S2 performance and gearing
Discussion
Hi All
I am looking to purchase an S2 and following on from my earlier thread, and your very helpful advice, on roof fitting, I have taken the car on a test drive and was a little surprised in the performance or rather lack of it. However, the gearing felt very tall. Unfortunately the rev counter does not work so I was not able to get a handle on mph / 1000rpm but 60 mph was easily attainable in 2nd gear and the engine was still pulling. I also needed to use 3rd gear in a 30 mph limit as it was very lumpy in 4th gear at 30 mph Something else I noticed the temperature rose to an indicated 95 degrees fairly rapidly when stationary the fan would cut in and the temperature would drop back to 90 degrees and sit there with the fan running continuously. The fan also appears to be running continuously when driving. The only way to get the fan to stop was stop the engine and allow it to cool down. When the engine had cooled sufficiently I removed the pressure cap from the steel header tank at the front of the engine and the water level was about half way up the tank, a level that my old Chimera was quite happy with. Is this a normal level for the V6 cooling system?
Many thanks in advance for your thoughs
Terence
I am looking to purchase an S2 and following on from my earlier thread, and your very helpful advice, on roof fitting, I have taken the car on a test drive and was a little surprised in the performance or rather lack of it. However, the gearing felt very tall. Unfortunately the rev counter does not work so I was not able to get a handle on mph / 1000rpm but 60 mph was easily attainable in 2nd gear and the engine was still pulling. I also needed to use 3rd gear in a 30 mph limit as it was very lumpy in 4th gear at 30 mph Something else I noticed the temperature rose to an indicated 95 degrees fairly rapidly when stationary the fan would cut in and the temperature would drop back to 90 degrees and sit there with the fan running continuously. The fan also appears to be running continuously when driving. The only way to get the fan to stop was stop the engine and allow it to cool down. When the engine had cooled sufficiently I removed the pressure cap from the steel header tank at the front of the engine and the water level was about half way up the tank, a level that my old Chimera was quite happy with. Is this a normal level for the V6 cooling system?
Many thanks in advance for your thoughs
Terence
Terence said:
Hi All
I am looking to purchase an S2 and following on from my earlier thread, and your very helpful advice, on roof fitting, I have taken the car on a test drive and was a little surprised in the performance or rather lack of it. However, the gearing felt very tall. Unfortunately the rev counter does not work so I was not able to get a handle on mph / 1000rpm but 60 mph was easily attainable in 2nd gear and the engine was still pulling. I also needed to use 3rd gear in a 30 mph limit as it was very lumpy in 4th gear at 30 mph Something else I noticed the temperature rose to an indicated 95 degrees fairly rapidly when stationary the fan would cut in and the temperature would drop back to 90 degrees and sit there with the fan running continuously. The fan also appears to be running continuously when driving. The only way to get the fan to stop was stop the engine and allow it to cool down. When the engine had cooled sufficiently I removed the pressure cap from the steel header tank at the front of the engine and the water level was about half way up the tank, a level that my old Chimera was quite happy with. Is this a normal level for the V6 cooling system?
Many thanks in advance for your thoughs
Terence
Terry,I am looking to purchase an S2 and following on from my earlier thread, and your very helpful advice, on roof fitting, I have taken the car on a test drive and was a little surprised in the performance or rather lack of it. However, the gearing felt very tall. Unfortunately the rev counter does not work so I was not able to get a handle on mph / 1000rpm but 60 mph was easily attainable in 2nd gear and the engine was still pulling. I also needed to use 3rd gear in a 30 mph limit as it was very lumpy in 4th gear at 30 mph Something else I noticed the temperature rose to an indicated 95 degrees fairly rapidly when stationary the fan would cut in and the temperature would drop back to 90 degrees and sit there with the fan running continuously. The fan also appears to be running continuously when driving. The only way to get the fan to stop was stop the engine and allow it to cool down. When the engine had cooled sufficiently I removed the pressure cap from the steel header tank at the front of the engine and the water level was about half way up the tank, a level that my old Chimera was quite happy with. Is this a normal level for the V6 cooling system?
Many thanks in advance for your thoughs
Terence
Revs for 60 in second approx 5700ish - 65ish is redline on mine but speedo reads slightly low due to 17" wheels and tyre size.
3rd at 30mph is about 17-1800 rpm IIRC but 30 is definately a third gear speed limit; 35 and you can get away with 4th comfortably.
If pick up didn't feel good then it is probably the tuning of the engine. The car feels faster than it is normally, but don't be underwhelmed the cars are late 80s early 90s so you have to compare like with like, i.e. think performance of other <£20k sportscars of the time not with todays beasts. It is cornering (and of course style) that is where the car shows its ability.
