Is an S the right car for me?
Discussion
Hi all, been stalking this part of the site for a few months now. Trying to learn as much as possible in order to make the correct choice when it comes to my next purchase!
To put it briefly, im currently at Uni and carless. Iv got a 2cv pickup half way through restoration at home and a JZR three wheeled kitcar which keeps it company at night....
The 2cv is an old love of mine which I bought for the long haul so im not too botherd how long she takes to get back on the road. The JZR however needs to go soon, iv come the conclusion that a roof and some doors might prove a little more practical for daily life!
If all goes well i should have the JZR sold and be looking for a new car by the end of the year, with about 5ish K to play with.
So, I have decided to either go down the TVR route or get a little Citroen C1 to bang around in until I can realy afford a proper car!
I have list as long as my arm for reasont to get the Tiv, but my head says i realy cannt afford to run one at the moment and should put the cash towards something with super low running costs and wait a few years....
I would realy appreciate any opinion which could help me decide what to do!
For example:
What MPG do you realy get?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Cheers guys, Mitch
To put it briefly, im currently at Uni and carless. Iv got a 2cv pickup half way through restoration at home and a JZR three wheeled kitcar which keeps it company at night....
The 2cv is an old love of mine which I bought for the long haul so im not too botherd how long she takes to get back on the road. The JZR however needs to go soon, iv come the conclusion that a roof and some doors might prove a little more practical for daily life!
If all goes well i should have the JZR sold and be looking for a new car by the end of the year, with about 5ish K to play with.
So, I have decided to either go down the TVR route or get a little Citroen C1 to bang around in until I can realy afford a proper car!
I have list as long as my arm for reasont to get the Tiv, but my head says i realy cannt afford to run one at the moment and should put the cash towards something with super low running costs and wait a few years....
I would realy appreciate any opinion which could help me decide what to do!
For example:
What MPG do you realy get?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Cheers guys, Mitch
Edited by mitchipoo06 on Tuesday 12th May 17:02
Hi Mitch,
I've had an S3 for a year now, it has 93k on the clock and had a full body off chassis restoration. It could be better cosmetically but I bought it to drive first and foremost.
What MPG do you realy get?
Urban, on a 20 mile round trip to work in traffic I get abut 24mpg, on a leisurely 400 mile round trip I got 33mpg cruising on dual carriageway and A roads. I rarely blast away from lights, junctions etc but do use the power for overtaking on A-roads. Other than that I just fit in with the flow of other traffic and burble along. My average is about 27 overall - but like I say, I am gentle with the right foot....
How much have you spent on running it this year?
other than fuel, tax(£185), MOT(£42) and insurance(£160) I've spent very little on the actual car. Chrome polish, a couple of bulbs, a Steve Heath manual, trolley jack and a set of imperial spanners were the main items. Try Hagerty for insurance, there's a thread from last week with more details.
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
I've had three major problems:
1. fan burnt out, cost £200 including labour to fit a new Kenlowe unit.
2. clutch slave cylinder replaced. £10 off Ebay and fitted myself.
3. needed new starter motor as the solenoid wiring broke off the old one. £120 new.
All of these can be put down to the age and use of the car I guess. I could have got cheaper fans and starters but that was my choice. Now that they are fixed I (hope) to have a trouble-free year....
Parts are pretty easy to source and this site is a great source of advice and help.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Personally I would not like to commute every day, heavy brakes, no power steering. Mine also leaks in rain, which appears to be a common problem.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope your cos some spare cash...
I listened to them, then to the car - no contest!!!
I've had an S3 for a year now, it has 93k on the clock and had a full body off chassis restoration. It could be better cosmetically but I bought it to drive first and foremost.
What MPG do you realy get?
Urban, on a 20 mile round trip to work in traffic I get abut 24mpg, on a leisurely 400 mile round trip I got 33mpg cruising on dual carriageway and A roads. I rarely blast away from lights, junctions etc but do use the power for overtaking on A-roads. Other than that I just fit in with the flow of other traffic and burble along. My average is about 27 overall - but like I say, I am gentle with the right foot....
How much have you spent on running it this year?
other than fuel, tax(£185), MOT(£42) and insurance(£160) I've spent very little on the actual car. Chrome polish, a couple of bulbs, a Steve Heath manual, trolley jack and a set of imperial spanners were the main items. Try Hagerty for insurance, there's a thread from last week with more details.
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
I've had three major problems:
1. fan burnt out, cost £200 including labour to fit a new Kenlowe unit.
2. clutch slave cylinder replaced. £10 off Ebay and fitted myself.
3. needed new starter motor as the solenoid wiring broke off the old one. £120 new.
All of these can be put down to the age and use of the car I guess. I could have got cheaper fans and starters but that was my choice. Now that they are fixed I (hope) to have a trouble-free year....
Parts are pretty easy to source and this site is a great source of advice and help.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Personally I would not like to commute every day, heavy brakes, no power steering. Mine also leaks in rain, which appears to be a common problem.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope your cos some spare cash...
I listened to them, then to the car - no contest!!!
What MPG do you realy get?
I can honestly say I've never worked it out. When the tank gets to 1/4 full I fill up. I guess 20-30mpg?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Depends on who does the servicing. Insurance and tax is cheap (for what the car is) but I think about 1K a year for running costs is about right. Far less if you service it yourself. Some years you spend less, others things like chassis work need doing.
Does it really break down 'that' often?
Not in my 6 years ownership. I had a bad experience last year when in Europe but managed to limp 150 miles to the ferry port before being relayed the remainder.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Easily. By far the nicest car to drive I've owned
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
You'll have many more shouting "nice car Mista!" (for some reason it makes kids regress back to the 19th century...)
I can honestly say I've never worked it out. When the tank gets to 1/4 full I fill up. I guess 20-30mpg?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Depends on who does the servicing. Insurance and tax is cheap (for what the car is) but I think about 1K a year for running costs is about right. Far less if you service it yourself. Some years you spend less, others things like chassis work need doing.
Does it really break down 'that' often?
Not in my 6 years ownership. I had a bad experience last year when in Europe but managed to limp 150 miles to the ferry port before being relayed the remainder.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Easily. By far the nicest car to drive I've owned
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
You'll have many more shouting "nice car Mista!" (for some reason it makes kids regress back to the 19th century...)
What MPG do you really get?
I figured it out once on a run to Snetterton including looning it away from all the roundabouts on the A11 chasing after a Wedge I managed roughly 27ish mpg. I reckon at a 60mph cruise all the way it would make 30 but then who cares....
How much have you spent on running it this year?
So far, about £35 for a throttle cable. The insurance will be about £175 when it comes up. Service - about £200 I guess.
Does it really break down 'that' often?
Nope - apart from the snapped throttle cable (see above) and a minor immobiliser/fuel pump problem (fuse) its been faultless for over 3 years.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Yep. As long as the seals are watertight and the demister works I see no reason why not
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Nope. Get a good one (chassis), look after it and it will serve you well.
I figured it out once on a run to Snetterton including looning it away from all the roundabouts on the A11 chasing after a Wedge I managed roughly 27ish mpg. I reckon at a 60mph cruise all the way it would make 30 but then who cares....
How much have you spent on running it this year?
So far, about £35 for a throttle cable. The insurance will be about £175 when it comes up. Service - about £200 I guess.
Does it really break down 'that' often?
Nope - apart from the snapped throttle cable (see above) and a minor immobiliser/fuel pump problem (fuse) its been faultless for over 3 years.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Yep. As long as the seals are watertight and the demister works I see no reason why not
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Nope. Get a good one (chassis), look after it and it will serve you well.
Edited by dougc on Tuesday 12th May 17:42
- What MPG do you realy get?
- How much have you spent on running it this year?
- Does it realy break down 'that' often?
- Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
- Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
On the issue of stereotypes I should add the S' handling is sublime. Well setup they really are very nice cars to drive and the 'I bet it's a bit of a handful?' comments cary even less weight than those about reliability.
BTW I might know someone thinking about putting a very nice, late, low mileage S3 up for sale in the near future if you're interested?
Edited by Chris71 on Tuesday 12th May 17:56
mitchipoo06 said:
To put it briefly, im currently at Uni and carless. Iv got a 2cv pickup half way through restoration at home and a JZR three wheeled kitcar which keeps it company at night....
If all goes well i should have the JZR sold and be looking for a new car by the end of the year, with about 5ish K to play with.
So, I have decided to either go down the TVR route or get a little Citroen C1 to bang around in until I can realy afford a proper car!
Cheers guys, Mitch
If I were in your position I'd get the C1, for the following reasonsIf all goes well i should have the JZR sold and be looking for a new car by the end of the year, with about 5ish K to play with.
So, I have decided to either go down the TVR route or get a little Citroen C1 to bang around in until I can realy afford a proper car!
Cheers guys, Mitch
Edited by mitchipoo06 on Tuesday 12th May 17:02
1.Its cheaper to run
2.It will seat 4
3.It will be more reliable than any 15-20 year old car.
4.It will be less succeptible to scumbags damaging it.
Unfortunately the TVR would be a lot more fun but you will have plenty of time for that when you've got through University.
Personally I'd go somewhere between the two - maybe a £1500 - 2000 daily hack and then look for an S1 - these are the early ones but tend to be much much cheaper than the S2 onwards for no good reason.
The main difference is the earlier Ford 2.8 V6 (Capri / Sierra / Mk2 Granada) rather than the later 2.9 V6 and no electric windows - but the electric windows tend to be a source of trouble anyway.
Classic insurers will let you insure it as a classic for not much cash - but to qualify you have to have a daily driver - so I'd buy something dull and reliable as your daily drive.
You sound like a guy that likes to tinker - and the S is a very simple car - maintaining it yourself all the mechanicals are ford sierra so parts cost very little. Everything is fixable, you need a bit of ingenuity now and again (look for front indicator threads as the originals from a sherpa van are no longer available).
The important thing is not to get one with a duff chassis or rear trailing arms.
Have a look at http://www.tvrsseries.com if you haven't already.
I'd say do it - its getting to the point where these are depreciation proof cars at the moment.
The main difference is the earlier Ford 2.8 V6 (Capri / Sierra / Mk2 Granada) rather than the later 2.9 V6 and no electric windows - but the electric windows tend to be a source of trouble anyway.
Classic insurers will let you insure it as a classic for not much cash - but to qualify you have to have a daily driver - so I'd buy something dull and reliable as your daily drive.
You sound like a guy that likes to tinker - and the S is a very simple car - maintaining it yourself all the mechanicals are ford sierra so parts cost very little. Everything is fixable, you need a bit of ingenuity now and again (look for front indicator threads as the originals from a sherpa van are no longer available).
The important thing is not to get one with a duff chassis or rear trailing arms.
Have a look at http://www.tvrsseries.com if you haven't already.
I'd say do it - its getting to the point where these are depreciation proof cars at the moment.
Edited by Barkychoc on Tuesday 12th May 18:42
Bought S3 in August 05 @ 40,000miles - currently about 53,000
What MPG do you realy get?
I've kept a record of every time I've filled up
and it works out at 23.5mpg
Most I've done on a tank is 280miles and on average fill up @ 190miles
Reading the above I think I need to get a life
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Servicing I got done at my local TVR specialist -£200ish, but this year I'll do it myself. After taking things to bits to get the rocker covers, plenum sprayed I've got the bug back for doing work myself after too many years with company cars.
Insurance £200ish with Mannings on a classic policy. Previously I had it on a normal policy as they wouldn't do it on a classic policy because it is not garaged. They have now changed this rule.
Parts needed : - Brake fluid bottle cap (connectors had all rusted and snapped of) - £4ish from Ebay
Does it really break down 'that' often?
Only time I've stopped at the side of the road was a puncture.
Needed a new battery the Christmas before last.
Had corrosion on one of the cooling pipes and some poor condition hoses, so replaced all with silicon/stainless parts.
Only minor faults at the second are :
oil pressure gauge not working (hopefully just corrosion on the bare cable end where it connects to the sensor)
speedo doesn't read correctly till you've driven about 10miles
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Yes, but I wouldn't like to if I had to do a lot of slow manoeuvring/tight parking spots every day.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Just remember that with a S1-S4 your running a standard Sierra engine and brakes. So nothing to go wrong really with them. Any problems are usually with TVR bits - wiring, cooling system.
As long as the chassis and suspension arm parts are in good nick, you shouldn't have any more problems than with any other 18+ year old car.
What MPG do you realy get?
I've kept a record of every time I've filled up
and it works out at 23.5mpgMost I've done on a tank is 280miles and on average fill up @ 190miles
Reading the above I think I need to get a life
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Servicing I got done at my local TVR specialist -£200ish, but this year I'll do it myself. After taking things to bits to get the rocker covers, plenum sprayed I've got the bug back for doing work myself after too many years with company cars.
Insurance £200ish with Mannings on a classic policy. Previously I had it on a normal policy as they wouldn't do it on a classic policy because it is not garaged. They have now changed this rule.
Parts needed : - Brake fluid bottle cap (connectors had all rusted and snapped of) - £4ish from Ebay
Does it really break down 'that' often?
Only time I've stopped at the side of the road was a puncture.
Needed a new battery the Christmas before last.
Had corrosion on one of the cooling pipes and some poor condition hoses, so replaced all with silicon/stainless parts.
Only minor faults at the second are :
oil pressure gauge not working (hopefully just corrosion on the bare cable end where it connects to the sensor)
speedo doesn't read correctly till you've driven about 10miles
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Yes, but I wouldn't like to if I had to do a lot of slow manoeuvring/tight parking spots every day.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Just remember that with a S1-S4 your running a standard Sierra engine and brakes. So nothing to go wrong really with them. Any problems are usually with TVR bits - wiring, cooling system.
As long as the chassis and suspension arm parts are in good nick, you shouldn't have any more problems than with any other 18+ year old car.
Edited by Russ35 on Tuesday 12th May 18:50
Hi Mitch,
I have have only had my S3 for about nine months and for a fair amount of that time (mainly over the winter) its been off the road for 'tinkering/cleaning so I'm not likely to be as good a judge as some of the 'long termers' on this forum.
However my opinion, for what its worth is that I'd have to agree with Barkychoc, I think get a cheap practical everyday car and an 'S', for the kind of money you are considering spending it should be very feasable and as Barkychoc says all the S series cars must be at or very near the bottom of their depreciation curve.
Don't get me wrong I think its possible to run the TVR as an every day vehicle but maybe on a wet Wednesday afternoon stuck in traffic in the depths of winter its not going to be all that enjoyable. Worst of all if it should break down your experience of the car would begin to be unfairly tainted.
I thoroughly enjoy my car and it becomes a pleasure to get it out of the garage, each time is a special occasion that for me in any case would be diluted a bit if I was to be thinking of the work day ahead rather than the drive itself.
Good luck with the decision.
I have have only had my S3 for about nine months and for a fair amount of that time (mainly over the winter) its been off the road for 'tinkering/cleaning so I'm not likely to be as good a judge as some of the 'long termers' on this forum.
However my opinion, for what its worth is that I'd have to agree with Barkychoc, I think get a cheap practical everyday car and an 'S', for the kind of money you are considering spending it should be very feasable and as Barkychoc says all the S series cars must be at or very near the bottom of their depreciation curve.
Don't get me wrong I think its possible to run the TVR as an every day vehicle but maybe on a wet Wednesday afternoon stuck in traffic in the depths of winter its not going to be all that enjoyable. Worst of all if it should break down your experience of the car would begin to be unfairly tainted.
I thoroughly enjoy my car and it becomes a pleasure to get it out of the garage, each time is a special occasion that for me in any case would be diluted a bit if I was to be thinking of the work day ahead rather than the drive itself.
Good luck with the decision.
If possible get a cheap hack, a lad over the road just got a w reg clio with av miles for 350, it needed a little work but was MOTd for 500. budget 1000k for your insurance, that leaves you 3500 for the tiv and some insurance, you can get a perfectly good s1 for 3k. do it.
I nearlly bought a spitfire as my only runner after uni, regret not getting it but the mk2 scirocco was a bit of reliable fun instead.
I nearlly bought a spitfire as my only runner after uni, regret not getting it but the mk2 scirocco was a bit of reliable fun instead.
Have to say I am a big fan of the 2 car idea as well. Not for the S specifically, I'd say the same thing if it was a brand new mass produced sports car, the fact is sometimes you need more space or something you can park in a dodgy area safely. And it is a lot cheaper than you'd think - classic insurance, low usage and road tax without the CO2 penalties mean it's almost invariably cheaper to run one specialist car and one hack than it is to run a genuine all rounder.
I could practically run my S3 for a year on the ammount a decent all rounder like an M3 or Evo would cost me just to insure (being somewhat younger than many TVR owners).
But I still think compared to other specialist cars the TVR is quite a could candidate for regular use. The boot is huge for a convertible, the roof can be made to work quite well, it sort of demists, and you can coax fairly respectable MPG figures out of it. It's strictly a relative thing, but I think after 12 months in the average kit car or classic you'd be clambering to commute in an S.
I could practically run my S3 for a year on the ammount a decent all rounder like an M3 or Evo would cost me just to insure (being somewhat younger than many TVR owners).
But I still think compared to other specialist cars the TVR is quite a could candidate for regular use. The boot is huge for a convertible, the roof can be made to work quite well, it sort of demists, and you can coax fairly respectable MPG figures out of it. It's strictly a relative thing, but I think after 12 months in the average kit car or classic you'd be clambering to commute in an S.
It's not always a good idea to have 2 cars. It's a silly number. 3, or ,ore is clearly better 
What MPG do you realy get?
TBH, I've never been too interested in checking that. I guess my S2 did about 25 and my V8S maybe 23, but it depends how you drive.
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Last year my V8S cost 1k, but this included unusual things such as fuel injectors and brake calipers. I would not expect it to be that high normally (maybe 500 as I can't servise them. My cerb cost 1k too (less than the 3k often quoted) and the wedge about 500.
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
My S2 broke down once (alternator), my V8S once (can't remember, a fuse or something), my wedge once (too short a lead to the coil, shorting a little, carboning up). None of these things were much, I had each S about 3 years, the wedge 1 year. My current cerb has never broken down, and my last one just exploded a little bit. But, it never broke down after that.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
I imagine this depends on the condition of the car, if in good condition, why not? My main car has done 144k in 5 years with 2 breakdowns. It's serviced regularly and perhaps that may be more important with a TVR.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Good question. Talking to people with no soul will not make you happy. Buy a TVR and there may well be some frustration along the way, but what an experience! There isn't much like it.
What MPG do you realy get?
TBH, I've never been too interested in checking that. I guess my S2 did about 25 and my V8S maybe 23, but it depends how you drive.
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Last year my V8S cost 1k, but this included unusual things such as fuel injectors and brake calipers. I would not expect it to be that high normally (maybe 500 as I can't servise them. My cerb cost 1k too (less than the 3k often quoted) and the wedge about 500.
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
My S2 broke down once (alternator), my V8S once (can't remember, a fuse or something), my wedge once (too short a lead to the coil, shorting a little, carboning up). None of these things were much, I had each S about 3 years, the wedge 1 year. My current cerb has never broken down, and my last one just exploded a little bit. But, it never broke down after that.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
I imagine this depends on the condition of the car, if in good condition, why not? My main car has done 144k in 5 years with 2 breakdowns. It's serviced regularly and perhaps that may be more important with a TVR.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Good question. Talking to people with no soul will not make you happy. Buy a TVR and there may well be some frustration along the way, but what an experience! There isn't much like it.
What MPG do you realy get?
Crikey I must have a heavy right foot! Seriously, the best I have managed is 30 mpg, 25 to 27 being more typical on a long run. However these days I almost exclusively use it for short runs on B or C roads and I doubt if I get 20 mpg. But then I find the throttle works best in the fully down position and anything less than 6000rpm is surely just a transitory state?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
250 quid and I haven't even driven it yet! But my sump had corroded through and the engine had to come out to replace it, so whilst it was out...
Does it really break down 'that' often?
In 14 years it has broken down perhaps three times. Once when the immobiliser packed up (I don't have one of those now!), once when the yellow ignition connected burnt out (now replaced with a decent connector) and once when I ran out of fuel (the fuel gauge had broken and I was playing guess how many miles I can do between top ups - badly!)
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
If you don't have a garage, this will be better than having it as a second car.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
The S series don't break down much, but little things do go wrong, and they need proper servicing like any oher car. In my experience, the TVR "dealers" didn't aways know much about the V6 S (more familiar with the V8's) and mine often came back from servicing with new faults... The V6 S just has a standard Ford V6 so you just need to find a reliable garage who is used to these (or do it yourself, its not that hard). However, these are old cars now, and things wear out with age. This can be expensive. In particular, chassis and suspension components rust - this can cost thousands of pounds to fix or take your car off the road for a long time if you do it yourself, also fuel tanks rust through (~£300+), mild steel exhausts don't last (get a car with a stainless exhaust and preferably fuel tank already fitted), original dampers are probably less than brilliant by now.
The cars do have a tendency to leak, this can be hard to fix completely, leaks will eventually ruin the carpets if the car is kept outside.
However, I have failed to find a car I rather have for less than £10000 (I've been looking!). Yes I know Chimmera's can be had for less than £10K, but they are not much newer than the S and will have the same problems, and the V8 is probably more expensive to maintain long term than the V6.
Finally, you will not find a car for the money that puts a bigger smile on your face every time you drive it.
Crikey I must have a heavy right foot! Seriously, the best I have managed is 30 mpg, 25 to 27 being more typical on a long run. However these days I almost exclusively use it for short runs on B or C roads and I doubt if I get 20 mpg. But then I find the throttle works best in the fully down position and anything less than 6000rpm is surely just a transitory state?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
250 quid and I haven't even driven it yet! But my sump had corroded through and the engine had to come out to replace it, so whilst it was out...
Does it really break down 'that' often?
In 14 years it has broken down perhaps three times. Once when the immobiliser packed up (I don't have one of those now!), once when the yellow ignition connected burnt out (now replaced with a decent connector) and once when I ran out of fuel (the fuel gauge had broken and I was playing guess how many miles I can do between top ups - badly!)
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
If you don't have a garage, this will be better than having it as a second car.
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
The S series don't break down much, but little things do go wrong, and they need proper servicing like any oher car. In my experience, the TVR "dealers" didn't aways know much about the V6 S (more familiar with the V8's) and mine often came back from servicing with new faults... The V6 S just has a standard Ford V6 so you just need to find a reliable garage who is used to these (or do it yourself, its not that hard). However, these are old cars now, and things wear out with age. This can be expensive. In particular, chassis and suspension components rust - this can cost thousands of pounds to fix or take your car off the road for a long time if you do it yourself, also fuel tanks rust through (~£300+), mild steel exhausts don't last (get a car with a stainless exhaust and preferably fuel tank already fitted), original dampers are probably less than brilliant by now.
The cars do have a tendency to leak, this can be hard to fix completely, leaks will eventually ruin the carpets if the car is kept outside.
However, I have failed to find a car I rather have for less than £10000 (I've been looking!). Yes I know Chimmera's can be had for less than £10K, but they are not much newer than the S and will have the same problems, and the V8 is probably more expensive to maintain long term than the V6.
Finally, you will not find a car for the money that puts a bigger smile on your face every time you drive it.
What MPG do you realy get?
I don't pay any attention to that as the answer might scare me. That said on the way to cadwell earlier in the year I got about 25ish, on the autotest I did at the weekend I got about 4mpg
For normal use I probably get somewhere just under 20mpg (mine is a v8, a v6 will likely be more economical)
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Ignoring the wheels and tyres I bought for track use probably £1600, most of which was on new dampers and springs. Some of it was on things that wouldn't have needed doing if I'd spent more on the car in the first place. I've snapped a throttle cable and broken two cv joints so far so it's more things breaking due to old age and abuse than any actual unreliableness.
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
Mine has broken down three times, once a snapped throttle cable, and twice it has turned the fuel pump off for no obvious reason. As far as I can tell it's a problem with the aftermarket imobiliser that's been fitted and not a problem with anything of tvr's doing.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Yes, you might go a bit deaf though
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
I wouldn't, if you buy a good one then it'll be mostly fine. Make sure you have some cash left over after you've bought it as you're likely to find annoying little things wrong with it, once they're all sorted then they're reliableish cars
I don't pay any attention to that as the answer might scare me. That said on the way to cadwell earlier in the year I got about 25ish, on the autotest I did at the weekend I got about 4mpg
For normal use I probably get somewhere just under 20mpg (mine is a v8, a v6 will likely be more economical)
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Ignoring the wheels and tyres I bought for track use probably £1600, most of which was on new dampers and springs. Some of it was on things that wouldn't have needed doing if I'd spent more on the car in the first place. I've snapped a throttle cable and broken two cv joints so far so it's more things breaking due to old age and abuse than any actual unreliableness.
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
Mine has broken down three times, once a snapped throttle cable, and twice it has turned the fuel pump off for no obvious reason. As far as I can tell it's a problem with the aftermarket imobiliser that's been fitted and not a problem with anything of tvr's doing.
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Yes, you might go a bit deaf though
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
I wouldn't, if you buy a good one then it'll be mostly fine. Make sure you have some cash left over after you've bought it as you're likely to find annoying little things wrong with it, once they're all sorted then they're reliableish cars
mitchipoo06 said:
Hi all, been stalking this part of the site for a few months now. Trying to learn as much as possible in order to make the correct choice when it comes to my next purchase!
To put it briefly, im currently at Uni and carless. Iv got a 2cv pickup half way through restoration at home and a JZR three wheeled kitcar which keeps it company at night....
The 2cv is an old love of mine which I bought for the long haul so im not too botherd how long she takes to get back on the road. The JZR however needs to go soon, iv come the conclusion that a roof and some doors might prove a little more practical for daily life!
If all goes well i should have the JZR sold and be looking for a new car by the end of the year, with about 5ish K to play with.
So, I have decided to either go down the TVR route or get a little Citroen C1 to bang around in until I can realy afford a proper car!
I have list as long as my arm for reasont to get the Tiv, but my head says i realy cannt afford to run one at the moment and should put the cash towards something with super low running costs and wait a few years....
I would realy appreciate any opinion which could help me decide what to do!
For example:
What MPG do you realy get?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Cheers guys, Mitch
Hi Mitch To put it briefly, im currently at Uni and carless. Iv got a 2cv pickup half way through restoration at home and a JZR three wheeled kitcar which keeps it company at night....
The 2cv is an old love of mine which I bought for the long haul so im not too botherd how long she takes to get back on the road. The JZR however needs to go soon, iv come the conclusion that a roof and some doors might prove a little more practical for daily life!
If all goes well i should have the JZR sold and be looking for a new car by the end of the year, with about 5ish K to play with.
So, I have decided to either go down the TVR route or get a little Citroen C1 to bang around in until I can realy afford a proper car!
I have list as long as my arm for reasont to get the Tiv, but my head says i realy cannt afford to run one at the moment and should put the cash towards something with super low running costs and wait a few years....
I would realy appreciate any opinion which could help me decide what to do!
For example:
What MPG do you realy get?
How much have you spent on running it this year?
Does it realy break down 'that' often?
Could I do 10k a year without going nuts?
Should I listen to people who make that sucking noise and say ooooo a TVR, hope you have got some spare cash...
Cheers guys, Mitch
Edited by mitchipoo06 on Tuesday 12th May 17:02
As an owner , you really need one of these cars . You can probably buy one and run it for next to nothing for a year or two .
As a responsible adult with two kids also at uni ,
Stop thinking about fast cars and get on with some work !
Jeez, wasnt expecting massive response chaps!
I doubt that id have got much more than a squeek out of some of the other areas, suppose its the first signs of proper TVR owners!
Thankyou for all the comments, some realy interesting and noteable points above...
Firstly, MPG! slightly less than I had expected but what the hell. Im not going to let that influence my decision too much, folk who buy an expensive car to shout about its eco/fuel abilities bug me a little bit, id rather buy cheeper and spend more on feeding the beast!
Running costs: seem to be much more reasonable than i had first feared! Id say that i spent more on my 2CV dureing its first year with me than many of you seem to on an S. Seems the key as with any classic is to get one thats been well cared for...
The two car route: Hmmm, thats something that im going to have to think long and hard about. I can see the pros and cons of both but am slighly leaning towards running a lone S. The main reason being i dont think im going to have parking available for two cars, if all goes to plan me and the GF will be getting a flat down the road which has underground parking. (At X amount of silly money per month!)
Liveing with an S everyday: The main thing that i was/am concerned about is reliability. This however seems as though its less of an issue than i first thought. Strangely enough running the 2CV througout last winter proved a realy enjoyable experience! I loved nipping out with crossed fingers to fire her up on a cold winters morning. Wet bums and misty windows seemed to add to the experience! I was actualy considering swaping the JZR for an old westie to use as my every, so from a compfort perspective i think an S should fit the bill quite well!
Which to choose? As it would be used everyday i think im going to have to opt for the newest and best condition example i can get my mits on. Do the door mods on the S3 make it a lot easyer to hop in and out of? Im a gangley 6.2 so getting in gracefully would be a plus point!
How much to budget? Having studied the classifieds over the past month or so it seems as though its a bit of a buyers market at the moment, so what should i budget for a good example with a top chassis? Would 4.5K do the trick?
Service costs: Whats the usual schedule for maintaining an S? I would like to think i could have a bash at most things, just curious as to what you change regularly?
Chris71, that S that may be up for sale, wouldnt be a dark blue S3 would it?! Looks like a little pearl you have there, any idea when she'll be on her way? If its toward the end of the year i way be interested. (Although it is the wrong shade of green!) Iv had a flick through your blog... top stuff, it makes a good read!
Once again id just like to say thanks for all the feedback, I almost feel inclided to take the plunge so that i can talk TVR every day! :-)
Cheers, Mitch
I doubt that id have got much more than a squeek out of some of the other areas, suppose its the first signs of proper TVR owners!
Thankyou for all the comments, some realy interesting and noteable points above...
Firstly, MPG! slightly less than I had expected but what the hell. Im not going to let that influence my decision too much, folk who buy an expensive car to shout about its eco/fuel abilities bug me a little bit, id rather buy cheeper and spend more on feeding the beast!
Running costs: seem to be much more reasonable than i had first feared! Id say that i spent more on my 2CV dureing its first year with me than many of you seem to on an S. Seems the key as with any classic is to get one thats been well cared for...
