Taking the plunge soon
Discussion
Hi all,
Ive been lurking a while but decided it was time for my first post.
Currently I have a 320d and a Landy Discovery so that is daily driver and offroading covered. I am in need of something fun for the weekends!!
The last quick car I had was an Impreza WRX STi a couple of years ago which was a lot of fun but for a while now ive just been driving my 320d.
I have looked at Lotus, been in a few Elise and they seem like great fun but I think I have decided on a TVR.
My budget is 20k, I aim to stay under this. I have been reading on here and I see a lot of people recomending a Chim for a first TVR and also that they have lower running costs generally. I know this makes sense but I keep being drawn back to looking at Tuscans. They are such lovely looking cars!
I need a bit of guidance on which car to choose. From my research so far, I'm thinking my best bet might be a Tuscan or T350 that have already had an engine rebuild? I definately prefer the look of the newer cars (Tuscan onwards). I have done a lot of searching but I'm struggling to find any reviews that directly compare the new cars (tuscan vs t350 for example). I also think a hard top is a better idea for me as at present I do not have a garage.
Which ever car I get I plan on keeping long term and improving over time but ideally I dont want to have to do too much right off the bat with it besides enjoy it.
Thanks guys
Ive been lurking a while but decided it was time for my first post.
Currently I have a 320d and a Landy Discovery so that is daily driver and offroading covered. I am in need of something fun for the weekends!!
The last quick car I had was an Impreza WRX STi a couple of years ago which was a lot of fun but for a while now ive just been driving my 320d.
I have looked at Lotus, been in a few Elise and they seem like great fun but I think I have decided on a TVR.
My budget is 20k, I aim to stay under this. I have been reading on here and I see a lot of people recomending a Chim for a first TVR and also that they have lower running costs generally. I know this makes sense but I keep being drawn back to looking at Tuscans. They are such lovely looking cars!
I need a bit of guidance on which car to choose. From my research so far, I'm thinking my best bet might be a Tuscan or T350 that have already had an engine rebuild? I definately prefer the look of the newer cars (Tuscan onwards). I have done a lot of searching but I'm struggling to find any reviews that directly compare the new cars (tuscan vs t350 for example). I also think a hard top is a better idea for me as at present I do not have a garage.
Which ever car I get I plan on keeping long term and improving over time but ideally I dont want to have to do too much right off the bat with it besides enjoy it.
Thanks guys
hi,
i have only recently bought my first TVR and i bought a tuscan.
the advice on here is brilliant and there are some very experienced TVR owners dishing it out. its well worth taking the advice on board but at the end of the day its your choice. i love the tuscan and im very pleased with my purchase, but i had a lot of help and advice and was pointed in the right direction by some great people. just take care and do your homework before you part with the lucre. good luck with your search. its true that when you buy one, you will sport the biggest grin ever.
i have only recently bought my first TVR and i bought a tuscan.
the advice on here is brilliant and there are some very experienced TVR owners dishing it out. its well worth taking the advice on board but at the end of the day its your choice. i love the tuscan and im very pleased with my purchase, but i had a lot of help and advice and was pointed in the right direction by some great people. just take care and do your homework before you part with the lucre. good luck with your search. its true that when you buy one, you will sport the biggest grin ever.
A Chim is a good starting point. I, like you however prefer the looks if the later cars & bought a Tuscan.
Both a Tuscan & T350c are within budget. The best bet would be as you say, to buy one that has already had a rebuild from the likes of TVR Power or Str8six. There are many that hve had a factory rebuild but very often, the same weak parts were used.
The other option would be to buy a car at the lower end of the market. If the worst happens, you have spare funds available to have a rebuild done with a 5 yr/100,000 warranty. I would however point out that not all cars need a rebuild & a lot depends on whether the previous owners have followed the correct warming up procedure.
Best advice is to read as much as possible & also have a look at the threads on the Speed 6 forum (you may have already).
Happy hunting.
Both a Tuscan & T350c are within budget. The best bet would be as you say, to buy one that has already had a rebuild from the likes of TVR Power or Str8six. There are many that hve had a factory rebuild but very often, the same weak parts were used.
The other option would be to buy a car at the lower end of the market. If the worst happens, you have spare funds available to have a rebuild done with a 5 yr/100,000 warranty. I would however point out that not all cars need a rebuild & a lot depends on whether the previous owners have followed the correct warming up procedure.
Best advice is to read as much as possible & also have a look at the threads on the Speed 6 forum (you may have already).
Happy hunting.
Thanks for the quick responses guys. I will be around the end of Feb / start of March that I buy so I have plenty of time to do my research. Right now its heart before head and I cant stop looking at Tuscans!
I live in a very rural area with some lovely twisty roads so it should be a lot of fun.
I live in a very rural area with some lovely twisty roads so it should be a lot of fun.
The Tuscan mk1 will need the suspension sorted a bit for the twistys, this was sorted on the mk2.
i myself went for the t350c as i prefare the sleek look of the c over the targa. its taste really on the tuscan v t350, i went down the road of buying from a respected seller, James Agger for mine as i didnt really have enough knowledge to buy myself. ive had no problems and as has been said, a car without a re-build if it has been well looked after, is as good a buy, some engines go on to reach 60k without a re-build and tvr power offer a package on engines without a re-build now.
I also much prefare the t cars and went for the t350 because its more rare than the tuscan and if i was spending your 20k on a tuscan, it would have to be the mk2.
i myself went for the t350c as i prefare the sleek look of the c over the targa. its taste really on the tuscan v t350, i went down the road of buying from a respected seller, James Agger for mine as i didnt really have enough knowledge to buy myself. ive had no problems and as has been said, a car without a re-build if it has been well looked after, is as good a buy, some engines go on to reach 60k without a re-build and tvr power offer a package on engines without a re-build now.
I also much prefare the t cars and went for the t350 because its more rare than the tuscan and if i was spending your 20k on a tuscan, it would have to be the mk2.
having just recently borrowed a t350c while i was fixing the tuscan i can understand your thoughts, the t350 is a rather well put together car but a well sorted tuscan with newer shocks and looked after by a decent dealer is as good if not better than a t350 std.
for me the mk1 tuscan is the nuts, but then i am rather biased
for me the mk1 tuscan is the nuts, but then i am rather biased
I started with a Tuscan, It was FANNNNTTAstic great car, wild,angry,unforgiving,noisy,fast and stunning if you like it get ONE , If you buy something differnt as a step on to TVRs you will regret not getting the one you really want, Go to the Tuscan forum get some advice and ENJOY..
I now have a Speed Six Cerb but only because I needed the back seats, and Im loving it also.
I now have a Speed Six Cerb but only because I needed the back seats, and Im loving it also.
pbickerd said:
Thanks for the quick responses guys. I will be around the end of Feb / start of March that I buy so I have plenty of time to do my research. Right now its heart before head and I cant stop looking at Tuscans!
I live in a very rural area with some
lovely twisty roads so it should be a lot
of fun.
I was the same. Head was telling me to start with a Chim, heart wanted a Tuscan. Heart won & I haven't regretted it. I live in a very rural area with some
lovely twisty roads so it should be a lot
of fun.
Suspension can be sorted with spacers (£30) & a good geo set up. I've done this & I'm happy with it. If it still feels too twitchy, you can upgrade the shocks at a later date.
I'm also biased but prefer the mk1 looks over the mk2. If you don't buy from a respected dealer then I would recommend having an inspection carried out before purchasing.
Thanks for the encouragment 
I think I will be buying from a reputable dealer since I dont have the knowledge to inspect one myself and I'm one of those people who prefers the peice of mind of a warranty.
From what I've seen so far, STR8SIX is not too far away from me and they seem to have Tuscans that they have already done an engine rebuild on so I'm leaning towards that at the moment.
Looking forward to a very fun and noisy sping this year when I have bought this
I think I will be buying from a reputable dealer since I dont have the knowledge to inspect one myself and I'm one of those people who prefers the peice of mind of a warranty. From what I've seen so far, STR8SIX is not too far away from me and they seem to have Tuscans that they have already done an engine rebuild on so I'm leaning towards that at the moment.
Looking forward to a very fun and noisy sping this year when I have bought this
madbadger said:
Either way they are all fabulous.
Exactly that!'Entry level', no such thing for me or maybe there was. I got the Sagaris because I hoped to not have to do too much tinkering to 'get it right'. I've heard it holds the road better than the others (unconfirmed from me as the only other TVR I've driven was a Tuscan, briefly)great for me as I'm probably a s
t driver!For me there isn't any considered pogression through the 'ranks' of TVRs or any car for that matter. If it ticks the boxes then JFDI.
Hi and welcome,
I would set some time aside and go and look at lots. They are all in their way different with character. There are some great dealers out there if you don't want to tinker, or some great classifieds from PH members. 20k will get you a great car. Buy in the winter gets you a better price and the Tuscan is sealed with the roof on.
T350/Tuscan or any others are great cars to own
I would set some time aside and go and look at lots. They are all in their way different with character. There are some great dealers out there if you don't want to tinker, or some great classifieds from PH members. 20k will get you a great car. Buy in the winter gets you a better price and the Tuscan is sealed with the roof on.
T350/Tuscan or any others are great cars to own
[quote=DruidFor me there isn't any considered pogression through the 'ranks' of TVRs or any car for that matter. If it ticks the boxes then JFDI.
[/quote]
Yep - jump in with the car you want. I went straight to a Cerb 4.5. If you go for something else out of fear/common sense you'll only regret it when you see the car you really lusted after on the road.
[/quote]
Yep - jump in with the car you want. I went straight to a Cerb 4.5. If you go for something else out of fear/common sense you'll only regret it when you see the car you really lusted after on the road.
You'll get a well sorted Griff for that money, and you'll own the best looking TVR there is too 
Whatever you choose, go and drive some different cars and get a feel for what you like. For £20k you have some very nice decisions to make.
And if you don't buy a Griff pop along to Specsavers first to sort your eyesight out and then see your local GP to ask him for a cure for the dose of Ghey you've obviously picked up, he'll know if its a serious case if driving a Chim and he'll give you the stronger pills
Whatever you choose, go and drive some different cars and get a feel for what you like. For £20k you have some very nice decisions to make.
And if you don't buy a Griff pop along to Specsavers first to sort your eyesight out and then see your local GP to ask him for a cure for the dose of Ghey you've obviously picked up, he'll know if its a serious case if driving a Chim and he'll give you the stronger pills
Edited by Mr MoJo on Friday 31st December 17:23
Welcome to the world of TVRs, but be warned, it's highly addictive...
£20,000 should get you anything up to - and perhaps including - a decent T350, providing you have some contingency budget set aside. Although the ownership experience is generally less hassle than it's made out to be they can all spring surprises on you; they're all properly quick; and they all have a common hairy chestedness that goes back to way before the Chimaera. So I wouldn't think in terms of a 'first TVR', I'd just get whatever appeals most within your budget.
Be warned that, as handbuilt cars, they do vary. You get some right nails passed off as minters and some hidden gems going for peanuts, but you need to know which is which. Try and see as many as possible and do your homework on common faults.
£20,000 should get you anything up to - and perhaps including - a decent T350, providing you have some contingency budget set aside. Although the ownership experience is generally less hassle than it's made out to be they can all spring surprises on you; they're all properly quick; and they all have a common hairy chestedness that goes back to way before the Chimaera. So I wouldn't think in terms of a 'first TVR', I'd just get whatever appeals most within your budget.
Be warned that, as handbuilt cars, they do vary. You get some right nails passed off as minters and some hidden gems going for peanuts, but you need to know which is which. Try and see as many as possible and do your homework on common faults.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff