all I can say is.....
but it's not for me!
Ultimately it's up to you and I wish you luck with your search. Whatever you end up with it'll be a TVR S Series and as we all know that's a great choice!!!!
Longers
I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but I've had some experience of owning a couple of TVR's as my only car and as a second "toy" car......
My previous 2 TVR's were "semi everyday cars" i.e. half of the week (or more in the winter) I'd share a car to work with my girlfriend, but my current one is used as a "toy".
The classifieds at the moment have some good looking S2's & 3's for a couple of grand less than the V8's. If it was me I'd buy an V6 S for weekend / fun use and with the balance get a fiesta or something similar for everyday use - hang on, that's exactly what I've done this year!!
I feel I get more fun from my current S2 than I did from either of the others because I drive it when I want to and do not have the aggro of driving it everywhere in all conditions when I'm tired and want to get where I'm going in a more relaxed fashion.
For example, last week was a dry, bright, ccccold day so I took the roof off and went to work in the S and left the fiesta at home. The next day it was p!ss!ng down so I left the S behind.
It's true that a V8S will give you better performance than a V6 model, but the V6's are not exactly slow - it just depends on how much oooomph you want!!
I used car covers with my everyday TVR's for overnight trips away from the dry garage at home but I often got a soaking when putting it on or taking it off. If it was me it'd get on my nerves having to do it everyday in all weathers! And as I used to find when my TVR was my only car, waddya do when you go somewhere for an hour or so - put the cover on and off everytime or leave the car in the rain?
To those of you who use your S's everyday and use a car cover everyday all I can say is.....
but it's not for me! Ultimately it's up to you and I wish you luck with your search. Whatever you end up with it'll be a TVR S Series and as we all know that's a great choice!!!!
Longers
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