The two car route: Hmmm, thats something that im going to have to think long and hard about. I can see the pros and cons of both but am slighly leaning towards running a lone S. The main reason being i dont think im going to have parking available for two cars, if all goes to plan me and the GF will be getting a flat down the road which has underground parking. (At X amount of silly money per month!)
Liveing with an S everyday: The main thing that i was/am concerned about is reliability. This however seems as though its less of an issue than i first thought. Strangely enough running the 2CV througout last winter proved a realy enjoyable experience! I loved nipping out with crossed fingers to fire her up on a cold winters morning. Wet bums and misty windows seemed to add to the experience! I was actualy considering swaping the JZR for an old westie to use as my every, so from a compfort perspective i think an S should fit the bill quite well!
Which to choose? As it would be used everyday i think im going to have to opt for the newest and best condition example i can get my mits on. Do the door mods on the S3 make it a lot easyer to hop in and out of? Im a gangley 6.2 so getting in gracefully would be a plus point!
How much to budget? Having studied the classifieds over the past month or so it seems as though its a bit of a buyers market at the moment, so what should i budget for a good example with a top chassis? Would 4.5K do the trick?
Service costs: Whats the usual schedule for maintaining an S? I would like to think i could have a bash at most things, just curious as to what you change regularly?
Chris71, that S that may be up for sale, wouldnt be a dark blue S3 would it?! Looks like a little pearl you have there, any idea when she'll be on her way? If its toward the end of the year i way be interested. (Although it is the wrong shade of green!) Iv had a flick through your blog... top stuff, it makes a good read!
Once again id just like to say thanks for all the feedback, I almost feel inclided to take the plunge so that i can talk TVR every day! :-)
Cheers, Mitch
Edited by mitchipoo06 on Wednesday 13th May 17:04
I'm surprised no-one has said it yet - come along to this - you will be more than welcome.
S CLUB 2009 LINK
More S's than you can shake a stick at - there were over 70 there last year
S CLUB 2009 LINK
More S's than you can shake a stick at - there were over 70 there last year
If you've not already done so, then read the http://www.tvrgit.com/ diaries. That will give you an idea of what you can expect and if it is a daily drive then the winter miles could take their toll so the chassis painting bits would be very relevant.
I'd say it is possible as a daily drive but you need to do a fair bit of maintenance to keep it sound. Mine isn't a clean tidy car but it is a solid car now. The first owner was HM forces IIRC and piled on the miles. There are bills for over 2k for a single service from a TVR dealer - it seemed that almost everything needed replacing then.
If you can do your own maintenance and like crawling under a car then go for it, if not then either buy a very very clean one and find a good old skool garage (it is basically a v6 Granada mechanically) to maintain it. The other option is to find something else. Problem is that there aren't many other cars that offer the character of the S at the price you're talking about.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the S1/2/3 is a particularly fast car - in standard form it isn't that great but it does have potential. Also there is a huge difference between one that is basically "working" and one that is mechanically excellent. I've been working on mine over 3 years and it is starting to feel like a sports car. Make sure you get one that has had the shocks replaced - that'll save you 500 quid and improves the handling no end. Stainless manifolds is a bonus, uprated brakes makes a huge difference as do modern decent tyres. Too many of these cars are running on old tyres (mine were made in 2000) because they are low mileage car.
Get along to the S club meet if you can and see the cars. I'm sure you'll get some honest advice although as with any enthusiasts they will always be biased.
Jed
I'd say it is possible as a daily drive but you need to do a fair bit of maintenance to keep it sound. Mine isn't a clean tidy car but it is a solid car now. The first owner was HM forces IIRC and piled on the miles. There are bills for over 2k for a single service from a TVR dealer - it seemed that almost everything needed replacing then.
If you can do your own maintenance and like crawling under a car then go for it, if not then either buy a very very clean one and find a good old skool garage (it is basically a v6 Granada mechanically) to maintain it. The other option is to find something else. Problem is that there aren't many other cars that offer the character of the S at the price you're talking about.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the S1/2/3 is a particularly fast car - in standard form it isn't that great but it does have potential. Also there is a huge difference between one that is basically "working" and one that is mechanically excellent. I've been working on mine over 3 years and it is starting to feel like a sports car. Make sure you get one that has had the shocks replaced - that'll save you 500 quid and improves the handling no end. Stainless manifolds is a bonus, uprated brakes makes a huge difference as do modern decent tyres. Too many of these cars are running on old tyres (mine were made in 2000) because they are low mileage car.
Get along to the S club meet if you can and see the cars. I'm sure you'll get some honest advice although as with any enthusiasts they will always be biased.
Jed
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