That water level is too low, swirl pot should be full all the time and the expansion tank about 2/3 full when hot and almost empty when cold. I suspect the system hasn't been bled properly, check the air bleed screw on top of radiator with the swirl pot full. This is probably the reason for the lack of cooling. My fan cuts in when stood still in winter after 5mins or so, in summer at a set of lights when red, but does not cut in at all when at speed and temp sits at around 90 all the time when at speed in summer and 80ish in winter. Note air temp makes a big difference here.
HTH
Mark
Hi. Thanks for your replies guys I think as you say the car is out of tune. I am comparing to an extent with my Rover 200Vi (1996 114 k miles) which I think has a quoted 0 to 60 of around 7.6 s and the S felt slower. It has recently had the heads skimmed and I noticed it has a very new looking radiator and fan. So the cooling issues could very well be due to the system requiring bleeding. As it was deemed necessary to skim the heads I am wondering if the engine has been cooked in the past possibly due to failure of the old rad. It runs very lumpy and really does not seem happy at anything below about 2.5 k rpm (estimate as rev counter not working). Is there much on these engines you can do tune wise? I have read a bit about having to put them into service mode to set the ignition timing. Thanks again all. Terence
The Lukas said:
I can poodle in 5th at 30 in my car and accelerate comfortably. 
I definately can't get 5th at 30 the revs would be at idle revs and it feels like a diesel egine hen its about to stall, I can get fourth at 30 with about 1200rpm and accelerate from there but th car does feel rough at this theefore I tend to drive in 3rd in town or in fourth at 33-35 if the area isn't built up and watch for 
, but my gearbox has been rebuilt twice - first time not by me so could have had long gears put in Thanks guys and thanks for your offer GeraldTVR I am not that far from you as I am near Stratford on Avon. I am torn between buying another wedge and trying an S. Quite different cars but when I weigh up the pros and cons of each they are very close. I like the styling of the S and am a great fan of the RV8 engine, but can not afford a V8S. I have pretty much ruled out the S with the performance issues so will keep looking. Terence
Terence said:
Thanks guys and thanks for your offer GeraldTVR I am not that far from you as I am near Stratford on Avon. I am torn between buying another wedge and trying an S. Quite different cars but when I weigh up the pros and cons of each they are very close. I like the styling of the S and am a great fan of the RV8 engine, but can not afford a V8S. I have pretty much ruled out the S with the performance issues so will keep looking. Terence
I wouldn't base your experience on a single car - it would be well worth looking at a couple of others before ruling it out.Barkychoc said:
Terence said:
I have pretty much ruled out the S with the performance issues so will keep looking. Terence
I wouldn't base your experience on a single car - it would be well worth looking at a couple of others before ruling it out.Try a few more cars, you would be crazy to buy the first one you tried.
I have been very guilty of that in the past though, but looking at the prices today it is a real buyers market.
I have never driven a v6, but on the odd sclub outing they never seemed lacking in power, although I think some of the drivers may have made up for any lack of cylinders with pure determination.
For the same given performance figures most TVR's feel considerably quicker in my experience, not because they are but because there is little between you and the road. Modern cars can often outperform with much less effort, a BMW 535 for instance. You should not compare the two, my recent 308 experience was testament to that.
Z
I have been very guilty of that in the past though, but looking at the prices today it is a real buyers market.
I have never driven a v6, but on the odd sclub outing they never seemed lacking in power, although I think some of the drivers may have made up for any lack of cylinders with pure determination.
For the same given performance figures most TVR's feel considerably quicker in my experience, not because they are but because there is little between you and the road. Modern cars can often outperform with much less effort, a BMW 535 for instance. You should not compare the two, my recent 308 experience was testament to that.
Z
Z as you say I need to try a few cars. I must admit I did buy the first wedge that I saw and did not have any regrets. I was undecided between an S and another Wedge, however, last week I went to see a really nice wedge but it did not give me the same feelings as my old one so am now just looking for an S2 in reasonable condition with a decent length MOT. T
I've never found the power of the V6 S lacking. Certainly managed to keep up on some of the more spirited convoys 
although top speed is only about 130mph or so 
I think the S feels more like the S6 engined cars rather than the V8 ones. Certainly my S feel more like my brother's Tamora than his Chimaera (but somewhat slower obviously!).
I find 2nd and 3rd the S's party trick. Good fun to be had in these gears
although top speed is only about 130mph or so I think the S feels more like the S6 engined cars rather than the V8 ones. Certainly my S feel more like my brother's Tamora than his Chimaera (but somewhat slower obviously!).
I find 2nd and 3rd the S's party trick. Good fun to be had in these gears
Certainly agree with regards MOT being no guarantee of condition, I generally spend a fair bit of time going over a vehicle, especially after a few years ago when I bought a Range Rover that had 11 months MOT then spent the first two weeks of ownership welding it. I just do not want the hassle of having to MOT the car soon after purchase. On the power front I think the first vehicle I drove was a bit out of tune. I will keep on looking. T
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff