Boxster S to TVR.....?
Boxster S to TVR.....?
Author
Discussion

jamesogt

Original Poster:

371 posts

194 months

Tuesday 30th November 2010
quotequote all
I currently have a 51 Boxster S. I use it as an everyday car but live close to work so could technically do without.

If I were to swap the Porsche for a TVR what would be the best choice under 20K that would do 7k miles a year? With insurance for 32 year old...Any suggestions?

clarkmagpie

3,699 posts

224 months

Tuesday 30th November 2010
quotequote all
A well sorted Griffith.
Complete classic, stunning looks and performance.

pwd95

8,455 posts

267 months

Tuesday 30th November 2010
quotequote all
yes Wot he said.

gemini

11,352 posts

293 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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I have a Boxster S too. Nice choice!

I have had Chimaeras and can recommend them as fun.

I would love a Tamora now - having driven one I loved it. Great handling and roof off, with modern power.

A good Griffith would also suit, but theyre getting old now.

I would suggest going to a local dealer in the boxster and trying a few TVRs.
They all feel so different.

Good luck.


YKB

824 posts

240 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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James, I'd recommend going down to your local TVR Car Club meeting and having a look at the different TVRs and chatting to owners. The local region to you is South Yorks and I know the local RO Kev would be happy to see you. http://www.tvrcc-south-yorks.co.uk/

I guess the best cars to consider if you're coming from a Boxster may be a Tuscan, T350 or a Tamora but any good TVR will provide you with a great drive. You can get a good car for £20K.

Good luck with your search.

Don

28,378 posts

313 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
quotequote all
A nice well looked after Griff or Chim will marginally out-perform your Box S in a straight line dash and will make a fantastic noise when doing so.

The Chim has a superbly practical boot for going away on touring hols...

LordGrover

34,158 posts

241 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Expect a huge leap in performance and attention.
Be prepared for a sometimes 'Heath Robinson' approach to engineering.

lazyitus

19,931 posts

295 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Don said:
The Chim has a superbly practical boot for going away on touring hols...
Indeed. However, I have to mention that a Griffiths boot (although slightly smaller) is certainly not tiny. 4 trips to Le Mans packed with tents, chairs, food, alcohol etc etc proves this, even with the targa tucked in there somewhere!

salmon

491 posts

253 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Agree with above that chims are superb as good all rounders. Quick enough and can get 2 sets of golf clubs in the boot and decent mpg on a run. Moved to a tuscan a few weeks back, and although it's only initial impressions absolutely love it. Feels a lot more modern then the chim, quicker, and turns heads like nothing else I've driven.

Which ever one you buy get it properly inspected if you're not clued up on tvr's. Can highly recommend rob Ingleby who checked over the Tuscan as if you buy a dud can cost you a fortune.

m0ssy

920 posts

221 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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I went from a Boxster S to a Tuscan.

Never regretted it.

However imo you would be wasting your time going for a Griff or Chim, go SP6 and Get a Tuscan or Tamora, completely different cars in styling although one is a softtop and one is a Targa.

The difference in performance from a Boxster to a SP6 engined car is night and day.

Although remember no traction control!

justin220

5,742 posts

233 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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I'd go for the T350C or T

Mark_S_24

405 posts

205 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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OP, how long is your daily journey? Time & Distance.
As I beleive the SP6 engines need warmed up properly, if your daily journey is short you may not get a chance to warm it up enough to then open it up properly.

I'm sure someone will be along to tell you how far/much time it takes.

Mark

900T-R

20,406 posts

286 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Personally I'd skip the Tuscan unless I was prepared ot invest time and money in suspension and set up. Compared to the RV8 cars and the Tamora/T35/Sag, it's a nervous, twitchy b*gg*r IME...

tamore

9,958 posts

313 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
quotequote all
go for a sp6 powered car, and make sure it's had a rebuild in the last 4 years or so.

got to be a tamora, surely! wink

BliarOut

72,863 posts

268 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Griff's are appreciating which can't be said for many cars thumbup Having gone from a Boxster to a 911 and then a Griff you'll certainly notice a lot of differences. Do NOT expect a German approach to engineering though biggrin

scotty_d

6,795 posts

223 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Having just changed a couple of weeks ago from a Chim to a Cerb i will fight the Cerb corner. Its a animal that is all biggrin

I think what ever TVR you go for you will not be disapointed.

Edited by scotty_d on Wednesday 1st December 11:07

m0ssy

920 posts

221 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Going OME, when I traded in my Boxster 1999, I wanted a TVR, but something modern, not dated, and certainly not older than the vehicle I was trading in.

Tuscan won hands down, futuristic looks, modern cabin, electrics that work (well most of the time wink) and something a hell of a lot faster than most vehicles on the road even by todays standards.

Horror stories on SP6 engines well documented on here and a whole bunch of great stories regarding no problems at all, very similar to the horror stories regarding Griff and Chim chassis at the moment wink

Do you want a classic that will keep up with most hot hatches? or perhaps a futuristic animal that will beat or keep up with a lot of Supercars and still be able to pootle around town behaving itself?


900T-R

20,406 posts

286 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
quotequote all
m0ssy said:


Do you want a classic that will keep up with most hot hatches?
Ah, that tidbit.

Still awaiting the list of hot hatches that will do 0-60 in the high 4's and 0-100 in the 10-11 s range...

With TVRs the determining factor is not how fast it goes, but how much of that performance you can actually use, how much of the time, anyway. On a run with different TVR models, there's little to differentiate between 430/450/500 RV8s, Cerberas and the S6 cars unless someone is driving like a tw*t (which I've yet to encounter), up to well into three figures.

I know I am not brave or stupid enough to try and use all of the available performance in a standard Mk1 Tuscan on 18" wheels. To be bluntly honest, I felt like a g*d*mn hero doing 100 on the motorway given its tendency to tramline and wander around...



Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 1st December 11:36

jamesogt

Original Poster:

371 posts

194 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies!

I plan on giving up commuting and just using it for free time to drive so am not too worried about the warming up time etc. My main issue is the horror stories of reliability and repair costs! I'd rather not have a 20k car that needs £500 a month spent on it to make it go!

I do like the Tuscan in terms of styling, any suggestions in the north for dealers? My problem will be I will test drive it, love it, buy it! So need a reputable preferably Northern dealer though would of course travel for the right car....I would probably be waiting till March April anyhow.

G20RG B

2,749 posts

260 months

Wednesday 1st December 2010
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Hexam Horseless Carraiges would be a good place to visit if your looking for a TVR,

Ive had a Tuscan MK1 and it was faultless but I would change the suspension and fit spacers as the handling is challenging at high speed without the impovements.

Now in a SP6 Cerb Ive had it a year and again no issues and I LOVE it,but I have spent some money on improvements such as suspension,drop links, brake pads, powder coating wheels, HIDs,etc. I would reccomend you get as new a car as possible, personnaly I think you should think about the T-Cars such as T350, Tuscan Mk1/MK11 and Tamora and a later Cerb 2003 onwards.

My Brother bought a 2008 911 and while it is a fast car with excellent build quality It did not have the sence of occassion that you get with a TVR, would I have a 911? yes I guess so, but I wouldn't sell the TVR to buy it NO WAY.