Spread the positive news !
Discussion
In my ever developing quest to justify buying a TVR as a second car, I want to get people to highlight what is good about them.
Specifically, lets get a "TVR's are reliable" vibe going, because I can see that a lot of unjustified prejudice is out there and it is affecting the sales of new cars and the depreciation too. This seems unfair.
I have noted, for example, that there do not seem to be any complaints of broken engines in T350s or Tamoras . Lets get that fact out there ! By extension, it must therefore follow that recent Tuscans are fine too !
How can this positive news get out there in a viral fashion? There must be some way of eating away at the damage done in the first speed 6 years. Its important, for all sorts of reasons.
Its the same with Lotus, the "lots of trouble usually serious" tag is of course, an over generalised piece of complete cobblers. But it is trotted out still.
As the premier support group for TVR's, what can PH do to set the record straight now?
Why are'nt articles placed in the motoring sections of papers about great British sportscars, with an owner saying how they have toured the Alps in their Tamora and it did'nt miss a beat?
if you were in TVR PR, what would you do?
Specifically, lets get a "TVR's are reliable" vibe going, because I can see that a lot of unjustified prejudice is out there and it is affecting the sales of new cars and the depreciation too. This seems unfair.
I have noted, for example, that there do not seem to be any complaints of broken engines in T350s or Tamoras . Lets get that fact out there ! By extension, it must therefore follow that recent Tuscans are fine too !
How can this positive news get out there in a viral fashion? There must be some way of eating away at the damage done in the first speed 6 years. Its important, for all sorts of reasons.
Its the same with Lotus, the "lots of trouble usually serious" tag is of course, an over generalised piece of complete cobblers. But it is trotted out still.
As the premier support group for TVR's, what can PH do to set the record straight now?
Why are'nt articles placed in the motoring sections of papers about great British sportscars, with an owner saying how they have toured the Alps in their Tamora and it did'nt miss a beat?
if you were in TVR PR, what would you do?
Well I run an S3c as a second car... covered 6000 miles in the last year... and it's never failed to start or left me stranded - and that's a 1991 car.
As for my everyday wheels... did about 8000 miles in the same period... and that's broken down twice.
Oh, and that's a '97 Ford Escort.
As for my everyday wheels... did about 8000 miles in the same period... and that's broken down twice.
Oh, and that's a '97 Ford Escort.
Please do. 
I'm having a similar job to justify a Griffith as a good car for Nic. to take to work.
Anything that says that they are reliable and parts don't cost the earth would be marvelous!
It didn't help my case when we helped push a Chimera off the York bypass after it had overheated in traffic last summer. I'm sure this was an isolated incident, and that it won't happen again.
I'm having a similar job to justify a Griffith as a good car for Nic. to take to work. Anything that says that they are reliable and parts don't cost the earth would be marvelous!
It didn't help my case when we helped push a Chimera off the York bypass after it had overheated in traffic last summer. I'm sure this was an isolated incident, and that it won't happen again.
I have a '99 Chim 450, used almost daily for the 20 mile commute and as much over the weekend as possible. So far (1 year and 8000 mls) I have had to replace 1 main beam relay (upside down in the passenger footwell with the "bible" in my hand) and more than a few gallons of Optimax. Other than that, and general maintenence (Waxoyl, Fabsil etc) just the monthly Botox injections to the cheesy grin lines round my mouth 
>> Edited by li'l pugs on Thursday 12th February 17:56
>> Edited by li'l pugs on Thursday 12th February 17:56
S3C is my only car.. I've had niggles, (annoying but not serious missfire) and a few roadside repairs, (wet electrics which I am convinced is due to a poor windscreen replacement as everything else seems sealed), but so far have only once not driven it somewhere that I'd intended due to a problem, (wiper motor failed due to a short in the park switch 12 hours before the monsoon that was back home last year - same leak I think). Its cost me less in general running than a Saab less than half its age did the year before.
It seems to me, the more you use them, the better they get..
It seems to me, the more you use them, the better they get..
li'l pugs said:
I have a '99 Chim 450, used almost daily for the 20 mile commute and as much over the weekend as possible. So far (1 year and 8000 mls) I have had to replace 1 main beam relay (upside down in the passenger footwell with the "bible" in my hand) and more than a few gallons of Optimax. Other than that, and general maintenence (Waxoyl, Fabsil etc) just the months Botox injestions to the cheesy grin lines round my mouth
My '99 450 also did 8000 miles in the past 12 months, has been 100% reliable and 100% enjoyable - even if it let's me down today, it's been an absolutely magic experience. I can't imagine being without a TVR and at the moment I'm toying with the idea of a Tuscan S but I keep thinking why? when this Chimaera gives so much enjoyment (and the v8 sounds so good).
toppstuff said:To answer that part of your question, I think I would ensure that more cars were placed with selected magazines as long term cars. I know that will get the usual screams in reply but consider it for a moment. Knowing that the cars say a t350 or a Tamora were going to CAR or EVO or whatever on long term placement would mean it should get extra special prep at the factory. It would mean that the mags would get to experience the "thrill of driving" a TVR and cement a what is currently a dodgy relationship. Needs a bit of work but then decent PR always does. Just my thoughts. Rich...
if you were in TVR PR, what would you do?
toppstuff said:Problem is with such relatively low volumes of cars produced, even one failure makes a major impact on statistics. Aren't TVR normally out of the reliability surveys because of the low numbers owned?
if you were in TVR PR, what would you do?
PH does help if everyone fills in the costs on their cars. Bottom line is cost of keeping the car on the road. What would probably also be useful is a section to report a mechanical failure i.e. something that couldn't wait until the next service and number of days in the workshop. But it's use would be dubious as generally people only report the bad stuff and not the good.
MC
I've used my S3 as my everyday car since August 2002, and have covered about 15k miles in that time. The only time it's refused to start was down to a faulty immobiliser, not a TVR part.
It is garaged overnight, but it gets exposed to whatever weather is happening during the day, including the snow we've had over the last couple of years, and it doesn't leak either!!
Stop trying to justify it, and just buy one!
It is garaged overnight, but it gets exposed to whatever weather is happening during the day, including the snow we've had over the last couple of years, and it doesn't leak either!!
Stop trying to justify it, and just buy one!
RichardR said:
Stop trying to justify it, and just buy one!
Agreed!! My Chim is a second (indeed a third!) car. To be honest, I've had a few problems with it but hey who cares, it's a true thoroughbred and as such I wouldn't expect impeccable behaviour all the time!!
Trev is worth every last penny
toppstuff said:
if you were in TVR PR, what would you do?
Sort this out !!!
www.whatcar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?DL=0&RT=180400
www.whatcar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?DL=0&RT=181709
www.whatcar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?DL=0&RT=181503
Chimera, Tamora, Tuscan S.
For Tuscan S and Chim they complain about bootspace !!For Tamora - bad driving position?
Contrast to an Autocar I recently read which they reckoned on the Speed 6 as one of the top 5 performance engines!!
RichardD said:
if you were in TVR PR, what would you do?
Sort this out !!!
www.whatcar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?DL=0&RT=180400
www.whatcar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?DL=0&RT=181709
www.whatcar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?DL=0&RT=181503
Chimera, Tamora, Tuscan S.
For Tuscan S and Chim they complain about bootspace !!For Tamora - bad driving position?
Contrast to an Autocar I recently read which they reckoned on the Speed 6 as one of the top 5 performance engines!!
That is shocking rubbish writing ! Did you notice that the Tuscan S and the Chim review had the same text under several headings. A complete cut and paste job, written by someone without a clue..
TVR must do better than this. Where is the PR? Get a nice , well fettled 350C and let the journos have it for 5000 miles. It would make a hell of a difference !
toppstuff said:
That is shocking rubbish writing ! Did you notice that the Tuscan S and the Chim review had the same text under several headings. A complete cut and paste job, written by someone without a clue..
TVR must do better than this. Where is the PR? Get a nice , well fettled 350C and let the journos have it for 5000 miles. It would make a hell of a difference !
Yes, really really horrendous! Scary in its amateurness.
The "Tuscan R" gets :-
"The build quality is appalling and the roof leaks, which is not much use in Britain. The security and safety counts are both dismal. "
Again contrasted with e.g. Autocar who would have given the Tamora full marks but said that it was a bit more ££££ than what they hoped for as an entry level model...
Sorry, can't justify anybody buying a TVR as a second car!
How some of you guys can leave it on the drive and jump into a euro box is beyond me.
First car every time, they are far better when used regularly. I think you would find that a poll of all the TVR owners would show that those using them as everyday cars spend considerably less on repairs.
12,000 miles in 12 months and 0 pence spent on a small hose leak.
Andy
How some of you guys can leave it on the drive and jump into a euro box is beyond me.
First car every time, they are far better when used regularly. I think you would find that a poll of all the TVR owners would show that those using them as everyday cars spend considerably less on repairs.
12,000 miles in 12 months and 0 pence spent on a small hose leak.
Andy
Started with an S2 as my only car for a few years.. had 24K when I got him, 70K ish when I sold him. Wonderfully reliable.. drove to Tuscany, Southern Spanish coast etc. Was such a good car decided to go the whole hog & replaced with a Griffith 500. It's been a belter too.. I try & keep it dry so it donest do the same miles as the S, but has been a very solid motor car.
Ed
Ed
andyf007 said:
Sorry, can't justify anybody buying a TVR as a second car!
How some of you guys can leave it on the drive and jump into a euro box is beyond me.
First car every time, they are far better when used regularly. I think you would find that a poll of all the TVR owners would show that those using them as everyday cars spend considerably less on repairs.
12,000 miles in 12 months and 0 pence spent on a small hose leak.
Andy
got to agree i bought a 92 griff with 20'000 miles on it just over a year ago and any "niggles" shall i say instead of problems were due to lack of use and generally sitting around rotting
Having a look through peoples profiles (as mentioned above) can help, have tried to keep mine up to date. The cost have been quite high so far, but hope they settle out over the next 4 months or so. My main outgoings to be fair are insurance/petrol/plus a couple of upgrades, which have nothing to do with reliability. The few problems I have had, have sorted out well be the dealership and covered by warranty.
I would say to research and test drive as much as poss.
Hope you make the right decision, the only decision!!!
I would say to research and test drive as much as poss.
Hope you make the right decision, the only decision!!!
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